Two Sweet Girls

Sharing Good Music...

Just thought that I would share what we have been listening to lately: LOVE The Avett Brothers!!!

Boppy to Doppy

The Boppy Pillow....

(4 months old)

Half Dog - Half Boppy...

It's a Doppy!

Growing Overnight

Some mornings I look into your crib and I swear you've grown over night. I used to get sad at the thought of you growing up but you know what? The grown up Aliyah is so much fun and I'm loving these days 10x more than I ever imagined I would. While I'll sometimes yearn for those cuddly newborn years, I'm looking forward to the future with you.

Omaha, Nebraska

We found this awesome slide at a park near downtown Omaha

Cute little guy playing his according downtown

At the zoo!!

Back at home... all worn out

WOWZA

You know it was a good nap
when you wake up with hair like this...

Father's Day

We had a whole wonderful weekend celebrating DAD

We grabbed Aliyah's daddy early from work on Friday and headed to Omaha where we met up with... Bebop & YaYa, Grandpa & Grammy, Uncle Russell & Aunt Jillian!!

We explored the zoo and downtown while enjoying the blessing of family

...more PICTURES on the way...

Dancing Queen

Oh how Aliyah loves music and loves to shake her little baby booty...


Although, sometimes she gets carried away and we have to help her down from a table top... 

I Feel Happy of Myself

Okay, so I know I have been a little "video happy" lately, but I just couldn't resist this cute guy! Such a good reminder... BELIEVE IN YOURSELF!!!

The Run Down: 12 Months

Stats: At 12 months you weigh 20 pounds (45%) and are 30 inches tall (50%)

You grew 10 inches and gained 11 pounds in a year’s time! All the walking (still holding on to fingers most of the time) you’ve been doing for the last two months has started to slim down your super chub and I’m honestly going to miss those one million fat baby rolls.

Teeth: I guess you really do have teeth after all!! The two bottom ones popped up right before your birthday, and there is one on top working it's way down... I think I saw the second top one popping through when we were putting you to bed last night! You have been such a champ when it comes to teething.

Your pediatrician said the good thing about getting teeth late, is that they will have less exposure to milk and food to help protect against cavities.

We brush your teeth twice a day now with a little banana toothbrush & water. You like to do it yourself while mimicking mama and dada.

Feeding: You eat whatever we eat (as long as it’s not too spicy!) and you get really offended if we eat without offering some to you. Soups, veggies, fruits, pasta, chicken, fish, eggs, you name it. I have yet to find something you do not like. Favorites include any type of fruit, wheat rolls, salmon, salad, pulled pork and corn on the cob. You do prefer savory foods to sweet ones.

You’ve been feeding yourself with your fingers for months, but for the past month or so you’re really into trying to feed yourself with a spoon or fork (you have even tried chopsticks). You’ll bang it on your plate, scoop some out and put it in your mouth. The food usually only makes it in about half of the time, but you concentrate hard on eating like a big girl.

Talking: You’ve started saying dada a lot now but your go-to word is mama (sweet music to my ears). You are "talking" like crazy now, but we just don't quite know what you are saying.

Awesome stuff you’re doing now: You do a great job mimicking us - this is especially apparent with musical instruments. We can get you to hot your tambourine on your leg, pat drums, strum a guitar and, if you’re in the mood, you will even dance and SNAP to the music! While you can’t actually make the noise, you do a perfect job of putting your thumb and middle finger together and mimicking the action.

You’re starting to learn how things works and how to use them. When we hold you at the front door, you lean down and try to open the door handle. When I give you your shoes, you will sit down and hold them at your feet. You also try to put hair bows on top of your own head. You really prefer to be held when we try to use the stroller so that you can lean over, grab the handle bar and push it yourself.

You are the most AMAZING signer! You sign over 15 words now. Your father and I were trying to count all the new words you know how to sign but we keep adding more that we had forgot to count. Right around your first birthday, your sign language vocabulary exploded. We get so excited when we see you sign a word that we have been using, but never formally taught  to you. You have even been signing 2 words together like, "more please"

I caught you "reading" a book that I had used to show you some new animal signs. You would turn a page, set down the book and then wiggle your fingers & move your hands... then pick up the book, turn the page and "sign" the the next page the same way. Love It!!!

When you are upset, most of the time you can tell us what you want. You will often sign "milk" or "water" or "eat" but sometimes you just sign "please" - so we snuggle and that usually does the trick.

You really love our dogs and cat. You pet them all and give them little bites of your lunch. You like to squat down and lay your head on their bodies and say “Mmmm Mmmm” which is your lovey noise.

You have always been a very sweet baby, but now you knowingly (and willingly) cuddle us and snuggle us close to you. You give big hugs, nuzzle your face in our pillows on the bed or lay your head on our our chest or shoulder. If you are in the right mood, you will even lean in with a kiss or try and blow one. These are my favorite moments of them all.

Love, mama

Goodbye, Hello

Goodbye Infant Car Seat....

Our infant car seat can hold up to 35 pounds, but the large recline position was making for a VERY unhappy one-year-old.


Hello Big Girl Seat...

We got a great deal on this convertible car seat that can be rear or forward facing up to 65 pounds. The AAP now recommends children face backwards until 2 years old. Aliyah loves being able to look out the windows. It's crazy how much difference a car seat can make!

Poor Pup

I have been laughing nonstop at this video. This dog seriously cracks me up!

The Balancing Blog Act (take two)

OOPS!! So with my baby dove's birthday and all that has been going on in May, I just realized that it has almost been one month since I blogged for Happybottomus *yikes*

I went ahead and filled them in on Aliyah's birthday bash, creating a post for do-it-yourself party ideas. You can see what other KC moms are writing about at live.happybottomus.com

Chopped

... And I am not talking about a show on The Food Network. I decided to cut off all my hair Friday morning. It was time for a change and poor Aliyah was gagging on my long locks every time I snuggled her close.

We had a FABULOUS time at my childhood friend's wedding on Saturday - CONGRATS Jordan & Will Boone... it was truly a beautiful day!

Aliyah's Sunshine Themed Birthday (part 3)

Everything Handmade...

The Invitations

Sunshine Jello Jigglers and mangoes/cantaloupe/pineapple

Mason jars with pink lemonade

I painted a wedding cake topper "A"
My mom made cupcake toppers that matched the invites

FOOD!! Paper flowers and my first sewing project -  A pendant banner

We found out that Aliyah really loves balloons!

Living room with paper flowers, balls and garland

Pictures from months 1-12 on top of flower pots with "grass"
Paper "Happy Birthday" banner (LOVE how this turned out!!)

Party Hats

Even the bathroom had a little "sunshine"

Lemon Drop party favors "A Spoonful of Sunshine"

"You Are My Sunshine" print done by a local artist

Again, I feel that I should let you all know how BIG of a roll my mom played in all of this... she is seriously one crafty lady!!

Sunshine Songs...
I also made a playlist on Hypster all about "sun" to play during Aliyah's party. Tyler and I had a lot of fun gathering these songs!

1. I Wish You Love - Sunflow

• 2. Walking on Sunshine - Aly & AJ
• 3. Walking On Sunshine - Smash Mouth
• 4. Tequila Sunrise - Eagles
• 5. Sunshine On My Shoulders - John Denver
• 6. You Are My Sunshine - Gov. Jimmie Davis
• 7. Sunshine, Lollipops and Rainbows
• 8. Sun is Shining - Bob Marley
• 9. Sunglasses At Night - Corey Hart
• 10.Sunshine Day and Keep On Dancing - The Brady Bunch
• 11. Keep On The Sunny Side
• 12. House of the Rising Sun - Animals
• 13. Dont let the sun go down - Elton John
• 14. Brighter Than Sunshine - Aqualung
• 15. Cheap Sunglasses - ZZ Top 
• 16. Aquarius /Let The Sunshine In - The Fifth Dimension
• 17. Ain't No Sunshine - Bill Withers
• 18. Good Day Sunshine - The Beatles
• 19. Blue Sky - The Allman Brothers Band
• 20. Sunshine Superman - Donovan
• 21. You Are My Sunshine - Bob Dylan & Johnny Cash
• 22. Here Comes The Sun - The Beatles
• 23. Sunshine Of Your Love - Cream
• 24. Soak Up The Sun - Sheryl Crow
• 25. Black Hole Sun - Soundgarden
• 26. Waiting for the Sun - The Doors
• 27. I'll Follow The Sun - The Beatles
• 28. Island in the Sun - Weezer
• 29. The Sun - Maroon 5
• 30. Sun King - The Beatles
• 31. You are the sunshine of my life - Stevie Wonder

The Dress...

Ahh, the dress! I wanted to find a dress that reflected Aliyah's birthday invitations and party theme. I searched for months looking for the perfect one. I finally found the most wonderful little dress Baby Gap (If I were a super-hero, that store would be my biggest baby weakness). I love the bright colors, bold print and ruffle around her neck... not-to-mention it fit so perfectly with all of our decorations. I’m already looking for new opportunities for her to wear it again (um, hello outdoor summer concerts and family vacations!)

So that wraps up Aliyah's birthday posts. What an incredibly day for us and our girl. After everyone had left, the house was pretty much clean (a BIG thank you to Grammy & YaYa) and the baby was finally in bed. I laid on the floor in the middle of living room floor and just cried and cried. I never anticipated that her first birthday would be so emotional for me. Crossing that bridge from babyhood to toddler was such a big step and all of my happiness and joy and worry and “please life, slow down”-ness just poured out of me there on the floor.

Does it get easier as the years go by? Does watching your baby turn two feel any less overwhelming than one? I guess I’ll have to wait and see.

Aliyah's Sunshine Themed Birthday (part 2)

There were many things at Aliyah's party that I really loved, but here are two that stand out as my very favorites 1. Her special keep forever and ever party hat and 2. The Cake... Singing Happy Birthday AND You Are My Sunshine along with the expert way with which she (so politely) demolished her first ever birthday cupcake.

PARTY HAT

I absolutely LOVE this custom handmade hat by Stella and Livi. I sent her a picture of Aliyah's dress and I think she did an awesome job of bringing it all together! Can you see the hand sewn sun with a sparkle in the middle? Each yellow flower also has a small sparkle! presh...

CAKE SMASHING

Tyler made two layer lemon cakes and 24 cupcakes... amazing! (handmade tissue paper flower and Grammy's paper sun cupcake decorations)

Aliyah has never had even a little taste of cake and frosting before, so we didn’t know how she’d react to having an entire cupcake to herself but she took to it like a pro!

She even shared some with Dad (Tip: Naked babies are best for cake demolition)

Everyone sang Happy Birthday and then continued to serenade Aliyah with, You Are My Sunshine... completely melted my heart! Aliyah loved it all and gave everybody much deserved applause.