Kylie is 1!...and honoring Henry

Kylie enjoying her Birthday cake!

Wow, my baby is ONE.  

Where does the time go?  

I can hardly believe it was a year ago today that I held my sweet babe in my arms for the first time. It was the sweetest, most rewarding experience of my life.  Little did I know that the loves just grows deeper and deeper every day.  She is a toddler now, walking since August!  She already has 6 teeth, and starting to pick up some words!  She can say momma, dadda, uh-oh, baba, up, bubble, and a few others.  

At the rate she's growing, I won't be able to keep up with her!  Oh well, she keeps me young at heart.  

She is very lucky to have a family that loves her, and to have many friends to make her happy.

Of course, my thoughts are with Henry all the time, but especially today and tomorrow.  

His picture still hangs on the wall in the nursery, and he is a continual reminder to me of many, many blessings I have and many lessons I have learned.  

He is the single greatest teacher I have had in my life.  Heavenly Father gave him to me to teach me the many things I could have only learned through him:

• To trust in the Lord
• Miracles do happen
• Personal revelation is real
• Families are forever
• Our Heavenly Father loves us more than we can comprehend
• just to name a few...

Friends and acquaintances have often said to me, "I'm so sorry for what you've had to go through". And it's true, I have had to endure a loss that was tremendous to bear.  But I feel that my experience has made me appreciate my children that much more.  I love Kylie and Henry so much more because not only did I have to wait for them for 9 years, but when they came, the experience was so profound that I love them on such a deeper level than I could ever have imagined.  Would I trade that for anything else? Probably not!  In some ways, I feel privileged to have had this learning experience.  My son is a choice spirit of God, and I know that my reunification with him will be that much sweeter!

So, on this 1st Birthday of Kylie, it does make me sad my son is not with us (I will always miss him), but it is a sweet reminder of all that Henry has taught me, and all that my Father in Heaven has blessed me with.  

Enjoy some of our memories:

Newborn photo (just hours after delivery)

9 month photo shoot

Taking some of her first steps!

At Sonoma Park (10 months)

Her first ponytail! (11 months)

Playing with the ducks (11 months)

Glad to see daddy after his vacation with mommy! (11 1/2 mos.)

At her 1st Birthday party!

In loving memory, Henry James Grow

Kylie at 9 months!

My lil sweetie!

Yay!  Kylie turns 9 months old today!!

My mom was right: every stage is precious, but they just keep getting cuter and cuter.  It's hard to imagine her getting any cuter than she already is, but I know she will!

At first I thought 3 months was the bee's knees, then I thought, no, 6 months is the best!  Now that she is 9 months, I DEFINITELY think it's the best.  Right?  How could she possibly get any cuter than she already is???  Hahaha, I know how this story will end!

Here are some of the many reasons why I LOVE 9 months:

giggles
cuddles
clapping
crawling
standing
walking (with help)
googoo, gaga noises
first words (hi, and dada)
two bottom teeth
sleeping in the crib

...just to name a few!

It's sad but exciting to think that my next blog post might be her 1 year Birthday!!

I want to share a special experience I had with Kylie the other day.

We were in her nursery and I was holding her and pointing to her baby picture that is framed on the wall.  On the opposite side of the room is a framed picture of Henry.  I turned her around to show her his picture.  She looked at him for awhile, then immediately looked at another picture of him across the room.  Just like she made the connection and knew who he was.  That was such a special moment for me.  To know that she is aware of him and knows who he is.  Moments like these are what makes motherhood so rewarding!

Here are some more moments we have enjoyed over the last couple months.  Enjoy!

Mother's Day

Photo shoot!

Japanese Tea Garden, San Francisco
(in the spot daddy proposed to mommy)

Swimming with auntie Heidi

Biking with mommy

Swinging with daddy

In loving memory,
Henry James Grow

Kylie at 6 months!

It is bittersweet for me to say, but my baby is 6 months old already.  *Sigh*  OK, I think I'll be alright :)

Kylie is growing so fast I can hardly keep up with her!  This little girl will be crawling and/or walking before I know it.  It is so fun to see her learn something new or do something different each day.  Lately, it has been a little something like this:

open mouth
insert (blank)
hold the (blank) with a death grip
cry like mad when mom takes the (blank) away!

But, hey,  that's what 6 month olds do, right?  As I type, she is trying to reach out and play with the laptop.  And, of course, put it in her mouth :)

Anywho, here is a little log I kept of Kylie on the progress she was making on each of the months between 3 – 6 months.  It’s not necessarily exciting news, but I like to keep track of things like this for her baby book.

3 months

Giggles in her sleep

Acting more alert and aware of her surroundings

Sitting up more (supported)

Turning her body while lying down

Responding to colors

4 months

Taking a bottle (this one took her a while!)

Taking a pacifier more regularly (also took a while!)

Sit comfortably in the bumbo

Laughs and talks more

Had her first headcold

Grasping and holding things

Responds to singing

Started teething

Started to roll over

5 months

Started holding her bottle while feeding (not quite a pro yet though)

Started on some solids (Rice cereal mostly)

Stands up in her saucer

Touching things like my face

Slept in her crib and not the swing (yay!)

6 months

Sleeping through the night  (YESSSS!  Notice it’s at the top of the list!)

Supplement breastmilk with some solids everyday (veggies mostly – she loves carrots!)

Smiling a lot

Crying is for babies, screaming is for 6 month olds J

Helps dress herself (putting arms through sleeves – very cool!)

Grab whatever is nearby and shove it in the pie hole!

I gotta say, however sad I may be of my baby on the fast track to toddlerhood, she is making me fall more in love with her every passing day.  I am learning to appreciate each stage, and enjoy each memory in the making.

Here are some memorable moments from 3 – 6 months old!

6 month "Birthday"

Easter 2012 (5 1/2 months)

St. Patrick's Day (5 months)

First time in the walker (4 1/2 months)

Valentine's Day (4 months)

Visit with cousin Isaiah (3 months)

Kylie's first 3 months!

The past three months with Kylie have been an absolute joy for me and Ryan.  It's funny how something so little can bring you so much happiness!

We can hardly believe she turns 3 months old today!  

Where did the time go?  Perhaps the photos below will help answer that question.

A baby experiences many things for the first time during their first few months of life.  Here are just a few of the many moments we experienced together, mother and daughter (and daddy).

First drive in the car

First bath at home

First walk

First visit to her brother

First latch on the pacifier

First Thanksgiving

First time at church

First purse (Vera Bradley of course!)

First "white dress"

First Christmas

First crocheted ear flap hat (handmade by mommy!)

First time on an airplane (to Boise to visit family)

First time to the acquarium

Also, please enjoy this video we made of the birth of our twins!