And Many More . . .

Today we celebrated Miss B's birthday for the second time! We had a small party on her actual birthday as well on Monday at the cabin. It was a wowzer of a party and a wonderful time. Bethany had some fun . . . and some not-so-fun!

Here she is with all of her gifts. Her mommy got really excited about it too!

The Presents

The Party

Bethany had a few melt-down moments.

The Family

Grandpa & Grandma Leavitt and Aunt Carissa came to visit us from CO! We are so glad they could be here for the party and Thanksgiving! Yay!

Finally - The Cake!

THE END!

Happy 1st Birthday Bethany!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to our little girl! It has been an AMAZING first year! Here is a LOOK back . . .

Happy Birthday Bethany sweetie!

9 months old

7 months old

5 months old

3 months old

1 month old

The first week

Bethany's first hours - November 24, 2007

Wow! It is only the beginning . . . stay tuned for more celebration of our Miss B this week.

Thankful Thursday Part II

I know, I know - it is Friday but I got all wrapped up in other things yesterday and didn't get to put this up.

Here are some more things I am thankful for today and most days!

I am thankful for:

* Hersey's Chocolate Symphony Bar - Toffee flavor or any other chocolate foods
* My ability to multi-task
* Family & friends who are willing to step up and lend a hand of help with generous hearts
* Capturing the perfect moment in a picture
* Sonic
* Keeping in touch
* Getting a chance to make a difference
* Opportunities that come when you need them to
* A laugh, a smile or just playfulness from my sweet Miss B
* Getting away for a weekend road-trip

Hope you all have a fabulous weekend! I am really looking forward to Thanksgiving next week! Yay!

:-)

Baby Chase and Other Games

Lately Miss B has started to engage us more often for games. It is so fun to see her this way. She initiates one of her favorites very often - Chase! She loves being chased around the coffee table while she tries to run away. We got this video of her in action. It sounds like she is upset or crying but that is actually her happy and excited squeals.

Miss B also loves, loves, loves peek-a-boo! She plays that a lot these days. She also seeks out someone to play with at church who sits behind us. The last two weeks the same couple has sat behind us at church and played along with her little game.

Another funny game Miss B has started doing with her mommy and daddy is baby wrestling. If we lay down on the floor she will come over and pounce on us, rolling and flopping all over. She gets so tickled and can't stop laughing. It is pure silliness! This all usually happens around or just before bedtime.

We are looking forward to her birthday next Monday! We can't believe that we've already had her as part of our family for almost one year! Yay! What a wonderful little blessing to have in our home!

Thankful Thursday

In my attempt to stay clear of all the yucky that is amongst us I have decided to post what I am thankful for each Thursday that is left in the month of November.

Even with all that surrounds us that isn't so great, I believe we must see through it and look at the upside of life, find the positive and pour our hearts out in thanksgiving. An ungrateful heart is truly the saddest thing. Once you read this please leave your comments on what you are thankful for. It will make me really really happy if you do!

Here are some of the random things I am grateful for today (& most days really!)

10 Things I Am Thankful For:

* Cuddling with my sweetie Miss B and watching her amazing little world unfold.
* A wonderful, eternal husband who loves me and supports me through it all.
* Radiant Heat Barriers . . . They rock! This month's electric/gas bill is under $150! Whoo Hoo!
* Chips and Salsa - my favorite snack
* Allergy medication!
* Long time friends and new ones too
* The approaching holiday season. What a wonderful time of year!
* Grandparents - mine and Miss B's
* Making a change in my life
* Music that soothes the soul

Stay tuned for 10 more things of my thankful heart next Thursday.

Now it's YOUR TURN!

Our Little Baby Einstein

Call us crazy, but is it normal for an 11 month old baby to line things up pretty much in a perfect order? I gave Miss B a basket of plastic toy fruit and veggies to play with and walked away for a moment. Later Ryan came by and asked if I had helped her do this . . . No. After just one episode of Little Einsteins we have a genius on our hands!!! Just kidding. But really, she did it all by herself. Very interesting . . . We captured the moment with her crawling away from her curious formation.


This face says " Mom, why did you make me wear a froo-froo dress to church today?"
Thanks to her grandma for giving her this beautiful, frilly, girl dress! She looks like a little princess minus the hanger she is sitting on. Too funny!



We spent most of this past week down at the Williamson Farm with my parents. It was great to get some country air for a few days and enjoy some quality time with Mama Leslie and Grand Pappy!

Trick Or Treat . . . What A Week!

I know, I know . . . we are a few days late but we have been VERY busy this past week or so. Lots going on means a delay in posting to the blog.

Bethany's 1st Halloween went wonderfully. She was the most darling little Minne Mouse that ever was. We were not going to be able to make it to our church Trunk-Or-Treat so we went to my sister's ward's Trunk-or-Treat instead. Bethany DID NOT like her mouse ears at all to say the least. As the night wore on she grew tired and kept them on longer. She had a great time seeing all the fun costumes and kiddos as they trick-or-treated!

This is at the Trunk-or-Treat where families decorate their trunks and kids have a safe way to spend Halloween. This trunk is my sister Angie's . . . cute, huh? Bethany and her Daddy had a lot of fun. There were a whole bunch of people dressed as characters from Star Wars. Fun times!

Our BEAUTIFUL little Minnie Mouse.

Whew . . . the rest of the week went something like this:

We got another great view of hot air balloons launching from our backyard on Saturday. This time with four balloons. What fun!

Bethany has decided that she wants to be a big girl now and drink from her mommy's glass. She LOVES cold water and does a pretty great job at drinking from an open cup already. Very little spillage.

It was also the week of grandparents. Tuesday Bethany and I made our way to my Mama Judy's house to visit her along with my parents, Mama Leslie and Grandpappy for the day! We had a great time and love to see them as often as we can. Can't wait to see you again in a few weeks. Yay!

Another one of Bethany's grandma's came to visit us from Las Vegas for Halloween weekend. Grandma Gloria (Ryan's mom) and Bethany had tons of fun together throughout the days that she was here. We dressed her up again on Halloween just for fun so Grandma Gloria could get some pictures with her . . . aaahhh so cute!

In just a few more weeks we will have more grandparents and family visiting with us! We can't wait for Thanksgiving and for Bethany's 1st birthday . . . it will be here soon!

Flying High With a Birthday Balloon

I know I already posted about Bethany being 11 months today but she got a big balloon surprise to help her celebrate . . .

We were coming home this evening from running an errand when this is what we came home to. Pretty cool! They were launching the hot air balloon right next door to us in the open corn field a few lots down. Bethany had no idea what was going on but maybe she will appreciate the pictures when she is older . . . her first hot air balloon experience right from her driveway!

It was a BEAUTIFUL day for ballooning and anything for that matter! Love this weather. Enjoy the pictures. I think I did a pretty good job capturing it all. What do you think?

This is Bethany's window from her room. Neat picture, huh?

Lucky Number 11

Miss B is 11 months!

Just a few more shorts weeks and we will have a one year old . . . Time is flying by!

This video is of her playing in the cabinets and getting the pots and pans out. She has discovered the kitchen these past few weeks. Future Chef? Maybe! Little Miss Mischeif - Definately!

Pumpkins, Pumpkins and More Pumpkins

Oh My . . . It is The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown!

I love October and all things fall! It's my October Fun season and the start to my very favorite time of year. Even though we don't get much fall foliage in north TX and the "cooler" fall temperatures are really just less hot than normal, I love all that fall brings. There is just something about BIG ORANGE PUMPKINS!

We went to the Celina Pumpkin Patch on Saturday. It was a very fun filled afternoon of farm animals, orange, hay and of course pumpkins! Bethany had quite a time . . . she LOVED everything about the day.

Here are some of the best shots of the day from Miss B's first time at a pumpkin patch!

Bethany is helping daddy feed the longhorn. She was absolutely interested in all the animals and they definitely kept her attention throughout the day.

We thought this truck was pretty great. It makes for a great photo with Daddy and Miss B! I couldn't get her to look over at me for anything . . . oh well! It is still cute!

Mommy and Miss B sitting pretty on a pumpkin!

They had this really neat goat bridge there. The goats could walk over from one goat pen to the other so see their friends and family. How nice of them to do that for the goats!

Hmmm . . . The barnyard dog.
As we walked around we would find it in different places all over the pumpkin patch. Every time we came across her she was all kicked back and asleep!

HERE is the BEST part of our fall pumpkin adventure . . .

This video was so worth the price we paid to get into the pumpkin patch. We laughed so hard . . . you probably will too! Bethany LOVED the pumpkins and was absolutely in pumpkin heaven. We had a great time and will make this a tradition each fall with our family!


Go ahead, laugh . . . it's funny!

Come On, You Can Do It . . .

So in my randomness I decided to put this out there . . .

In my last 13 posts over the past 6 weeks or so I have only gotten 3 comments! HOW SAD! Don't you people love me? I am just saying, it makes blogging so much more fun when you have friends and family poke around on your blog and leave something nice to say once in a while . . . so come on, you can do it. And I promise to leave more comments on your blogs too!

:-)

Playdates

This week Bethany had her first official play date. I have to admit at this age it really is a mommy play date, right? We went to the park with a friend of mine and her three kiddos. One of the other children is about Bethany's same age . . . this is why is counts as a play date! Anyway, Bethany got a turn on the swings for the first time and she LOVED it! It was a beautiful day and the park we went to was in Allen. It has ducks, fountains and all things fun for babies to look at! We had a great time!



Later in the week we had another "drop-in" play date! My sister was watching a friend's baby girl (just a bit older than Bethany) and she brought her over to play with Miss B. They had lots of fun together. Funny thing . . . we go a year almost with no play dates then there are two in the same week. I guess we are getting to that stage. My baby is growing up and getting so big. Aaawww!

A Very Happy 31st

My birthday was last Monday and things are pretty great I'd have to say! I got lots of birthday calls, messages, cards and emails from dear friends and family wishing me the best day. I really feel blessed to have so many people around me who love and care about me. I am one LUCKY gal . . . most of all because I get to be mommy to Bethany and wifey to Ryan. As Napoleon Dynamite would say "Yes!" (Yeeesssssss).

This weekend Ryan and I celebrated some more with a trip to Fort Worth to see the Impressionists exhibit at the Kimbell Art Museum. Then after that we went to dinner and to the Michael Buble' concert! It was so much fun. We really enjoyed our date and I am well on my way to enjoying another year older and wiser too!




These pictures are my birthday pictures . . . most of them I wanted to have Miss B with me!

Doctor's Visit

I took Miss B to her new pediatrician today. She did great with her shots. She had to get her iron tested and she cried more after the finger prick than anything. Bethany is now 20 pounds 8 ounces and is 28 inches tall (both in the 50th %tile). She is cutting her top two front teeth and that is causing major drama with this usually easy going baby. Poor thing! She is all over the place and in to everthing. Things are getting exciting around here. Can't believe that she will be ONE soon!