Hazy's Princess Party!

I can't believe she's one! She loved her cake, cookies and presents, but mostly she loved the balloons!

 

How do you sum up a year???

How do I even begin to sum up this year? Its been a wild ride, a dream come true, and the hardest year of my life. The days were long, but the months were short. I've had to learn how to find the energy to work out, get ready, keep cleaning while taking care of a rather demanding soul everyday. How to stay busy and not lonely while trapped inside with a sick baby in the never-ending greys of winter. How to keep a baby/crawler/now walker! entertained every day. How to keep a house running. How to battle my anxiety about caring for a baby. (Is she getting enough sleep, too much? Why is she crying? Has she eaten enough/too much today? Is she teething or getting sick? Is this schedule the best for her? Have I given her a well rounded meal? Is she choking on that? What did she just put in her mouth? Do I push her enough to be independent? Am I setting a good example and teaching her enough about her Heavenly Father? WHY IS SHE CRYING THIS TIME????.... plus about a million other questions) I'm not saying I have mastered these, just that I am figuring them out one day at a time.  I guess the best way to sum up this year is....WE SURVIVED ONE YEAR!...and I love it!

When Hazel was born I wanted to have gorgeous pics of each month as she grew. I have to say its hard to get good lighting, a happy baby and a cute outfit on her month birthdays! This idea was much cuter in theory than in practice, but I still find it fun to watch her grow despite my poor photography efforts.

Month 1- Terrified of the monkey

Month 2- Cheeky Monkey

Month 3- Funny Monkey

Month 4- Monkey Friends

Month 5- Happy Monkey

Month 6- Forget the Monkey

Month 7- Too cute for the monkey

Month 8- Sick Monkey

Month 9- Flying Monkey! She kept throwing the monkey off the chair!

Month 10- Hiding behind the monkey

Month 11- Sleeping Monkey

1 Year Birthday Monkey

Happy Birthday Hazy Girl!

The Many Sleeps of Hazel

There is nothing quite like a sleeping baby. I spend all day holding her, rocking her, and now that she is getting older, attempting to keep her busy and happy and looking forward to that moment when she goes down for the night. Then as soon as she's asleep and I go in and check on her, and all I want to do is hold her. There is nothing like a sleeping baby. Nothing so pure and innocent. All her tantrums, crying and mess-making is forgotten. She is a miracle. My miracle.

Baby Ben

Finally caught up on all the photo shoots I have been doing! Now just to get caught up on all the other things going on in our lives...maybe later.

I took these of the Baby Benjamin back in May! What a sweetheart he is!

Kristin's Baby Bump

Here are more fun Michigan beach pictures of my other sister-in-law Kristin. Can you believe they are both due within days of each other. I can't wait to meet my new nephews!!!

Thomas Family In Fall

Carly Maternity

This summer we spent some time on Lake Michigan with the Tobler family. With such yummy beach and water I couldn't resist taking some maternity pictures of both of my sister-in-laws! I'm still working on the second set, but here are some of Carly's! We can't wait to welcome both baby boys next month to the family!