The Perfect Push-up

Jada's 1st Birthday

The time has finally come.

First up, Jada's 1st Birthday!

We wanted to do something to celebrate Jada's birthday this year, so we decided to have a small party for her with some of our closest friends. I wasn't sure how Jada was going to do since the only child her age that was invited wasn't able to come, but she did AWESOME. In fact, she LOVED it. (Don't take that the wrong way, I'm sure she would have been even more happy to have a playmate, but the point is, she was really happy!)

I made cute invitations, banners, a cake, the works. We were so excited to celebrate Jada and her being 1!

We had a delicious lunch, watched Jada open her gifts, and had some yummy made-from-scratch carrot cake with Tillamook ice cream:) It was perfect. Jada enjoyed playing with all her new toys and clothes. She even enjoyed being sang to and having all the attention.

The only thing that didn't go as planned . . . she wouldn't try her cake! I had heard from many mothers that this was likely to happen, but I just didn't think it would. Not my Jada. She loves everything and always wants what we have! But, it happened. She was happy to look at it, but wouldn't try it. So, being the sugar loving mom that I am, I took a finger full of the frosting and forced it in her mouth. She gagged. :( Luckily we got it on video and will laugh about it as the years go on; but poor Jada. I must have scarred her for life. To this day she refuses to try ANYTHING that looks like cake, ice cream, or frosting. (maybe that's a good thing:/)

Thank you everyone who came to help us celebrate Jada turning 1 and celebrate us having her in our family for a whole year. Time really does fly! We are so blessed to have wonderful friends, and are also extremely blessed to have Miss Jada in our lives. We love her more than words can express. She really is the cutest, happiest, easiest, sweetest, most adorable girl I know!

The Cake (Jada's that is)

The Banners (I had 3 of these hanging)

The Guests (minus a few . . . sorry about that)

The Gifts (obviously not all are pictured)

Eating the Cake (or rather, not eating)

Enjoying my new things
* Note the change in outfits. Jada LOVED her new star outfit (thanks Ezra!) and wouldn't put it down, so we helped her put it on. She was one happy girl. I'm not sure what it is about that cute outfit, but every time she sees it (even now) she gets excited and has to carry it around.

:)

The Cake (take 2)
For those of you who don't know, Macey's bakery will give you a FREE cake for your child's first birthday. So, the day after her birthday we tried again. Still no luck. But, Mom and Dad ate the cake and it was delicious:)

Love this girl!

and that's all she wrote . . . for today . . . more updates to come

Only a few more days . . .

Sorry blogging world, I promise I have not forgotten you! I am almost caught up and will be back soon.

Until then, here is our little Miss. We love our little girl!

* thanks Gramma J for my cute outfit!

Merry Christmas!!!

We are too busy having a wonderful time with my family in GA . . . Updates to come after all the holiday fun:)

Happy 1st Birthday Jada!

We love you so much and feel so blessed to have you in our family.


more info and pictures to come!

I stand corrected . . .

I was under the impression that to be deemed a "walker" one had to be walking more often then crawling, and would be able to walk around the house without much falling.

Apparently I was incorrect:) Thanks to all those who enlightened me on the subject.

Based on my previous post, I guess that makes Jada officially a walker:)

She's getting close!!!!

Today was a turning point for Jada. Before today we had managed to get 5 or so steps out of her on her own. Well today, Jada took 12 steps by herself.

Today was different. Today I hosted our wards "Mother's Group" and had a few moms and their children over. I don't know if that was it or what, but during the play group Jada decided that she wanted to try walking on her own. Not just once, but MANY times. (Must have been the 16 month old she was admiring) She kept standing up and walking as much as she could, then getting right back up and trying again. I couldn't believe it! Michael and I have been trying every day to bribe her into taking a few steps and there she was taking anywhere from 5-10 all on her own! She gets so excited when she does it, occasionally even giggling. It is so cute! Any day now we are going to have ourselves a walker!

Jada's 11th month

Our little baby is 11 months old! I still can't believe she is almost 1. Where did the past year go? I think time passes much more quickly when you have children.

Jada continues to grow and learn. She loves being able to crawl and especially walk. Though she can't walk on her own yet, she loves to walk with assistance. We have been working with her and have managed to get her to take a few steps on own, but I think she prefers crawling more. Its quicker and takes less effort:) I wouldn't be surprised if she is walking by her birthday though. She has the balance down, she just needs the courage.

This month has been full of fun activities and happenings. Jada still continues to bring us more joy then we could have ever imagined. I love watching her grow and love being a mother.

As of November 3rd, Jada:
* weights 21 lbs
* is 28.75 inches tall
* Has 2 new teeth. She is up to 4! (and has another one on its way . . . we have been waiting for it to break through, but it has yet to happen. An entire month of teething . . . yuck.)
* Celebrated her first Halloween, which included: a party with friends, trick-or-treating 3 times and dressing up at least 6 times
* Visited her first pumpkin patch which also provided many firsts
* Started dancing to music. She especially loves the theme songs to Monk and Super Why
* learned to stick her bottom lip out and does it all the time
* Has taken 5 steps by herself (with much persuasion)
* Got her first toothbrush
* Has managed to say "mama" twice (This is still a work in progress. She will say "nanana" but not "mamama")
* Got to see Gramma J for a few days during her trip out here. Thanks Gramma for the cute clothes and books!
* Fed the ducks for the first time
* Has started laughing more and more. Sometimes even when playing by herself. She also enjoys joining in with others if they laugh.
* Got another "favorite" blanket from Maimi (my mother), this time Giraffe print! (its smaller and perfect for when we are out and about) Thanks Maimi!
* is starting to get a belly
* loves playing on Mom and Dad's bed and in the pantry
* gives more and more kisses spontaneously

Pictures from this month:

A few other pictures from her 11 month photo shoot (she required the books to be content)





Chomping on some Romaine lettuce. Thanks Dad!

Our little reader

We also has some family photo's taken this month. A friend in the ward, Dawnee Godfrey, takes pictures as well, so we arranged to do a photo swap. These are a few of my favorites.

I also failed to post about our Duck Pond visit. So here are a few from that day

Jada and her lower lip:)

Halloween 2011

"I'm so cute it's scary" (thanks Gramma Jensen for the cute shirt!)

This Halloween proved to be the best we've had in years! It was definitely the best Halloween that Michael and I have had together.

To start off the festivities, since we have a little house, I was finally able to do some decorating! And can I just say, decorating is addicting. I love buying and making decorations. I loved being able to get into the spirit of Halloween. We are loving having a house!

On the Saturday evening before Halloween we attended a little party at one of our friend's home. She decided that since the ward wasn't having a party for the little ones, we should. So we dressed up our babies and all got together for a few hours to chat and eat while the children played together. It was fun to see all the cute kids in their costumes! They were all so cute!




On Halloween day, while Michael was at school, Jada and I started the festivities by going to Macey's and trick-or-treating there. When Michael finished class, we picked him up and headed to the mall to trick-or-treat there. It rocked! (Note for anyone with small children: the mall is the place to go.) We got there at 5pm and spent about an hour going to each store and getting some candy. We took Jada around in her stroller and put her little pumpkin bucket on her lap. She enjoyed having people drop candy into her bucket:) It was perfect. Short walk, lots of candy, warm, and quick. We even took a break to get some Chick-fil-A for dinner. Besides Jada loving all the candy, I think the highlight was people's reactions to Michael's costume. I couldn't believe the number of looks and comments he got. I kept laughing as I saw tons of people pointing to him in the distance and getting their friends to look. He even managed to get us extra candy because of his "awesome costume". One employee at Hot Topic said, "That's a dope costume!". It's been a while since I've heard that one! (YIKES) At one point Michael said, "Now I know what it feels like to be a celebrity!" It was pretty entertaining.

After the mall we still wanted to do some normal trick-or-treating so we took Jada to a neighborhood up in the Foothills of Provo. I cant lie, it was a bit disappointing. We only went to about 10 house and over half of them people weren't there or chose not to answer the door. I was glad we did the mall, otherwise it would have been a bust. Michael claims I, "saved Halloween" by thinking of the mall. Its probably true. There was one great thing about going to the neighborhood though, we got to see an awesome pumpkin display! The house had at least 30 pumpkins, carved and lit. It was amazing!

All in all it was a wonderful day and night. Jada got tons of candy! (Which means Michael and I got lots of candy). But besides having candy to eat, Jada LOVES playing with her candy. Its been a week now and almost everyday she will just sit on the floor with her bucket of candy and play for nearly an hour. Its fun to watch her play. She gets so happy!

A few shots after going to Macey's but before going Trick-or-Treating at the mall

Trick-or-Treating at the Mall

Getting a little bite to eat:)

Tony & Teddy

A few of the awesome pumpkins at the house mentioned above

The superhero and his daughter

The only Halloween family picture we manage to get. Good thing its sweet!

Jada enjoying her candy

I hope everyone else had a wonderful Halloween as well!