18 months!

Is it really 18 months - how did that happen so fast?!  Sweet baby girl - you are a year and a half!!  Such the little toddler you are.  I can't decide which is harder to believe, that you turned one six months ago or that you will be a two year old in six months!? 

Lucy is really the most perfect little girl.  I know I run the chance of the terrible two's emerging at some point but there's no sight of it yet.  Yes, we see a mischievous grin, curiosity and conveniently not listening sometimes but nothing too bad yet.  So many people ask if she's REALLY that good - and sorry, but she is.  She rarely if ever fusses, whines or cries.  She is a charmer to everyone she meets and follows her schedule like a little soldier.  Not that we're the great enforcers or anything; hello - some might say she is walking all over us!  But Lucy is really the best little girl around.  

At 18 months Lucy's adjusted age is about 15 1/2 months.  She's not walking yet but it's very close.  I see the feistiness in her eyes and I know she just wants to take off but then she gets a little cautious and finds another faster way to get where she wants.  Whatever Lucy is lacking in her walking skills she's more than making up for in talking skills (what a girl!) miss jabber mouth talks up a storm.  She has so many words she says and understands and also little phrases that I think Blake and I only get.  But she loves to jabber while looking at books, while playing and in the backseat of the car.  As for interests I guess I made the mistake turning on Sesame Street one morning because she is in love with it.  So we have limits but Elmo is very loved in the house.  And in a few weeks Lucy will get to see Elmo in person!  For our anniversary I got Blake (and Lucy - package deal!) a trip to San Diego for a few nights.  I've been having some major San Diego cravings and when I found out the Sesame Street gang has joined SeaWorld I knew it was time to book a trip.  So in a few weeks baby girl we'll be meeting your beloved Elmo!

Each of these month milestones are such a big deal to Blake and me.  I'm sure most parents feel the same way but for us we see how far our beautiful daughter has come.  She's the happiest, most beautiful, funny girl.  I know I'm gushing but I can't help it.  Some nights Blake and I will think back to those NICU days and how that fragile, tiny, just over a pound little girl immediately melted our hearts.  With all of the tubes, wires and monitors helping Lucy we saw how strong and brave she was and would be.  Now this wild hyena has the cutest gap-toothed smile, loves giving EVERYONE kisses, dances for her favorite foods and continues to melt our hearts.  I love you princess and happy 18 months!  Daddy and I are so proud of you and you've made us such happy and thankful parents.  You are amazing!!

Oktoberfest!

Beautiful fall day - friends & family - german chocolate cake -

what could be better?!

Rebecca, Sabrina, Nick, Heather, Lucy bug (pushing away that giant mug of yuck), Caitlin & Brinton

I was so excited to run into my cousin Steve and his girlfriend Danielle - sorry about the stroller Steve!

can it be fall all year, please?

next year these two will do the zip line 

Chocolat!

My mom is pretty much the queen bee of themes but my sister is moving up there.  This weekend she hosted the most delectable chocolate party in her cozy cottage.  We watched the sweet movie "Chocolat" and had the most delicious treats.  I cried a little after the first spoonful of my chocolate soup with toasted angel food cake and ice cream....mmm, thanks Cait!

I love a parade...

Lucy and I ventured out last week with 800 million other stroller kiddos and moms to Gateway to see the big elephant parade.  The circus is in town and I might save that event for my parents to take Lucy to some day - not a huge fan.  But we did want to see the elephants up close and personal.  Luce and I got a supreme spot at the Gateway and waited patiently for the parade to start.  Well, about 3 1/2 minutes later it was over.  I don't know what I expected - but maybe 10 minutes of parade time?  Anyway, it was fun and that's just what you do when you have kids.  If for ten seconds Lucy smiles and waves and watches a giant elephant SPEED by - it's worth it!  But I felt she was cheated a bit so we got a lunch for two and went to one of our hangouts Liberty Park to watch the geese.  Lucy loves them but they're getting too close for comfort for me.  Oh Luce, what did I do before you?  

don't blink - you'll miss it

my best little friend

trying to kiss those creepy geese!

Miss Personality

Sometimes you can't just pick one picture...

pretty curls are coming in!

it helps to climb like a monkey if you stick out your tongue :)

and much to my delight the snort face is still fun for her...

love you luce!

A birthday with the mouse?!

So I got the best birthday present this past March from Blake - a fun trip to one of my favorite places in the world - Disneyland!! Well I just found out today everyone can celebrate with the mouse on their birthday in 2009 - for FREE!!! That's right - Disney has unveiled it's theme for 2009 "What Will You Celebrate?". You can sign up on Disney's website for a voucher to attend any of their parks for free on your birthday - how cool is that?!

Tagged: My Favorite Three

I was tagged by Kennan (who I never get to see - let's plan something already!)

3 last purchases...
1. a just be bag

2. Lucy's halloween costume (can't wait!)

3. a white mocha from starbucks

3 last songs i downloaded to my iPod...

1. call it off - tegan & sara

2. today - joshua radin

3. caravan - van morrison

3 favorite movies...

1. garden state

2. into the wild

3. shag

3 things i haven't done yet...

1. organized my pantry

2. got blake an anniversary gift

3. decided if i want more kids

3 things i cannot live without...

1. magazines

2. snuggling my pups and lucy on chilly mornings

3. a good, meaningful conversation once a day (with another adult)

3 favorite dishes...

1. blue iguana enchilada suizas

2. hires turkey sandwich

3. my mom's halloween clam chowder

3 favorite tv shows...

1. the hills

2. jon & kate + 8

3. amazing race

3 last places i traveled to...

1. boise, id

2. panguitch, ut

3. disneyland

3 favorite desserts...

1. sugar cookies

2. chocolate chip paradise pie

3. pumpkin pie

3 things i would buy if money were not an issue...

1. clothes & accessories for luce and me
2. a long vacation for the 3 of us

3. the house i'm waiting to buy once mine sells (which obviously isn't selling)

3 wishes...

1. lucy to live the healthiest, longest, happiest life ever

2. no one I love to get sick

3. to have a very long & happy marriage

3 people i tag...

1. caitlin

2. alisa

3. jackie

Tagged: High School

My sister (who was cool in school) tagged me for a high school tag. This could be fun for some but it my case, a tad sad. But I'll play along anyway...

High School: West High School

1. Did you date someone from your high school: for a minute in 10th grade and then I moved on to Blake and never looked back. 

2. What kind of car did you drive? : I didn't drive anything, I had to get rides from my friends.

3. What is your most embarrassing moment in high school?: I had to give an oral report in French and I wasn't ready so when Madame Hopper called my name I just sat there and said "no, actually I have nothing prepared, I can't do it." And she said "en francais, Codi!!" which means "say whatever lame excuse you have in FRENCH".  So I had to mumble around for about 8 minutes in faux French telling her I wasn't prepared.  My stomach hurts thinking about it.

4. Were you a party animal?: No

5. Were you considered a flirt?: No, not really

6. Were you in band, orchestra, or choir?: None of them

7. Were you a nerd? : Well, even though I mainly stuck to my small core group of friends and wasn't involved in a lot of teams/clubs I still don't think I was a nerd.  Really, I wasn't.

8. Were you on any varsity teams? No teams.  I was on yearbook and in the literary club - maybe I really was a nerd...

9. Did you get suspended/expelled? : No

10. Can you still sing the fight song? : Not the fight song but I still remember the school song which is long and melodramatic - and it has these weird body/sign language movements along with it.  Quite bizarre.

11. Who were your favorite teachers? : Mr. Taylor (sociology) he was SO nice and everything was interesting.  I also loved Mrs. Zuhl, my AP English teacher.

12. Where did you sit during lunch?: During nice weather out on the south lawn and I have a lot of memories of some of us hanging out in the basement halls - creepy.  Oh, and sometimes driving around (obviously not in my car).

13. School Mascot?: Panther

14. Did you go to homecoming and with who?: I went to Blake's homecoming with Blake at Cyprus

15. If you could go back and do it again, would you? : No thanks, it was fun and I really do have good memories and such funny moments but I'm so happy to be past that stage.

16. What do you remember most about graduation?: That it was like 9 hours long and I was sad because when they called your name they would call a guy and a girl at the same time to walk down the aisle together.  Since my last name was at the end of the alphabet and no boys were left I had to walk down the aisle with this giant samoan girl who was wearing like 80 lei's.

17. Where did you go senior skip day?: I think I was home

18. Have you gained weight since then?: Uh, yeah

19. Who was your prom date?: Blake, surprise, surprise.  Oh and he wore white shoes with this awful zoot suit type thing.  

20. Are you planning on going to your 10 year reunion?: Well, sadly it passed two years ago.  I missed it and didn't regret it after I heard a pretty lame recap.

21. Looking back, what advice would you give yourself?: Maybe meet more people and even though I love the outcome maybe I could have gone to some dances, dates with people from my actual school!

Okay, so I tag: Annie (this is your dream come true!), Lacey, and Kennan!  

Moon

Oh how I love a full moon.  I saw this from our bedroom window tonight and had to share.  Mmm.

Zoo baby!

Saturday we went to the zoo with my family for my dad's work zoo day.  It was a bEaUtIfuL day for the zoo and we all had so much fun.  Comparing this visit to Lucy's last was like the zoo for the first time.  She was so interested in a lot of the animals and watched and mimicked some of their moves and sounds.  On our way up we got her to say a pretty close version of zoo - zjhoo.  Very cute!

At the leopard exhibit Lucy was standing right up against the glass and the leopard paced back and forth turning to stop each time he reached Lucy.  It made me a tad queasy thinking he was thinking of her for lunch but each time he passed Lucy she let out this squeal/shriek.  We all thought it was really cute until we realized she was starting to get really spooked by him too. 

For my dad's party they had a small animal show come to our pavilion.  The three small animals we got were an armadillo, giant turtle/tortoise and our worst nightmare - a black mamba snake.  Luckily Lucy has brave grandparents who let her touch and visit with each animal.  But her true instincts came out when she saw the snake - she didn't like him too much.  We had a great visit and Lucy had a blast!  In my opinion Hogle Zoo is a great place and if you live in Salt Lake County I hope you'll vote to Renew the Zoo!

baby colobus monkey - so cute!

baby giraffe following its mom

Lucy, grandpa and a rhino in back

we loved the new carousel - this turn it was Caitlin and the praying mantis

meeting an armadillo 

and an old turtle named Trucker - we have no pictures of her meeting the snake because Blake and I were hiding (and crying)

this turn daddy and the polar bear - polar bears can come back to Hogle if you Renew the Zoo!

fun day!

Double-date?

This weekend we went on a family date - well, Lucy and I thought it was a family date but then we found out it was actually a double date.  Lucy and me with Blake and chicken curry.  Blake is pretty much in love with Mi La Cai noodle house.  He has been ordering the chicken curry for years and every time says "this is the best batch ever".  Mi La Cai has mysteriously been closed for like three months.  Supposedly remodeling was to be done but Blake (who must know the entire restaurant and back kitchen layout said nothing has been changed).  So during this long closure Blake would routinely call to see when the grand re-opening would be and when he would be reunited with his one true love (kidding, kidding).  Anyway, it opened last week and yeah, it's pretty good but Blake is kind of ridiculous for it - and Lucy and I were kind of embarrassed.  Just kidding we love that you love curry - and we love that you let us tag along.  

I can't tell if his mouth is full or if he's making kissy lips - to curry, not me.

oookaaay, it's just curry dad

my cute date Lucy for the night - the two of us had maggie moo's ice cream and it was love for us too!

On the menu...

lasagna a la Lucy

(with a side order of snort face!)

Busy Girl

That's Lucy who is busy, not me really. I am just trying to keep up with this girl on the go. That's the excuse for no posts in about two weeks. I've heard from a few people that I'm slacking in my posts and actually was surprised anyone noticed. Are the comings and goings of our lives really that exciting? No, probably not, but everyone wants to hear about the bug! Here are a few randoms so you can see her out and about!

enjoying a morning breakfast at Ruth's with her cousin Croz (loving mile high biscuits!)

explaining the importance of shopping to cute Croz

keeping up on her reading (and sprouting new teeth every day!)

visiting ducks

picnics at the park

Tennis anyone?  Lucy kind of fell in love with the U.S. Open - every time Serena grunted Lucy grunted too.  Maybe all of Blake's dreams will come true and she'll be a professional tennis player - or just a sidekick for him to play against.

Oh, how it's so exhausting keeping up as Lucy's mom...