Lily's Birthday

The boys had been anticipating Lily's birthday for months. They kept asking how much longer until she was one. The morning of her birthday, they were so excited and wanted to set everything up right away...make the cake, wrap presents, etc.

For dinner, we had chicken nuggets and sweet potato fries.

I made her a purple butterfly cake. Her bedroom is decorated in purple and pink butterflies so it was perfect.

We sang to her then had Lily open presents. She got the hang of unwrapping pretty quickly (though her brothers had a hard time moving at the speed of a one year old). 

Kimball gave her a giraffe and activity blocks, Cameron gave her clip-clopping horse toys, Grandma & Grandpa Bundy gave her a Disney princess ride-on toy, Grandpa & Grandma Rex sent her $5, and we gave her a shopping cart.

Then it was time for cake! Lily dug right in and seemed to enjoy it. I wish I had made the frosting darker so you could see what a mess she made :).

What a sweet, adorable one-year-old she is!

Lily at 12 Months!

12 months have come and gone since you joined our family!

During the month before your birthday, you got your 8th tooth (6/17/15). Progressively you became a toddler! On 6/21 you took 4 steps, and it only increased from there. At the beginning of July you could walk across a room. By your birthday you preferred walking over crawling and now toddle everywhere.

At Cochiti Lake, NM

Grandpa Rex and Grandma Sharon said "Lily is a real live angel and it is apparent that she 'rules the roost.' She has such a sweet disposition. She's a beautiful combination of both her parents."

At the OKC Zoo

On 7/6 you tried to put your own shoes on. You also like to close doors when asked, blow raspberries and stick out your tongue.

Shopping for bathroom remodeling supplies

You know that I like to dry my hands after washing dishes, before I pick you up. On 7/7, you pushed me away from the sink towards the towel so I could dry my hands and pick you up. It's so fun watching you figure out how to communicate your needs and wants.

Super Lily

On 7/5 you learned how to climb in the little rocking chair and rock yourself, and on 7/7 you figured out the big rocking chair! You were so proud or yourself and frequently disappear into your room to climb.

You also started to shake your head for "no" and sign "all done" at meals. You discovered how to click your tongue, and the excitement on your face whenever you do it is adorable. You learned how to say "uh" for up on my birthday.

"All done!"

Stranger anxiety is still very real for you. When Grandpa Bundy & Aunt Hannah visited, you would not let them hold you! Grandpa was just excited that you voluntarily touched his nose before he left. But by the time we left Albuquerque, you were willing to stay in Grandpa's arms for crackers or other yummy treats.

You have a few lovies that you snuggle with at nap and bed time. You grab one with your left arm and suck your right thumb as you fall asleep.

 Sweet girl, life is an adventure with you! You love to climb, and scream when you're mad. You pull our finger to steer us wherever you want to go. You want so badly to play outside all day long, but it's too hot. We are so blessed to have you in our family!

After trying chocolate chip cookies

What a wonderful year it's been! Just born, 1 month, 2 months, 3 months, 4 months, 5 months, 6 months, 7 months, 8 months, 9 months, 10 months, 11 months, 12 months.

Albuquerque!

After my Dad & sister visited, they took the boys back to NM with them. It was the boys' first time going to Grandma & Grandpa's house without us, and they were so excited! They drove there on the 4th and did fireworks with my parents that night. They were thrilled to have tank fireworks.

My mom kept them busy while they were there. They got to go swimming...

To the children's museum...

To the aquarium, zoo and botanical garden...

 Kayaking with the adaptive sports program (working with kids & adults with special needs)...




To the recreation center in Santa Fe, and more. While the boys were there, we remodeled our master bath since we really know how to take it easy when we only have 1 kid to worry about ;).

On Thursday the 9th, I drove out to NM with Lily to pick the boys up.

We went kayaking at Cochiti Lake on Saturday, and then to Tent Rocks.

 Tent rocks is a bunch of sediment that formed in the shape of tents from volcanic and other run-off. There is only one other place in the world like it!

 On Monday my family celebrated my birthday by taking me out to lunch, then mom made me a cheesecake and I got fun gifts. My boys gave me roses and earrings. They already know how to make a girl feel special.

On Tuesday we loaded up and drove home. We finally stopped to see the cars half-buried in Texas...

Our kids are amazing travelers! We can usually make a 9-10 hour road trip with only 2 stops.
All the while, Dale was home, working or finishing up some of the last details of our bathroom.

Visitors

My dad and sister Hannah came to visit at the end of June. The boys feed off of other people's energy, so they were bouncing off the walls the whole time. Hannah had just finished a semester at college and wanted nothing more to sleep, but the boys weren't very accommodating :).

While they were here, we went to the OKC zoo for their $1 admission day, but it was so hot and humid that we didn't last long.

Kimball and rhino bums

After that we drove down to Norman and went to the Sam Noble Museum of Science.

That Friday we went to the race track and watched an Enduro race where the stock cars went 150 laps. Dale & Hannah won banners! 

 The next morning, they packed up, and took our boys to Albuquerque for a week!

June 2015

The highlight of June was our trip to Boston! It was still wet and rainy, and the temperatures were wonderful through the month...

We enjoyed a lot of activities at the library, including Superhero in Training:

I bought a family pass to the pool instead of doing swimming lessons and the boys have learned so much this summer! Cam even puts his head under water and swims short distances. Kimball can swim half the length of the pool and is working on his freestyle, backstroke, and breaststroke. I also bought a kiddie pool for at home...

There were times of calm (though they were rare!)

We celebrated Father's Day and I bought Dale a pocket trumpet (he is obnoxious and always guesses what his gift is long before I give it to him!).

Lily turned 11 months old.
Kimball created his own water transfer experiment...

Dale participated in the community band and had his concert

We took selfies (of course)

 And my Dad and sister Hannah came to visit!
We also celebrated our 9 Year Anniversary! We celebrated by going to to dinner at a mediocre Mexican restaraunt and going to Home Depot to start buying supplies to re-do our bathroom.