One year - Cheers!

Well folks, we made it through the first year!  Brett and I toasted on Maelin's birthday with pride that we made it and kept our baby alive.........thinking back to the day we brought Maelin home, we were not sure it was possible!  The first several weeks we just felt like idiots, not knowing why she was crying or what she needed.  I would like to thank youtube for having many helpful videos (how to install a car seat, how to bath your baby, what to do with a fussy baby, how to dress a baby, what to do with the umbilical cord stump, etc).  Also, many thanks to our friends and family with their great tips and advice (football hold, foods that start with P = poop, vics on feet, eucerin works on everything, etc). We are still no where close to knowing what we are doing but at least feel more comfortable with Maelin.

To celebrate the Bugs first year of life we had a little party at our house....I think Maelin had some fun but was clueless as to why so many people were in her house.  Her favorite guest was her teacher but she was kind of friendly to most others.

Maelin is a very cautious baby and everything in her life first needs to be analyzed before a decision is made to if it is liked or not.  The same process was carried through when she got her birthday cupcake. Unlike most babies, there was no smashing, in fact she didn't want to get her fingers dirty at all.

 Analyzing...

Still thinking....

 Ok it's good....

 MMMM, lovin it

We also were able to get all the cousins together for a quick shot and Maelin had a chance to open a few gifts before her bed time melt down.

 Cousins

 Nasty look as cousin Nathan helps her open a gift

Just to zoom in on how bitchy that face is.......

(we are in troubs when she is a teenager)

HAPPY FIRST BIRTHDAY BUG, we made it......cheers to lots more years to come.

Leaving the hospital

A Year Later

First Kiss

Maelin recently transitioned into the"older" baby classroom.  We were anticipating a couple weeks of hell because she is SO sensitive and hates change (and isn't afraid to voice her opinion).  Surprisingly, things went fairly well.  There were only a couple rough days where she would scream at drop off but was able to relax after a couple minutes and get on with her day.

Today when we picked Maelin up from school we learned that she kissed a boy!  Her memorable moment read:

"Maelin kissed a boy today! He was (we think) trying to taste her flower on her shirt, but Maelin took it a different way and leaned in for a smooch!"

This is too funny and is one for the memory book.  Brett may be nervous for the years to come.

Aside from kissing boys, she has been busy painting, playing on the playground and of course, eating.

Painting, yikes!

 Playground fun

 Playground not so fun...

 Lots of fun new toys

Lunch time, enjoying her cheese stick

The living room battle

Brett and I have been in a six year battle on the arrangement of our living room.  Through both fires we had wished our couches were smoke or water damaged so we could get new ones (this sounds terrible, we know, dont judge).  This was never the case so we have switched upstairs couches with basement couches and visa versa....well none of the options have satisfied us both. Brett is especially particular with fabrics, colors, textures and has some spacial issues he needs to work out.  His 'issues' have tested my patience so much over the last years and I know my opinions have tested his as well.  It has finally come down to two options 1-getting all new furniture for the room or 2-buying a new house....Brett would prefer the new house, I would much rather the furniture.  Obviously, I'm a lot more realistic so therefore win this 6 year battle.  My hope is this new furniture will settle a lot of unnecessary fights and wasting days rearranging furniture.

 Playing in the current living room...anxiously awaiting for the new furniture

 Shopping break for lunch at Potbellies

 We just had to stop at Nordstroms and pick up some boat shoes for our trip to FL

Now we just need to wait for the new furniture to arrive!  In the meantime we spend lots of time in the basement.  Maelin is in physical therapy to increase her muscle tone, so one exercise we do is play on an air mattress to build her core.  This morning Begley joined her for tea....it was really too cute.

 Maelin sharing her teapot (the pink thing in her right hand) with Begley...he isn't so interested

 Prepping the tea

 Stirring

Eating the spoon....we need to teach her drink from the cup and not eat the spoons

Begley left the scene shortly after, not interested in pretend tea at all, only real baby finger food.

Its a Laughing Matter

As if Begley didn't have a weight problem already............we are really in troubs if this keeps up!  

The Little Diva and The Great Outdoors

Maelin is a diva and every day I'm more and more amazed at how strong of an opinion she has on things.  She has only been around for ten months but at times acts like she has been here for 30+ years.  It probably comes to no surprise that Maelin isn't a huge fan of the cold weather.  To voice this dislike, she will sometimes scream bloody murder during our very short walk from the car to the house (it probably makes the neighbors wonder sometimes).  There also have been incidences when we open the door to let Begley in the house, she will feel the cold air and begin screaming uncontrollably as well.  We ignore these spurts of anger as best we can, she lives in the midwest and needs to deal.

Though, she may be confused about weather, winter in particular.  This past week has been especially weird, at the beginning of the week the temps were in the 50s and then at the end of the week in the 20s.

Early in the Week

 Happy Maelin on a walk during school

 Waving to the pedestrians 

 Loving life

Late in the Week

 Not so happy for her walk with me

Wondering why the hell we need to go outside when the temps are in the 20's

I was tempted to stick her in the snow today but figured with her sour mood that would not have been such a great idea.....especially since I needed her to hang in there with me while we got some errands done.  There will a time soon though when we are going to plop her in the yard .... I am sure she will cry so hard, but it will make for a great photo opp.....stay tuned

Painting Day

No words needed, these photos are self explanatory (this is paint not poop)................

Just like Dad

"Maelin had a wonderful day.  She always loves sitting in front of the mirror gazing at herself but today it really seemed like she was primping.  She would look concerned as she  played with her hair and then smile when she got it just right."

This is what I read on Maelin's daily report when I picked her up from school one night last week.....the funny thing about this (besides that she is only ten months old) is that the first thing I thought of was Brett......after I told my mom and sister, they laughed as well and both said"like father like daughter". Brett doesn't deny this either.  So it got me thinking how much the two are really alike.

Beside looking very much alike, both are extremely stubborn, have strong personalities, are excellent sleepers, very persistent, funny at times, pale, record setting drinkers and great eaters.

Look Alikes

Drinking

Eating

What Maelin and Brett don't have in common......love for reading (Brett's least favorite thing to do at night)