this b e a u t i f u l ride...

I am feeling beyond blessed for the life I have been given. Getting married young and having a baby young has been the best thing that has ever happen to me. Ben is my best friend, my secret keeper, my lover, my baby daddy, my one and only. The way we fit together amazes me, we have always been on the same page. I don't know what I would do without him. He knows me better then anyone, he understands me and loves me and all my flaws. He teaches me, encourages me, and compliments me. He amazes me everyday. He is such a hard worker and never complains. He is always looking for ways to better our life. He makes me want to be my best self. With him we have created this beautiful, perfect angel. She is her daddy's girl and her mamma's world. She makes us smile and laugh daily. Sometimes I wake up and can't believe this is the life I am living. There is and will always be trials in life but battling those trials with these two makes everything better. Enjoying the little things in life has been my goal and I am grateful for my two loves. <3

14 months

Aubree Jane you are fourteen months of pure delight. You just started to trust yourself to walk or should I say waddle :) Those first few steps were my favorite until I saw how fast you could walk, you get so excited and let out a giggle that makes us all smile. You no longer hate the grass now that you can walk. You are still trying to figure out how to go from kneeling to standing without pulling up on something. It is so funny to watch you try to stand. You love to walk everywhere now and touch everything. Pulling everything out of the cabnits and drawers is your favorite. You love to help mommy with laundry by unfolding everything I fold. You are a pro at taking all the silverware out of the dishwasher while I am doing dishes. Occasionally I catch you trying to stand on the dishwasher to reach your cups. You have the cutest four teeth, two on the top and two on the bottom. I love the way the two on the top have a little space in between them. Your hair just keeps on growing and has continued to stay curly on the bottom and straight on the top. I love doing your hair every morning before doing my own. You love picking out your clothes and trying to take off your shoes. When you are sleepy you play with your hair and take your bows and pony's out. Your lovie is still your favorite. You take it everywhere and no matter how many times I wash it, it still looks dirty. This summer has given you the best tan anyone can get, momma wishes she had your tan. You have the most beautiful skin. Your personality is really starting to come out. Every night before bed we lay you in  bed with us and you love to snuggle us each individually and give us kisses. I cherish those moments. You love to eat everything we eat and cry when we don't let you try some. You have us wrapped around your little finger. Your sweet little baby babble is the cutest! Dada is still your favorite word. You ask about him all day and love when we call him on the phone, you hold it up to your ear and pretend to talk to him. Bath time has turned into water fights where you splash and splash and we sing about the little ducky named tiny Tim.
We celebrated mommies birthday this month. We spent all day together, just like we always do. Except we shopped until we dropped. It was a blast. We have also taken some spontaneous adventures recently. One day dada came home and asked if we wanted to go to Butcher Jones for the night, so we all loaded in the truck, including Stella, who has been your best friends recently. You ask about her and look for her as soon as you wake up.. Anyway we rode out to the lake and spent some quality time outdoors swimming and enjoying the beautiful weather. It was nice to get out of the house and spending some time outside. We loved it so much that when dada suggested to drive up to Payson a week later, we did just that. It was the best day ever. We drove all around looking at houses and played at the little park with a beautiful lake. We looked through some antique shops and ate some ice cream. I wish we could relive that day over and over again. Aubree Jane you make my day better, you make our lives better. You are the best. We love you.

13 m o n t h s

I am not a fan of typing 13 months. When people ask me how old Aubree is I so badly want to say she is 12 months, but time has gone on and she has continued to grow. Her growing has been such a bittersweet thing. I love watching her learn new things and become independent but at the same time I miss the newborn smell, and the way she look to me for everything. She is now becoming more independent and knows more of what she wants and doesn't want. Now that her birthday is over it was on to Ben's birthday. I wanted to make him feel special so I decided I was going to decorate the house for him while he was at work but he was able to get his birthday off so I had to stay up super late the night before to decorate. It was all worth it when he opened the door the next morning. I can't wait to do that for Aubree when she is old enough to understand a surprise. All Ben wanted for his birthday was golf stuff. His parents spoiled him by getting him a set of golf clubs and Aubree and I got everything else. It was a blast shopping for him and spoiling him. He was happy and so was I, he had been working so hard and deserved it all. We celebrated all day and ended the night by going to dinner with family.
Aurbee and I took a trip to Safford for the girls dance recital. It was fun to watch their recital and spend time with them. They are growing up and becoming these beautiful young women. What happen to all three of us girls being kids. I miss those day when I would make a little dance and teach Brooklyn and Ashlynn and we would preform it for mom and dad. It is amazing to me how much time has passed and how grown up everyone is. The day I came home from Safford Ben hurt his knee and it locked up so he had to go to a specialist. I wasn't able to attend the appointment because Aubree had a photoshoot for Royal Roe. I was so excited for it and couldn't wait but was also anxious for Ben. Aubree ended up being scared and grouchy for the photo shoot so we had to reschedule. Ben's doctors appointment went well and they scheduled him for surgery the next week. I was stressed out and worried for him. But it was nice having him home and pampering him before the surgery. We learned that his knee had a growth that would need to be removed in order for it to not cause him pain. The surgery went well and he was able to stay home for a week to recover. Having Ben work for his dad has been such a blessing in this situation being that he was able to stay  home and heal. It was so nice having him and Aubree home all day with me. He was able to see what we do everyday and watch her play.
As soon as he was back to work my sweet baby brother came to stay a few days with us while my mom and dad took a little trip to Vegas. It was fun watching him and Aubree interact. She had a blast with him and I am pretty sure he was tired of her by the end of it. I moved out of the house when Hayden was just a toddler so he doesn't have much memory of me living with him. Sometimes he even asks who my parents are. I think it is hard for him to wrap his head around us being brother and sister since I don't live with them and I have my own family now. It was so fun being able to spend one on one time with him since we don't get that very often.
All in all my feelings towards this month have been that life doesn't seem to slow down even when you want it to. All we can do is enjoy the little moments as they pass and take lots of pictures. I am so grateful for my little family. I have such a hard working husband and am incredible daughter. Aubree brings so much happiness into our lives and we are forever grateful for her little thirteen month old self. I love you Ben and Aubree. You two have my heart. <3

Aubree Jane's birth video

Enjoy watching!

http://vimeo.com/97855044 

 

T W E L V E months

Before you were born we dreamed of you, we imagined you, we prayed for you. Now that you are here we hope for you, we love you, we thank heavenly father for you. <3

So I am a little behind on posting about Aubree's first birthday party. I had been planning this party for months and was so excited to celebrate my baby girl. It all came together so beautifully and we had a wonderful time. We celebrated at my in laws house because our apartment is just way to small to have all of our family and friends over. I love how generous Steve and Michelle are to letting us use their beautiful home. I am so blessed to have such amazing in laws. Everyone had a wonderful time and I am so grateful for all of the family and friends that came. Aubree had a very happy birthday and we are enjoying every moment with her!