It's Almost Over

I cannot believe it is almost 2012! I also cannot believe the last time I posted it was on Bella's Birthday! So much has happened since, I dont even know where to begin.

Greg turned 28... he is getting up there! Haha JK
We celebrated Thanksgiving. I have so much to be thankful for, I dont even know where to start.
We went out on Black Friday... It was awesome. Definitely going to do it next year, it wasn't nearly as crazy as I thought it would be.
I got the flu....uggh! But Greg was so amazing and took care of Bella.
We went on a mini vacay to Phoenix/ Flagstaff. It was really just for Greg's work but we tagged along so we didnt have to be away from eachother once again.
We had two baptisms in the family, both on Greg's side. It was so great to see Trey and Sterling make such wonderful choices. One of them was in Oregon, it was a lot of fun to travel to see Michelle and her family.
Bella and I went to Disneyland as much as possible. It is so much fun to go there and be together, just the two of us. I just love having a little girl.
I made 2 holiday dresses for Bella, they turned out soo cute! I need to post pictures. I love sewing dresses for her, she is a wonderful model.
We cooked and baked till we couldn't stand up anymore.
We had a wonderful Christmas. We got Bella way to much and it was totally worth it.
Now my family is all in town, this week is crazy busy!
Then it's the New Year... yeah we will be home. What is there to do when you have a 1 year old? haha

I don't think I had one day in the past 2 months where I could relax.... I love the Holidays but I am looking forward to January for everything to slow down a little bit.


Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

1st Birthday Party

I still cannot believe my little girl is one! This year went by so fast. It's been so much fun and just keeps getting better. I cannot wait to see what this next year holds.
We decided to have a small birthday party with just family this past Saturday. Bella knew it was all about her and she loved it. She totally loved opening her presents and she did a great job. She was an expert pulling out all the tissue paper, then the gift inside. Bella gave the best reactions and hugged all her stuff to show she loved it. It was so cute!
Then it was cake time. I made her, her very own huge cupcake. I asked her if she wanted cake now and she smiled and shook her head. She was ready! So we gave her the cake and she dug right in. She actually did eat very much but she enjoyed playing in it.
Bella had a lot of fun... I think. She had a sugar high for sure. When it was over she was ready for nap time and so was I.
I love my little Bee so much and I could not imagine life without her.
Happy Birthday Bella Bee, we love you!

Last Year

This time last year I was sleeping... I had no idea I was going to wake up in a half hour in my birthing time (labor). I would insert picture here of me at 41 weeks pregnant but computer issues is preventing me from doing that. Plus who wants to see me at 175 Lbs.... I dont. haha. I am glad it's all gone, never again... I hope!
I cannot believe my baby girl is turning one tomorrow. I just cannot believe it. Can't they just stay little forever?

Cute Little Convo

Yes, I just has a conversation with Bella Bee. I'm sitting here eating lunch, a salad from Cafe Rio. I offer Bella a black bean with dressing on it. She eats it, says "good". I ask her if she wants another, she says "yeah" and I give her another. I keep asking if she wants more, she keeps saying "yeah". Haha. Then goes "mmmmm" when she's done.
So cute... I just love her!!

Happy Halloween!

I cannot believe Halloween is over, October just flew by. Bella and I got back from Hawaii the night before, I didn't have much time to prepare to costumes I wanted. I decided to throw together a cute black cat and I was a witch. I knew she would be absolutely adorable in anything I put on her so I wasn't worried.

We took Bella trick or treating... she wasn't so sure about it. The decorations and music scared her. She did enjoy the candy after, who doesn't? I made root beer and kettle corn, absolutely delicious. And then finished the night off with Hocus Pocus... my favorite Halloween movie ever.

Getting read to go Trick or Treating

She found the bowl of candy at the front door

Way too stinkin' cute

Greg and Bella are so adorable together

Love her!

Fall

I cannot believe we are almost through October, almost halfway through fall. I love the fall time, there is so much fun stuff to do. It really gets me in the mood for the holiday season. I LOVE Halloween, it is my favorite holiday behind Christmas. I love the decorations, the weather is cooling down, the cute clothes you get to wear and all the fun family activities. This is the first fall in 5 years that we are spending outside of Utah... and I will admit... I miss it. It just feels so much more like fall in Utah, there is a ton more to do. You have mulitple pumpkin patches, corn mazes, haunted houses, the leaves changing, and the weather actually cooling down. BUT I wouldn't trade living in Southern California, the winters are just too long.

Bella and I were able to go to a pumpkin patch with my mom and 2 sisters... it was fun but soo hot that day! Then Bella and I went to another one a few days later with Greg, but I dont have pics uploading from that trip yet...

Bella is holding on for dear life

Bee isn't looking and my eyes are closed... but I still love this picture.

These pictures describe Bella perfectly

I took these a few days before... so adorable

Bella can squat with the best of them

She is sweating up a storm.. haha

Love all these!

Could I be any more lucky to have such a fun, cute, loving little girl?! And I am even more lucky I get to dress her up in all these fall/ halloween outfits.

Fall is even more fun with my little family!

Hawaii Time

I. Love. Hawaii. Let me rephrase that. I. Love. Maui. I have been lucky enough growing up to have taken countless trips to Maui with my family. My parents bought a place over her when I was 6 weeks old. We would come every summer since I was 10 for at least a month. I always loved it! Now I get to bring my little girl here! It is Bella's second time coming here already. I hope we can come often so she can make the same memories.
Below there is a picture of a little crab crawling on Bella, she is pushing the stroller, giggling! And a beautiful rainbow!!

Precious Moments

This past year has been one of the most difficult years I have gone through. I am lucky I have such a great family who has been there for me. I love the time I get to spend with Bella, she makes everything worth it. Her smile is so contagious and her laugh is adorable. Bella's new favorite show is 3rd and Bird, she LOVES all the music.

I am so lucky I get to spend all day everyday with her. I treasure all the time I have with her. Those precious moments are what I live for.

Baking Time

Ever since I can remember I have always wanted a little girl so I can do all the fun mother daughter stuff. Cooking, shopping, painting nails, doing hair and... Baking! So today I decided, let's bake. It was cute because I told Bells we are going to make some cookies and said, Yay! Cookies! Then she clapped. Loved. It.Bells helped me get everything out. While I added in the sugar I looked back and someone decided they needed to try it.

Then she tried to get the brown sugar. How adorable is that face! It brightens my day!

Flour time.. I felt bad she rubbed her eye so I made sure to clean her up.

Bells thought the mixer was pretty cool... Then not too sure about it. Haha.

Finally they are done, so I let her dig in. She. Loved. It.I love how she is trying to put her hand in her mouth when it's flat. Haha. I am so lucky, I just cant wait till she gets hair!

Welcome Home, Elder Jordan

Such an exciting day yesterday for my family! My little brother, Stephen, returned home from his mission. He served our Heavenly Father for 2 years in the Atlanta, Georgia North Mission. I was so excited to see him and for him to meet Bella for the first time. You could definitely tell he felt overwhelmed and not sure what to do. Our first stop was Baja Fish Tacos, it was a good lunch. Then we came home and hung out for a few hours. After we went to meet the stake president so Stephen could be release as a missionary. It was s very nice meeting with President Reese. There was such a sweet spirit present, the spirit that gives you confirmation of the truthfulness of the gospel.
It has been nice having a missionary home, realize. Being so fresh off the mission Stephen has such a peace about him. It gives me perspective on things in my life and what I can be doing better.
I love Stephen a lot... He has always had a special place in my heart.

Fun, Happy Day

Today was such a great day. After a busy morning taking care of Bee and trying to get my work done we made over to, the Happiest Place on Earth, D-Land!!! My mom and Hailey came with us.

First stop, great moments with Mr. Lincoln. My little sis does home school so my mom likes to squeeze in educational stuff where she can.

Second stop, Playhouse Disney Live on Stage. Bee LOVED this!!! She was moving her arms all over, bouncing, jumping, screaming... everything this little girl could do to show she was having fun.

Third, the Aladdin show. It was alright but a little disappointed overall.

Then Bella Bee and I walked around and went on the carousel while my mom and Hailey went on a different ride. It was fun just the two of us. I will need to do it more often.
Right before we were going to leave the Little Mermaid ride opened and we walked right on. It was a cute ride but I was super impressed.

It was such a fun day with my little girl. I just loved it!!

Here is a clip from the video I took of her. I am not bouncing her at all... Bee is loving it!

My Little Bella Bee

Life has been very busy lately... I feel like I am barely able to keep my head above water. Greg has been gone a lot lately for work and is leaving again on Monday for 3 days... I am still working 3-5 hours a day and taking care of Bella. Sometimes I really enjoy my job, other times I cannot wait for the day when I don't have to work. Especially when I have an emergency on my hands and Bella needs me. That's when it is stressful but I am so fortunate for the job I have and the amazing company I work for.
Bella is such a handful and is crawling EVERYWHERE, but I love it!!! I love being a mom... It's a lot for me to say that. I couldn't have a couple months ago. Bella is such a wonderful baby and is so so good. I don't know how I got so lucky but I am incredibly grateful. She is growing up so fast and getting so big.
Bella can:
Say mama and dada, she also is really good at mimicking so she will make animal sounds after you. My little bee also will say Bella!!
She has taken 3 steps, pulls herself to stand up to everything and is cruising along all the furniture.
Bella loves blueberries she can eat 2 huge handfuls at once
Bella still isn't the best at eating veggies but she is getting better.
Bella is definitely a Daddy's girl... She loves playing with him!!
Bella bee is so happy all the time. She is amazing.