This is what I get when she is too busy to look at me...

A one year old?

I'm not totally sure that I'm ready for this.  One year has flown by waaaay to quickly.   I'm pretty sure we brought a sleepy little baby home from the hospital only a month or two ago.  I want to call her a baby still, but parts of me think she is definitely a toddler (not quite sure what the distinction is here). She's totally full of personality.  She is moving everywhere and into everything - and I am loving it.

She had her one year doctor's appointment today and measured in at:

weight: 21.63 pounds (60%)

height: 30.9 inches (94%)

head: 19.2 inches (99.8%)

And I'm pretty sure if they measured her feet they would be like 3 inches and in the 5% - her feet are so tiny!

At one year old, Maddie is a great sleeper (most nights), still takes 2 naps almost everyday, loves her newfound crawling skills and cruises around everywhere.  She is a little cuddler and still loves sucking her thumb.  She also loves her little Aiden and Anais swaddle blankets (we've bought 8 so far). She loves playing hide and seek, sneaking up on mom, playing anything with dad, helping mom cook, taking everything out of mom's purse, singing songs with actions and taking long long baths.   She also loves the "Party in My Tummy Song" from Yo Gabba Gabba (weirdest show ever).

She loves reading probably more than anything - her favorite books are Tails, Heads, Llama Llama Red Pajama, Quick as a Cricket, Brown Bear Brown Bear, and The Very Hungry Caterpillar.  If Maddie were to dream up her perfect day it would probably be filled with me reading these books to her over and over and over and over...

She is the best little eater - I honestly have not found anything she won't eat.  Her favorites are tomatoes, bananas, cream of wheat, cheese, green beans, clementines, yogurt, graham crackers etc... she loves pretty much everything.

Maddie has the most easy-going personality most of the time, but definitely lets us know when she wants something.  She loves being the center of attention, and more often than not - she is the center of attention.  She is really social and loves making new friends, especially at the grocery store.  I catch her smiling at complete strangers everywhere we go.  She also loves little kids and babies.  Josh and I always joke that we need a 3 or 4 year old because Maddie would love it so much.  

 Year one with this little girl has been perfect... now onto year 2!

Today

Today is bringing back a lot of strong memories for me.  In two days my little Maddie will turn one, but it was on this day last year (a Wednesday of this week) that I realized that in just a few short hours we would have a little baby with us.

This time last year I was probably doing pretty routine things - cleaning up, trying to think of something to make for dinner, checking my email - except I was pretty sure I was having contractions.  Nothing too painful - just enough to make me wonder.  If today was today last year, I'd be having a baby in the morning.

When I found out I was pregnant four weeks after getting married I felt so overwhelmed and unprepared.  I had always wanted to be a mom more than anything but didn't expect that it would happen that soon.  Josh was amazing through everything, and despite my fears at times, he always reassured me that this was the right thing for us and helped me realize that things would work out.

I feel pretty safe speaking for both of us when I say that this past year has been the best year of our lives. We've had our ups and downs, but couldn't imagine ourselves any happier.  We have learned so so much and are so in love with our little girl, and even more in love with each other.  Sometimes I feel like I need to pinch myself - this little thing is real - and she's ours!  She is so sweet and so fun and makes our lives so much more complete.

Today we had the opportunity to celebrate Maddie's birthday a few days early by having lunch with Elder Holland.  It's something that she won't be able to remember herself, but I hope that we can help her to.  What a lucky little girl, and what an amazing opportunity.

 I am feeling blessed today in so many ways.  Maddie, we love you more than words could ever say!

No pictures with Elder Holland today, but we did manage one in the yellow lights outside the 

Church Administration Building entrance.

Our favorite Brazilians

Wednesday we said goodbye to Marcos, one of our favorite people in the world.  Maddie finally got to meet her black uncle.  Thankfully it won't be for too long - he'll be back in June (righhhhht Marcos??).  And thankfully we didn't have to say goodbye to Ana who's a local now.  

We had a blast playing games, listening to the preacher man, ping-ponging, adoring Maddie, and just hanging out.  This was our third visit from Marcos - hopefully it won't be too long before we can repay the visit by us going to Brazil.

I just need to learn a little Portuguese.

(and sorry about the not-great iPhone pictures...)

Holidays.

We were lucky enough to spend almost 3 weeks in Bountiful over Christmas break.  Bountiful will always feel like home to us (and with as much time as we spend there, it might as well be).  After going through my (lack of) pictures from the break and trying to decide what to post, I've decided to add one more new year's resolution to my already mile long list... take more pictures.  Especially of Josh and I - we are seriously lacking on photos of the two of us together.

Maddie dreaming about what she might be getting for Christmas

Hanging out at Kingsbury Hall during the Jon Schmidt Christmas concert

Maddie in her Christmas dress I made for her - still trying to get the hang of this whole sewing thing

The BHS alumni bball tournament... my Josh knows how to play.

Little new year's eve date at CPK - don't think I could ever get sick of this place or my cute man

This might be an indication of why we don't have many pictures together - this was attempt #4 I think - not the greatest picture of us, but Josh was done trying.

We had such a great Christmas break filled with family, no school, eating, baby staying up past 11, more food, birthday celebrations, naps, date night for Josh and I, FIFA, realizing that if I thought I was in okay shape - I was wrong (thank you GPP Fitness), and being totally spoiled in every way.  Josh and I are truly blessed to have such amazing families that live so close.