VIDEO

This is a video Raquel and I put together of Isabella's first year as a Christmas present for everyone in the family. Creating this was so meaningful and fun.  I will admit the toilet paper climbing part is too long just fast forward. In my defense at the time it seemed so cool! Just press on the link and it will take you to the video. 

Isabella's First Year

UTAH

As our move approaches, I have been looking back at my life in Utah and how much it has changed since I got here. I met the hubs here. I gave birth to my sweet Isabella here. I ate s'mores, salmon, and sinful nutella for the first time here.  When I think of home, I think of Utah. I want to dedicate a post to the places that made this place awesome for me and will always hold a special place in my heart.

BYU

 I was never a fan of all the homework tests, or stress school put on my life but at the same time I miss the feeling of sitting down in a classroom for the first time eager and at the same time dreading the start of a new semester. I miss lectures that made me think and question my ideas and opinions. Oh I miss miss miss the rush of all the students walking in between the buildings and the feeling of belonging to a huge group of people.

KING HENRY

I remember being 17 and walking in for the first time into my apartment at king henry. I was terrified and had no clue what lay ahead of me. Little did I know I would meet the love of my life there and some of the best friends I will ever have. It was the only place I lived at before being married and I created some amazing memories there. Just looking at this picture brings back some memories  and all sort of feelings I haven't thought about in a long time.

THE PROVO LIBRARY

When I look back to our last year in Provo, I think of the Provo Library as my oasis/home. When we had Isabella, to save money we decided to live in this tiny, old one bedroom apartment. As a student I had never cared where we lived since I usually only slept and ate there. But never had it crossed my mind that as a stay at home mom I would be home A LOT more. So the tiny old apartment started feeling very very tiny soon after my transition to a mom. I just could not feel comfortable there. So I strapped Isabella in one of those wrap things and went outside in search of a refuge. And that is when I stumbled upon the library. It was across the street, about a 2 min walk. The children's section became our to  go place. Everyday, in the mornings we would attend story time and would usually go back in the afternoons. Isabella learned to walk there holding on to the edge of bookshelves. Her love for reading was found there and also her love for tossing books. I remember walking around the place telling her stories and describing the stuffed animals and other decorations they had and her little eyes soaking everything in. Whenever I drive by that place now, my eyes get misty, my heart swells up a little, and I give a silent thankful prayer for all those rich people who donated money to create the children's section and saved my sanity for a year.

 LITTLE AND BIG COTTONWOOD CANYON

this place made living in salt lake worth it.  I will forever remember all our hikes, picnics and animal encounters we had here.  I saw a moose for the first time here! With all the technology we are bombarded with daily, it is so nice to disconnect and just enjoy nature and see the wonderful world God has created for us.

WHEELER FARM

This farm taught Isabella to love animals. She can moo like a cow and knows how to call rabbits now. She learned how to kick a ball and run around here. We saw sheeps get haircuts and learned how to feed goats. We will miss it dearly.

Utah you were good to us, we hope Missouri has as much to offer.

DANCE PARTIES

I should be in bed right now but like always I am enjoying the time by myself too much. so here I am and will be regretting this tomorrow right around 6am when my energetic toddler is ready to start the day bright and early like always. Funny how consistent she can be about some things but not others...

  Isabella and I have been enjoying the beauties of cold season and I swear Isabella has had a cough/runny nose for a month. Being the party animals that we are this has not stopped us from going out. It can get awkward at times with healthy kid parents but oh well the kid will turn green if I keep her inside (that's what my mom always said to me). The other day at church Stephen was watching Isabella play with other kids and she coughed. Stephen swears a mom gave him THE LOOK (whatever that means) so he pretended Isabella was choking on something and reassured everyone she was ok as he patted her on the back. Aside from the lying, I give him credit for coming up with that on the spot....All kidding aside being sick sucks and having a sick kid sucks too. 

 Last night after a pretty crappy weekend of sick sick sick, we threw down the towel and just danced it off. It was pretty awesome. I forgot how many awesome dance moves I know and how ridiculously entertaining it is to watch Stephen attempt to shake it. But like always the star of the party was my Bella. Man I swear, Isabella is going to be the next Shakira or at least the next Shakira backup dancer or whatever they are called. Everyday she has new dance moves and will start dancing to anything that sounds like music. Which reminds me of something I read the other day. it's not just my day, it's her day too and dance parties are something she looooves to do. Well I think that we need to have more dance parties around here and less crabby moods. Take life less seriously and go with the flow. 

OCTOBERFEST

Have I mentioned I looooove October? The excitement of all the holidays starts creeping in. I love the festivities of Halloween, the pumpkin patches, the corn mazes, the costumes, the CANDY, the fall festivals, the parties, all the decorations, did I mention the candy? I love that on Halloween adults can be dressed incredibly ridiculous but no one thinks twice about it. A lady around the corner hanged like a hundred plastic pumpkins from a huge tree in her yard and every time I drove by it, it made me smile.I have clear memories as a child wearing costumes my mom had made through the years from zebras to cows to gypsies.  I think I enjoy this stuff so much more now because it's something out of our usual routine and I love seeing Isabella enjoy it all. With Thanksgiving and Christmas around the corner we have a lot to look foward too!