A Night out with Grandpa and Grandma

Last friday we went out with Millie's Grandpa and Grandma Hansen to the LDS Church History Museum. They have a cute little kids exhibit. Millie loved playing with the babies and walking from chair to chair to sit down. It was so fun to spend time with them and we had a great night!

Spring Fever

I have had some serious Spring Fever lately, and I think Millie has too! It seems Millie and I spend most days in our pajamas, never leaving the house. Sunday I thought I was going to go CRAZY if I had to sit in the house another day. Then, came Monday... The air was clear and the sun was shining. And, although we still spent the day in our pajamas, we decided to get outside and breathe in the fresh air. I got Millie's swing out of storage and hooked it up to our swingset. Millie got to swing for the first time in a very, very long time. She smiled and giggled, oh boy did she smile and giggle- And that made me smile and giggle too. It is going to be a great week!

Millie's First Birthday!

So the big day came- one I have been looking forward to and dreading all at the same time. Our little Millie is a whole year old. She had such a wonderful birthday! Thanks to all of the people who love her for coming and making it so special!


We decided to start her special day by going swimming. We haven't taken her swimming since July or August so I was excited to see what she would do. She LOVED it! When she was smaller, she needed some time to get used to the water, but now, she was ready to go in with or without her parents! The funny girl was dumping her head and face in the water, drinking out of anything that squirted water, swimming, practicing floating on her back, diving in, and splashing all around. People kept commenting that they had never seen a baby so fearless in the water, and I was shocked too. We had so much fun and it was a great start to such a fun day.



After naptime, we took Millie over to the mall to ride the Carousel. Millie loves the carousel. I am pretty sure she has ridden it more than any little baby out there-We are at the mall a lot and I am a sucker for when she claps her hands, makes her best horsey noise as she points to the carousel, and squeals with total excitement (and all that before she even has ridden it)- my heart just melts and $1.50 just seems like such a small price to pay for absolute bliss! So anyway, we figured it was the perfect thing to do on her birthday! So after two rides on the carousel we headed home for her birthday party.

We had such a fun birthday party for Millie! We had both Clay and my family's over. It was crazy, but so much fun! We danced ate lots of cake and cupcakes and Millie opened tons of presents! She got a lot of new clothes for the spring and of course fun toys, puzzles, books, dolls, and stuffed animals. Her big gift was a Little Tikes Car of (vroom vroom) as she affectionatetly calls it. It was a hit. She loves riding it, pushing it, opening and closing the door, and climbing in and out of it.

DECORATIONS, PRESENTS, and MILLIE'S CAKE

Cute Cookies I made that Millie gave as party favors

Cake Time!!!
I had the cutest little smash cake made for Millie. She didn't do much smashing to it though- she took a few bites and then wanted to get down and play (typical Millie). She did blow the candles though, which was adorable. She had a little practice the week before helping Clay blow the candles out on his cake.






DANCING




PRESENTS!
My Grandma made her this adorable little bear. She makes the bear, the clothes, everything. It is the cutest little thing and Millie just loves it!

Making her Mama Proud!

So I just have to write about the cutest thing that happened the other day.

I took Millie to Gymboree clothing store the other day when we were at the mall shopping for her birthday. At the store they have these little chairs sitting in front of a tv for the kids. I took Millie over to sit on one of the chairs- she loved it and felt so big. Soon, other kids (about the age of 3 and 5) came over and sat in the other chairs next to her. Millie immediately got the biggest smile and started waving to them and saying "hiiiii" Then on the tv a duck came on and she started pointing and saying "Duck Duck" "CACK CACK CACK (her version of Quack)" She looked at the kids like she was showing them the duck she had found on the tv. Then a dog came on the tv and she did the same thing- saying "dog" and woofing while she looked at the tv and back at the kids. The kids just stared at her the whole time. Then one of them had to leave and she waved at the child and said "bye bye" and blew them a kiss. All this, while I just sat there watching silently, admiring how cute and friendly my little baby was to these much older children.

Then the cutest part happened when another little boy (about 3 years old) came and sat down next to Millie. She put her hand on the edge of his chair while they were watching the show. He grabbed her hand and shoved it quite hard back at her. I being a protective Mama was going to intervene- when Millie started saying "soft" "soft" and stroking him softly. Then she smiled and put her hand back on the chair where it was.

I was a very proud Mama as I watched my little 11 month old teach a 3 year old that we don't hit and we need to be "soft". It is so important to me that my kids are affectionate and loving and I am so proud that she is off to such a great start!

Happy Birthday Clay!

Your girls love you!!! Thanks for being the best daddy and husband we could ever wish for! When I think of all the things I love about you- I just get overwhelmed and can't get all of my thoughts together- So- I guess I will just let one of our favorite bands ever (Queen) do the talking! This song is one of my favorites and it always reminds me of you! I love you! Happy Birthday!

Ooh you make me live
Whatever this world can give to me
It's you, you're all I see
Ooo you make me live now honey
Ooo you make me live

Ooh you're the best friend that I ever had
I've been with you such a long time
You're my sunshine and I want you to know
That my feelings are true
I really love you
Oh you're my best friend

Ooo you make me live

Ooh I've been wandering round
But I still come back to you
In rain or shine
You've stood by me,
I'm happy, happy at home
You're my best friend

Ooo you make me live
Whenever this world is cruel to me
I got you to help me forgive
Ooo you make me live now honey
Ooo you make me live

You're the first one
When things turn out bad
You know I'll never be lonely
You're my only one
And I love the things
I really love the things that you do
You're my best friend

Ooo you make me live

I'm happy at home
You're my best friend
Oh ya
Oh you're my best friend
Ooo you make me live
You you're my best friend.

Cuteness!

I was going through my camera today and found a few of these gems.

This is just a cute picture of Millie doing what she does best- getting into every cupboard and drawer she possibly can!

This was the week after Christmas- Blowing kisses to her snowman!

And the next one was tonight- when I let her eat oatmeal all by herself. Clay and I were working on her Birthday invitations on the computer so I thought I would just feed her dinner downstairs. Then, Millie started diving in to the bowl and feeding herself. So- rather than getting her away from it and cleaning it up right away- I grabbed the camera as fast as I could and let her go crazy- Oatmeal does come out of carpet pretty easily if any of you are wondering!

The actual video was several minutes long- so I cut it down for you... Another plus- you get to see her do her "no no no" which is one of my favorite things she does. She shakes her finger and says "no no no" whenever she wants to touch the computer, power outlets, and my flower arrangement on the coffee table. Her mouth is full and her finger is covered in oatmeal... but you get the idea!

Holly Jolly Christmas 2009

We had such a Merry Christmas! It was so fun having Millie here for her first Chrimas- and sharing it with so many people that we love.

Christmas Eve festivities started in the afternoon when we had my family over for our annual gingerbread house making party. This is such a fun tradition and we all have such a great time.


Then we went out to eat with my family and back to my mom's for a Christmas story and exchanging presents. The cousins exchange presents and Millie got the cutest little purse from Olivia and Kendyl that she just loves. She also got a stroller from my mom to push around- which happens to be one of Millie's favorite things to do. Millie gave her cousins Olivia and Kendyl a puppet theater. Clay made it for them and it is seriously adorable! It made the night so fun to see how excited they were to put on a puppet show!

After that we went over to the Hansen's where Millie participated in her first Nativity with all the grandkids. When I say participated I mainly mean crawling around everyone and stealing baby Jesus from the manger, oh well- she had fun. Then it was off to home to get some sleep in her cute Christmas jammies- except- apparently Millie was excited for Christmas because she woke up at 3:00 AM and watched Christmas Eve on Sesame Street and played until about 5:00 AM. She did have an excuse I guess- she was starting to get a nasty little head cold that stuck around until New Years! Blah!
Clay also made a bigger version of the puppet theater for Grandma and Grandpa Hansen-Hopefully it will be a hit with the Hansen grandkids too!

Christmas Day-

Christmas morning started around 9:30 when Millie woke up. Grandma Christensen and Aunt Lacey and Emily slept over and were there to open presents with Millie. She got a little scoot/push around toy and a Fisher Price Learning Door from Santa and lots of other fun toys from her mom and dad. Millie loved all her toys- especially her little scooter- she insisted on sitting on it all morning while she opened her presents. Then Grandpa and Grandma Hansen came to visit where she got even more presents! We spent the rest of the day playing Wii (the new Mario game is super fun by the way), building a tiny little snowman on our deck, making a yummy Christmas dinner, and driving around to see Christmas lights.

Thi is what was waiting for Millie on Christmas Morning

Grandma Hansen and Millie with her new Gloworm

Millie's Snowman- she kept going over to the window to look at it all day!

Millie with all her Christmas Presents! Look how pleased that cute little face is!

And this is how Millie goes around the house all day- Always with the Baby in the back. She is making a "vroom vroom sound" in this picture.

And here are some little video of Millie on Christmas Morning....

The first one with her two presents from Santa...

And this one, which is just a funny one of her playing with the bubbles she got in her stocking...

This has been such a crazy year for Clay and I- mostly because we had the craziest and busiest little girl join our family and completely flip our quiet little lives upside down. We love her to peices and love spending our days laughing at all the silly things she does! We can't wait for all the fun 2010 will bring us!

Merry Christmas Everyone and Happy New Year from the Hansen Family!

11 Months

I can't believe in one short month my Millie will be One year old! She is such a fun and happy kid that is always on the go. She always wants to interact and learn something new. She goes around all day naming things around her or asking me "wha dat?" (what's that). Here are a few things she is doing these days...

First Steps- Millie took her first steps this month and totally surprised her Mom and Dad. I think the highest we have counted is about 8 steps now. She also stands by herself like a little champ now.

Pretending-

Talking on the phone- Millie loves to hold the phone up to her ears and then she says "hello" It is so cute
Playing with babies- Millie loves baby dolls. She rocks her babies back and forth while singing "baby, baby" (her version of Rock a bye Baby. She also takes her babies hands and plays patty cake with them.

Words-
Millie keeps learning new words so fast. Some that I can think of off the top of my head are Mama, Dada , ball, boo, dog, duck, bye bye, ball, bath, teeth, hi, hello, hot, that, there, baby, book, up, balloon, nose, brrr, papa, popcorn, toes, and nurse.

Animal Sounds-Millie knows so many animal sounds. She knows a duck, lamby, elephant, piggy, horsey, fish, doggy, and chicken- She also knows a kitten, cow, owl, and tiger but they are a little hit and miss.

Christmas fun- She says "Ho Ho Ho" for Santa- Pumps her arm up and down for a Choo Choo train, Sings once there was a snowman tall tall tall,

Body Parts- Millie knows where nose, eyes, hair, ears, head, tongue, belly button, fingers, and toes are. She says the words "nose" "teeth" and "toes" while she points to them.

Favorite Things- Millie's favorite things are action songs, she loves to read books, make and eat popcorn, take baths, rock in her rocking chair, push strollers or anything that will move around, and noodles.


She loves rocking in her rocking chair- with or without her mom

Yummy Noodles!

Here is a little Video of some of things Millie has been doing during her 10th month....

Last pictures of my baby before she turns 11 Months!

We were going to take these back when we did family pictures, but ran out of time. Clay did this quick little photo shoot with Millie last weekend- and I just think she is the cutest thing- we just love her cheeks in that little hat!

Christmas Lights at Temple Square

First time wearing gloves, she sat with her hands like this for a good 10 minutes trying to figure out what was on her hands.

Where is Clay in most of these pictures you ask? He was going around the grounds by himself taking pictures like this....

Merry Christmas!