Hattie's First Steps!

YAY! I am so proud of my little girl. She took her first steps today. Here is the video where I captured this amazing moment. As you can see she is still very early on in the walking stage. More of a one foot go in a circle kind of moment, but I think it still counts. She is such a big girl. I am so proud of her. 11 1/2 months old and taking her first steps. I know that in the next few weeks she will master the art of walking. It will open up a whole new world to her. What an amazing time in her life. The video is a little far away but you can see on her face how proud she is of herself!

So many first starting to happen. She also got her first tooth last week. Morgan was late on getting her first tooth as well. I love that my babies aren't in any hurry to grow up. Hattie I am so proud of you. My little baby is turning into a little toddler right before my eyes. I am so lucky to be able to witness this moment and capture it for us to watch for years to come.

Morgan's 3rd Safari Birthday Party!

The birthday girl 1st thing in the morning ready to open her gifts!
The umbrella was her favorite thing...go figure.

The animal prints on the way into the Peters Jungle. Thanks Chad!

The cupcake cake

Morgan and her friends on the safari for the animals...notice that she still has the umbrella with her. I don't think it left her side.

Grandmother and Hattie in their animal outfits.

The Dad's swimming with the kids.

Some of the men trying to stay in the shade.

The Peters family came to help celebrate.

My mom and I.

The birthday girl in the pool.

Time for cake and ice cream.

Kisses for my little three year old!

Hannah took care of Morgan the whole party. Morgan wouldn't leave her side.

Hattie is trying to give Morgan a birthday hug.

Decorations

Lots of monkeys in a tree

Nana and Grandmother playing candy land with the birthday girl.



Well, Morgan's birthday party was a huge success. Morgan had a wonderful time. Lots of friends and family were all there to help her celebrate. We had a Safari theme and had all types of animals hanging around. Nothing real of course...I think if we have brought real animals to the house Morgan would have been a little scared.

Once all the guest arrived we went on a Safari. There were little animals all over the back yard that the kids were looking for. They had their animal visors and binoculars and were ready to go. In about two minutes they had found all the animals. I was getting nervous because the sky started to get really dark. There was a chance of rain...and I think it was coming. We all went inside and it rained for about thirty minutes. All the kids went upstairs and played which worked out great.

Once the rain stopped we all went back outside. It was nice and humid perfect for getting in the pool. The dad's took the kids swimming. Soon there after it was time for pizza...then cake and ice cream. Morgan had so much fun with all of her friends.

Hannah, her cousin who she adores, was thankfully there to help out. Morgan was attached to her the whole party. She helped out with all the kids and made sure the birthday girl was happy while Chad and I were playing host. Hattie was such a good little girl as well. The grandparents passed her around and she was as happy as can be.

Thank you to everyone who helped make my little girl's third birthday party so wonderful. I couldn't have done it without you. Here are some pictures that captured what a wonderful party we had!

I love you Morgan...Happy Third Birthday.

You will always be my baby even if you are growing up!

My sweet eating Hattie

Hattie has discovered French Fries...
No more baby food for me...I want people food.

Even though I still have no teeth, I still manage to eat this chicken.

I love pees...this makes Mommy SOOOO happy!

My little baby is turning into a toddler. She is crawling all over the place and standing on her own. We are waiting for the day to come where she decides to take that first step. Her first birthday is less than a month away and it scares me who fast the last year has flown by. The one thing that always been a problem with both of the kids is eating. Morgan is the worst eater. She is SOOOOO picky. She always has been. I struggle with her still every day to get her to eat healthy. If she had it her way she would eat bread, crackers, chips and sweets all day every day....and nothing else. So when Hattie came along I anticipated the same situation, especially with all the trouble we had with her taking a bottle. We finally figured out how to get formula down her...the only way is through oatmeal. Needless to say she goes through a lot of oatmeal every day. I think I go through about a box a week with Hattie. The funny thing is that with Morgan, I never even went through a whole box. I think I had to throw it away.

Once we started Hattie on baby food I was so happy. In fact there were times I wanted to cry I was so happy because she was such a good eater. She LOVES veggies. If she isn't in the mood to eat, I always know I can get some green beans down her. She really doesn't love fruit that much, which is the complete opposite of Morgan when she was a baby. She will eat it, but you know it really isn't her favorite. Green beans, peas, squash...even spinach she likes. The only veggie baby food that she really isn't a fan of is carrots.

Another thing about my girls is that they are very slow to get teeth. Morgan didn't get her first tooth until 11 months...and Hattie just broke her first tooth yesterday, barely. Since they don't have teeth I have to be very careful on what finger foods they can eat, choking really scares me. Texture is also a big obstacle that babies have to overcome. In fact...Chad still battles with funny textured food. He still won't eat a salad. With all that in mind, I tried frozen peas with Hattie right after she turned nine months. She wasn't a fan. I was surprised seeing as how much she loved the baby peas. But, after Morgan's eating habits I wasn't surprised. I decided I would just wait until she got a little older and then I would try again.

Then a few weeks ago we were all out to eat and Hattie started to get upset. She was finished with her food and was getting antsy. We had some french fries left over from Morgan's lunch and I could see her eyeing them. I gave her one to try and it was love at first sight. She gummed that fry so fast...and continued to ask for more. I am not sure why at this point I didn't realize it was time to start finger food...but, I figured it was just something she had with the fries. After all she is my daughter.

Last Friday after Morgan's gymnastics a group of us decided to go out to lunch. I had not planned on us going out to lunch and I didn't have any baby food and oatmeal/formula for Hattie. I figured we would just see how it went. Hattie ate some of my bread and picked at a few things I put on her plate. Then I tuned my back for a second and she had reached onto Morgan's plate and grabbed a whole chicken nugget and was going to town. It took her reaching on to her sister's plate for me to realize she was ready for real food.

Yesterday I tried giving her some of the frozen peas. After eating a whole bowl she asked for more. Again, I was so happy I almost cried. I really didn't think children ate real vegetables. So for now we are moving forward trying new finger foods and hopefully soon she will be off the baby food all together. Now, if we can just get Morgan eating some vegetables! Maybe she will see her sister and want the same thing! One can only hope!

I can't beleive my baby is turning three!

Morgan Belle Peters

July 19, 2006

Morgan Belle Peters

July 4th, 2009

My life is flashing before my eyes. My little baby girl is turning three on Sunday. I can hardly believe it. The last three years with her have been more magical than I could ever imagine. She brings so much joy and happiness in to our lives. Her big brown eyes melt my heart ever time I look at her. She is such an amazing little girl with such a great heart. She is so friendly...she has never met a stranger. She says hello and talks to everyone that will talk back to her. She is a great big sister and is always willing to help me out with Hattie. She makes me laugh and makes me cry. I love her hugs, kisses and smiles. I love that she tells me that she loves me...and I know she means it. She has an amazing imagination that is getting more and more adventurous. I love looking at her and watching her mind go...I love watching her think. She has the most amazing sayings or Morganisms as we call them. I have captured a few in a blog earlier but here are a few of her latest that Chad and I love:


Sometimes that happens

That's your choice

That's ok

Yup Yup Yup

Well...I don't know...

Hummmm...(finger on her head)...let me think

I have an idea...

That is my best friend I ever had


My best friend Erin just had her first baby girl Stella two weeks ago. As I am watching her and her husband go through all the changes and amazing first with Stella is reminds me that Chad and I were right there three years ago. Changing the diaper for the first time...wondering if she was eating enough...making sure she was still breathing...worrying that we were doing everything wrong. All the "fun" things a new parent goes through. It seems as if it were only yesterday, but then I think about everything that we have been through in the past years it seems forever ago. Even though there have been hard times I have loved every minute of being a mother to my little Morgan.


We are having a birthday party for her on Sunday with a Safari theme. Morgan loves animal especially elephants, monkeys and penguins. So when we asked her what kind of a party she wanted to have it only seemed right when she answered "an animal party." All of her friends will be there with her to help her celebrate. She has been waiting for her party for a long time. She would say..."first it is Granddad's birthday, then Riley's (one of her best friends), and then it is Morgan's party...say Happy Birthday Morgan."


I am sure there will be many pictures and stories to follow after the big day. I love you so much Morgan Belle Peters. I hope you have a wonderful and memorable birthday. You deserve it!

My Dad's 65th birthday and 4th of July

Marci, Meredith and Christin...enjoying a little girl time.

Grandmother and Hattie loving on each other

Granddad and Hattie cuddling

Bryce and Hattie playing

Bryce and Hattie in the baby pool

Braydon and Payton about to go off the diving board

Payton and Morgan playing in their PJ's

Braydon, Morgan and Payton out for a stroll in the wagon

Uncle David pushing Morgan on the slip and slide

Morgan and Hattie wishing everyone a Happy 4th

The Grandkids helping Granddad open his b-day gifts

Happy 65th

Time for cake....of course the kids were right there to help!





Jacob playing with Bryce

Sam and Christin waiting for the fireworks to start.

Payton is having fun!






Mom and Aunt Jane...BFF's.


Hannah is showing us how it is done with the sparklers!

Morgan's 1st sparkler...she isn't sure what to think.

My Dad's birthday is July 2nd. We always get to celebrate with him over the 4th of July. This year was extra special. He turned 65. My sister and her family came in from Denver and we got all the family together and had a wonderful party. I can't think of a better way to celebrate.

There were fireworks, lots of food, lots of kids running around, wine, old movies, great conversation...what more could you ask for? I am so lucky to have such a wonderful family that I love to be around. I know not everyone can say that.

The girls had a wonderful time and loved playing with their cousins. I wish we could all get together more often. Here are some pictures from the Holiday festivities. Enjoy!

My Cousin Hank

There are many people in my family that I am proud to say I am related to, but my cousin Hank is someone I am not only proud to say is my relative but is someone I admire and look up to on many levels. Even though only a few years separate us, he has seen and done more than I could ever aspire to do. Hank is in the Army and is serving his third tour..this time in Afghanistan. He attended West Point out of high school and has been serving our Country ever since. He flies Apache helicopters and has already been awarded the title of Major and is expected to become a Lt. Colonel sometime next year. On top of having an admirable professional career he is a husband and father to three beautiful children.

My family had the pleasure of spending some time with him while he was home for R&R last week. He left last November and this was his first trip home to the states. He already is back in Afghanistan and we aren't sure when he is expected to come home. Unfortunately, it may not be until after Christmas.

Hank shared with us a "typical" day for him and I must say it is completely different than any "typical" day I have ever known. Patrolling boarders...avoiding ambushes...avoiding IED's.....roadside bombs....being away from your family with limited communication...enduring unimaginable heat conditions...I could go on and on. But, the most amazing thing he does every day is protect and serve our Country. I can sleep better at night knowing there are people in this world like Hank who are willing to give up everything they have to make sure we live in a safer place. How many people can say they do that every day?

I pray for Hank and his family that he returns home safely very soon. Hopefully, he will not have to deploy again for sometime. I know all of our family is much happier when he is in this part of the world where we can reach out and love him from a close distance. Unfortunately, that is not the path that he chose for his life. Instead he chose unselfishly to serve and protect our Country. I am honored to say he is my cousin. I love you Hank. Thank you for all that you do.

Morgan's Hair Cut

Morgan had her 2nd hair cut ever last week. She was SUCH a brave girl. I am so proud of her. Her first hair cut was last year and it didn't go well. She cried and wouldn't sit in the chair by herself. She sat in my lap and was hysterical the whole time. It was just too much. You can only imagine how nervous Chad and I were when we took her this time. We tried a new place, one that was focused more for little kids. When we entered the salon she was nervous...but ok. She saw that they had fun "chairs" that she could sit in and we could see the excitement growing on her face. In addition, they had tv's for the kids to watch and a variety of shows to chose from. Luckily for us, Diego was on...one of her favorites.

Morgan chose the fire truck to sit in and she was ready to go. There were distractions all around. She did great. The lady cutting her hair was wonderful, she really was great with Morgan. We cut off quite a bit...right below her shoulders. She didn't cry once. I am so proud of my little girl. She is growing up and getting braver ever day. I love her new hair cut! It is fun to see my baby girl growing up into a little lady. Some day she will beg me to take her to get her hair done...I look forward to the day we can have "spa" days together!