I Love Being a Mom

Just a very small photo update. . .

Sleeping during lunch at Buffalo Wild Wings.

Trying on her Easter dress!

(Thanks Zulily!)

Hanging out at City Creek.

At first, Valarie was scared of the fountain. . . 

. . . But she warmed up to it fairly quickly.

Oh you know, just shopping at Trader Joe's.

Sometimes, Val gets to participate in preschool.

She really thinks she's one of them.

Wearing my old jacket from kindergarten. 

(It was a little big on her, of course!)

She just looks so cute when she sleeps.

Sneak peek of Val's first year photo shoot.

(Taken from my iphone.)

Playing with our friend's new puppy, a husky named Elsa!

Taking Val and Chip on a Sunday walk.

Easter Fun

I just have to say, holidays are ten times more fun with a kid! We had a fantastic Easter weekend! Valarie had an Easter egg hunt with her little bestie, an Easter egg hunt with the Randall family, and a big Easter hunt with all of my younger cousins. Not to mention the Easter bunny came to our house. He gave Val Easter eggs filled with goldfish, reeses cups, and crackers. In her basket she received bath toys, a book, and some baby friendly treats. It was such a fun week!

The Easter Bunny gave Shane and I baskets too!

A Little Life Update

Wow I haven't blogged much lately. I'll blame that on my computer that's being super slow right now. . . pretty sure it has some virus. Bummer.

Back in February we took a family trip to Arizona to surprise my grandparents for their 50th anniversary. Every aunt and uncle, and most of my cousins, made it. Which is a big deal because we haven't all been together since 2004. My grandparents had no idea anyone was coming, I'm so glad neither of them had a heart attack when we surprised them! We only went for a weekend, but we had a blast and were so happy we were able to spend time with family.

My old job called me and asked if I'd work for them for a week because the office was leaving on a work trip and needed someone to answer the phones and take orders. Of course I gladly accepted, I loved that job and those people. They let me bring Valarie, so for five days, this was Val's life:

In the beginning of March, Valarie's friend Isobel turned turned one! She had an adorable party and Val had so much fun celebrating with her!

A few weeks ago Shane, Valarie, and I went to the zoo. The animals were so fun and we loved showing them all to Val. She didn't mind the real animals, but she was terrified of the fake ones.

Valarie is ten months old! Where have the last ten months gone?? She's talking more, her newest word is "wow," she's so close to walking, but not quite there yet, and she's eating actual meals for almost every meal. She's my adorable growing girl and I love her so much!

Shane and I are doing well. I've been focusing on eating better, and been busy working at Sizzler and preschool. Shane is still working hard and going to school full time. If all goes well, he should have his bachelors by the end of the semester. It's pretty exciting! Life is great right now. We're happy, Valarie's the best, and we're going on a date, without the baby, next week. I can't wait!

My 9 Month Girly

I was catching up on some blogs I follow and noticed one wrote a post about her son who just turned nine months. I thought that was crazy because it seems like he was just born! It then clicked in my head that Val was born a day before him, so she's nine months too! Holy cow, time is flying!

So I decided to copy my friend and do a nine month post on Valarie.

Val has developed such a little personality! She hates being alone, (and ends up in bed with us a lot,) and still hates her car seat. She loves little kids and gets so excited when she joins my mom and I in preschool. She also loves food, fingerplays, and stuffed animals.

Valarie crawls everywhere and on everything. She has no intention of walking and gets frustrated when we try to make her stand. She's constantly hitting her head and getting herself stuck in weird places.

Valarie recently discovered toilet paper and was very proud of herself.

Valarie's favorite shows to watch are Yo Gabba Gabba, Curious George, and Ruby Gloom. She mostly just loves the theme songs though. When we listen to music together, she loves the Aquabats, Bob Marley, and Kate Micucci. She recently learned to dance, but it's just rocking back and forth and once in a while throwing her arms in the air. It's pretty dang cute.

Valarie loves reading books and could be entertained by the same book for long periods of time. She loves books that have baby faces in them and always gives the babies kisses.

Valarie can now talk, wave, and kiss. Her kisses are open mouthed, slobbery, and adorable. She has two different waves; the entire arm waving back and forth as if she's trying to attack you, and just opening and closing her fingers. Shane and I always jokingly argued about if she was going to say mom or dad first, but here's what's awesome; she began saying them both in the same day! And it's not mama and dad, it's mum and dad. She also says Bob. A lot.

I have dreaded the day when Val starts taking off her bows, and that day has come. She's finally realized there's something on her head and takes them off all the time! It's so frustrating, especially when she won't even keep them on long enough for a picture!

Val went on her first trip out of state to Arizona in February. We all went to surprise my grandparents for their 50th anniversary. Shane and Val had both never met almost all of my mom's family, so it was fun to introduce them to everyone. With all our stops, it took 13 hours to drive to Arizona. Valarie did amazing! I think it's because we'd given her a new car seat right before the trip so it was new, exciting, and she could see out of the windows. Shane had a harder time than she did!

Val got her two bottom teeth around five months. Her two top teeth have cut through the gums and she's got three more that're about to! We're going to have to start calling her Chomper soon!

The only time Valarie gets upset is when she's going down for bed or being ignored. She's a super happy baby and loves people. Everyone that meets her tells me she's the happiest baby. And it's true, she really is so happy all the time!

We love Val so much and really enjoy watching her grow and learn new things everyday. She's such a sweetheart and I am so grateful to have her in my life. She makes me happier than anything ever has in the entire world. I love being her mom and I love my little family! I can't believe she's already nine months old! Slow down Val, you're growing just too fast!