Happy Anniversary!

After graduation from high school, Jeremy and I were certain of only one thing: we loved each other very much and wanted to get married. Not many other people thought it was such a good idea, but we knew we would prove them wrong. So, on July 29, 2000, Jeremy and I were married in Slidell, LA. The very next day, we moved up to Natchitoches, LA to start school at NSU. Being married at any age is not easy, but it is particularly difficult when you are very young, broke, and trying to put yourselves through school. But we managed to make it through. We have always been a goal-oriented couple: graduate college, find good jobs, buy a house, have a baby. Check, check, check, and check, all in that order.

Well, Jeremy, I think we done good. I can't wait to live out our new list of goals and objectives with you- no matter how hard it is to accomplish them! I know we can do it. I love you! Happy Anniversary!

P.S. Since Jeremy was baptized an hour before our wedding, it is his baptism anniversary as well! Congratulations, Jeremy! I am so proud of the husband and father you have become. You constantly strengthen my testimony with your faith, and I am so thankful for that. I love you.

Oh yeah! And I just realized that we had Shelby's baby blessing one year ago today. It's a day full of anniversaries!

13 Months

Today Shelby turned 13 months old. It really is amazing (and also, sad!) to see how much Shelby grows each day. I swear she turned into a completely different person in the past month since she turned 1. She is constantly learning new things and amazes us everyday with the things she says and does. Here are 13 fun factoids about Shelby to commemorate her 13 months (and some things I just love about her and thought I'd share):

1) When asked what a kitty cat says, she responds, "Mee-oow, Mee-oow".
2) When asked what a snake says, she responds, "Ssssssss".
3) She LOVES shoes. Doesn't matter whose they are.
4) She loves her morning yogurt. You can't get it into her mouth fast enough.
5) She started walking (really walking) 2 days after her 1st birthday. Now she walks like a pro, but forgets that she can't quite run yet, so she will get excited and take off and trip over herself.
6) If she doesn't have a bow in her hair, she will sweep her hair behind her ear. She looks so grownup, like a teenager, when she does it. It is so cute.
7) She is the most social baby ever. She will go up to complete strangers and give them kisses and want them to pick her up. I'll have to keep my eye on that one!
8) She is not a picky eater. She will try anything. I thought she might share my hatred for seafood, but no, Jeremy gave her a bite of catfish the other night and she seemed to like it. Gross.
9) She is thinning out and losing her baby rolls (aw!). She hasn't really gained any weight in the past 3 months.
10) She loves to push buttons. Her favorite at the moment is the doorbell on the Little People house.
11) She loves her babies. She takes such good care of them- feeding, rocking, and pushing them in the stroller.
12) She still loves to play with my hair when she drinks her bottle. (Yes, she's still on a bottle. I feel like I need a moment to breathe before I fight that battle.)
13) She is very compassionate, and will get upset if she sees or hears others are upset.

Girly-girl

I think it is so funny how early Shelby is learning to be a girly-girl. The other day, I was working in the office, and I turned around to see this:


Shelby decided to go on a trip in her car. So she got everything ready- she packed her baby in the back and gave her a bottle, got her other baby in the front seat, put her pearly-handled purse in the car, and got in. Then, in true girl fashion, she pulled out the cell phone. What a nut! I just cracked up.

Shelby also loves to get her purse and push her shopping cart around. She also loves to (try to) put my shoes on. She has these dress-up gloves that are obviously for much older girls, but she doesn't care. She has me put them on her and she'll walk around like a dainty Edward Scissor Hands. It's too funny.

Home Sweet Home

After one loooooong week, Shelby and I are finally home. I had to go to New Orleans to help train a new person at work, so Shelby came with me, and my sister, Brianne, and my niece, Claire, came over to Metairie Mon-Thurs to watch Shelby at the hotel. They swam, played with bubbles, kept each other from taking naps, and took many rides in the wagon. Throughout the week, I kept saying they were "partners in crime". I think Brianne might agree. She just seemed so exhausted by the end of the week. Thanks again, Brianne for all your help!

Friday, Becky was kind (brave) enough to watch Shelby all day. I think Shelby had a great time playing with Tyler and Sam. Becky said it was great to have a little girl around all day, and laughed because she said in a house full of boy toys, of course Shelby picks up the Mardi Gras beads and plays with the necklace. Thanks, Becky, for watching Shelby!

Even though I am sure Shelby had a great time playing with her cousins and those cute Thalgott boys, and I was glad to see my sisters and close friends, I think we were both happy for Friday to come so we could go home to see Jeremy. I knew the flight home was going to be rough, because it was at 5:45 PM, which as any mom knows is usually not a good time for any baby. On top of that, it was a crowded flght, and we were going to be wedged in-between people. So when I checked in, and the screen said, "We are pleased to offer you an upgrade to first class for only $45", I jumped on it. I was already going to have to pay the $25 fee for my second checked suitcase, but when I upgraded to first class, the fee was waived, so really I was able to upgrade for only $20. Was it worth it for a flight that is only a little over an hour long? Yep. She was extra wiggly and squirmy and I was glad to have the extra room. So that was a nice way to end a long week. When we got to the airport, Shelby got to show off her walking skills that she perfected over the week by walking up to Jeremy to give him a big hug. We topped it all off by going to eat Mexican food. Returning home to Jeremy and Mexican food. Ahh...home sweet home.

A Baby No More

Well, it is official. My baby is no longer a baby. Saturday, June 28, at exactly 3:36 PM, Shelby turned 1. It was very bittersweet for me. Where has the year gone?!?! But despite any sad feelings I had over her turning one, we had a great time celebrating her birthday with our friends and family. I was going to write a very long post about all the details of the Storyland staff fiasco, but since everything turned out fine in the end, and I am super tired, I will spare the boring details and just say that everything was great. Jordan even made it, after just having sweet baby Lilly Ann two days prior! What a woman! Here are a few of the pictures from the chaos:

Princess Shelby in Storyland


"Oohh! Babies! Babies!"


"Happy Birthday To You!"


Daddy-paw


Mmmmm...cake


Had to take a breather...

After the party, we went back to the hotel and got to visit with my family and our friends (who might as well be family), Mike and Jenny. After the McGrath crew headed back to Slidell, we ate a great dinner with Mike and Jenny. I think the long day took it's toll on Shelby, because as soon as we got back to the hotel, this is what happened:


I think that Shelby really did realize that she turned one. I say this because she seems to be a whole different person. All of a sudden on Sunday, in the car on the drive home, she decided that since she was one, she was now a big girl and was FINALLY going to hold her own bottle.

Then today, Shelby decided she would walk. She took her first steps months ago, but she actually walked today. Here is a video of her. Later on, after this video, she walked across this whole room, for a total of 17 steps. She could have gone more but we ran out of space!

Tonight we realized we didn't even let Shelby eat her cake at the party. She had a couple bites of other people's pieces, but not her own. So we stripped her down for the obligatory "smash the cake all over me" pics. She actually didn't even get that messy. What a lady.


But even though she is now such a big girl in so many ways, I am reminded of the book "Love You Forever" by Robert Munsch. "I love you forever, I like you for always, as long as I'm living, my baby you'll be".

Oy

My brain is fried.

Look Ma, no.........Shelby!

Yep, after almost a year, we finally had a date! Yesterday was my 26th birthday, so Jeremy very sneakily made plans to drop me off at a day spa this morning for a manicure, pedicure, facial, and massage. Then he dropped Shelby off at his cousin, Debbie's house, where Debbie so very graciously watched Shelby all afternoon so Jeremy and I could have a date. After my morning of pampering, I came home and got dressed and Jeremy took me to my favorite restaurant in the whole wide world- The Melting Pot. Jeremy asked me which I was looking forward to most, the cheese, the salad, or the dessert? I think the cheese. I love cheese. Anyway, I was so full after just the cheese and salad, and completely stuffed after the entree. I couldn't believe the words were actually coming out of my mouth, but when it came time for dessert, I found myself telling Jeremy maybe we could skip it this time and come back another time just for dessert. Me skip dipping cubes of cheesecake into melted chocolate? So not like me. I'm blaming the Topamax on that one. But it's an excuse to go out on another date again sometime soon! Thank you, Jeremy for making my birthday so wonderful!

And for all of my family, if you ever want proof that dad is Chinese...look at my picture!