Baby Animal Days

Amy riding a pony and SO delighted about it!

Esther was delighted too...

Esther loved ALL the animals... it was worth the money for her facial expressions.

Truckin' along to see some animals -- here are some bison chilling behind us.

Fall time Fun

Fall is such a fun time, but you have to watch out for the monsters that pop up every where.




Amy trying on some animal hats, and making Esther laugh.

Videos of Amy

Check out how cute it is when Amy signs 'more'.

Amy has a real gut laugh now a days, which Ryan and I find hilarious! Ryan can get her to bust out laughing over the simplest things -- like making funny faces at her when he pushes her in the grocery cart. I absolutely love her laugh, and can never hear it enough. We feel so blessed to have such a fun little girl.

We let Amy try a lime today... this is her reaction.

Motherhood, and Traits I Admire in Some other Mothers

I've learned some neat things since becoming a mother -- first, that God has given me a far greater capacity for patience, love, and joy,

second, that He's made my stomach stronger (I almost threw-up on my nephew when I changed his diapers when Jenny had Belle, but with Amy I've dealt with spit-up, throw-up, boogers, earwax, attempts at giving me her reject food, poop blow-outs and recently being handed a handful, literally... I'll not say more unless you ask me)

I never knew motherhood would form or rediscover so many muscles, stretch my capacity so much and make me laugh so hard...

Recently, Ryan taught Amy to fake laugh -- and LOUD. It has us in stitches when she does it. She's constantly doing new things which just make me shake my head and giggle. I found Amy sitting in the toy bin... as you can see, it's not very big... but if that wasn't enough she was trying to stuff in all the toys she could reach. What a nut! How I love her!!

I am so grateful God has blessed me to experience motherhood in this life, and I'm also very grateful that all women who come unto Him will have that experience, whether in this life or the next. Children really are an heritage of the Lord, and Ryan and I do hope to have a 'quiver full of them'. Amy has been a delight and joy!!

I have had wonderful examples of Motherhood in my life, and I want to point out some qualities of just a few which have been very influential and inspiring to me:

my own Mom -- for being an example of charity to others. I often went with her taking home-made bread to people around our neighborhood -- she knows how to listen and talk to people and make them feel appreciated, and for being so easy-going

my mother-in-law -- for loving and raising her own family in addition to caring for others with special needs, for stretching a buck farther than anyone I know, for knowing how to do so many things (being my guru for house-keeping questions) for raising such a wonderful son. :)

Constance -- for teaching her child and many other 'adopted' children like me to believe in themselves and making them feel loved and cherished, for being one of the very best hostesses and arbitrators I've ever known

my Aunt Jan -- for being so faithful and uncomplaining, no matter what life throws. Her positive attitude, and example has blessed my life often.

my Grandmothers and Ryan's Grandmothers -- for loving their children more than themselves, sacrificing so much for them. And to Maxine: for raising 13 children with testimonies of the restored gospel and Jesus Christ; and for remembering the names of so many grand- and great-grand children.

I hope I can become a mother like many of these amazing women who have influenced and inspired me. Thank you for all you've done and do!!

Watching 'Twins'

We watched Amy's cousin Jack for a few days this week (with great help from our wonderful downstairs neighbor friends the Johnsons who let Jack nap and sleep there even though it was finals week -- what great folks!) so Ryan's sister and brother-in-law could take a much deserved vacation to NY.

For the most part they played well together, toddled around at the park well together, fed the ducks well together, drew with chalk well together, ate well together,

Shared Ryan well together (it's not as hard to share me -- though Amy loves me, she doesn't often snuggle, so Jack could get in all the hugs he wanted for the most part),

and share toys much of the time.
It helped when we could get them interested in different toys. It's good that Amy loves books, and Jack was obsessed with the balls, tape-measurers and other 'manly' toys. :)
Jack is a very snuggly guy, and loves being cuddled. He also is very much a boy in that I think he has an empty leg -- he out-ate Amy by a bit, which is impressive.

Ode to my Best Friend

It's hard to believe how fast time flies...
3 years together, 1 precious baby and 1 on the way,
I've watched you excel as a husband, provider and father...
I'm now to the point where I can hardly imagine
what it was like before you were in my life.

Thank you for taking the time to listen,
to hug, to pray with us, and play with Amy.
She and I adore you -- we're two of your biggest fans.
Even with all you have on your plate,
you help out with mine...

I know you get tired, and worn down by work,
study, and everything you have to do,
but I'm grateful when you walk through the door
there's a smile on your face...
You make us feel so loved, so special, and so important.

You are such a wonderful gift in my life,
and I'm grateful I get to spend eternity laughing with you.
Thank you for being a "wooley-baa-lamb" and "prince among men".
You make it so easy to admire and love you.
...

Now for those who just check the blog for Amy, this movie needs a lil' explanation. She normally grunts when she's trying to poop, but the other day this is how loud she was being. I think she thought it was a joke.

Amy keeps us laughing

Amy loves to be dragged around the house in the laundry basket. She always looks to cute, reclined and comfy when you do it. She gets more personality and spunk every day and keeps us laughing all the time.

For example, yesterday I gave her some cheerios to eat while I was cooking dinner. She was eating them, until she realized if she put them on the floor they'd crunch as she walked over them. I quickly rounded up as many as I could get, but then she wined like she was hungry so I gave her one solitary cheerio. She carefully placed it on the floor, and then backed up, preparing to stomp it, but I rescued it. :)
I used up all the flour yesterday making something, and the empty bucket was a novelty to Amy. She turned it on its side and kept crawling into it, trying to taste the flour. I personally think plain flour isn't so yummy, but she'd lick her finger and put it in the remaining flour and say "Nummy nummy nummy!"

Also, while I was cooking dinner, she pulled the little magnet mirror off the fridge and was doing push-ups down to it to give herself a kiss. I've just recently managed to teach her to give kisses, but she'll only give them to me... and only if she's feeling gracious. :)

She continues to LOVE olives. She won't just pop them in her mouth either -- she has to get her finger in the whole and then she'll hold her lil' finger up triumphantly and THEN pop it in her mouth. She's also still obsessed with her teddy bear -- she bit it so much with glee that his nose came undone and I (quite proud of myself) sewed on a new nose, smile and eyes . She always grabs him when she is going to have her bottle, shoving him over her eyes as she drinks it. What a stinkin' cutie! We love her SO much!!

BABY ANIMAL DAYS

We took Amy to Baby Animal Days, where she saw baby bunnies and ponies, piglets, bear cubs, calves, ducklings, chicks, lambs, and more. We had a really good time going around.

Isn't this bear cub so cute?

We'd tried taking her in the morning with her auntie Katelyn, but I had issues with my wallet which prevented us. At least we saw some chicks, a camel, zebra, and clydesdales at Petersen's seed shop. Here's her not-so-excited reaction to a duckling... we were shocked she wasn't more enthused. She did like the pigmy goats this time around though.

We want to swim... and we're gaining "Weight"

So, we got this great swimsuit from our friend Melissa... and I want it to be summer already so Amy can go swimming. Isn't she darling? Now if I can only find a swim suit that will fit me come summer. Anyone have any long torso cute maternity swimsuit or know a place to get one that's not exceedingly expensive? For one who gets big enough people ask her if she's having twins? Thankfully this time around we're only having one, which means we don't have to buy a van in October. Yay for us.



I'm interested to know if my intuition is right -- this pregnancy has been do different than mine with Amy, that I think it's a boy. Well, either it's a boy, or a girl who likes steak and is going to take after Ryan's build. We'll see. :)

This is a common sight around our place: Amy carrying her teddy bear around...
She sometimes carries it back into the bedroom, along with books which I'm sure she'd love to take into her crib with her, but as of yet I haven't put them in...
Best Buddies. :)


Another random note of interest. Ryan put on our wedding video yesterday and we were watching it. I had taken my baby picture to the hospital and was sure Amy didn't look a lick like me, but looked like Ryan. As she's gotten older, people have at times said she looks like me, but I still don't see it and when I compare baby photos, again, we don't look alike. I'd forgotten that we had baby pictures of Ryan on our wedding video. Other than not having as full of lips as Ryan had, they look SOOOOO similar as babies. It was crazy... like looking at a brother twin for her or something.


This video was of Amy feeding herself yogurt. It can be pretty messy, but she got a kick out of it this morning.

Dancin'

Enjoy! She never fails to make us laugh!

Bountiful Baskets

So, here are our spoils from Bountiful Baskets... LOVE IT! I think we'll be doing this a lot.
Also, a recipe: Delectable! Cream of Asparagus Soup:
1 bunch asparagus, chopped 1 inch
1/2 onion, chopped
3 stalks colorful chard, chopped
1 clove garlic, minced

Let boil and simmer in 1 T. butter and 1/2 c. water, stirring constantly

Add 1/2 c. of the wonderful dry cream soup mix:
(2 c. powdered milk, 1/4 c. chicken boulion, 3/4 c. cornstarch,
1-2 T. dehydrated onion flakes, 1-2 T. italian seasoning spice)

And 3-4 c. water... fiddle with adding more cream soup powder if it's not thick enough for you. Add 1/2 chicken breast, sauteed, and chopped into small pieces. Ryan loved it, I loved it... even Amy loved it (blended in the blender for her).

The following video needs a forward: Amy loves cheese. She also is just getting to the point that she can see over our counter. I'd shredded some cheese for pizza, and this block was at the edge. Before we knew it, Amy'd reached up, grabbed it, and toddled off with it. She even left a few bite marks in it.

Amy ate spaghetti for the first time tonight... this is the stuffing the face...
showing off messy hands...
and eating daintily. She was covered when we were through and I had to rinse her off in the sink before I even put her in the tub, but she loved it. She is a huge fan of feeding herself, no matter how messy it gets.

This one's for you, Dad. :)

Amy sleeps with her bum up like this... isn't that cute? ;)

She spent quite a bit of time trying to put on her sweater. Never succeeded, but it sure was cute.

Birthday Girl

Our little wonder Amy is turning 1 year old. We wanted to share with everyone this clip the her Oma Jill took of some of her first steps. Hope you enjoy. We should have more posted for the birthday girl.

Home-made Tortillas

So, this is thanks to my sister Jenny -- Ryan and I really like this recipe:
2 c. flour (mix wheat or white)
2 T. oil
1 tsp salt
1/4 tsp baking soda
(mix together, it will feel sandy)
Add 3/4 c. warm water

Mix, and add a little more flour until kneadable. Knead and roll into balls. Let rest one hour and roll out. Heat on non-oiled griddle on medium high just till a teeny bit puffy.





Also, Amy is so much fun! She's been noisier than usual and has started saying 'no' (but it's "noy noy noy noy" when she's frustrated about something). Here's a pic of her in a dress I wore as a baby. I think she looks cuter in it than I did.

laughing with Daddy

What a cute/fun girl!

Here's Amy playing with a tape measurer. Thank you Ballifs for the cute PJs! (And thank you Katelynn for the movies :))