Opening Gifts

Opening gifts is the best part of any birthday...

especially when they come early and are from Grammy and Grandpa and Babcia. They always get much cooler gifts than Mommy and Daddy buy for them.

But of course, Lily feels like it is her sisterly duty to make sure Marco is opening his gifts properly.

Marco is one... so gift were really low key this year. He was happy with his new toy cars and his curious George monkey to sleep with. And overall, Marco is a trouble maker and really just enjoys taking Lily's toys and playing with them. 

Cake Smash

While Marco was sleeping, Lily helped make me a cake for Marco's Birthday. We wanted to get some great cake-smash photos.

Here's how our little lovely cake turned out. Lily had fun helping me put the sprinkles on it and I am still finding sprinkles in my house from this cake!

At first Marco wasn't so sure about what to do with his cake.

But with Lily's coaching, he figured out that he was to eat the cake!

I truly wish I understood and knew how to capture good photos on my camera. One of these days, I'll look back and just be amazed at how far I've come with taking pictures, but for now... these amateur shots will have to suffice.

Michal, on the other hand, is an expert. He takes the camera while I'm cleaning up the mess... takes a total of 4 pictures... and 3 of them look AMAZING! (They are the three below). I wish I had his talent and his natural eye!

(Grumpy face from Lily because we wouldn't let her eat any cake until Marco was done making his mess and getting his picture taken).

This wasn't really the pictures I was envisioning or hoping to capture, but... oh well.  You live, you learn (or hopefully I'll learn) and next time it will look even better!

In any case, Happy Birthday Marco! We hoped you enjoyed your cake. Next one will be chocolate!

Marco - Month by Month

I was feeling nostalgic and wanted to take a look back at how much this little boy has grown over the last year.

Birth

1 week

4 weeks

6 weeks

2 months

3 months and 4 months

5 months

6 months

7 months

8 months

9 months

10 months

11 months

12 months

He sure has grown and I love seeing how his little personality has just blossomed. It's amazing how when you are living day to day it goes by so slow, but recollecting the past, time seems to fly by!

Happy Birthday Marco! We love you and can't wait to see how much you grow from now until your next birthday!

Marco: 12 Months

Happy 12 Months Marco!

You are such a happy, happy baby and we love you!

Number of steps taken: 5
Number of teeth: 5
Hours of sleep in a day: 16-17
Size clothing: 9 months
Size diapers: Size 2
Words Spoken: Mama, Dada, and other incomprehensible words.
Sign language: All done.
Excels at: blowing raspberries, smacking his lips, taking deep breaths and copying things that we do
Loves to play: peek-a-boo, with cars, and anything that Lily is occupied with.
Exceeds in making us smile, laugh, and keeping us busy.

And of course, Lily was grumpy she wasn't getting her picture taken. She wanted to be in the spotlight instead of Marco. So here is her "grumpy face" photo.

How to Keep a Toddler Entertained at Church

Have you ever wondered how to keep a toddler entertained at church?

Well... if you follow these steps, I can guarantee a great Sunday where you can actually pay attention to the talks given.

Step 1: Be invited to sit by two youth in the ward whose parents are not present at church.

Step 2: Sit with the youth and let them hold your children.

Step 3: After Sacrament meeting, take the stickers out to help keep toddler entertained. 

Step 4: Let toddlers place stickers all over youth.

Step 5: Let toddler place stickers all over herself.

Step 6: Let youth make a sticker necklace so that toddler is excited (and quiet while watching the necklace is being made).

Step 7: Let toddler wear the necklace the remainder of the meetings.

*(Please forgive me for taking pictures inside of the chapel, but this was too cute for me to forget about).

Pretzel Making

January 19, 2016 - Last minute we decided to tag along to a 'Parkgroups' Pretzel Making activity. I wasn't planning on going because I thought it would interfere with Marco's nap, however... the activity began at 11:00 and Marco happened to wake up at 10:40. It was a win-win situation and we headed to the mall to join our friends.

It's not every day that you get to play with your food, but when you do - pretzel making seems to be the exception!

Just look at this beautiful pretzel Lily created, you can help but just think she's so cute!

After some lessons, and help, her clumped, crumpled pretzel turned into a pretty fancy twisted pretzel.

At the end of the day we were treated with a yummy pretzel and some lemonade! It was the perfect ending to a fun activity. It was sure messy (we ordered cinnamon sugar), but both kids enjoyed their late afternoon treat!