12 Whole Months - Where Did They Go?

Naked Aftyn. What a cutie.
She's either sick of cake or sick of me in her face with a camera

Birthday balloon and her new sippy cup with a straw


Grandma and Grandpa Bishop came to help celebrate her birthday



Aftyn lounging around, watching Sesame Street

The day after Aftyn's birthday she had her 12 month wellness visit. The doctor asked what kinds of things she can say, and of course I drew a blank. Here is a complete list of Aftyn's words at the moment:

- poopoo

-hi

- uhoh

-mama

-dada

-ta da

-whoa

-wow

-up

-baba

-thank you
-love you
-papa
-yucky

I can remember looking at Aftyn when she was a few days old, thinking some day she would do all the big girl things she can do now. It's amazing.

Aftyn is a kick in the pants. She has such a fun personality.

The other morning when Reed went to get her out of bed, she was sitting in the middle of her crib with her blanket perfectly situated over the top of her head.

Reed said she looked like she was dressing up as a ghost. She does funny/silly things like that all the time.

She makes us laugh a lot. We are sure glad to have the opportunity to enjoy her sweet and sometimes stubborn spirit in our home.

*Professional 12 month pictures coming soon I hope! *

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Get Your Priorities Straight, Sistah!

I know, I know, I need to tell you all about Aftyn's fun first birthday.





I know.





I will.





Soon.





In the meantime, had to share something humorous that happened today with Aftyn.


Lately, Aftyn has been doing great about just laying down and going to sleep. No playing around. She must be extra tired due to teething or something.





Todays afternoon nap, however, was the exception. I laid her down, and could still hear her 20 minutes later after I thought she had already gone to sleep.





I walk in the room only to find an unexpected sight.





Aftyn, sitting up in her crib, doing "The Wheels On The Bus" arm roll with her little arms.

This is pretty much what it looks like.

What do you do when faced with such cuteness?

Of course, I sang "the wheels on the bus",

helped her do the arm roll,

and then laid her down for her nap.

We Survived!

I had to come and report that we finished living with our 6 nieces and nephews today. It was fun while it lasted, but also nice to come home to our 1 child and somewhat quieter house.

One of the neatest things to come out of the week: Aftyn is now walking! She is such a funny and brave little walker. She is so proud of herself when she toddles off somewhere, she giggles in this cute little nervous way. She wouldn't have gotten this far so quickly without all the help and encouragement of her cousins. They were always helping her to walk places in the house with their help, and trying to get her to walk places on her own.

Yay for Aftyn!

Adventures In Babysitting

Thanks for the idea for a title, Kamber!

As many of you know, Reed, Aftyn and I are helping to watch over 6 of my nieces and nephews. It's amazing how much can happen and how much you can learn in only 5 days. Most days have been full of fun and quirky things, but so far I think tonight takes the cake.

Thanks to one active and helpful 3 year old boy, 3 of the kids bathed with a toilet brush. Which we thankfully figured out after questioning one of the kids about shampooing their hair, and then promptly sent them all back to bathe again but without the helpful germy brush. Ew.

Aftyn is almost walking! Thanks to lots of help from the kiddles, her new record for most steps at a time is 9, and growing every day. We're hoping by the end of our visit that she will be a full-time or close to full-time walker. And she's getting her 7th tooth. And her cousin is getting 3rd and 4th ones.

Some of my favorite times of day are:

- when the door closes behind the kids as they head off to school, and shortly thereafter when naptime ensues

- after dinner when the kitchen is cleaned up and some of the kids head out to play outside together. Love it!

- when Aftyn and her cousin come out of the tub smelling clean and get slathered with yummy smelling lotion. Nothing like clean naked babies!

Overall, this has been a great experience. I have learned a lot, but mostly how important mommies are in families. Thanks to my sister-in-law, everything is scheduled out and it makes it pretty easy since we have an idea of how everything should work out. And thanks to some awesome older kids of theirs, we have so much help with the younger ones that life is much easier than it might be.

Sorry there are no pictures, but really, do you think I have time to take pictures? After all, there are 7 kids here! :)

29 Things I've Learned

1. Life rarely turns our the way you planned

2. Expect the unexpected

3. Eat chocolate - it's worth it

4. Enjoy the little things

5. Look around you - there's always something beautiful to see

6. Heavenly Father loves us and knows each one of us

7. Find something you love and do it often

8. Life is more fun when you surround yourself with those who love you

9. Always wear your seat belt

10. You can do harder things than you know - especially with our Heavenly Fathers help

11. Stop and smell the flowers

12. Sing in the car - who cares who is watching

13. When you are generous with others, it always comes back to bless you

14. There IS beauty all around when there's love at home

15. Pray always

16. Sacrifices for your kids are so worth it

17. Nothing like a few kind words to heal a broken spirit

18. Do something you think you can't at least once - and then see how strong you REALLY are

19. Love others - it makes you a prettier person inside

20. Look for the good things in even the worst situation - it makes you happier

21. Don't fret about those last 5 pounds. It usually comes off when you're not looking.

22. Learn how to do the Heimlich Manuever and CPR. It's important.

23. Little baby kisses are the best

24. Be silly - it's highly underrated

25. Sing - even if you can't carry a tune in a bucket.

26. Travel at least once to somewhere you've always wanted to go

27. You don't need everything you THINK you need

28. Keep an eternal perspective

29. People are more important than things

This Needs To Be Documented for Posterity!

Aftyn just took her first "on purpose" steps! Yay!

Sadly, my camera batteries just died trying to take a picture of this momentous event.

Just try to imagine a hesitant little baby/toddler

walking for yummy cereal pieces her mama is enticing

her with.

You gotta use what works, right?