zoo!

We went to the zoo on Saturday with some of our playgroup friends!!  It was fun, but after going three years in a row now I think we'll wait a couple before we go again.  Half the animals were asleep, it was a little hot, and the girls get just about as excited see horses and dogs around our neighborhood as they were to see the animals at the zoo.  But I'm glad we went.

Katelyn and our neighbor and friend Allison.  They are SO cute together, except that Katelyn thinks it's her job to be Allison's mom.  She also has a little sister a few months older than Whitney, they're cute friends too.
Eric and Kate and a giraffe (kind of)
These were the only big cats we saw, they were all out of sight!

Whitney's latest

She can finally wear pigtails in the back!  Way cuter and older-looking than on top of her head!

back view
eating yogurt view
She's also finally walking more, it's so fun.  Unfortunately, she has also developed a rather loud, fairly annoying shriek the last couple of weeks.  And also unfortunately, I paid a lot of attention to said shriek the first few days she was doing it, and now she knows it's an instant attention-getter.  The last couple of days I've succeeded in stopping calling "Katelyn!"  every time I hear it, although it's still her fault half the time :).    But really, I don't know how to make her stop besides trying to ignore it..... any ideas anyone??   

I miss coaching....

Saturday something amazing happened.  

Here's the background.  I coached track and cross country at Provo High for 4 1/2 years.  In that time I got to know MANY wonderful kids (teenagers).  One of them is a kid named Jack.  He decided to run track his freshman year, and I encouraged him to run distance because I could see he was a hard worker and a good kid and I wanted him on my squad :)  He quickly proved to be a decent distance runner, and we were all excited to have another good solid runner for our cross country team that fall.  I coached him for 2 years, and he became one of my favorites.  Great kid, always positive, kind to everyone, always giving 100%, or more like 200%, so fun to have around. 

 Fast forward to this track season.  He's a senior, and his specialty race is the 800 meters and he's gotten really good!  So Saturday was the State Championships and I decided to go watch him run, and I got to talk to him before his race, so fun.  And then he went out and ran the 800 and WON!!!  Beating his main rival from Timpview High who usually beats him. Getting a huge PR (personal record) (1:56) the best of any kid I ever coached.  He is the state champion and I am so proud!!  Go Jack!!   

He also took 5th in the mile and anchored the Medley Relay team that took 3rd- they probably would have won but the 400 meter guy tripped and fell and got right back up but lost several seconds and lots of momentum- Jack got the baton in 8th place and got them back up to 3rd.

Anyway I just loved coaching and I really miss it.  There's no way I could do it right now, I took the girls to the State Meet and they could barely handle the 2 hours we were there.  But someday I hope to coach again.  I just love being around such great kids and encouraging them and watching them succeed.  :)

tree!!

Eric got us a beautiful shade tree "for Mother's Day".  I was SO EXCITED, we've been dying for more shade in our backyard.  It's an Autumn Blaze Maple, this is what it should look like in the fall!  I've always wanted a beautiful tree! 

Here's what it looks like now, the leaves are just coming out so it will be fuller.  It's huge!! Comparatively- see pics below.  At least I'll be able to sit in it's shade with the girls, barely. :)
I had Katelyn take pictures next to the other trees in our backyard just for some perspective.  Our apple tree:
The tree planted by the former owners:
Exciting stuff that I never thought I'd get so excited about!

Birthday fun!!

Here I will chronicle Whitney's birthday excitement.

The cake!  I've decided that layered cakes are not hard and are superior to rectangle ones, so that's what I"ve been making.  This one was DELICIOUS.

Classic reaching for the candle.
She wasn't so sure about the cake at first...
but eventually dug right in and asked for a fork (pointing and going "eh, eh, eh") so she could eat it "better"- she loves eating with a fork, she's almost as good at it as Katelyn is (which is nothing to brag about!)
Opening presents from Grandma Murray!
First hting on her birthday morning- she was SO HAPPY about this present and cried when we tried to take her off to open other presents!
Opening a present before Eric left for work
birthday night- she loved the push car from Grandma and the balls from Grammy, and found a way to play with them both at the same time.
birthday lunch, on the new picnic table from Grandma and Grandpa Murray!!  SO COOL, we love it!!
playing with balloons (carefully supervised!)
birthday dinner at Wingers, she loved the strawberry lemonade and fruit snacks that came with her kids meal...
We went to Jumpin Jacks after dinner, it was SO FUN!!! Both girls loved it. It's a place with big inflatable slides and jumping areas.
Eric was bouncing her off that mushroom and she thought it was hilarious.

I love how she's trying to get away from Eric, she had so much fun.  Katelyn loved it too, she was super afraid at first and didn't want to try anything, but by the end she went on this HUGE slide all by herself, I didn't get a picture but it was awesome.  I was proud of her for conquering her fears (with a lot of encouragement!)
We had a very fun day and can't wait for Katelyn's birthday in a few weeks!

reflections on a year

My beautiful baby is one today.  What a joy she has been to us!  I remember from the day she was born she brought me peace, I would just hold my sweet baby and everything was right.  She has always been super attached to me, my little buddy.  She just wants to be held, and I love it.  So here's a few of my favorite most endearing things about Whitney right now.

She'll give me a kiss at the most random times, and I'm like "oh, baby, I love you too!"

She laughs and laughs at Katelyn and follows her around and can kind of say her name, she calls her "sih-tuh" for sister

When Eric or I play with her tickling or wrestling or something and we pause for a minute, she'll sign "more" (I have a video I need to post)

She's just always smiling and holding things up to show me and she LOVES being outside more than anything!

I love my Whitney Mae and an SO GRATEFUL that she came to our family when she did.  She has blessed our home with her sweet spirit.  I am excited to keep watching her grow up!

walking!!!

last night, the night before her first birthday, Whitney took her first steps!  We were totally shocked, we didn't think she would walk for a couple more weeks at least!  The most steps she took was 5.  The video's kind of dark, and she's wearing weirdo pajamas because I need to do laundry.  But I love how you can hear Katelyn being excited for her too, so fun and cute!  Yay Whitney!!!