We love the Holiday Season!!

We have done lots of fun, festive things together this season. It has been so much fun having a baby, makes the holidays THAT much better! I can't wait for the next couple years, when she actually knows what is going on. We went and saw Santa at the mall, obviously Evey's FIRST time!! She just sat there and stared at the elves and Santa and looked super confused.

 This little girl has been BUSY, BUSY getting into all kinds of stuff, well pretty much everything she can get her tiny hands on. It has been quite the task keeping up with all her messes. I love that she is curious though. If she sees something out of reach, she does EVERYTHING in her power to get to it, and I mean everything. She cracks me up by the hour, and by the minute. I love this little climber.

 For the last couple months, she has been really good at balancing and standing up in the middle of the room, or anywhere, by herself. We have tried everything to get her to take a step on her own, she just won't do it. Sometimes I don't blame for it, she's probably like "hey you guys... I'm not a DOG!!" haha I will admit, we do try to bribe, still doesn't work. I can't complain too much because I am barley keeping up with her messes as it is. I usually am not the kind of person to push people into doing things, so when she is ready, I will be waiting. :)

Trying to grab the camera, nothing new

Doing what she loves, making messes!!

Such a freakin' cutie!!

Getting very angry that something is on her arm. haha she cracks me up!!

We LOVE Chick-Fil-A!!!!

Evelette's 12 month check-up, yes I HAVE A ONE YEAR OLD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You could say that I am quite in love with my daughter. I love this big-bellied, big-eyed, big personality baby girl of mine!! About the only thing big about her! She weighed in at 17 lbs 7 oz. (5%), is 27 inches tall (8%), and her head measured 19 inches I believe (92%). haha love it. She seriously WOULD NOT hold still!! She tore that paper to shreds. She was all giggles and smiles until the nurses came in with the shots. Pretty sure it made me more sad and upset than it did her. Poor thing. Glad those are over...for a few months at least.

We did a big party for her a couple weekends ago at Grandma's house with all the family and friends. So on her actual birthday we just celebrated with a little cake and let her go crazy with it.

 This little girl is such a great helper, helping mommy make a bunch of yummy Christmas goodies!! I made some caramel, fudge, choc. dipped oreos and pretzels, peppermint crunch cookies (recipe below), gingerbread cookies, toffee, just to name a few. It's usually a tradition to do all this with my mom, but she is still busy with school and I could JUST NOT WAIT any longer. I know I'm mean right? hehe Evey and Mike don't think so.

 Peppermint Crunch Milk Chocolate Chip Cookies:
2 1/2 c. flour
3/4 tsp. baking soda
1/8 tsp. salt
1 c. unsalted butter, softened
1 c. packed brown sugar
3/4 c. sugar
1 tsp vanilla
2 large eggs, room temp.
7 oz. milk chocolate chips
7 oz. Andes Peppermint crunch chips
In a small bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, and salt; set aside. Using a stand mizer with paddle attachment, beat together the sugars, butter and vanilla for 2 minutes.
Beat in eggs one at a time until incorporated, stir in flour mixture followed by the choc. chips and peppermint chips.
On a lightly floured surface, divide dough into quarters. Shape each quarter into a log 9 inches long. Wrap logs in plastic wrap and refrigerate until firm, 24 hours.
Reheat oven to 350 degrees and line 2 baking sheets with wax paper. Slice log into disks 3/4 inch thick and place 3 inches apart on the baking sheets. Bake, rotating sheets half way through, approx 10 minutes.

And last BUT NOT LEAST, Little Miss Evelette took FIRST PLACE in the Snowflake Baby Contest here in Rangely at the Christmasfest!!! The age group she was in for the girls was 0-36 months. She was such a little princess on the stage, and definitely knew how to melt the judges hearts. Mike walked her down the little stage and stood her there, and she turned RIGHT towards the judges and started waving her arms. The crowd started clapping and cheering and she joined right in, started clapping and yelling. It was SOOO cute. Too bad my camera SUCKS and didn't get the best pictures, but at least we got a few. It was a fun little event!

Eating grapes, getting ready to leave

Showin' off for daddy

Terrible pics, but she was rockin' it down that stage!! She was turned right towards the judges, showing off her pretty necklace :)

Eve's in her "crown". She had no idea what was going on haha

At home afterwards, pretty excited about her new crown headband!

I love this little princess, always number one in my heart! Happy Holidays everyone!!

Evelette's 1st Birthday Party!!

Evelette's 1st birthday party was a great sucess! She looked oh so cute in her ladybug dress, ripped and tore open most of her presents, and even ate and did some cake smashing to her ladybug cake! It was my first attempt at decorating a cake, it was hard work and took forever, but all in all I think it turned out really good for my first try! Even if it was destroyed in like five seconds, it was well worth it! :) I get really emotional thinking about the fact that I have a ONE YEAR OLD DAUGHTER, (in 5 days). Time has sure flown and it is quite amazing what a great first year we have had with her. She is such a great, happy little girl. Mike and I are truly blessed to have her as our beautiful little girl. For all you people out there that don't want kids, come see my little baby and trust me, you will WANT one!!! She is such a joy to be around and just brightens my every day.
Evey is so blessed to have such great family and friends who all came to support her for her big day! Here are some pictures of her party:

My Beautiful, silly daughter

This here is my Evelette sitting in a little kids chair at the doctor's office, that was the first smile I had seen all day. She loved sitting in a chair just her size. Poor little sweetheart had high fevers all day and night non-stop for two days. We finally took her to the doctor and found out she has an ear infection. All I can say is I totally know how she feels, I had an ear infection when I was prego with her that lasted a month. I just feel so bad for her because she can't tell me what she needs or what hurts. She just wants to cuddle with me ALL DAY. Which I totally love because she normally NEVER, NEVER, EVER sit still. But I most definitely get nothing done. It is so sad seeing her not herself. Hopefully now that we know what is wrong and have antibiotics, she will recover quickly so she can be happy and healthy for our long trip to Utah next week!

This next picture is a BIG deal for me. . . MY NEW CAR!!!! I never thought we would see the day that we got me a new, nice car. I have had countless crap cars over the years. I am so blessed to have a sweet hubby that provides for us, and makes it possible for me to have a reliable car for Evey and I to do all our driving in. And for those of you that don't know where I live, there is pretty much nothing here in town, so for groceries, errands, doctor's appointments, etc, we have to drive an hour to Vernal or two hours to Grand Junction. So for me to have a reliable car is a big deal for how much driving we do. Not to mention the fact that Eve's carseat literally barley fit in the middle in the back seat of my cavalier. It has so many great features that make my life so much easier, makes trips more comfortable (Plus I can bring WHATEVER I WANT!!) There is lots of room to grow.. :) Nope, I am not prego!!

not a wonderful picture, but shows off my love :) yes I am a bit obsessed. but you would be too if you saw what I have driven in the past!!

These next pictures are just some current pictures of my baby girl

Snarfin' down on a breadstick!

Happiest little girl in the universe

Eating yummy cottage cheese with mommy, she has to be eating EVERYTHING I eat. She is so silly

K I do have to say I have a very sexy husband! I have such a bubbly baby girl. I am a very lucky girl!!

She LOVES trying to crawl onto our nightstands. and when she does she thinks she is SO sneaky!!

My little "helper"

Poor girl had a bad accident, got the humidifier dropped on her head. I really hope it doesn't scar! I love the face expressions she makes-such personality!!

She LOVES visiting daddy at work!

Yep thats right, just chillin', laid back, while mommy shops. I get a kick out of her every second. She never fails to make me laugh!

Her new favorite spot in the cart, sitting in the back, going through all the stuff. haha

Preview of Evelette's 1st birthday pictures, done by the fantastic Kristin Michelle Photography!

 

We are looking very forward to Thanksgiving! Hope everyone has a great and safe holiday, stuffing their face!!