I am awed at how fast time flies. My baby boy turned 1 today. Wow. Has it really been a year since the weekend at the cabin when I woke up with contractions? I was scared to bring him into the world. One child was a huge adjustment, but I wasn't quite ready to have two children. This year has been hard. It's been challenging. But with this little guy around who is ready and willing to melt my heart with his irresistible smiles at any given moment, it's certainly been worth it. The first year is full of changes. I don't think Dexter has stayed the same from one day to the next. Always learning/doing something new. The minute he figured out how to crawl, his learning spiked and he took off: climbing stairs, standing, making bigger messes, babbling like crazy, waving bye-bye, and he has this weird fascination with anything above him. He likes to point to lights and babble on and on and on about who knows what. (Sam thinks he's going to be an electrician). It's weird to think he's really 1. He's really not my baby anymore. The poor little guy had an awful night puking, and so he spent the day snuggled up to his mommy (which I thoroughly loved)! We did manage to make it out of the house for a little B-day party with his cousin Ginger. It was totally low key. And I loved it. We celebrated with my family last weekend, and with Sammy's family this weekend. It was great. It was perfect. And even if Dexter's tummy wasn't feeling great...he still managed to eat one bite of ice cream and open up some fabulous presents. Happy B-day, Dexter!!

Hi. I'm Dexter. I know my face is a little bit dirty, but I'm a boy. I don't have time to stop and let my mom clean my face. I'm almost 1, and I finally have a tooth poking through. Yes, my teeth have been a little bit slow coming, and it has been a bit troublesome to mash up all my yummy food without any teeth, but I am about ready to have a non-toothless grin. I've been a bit more cranky than usual...but come on! It's painful cutting teeth. My gums get all swollen and red and simply hurt!! But it hasn't slowed me down. I still manage to crawl faster than my mom can walk after me, and I'm really good about dumping EVERYTHING on to the floor. I've decided I'm too big for toys, they're only good for dumping out of their containers, and then I must move on to find the next thing I can make a mess out of. Oh...and I love to eat rocks, dirt, wood chips, and grass. Did I mention I was a boy? Yeah...my mom keeps trying to tell me they're gross and kaka...but they're actually quite tasty!! I've tried to share some with her, but she doesn't appreciate having rocks shoved in her face. Oh, well. It's her loss. Well, I'm off to take a rest...it's pretty exhausting being this cute...but I thought I'd let the world get a glimpse of me. Adios.

RAGNARdly, dude!!

Sam and I got roped into joining the Campsaver.com family and friends Ragnar Relay team. Sam has not run...ever...in his life and I haven't run since...before Savy was born. It was a good motivator to get running, get active, get healthy...and the reward was fantabulous!! 2 days of running, through some of the prettiest landscapes in Utah, surrounded by fantastic weather, with the most supportive, funny, good-natured people around. I started us off in Logan, and 188 miles later, I crossed the finish line in Park City with the rest of our crew. (I only ran 21 of those 188 miles!!). Aside from the lack of sleep, the aching bodies, and the stench that comes from running hard with no showers...it was a great experience. And even with those things, I'm ready to do it again.

Don't I look great? I just started running...hence the smile on my face! The grimaces came later (and when there wasn't a camera around to document them).

Sambo was so excited to get started on his part of the race, he forgot to pin on his bib. But Zak let him borrow his.

Sammy...pulled a funny face or a funny move anytime I pulled out the camera to document. Doesn't he look like he's working hard?

I'm done...

...and so is Sam. Now the only thing we had left to do...was pig out on Dairy Keen!!! (And drag our achy bodies across the finish line). It was a great way to spend 30 hours!!

Turning 3

Savy has been anticipating her birthday for months....probably since February. Specifically a Sleeping Beauty birthday with a Sleeping Beauty cake. And the present of choice is a pink scooter with princesses on it and a pink scooter for her baby sister (who she frequently talks about and tells me still lives in heaven...a tid bit odd (creepy) since there is no chance of a baby sister...or any baby...coming for quite a long time! maybe she knows something we don't...). Having a birthday in June we had planned on having the whole family come up and celebrate in the beautiful summer weather by having a barbecue and playing at the park. Instead, we crammed the whole family into our teeny-tiny house, had a barbecue (still), and simply froze our boot-ays off at the park shooting candy out of a candy cannon because the weather doesn't know how to cooperate!!

Sidenote: I decorated the front room with pink crepe paper and pink balloons the night before. When Savy woke up and groggily wandered into our bedroom, she said in a super grumpy/worried voice..."what did you do in there?" And Dexter just smiled and giggled and talked to the balloons and crepe paper. Different reactions...both super cute.

Savy started out as Sleeping Beauty, then became Cinderella, and ended with plain old Savana because with all the excitement of the day, she forgot she was potty trained and went through FIVE outfits!!!

Savy got absolutely spoiled and was granted her wish of a pink scooter with princesses on it, along with all things princess...shoes, accessories, figurines, a crown, a nightgown, and some non-princess outdoor toys and legoes. My mom made the comment these are the kind of parties Disney loves...their name was everywhere!!

Savana has also been practicing wrapping presents up for her in washcloths, towels, or blankies, singing to herself, and then blowing out the "candles," so she was a pro when it came time for her Sleeping Beauty cake.

Savy's playing with a few of the presents she received that day...legoes, princess accessories, and her Sleeping Beauty nightgown and crown all the way from Disneyland!!

Savy Paige...you are an absolute treat and a wonderful girl! Thank you for your sweet, sensitive, yet independent, personality!

My Name is Savy...and I am 3!!!

My baby girl turned 3. And we had a blast celebrating her birthday. But I want to continue the celebration of her...before I post birthday pictures. Because sometime during everyday, this little angel drives me absolutely bonkers...but most times during everyday...she leaves me shaking my head in awe at her beauty, her personality, and her crazy, creative, silliness. She is one little babe I'm glad decided to come into our family!!

So I invite you to join in the celebration of this little wonder...check her out in all her glory!!!

I had to throw this last one in. While we were getting ready for church one morning, Savy decided her baby needed a bed. So she found the best place for her baby to rest...the TOILET!!! Love it!!!

The Real Easter

Easter was ages ago. I know. And I already have a posting about Easter. But I realized I didn't have any pictures from Easter morning. That was because we'd forgotten our camera. So thanks to my dad for sending me multiple emails of these cute kids...here's my favorite pics from that morning.

What's not to love about sibling love? They love each other one minute, then are pulling on sister's hair or ripping toys out of brother hands the next, and then they're snuggling together in brother's crib.

And this is what Dexter does with ANYTHING in a basket, box, bucket, etc....just dumps it everywhere! I think he spent all conference dumping Easter baskets out...but at least it kept him entertained!

And while we were on our Easter egg hunt...Dexter became mysteriously quiet. He wasn't making a peep...because he found a Peep!!

Pure excitement. This is the face she pulled everytime she found an egg. It made Easter egg hunting so much better!!

The Bike Master

This girl is pretty incredible on her bike. My sister gave it to Savy a month or so back. The day we brought it home, she hopped on it and took off without the slightest bit of hesitation. And once we got her stunning pink princess helmet (sorry in advance, Dexter...you'll probably be sporting the same helmet in a few years), there was no place Savy couldn't go on her bike: the park we visit so frequently, her friends' houses, the back patio, and around and around our car. I've contemplated putting up an obstacle course for her, because she zooms around the strollers, shoes, skateboard, and other odds and ends to park her bike in the garage. I bet she could do it. And everytime I see her pedaling towards me, I think...when did my little baby get so grown up? Good thing I've got this chubster to baby for the next little bit. Wait...he's no longer a baby either. So sad how fast these little things grow...