Her make-shift sandbox

Maeva has decided the planters on the deck serve a better purpose as her sandbox than a home for flowers. So she spent most of the summer pulling the flower out to make room for herself in them.

And now she enjoys hanging out in them when ever she can get a chance.

Climbing from one to the other

Spying on neighbors walking by

Sampling dirt.

I am still trying to figure out why she STILL tastes the dirt! How many times of sampling before she will remember it's not a good snack?

a weekend of FiRsTs

CamPinG

On Maeva's birthday we went camping in Payson Canyon with my family.

She did pretty well for the most part... until morning.

Just waking up after freezing nights sleep.

This is the first time I have seen Maeva cry from the cold. She usually doesn't mind the cold to much, but then again she has never slept outside in 30 degree weather either.

I thought her snowsuit would warm her, but she continued crying. All the while we were getting dirty looks from other campers that were trying to sleep, so I took her to the car & turned the heat on full blast while Ryan packed up our stuff. We drove away at 9:00 AM. I decided we will wait till next SUMMER to try it again. None of this camping in September stuff. It's already to cold.

BiRtHdaY pArTy!!!

After a hot bath & a long nap, we headed over to the park to set up for Maeva's birthday party.

(Check out her bloomers that Ryan's sister, Angi made just for the birthday girl!)

We had a candy table for the cousins... which they loved.

This is the best picture I have of it, but the little dishes are Ryan's contribution...

Big League Chew :)

When Maeva saw her cake she said, "Mmmmm!"

I had to hold her back till we got the candle blown out.

She dove right in, none of this sissy baby stuff :)

She even gave her foot a taste.

Still can't believe this girl is 1!

{o.N.e}

I have to admit, I have shed a few tears as this day has approached us. Yes, of course I am happy to see Maeva grow & become her own little person, but I cannot believe how fast a year has flown by.

I remember when we brought her home from the hospital, I had to sit in the back seat with her to make she would survive the ride home, she did just fine. I on the other hand being the mess of emotions you are after you have a baby, looked at her & cried knowing that I was in BIG TROUBLE! I knew I would feel extreme joy & extreme sorrow like never before now that I had my own child. I loved her so much & wanted her to stay a baby forever. I didn't want her to grow up and turn into a teenage dirt bag that would hate me.

Over the next few days I cried ever time I thought about her getting any older. After that wore off, I felt extremely overwhelmed by being a new mom & started saying things like, "As soon as she can sit up/crawl/eat solids/walk etc. it'll be easier." I feel like I wished for some other stage than the one she was currently in that I missed out on a lot. I feel really sad about that & have really made a huge effort to enjoy right here & now. I'm sure the next time I blink my eyes she'll be starting Kindergarten. Cliche maybe, but true time goes by too fast. I think we should take a trip to Neverland with Peterpan for a few years.

Happy Birthday Maeva, you are my favorite child.

(Especially when you are sleeping.)