One Year Old!!!

Today is Becca's First Birthday. I can't believe it is here already. It has been a great year. She has grown so much and each day brings new and exciting adventures (like tonight when she decided she did not want to eat her chicken and threw it all over the dining room.) :)

When I went in to get Becca ready this morning, of course she was greeted with a rousing version of "Happy Birthday." She just smiled and clapped her hands like she always does when she hears music.

Even though some schools were off today, we had to go to school so I made monkey cupcakes for Becca to take with her to Cheryl's so everyone could celebrate her big day. I got the recipe out of Parents Magazine. I wasn't sure how they would turn out because they were a healthier version of cupcakes but they were really tasty. At least Cheryl and I thought so....Becca not so much. I made monkey cupcakes because Becca's favorite animal is her Curious George. She also loves bananas and loves to make monkey sounds.

Cheryl was great and took pictures on my camera that I left. As you can see Becca doesn't really like to wear party hats or like candles. Lately if she doesn't want to eat something she throws it over the side of the highchair, which she did in this case with the cupcakes. The other kids at Cheryl's made Becca Happy Birthday signs and sang to her even though she was being grumpy!

Cheryl got Becca a great gift that she played with all night. Since we aren't having her Birthday party with family and friends until this coming Sunday, we waited on having the big cake and presents until then.

Overall, hopefully she had a great day. We are trying to get her to hold up her finger and say one. She of course thinks this is hilarious and just grabs our fingers. She will get it eventually. She is a delightful little girl with a joyful loving spirit. She loves to laugh and Joe always says her eyes are filled with love. What a blessing! Happy First Birthday Becca!!!

Walking

This past week Becca took her first steps by herself. Joe and I were just both sitting around as she was playing and all of the sudden she was standing and then took off (okay, maybe not took off...but took about 5 steps forward, which is more than usual). We were really excited for her. Each day she has tried to walk by herself. Sometimes she just decides it is too much work though and drops her butt to the ground and takes off crawling!

Socks anyone???

Becca is getting new teeth (one on top and one on bottom) so of course that means lots of chewing on everything!!! She knows that she is not supposed to chew on the TV stand or the coffee table. She always looks back at me and smiles right before that mouth goes for the table or TV stand like try and stop me my mouth hurts! However, as soon as I say NO! she stops. At least she has learned this is something not to chew on. So I guess then she has to find an alternative. She will chew on her teething rings, but one night she decided her sock was the best comfort for her aching gums. She would not take it out of her mouth and even kept it in while I was giving her a bath. Guess it felt good! :)

As Joe was putting plastic over Becca's windows to help winterize the house, she decided to play in the laundry basket again as I was trying to put her laundry away. It was so helpful that she pulled all of the folded laundry out as I was trying to put it away. I've learned to move quickly on many tasks, but she was having fun. I pulled out her hat that she wears outside and she decided to keep it on as she was playing.

Nose Picker??

Becca thinks it is hilarious to look at me and then stick her finger up her nose. I think she find my reaction funny and this is why she does it. I'm really trying not to make a big deal out of it and just push her hand away. Here are some funny pictures. She loves to sit on her riding car, push the purple music button, and then stick her finger up her nose....oh what are we going to do about this? :)

Becca also decided she was going to help me as I was packing up some of her old baby clothes and other items that she has outgrown. She thought it was fun to climb into the plastic tub and try and put the lid over her. Lately she loves to climb over, on, around, everything. She is constantly on the move and it seems never stops!

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year Everyone!! As we look back at 2009 we realize how blessed we were. Through trials and triumphs the Lord continues to be faithful. It has been a truly blessed year with family and friends. I can't believe Becca is almost a year old. The time continues to go quickly.

We had a great time with friends, Amy, Jeff, Elijah, Steve, Catrina, and Owen, last night. Becca got to play with her friend from across the street Owen. The had a great time poking each other in the nose and playing with their toys. We actually made it till midnight last night. All of us were fading fast, but a few games of Quelf and Scum helped the time to go quickly!

If you have never played Quelf before you need to. It is a really fun board game. It takes you out of your comfort zone and you really get to know the people you are playing with, but that is what makes it so fun! We have enjoyed playing it with both families as well as last night. Here are some fun crazy pics of us playing. Joe's sister videotaped us during a crazy moment and I was going to post it, but I can't get the file to load on my computer, so as soon as I can, I will post the video of Joe being a willow tree and singing a sad song while I'm attempting to rap in a gnome voice. Oh what fun!

We are excited as well that Becca took her first steps today. She has becoming increasingly more brave while cruising along the furniture and this morning she went from the chair to the table without holding on to anything (About four steps). It is exciting, yet we have had many bumps and falls along the way and will continue to! I will post later some more adventures that Becca has had this Christmas break. It has been fun spending so much time together as a family.

We look forward to what the New Year holds and we hope that everyone has a blessed New Year in 2010! :)

Christmas at Great Grandpa and Grandma's House

On Tuesday my Grandma and Grandpa Tiefel had their Christmas. Becca and I traveled to Clay City, IN to see all of our relatives that we usually only get to see once a year. It was great to see everyone. Becca had a great time as well. It was a long day and she ended up taking a nice long nap in Great Grandma's arms. I cherish these moments with our family and am glad that Becca has had a chance to meet her Great grandparents.

Impulse buys, Irish pubs, and Borders

This past Monday, Joe, Becca, and I ventured to Lafayette because Joe had to pick up his guitar that was being repaired. We decided to head to the mall first to return some items and to see what
kinds of deals were to be had. Becca was doing great until it was nap time. Then she started getting really cranky. While Joe and I were in the Hallmark store, I made the mistake of going down the leftover Christmas aisle with the musical items. I showed her the Snoopy's that played the piano. Of course she loved it and waved her arms to the music, however, when I tried to put it back and move on through the store, she decided she wanted to stay and keep playing with Snoopy. I think this was our first, and I'm sure not the last, experience with Becca getting really upset in the store. She was tired and cranky and decided everyone needed to know that mommy was being unfair and not letting her keep the Snoopy. So instead of walking away, I got the musical Snoopy and put it on her stroller. Joe and I ended up buying it and Becca was enjoying the purchase. Joe and I said that was our first impulse buy and we don't need to let it happen again. It was one of those things that you say you will never do and then do. I guess you just learn along the way.

After the mall it was time for lunch so we took Becca to her first Irish pub for some fish and chips. Becca loves to eat fish, but I think she enjoyed bouncing and dancing to the Irish music even more!

After lunch, we ventured to Borders. Joe had a gift certificate he wanted to use and we love going to the bookstores anyway. Becca had a great time. She loved going into the children's section and looking at all of the books. She even sat down with Daddy at the little table and read the Eric Carle book we purchased, "Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What do you hear?" She loves the illustrations in the book.

Overall it was a fun day, even with the impulse buys and everything. I'm continually amazed at how quickly you learn which stores have the best bathrooms for changing a little one and how you have to plan to go on a simple shopping trip. So far Macy's and Borders win the top spots for baby feeding/changing areas!