I + Clive Bixby

                                                   Clive Bixby is back.

Heidi 13.5 Months

She's a pretty little thing, isn't she?

My Hunky Race Car Driver

Saturday we went to the racetracks and Austin finally got his anniversary present! 

He had a blast. 

I tried taking pictures of my anniversary presents but they just don't do it justice. 

You'll have to look at my wrists next time you see me. 

But you might want to put on your sunglasses first.

Blingy.

Humoresque

I can't stop listening to this!

13 Months

Month 13 has brought with it many changes. Heidi is rapidly changing. Here is whats new this month -

She has mastered walking and is quite content to wander around wherever we may happen to be, eagerly exploring her surroundings without so much as a glance back to see if we are watching.  She has, however, seemed to develop a healthy sense of danger in other areas. After spending time in a loud bouncy house with another toddler and getting trampled on, she has developed a fear of loud noises, bouncy houses and being in enclosed quarters with other kids. When I turn the vacuum on she runs as fast as she can in the other direction and then starts to cry. When I stick her in the crib with another toddler she starts to cry and holds out her hands to be lifted out. The only way I can get her to go in the bouncy house is by throwing fruit snacks in it but as soon as she has consumed them all she is headed towards the exit with a fearful expression. I'm hoping she will grow out of this. She was so fearless before so this behavior comes as a surprise. Heidi is becoming very vocal in her protests. One new thing she is protesting this month is the carseat. Sometimes if I sing to her while putting her in she will keep quiet but I am not always so fortunate. 

This month I am trying to teach her to follow directions. This involves frequent sometimes tearful readjustments, as she easily gets her feelings hurt, but we are having great results. She is starting to listen to me when I tell her to "stay here" or when I tell her that something is off limits ("no no"). Being able to communicate with her and have her follow directions is/will be a huge relief. It is so much easier to verbally command their attention and stop a dangerous behavior than it is to constantly be chasing a toddler without any verbal communication.

Heidi ♥s: 

Your Baby Can Read and Sesame Street - Whenever they come on the TV she gets the hugest smile and kicks her little feet

Avocados, Blueberries, Dino Bites, Pureed fruits in To-Go packages, Lollipops

Receiving Kisses - She doesn't give them as much as she receives them, but she will lean in and offer her forehead whenever she hears the beginning of a kiss coming on

Dogs - Before I even notice a dog she will start excitedly yelling "puppy" as soon as she sees one

Looking at herself and me in the mirror when I am driving - she gets the biggest smile and giggles like crazy

Her grandmas - always greeted with smiles and giggling

Sweet Talking Ken and all Barbies

Crawling on dangerous things

Getting into dirty diapers when Mommy isn't looking

Tori Kelly "Bulletproof"

I heart Tori Kelly. 

Beach Baby

We've been fortunate to have had a few days this month that 

were actually warm enough for the beach. Heidi loved it. 

Michelle Money - The Actress

From the people who brought you Pride and Prejudice (the mormon version).

Michelle Money: Favorite Quotes

"I'M 30 TODAY. (laughs) Happy FREAKIN' birthday to me!"

I still can't believe ABC was that selfish - to continue with taping the Bachelor as scheduled despite the fact that it was Michelle's birthday. I mean seriously.

"I feel like I have more wrinkles today."

Must be from the 15 years of tanning beds you've obviously been visiting.

"This is especially irritating, because it happens to be my 30th birthday today. 

Not my 29th. Not my 31st.  My 30th."

Thank you for clarifying. I totally see why you'd be upset. The 30th anniversary of your birth is not something that should go uncelebrated. Granted you'd probably be just as upset if it was your 29th or 31rst but we'll pretend not to think about that.

"People are gonna piss me off today. I know it."

Translation: "I'm looking for someone to blame for my bad mood."

"I was a little uncomfortable to begin with. And I'm just like sitting there going, 'IT'S MY BIRTHDAY!' So I can sit around all day and be pissed? This is not the way that I thought I'd be spending my 30th birthday! NU-UH"

How did she think she would be spending her 30th birthday 

just days after starting the Bachelor, I wonder? 

"Every girl he kisses after he kisses me is just gonna be one huge disappointment. Poor girls."

Does she really believe that? If so, than this woman understands nothing about men.

"I don't know if you got the memo, but it's my birthday! 

I don't think I'm gonna go unnoticed tonight! I can tell you that!"

"Not that girls like me ever go unnoticed."

"I'm in a really awkward situation, where I've got all these ladies who are trying to get up on my man. When you've got all these girls fighting for the same guy's attention--  its like, kill me now!" 

Wait, has no one ever explained the concept of the Bachelor to you?

"Like, let's just cut to the -like, cut to the chase. I just wanna, like, connect with you."

and the next words out of her mouth to Brad are: 

"You have walls! Like, I feel like we need to dissect you. Peel all the layers."

Wow she really knows how to melt a guy's heart doesn't she? 

I know I just can't keep my husband off of me whenever I start analytically criticizing him.

Michelle was a crack up last night, but best of all was the scene that follows:

After dramatically pulling him away from the rest of the girls in a style that makes 

all the other girls speculate that "she must have something really important to ask him"

Michelle: What is always stocked in your fridge?

Brad: Um, what is always stocked in my refrigerator?.... Eggs, turkey, and water.

Michelle: *Gasp*

Brad: You too?

Michelle: Minus the eggs..... Match made in heaven.

Wow what a shocker! I can't believe they both eat Turkey!!!!

AND DRINK WATER?! They really are a match made in heaven!!!!

Wishes/Goals for 2011

 Wow what a year 2010 has been! So happy to have become the best thing ever (a mom).  Also so happy to have lost the one thing that usually characterizes moms (the baby weight)(at least where i come from haha). This has been the best year ever! Can 2011 top it? Doubt it! But here are some goals that might get it close! 

Wishes/Goals for 2011

*Get an awesome tan without damaging my skin or aging. In fact, a tan that reverses sun damage would be even great.


*Decrease my body fat percentage to -2%


*Find a substitute for Dairy (something high in protein and low in calories, i can't do yogurt anymore cause its at war with my skin, apparently)


*Go on a super awesome vacation for free


*Take one of those new pole dancing fitness classes


*Find a way to show off my new "dancing" skills without having to install a tacky pole in my bedroom


*See  Harry Connick, Jr. or Michael Buble in concert


*Only watch educational TV


*Be hit on all the time by random hot guys so I can tell them how happily married I am


*Fulfill my lifelong dream of becoming a late night Jazz Club singer


*Go to more symphonies or Operas


*More Disneyland! 


*More Indian Food


*Teach Heidi to do fun/impressive stuff that none of her peers can do 


*Set up all of my single friends with their future marriage mates


*Learn to dress modestly and sexily at the same time


*Yosemite! (I don't know who's going this year but I want to!!!)


*Become more hospitable (throw more dinner parties/parties in general)


*Find a place that teaches Tango/Salsa/those fancy dances from period pieces like Pride and Prejudice and take lessons!


*Learn to play an instrument overnight without any lessons or practice just by ear and raw talent


*Watch a special news bulletin that announces they have finally found a cure for cancer!

Please please please let most of these come true!!!!

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         While 2010 had its share of wonderful events, it also had some tragic ones too. My father in law passed away after a fight with an aggresive brain tumor (glioblastoma multiforme). While I try to be positive and lighthearted in this blog, we all miss him very much and its truly been a difficult time getting along without him. How we look forward to the day when we will be able to embrace him once again! Till then we try to remain as happy as possible, confident that its only a matter of time before God will reunite us again.