Hattie - 12 months....1 WHOLE Year!

I hate saying: "Time Flies!"--mostly because EVERYONE says it.  But everyone says it because it is so stinking true.  This time, with Hattie, time flew faster than the with the first kid.

Hattie, I know it seems repetitive, but you are perfection.  You are sweet, loving, patient, funny, and beautiful.  Aside from the recent diva behavior when you don't get your way, you are almost without fault.

It seems like just a couple months ago that we brought you home from the hospital {after your speedy entrance into the world} and made us a family of four.  I remember thinking how complete you made us--instantly, as you were meant to always be with us.  You are a precious soul and it overwhelms me to think about the honor and pressure I have to be your mom and raise you right.  So far, you have made it pretty easy on me.  Keep it up!

I love you baby girl.

Hattie - 11 months

Hattie - At 11 months:

You won't sit still for your picture to be taken.

You won't keep your bows on.

You like your clothes off.

You still eat everything.

You walk everywhere and climb yourself into precarious spots.

You love hiding behind the curtains. 

You are snuggler of every pillow you see.

You love us so much.  And we love you more.

Liam's Third Baseball Party

About six months ago, I asked you what type of party you wanted for your birthday.  And you very quickly responded: "Baseball Party."  This coming from a kid who had never watched baseball and maybe had played three times EVER before.  I thought that you would ditch "baseball" for one of your current obsessions {basketball, monster trucks, bugs, swimming, Tinkerbell--no, I am not kidding with the last one}, but you stayed consistent with the Baseball theme. 

What do you do for a three year old's baseball party?

We sent real baseball invites.

We had everyone autograph the game ball to remember who came to celebrate with you.

 You choose your team captains, and team lineups.

And then, we PLAYED BALL!

Happy Third, Liam!

Happy Birthday, Liam.  Three Years Old!

On your birthday, you had quite a few things you wanted to check off your list {Mommy put the nap on there}:

And we did them all!

You started off your morning with a surprise {see photo below}.  The intent was for you to bust through like a superhero; however, you were more than a little disoriented, and just asked me to take them off so you could go down for breakfast:)

Your first item on your "Birthday Bucket List" was a pancake breakfast.  After you gobbled that down, we went on a Mommy-Liam date.  We had a really great time spending oodles of coins at the arcade at Sunsplash (you won a TON of tickets on this ball game), to testing out the drums and guitars at Guitar Center, and then lunch with Dad.  All throughout our date, I kept thinking how grown up you were acting.  It was like you were a boy, not a toddler....and you had grown up overnight.

We ended our day on the lake with the Kratz fam bam.  You were a stud on the board and the tube {see picture below}. You are going to make me soooooooo nervous with your "no fear" attitude someday soon.

Thank you for giving your daddy and I the most fun, joyful, sweet yet crazy years of our lives!

*party pictures to be posted separately

10 months, 2 months late :(

{I'm past date positing, since she's been walking like a maniac for the past month}  At 10 months:  She's a mover, a crawler, and walking a bit.  She never leaves her bow on, and for this shot, refused to keep her sticker on.  She's always laughing, or eating, or moving.  She's the perfect size--still petite with the chubbiest cheeks and thighs ever. She is friends with everyone, a stranger to no one.  Time is flying by, as usual.  And this is my very favorite stage of babyhood.  We don't want her to ever grow up.  We love her.

9 months

Almost a month late in posting (time is, seriously, zooming by), but here you are at nine months:

There is nothing you love more than eating.

You are still so soft and squishy (see picture above of your bootie).

You stand and dance.

You stand and squat.

You do everything but walk (please, hold off!)

You giggle so hard when you are tickled.

You say dadda and hi and squeal.

You don't like to be rocked to sleep.

You play well on your own.

You chew on all of Liam's toys.

You remain perfect.  Seriously.  Perfect.

Hattie - 8 Months

My little Hattie-Girl is 8 months.  No, no, no!---It cannot be!  

She is a crawler, a stander, a try-and-walker.  This leads to many falls, and bumps, and boo-boos, but this girl keeps a perpetual smile on her face.  Her favorite things are peek-a-boo and raspberries from brother, her paci, and food.  Her favorite food is...ANYTHING.  There is nothing that this little piggy snubs her nose at.  But chicken and bananas are probably at the top of her favorites list.  

Her vocal cords are coming into their own.  Each day she practices a new squeal, growl, or cry.  But the latter is usually just for show:)

She sprouted her first tooth which caused minor drama {interpretation=no sleep for us} but we are over that {until the next one comes in}.  

She is starting to grow on Liam and he regards her more of a friend than foe.  The bond is getting stronger, which brings joy to my heart.  

Happy 8 months to THE MOST beautiful, sweet, happy, girl on the planet.  We are so, so, so blessed.