The last sticker in the pack

* Wearing some 12-mo & mostly 18-mo clothes

* Size 5 diapers

* Drinking whole milk (mixed 1/2 and 1/2 with the remainder of the formula we have) in bottles at breakfast and bedtime, but we're starting to wean to just sippys

* Has three teeth with the forth cutting through and waking her up in the middle of the night this week :(

* Sits in her high chair to eat meals with us

* Loves Cheerios, bread, bananas, pears, and YoBaby yogurt

* Drinks water out of her sippy at mealtime

* Still sleeping with her paci, sleepy giraffe, and silky blankie

* Still not fond of most diaper changes, but less squirmy

* Not that happy about being in her carseat for trips that involve multiple stops. I've learned that she can only really tolerate one errand a day.

* LOVES walking around everywhere, usually leans over when you're holding her to signal she wants down

* LOVES bathtime and splashes around constantly

* Still enjoys giving sloppy open-mouth kisses on command ~ so cute

* Is more and more vocal every day. I think now that she's mastered (for the most part) walking, she's ready to focus on learning to talk

* Started signing this week!!! Signs "milk" often and "eat" once.

* Favorite playmate is her brother. Most of the time. :)

12-Month Stats:

Weight ~ 23 pounds, 12 oz

Height ~ 28 & 3/4 in

Head ~ 18 & 1/2 in

Happy First Birthday Vivi!

It is hard to believe that a year has gone by. It's feels like just yesterday that we were bringing her home from the hospital to meet her big brother. She has brought us so much joy to our family. I love starting each day with her to see what new thing she will do.

On this special day, we had breakfast and then Vivi opened her presents from Mommy, Daddy and Owen. (Owen was more than happy to help with the gift-opening.) Owen picked out a fun set of bath toys for his sister and Mommy and Daddy got Vivian her very own Cabbage Patch doll!

Grandma and Poppy sent Vivi an adorable outfit and a fun LeapFrog birthday cake! You can light up the candles and then actually blow them out ~ it's pretty cool.
Then it was off to Brunch with Santa at Clyde's with Grandma and Grandpa! (We missed Aunt Hillary, but totally understand her need to be studying hard for finals and we wish her the best of luck this coming week. Those long hours of studying will definitely pay off.) We got to see Kayla and Ryan there too and took a few family photos for them. Owen loved getting to talk to Santa and tell him what he wanted for Christmas (a new tow truck), but Vivi wasn't too fond of the stranger with the white beard and glasses.

After lunch we came back to our house to open presents and have cake. Grandma and Grandpa showered Vivi with lots of fun toys, a new book, cute peacoat, and several stunning new outfits! She had fun exploring all the new toys and Owen was just in heaven too. Then it was on to cake!

She loved the cake ~ chocolate, of course! A sweet treat for our sweet baby girl on her first birthday.

Baking a cake for the Birthday Girl...

while she was upstairs napping away. :)

Vivian's first sign

Owen started signing when he was 16 months. I am so impressed with Baby Signing Time. It's so fun to communicate with your baby before they start speaking!

Disclaimer: My sing-songy voice is so annoying - I must apologize in advance. :0)

Walking up a storm now

Vivi wants to show off and walk everywhere now. It gets a little dangerous when you are carrying her up or down the stairs, as she sometimes leans forward to try to signal she wants to be put down. (Because of this she is mostly walking up the stairs herself these days). She is becoming very independent, but also loves to snuggle occasionally.

Hard to believe that she's a year old on Saturday. Where did the time go?!?!

Playground pics

Went to our favorite playground last week on Friday, and I'm just now getting a chance to post the pictures. Took some shots with our new 50mm lens.

Funny things Owen has said recently:

(The local news is on in the background as we were making dinner, some story about a crime at a Target store was being discussed)
Owen: Mommy!! Look, it's Target!!! We live there!

(Driving home from the library last week)
Owen: Mommy, look at this booger!
Me: Owen, please don't pick your nose.
Owen: Okay Mommy.
(a few seconds later...) I put it back in my nose.

Boys. Love him.

Homemade babylegs!

I was shopping the other day at Old Navy and saw this tube of knee-high girls' socks on sale while I was waiting in line. I remembered reading on Pinterest that you can make homemade babylegs legwarmers out of them, so I grabbed one to try.

It was so easy! All I had to do was snip off the ankle of each sock, slip it around the sewing machine tray, and sew a zig-zag stitch along the cut edge while stretching it a bit. It made a cute ruffle edge for the bottom of the legwarmer!


I was able to do four out of the five pairs before my bobbin ran out and I had to make lunch for the kids. After they ate, I asked Vivian to model a pair for me so that I could see how they came out. Pretty cute on her chubby little thighs, huh? :)

Date night!

Grandma came over tonight to babysit so that Ben and I could go on a date: out to dinner with Kel, Matt, Molly and Tim, and then to Missy & Randy's Christmas party in Arlington. Grandma brought over all kinds of goodies for the kids: wind-up toy snowman and Santa, a Santa lunchbox with candycanes inside, Christmas books, a Christmas CD, Christmas ornaments to add to our tree, and the best part: cookies to decorate!


Owen had so much fun decorating Christmas sugar cookies and gingerbread cookies with Grandma. He entertained himself for a long time by scooping up sprinkles with his toy digger. :)

Thank you to Grandma for letting us go out on a date night!

Daddy's specs