One Year!

(THIS POST WAS STARTED ON FEBRUARY 13th, AUDREY'S FIRST BIRTHDAY!)

This morning I have reflected over the past year, and more particularly where I was one year ago, today. I sat in a bed at Madison Memorial Hospital awaiting the arrival of our baby girl. Right now it is 10:42 AM. One year ago this time I still had 10 hours to go before I would deliver my girl, and about 12 hours before I'd actually hold her in my arms. What a day!

The day I became a mother. The day Ben became a father. That day our lives, once again, changed permanently for the better. 

This child has brought so much joy with her into our lives. Here is a glimpse at the past year of our lives.

'camping' in Idaho

visiting the Nauvoo Temple

Audrey and I enjoyed being toured around by Ben in Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, and Boston. I arranged for us to have family pictures taken at Portland Headlight to commemorate our great vacation!

Audrey and I both got to meet some of Ben's aunts, uncles, cousins, and grandparents for the first time!

Meeting her great-grammy and great-grampy

Great times at Camp!

Audrey's first flight!

Hangin out with uncle Andrew in Sundance

I'm pretty sure this was Audrey at 5 months? Isn't she DARLING?

Audrey and daddy at her birthday party.

As you can see she was NOT shy with her cake!

Every day I thank Heavenly Father for allowing this sweet girl to come into our family! Audrey Kristine really is a blessing to us and we are so grateful! 

As a one-year-old she can say

• dad
• mom
• thank-you 
• hi! (Which she says to EVERYONE we see. This girl is not shy!)
• bye
• uh oh
• ball
• (in sign language) please
• (in sign language) all done!

Some of her little 'tricks' are that she

• folds her arms when we say 'prayer' or 'fold your arms'
• blows kisses
• gives kisses (but usually only to daddy! rarely can I get her to kiss me!)
• loves to lift up your shirt and blow raspberries on your belly and then giggle at herself
• does the hand motions (as best as a one-year-old can) to 'popcorn popping' and 'here's a ball for baby' when I sing them with her
• dances! especially when daddy sings 'I love to see the Temple' ... for some reason she has a particular dance she does to this song, and ONLY when daddy sings it! 
• leads music! We noticed this at church when while trying to get her to sit still during hymns she began waving one arm around, then noticed her attentively watching the chorister. Pretty dang cute!

I'm sure there is more I could 'report' but those are all I can think of for now. She is running all around and is incredibly active and happy. We love this little girl and couldn't be happier to have her in our home!

Coming August 5th...

Audrey will be a big sister!!! Ben and I are having our second baby around August 5th and we couldn't be happier! This darling girl is going to be a very sweet sister!

Audrey is thrilled.  ;) 

Well, she doesn't get it yet. Hopefully she'll adore her sibling once he or she arrives!

This guy

This guy is the best daddy ever.

I am so grateful for these two lights in my life! 

Halloween

Audrey was 8 months just before Halloween.

Isn't she a cute little dragon?

East Coast Trip

Somehow I skipped over one of the BEST trips I have ever been on. July 2012 Ben took Audrey and I on a tour of New England! We visited Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, and Boston! Audrey and I LOVED getting to know the Hubbard clan (most of which I had not yet met) and seeing where our handsome man grew up. It really was a blast of a trip and here is a glimpse of it.

We had a layover in Baltimore and got to meet up with my aunt Katie and see her cute kids! 

It was so fun to meet Dallin and see Leah and Katie again!

I think Audrey loved Dallin, too!

First stop was the Hustus home! We had a great time staying with Kathy, Jim, and Trevor and are grateful Kathy and Trevor were willing to be our tour guides for a few days!

This is one adorable home where Ben lived! Unfortunately, the current owners didn't keep it up, but I could see how darling it once was!

Ben used to go lobtstering with his dad from this small harbor and we got to enjoy the beach!

Our girl soaking up some rays!

Discovering the Atlantic ocean with daddy!

Best food of the trip? LOBSTAH. We had lobster EVERY DAY we were in Maine :D

You show that lobster who's boss, Ben!

Lin Libby's candy shop is my new favorite. 

We got to go deep sea fishing and lobstering with uncle Paul Sevigny. I whooped the men at their favorite sport! That's a 32" striped bass.

I don't think I got a full picture of us with the Sevigny family! :( But we were so grateful to stay with them and I'm so grateful at how the girls loved Audrey!

We got to cross off one thing off Ben's bucket list! We went to a Red Sox game at Fenway Park and had AWESOME seats! It was a great game!

Even Audrey loved it :)

Look guys, it's Fenway!

We stopped in Sharon, VT to go to a church history site. It is where Joseph Smith was born and there is a memorial there. It was a sacred place and we're grateful for all he did as God's servant to better connect the world to Christ and the gospel!

The best part of the trip: CAMP!!! 

We had to eat at Polly's pancake parlor!

With Grammy and Grampy Hubbard <3 We love you guys and are so grateful we got to spend so much time with you!

Grammy and Grampy volunteered to watch Audrey so Ben and I could go Kayaking! It was a blast! I had never been. The lake was beautiful and I got to get to know the loons of the lake.

Audrey didn't mind hanging out with grammy and grampy! They treated her well and had her laughing!

Tallest mountain in the area.

Building a small tower in memory of uncle Tom. Some of his ashes were spread here.

Audrey and I were grateful to meet uncle Tom! We look forward to getting to know him better in the next life.

Camp Mayo is the best!

Our last day of the trip was spent at the Carr's home swimming and having a delicious dinner! 

A BIG thank you to the Hubbard family for making our trip so special. We LOVED the time spent with you and are excited for our next trip out! (Though it may not be for a little while.) We love you all!