Whoops, haven't updated in awhile!

I've really been slacking in the blogosphere lately. The last 5 weeks or so have been filled with laughter, tears and frustrations... and poosplosions. Seriously, it's been a crazy 5 weeks!

I haven't even blogged about Aryn's 1st birthday!!!! Wow.... I am really slacking!! So I'll make it quick: it was, in 1 word, awesome.

It started on your actual birthday, when mommy invited all of your Baby & Me friends over for a playdate. We had cheesecake cupcakes and you all played for a couple of hours. It was awesome! You even got some presents from your little friends! Mommy is very grateful for the Baby & Me group - you've made some great friends in the group and mommy really enjoys spending time with all of the other mamas!!

Then, we had Grammy and Grampy over for supper and we had meatloaf (your favourite as of right now!) and a big carrot cake. Mmmm it was sooo good!

 

What did grammy and grampy get you?? A big outdoor playcentre with a swing and slide!!!! You looove the swing!!

 

Then, on Saturday, September 17, we had a whole bunch of people over to celebrate YOU. Grampy made some delicious cupcakes (as it was the theme!), you had a beautiful dress made just for you, and everyone played and had a blast!! You were so spoiled and you got so many toys and clothes.

 

 

Uncle Curtis and Auntie Jill even stayed over night with their little man, Kaeson, and we had a great time with them too!!

After Aryn's super awesome 1st birthday, she went from being my baby to being my toddler. She just grew up! I noticed it that day; she was no longer a baby. She is always standing up on furniture, walking along furniture and toys (she still has yet to let go and walk on her own... 13 months and counting, little one!! Walk!), and turbo crawling after Bauer.

Giving her baby kisses!

One thing that has really developed the last few weeks is her humour. This kid is friggen hilarious. She SCREAMS in delight. She loves being scared, chased, and bugged. I still believe that if she was born as a second child, she'd be happier because she always wants attention and someone to play with!

 

Oh my sweet little girl. I love you so much!!

Also, in the last 5 weeks, Aryn has gotten not 1, not 2, but FIVE NEW TEETH! With one more on the horizon. Dear Lord.... WHAT were you thinking?! What did we do to deserve that?? On the teething chart, a child is supposed to get much of their teeth by 1 year. Not us. In a matter of 1 month, Aryn got her 4 front top teeth and the one to the left of her 2 bottom teeth is poking through. The one to the right of her two bottom teeth is swelling her gums so I'm sure that's coming too.

And the diaper rash.

Dear Lord please...... heal that diaper rash.

From being woken up to painful gums, to poosplosions that were - literally - poosplosions, to trying to rip off her diaper to soothe her poor rashed-up skin.... this kid has had one awful, sleepless night after another.

This is Aryn and her BFF Keegan!

Mama is tired. Daddy is tired. And Bauer wishes you'd let him cuddle in peace.

But with some new medicated cream (I buckled and decided to cancel my plan of healing your rash with all-natural ingredients), some Polysporin, naked bum time (and pee and poop on the floor!) and multiple night time diaper changes, it looks like we're on the road to recovery.

I hope!!!

But all of these challenges this month aside, you have made us smile more than ever before!! You are sooo funny and sweet. You give the best little kisses, and you are always running to us to give us hugs and cuddles. You love books, and throwing toys and playing with the expensive electronics we have rather than any of the billion toys you have.

 

And you looooove Bauer. You love playing with Bauer. You grab Beary or Bunny, shove it in Bauer's face, squeal with delight, and then throw it so that he runs after it. Then he brings it back to you, and you do it all over again. Daddy and I have watched you two play for up to 5 minutes at a time. This is ground-breaking!

But, if you EVER try to touch Bauer - even his toe - he will snarl at you and run away. Playing and feeding him is ok, apparently, but no touching. No touching.

You love your walks. Whenever you get whiny for no reason, I put you in the stroller and go for a nice walk and you talk talk talk talk talk the whole way. You help me hold Bauer's leash, you smile at strangers, you point at whatevers, and you do everything you can to take your touque off. Simple love.

And your smiles. Ohhh Aryn, your smile. You started this whole cheesy grin thing a few months back and recently, you do it all the time. And it's hilarious. You give the cheesy grin to strangers, to mommy, to daddy, to the grandparents... and sometimes you do this *sniff*sniff*sniff* thing when you do it. It's so funny and you know it.

At 1 year old, I've read there are certain things you "should" be doing. But you are content (or is it lazy?) and don't want to, and while some moms would be worried, I am not. Why? Because you make up for it in other ways. Sure, you hold your legs up like us making you walk is the plague, but you are always doing everything possible to make us smile. Like crawling over to me, hugging my leg, and handing me a toy to play with you, or flipping through books, or playing with Bauer, or ... whatever. Everything you do, you always stop, look at us, make sure we're smiling, and continue on. If we're not smiling, you stop, come to us, and try to make us smile.

 

That, my sweet girl, is what makes you wonderful.

What is NOT wonderful, however, is your incessant need to clear off your high chair tray. No matter what is on your tray, no matter if you like the food or hate it, you try to throw it on the ground. Then you look, watch Bauer eat it, then throw him more food. It DRIVES.US.CRAZY. I've said no, I've slapped your little hand (obviously not hard enough because you squeal and laugh), and I've taken your food away. You continue to throw your food on the floor. I wish you would stop. Please, stop!!!

What else....

You talk talk talk. You make no sense (except when you say "Dannnnceee" and then you proceed to dance), but you just babble away like you are telling us the best story. And you use your hands in your stories and it's so hilarious.

And your dancing. You shake that booty like you're auditioning for So You Think You Can Dance. You hold your hand out, move your legs and your bum, and really groove. And to everything - whether it's the Parks & Recreation theme song, or a Hallmark commercial, you are dancing.

Aryn, you make us smile literally every day. Mommy and daddy love you soooo much!!!!

ONE

Dear Aryn,

You turned ONE today!! Mommy and daddy can't believe it has been a whole year since you joined us. It has been quite the year and you have made it absolutely spectacular. We can't imagine our lives without you!

You are absolutely hilarious and make us laugh every single day. You are so loving, and cuddly and inquisitive, and curious. You are also the fastest little crawler I've ever seen in my life! TURBO BABY!

 

This past month you've gone from being a baby to a big girl. Complete with the crab crawl and climbing up on everything and banging on the computer.

Bauer is also much better with you this past month and it makes me soo happy to see him give you little quick kisses before running away from you. 

 

You are a climbing-up-the-stairs pro, and you give the best, and CUTEST kisses. 

You are definitely a Grammy's Girl; your face lights up when Grammy comes in the room. She's like Baby Crack for you - she is full of fun and exciting games and tricks to teach you. And the smiles you give Grampy... wow. You love all of your grandparents! We went to visit Grandma Diana and Grandpa Butch this past month and you were not only a ham, raking in the attention and love, but you were a big entertainer and loved getting laughs and claps.

Aryn and Grandma Diana

Aryn and Grandpa Butch

Aryn and Grampy Bob

Aryn and Grammy Gina

Aryn, you have made this past year just phenomenal and mommy and daddy can't wait to see what this next year and every year after brings. Thank you for being you and for everything you are. You are amazing and we love you so much. Happy Birthday, sweet little Love Nugget/Monkey Face/Nugget. We love you.

Moving, Moving, Moving

We are officially moved.

We are also officially lost in a tornado of boxes.

"Where is *this*?" is pretty much the most-used saying in our house right now. We have the spare bathroom downstairs completed, my office is closer (computer is up - that's all that matters, right?), Aryn's room just needs decorations, and our kitchen is slowly beginning to look more like a kitchen rather than a landfill.

And the television. Ryan's prized possession is the huge built-in shelving unit in our living room.

We are so grateful for our new home!! I just can't wait until it feels more like a home instead of a stress-inducing mess.

So on moving day, which was Tuesday, we got up bright and early and started the last of the packing and moving. I took down all the photos in Aryn's bedroom, and placed each picture nail on the change table beside her bed. Rush rush rush. Then at 8:30am I put Aryn down for a nap. She tried to fight it, but she eventually fell asleep. At 9:30 I heard her call out for me - she's awake!! I go in there and there are nails EVERYWHERE. I mean, everywhere - in her crib. I quickly grab them all, cursing every awful word I know in my head. I look at Aryn and she's sucking on something.

I open her mouth and lo and behold... a nail. I tried to grab it but she pulled her head away and then...

*gulp*

She swallowed that darn nail!! I stood there in complete shock, praying praying praying that she wouldn't start to choke. Thankfully, my mom was there and she stayed very calm while I cried and freaked out and I am fairly certain if she had let me, I'd have sprouted wings and flown us to the hospital.

3 x-rays and 2 days later... we had us a nail in a big pile of poop that I had to sift through.

So it's been a very stressful, crazy week. And I'm VERY grateful that my sweet little love nugget is ok and healthy. Thank you, God!!