All in a year

This month is an especially busy one for thebradleeduncans as we prepare to move but I'm determined not to let anything overshadow my little Bee's first birthday. Many wonderful miraculous things have happened to our family this year, but none so blessed as how our sweet little first born baby girl went from this:

to this:

 

 ...all in a year! 

(More pics from JOP to come)

Bee's Blueprint: 11 Months

My baby is now 11 months old and I'm in so much denial about it. Where did my baby go? Bee is now officially a toddler, walking around solo like she owns the place. Let's face it: she does. She has the cutest little Frankenstein toddle...but takes her fair share of trips and falls several times a day. New bruises and war wounds are just a sign of growing and learning to operate that strong little body of hers. She's usually pretty tough to shake it off after a few cuddles and kisses from mom or dad. Bee has really latched on to one of her blankets and holds it to her face as she takes a bottle or falls asleep. She still takes a binky, but both the blankie and binky stay in the crib until nap or bed time. If she has her binky and blanket she can sooth herself to sleep with no problems. When we come get her up from a nap she will wave bye-bye and blow kisses to her animals, binky, and blanket in the crib. Teething is a constant and continuing distress but Bee seems to handle it pretty well. It feels like we are always on the verge of another tooth popping through. She amazes us with her growing intelligence and is absorbing more than we know. Her curiosity is insatiable! Currently she is a big fan of avocado, curry, tomatoes, and yogurt. She certainly prefers to feed herself, but momma finds it far more efficient to use a spoon as often as possible. On weekend mornings daddy will bring her back into bed with us and she gets such a thrill playing in the blankets and pillows. She is just beginning to learn a few animal sounds and will sometimes do an elephant trumpet and dog bark. Yep. It's the cutest ever. Bee is sweet and happy most of the time, but every so often we get a little glimpse of her SPICE that tells us she is not messing around. We sure love this sweet and spicy toddler, oh yes we do!

Taking it all in

Truthfully, I have so much I should be doing right now. A million little things that are beckoning me to tidy, sort, box, wipe, repeat. My little Bee is down for an afternoon nap and my house is quiet and still. Her little messes are scattered in every room and today they will stay there until I can find the energy to change it. I can't help but think that in just 2 months my afternoons will be entirely different. I'm nervous about this second little babe coming into our lives. And yet everyday I am becoming more and more pregnant and ready to love him on the outside. I pray that we can all adjust with some amount of grace.
The next several weeks are going to be busy and emotional for me and I'm bracing myself by hiding lots of chocolate about. Just in case. With all the good that is happening in our lives, there is also a certain bitter sweetness that overcomes my emotions daily. With such a big round belly in front it's hard to balance the wonderful new beginnings that await us and the sadness of creating a past that is still very much our present. I am nearly boiling over with gratitude for my many blessings.
Phoebe is becoming really pretty good on her feet these days, toddling around. It amazes me because her legs seem so skinny, I don't know how she holds the rest of her upright without snapping. We have plenty of tumbles, trips, and falls everyday. Literally, I want to wrap her in bubble wrap. She loves to walk holding my finger from room to room. Yes, it takes about 1.2 million times longer to get around the house this way. But my heart nearly explodes with pure joy when I see her eagerly reach for my hand all overly excited about the adventures awaiting us on the way from the bathroom to the kitchen. Oh! My heart. I'm trying to channel this exact kind of excitement about the next chapter for our family. Thank you, Bee.

These pictures have nothing to do with this post really, but still kind of cute. xo

Easter Sunday

Easter was beautiful this year. BD was asked to speak in the Sunday Easter program at church. He did a wonderful job, as always, and his preparation on the topic of the Resurrection helped usher the Spirit into our hearts that whole weekend. That Sunday was also a lovely Spring Day in Utah and well, no one ever complains about that!

My perfectly imperfect Eternal Family

On our way down to Grandpa Lee's we stopped by the cemetery to visit Grandma Judy. There are some days when we feel her so close to us, watching, cheering, loving, and Easter is one of those special days. Perhaps because our thoughts are automatically focused on the Savior and the gift of eternal families.When I think about her I want to be a better woman, wife, and mom. When I'm having a rough day I often wonder what she would say to pick me back up.

 

Jana and Russell prepared a wonderful Easter Passover meal for the family and we learned about the
Passover traditions. Michelle had put together some darling Easter baskets for the kiddos and a little Easter Egg Hunt too! Bee didn't know exactly what was going on, but was pretty thrilled to have Easter eggs in her hands at all times for the following week. We stopped by Grandma and Papa Ed's for dessert that evening and the Easter Bunny had left a little something for Phoebe there too. Lucky little girl!

Tongue out, of course!

I can't even handle her in this picture!

I spy the cutest pink Chuck Taylor's ever!

Thank you for these pictures Aunt Michelle!

Bee's Blueprint: 10 months

Bee's wild child has been in full force this month and her stubborn little personality is beaming! Diaper changes are still proving to be difficult which has momma trying all kinds of shenanigans to get it done. We are giving her more and more table foods these days and she's generally a good sport about trying everything, but will let us know when she's over it by dropping it on the floor and waving bye-bye. Blueberries are her most favorite food right now. She squeals when she sees them coming and bangs her tray in fury when they are gone, hence, our blueberry monster. Fruit of any kind is a big hit at meal time and veggies are tolerated if they are the only option. Bee took her first few steps right at 10 months! She's still a bit unstable on her feet but is gaining more and more confidence every day. Crawling is definitely still the most efficient mode of transportation. When she hears the bath water turn on, Bee will head straight for the bathroom eager for her tubby-time. She is taking two naps a day and will put herself to sleep after books, songs, and snuggles. Bee loves to read books and "help" turn the pages. It seems she is learning new tricks everyday. She will  high-five, clap, dance, and sometimes give kisses on demand, of course always on her terms. We are working on sign-language for a few simple words such as more, all-done, please, thank you, etc. Bee despises the vacuum and gets nervous and scared when it rolls out. Needless to say, I don't get much vacuuming done unless I'm holding her and at 7+ months pregnant that becomes slightly interesting ;). Bee is curious and fearless and stubborn and sweet and smart. We sure do love this little wild child and are enjoying every bit of her.

We love the park and can prove it

Park initiation of Spring 2013. Try not to be surprised when I claim that I actually attempted to whittle down the park photos. I did make an attempt. But honestly, as her mother I could never have enough pictures of Bee in that baby swing grinning ear to ear. I couldn't be happier that she is a fan of the swing. It's my favorite! I used to drive past parks often before I had Phoebe and wonder if I would ever have a baby to fill the empty swings. These baby swings will always represent a very real heartache that has completely come full circle for me. Now when I drive past an empty swing I say a silent prayer for the mother who has not yet filled it.

Signs that a baby lives here

Sometimes as I go about my day I often come across small inconsequential visuals that make me stop in my tracks and thank God for the miracles in my life. I wanted to remember a few of them that never fail to bring a smile to my face.

Finger prints and sticky smudges on the media console.

A yellow rubber duckie and a red Solo cup, that make bath time so much fun.

A bib hanging in place next to a hand towel on the oven door, but only until she spots them and quickly pulls them to safety.

Spoons and various baby feeding apparatus' in an otherwise totally messy kitchen drawer.

The lone little orphan sockie left by a neighbor who no doubt found it mixed in with their own laundry. Sorry! Again!

Typical

Something I'll always remember about her at this stage: she loves to keep her legs and feet crossed. Always! I know, right?

H Rock Walk

Sometimes winter along the Wasatch Front is long. So long in fact that when the sun pokes it's wee little head through the clouds and warms the earth to a mere 45+ degrees Fahrenheit we are literally clambering to bundle up, get out, and enjoy it. I love all these little people. Oh, and their mommas!

My little vampire baby. We're not used to the bright sunshine!

Caught on Camera

Funny Story. Bee and I took the elevator on an adventure down to the mail room one afternoon. The lobby of our building has an almost full size mirror on the wall, and well, it was tempting enough to snap a few pictures. But you know how it goes with an iPhone and the delicate art of the selfie: it can take more than once or even five times to get a decent shot. Double that if you have a wiggly babe riding on your bump. A few days later we saw the office manager and she leans down to Bee in her stroller and says, "Well don't you just love taking pictures of yourself!" 1) I guess someone actually watches those surveillance tapes?? 2) We're on a the hunt for a new selfie mirror. Now when we are in the lobby we wave HI to Terry!

(25 Weeks)

Bee's Blueprint: 9 Months

Bee revolted against her photo shoot this month and would absolutely positively not lay down for even a second. Such is the life of this active busy Bee! She is always on the go, this one, exploring and discovering the nooks and crannies of our little house. Bee has started giving kisses more freely now and will sometimes surprise you with a big open mouth kiss out of the blue. She is perfecting the clap and the wave, but sometimes it's just funner to lump them both together. A little shy in public, she will usually not wave on command, but will frantically flap her arms as soon as we are safely in the car, saying goodbye over and over to the entire grocery store all the way home. She has discovered music and will bop and bounce when she hears a good tune. It sends us into giggles every time! Bee and momma like to have dance parties in the kitchen every morning to get into our daily grove. We love to chase one another around the couch and she's so smart at anticipating where we will pop out of next. She adores hiding games and the simplest form of peek-a-boo will always bring a smile to her face. Clothing and diaper changes are full-body work outs these days and sometimes it's necessary to take a 5 minute intermission to catch our breath. Often it takes both mom and dad to get the job done! She loves to pull her books off the shelf and bang on her drums and push her walker around and find hazardous things to put in her mouth. Just a busy little body all the day long. She is so much fun right now! But boy oh boy, she sure does wear her momma out ;).  
9 Month Stats:
17 lbs 15 oz (25%)
28.5 inches tall (75%)

A letter to Baby Bee: My Big Girl at 9 months

Dear Baby Bee,
We have started this little game now where I ask, where is mommy's baby? I pat my big round tummy. Then you pat my big round tummy. I ask, where is mommy's big girl? And I point to you. Because you are now a big baby and will be a big sister in just over 3 months. I can hardly believe this is happening to us, Bee, it is so bittersweet that it takes my breath far far away.

You are now my big baby who is doing all kinds of big baby things. You are eating food with your fingers and from a spoon and from the floor when I can't get there in time. You love watching me dance around the kitchen while I cut bananas and make your oatmeal. Our mornings are really fun together. By now you are an expert at crawling super fast and breathe heavily through your nose when you're on the move. We've nicknamed you "bulldog" because we can always tell when you are coming, arms pinned out to the sides, tongue out. You can stand and walk along furniture like a pro and will walk forever holding onto our hands.

You are beginning to really love and comprehend books and will anticipate certain pages of your favorite stories, leaning in to give slobbery kisses to the babies and animals. You are the sweetest little thing. I am lucky to spend my days with you, being the number one recipient of lots of pats and cuddles and kisses. When you wake up from a nap I stand outside your door and knock so you know I'm coming in. I am always greeted with a big gummy smile and I feel a little like a rock star. This is all the fame I will ever need in the world. I swoop you in my arms and you crash your head onto my shoulder and pat my back gently. In those moments I want to drink you up, every ounce of your pure baby sweetness.

You have outgrown taking baths in the kitchen sink and are getting quite comfortable splashing around in the big tub. You will grab at the mysterious bubbles and watch them disappear in your hands. Sometimes I can't resist climbing in there with you. Sharing a bath with you is usually the very best part of my day. You have bath toys of course, but the red Solo cup is by far the most preferred guest. I pour warm water down your back and daddy pours warm water down mine. We cherish these little intimate moments created as a family. The three of us are happiest when we are all together.

You love to be out and about, taking in the world perched in a shopping cart. However, at nine months, you have a strong preference for me or your dad, but not really anyone else. You tend to get very nervous when others hold you. I know you will outgrow it, and someday will not think twice about being away from me. Of course I don't mind for a second being your favored company. I waited a long time to be someone's momma. I'm so lucky to be yours, Bee.

You are absolutely the light of your dad's life. And the feeling is quite mutual! He hopes that you wake up early enough in the morning so he can see you before work. In the evenings you now recognize the sound of him coming through the door and rush to his feet for a hug and kiss. The two of you will wrestle gently on the living room floor for hours. You climb up and over every angle of him, smiling and giggling the whole way. For a momma, there is nothing like this feeling in the world.
We've started the weaning process, you and I, and OH my baby girl. This has been much harder on me than I ever expected. Part of me never wants to give this up. Nursing you has been one of the greatest joys of my entire life. These days we are down to just two feedings per day and I feel the end is drawing near for this special time between us. Pretty much everything about breast-feeding has surprised me, including how much I have absolutely loved it. I've wept for hours at just the thought of stopping. It becomes especially difficult because my time alone with you is growing short. And while I will never love you any less, I know having a little brother in our lives will change everything.

We have 3 more months baby girl, lets make the most of it.  
Love,
Momma

Thirty-ONE-derful

Today I'm celebrating Thirty-ONE-derful years of life. I have a feeling this year will be wonderful! My thirties have not disappointed me even for a minute. I truly feel that I am becoming the real me more and more every day. 

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I woke up to the sounds of a wonderful baby babbling mumumumumum from the next room. This baby. My oh my. This baby, who loves to squish mandarin oranges in her hands and rub the pulp through her hair. This baby, who I can still nurse to sleep each night while I tickle her face. This baby, who flashes a crooked little grin and somehow brings my world back into focus. This baby, who crawls to my feet and climbs up my leg and looks up at me with the biggest bluest eyes I ever did see. This baby, who loves to take a bath with mom and splash like only a champion bath-splasher could.

I woke up to the kick, flip, flop of a wonderful baby boy dancing in my belly. This baby. My oh my. This baby, who sometimes I forget is even in there until I walk past a mirror and gasp. This baby, who is already loved endlessly will forever go down as the biggest surprise of my life. This baby, who will be here in another minute if I just blink my eye. This baby, who can wiggle and jiggle inside me like only a champion wiggle-and-jiggler could.

I woke up to sounds of plates clinking in the kitchen where a wonderful man was prepping my favorite breakfast of avocado toast. This man. My oh my. This man, who loves me even though I'm chubby. This man, who gives the best foot rubs in the greater 48. This man, who works hard to support this family we have sprouted together. This man, who is prayerful and deliberate and thoughtful about the way he goes about his life. This man, who will kneel at the tub and pour warm water down my back like only a champion water-pourer could.

So you see, this day was wonderful before I even got out of bed. After a morning nap Bee and I ventured on a brisk wintry walk while the sun was shining and warm with our besties. We stayed for corn dogs and lemonade and Bee watched with great envy as Leah ran circles about the place. She must have known it was my birthday because that sweet little Bee of mine took an unprecedented 3 hour nap that afternoon. What a gift! When daddy got home he scooped us up and out the door for dinner, just the 3 of us. It was a near perfect, wonderful day.
Happy Thirty-ONE-derful to me. Thank you, friends and family, for all the love sent in texts, phone calls, emails, gifts, cards, and otherwise. How wonderful you are to me.

We Heart Valentine's Day

 

For her first Valentine's Day I had these darling homemade Valentine cards worked up in my mind for Phoebe to make and send out to grandparents and little friends. Hand prints. Hearts. "Bee Mine." You know? Well. She wasn't AT ALL into crafting that day and certainly did not approve of her hand being dipped into yogurt paint. I had to take a deep breath and let it go. Mommy lessons, I suppose. 
We gave her a push walker for Valentine's Day and she was completely enamored with helping daddy put it together. Maybe she's more of a mechanic than a crafter? It took her no less than two minutes to figure out how to walk behind it, and she was off. It felt a little like giving her the keys to her first car. She is a quick learner, that Bee.
We took a little field trip to our favorite bakery to snatch some Valentine's treats for BD and Grandpa and visited them at the office. BD surprised me with my favorite take-out for dinner and a few sweet gifts.
Speaking of baking and treats. This pregnancy has yielded the most bizarre food craving: sugar cookies! Sometimes I honestly wake up thinking about sugar cookies. And to eat one...it's possibly the most satisfying thing I've ever put in my mouth. So we baked some. Ate some. And loved every crumb.  
xoxo