Lately

March is one of my favorite months for a handful of reasons; spring is in the air (my favorite season), St. Patricks' Day (Ireland is my favorite country), and lastly, it's my birthday!

This year was my 'Dirty 30'!  Other than having more gray hairs, and wrinkles, I'm embracing the 30s, and looking forward to what's ahead.

Johnny was a sneaky devil and gathered my sisters up (minus one; missed you Rachelle) and had my birthday dinner at my favorite restaurant, The Bombay House.  

The celebrations continued on later that night, and into the next day.  Lots of scrumptious desserts, gifts, cards, and laughter; I'm a lucky gal.

Now on to St. Patrick's Day.  This is the first year a Leprechaun came to our house.  Hazel truly could not believe how magical and exciting it was to see footprints, and get her very own pot of gold!

I then made sure to make as many green foods for her throughout the day (getting it's tint from spinach and other greens; the Becky way of course).

Hazel's the best.  She may be dramatic when it comes to picking clothes, because everything bothers her, but gosh I'm going to miss her when she's off to Kindergarten (which starts in July for us!)

And for Milo, he has been enjoying climbing more, being outdoors, and eating paper and dirt...

A huge highlight for me was FINALLY getting all my long time best friends together at once.  It was brief, but oh so fun.  Love this bundle.

Other exciting news:  I was a huge lover of barbies growing up.  Roughly 16 years ago, I boxed up every last piece, and hoped that one day I'd have a daughter to give them to.  The other day was that magical day, and this girl was in pure heaven!  So fun!  (In her prayers she even mentioned how mommy's toys are way more fun that her toys.  Ha.)

Later I enjoyed a mommy/daughter date, (first one since having Milo as a matter of fact).  We went to the new Cinderella movie, and LOVED it!  Such a good movie!

Lastly, one of the songs I recorded for my EP album, aired on Woman of Substance radio!  It was so crazy and awesome hearing it!

During the week of March 30-April 3, New & Noteworthy Women of Substance Music Podcast will also be featuring that song on an episode!  Make sure to tune in!

And...just a few more of hilarious Hazel. :)

Until next time.

11 months old

Good grief, Milo's 11 months old!  Well, two days ago to be exact.

- He's now an efficient crawler.  He still prefers sliding (I call him a cute little crocodile) on our hard wood floor, but once he hits carpet, he's good to go!

- He pulls himself up, and walks around all the furniture.

- He can go up our entire staircase (16 stairs) completely unassisted.

- He likes to wave 'hello', and practices while he's nursing.

- He has 5 beautiful teeth, and I love his smile more than anything.

- He likes to point quite often with his index finger, while muttering something really cute.

- He loves bath time!  

- He got his first mild diaper rash this month.  That's right, first!

- He often pulls this face (I call it his 'concentration face'; pictured below) while saying, "uhhhh."

- He's really fond of being outside.  And he also enjoyed tasting his first glob of dirt the other day...at least I hope it was just dirt...

- He's deathly afraid of the Target bathroom... The moment we walk in (which is often) he begins with the panic cry.  And then, if a toilet flushes, sink turns on, or hand dryer kicks on, all hell breaks loose!  It takes a solid 10 minutes to calm the poor frazzled fella after that.  It's so weird, sad, but really quite funny.  Hopefully he'll get over it soon, because I'm afraid our Target visits and potty stops will not be ending any time soon..

- He is really good at finding the most dangerous objects to play with.  His favorites are the 'choking hazard' type of things...

- I have to watch him always.  I basically only stop watching him if I have to blink or sneeze..

- He claps his hands, and is starting to understand sign language for 'food', 'more' and 'all done'.

- Speaking of food, he finally has a big appetite, and is significantly less picky!  He now enjoys: sweet potatos, parsnips, butternut squash (as long as it's mixed with something else), lentils, beans, mushroom soup, swiss chard, egg yolks, avocados, fish, blueberries and bananas!  He was grossed out at the applesauce I gave him yesterday though...silly boy!

- Oh, and night time sleeping is finally taking a turn for the better!!  He now only demands I feed him 2 times in the night, sometimes giving me a 5 or so hour stretch of sleep.  I'm finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel!  (Sadly he didn't decide this change on his own, I finally refused to go into his room between midnight and 4.  It was sad, but worth it.  I'm afraid I'm going to have to let him wail and wail at those other two times very soon.  Ugh...)

How can you not respond to the nighttime screaming from this beautiful face....?

We love our precious Milo, and can't believe he's having a birthday soon!

Lately

Man time moves fast.  I feel like I'm treading water most days, because they come and go so fast, and nothing much gets accomplished.  I guess I just have to try and enjoy these sweet babies of mine while they're little.  Other projects will just have to come eventually.

Speaking of projects, we're finishing our basement.  We've hired workers to do it, so this means that I have to basically be stuck at home almost every day, just in case they turn up...On top of that, they're not too considerate tracking through with their 'dirty' work boots.  But on the bright side, I'm getting super fast at mopping, which I consider exercise, and our basement is nearly done!!

Hazel.  Oh Hazel, how I love that little firecracker.  She can be stubborn, and we don't always get along perfectly, but she is still my best bud, and I love her to bits!

She is especially good at getting my shopping lists put together. ;)

Milo.  Dearest Milo.  You have some serious upper body strength, and can get into everything.  Gotta watch this delicious rascal every second.  It's exhausting, but I wouldn't change it for the world.

Maybe next year Johnny and I will be able to go on a Valentine's date, but this year, we had a family date at home, including Hazel's favorite treat; strawberries and dark chocolate!

We also had a beautiful and delicious Valentine's-themed dinner at my parents' house later.  Mmmm.

We also made a quick jaunt to Duchesne to say goodbye to Johnny's childhood home, because his parents have relocated and rebuilt.  It has got to be hard to leave a place that was your home for so many years..

Hazel said, "Wow, this was really a good house when he was little." :)

Exciting news: Elder Foster returned home from serving a 2-year mission in Indiana.  Hazel thought her 'tall' uncle was so cool, and she loved making a poster, and greeting him at the airport.  Oh, and getting a hamburger afterwards with her cousins.  Welcome home Jayson!

And today we were shocked to look out the window this morning to some snow!  This winter has been so mild, sunny and warm, so it was a shocker to see this.

Until next update. :)