Devin at 18 Months

Have I ever mentioned what a handful this kid is?

Yesterday ended with another call to Poison Control. He decided to play with a bottle of acrylic nail glue... I'm still not sure how he got it... He was trying to twist the lid off with his mouth (I assume) and ended up with a mouthful he spat out. I freaked out, washed his face and called poison control. They told me to give him a couple of ounces of water to drink, watch him and they would call back in an hour. I gave him water, a bath, and tried to brush his teeth. He is a kid that LOVES to brush his teeth and begs to do it several times a day... and has temper tantrums when we make him stop. He refused to brush his teeth last night, but that was the only thing that was different. They said it could have irritated his gums... but luckily, that was it and he is still my crazy Devin.

Today marked another milestone. He went to nursery at church for the first time alone... well, sort of. We took him in and he was so happy and having fun that we left him. He was happy for maybe 5 minutes and then started screaming for me. I sat at the door, almost crying myself, with Alex holding me back from running right back in. I only lasted about 5 minutes of him crying for me before I went back in. He refused to let me out of touch for the rest of the time. Then they started playing with toys, he was doing so good for about 10 minutes and I decided to try again. This time he lasted about 15 minutes of being happy until he realized I was gone. During this time I watched him through the small windows in the doors. He kept climbing on the tables and somehow ended up on a windowsill... they may need a nursery leader especially assigned to him. He cried for about 10 minutes before it was time to go home and I picked him up.

We took him to the doctor's on the 5th of this month for a check up. He weighs 22 lbs and is 32 1/2 inches long. He got a couple of shots too. :o(

So, as you can probably tell there is never a dull moment with this kid around. He is exhausting, a trouble maker, a climber, a pain... and the sweetest, funniest little boy in the world! How is it possible to be so madly in love with someone that is going to give me a heart attack before my next birthday?

Valentines Preparation

When I was eight years old, I depised Valentines Day for all the extra work it caused... as in writing all of my classmates names on their cards and signing it. However, the opposite was true for Ally. She carefully picked out Wizards of Waverly Valentines, stacked them into different piles and sat down to carefully write out their names. She picked matching ones for her two best friends... matching ones for groups of friends... certain ones for the 2 boys she thinks are cute in her class... are you seeing how much thought is put into this?



Devin was very content to sit and eat his mini M&M's, and could care less who got what.





She was so methodical about which M&M packet color I stapled to the Valentines as well, and it almost drove me crazy... however, her sensitivity is one of the things I love about her!

More pictures of Ally's Baptism

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Baptism Day Photos

Here are the pics of my beautiful angel.

This is the incredibly gorgeous dress my mom made for her.




Here she is at the church in her baptism clothes... can you just see the fear in her face?


Here she is with her amazing Daddy (she looks less afraid with him by her side):



My gorgeous family afterwards:

The Newest Member of Our Church

Today was Ally's baptism... wow, I can't believe that she is old enough to be baptized. I have tons of pictures, but I am just too exhausted to get them on here right now. But I do want to write down the beautiful memories of the day, so i won't forget them.

It has been a really stressful week. I have worried about the food for the open house, cleaning, who would take care of Devin... and I drove myself crazy with the details. Only, I was so wrong.

The baptism was not about the food, the open house, a clean house, babysitters or any other physical thing. It was about Ally and her choice, and I was given a very real reminder of that as soon as we got into the church.

I helped her dress into a baptismal, pure white dress. She was so nervous, she was shaking. I talked to her about what would happen, and then she placed her cold hand in mine and we walked into the room together. She was scared and quiet and leaned against Alex and I for support. The program started, and as soon as my sister said the beautiful opening prayer, everything changed. I could feel Ally relax and the fear seemed to leave. My mom gave the talk on baptism and had Ally laugh with her stories, and then it was suddenly time. Once again I took her small hand in mine and we walked back to the font. Then my amazing, wonderful husband baptized her into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I met her back in the dressing room, and there was not a trace of fear left in her... she was glowing, beautiful, pure... I have seen many baptism's before but I have never gotten to see the child right after. I helped her dress back into the beautiful dress my mom had made for her, I used the blow dryer to warm her frozen hair and lightly brushed the snarls out. I helped her put on her lacey white socks and her shiny, black shoes. It was so different from helping her dress before. The best word to describe it was "beautiful".

We then went into a different room for the confirmation. Her Grandma Hanson gave a talk on the Holy Ghost. How thankful I am for the spiritual giants in her life, the ones that show her what really matters. Then she sat down in a circle and most of the important men in her life laid their hands on her head and gave her the gift of the Holy Ghost. Alex said a beautiful prayer that was directed from Heavenly Father. I felt the Spirit so strongly. Afterwards our amazing Bishop Sanford said a few words, and then we sang "When I am Baptized." I couldn't sing, as I was too choked up. The words are:

I like to look for rainbows whenever there is rain.
And ponder on the beauty of the earth made clean again.

I want my life to be as clean as earth right after rain.
I want to be the best I can and live with God again.

I know when I am baptized my wrongs are washed away,
And I can be forgiven and improve myself each day.

I want my life to be as clean as earth right after rain.
I want to be the best I can and live with God again.

Then my brother gave an amazing, spiritual closing prayer. It was an amazing feeling to be the mother and experience the joy and power my daughter received today. I was wrong to worry or stress, because that hour was perfect, and no fancy food, sparkling house or perfectly pressed clothes could have topped it.

And while I am flashing back...

Here are her 9 month pictures.















I feel really bad that I didn't have my blog when Ally was small... I missed out on recording so much. I originally started the blog to keep family updated about us having a baby... and it has turned into a journal, of sorts, so I can keep all the moments forever. I wish I could go back and record all the little moments of her life. I guess I am going to have to do more "flashing back" and try and make up for all I missed.

2 Years Old

No, not Devin... he won't reach that until next August. Here are some pictures I had taken of my little girl when she turned 2.















Isn't she goreous?

At this age, she was so grown up. She would talk in complete adult sentences, knew all of her colors, shapes... she was (and still is) extremely smart and curious.