Anni's 1 year photo shoot...

I couldn't have asked for Anni's photo shoot to have gone any better than it did. She was such a trooper and about as cooperative as she could have been with 4 outfit changes and a "dive into the cake" finale.  She was happy and smiley from start to finish...well she did  get a little ornery a couple times, as you will see in a couple of her pictures.

I have to give my good friend Lisa a huge thank you for her amazing photography skills. I've been very lucky with both my girls to have such talented friends to take their pictures.

I can't believe it's already been 1 year. I feel like it was just yesterday I was posting Reese's 1 year photo shoot.  It's been fun to look at them side by side. Reese and Anni each have their own unique personalities and looks, and I love how their pictures genuinely capture their individuality.

As for Anni...one things for sure...in 1 year, this little blue eyed girl has stolen our hearts.

(There are over 60+ pictures. These are some of my favorites.)

































...and the cake finale...





Staring right at mom, off camera..."Are your sure mom...I can really do this??"

Cake

Reese: Mom I want cake.
Me: Cake? Why do you want cake?
Reese: Just cause mom.
Me: We don't have any cake sweetie.
Reese: You can make a cake mom. A blue cake.
Me: A blue cake?
Reese: Ya mom. You make the best cakes.
Me: So let me get this straight; you want me to make you a blue cake for no apparent reason, on a random Friday?
Reese: Yep mom. You can do it. I know you can.
Me: I don't think I have all the stuff we need to make a blue cake honey. I'm sorry. We could make a chocolate cake.
Reese: (Now laying on the floor crying) I just want a blue cake mom. Pleeeeeese make a blue cake mom! Pleeeeeeease!! I need blue cake mom! I really really need blue cake!"

We rarely have cake around here, except for birthdays or holidays. I have no idea why she suddenly wanted cake...blue cake no less.

But guess who convinced her dad to make her cake when he got home from work. Only by then it had changed to green cake instead of blue. Arnold is always a succor when it comes to his Reesy...and lets be honest...he's a succor for cake too.

City Creek Center

Have you visited City Creek Center yet??

This place will always have a little place in my heart. If you know me, you know that I lived downtown for 8 years working for Zions Securities Corporation; the company that handles all the churches commercial, retail and residential real estate. When I first started working at ZSC I worked in the commercial department, managing office towers. After a few years I transferred to the retail/mall department where I eventually became the Marketing Director for what was then the ZCMI Center and Crossroads Plaza malls.

In my last year working at ZSC I was lucky enough to be a part of the team that first envisioned what is now the City Creek Center. I participated in the very first brain storms and mock ups of this beautiful place, and while it changed many times over the years, until final development, It was exciting and a little emotional to see many of our original idea's executed and brought to life.

I'm a little sad that I didn't take more pictures. I forgot my good camera and I was a little preoccupied, soaking it all in and chasing Reese around, before I realized that I could use my phone. But here are just a few shots. I will definitely take more pictures next time. If for no other reason than nostalgia.

This is Eagle Gate Plaza, one of the few buildings that didn't get demolished. It is my favorite downtown building. Maybe because it was one of the first buildings I helped manage. I have so many happy memories with this building. One includes the mock-prom I threw for my roommate Natalie in the top floor old Huntsman space. She missed her senior prom, when her grandmother passed away. So with the help of her high school boy friend, we recreated prom for her. One of my other favorites is taking my nieces and nephews up and down the elevators. They loved to go all the way to the top and look out the windows. You can see the whole Salt Lake Valley from up there. They especially liked it at night.



This is the new Zions Bank building. It stands where the old Gateway Tower East building once stood. My office was on the 15th floor of the GTE building. The new building is so beautiful!



This is the new Kirton McConkie building that stands where the old ZCMI Food Court and the old Deseret Book Building used to be.  It's a beautiful building as well. Reese especially loved the waterfall. She loved all the water features through out the mall, especially the creek that runs through the entire bottom floor.
We're standing right outside the new City Creek Food Court.



Of course Reese's favorite store in the whole mall...the Disney Store. We spent a good chunk of time checking it out.


And no trip downtown would be complete without a stroll through temple square. Reese loved the infinity fountain. She didn't understand why we couldn't go swimming in it.

Anni 1 year stats & facts...for the records

Stats:
Weight - 20lb. - 54%
Height - 31 in. - 95%
Head - 17 in - 42%

Development test:
Scored on scale of 1-60 (1-20 below Average, 25-40 Average, 45-60 above Average)
Communication - Average (40)
Gross Motor - Above Average (60)
Fine Motor - Above Average (55)
Problem Solving - Above Average (60)
Personal Social - Above Average (50)

Can do:

• Walk and move from a sitting to standing position without holding onto anything or anyone.
• Say mama, dada, done...babbles quite a bit.
• Climb the stairs, still working on the reverse.
• Reach the top of the counter tops and door knobs.
• Point at things she wants.
• Clap, give high five, wave bye bye, dace and make messes.
• Understand directions and certain words like, bath, bye bye, clap, milk, Reese, daddy, mommy etc...
• Eat all by herself. (she absolutely insists on this) She no longer takes a bottle or eats any form of baby food. 
• Throw a good fit when she doesn't get her way, or her sister takes her toys.
• Sleep like a champ; 12 hours at night and two, 1.5 to 2 hour, naps a day.

Loves:

• Her blanky
• Her dolly
• Her mommy!
• Playing with her sister
• Taking baths
• Reading books
• Watching Mickey Mouse Club House
• Holding mommies phone. She squeals with excitement when she manages to get her hands on it...like she's just found candy.
• Playing on her rocking horse or with her toy drum; her absolute favorite toys.
• Trying on her big sisters shoes.

Anni's poem

For Reese's 1st birthday I wrote her THIS poem. The poem below I've written for Anni, but both poems could easily be for both my beautiful girls, who I will never be able to repay for the most wonderful gift of motherhood.

A THOUSAND GIFTS

for Anni on her 1st birthay, love mom

The cry of your first breath,
My quivering lips on your plump cheek,
Our first sweet kiss,
Reflections in your steel blue eyes,
Warm tiny body curled on my bare chest,
The tight grip of your little fingers,
Shoulder naps as you nuzzle my neck,
The quiet bonding of your midnight feedings,
Your strong determined body rolling over,
Squealing delight with your first green beans,
Chubby little knee’s determined to crawl,
Splash battles during your nighttime bath,
Angelic hum as you sing along to your lullabies,
Sharp teeth biting down on my un-expecting finger,
Tender lips mouthing the word “mama”,
Wobbly little legs bravely taking their first steps,
Your beautiful face lighting up when I walk in the room,
Contagious giggles as you play with your sister,
Wispy blond curls around your ears,
Tight hugs and open mouth slobbery kisses,

One year and a thousand gifts you’ve given me every day,
Most treasured, most valued, most beautiful, forever…motherhood.

With all that you’ve given, what possible gift could I give you,
Most treasured, most valued, most beautiful, forever…unconditional love.

Easter!

Yep...the Easter Bunny successfully made it to our house!







This kid was all about her eggs.






This one had a blast on her egg hunt.


"See my new bunny mom!"


And if you thought for one second that this kid would be at all cooperative for an Easter picture...you would have been wrong. But even in her pouty, slouchy, stubborn mood...you can't deny the cuteness!






This little princess was about as happy and excited to wear her new pink princess dress, as any little princess could be. Anyone who knows me, knows that I'm not usually a huge fan of big puffy, frilly dresses but when I saw this one at Costco I knew Reese would love it. It's just like the pink princess dress in her favorite book, "Pinkalicious". I was right. It was a big hit.




Happy Easter Everyone!

Reese says...

Reese: (marches into the living room with the box of ice cream cones in her hands) Mom, I gonna have a ice cream cone for breakfast.
Me: What?? Did you take a crazy pill this morning. We don't eat ice cream for breakfast silly.
Reese: (giggling) I is crazy silly mom...crazy silly girls eat ice cream for breakfast. It what I do.


Reese: Mom these shoes hurt my feet.
Me: What? That's why I had you try them on in the store and walk around. You promised me you liked them and that you would wear them.
Reese: I still wear them mom.
Me: But I thought you said they hurt?
Reese: It ok they hurt mom. They so cute I still wear them. They so so cute mom.

Yep...she's a girl. Already sacrificing comfort for style. Crazy girl.


Me: Reese, after dance today you're going to play at Rowan's house for awhile. Is that ok?
Reese: Oh ya mom...that's a best idea ever. Good job being mom! (as she pats me on the back).

Who say's mom's never get any appreciation? :)


Me: Reese I want you to try and drink this.
Reese: No no no mom...that stuff gonna throw me up!

 I love my little sick Reesy!


In the middle of family prayer one night...
Reese: oh my gosh! This is taking so long guys!!


Me: Reese do you want to help me make daddy's birthday cake?
Reese: Ya, what we making him?
Me: He wants a German Chocolate cake.
Reese: What??? (laughing) Daddy not want a germ cake. That not good mom. I think daddy want a big ice cream cake. I color it blue for him.
Me: Sorry sweety, I'm pretty sure he wants a German Chocolate cake.
Reese: That idiculous (ridiculous) mom. Daddy so silly. He want germs for his birthday.

I think I should explain to her what German Chocolate is.


Me: Reese what did you learn about in Sunbeams today?
Reese: Animals
Me: What kind of animals?
Reese: The kind my teacher put up on the chalkboard with magnets.
Me: Ok...Miss literal :)


Reese: Mom I want some candy!
Me: No more candy today honey. You've had a lot today.
Reese: Moooom...pleeeease!
Me: I'm sorry sweety. It's just not healthy for you. No more candy today.
Reese: Mom, it really hurt my insides when you say no candy. My body really love candy so much.


After what seemed to be an eternal debate with herself over which pajama's to wear one night, Reese turned to me and said...
Reese: I think I wear my flower pants with my zebra shirt mom.
Me: What ever floats your boat sweetie.
Reese: Oh it floated my boat mom. It really floated my boat.
Me: You're cute honey.
Reese: (giggling) I know mom.

The Recital!

Reese and her "best best friend" Rowan have been taking a dance class together the last three months. Tonight was the big recital and they were both soooo excited.

Can't you tell...the excitement is almost too much for them to take. Actually they were both running around like wild demon girls, but we bribed them with the phones so they would sit still.

Reese had the most serious look on her face the entire time. In between dances I told her to try and smile. Her response..."Mom is too hard to smile, I concentrating so hard!"





My favorite capture!







I caught her mid air...not bad!





My second favorite :)