Lila is 1!!!

Our little sweetheart is ONE! I can't believe Lila has been in our family for a whole year! She's just been pure magic for us. I can honestly say I've really savored every day of her little life and my heart just swells with joy that she's here!

We didn't do anything grand for her special day, but we opened presents with her that morning. She was a little overwhelmed by all the hoopla and her brothers were pretty anxious to get her to open faster (and did most of the opening themselves). Hudson got her sippy cups and they were a huge hit! She also got some little tub toys and some cute outfits.

After naptime Papa Ray and Grandma came over and gave her a present- a baby doll and a cute book. She was very sweet with the baby doll, which is so funny to me after having three boys. We've never had baby dolls around! I think she will love playing with it.

Then we had our pizza and movie night- I made the boys watch Frozen 2. They are normally so against princess movies, but since it was their sister's birthday they gave in. Get ready boys, I think there's more of that coming! Then Nana and Papa and Heidi came over with their presents and to have cake with us. This was the most beautiful cake, made by my friend Lindsay. It tasted amazing! It was a strawberries and cream cake and there are even freeze-dried strawberries in the frosting which made it extra delicious. The birthday girl very daintily enjoyed her piece (unlike her brothers on their first birthdays who practically inhaled their cake). 

Nana and Papa brought this cozy coupe for her and boy was it a hit! We were all laughing so hard because Lila clearly knew it was hers and wanted to play with it, and so did Davis. He kept pulling her out and getting in himself- and would knock her down when she'd try to reclaim her present! A few days later they are still kind of a fighting over it (although Davis is getting a little better about sharing).

A few things about our ONE YEAR OLD:

• She's a great eater! Her favorite food is cuties. She's pretty good about eating what we eat at meals.
• Loves to empty boxes, cupboards, drawers. She's very intent, like it's her job.
• Prefers mommy, loves her daddy, and is pretty reluctant to go to other people. She does have a special liking for Nana, but everyone else is pretty honored if she lets them hold her. She does smile at everyone though!
• Can go down the stair backwards now!
• Stands on her own for a few seconds sometimes, no steps yet!
• Has 9 teeth and has been the best teether- hardly any grumpiness at all and still sleeps all night even while cutting a tooth generally!
• 1 year old means 366 days of bows. I have put a bow on her every single day of her life. I just love the bows! I'm not sure when I'll stop- she does pull them off. I just put them back on 87 times a day.
• At her 1 year appointment she was 19 pounds 7 oz (40th percentile) and 29.5 inches (60th percentile). So proud of her after spending so much time below the 5th percentile!

I put this little headband on her that she wore on her original birthday and immediately it gave me all the feels. It went too fast! I would love to relive that day (and all my baby's births) over and over again. She's been such a gift!

 Happy Birthday to my little sweetheart!

Hudson's Baptism

On February 6, Hudson got baptized! He was really excited for this day and it was a beautiful one! Due to Covid we didn't know how it would all work out, but thankfully we were able to have most of our family there (in masks, of course). Both sets of grandparents came, along with Will, Nate, Halie, and Katie and his cousins Nora, Anna, Rosie, Jeremiah, Jaylah and Jordyn. We were able to Facetime Nathan and Heidi in, which was also so nice! 

I let Hudson choose the whole program. He asked Nana to play the piano and chose "When I am Baptized" and "I love to see the Temple" as his songs. He asked Papa Ray and Davis to say the prayers. He asked me and Papa to give the talks. And he had Chase and Papa Ray be his witnesses. 

He looked so sweet in the font with Ben and the spirit was really strong. Ben also gave him a very sweet blessing when he confirmed him. Poor Davis tried so hard to be baptized too, including trying to climb over the glass partition right into the font, rushing to the door exclaiming "MY TURN!" as soon as Hudson was baptized, and also trying to join the circle of men during the confirmation. He really didn't understand why Hudson got to do all the stuff and he didn't as well.

We just brought donuts and chocolate milk to the church and served it right there afterwards, which made the day so much less stressful. Then Hudson and Ben went out to a special lunch just the two of them. 

I'm so proud of this boy! He really is the best big brother. He has a very tender heart and does try hard to do the right things. He's just the sweetest kid in the world and my heart was so full watching him take this step to follow Christ.