We like to party.

There were many reasons I looked forward to having a baby someday...and I would be lying if I said throwing a big 1st birthday party wasn't on the list...among other things like dressing them up in adorable miniature clothes...anyways. My little man turned one, stepped from babyhood to toddlerhood. It was a big day. And this family likes to celebrate, so celebrate we did!

Kyle's favorite book has always been Personal Penguin by Sandra Boynton. There is a music video that goes along with it and for as long as I can remember that song can cheer Kyle up faster than anything else. It has crazy power over him. So this, combined with the fact he has a winter birthday...the theme practically picked itself! Winter ONEderland...penguin...combination. We had a good time.

I had a little too much fun making decorations and baking a six layer tall penguin cake. Kyle quite enjoyed the cake too. He also enjoyed getting WAY too many presents from all his guests. We ate a soup and bread buffet, pb&j, jello jigglers, donut snowmen, cheese ball and crackers, and cake of course. I mixed some more adult foods along with the little guy's faves. It all went down with only one minor breakdown when Kyle was attacked by all the "helpers" while opening his presents.

I was sad I didn't  get better pictures... but the party was great, and that's what matters.

Kyle enjoying a leisurely tub the morning of his big day.

favors!

Kyle with his two biggest fans

Admiring his penguin cake.

 There was penguin bowling.

 Kyle coloring his penguin pic.

 Presents!

Cake cross section

 Penguin rocker shirt of course

 No hands!

Happy Boy!

After the party Kyle got a suspicious rash...headed to Instacare to find out he is allergic to Amoxicillin...a day is not complete without a little adventure right? Then we came home and let Kyle enjoy some lactose free ice cream, which he loved. It was a fun day. We loved celebrating our baby and thinking about the last year. Kyle is such a blessing, we are just obsessed. Here's to many more fun filled birthdays with our boy!

One year older, wiser too.

My baby is ONE! It blows my mind. It has been the fastest, craziest, hardest, most life changing year of my life so far. But this is not about me. Let's talk about my favorite little boy.

I feel like Kyle grew up even more than usual in the last month. He is so full of personality. My favorites?

• All of his talking! Hi, No, Up, Out, Oh dear, Oh wow, and What's this?..all his most common words.
• He says "hi, hi, hi, hi, hi..." until whoever he is greeting acknowledges him.
• He fake sneezes about ten times after any real sneeze.
• He loves stairs. He can get up and down in no time at all.
• He loves peaches n' cream oatmeal and granola bars.
• He loves his soy milk.
• He loves to play outside, even in the cold.
• He loves Christmas lights.
• He loves to sit and look at books,  and really loves to turn the pages.
• He has started hiding his face when he feels shy, then pops his head out with a big grin.
• He sings along with songs, not words, just his sweet little singing voice.
• He loves to be played with. Especially playing with other little kids.
• He knows how to throw a good fit.
• He loves suckers.
• He loves playing with puzzles.
• He likes to talk on the phone.
• He walks a lot, but never lets go.
• He likes to carry things around with him.
• He loves pillows..sleeping on them, throwing himself on them...and stealing mine.
• He is SO happy and smiley.

I always feel like I forget things..mostly I wish I could just capture a bit of his personality and document it. He is so sweet and funny and cute and perfect. We love him so much. I am so grateful he came to us. This first year was so much fun, and the older he gets the more fun it is! I love watching him turn into a little person. Happy birthday little man! (party details to come)

My good friend Mike was nice enough to take some pics of Kyle for his big day. I love them.

All about me

You may remember my half birthday celebrations...well I love my real birthday  even more. I know, you are probably thinking who is this selfish girl who lives for her own personal holiday? Well...guilty. What isn't to love about presents and a day to dedicate to all your favorite things? I mean really. I love to celebrate...so much so that I occasionally make up holidays just to have an excuse to party. So a celebration filled with everything I love? Sign me up. And don't worry- I care about others birthdays too. Everyone deserves a special day.

This year did not disappoint. Last year was great, especially cause my sister was in town. But being OVER 40 weeks pregnant discounted the fun a little. So this year was super nice. The whole week was awesome. Ryan made my favorite meals, and did something special every day. My favorite day might have been when he brought Andes mints home. To say I love those would be an understatement. Yum. Anyways, he is a good man. Duh.

My birthday being on a Sunday is always a little saddening, but we partied the whole weekend! Magical. Friday night we went to Festival of Trees and then downtown to see the lights. It was sort of a long night for a little man who is usually in bed by 6:30...but we had a good time regardless. And the little love birds cam along! Always a treat!

It was frigid but beautiful. Kyle actually liked the lights even though he was bundled to the point of immobility. 

Then there was Saturday. Kyle went to play with his grandma (basically his favorite thing in the world to do) and we had the most magical date. My favorite part might have been the running errands part. We went thrifting and I found everything I wanted for my DIY list. Magical. Then we just roamed stores, the mall...anywhere. I took as long as I wanted. Loved it. 

Then we headed to get some seafood! YUM. Crab and shrimp dip on hard bread, crab legs, coconut shrimp and more. Dreamy. Bring on the shellfish baby.

We ended the evening with a little comedy. Comedy Sportz never disappoints.We had so much fun. The best part was just hanging out with Ryan. Alone. These times are rare...and I treasure them. Sunday was the actual birthday and was also great. My family had a little bash complete with all my favorite foods, and I got a lot of crafting time. It also SNOWED and was cloudy most of the day. Dream come true.

While I was 23 I managed to give birth and run a marathon. How should I top that? Bring it on 24!!

Refreshment

Sometimes I feel like I am 23 going on 40...or older. Don't get me wrong, I love my life. But ya know...a large portion of people my age are still living party to party going crazy...and I am in bed by 10 with a husband and a baby. Sometimes I just need to be a little crazy...as crazy as a law abiding, religious person like myself gets. So that is why occasionally Ryan and I stay up til 3am, or have random loud dance parties (love not living in an apartment complex anymore), and SOMETIMES...my ladies take me out.

I have the best friends. I know everybody probably says that, but I really do. I don't know why I was lucky enough to find these ladies but years later, we are still going strong. They love me, I love them. They are the kind of friends I know will always be there. No matter what, or how life changes...they are still the ones. When I am feeling blah, or 50 years old...a night out with them is the perfect cure. Add a little Justin Timberlake and some Winger's sticky fingers? I feel like myself in no time at all.

These lovely ladies took me out for my birthday last night and I loved it. Ambs even braved the windstorm and drove from Logan! They keep me in check. They make me laugh. They make me happy. They just get me. Always. I really feel lucky and grateful to have such a loving, supportive, and FUN group of people to call my bff's. Thanks ladies! Let the birthday celebrations begin!

Whoosh.

I sometimes drop Ryan off at school so I can have the car for the day, often it is a thought provoking drive for me. 

Nostalgia. Fun. Discovery. Learning. Growth. Stress. Challenge. Friends. Memories. Dreams. Scared. Love. Hate. Lost. Confused. Faith. Goals. Failure. Success. Sacrifice. Beautiful. Tiring. Festive. Spiritual. Crazy.

Just a few of the words that describe my big complicated relationship with BYU. I have never once looked back and regretted my choice to "drop out" my junior year and go for my dream. I loved every minute of hair school and I have never felt more right about anything. I still love doing hair, I love the opportunities it has given me. It just fits.

I have always intended on finishing my last 40 credits at BYU.  I couldn't walk away from so much work, and money I had put into my degree. But more than that I think I just felt pressure. I felt pressure from my family. I felt pressure from anyone who asked me what I did, ans when I answered with hair, a judgmental look often followed. I felt pressure from myself. I felt not good enough unless I finished what I started.

Don't get me wrong, I have total respect for the academic world. I know how hard it is, and I understand why people need to finish. But for me, I realized that in this stage of my life...I need to be happy with the fact I lived my dream. I do hair. I love it. It is what I always wanted. I also have a little man. He needs a lot of my time and attention. My husband is in grad school. These things all add up to a sacrifice. I made my choice. I have no regrets. And yes, I still want to finish school, but maybe I will be 50 when that happens. I can not justify the expense, and the time I need to go to school right now. I have a role in my family, and right now it is to make money to support Ryan through school, and to raise Kyle.

 I can't have any apologies. I will no longer answer questions about myself with "...and I have a few semesters left at BYU." I don't need to mention the BYU part of my life to feel good about myself. Right now my sacrifice is NOT finishing my degree. I fully see the other side of it and understand how finishing IS also a sacrifice. A worthy one. But as I withdrew from my class once again, I felt ok about it. BYU will be waiting for me...when I am ready. I am forever grateful for the years I spent as a full time student...but everything has a season, and school isn't in this part of my life.

I am always grateful for experiences like this to help my mind be opened to things. No matter how hard I try I can have my judgmental moments...and one experience at a time I like to think I am learning to eliminate those moments.