13 Months Old Today

Rachel turned 13 months old today.

I remember when I wrote "Rachel is 13 weeks." Wow, time flies!

We hung out this morning before work and watched Jungle Junction on tv. She absolutely loves that show. One of the only other shows she watches is Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. For those two shows, she will sit on my lap and watch them for 10 - 20 minutes. Nothing else will keep her still that long.

Rachel is constantly on the move. She wants to walk absolutely EVERYWHERE. If we are outside and I try to get her to go somewhere, she will go the exact opposite way. She wants to go where she wants to go and it is always on her own time.

She has been making so many faces these days. Out of the 30 or so pictures I took today, probably about 10 of them have her tongue out or a silly face.

She loves to tear my magazines apart. I brought the Costco Connection in just for her this afternoon so she could have a field day with it.

We have swings over by our pool and I have been taking her there a couple of times a week in the afternoon.

I don't know, but I think that she loves it!

Dinner time! Her favorite foods these days are Macaroni and Cheese, Pizza, almost any fruit, and yogurt. I have finally been able to get her to eat a few vegetables, especially if I stick them in her Mac 'n Cheese. She mostly wants to feed herself. I have issues with messes, so I still only let her feed herself things that won't get too messy.

Bath time! She so looks like she is posing in this picture. What a cutie.

She loves to play peek-a-boo with the shower curtain.

She is listening to music on Pandora on my cell phone while I get her dressed. She loves Tim's and my cell phones and especially loves the music on them.

Her favorite thing to do in her bedroom is empty out her drawers. Her favorite drawer is her pants/shorts drawer. I think it is because it is just at her height. I put her pants and shorts away at least 3 times a day. It has totally become a game for her. As soon as I put them away, I will go to pick her up to take her downstairs and she will try to run to the dresser to pull more clothes out. I wonder what her next game will be?

Rachel's Birthday Party

We had Rachel's birthday party at my mom's house last Sunday.

The birthday girl looks like she is reaching for the beer.

Rachel's favorite thing to do was look at the dogs through the screen door and Grant's favorite thing to do was play with the exercise bike.

She still likes to put everything in her mouth!

"Whoa Rachel, what are you doing? You are such a big girl! I can't wait until I am one and can ride that horsey as well as you!"

My mom made Rachel this awesome ladybug blanket. I can't keep it out because it is the cats new favorite place to lay. I grabbed it out again this morning and Rachel reached for it and we cuddled under it.

My sister got Rachel a keyboard and both of the kids loved it.

Mmmmm hangers. My favorite!

Mmmmm paper. My favorite!

Yay Grant! Come and get me!

Haha, you can't catch me!

Birthday cream apple squares. Yummy!

Tired out after a great party. Thanks to everyone who came. Rachel had a great 1st birthday party.

Forward Facing

Rachel has been in a new carseat for about a month now. Her old carseat is sitting in our living room. She has to climb in it everyday and check it out.

Today I turned her new one around and she was really happy to be forward facing. She was singing the whole way to the mall. She may not look too happy, but I promise she was.

Heather's Birthday

Tim and I went out with friends to Joe's Crab Shack the night before my birthday for another night out. It was really nice to just get out and relax.

On the day of my birthday, Becky came over and hung out for an hour and then my mom came over and we went out to lunch and went to the park. We ate lunch at the park while Rachel ran around...

...and ate sticks, and trash, and grass, and whatever else she could find. I spent most of my lunch chasing her around and taking things out of her hands as they entered her mouth.

We went to the Farmer's Market but got there a bit early so we went into the bird shop. Rachel was really interested in the birds, but a bit timid. After about 20 minutes, my mom took Rachel to one that was not in a cage and it squawked at Rachel and freaked her out. So we left and went outside to the Farmer's Market.

She tried a blood orange for the first time. At first she wasn't sure about it...

...but then she couldn't get enough of it. She was mad at me when I threw the peel away.

I gave her more when I took her to Tim's parents house for dinner.

For those of you who don't think Rachel can take a bad picture! What a tired goober!

We had pavlova for dessert. It was so good!

I had a great birthday! Thanks to all who made it a great day!

12 Month Doctors Appointment

Rachel had her 12 month doctors appointment yesterday. She weighs 20 lb. 12 oz (50^th percentile), she is 29 ¾ in. tall (75^th percentile), and her head circumference is 46 cm (75^th percentile). She is right on track with her growth. She got 2 shots and was not a huge fan of them.

The doctor was really impressed by how many words Rachel says. She says that most 1 year olds say 2-5 words.

At 10 months, Rachel was saying: Mama, Dada, baby, kitty, uh-oh, hello, hi, bye, yay, pretty, Nana, and Papa.

Over the past 2 months, she has added: What’s that?, up, and hot.

She still does not say no, she only shakes her head no (pretty strongly) if she doesn't want something.

Easter Day

Happy Easter!

We started off the morning with Rachel getting her Easter basket.

She is showing daddy her ladybug Cabbage Patch.

Showing off her Easter dress.

I think that she likes her Baby Mum Mum's. The Easter Bunny put these in her basket instead of chocolate.

Future soccer player!

Don't worry Tim, she will take after you too...she does have the remote in her hands and did not want to give it up!

Opening her Easter Basket at Nana's and Papa's house.

Tim's mom and I took on a rather large project for us. We made Sunflower cupcakes for Rachel's birthday/Easter at my Aunt Cathy's and Uncle Ernie's house. It took us about 5 hours (plus a batch of practice cupcakes a couple of days ago) to make 2 dozen cupcakes, but I think that we did a great job. Now that we kind of know what we are doing, we will have a much easier time next time:)

Easter Bunny Rachel

My Mom and Grandma were twins today in their leopard print shirts. Thank goodness I don't own a leopard print shirt...

...and my sister and I were twins today in our deep purple shirts.

What can I say...I don't have any words for this!

Rachel was following EJ around. She loves other little kids.

Blowing out her candle with her floppy ears.

I think she likes it...

...yep, it is a hit!

She didn't get too messy. I was very happy because I don't deal well with a messy baby.

Yay for presents. She really liked eating the tissue paper. She thought it was a game. She would rip a little piece and I would take it away. She would smile and rip another piece...what a little goober.