Final Video Slideshow

Everyone,

I think I have finished the slideshow. Take a look and tell me what you think!

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Safire

1st Birthday Party

Everyone,

We had Butterfly's first birthday party today. She is getting so big! And she's a toddler now! Help!



Safire

Visitors

Everyone,

Right now 2 of my most avid readers are landing in one of our local airports to see their granddaughter. Oh, and me and Juice of course. And maybe even Soot. But really they are here to see our big one-year-old. My dad has been telling me for weeks that he CAN NOT WAIT to see her. And all she is going to do is cry and cling to me. Ah well, c'est la vie. They will be here until the 21st, when we are visited by the other set of grandparents. They will be here for a week as well. They at least want to come because Juice is graduating from college. Yes, internet, he is donning the cap and gown and we are all sitting through commencement. With a baby. Outside. On the National Mall. Lucky us. ;)

No really, I am very excited about all of our visitors and Juice's graduation. I just wish that Butterfly would be a better sleeper. That and I wish I had taken more time through out the months to clean my kitchen floor. I just spent at least an hour on my hands and knees scrubbing. I sent Juice, Butterfly, and Soot to the park to be out of my hair. And now, I'm enjoying my house to myself. That is a rarity.

Sorry if this is out of joint but I'm just not in the writing mood. Or I'm in a writing funk, not sure. Oh, and if you're wondering about Butterfly's first year slide show, it's not done. I will keep adding stuff to it until her big birthday celebration next week, and then it will be done. I'll re-post the link then and you can cry some more. :) I know I do every time I watch it. Is she really a year old?

Today I went to my old work's baby party. In case you've forgotten (and I know you have) every year my old company has a big mother's day party for all the people who succeeded in getting pregnant with them. It was really fun to see everyone, and have everyone see Butterfly. She got a giraffe, a butterfly balloon, and we got our family picture taken. Honestly it was a lot of fun this year. They had a hand writing analysis for the older kids and also face painting. Butterfly had a great time chasing balloons around and bulldozing other kids. I swear she has no fear sometimes. I met another LDS couple there (amazing) and we just ate and talked. Very fun.

I may not be posting as much because of my visitors, or I may have so much free time that you'll here from me every day. Who knows.

Safire

One Year Old

Everyone,

My baby is one year old. I can't believe that in a few short hours, we will mark what time she took her first breath. It was 11:31 am, and I was not handling labor very well. I don't think I've ever told Butterfly's birth story on here. Let me start at the beginning.

It was a Friday and I had my regular weekly doctor's visit. He had checked me the week before and I was 2-3 centimeters dilated. They weren't too excited; women sit at 3 centimeters for a while. That week I had little off and on contractions, and made it to Friday again. This time when he checked, I was 5 centimeters dilated. He said he had only seen a handful of women who were that dilated and still walking around. We all kind of laughed about it, and he sent me home with instructions to call when I've had an hour of steady contractions or they were coming 2 minutes apart. Saturday passed, then Sunday...nothing. Monday morning I got a call from my doctor's office wanting me to schedule an induction. I think my doctor was thinking of me all weekend and expecting to see me at the hospital. So we scheduled the induction for the next day. May 10, 2005. It's weird to know your child's birthday ahead of time.

We checked in to the hospital, they got me in a lovely gown and stuck IVs in my arm. They started me on pitocin to get my contractions regular, and let us be. I was in no pain. Juice read to me, I took a short nap, and we chatted with the nurses. After about an hour or so, my doctor came in to break my water. There was a huge gush and my stomach suddenly felt tighter. And then a contraction came. H.o.l.y. c.o.w. I was not a happy camper. I think I had 2 or 3 contractions right on top of one another (it's a little hazy) and then I felt the need to push. The nurse checked, frantically called the doctor back in and got the room ready for Butterfly's arrival. I remember being annoyed at the nurse for not helping me hold my leg, and for making me hold my leg in the first place. Juice seemed nervous. And my doctor just sat down there looking a little bored. I pushed for about 15 minutes. I remember saying "no no no no" a lot. I remember Juice telling me she had hair. And then I remember looking down to see this squirming little person with long arms and legs in my doctor's hands. She was so small and so perfect. She didn't cry much but had these long long fingers and toes. My fingers and toes.

She weighed 8 lbs, 10 oz and was 22 inches long. And she was 10 days early. Big girl! We spent 3 days in the hospital just watching movies late at night (The Wedding Singer) and getting to know each other. She grew, and grew, and grew! She is now about 23 lbs, and 33 inches long.

I can't believe a year has gone by. What did we do without her? She makes our family what it is. Happy Birthday Baby Girl!

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Butterfly, we can't believe how fast you've grown up. We can't wait to see what happens this next year! You are such a little book worm and will sit and "read" books to yourself (turn the pages and talk). You will calm down almost instantly with a book. You are a social laugher, and will laugh whenever someone else laughs. It's really fun to be able to chuckle on purpose and have your eyes light up and you chuckle back. And speaking of your eyes, they are so luminous! Like someone stuck little lamps behind them. They just light up when you are happy or excited. It's amazing.

I get strangers that stop me and tell me how much you look like me. Or how beautiful you are. When we went to the zoo, people kept coming up to me and telling me what a beautiful baby you are. What can I say? You have good genes. :)

Your favorite thing in the world is still Soot. You will chase that poor puppy around the house and love on her as long as she'll let you. I've been trying to teach you to be a little more gentle with your loving.

You love to stack things and then knock them down. You also love to move things from one container to another. We spend a lot of time taking out your toys and then putting them back into their box. Fun times.

You are still a messy eater. Seriously, you get food in your hair with every single meal. And you're not the happiest eater. Some kids just chow down and open their mouths wide...not you. It's a challenge to feed you, but you're happier when you're full.

You have become very clingy in the past few weeks. I think your teeth are coming in because you have to be touching me at all times. It makes getting anything else done very difficult. But I keep telling myself that sooner or later you will not want to be around me and I should cherish this closeness. Although it would be nice if you could nap without this closeness. :) Mommy would like that.

Time is just flying by and you get bigger every day. Daddy and I are so happy that you are in our lives. We love you Baby Girl!

Love,
Mommy and Daddy

Exciting news!

Everyone,

I had planned on writing up a post today about how it was this Tuesday last year that Butterfly was born. But she decided to do something else that I'd rather show you. She said her first word!!! Check it out!


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She is so smart. I can't believe she is going to be a year old tomorrow. Please check back for something special that I've been working on for awhile.

Until tomorrow!
Safire

Sounds like...

Everyone,

Butterfly is babbling up a storm. I can hear her first word working it's way out of her mouth soon. Here is a list of things that sound like words, or things she's imitated.

Apr 13- asparagus (we had it for lunch and I would say "Yummy asparagus!" after every bite and she started saying "spuh spuh spuh". So cute!

Apr 17- Totally thought she said puppy, but couldn't get her to do it again. Counting it as a fluke. Sorry Andrew, I know it was your first word.

Apr 26- "Gamdig" for Juice's sword Glamdring. We had been spending a lot of time in the stair well going up and down the stairs that she finally noticed our decor. Now as we go up and down the stairs she points to each sword and wants to hear its name. Also discovered the light here but that's another story.

Apr 28- "Uck!" for duck. We have an animal book that we read several times a day and the first page is "This animal goes quack quack. Do you know what it is?" and she will say "uck!" Also, we went to the zoo this day and she was fascinated by the chickens and kept saying "uck uck uck!"

I suppose all of these could count as a first word, because she obviously understands what we are saying to her. I'm just hoping for that clear, repeatable word to count. Until then, we still have a lot of pointing and "uh uh uh uh!"

Safire

She is growing!

Everyone,

I know I always say how big she gets every day and how I'm amazed at it. Ditto...



Safire

Butterfly need a tooth fairy

Everyone,

NO she is not loosing her teeth. We don't need THAT tooth fairy. We need a tooth fairy that eases the pain of babies teething. Because she was up every. single. hour. last night. Nothing but mommy love would do and so I'm exhausted. So is she. She is also sporting another incisor (bottom right) and I think a canine is coming up too. We both have matching bags under our eyes. She's begging to sleep, I'm begging her to sleep and sleep will just not come. Maybe instead of a tooth fairy we need the Sand Man. Anyone have his number or email address?

In other unrelated news, Juice shaved off his beard. He looks younger. And Butterfly doesn't know him and will look startled if she looks closely at his face. This could also be the other reason why only mommy love would do last night.

Safire

Wait for it....

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She is getting so so big so so fast. This is what Juice did with her on Saturday afternoon while I was writing. Wow, she is getting big!

Safire

Happy Easter!

Everyone,

Happy Easter!

Love, The Pack

11 Months Old

Dear Butterfly,

You are now 11 months old. And what a busy girl you are! You keep me on my toes during the day. You love to be held, and to play either in my lap or right next to me on the floor. There are only 3 things that will let Mommy have some alone time...Juice, Soot, and books. You love books. You are also so great at cruising and pulling yourself up on things. When I am at the kitchen table I see these cute little fingers peep over the edge, followed by the top of your head and then your eyes. It doesn't matter that the kitchen table is taller than you are. You pull your whole self off the ground to see what I am doing.

When you do play with your toys, you like to have at least one toy in each hand, and the more you can pack into your hands the better. You will dance to music and you are starting to laugh because we laugh. And then we laugh because you laugh...it's a very cute circle. You are also babbling up a storm. You will seem to talk in all sentences and then wait for my answer. If I don't say anything, you will nod your head up and down and say "AH!" really loud.

You used to make the sign for nursing, but that seems to have stopped now. Although it does seem to come up during dinner a lot still. You are eating solid foods with more zeal, but still continue to prefer nursing to any other mode of eating. You love apples, stars (little toddler cereal puffs), squash, asparagus, peas, carrots, black beans, bananas, oatmeal, tofu, potatoes, chicken, and guacamole. Boy do you love anything that has a spice to it. Guacamole is your favorite! When nothing else will do, guacamole is accepted. Looks like you got your father's taste buds.

Everyone tells me that you look like me. Even little kids. And everyone admires your eyes. They are such a different color...not quite green, not quite brown, not quite blue. We are waiting to see what they end up being but they have settled into this color for a few months now.

You are growing so tall. You are already 33 inches long and weigh around 23 lbs. Not surprising since both of your parents are tall but you are just amazing how tall you are. You can already reach the door knobs on doors if you stretch. You are also learning to stand but have a tendency to fall on your head and bruise it. Poor baby. You still love swimming and are getting more and more into it every time we go.

Soon you won't be a baby anymore. I'm just starting into planning for your first birthday. I can't believe it's almost been a year. This time last year I finally felt like I could eat food again, and I was getting anxious/excited about your birth. I'm so glad that you are here, and that you have such a fun personality. I love the baby you, and now I'm looking forward to knowing the toddler you.

Love,
Your Mommy

Clarification

Everyone,

According to my Dad, I've created quite a stir here with my last post. To answer Andrew and Stacey's questions (and anyone else who had this question but was too lazy to post it):
NO we are not moving anytime soon.
YES we are moving eventually.
YES we would like to move out of the East and back to the West so Juice can have his mountains. Our plan is somewhere in Colorado. Since that is where I was born, it's like going back home.

Basically the deal is that we've been planning a move to Colorado since Juice got his job. They have a space division there and that is what he'd like to end up doing. As I have been talking to the moms in our ward with pre-k kids to get a feel for the school, I learned that our elementary is not the greatest school. It has all day kindergarten, and it's mostly ESL. Butterfly doesn't need it and I would rather send her to a school that can challenge her. So I told Juice we have to move by the time she starts school. That won't be for another 4 years or so. There is no rush, but we are moving.

Eventually.

Safire

Peak Season

Everyone,

The cherry blossoms are out in peak right now. You can go here for a live webcam of the tidal basin. Juice and I braved the crowds this weekend and went. They are stunning. If you ever get a chance to come and see them, do! We went down early Saturday morning and missed probably the biggest rush in the mid-morning. There were crowds, but we found a little grove just behind the Jefferson Memorial and spend most of our morning there. We sat under the trees, listened to the birds (and the traffic, can't get away from traffic here in DC), and enjoyed the blue sky. It was very relaxing.

I must admit I am loving living in the DC area. I love all of the stuff that is continually going on. I just hate the traffic. But I suppose that is a big complaint from anyone who lives in a major city. With our pending move out of here, it seems like I like the area more and more. I'm excited to see Annapolis next weekend.

I hope you enjoy the pictures!



Safire, Juice and Butterfly

How cool is this?

Everyone,

So I got an email last night. About a month a go, I spent a few hours writing a few small stories for a website. This website got in contact with me from seeing my writing on another website (not my blog, a completely different website that if you really want to read, email me I will send you the link. Deanna, Amy, Jill, you know what site I'm talking about.) Anyway, I wrote 2 stories, sent them in and didn't really think much about it. Until last night. When I got an email from the editor. She was congratulation me that I have been chosen to be one of their freelance writers out of 1,000 applicants! I'm shocked! And thrilled! I get MONEY. Yes, you are now reading writing from a paid writer. This is my ultimate dream job and I am WAY TOO EXCITED!!!! So everyone go familiarize yourself with this website and soon you will be seeing my by-line!

Yay!

Catherine

Why? Why?

Everyone,

I was feeling ambitious and signed myself up for a spin class at the YMCA. I've only been twice because of the creeping sickness in the house. Today was my second time and I ask myself, why? Why do I insist on sitting on a really uncomfortable bike (horse saddles are much better) and pumping my legs going no where? I never liked exercising inside. Those stationary bikes just seem pointless to me. BUT, on the other hand, I went 10 miles today and my legs are killing me. And we went to a party for my mom's group on Saturday and one of the ladies that I see pretty regularly said that I looked thinner. Yay! That right there is the biggest reason to keep me going to the psycho spin class. Even if it is at 6am and Butterfly got up at 4am today. Ugh...

Another good thing about the class is that it gets me out of the house by myself for an hour. I think today was the first time I realized how attached Butterfly is to me. She was crying/whining when I came home. Juice was doing his stone cold "I'm annoyed" look. As I picked her up, she calmed right down and was calm as could be. Juice huffed a little, and went back to bed. Poor guy. Had to be up with the baby at 6:30 instead of 4am. Boo hoo.

Don't get me wrong, Butterfly loves her Daddy. When she is sick, she wants nothing to do with me. Only Daddy will do. And Juice gets the biggest laughs out of her. She loves to rough house with him more, and can't get into his arms fast enough when he comes home from work. I guess she is just used to me in the morning and Juice at night.

In other good news, I finished my scrapbook for the 2004/2005 year. It's almost 100 pages long (92 to be exact). Did I really have the time to do all of that?! I am not starting on the 2005/2006 book until I catch up with Butterfly's baby book. So far I have the baby showers, the sonograms and 2 pages of her birth in there. At least 10 more months to go. My goal is to get it caught up by the time her 1st birthday rolls around. When we have our big birthday/graduation celebration in May I want people to be able to look through the book. Only 2 more months to finish it. Wish me luck.

Juice got a congratulatory letter from his school notifying him on meeting all of his requirements to graduate. Way to go Juice! Now only commencement in May and we are finished with school for awhile. Yay!

We are almost done with our annual house fix up of the spring. New windows, check. Clean air vents, on Wednesday. New door, they come to measure on April 11th. I'm looking forward to not having to have strange people in our house weekly. This is probably the last big improvement we will do on our house now until we move. (We're not moving for a few years...)

Until next time,
Safire

Funny funny...

Everyone,

Just because this is one of my favorite movies, I'm interested to hear your results too!

Which one of Captain Jack Sparrow's bizarre sayings from Pirates of the Caribbean are you?

You are "Welcome to the Caribbean, love." You're more than a little world-weary, but also intelligent and you keep your head when things get dodgy. You're everybody's favorite drinking buddy, but your stubbornness does get in the way sometimes.
Take this quiz!








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Safire

Oh so cute

Everyone,

I know I always talk about how cute Butterfly is but seriously, I didn't realize how completely wonderful having your own kid around was. After years of babysitting other people's kids, and wondering how I'm going to deal with my own kid, it's really quite amazing how much you like your own kids. If that makes any sense. She is just so much fun. Right now she is blowing raspberries at Juice's computer. So silly!

Besides the raspberries, she is doing 2 very cute things lately. We have all been sick. It's been horrible. And since I was the first one to get sick, I am the first one to get better. Why is it that when I get sick I still have to take care of everyone? Juice did help out a lot but it would have been nice to be a little kid again.

Anyway, with this sickness, Butterfly lost her voice. She had the cutest little tiny cry. It was all deep and raspy and tiny. So so so cute. It's almost gone now and I never did get a video of it so you can't see but cute none the less.

The other thing that she seems to like lately is books. She will sit down with a book and read it to herself. Talking and all. Turn the pages, smile at the bears and dogs and owls. We also read a bedtime story at night and she will now snuggle into me and turn the pages when it's time to turn the pages. I love that she loves books. I hope it continues.

Another tooth has shown up on top. That makes a total of 6 teeth.

I have just discovered that my really good friend Julia has a blog too! Have been reading through it all day in between chasing down Baby Girl and getting juice and soup for Juice. How come I didn't realize this earlier Julia?! ;) Congrats on knowing that Audrey is coming soon!

Until next time,
Safire, Juice and Butterfly

Oh that's just me, hacking lung out.

Everyone,

Butterfly and I have been sick sick sick for about a week. I first noticed how cold I was last week after swimming. And by the end of the day, I was a puddled mess of fever, cough and general grumpiness. Wednesday was bad...I had Juice stay home from work because I seriously couldn't get out of bed. Temp climbed to 102. Thursday, Juice stayed home voluntarily because I was so sick. Temp climbed to 104.5. Ouch. That day Butterfly started to act a little cranky and I knew it was only a matter of time before we were both sick. And boy did she get it. Her fevers weren't as bad as mine, but the stuff coming out of her nose was a lot more disgusting! She will throw herself back and start to scream if she sees a tissue come out of it's box. Even if it's going to my nose and not hers she flips out. Poor thing. She is also not sleeping well. She woke up one morning to her nose crusted over. I had to get a washcloth and hold it there to break up the snot so she could breath out of her nose. Let's just say I've seen more snot this week to paint my walls with it. Gross.

Yesterday we got new windows in the house. The biggest difference so far has been how quiet it is. I never knew how thin our windows were. So far, so good. Pictures to come but the office is a wreck (had to move everything 2 feet away from the walls) and I don't want to find the camera.

Also, my family is in Disneyland without me for the second year in a row. Shoulda gone...

Safire

10 Months old!

Everyone,

Butterfly is 10 months old today. Can you believe it? She is out of the single digit months. And I can't believe how much she has learned this month too. Besides the crawling and the dancing (which is so cute by the way), she has also learned how to stand by herself for a few seconds, point out noses (including the dog's), chins, mouth, ears, eyes, glasses, etc. She is also pulling up on everything in sight.

Also for 10 months old she seems to have caught my horrific cold. I'm hoping that she won't get as sick as I did and keeping her doped up with tylenol. So far she has missed out on the cough but has a major runny nose and a small fever. Not like my huge fever of 104!

We're just hanging out today and hopefully we'll be better in a few days. Until then,

Safire and Butterfly

Temps

Everyone,

Temperature outside: 50 degrees
Temperature inside: 70 degrees
Average Temperature of a healthy human: 98.7 degrees
Average Temperature of a healthy dog: 101 degrees
Temperature of Safire right now: 102.3 degrees

Sick with a fever and a cough. Ugh...

Safire