Birthday Bashes!

I don't know if anyone has ever had as much fun celebrating a 1 year olds birthday as we did this weekend. The partying never seemed to stop! We are so lucky to have so many people close by that love Jane (and her parents)!

Danny's family has the tradition of a "'birthday plate" that whoever is celebrating their birthday gets to eat off of. Danny wanted to carry on that tradition, but to take it a step further. He wants to make a special birthday plate for each of our children (however many there will be!). So, off we went to make Jane her birthday plate. Danny was so cute about it. He did most of the painting and was very meticulous. He is the best dad to our little girl!

The final product!

Our two separate families had different schedules this year so we were able to plan two parties...#1 the Gillman/Ferguson/Beck party, and #2 A combo birthday bash with the Jacksons to celebrate Jane and Grandma Jackson's birthdays.
Party #1...cake #1

Jane and Danny were getting pumped for the visitors!

Jane wasn't sure what was going on at this point!

Then she figured it out!

Once I took the cake away, she still kept trying to grab all of the leftovers...I knew she was smart!

Presents #1...
She got a big fluffy dress from my mom and some cute wooden puzzles; a HUGE fold out animal book from Aunty Sara and family; cute pj's from Great Grandma Mary; a tug boat from the Beck's. I even received a present...my dear friend Crystal made me a video of Jane from birth to one year old. I cried my eyes out!

The next day we met up with the Becks to get Fisher and Jane's free birthday ice cream at Coldstone. We may have eaten more than Jane did (tee hee)!

Party #2...Cake #2
I loved this picture of the two birthday girls!

Presents #2

The Jacksons gave her the cutest fuzzy book about animals and 26 mini books about all of the letters in the alphabet! Perfect! She loves books!

She is giving her new stuffed bear a kiss!

You know you have a one year old when...

She can sign "more"(see picture below), "eat," "milk," "all done," "elephant," "tub," and make many more animal sounds. She sits herself down in her chair to read a book!
She climbs up on the "BABY" swing and rocks back and forth laughing hysterically!
She copies things that she sees you do. It is time to be careful!

And finally, you know you have a one year old when your heart hurts when you see a picture like this!

My Jane

One year ago today my life took the most miraculous change. My little Jane was born at 6:30 p.m. weighing 6 lbs. 13 oz. after a long and hard delivery. At the time, I knew I would never be the same, but I didn't realize the extent of it. She has blessed my life more than I could possibly describe and has changed the way that I look at everything (all you other mothers know what I am talking about). I can remember being terrified of the idea of being a mother and wondering if it was "meant" for me. But the moment that little baby girl was placed in my arms, I knew that there was nothing I would rather do and no greater calling in life then that of being a mother. This past year has proven that to be true. I find pure and utter joy watching her as her personality develops, as she reaches each milestone, and as she discovers new things. She came to me as a tiny little being, and is growing into a beautiful little child. It truly is a miracle. I wish there was a way to soak in every moment even more.
On Mother's Day, my mother gave me a silver ornament with a women holding a baby angel . On it says, "A child is God's most precious gift." I look at it every day and quietly thank my Heavenly Father for my precious gift, Janey Gwen!

Happy Birthday Jane!

Photo Shoot!

I went and got Janey's pictures taken yesterday at Kiddi Kandids. I left EXHAUSTED! It was all we could do to get her to smile. She just kept looking at us like "you really are not that funny!" She didn't like the photographer one bit! Every time she would touch Jane, she would start to cry. The photographer finally had to pick up Jane's little buddy Jackson and swing him in her face to get a grin out of her. Overall, I think the pictures turned out pretty cute (considering all of the work that we had to go through). It also helps that you get a free 8X10 around their birthdays. Everything is always better when it is FREE! :)

p.s. These are the pictures before they were edited and cropped. I gave most of them a sepia overlay that made them look a little antiqued. This is also as big as the Kiddi Kandids site would let me make them. Sorry!

Good times!

We had a fun evening with the Becks the other week at Thanksgiving Point's Farm Country. Jane went nuts over the animals. She made the "horsey noise" by flapping her lips over and over AND OVER AGAIN! She also mooed all evening at the cows. So cute.

Jane's first BYU game

She surprised me and was an angel the entire time (even though she had a short nap and the game went late). Thanks Janey for the fun time. The people who sat behind us played with her the entire game so she was very entertained as well!

Jane found the rag drawer and thought she was pretty cool when she discovered she could fit right inside! She spent at least 10 minutes crawling in and out of the drawer and throwing all of the rags out! I wish I was as easily entertained!



Last Saturday we went on a delivery with Danny past Park City and stopped and had a mini picnic by this beautiful river. Afterwards we went shopping at the outlet malls. It was pretty much a perfect day. Jane was an angel, and Danny even behaved himself. GOOD TIMES!

This is at the outlet malls. Jane didn't know how she felt about Kermit!



That's all for now!

Welcome 21st Century!

Today is a happy day! Today we FINALLY got the internet! Yes, you heard correctly...I have entered the 21st century! I know it sounds crazy, but I no longer feel like I live in a cave or that I am "trapped" inside of my house. It is a joyous feeling! WAHOO!

We went to the Bee's game on Monday for FHE. I don't think that I watched a second of the game, but I "people watched," played with Jane, and was happy to be out of the house with my sweet hubby!

This is Jane at the park. Oh boy, I love her!

Surprise! A Post!

I know, I know...you uploaded my blog, and WHAM! your jaw dropped because there is actually a new post!  I am all about the surprise element!  Sorry it has bee so long.  No excuses, just lazy.

At this very moment I am on a little mini "vacation" with my sister, her two little girls, my mom, and Jane and I.  We decided that we all needed to take a break from the mundane of our homes and get out.  When I say "get out" that means that we drove the grueling 1/2 hour to Orem to stay at my Grandad's home for a night or two.  It has been a little over a year since he past away ant it is coming close to the time to sell his home.  This home has the most wonderful feelings and memories connected to it.  Everything from the smell of the kitchen to the creaks in the floors makes me feel happy and like a kid again.  My Grandparents were two of my favorite people and this home represents them and all that they were.  It is painful not to have them here with us now, and even more painful for me to imagine another family living here.  I hope that when the time comes, the house will be sold to a family who will appreciate the truly wonderful home that it is and will be able to make their own happy memories. 

Luckily, my mom brought her laptop and her camera cord and I figured it was a perfect time to give you all an update.  Fun things have happened the past FOUR months (I can't believe it has been that long... embarrassing!) but I am not sure that I can catch up on everything... I will do my best, but don't expect too much detail. 

We have been spending a lot of time with the "cousins."  Jane is fascinated by them and squeals and grins every time she sees them (even when it is in church and they are across the chapel!)

Ranch trip with the Jackson family... see more below. 

We have been to two BEES games so far this summer.  Jane seems to be a fan, but it is hard to tell!

This is probably one of my favorite pictures. For those of you who know Jane, she isn't much of a snuggler.  As soon as I set her on her daddy's lap she snuggled up to him, touched his face, and smiled.  Priceless!

Jane can't get enough of books.  Especially when they deal with animals.  She loves to listen to all of the goofy sounds we make and can even make the "horsey" sound. 

New toys for the ranch.  Hopefully by the time Jane is big enough to actually drive one, they will be LONG GONE!

So cute! At this time she was cruising all over the furniture!

Happy 28th birthday Danny!

Jane's first time at the pool was a huge success.  I could barely keep her in my arms because she wanted to dive into the water.  I was expecting her to be a little scared.... Nope.  Maybe it was her buddy Fisher that gave her all of the courage!

This is the only time she will hold still.  She is an active little girl, but when she sleeps, SHE SLEEPS!

This summer has involved A LOT of yard work.  This is our new HUGE rock that Danny was so proud of.  We now can say that we officially have grass (at least in a few places)!

Picnic at the park on Danny's birthday.

There is no better water in the world that at the old Alpine drinking fountain.  Danny wanted to give Jane at taste of the bliss. 

On the fourth of July weekend we went camping with our friends the Becks.  We are so luck y to have them!

This is a goofy picture to show Jane's new teeth.  Are the bigger than usual?  I think she is doomed to have big teeth because both of her parents had some doozies!

Over the 24th of July, all of Danny's family took a trip up to my family's ranch.  It was a great time.  We talked, ate, slept, rode 4-wheelers, and then started it all over again.  I am so lucky to marry into a family that I love. 

Nothing is better than Janey kisses... Sorry Danny, you are a close second!

Jane has a new obsession with her "kitty cat."  I ask her "where's your kitty cat?" and she hunts all over for it until she finds it.  Then she pretty much tackles it and kisses it.  We even find her snuggled up to it while she is sleeping.  Precious!  It is even cooler that it was my cat when I was a kid.

These are pictures that I took tonight at my Grandad's house.  I am so proud to say that she is mine!

Yes, Jane is officially walking (she never stops actually!).  She started playing around with the idea at 9 months and at 10 months she is a pro (unless of course the ground is too bumpy!)  She keeps herself very busy and entertained walking from room to room  and back again ALL DAY LONG!  At her last check up she was in the 3rd percentile in weight and not much bigger in height.  It is quite the sight seeing someone so puny WALKING!  She is burning so many calories, I'm not sure how she is ever going to gain any weight!

Grandad's pink tub.  I had to take a picture.

That's all for now... I'll post again sometime.