Pumpkin Patch

A couple of weeks ago, we went to one of those pumpkin patches that has activities for the kids: corn bin, petting zoo, corn maze, etc. We were there on a beautiful fall day (unlike today - we got our first snow!) and the kids had a great time.

One of the activities was a human sized "hamster wheel." It was pretty hard to push actually, because it was slightly uphill. 

I think goats are so fun. One day, my dream is to have a backyard goat. Must find a city that allows that. 

Piper - 1 year old

My sweet, smiling, one-year-old Piper baby,

I cannot get over how much you smile. And it's not just any smile. You truly smile with your whole face. Your mouth opens so wide I can see all 9 teeth, the last of which just came in a week ago. (Your first molar...ouch.) Your smiles usually coincide with an adorable ha-ha-ha forced laughter, but we get plenty of genuine giggles and squeals as well.

Lately, a sure-fire way to get you to giggle is to read you your favorite library book: Corduroy's Party. You love flipping through the pages of plenty of other books as well, but this one is special because you will bring it to Mom or Dad, place it in our hands, climb on our lap, and SIT STILL for the whole 6 pages. I've even seen you kiss the characters in the book. I'm so happy you are learning to love reading.

You're now officially a walker, which makes you seem so much older. You can climb pretty well, too. I've caught you on top of the kids table and I've witnessed you climb onto the cedar chest so you could look out the window (you were looking for the neighbor's dog). You can climb down off the bed and the couch, too. And at playgrounds, you're pretty brave with the slides, not caring so much whether you go down forward or backward, head-first or feet-first.

You still have the same gorgeous blue eyes that you did when you were born. I can't imagine how you could possibly be any cuter.

A few other things I don't ever want to forget about you, at 1 year old:
the way you crawl into my lap and lean your head back on my chest.
the way you give kiss after kiss with a wet, open mouth.
the way you always walk with your left foot leading and your body turned at a 45 degree angle to the direction you are going.
the way you point at things you're excited to see (dogs especially!)
how amazingly you can communicate your desires by pointing, grunting, babbling, and shaking your head 'no.'

I can't imagine our family without you!

You got this pink rocking horse for your birthday and Libby loves it as much as you do.

Eating your blueberry birthday cake.

Family Vacation in Utah

In early September, we went to Utah to visit Jared's parents and sister. We were able to see a few friends as well, though there is never enough time to see everyone we wish we could see! We keep saying that our next trip to Utah needs to be a full 2 weeks because there is so much we always want to do.

We spent several days in Idaho at Jared's parents' house there. Libby loved feeding the horses next door and wading in the irrigated apple orchard. This was our last visit to their Idaho home, as they are selling the house in a few months, so we were glad Libby was old enough to enjoy some of these things this time. We also went to the Eastern Idaho State Fair, which Jared's grandpa used to manage.

In Utah, we visited with Sherry at Thanksgiving Point and our kids were finally able to meet each other!
We were lucky to be in town for our twin nieces' exciting birthday party, complete with a giant bubble machine.

Piper was crazy about Rachel's dog, Harley. Libby was crazy about playing with older kids. 

We also went down to Provo to see Leighana, who's a freshman at BYU now, and to visit campus. It had been 5 years since I'd been to Provo (seriously, where has the time gone?) and I was super excited to relive the glory days. We walked around campus, browsed the bookstore for dorky alumni paraphernalia, ate at J-Dawgs (albeit, the one in Orem), said hi to my old boss at Cougar Creations, and ate Creamery ice cream. And chocolate milk! It was also fun to see the new Heritage Halls, where Leighana lives. It was definitely nicer than anywhere I ever lived as a student.

 

 

And, I got to catch up with these girls and meet Lauren's husband and Renae's second baby. The last time the 3 of us were together was at my wedding!

Libby Speak - September 2013

Libby's starting to catch onto the idea of time, though all she really understands is that it has something to do with numbers.
Jared (to me): What time is it? Libby (deadpan): 6:40.

The next day...
Libby: What time is it? Is it 14 yet?

Later...
It's 9:22!

Libby loves for me to tell her the story of her birth and of Piper's birth. Sometimes she helps tell the story. 
Piper popped out of my tummy and into your tummy and popped out of your tummy!

Grocery shopping one day, I told Libby we needed to buy jam. She fixated on this word and repeated it the entire time we were in the store. Only, her j sounds like a d, so...
Dam. Dam. Daaaaaaaaaam. Dam, dam, dam.

Is it nice to be together forever?

I can't remember the context of this quote. I think I had something on my face and when Libby asked what it was, I told her it was a mustache.
Don't have a mustache. It makes you so annoying.

Libby sings all the time, often making up her own words and melodies. This song was hilarious.
When you make a mess, you clean it up. You just let your mommy clean it up.

Did you know if you're ever scared, you can always say a prayer to "Heavenly God" and Jesus Christ?

I found her eating butter with a knife in her playroom:
Mommy, I won't lick the butter again. I was just being silly.

Completely out of nowhere:
You have udders.

Can you please wash the dishes for me?

Besides making up songs, my other most favorite thing Libby does is quote books. This quote is a hodge podge of 2 different "Miss Nelson" books.
"Holy smokes, it's the swamp!" "That's right, and I'm here to 'wipe' this class into shape! Get back to your desk, on the double!"

I'm pretending to be Super Why and I am saving the day!

Piper - 11 months

 

Piper is at one of my favorite stages of babyhood. She is increasingly mobile (not quite walking yet, though she did take 7 steps in a row last week) and exploratory. I've been diligent about teaching her how to climb down steps and raised surfaces and it's paid off. She can climb all the way up and down the stairs on her own. (She did fall down a few stairs at Rachel's house in Utah last week, which incidentally is where Libby first fell down the stairs, too. But she does awesome at home.) If she wants to get off the couch, she knows to turn around backwards, hang her feet over the edge, and slide off on her tummy. It's so fun seeing her become more physically independent.

She's learned to clap and does it often. She also points at things she's interested in and flaps her arms up and down when she's excited. She is such a happy baby. Her mouth is nearly always wide open in a smile. She gives big, wet, open-mouthed kisses. I loooove her kisses and I loooove 11 month old Piper.

P.S. Have I ever mentioned how thrilled I am to have 2 girls? I love it. Libby often requests that she and Piper wear matching clothes (see below). They are playing better together every day. They follow each other's lead in so many things. They can make nearly identical high pitched squeals, and Libby has taken up grunting and babbling when she is excited about something. And if I ever want Libby to do something (wash her hands, go upstairs, etc), all I have to do is tell her that Piper is going to do it first ("no, me first!").

A Week of Firsts

Not only did my little Libby turn 3 this week - she also had a pretty big week of firsts.

First dentist appointment...


First haircut (by someone other than me)...


First time sleeping in a bed by herself...

3

To Libby, on your third birthday,

Today, I told you the story of your birth - I talked about how my water broke in the middle of the night, and in the morning I woke Daddy up and we went for a walk. Then I took a shower, tried to watch TV, then took another shower. I told you that we went to the hospital and I took a really long bath and then I got on the bed and pushed really hard and a tiny little baby came out and we named her Libby Claire.

You have no idea how happy it made me to hear you repeat this story back to me: "I'm going to tell a story. Once upon a time, I was a wittle tiny baby. And we went to the ho-pital and I took a shower and a bath with you. And I was inside your tummy. (And then you popped out of my tummy.) And then you popped out of my tummy!"

Now I have a few more things I'd like to tell you about the person you are today, 3 years later.

You are capable and independent. You can take your clothes off by yourself and can sometimes put them on, too if there aren't any buttons. You love to butter your own toast, which you eat nearly every morning for breakfast.

You're a great helper. You love to help cook and you even know how to measure flour properly. You have surprised me by picking up clothes and toys without being asked and then declaring "we have a nice, clean house."

At home, you are almost constantly asking to read books. You love the Berenstain Bears fiercely. You've started picking out your own books at the library. You take at least 1, but usually more like 3-4 books to bed with you every night and every naptime. In the morning, we often quietly open your door to see if you're awake yet and find you happily reading to yourself.

Outside, you love to swing in our backyard swing, look for cicadas, ride your bike, and go for walks.

You love to sing and be sung to. Your favorite songs right now are: ABCs, Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, I Love to See the Temple (you call it "the temple song"), Families Can Be Together Forever (you call it "I have a family"), Princess Pat, Weenie Man, and Follow the Prophet (Daniel is your favorite verse). You like to flip through the Children's Songbook and choose songs for me to sing, saying "oh, this looks like a great one."

While you're quiet around new people, you also have a great desire to befriend others. You wave at people we pass on our walks and you love to play with other kids at the sandbox. You refer to any and all children as "my friend."

You are a loving big sister and have great concern for Piper. If you see her heading toward the stairs, you block her way and shout "no Piper! Don't fall down the stairs!"

You are a priceless addition to our family. Every day, you ask me "do you know we can be together forever?" When I respond yes, you say "does that make you so happy?" Yes, it does Libby. So happy.

Love,
Mom