Labor Day Weekend 2014 - Nauvoo

This year for our Labor Day Weekend we took a road trip to Nauvoo.  We had the best time!  Nauvoo attracts summer crowds but not Labor Day crowds.  We practically had the place to ourselves!  We stayed at a cute bed and breakfast inn that was once Willard Richards' home.  Loved it! It was perfect. We were able to fit our whole family into one room comfortably.  We had our own bathroom across the hall complete with a victorian claw foot tub. (Yes, I used it...and I want one!)  I loved it because it was down in the old historic part of Nauvoo and not up on the hill like most of the other places to stay.  It was a beautiful old house with all the original architectural details.  LOVE!  The rooms were cute and comfortable.  The cost was very reasonable and included bike rentals for the family so we literally rode our bikes from place to place and covered so much more than we would have on foot.  The inn itself and riding bikes were real high lights!

 

We were able to do just about everything we wanted.  If we were to go again soon I think there would still be a few things new to discover.  The girls loved the animals and loved petting the horses.  We took the bikes out to where the horses are kept when they aren't working and said hello. All the little homes and shops were so interesting to visit.  The missionaries there were all so welcoming and happy to have us there.  We visited the records building and learned that both Kermit and I had relatives that lived there! (Too much time has passed now and I can't remember names except Newell Knight on Kermit's side.)

 

A great time was had by all.  I'd recommend it folks! You should go! 

 

 

Look who's ONE!

This has been THE fastest year on record!  I can't believe this baby is ONE! How did this happen?!

She took her first steps tonight!  She was quite proud and so were her sisters.  We all cheered as she walked between Kermit and I.  I knew she'd be doing it soon because all week she has been pushing around a toy that slides easily across the floor.  She has to lean way over to push it so her  bottom is up in the air but she seems to prefer to be on her feet when she can rather than her knees.  She also likes to push around the high chair.  It's funny to see this little baby push a big chair like that.  (It's super light weight…thank you Ikea.  Not the one in the picture above.)

She is doing great on all fronts.  She loves being read to.  She likes to sing.  She's fascinated with drawers and likes to open and close them constantly.  She likes pulling books out off the shelves.  She likes to point at things.  She loves going shopping with me but must be strapped in the cart or she'll stand up.  Oh I love this girl! She has learned to say and knows where her nose is. She also seems to get it that I'm "Mama" and dad is "Dada". I think.  She uses them interchangeably but doesn't use those names for her sisters.  She is eating well.  Still prefers to breastfeed rather than take a sip cup. She has never really taken a bottle so I guess she never will at this point.  She doesn't seem to like milk, can you blame her?  But I was so proud that I wouldn't have to buy her formula once I weaned her but it seems she isn't liking milk anyway and has no plans to wean herself any time soon.

She got shots the other day for her 12 month exam.  She took them like a champ. Cried for 10 seconds and has been happy ever since.  I was waiting for it all to hit the roof later in the day but so far so good. She really is just a happy girl.  And especially now that we have that nasty molar tooth finally in.  I cannot believe how much that tooth affected her. I'm glad to have my content and happy baby back.

She loves to snuggle.  Every morning we sit in her room for 15 minutes before I go and wake big sisters.  She hugs and cuddles and kisses.  My favorite part of the day right there!  Then I take her in to see her sisters and they are always glad to see her.  She helps them to wake up on the right side of the bed for sure.

I hear her repeat words all the time.  I'm sure she knows some of them and isn't just parroting.  I think she knows DOG and BALL.  I'll have to keep a list as she learns them.

I bought a new stroller for her on Craigslist.  My kids think I'm crazy and maybe I am because it is the 4th stroller that we have for her.  BUT here's why I needed this fourth stroller….it can face me as we stroll.  I would take her for walks and it drove me crazy to not be able to see my sweet baby.  So…this stroller is because she is my last baby and I want to be able to look at her while we stroll. So for her birthday I got her a new stroller so that I could see her more.  Makes sense.  I mean look at that face.

It's late. 10:40pm.  I hear my little angle baby up there stirring.  Looking for a snack. I best be going.  Hopefully she'll only have me up once tonight.  Yeah, we're still working on that.

Baby Love

I love these pictures.  I can't take my eyes off of them once I start.  Just one year ago this baby came and it has been the fastest and happiest year yet.  I will love this baby forever and cherish these memories always.