The First Year

All of us at Dad's Institute Graduation. You are right under the Diploma.

3 more months and you'll be here!

Less than 1 month left and you'll be here!

You arrived!

We loved you before you were even born.

Daddy was so tired, but very proud.

In Labor waiting for you to come.

This is your first picture. You were screaming!

We were trying to get a whole family photo, but Ben didn't want his picture taken.

Freshly bathed.

Right after your first bath, you were cold. So we snuggled for the first time.

Our most recent family photo.

Christmas Morning.
(We left that afternoon for Primary Children's. You were so sick.)

Finally Home, but still struggling.

Ben loves you!

4 Generations
Grandma JoDee, G-G (Grandma Hunter), Symi, and Mommy (Brittany)

Sleepy Baby.

Sitting up

Not happy in the basket.

Sleepy baby again.

Just cute as a cupcake!

Bright eyes!

(This is one of my favorites, you were starting to feel better. This picture you had just finished smiling when the flash went off and Ben suddenly snuck into the photo. You 2 were so cute I just couldn't resist.)

Side by side.

Ready for a winter Drive!

I sat you in the bouncer and turned around for just a moment. When I turned back around you were fast asleep, holding onto a toy.

Giggling with Ben.
(This is when your hair started to fall out from all the trauma.)

We would smoosh you into the couch for Family Prayers.
Dad loved to leave you in there and let you watch everyone else getting ready for bed.

Learning to sit.

Big Beautiful Blue Eyes

Crawling and into many things!

Hugs from Ben.

Another sleeping baby.

Happy Halloween!

Sitting with Ben.

Smile!

Hold her arms Ben she's trying to get the camera.
Ben: Ok Mommy we're ready!

Love you two!

Kisses!

Easter Egg!

Kisses!

Mommy and Symi

Another picture with you and Ben.

At an indoor archery shoot. You slept almost the whole time.

My #1 and #2.

Starting to crawl backwards.

Pulling yourself up onto everything and your tongue was always sticking out!
Concentration!

Snuggling with Mommy.

Very Happy Baby Girl!
(You hair started to grow back in and get long!)

Proud to be a climber!

Baby girl our lives will never be the same without you! We love you so much. Despite all that we've been through in the last year, it's one that has been cherished and loved.

Ben's Birthday

Blowing out the candles!

Opening gifts.

Grandma JoDee, Kylee, Karylle, and baby Xyla

Grandma and Grandpa Hepworth

Handmade Stick horse from Grand- Hepworth's.

It wouldn't be a party without Dad falling through another chair.
I asked him how many this is now and he said he thinks it's #7.

Little Gracie said the water was Cold!

Tyson playing in the smaller pool.

Some of the neighborhood kids, playing with squirt guns in the larger pool.
Addi, Lexi, Ben, Eli, and Bailey.

Mom's and Dad's visiting and later playing in the water too.

Tyson again.

And again. He was so cute playing in the water!

Grandma Hepworth and Symi

Ben opening his gifts. He was spoiled!

His beloved pistol's that he constantly has attached to his hips.
He told me he's getting really good at shootin'.

He was so excited about his telescope, binoculars, and clock (compass).

Smiles!

He was THRILLED when he opened his shotgun!
Now he and Dad can go shootin' and huntin' together.

Ben wanted an Alligator cake. I started and the frosting was so warm and gooey it was all I could do to keep up and not make a huge mess. It wasn't what I was hoping for, but Ben was very happy! As long as we please the "Birthday Boy" we're good!

Happy Birthday to my little boy! I hope you had a wonderful day full of fun and friends!

Cookies

We have been buying different foods for Symi to try. And to see if we can get a variety of solids for her to eat. We finally found some sandwich cookies she can eat and brought them home. She doesn't like them very much. So lately Ben has been asking to have the "forbidden cookies" and because she's not eating them I give in.

So today he asked for some. I told him sure. He collects 3 of the cookies and goes back to watching his movie.

Symi spies the cookies and quietly crawls up next to him. Silently she watches both him and cookies. Ben is so engrossed into his movie that he doesn't notice her quietly sneaking his cookies out of his lap. She pulls them apart and picks out the inside eating the cookies one by one. Ben notices that Symi is smacking and turns to her.

"What are you eating baby girl?"
"MOM!!!!! MY COOKIES!!!!!!!"

Symi's sitting there smacking her lips, scrunched up in a proud sort of fashion and giggling to herself. She couldn't have been more happy.

Ben's bawling.

I'm laughing!

Then I inform Ben there are plenty more cookies in the pantry and he can go and get some more.

Life is so good!

Piggy Tails

My Pride and Joy! Not many babies can do this with their hair at 11 months old! She was so wiggly, squirmy, and grumpy about me doing her hair. I had to restrain her, hold her down, and cause many tears for 20 minutes to get this result. And alas it only lasted about an hour. I was tricky and entertained her with a napkin. Which she promptly tore into tiny pieces! I can't believe how grown up it made her look! She is growing and doing so well! We are very happy that both our kids are so healthy and happy!

Hawaii in Utah

What do you do when it's cold outside and you want the sun to come out to play?
Wear colorful Hawaiian lays and do the classic Sunshine Dance.
(Ok we just wore the lays and let Ben dance.)

Ben dancing.

He was mad when we dressed him up like this.
He just wanted 1 and to dance with the other one.

Dane wearing one too.

Hoping the Sunshine Dance worked for you too! Have a fun summer!

A little bit of Us

Duck lips. Ben's sticks his way out!

This is Symi disgusted look. She was mad at Ben for something.
I always laugh when she pulls this face!

Every month I take a picture of these 2 together.
Anymore Symi fights sitting on his lap and grabs at his hands.
Our latest ones were no good.
I'll post them later.

We like to pull faces.

His face got stuck!

Ben made a fort and asked for a picture.
He than knocked it down and stood on it like this.
"Ok, Mom I'm ready!"

Just a little smile before saying

The End