Hide and Seek

Ainsley's favorite hiding spot.

Our performer

This peanut has been perfecting a few new skills and we had to make a video to show you. Prepare yourself for some serious genius.

The lady.

Winter Baby

This girl has become so used to her winter hat that she wears it around the house. These were taken by Joanna a few days ago. 

Mama time

Yesterday, my dear friend Joanna gave me the best Christmas present- three hours ALL TO MYSELF!!!!! I went grocery shopping for the Christmas party we're hosting for our small group tonight and still had some time to buy a couple of Christmas presents. I couldn't believe how quickly I could get in and out of the car without the little lady with me. AND to add to the bliss, Jo and her son Sam (her other son Ben took a good winter's nap the whole time) cleaned my house! I was nearly speechless when I came home. The whole place smelled like swiffer! Wood dusted, toys put away, floors cleaned- what a blessing!
As much as I delighted in having some time to myself, the crazy thing was that I missed Ainsley. Goodness, there are days that feel so long at home with her and yet the minute I'm away from Ainsley I miss her sweet face. I miss her crazy laugh she lets out whenever something is really funny. I miss the sound of her blowing rasberries at her stuffed animals. I miss all of her new words- hello, banana, light (granted, none of her words sound exactly like the real thing). I miss watching her sit on the couch reading a book like a big girl. Most of all I miss her stomping over to me and resting her head on my legs until I pick her up for a quick snuggle.
As soon as I walked in the door after my mama-time, Ainsley came from across the room yelling, "Mommy!" and raising her hands with a big smile on her face. Three hours or solo-shopping with a clean house and a sweet baby girl upon returning- my Christmas break is off to a truly wonderful start.

Ainsley's first puppy

Yesterday was a big day in the Smith household. Not only was a trip to Ikea involved, but we added another "member" to our family- a MASSIVE stuffed puppy. To say that Ainsley has an affinity for puppies would be a bit of an understatement. This little lady lights up when she sees anything resembling a puppy (she still has yet to figure out that bears, horses, and the big buffalo at our local park are not puppies). She squeals "puppy, puppy, puppy-dog, puppy!" at the top of her little lungs and then begins barking.
All this to say, when the three Smiths were at Ikea yesterday and the littlest one saw the stuffed animal display, all hope of walking out empty handed was lost. Not only was there a puppy stuffed animal but there were MANY huge puppy dogs for our baby girl. She went to another place for a while there. Her eyes glassed over and the shouts of elation could be heard on all three levels of Ikea. Mercy.

My husband grabbed one of the puppies and gave it Ainsley who proceeded to carry it on her lap for the rest of the trip, quietly whispering "puppy" under her breath. She has dragged that dog all around our apartment, stopping only to cuddle up next to it on the floor.

How Ainsley entertains herself in the car...

Doughnut Run

This week Ainsley met her first doughnut. They were instant friends.

Sometimes

Sometimes Ainsley doesn't like to take naps. Sometimes she doesn't like to eat either. Sometimes she loves bananas and sometimes she doesn't. Sometimes she thinks I'm the best and sometimes she gives me the stink eye. Sometimes we "sing" and dance to Brooke Fraser in the car and sometimes she wails at me until I turn the music down. Sometimes she likes to cuddle and sometimes she's an independent lady. Sometimes she prefers Daddy but sometimes she prefers ME!

Sometimes her random, unpredictable, change within a moment demeanor is challenging. Sometimes, like this time, it's one of my absolute favorite things about being her Mama.

One predictable Ainsley fact? She always prefers Daddy in the morning. Lucky guy!

Ainsley and her belly button

Some children have a beloved blankie. Others, like my nieces, cherish their pacifiers. My daughter, however, has a deep, loyal devotion to her belly button. When in distress, Ainsley's fingers go to the mouth and to the button. A faithful friend her belly button is turning out to be. Whenever I put her in a onesie, she desperately scrapes at the fabric to get to the button, usually resulting in much weeping. Is it wrong that I find the whole episode quite adorable?

Messy Motherhood.

Today Ainsley threw up on me. ALL over me. I have a gag reflex that works overtime and I was covered in throw up. I set down my daughter and tried to clean myself up. Suddenly, she started laughing, saying "Mommy, Mommy, Mommy" and shakily walked towards me, arms outstretched. I knelt down and received several messy hugs and kisses.
Worth it, don't you think?

Moments...

Today when Ainsley had finished her dinner and was waiting for me to come rescue her from her highchair, she started singing a song. The lyrics are pretty sophisticated, but I think you would appreciate their poetry. The words were as followed: Mommy, Mommy, Mommy, Mommy, Mommy, Mommy. The Mommys ranged in intensity, getting louder as the ballad drew to a close. I ate it up...with her spoon.

Teething...

There is a new villain lurking in our house. This monster is vicious, relentless, imminent. Pain has a name- Ainsley's new teeth. Who knew so much chaos could come from teeth? My sweet baby girl has transformed into a whiney, clingy mess thanks to four incoming teeth. Thankfully, I've heard that as soon as teeth break through the skin, the pain is virtually gone. Here's hoping that event happens in the next ten minutes...
Giving into nostalgia, here's an old picture of my then toothless lady:

Ainsley's spectacular birthday week...

 I am so thrilled to post some pictures from Ainsley's birthday week. In one week, our little lady had three birthday celebrations. Prepare yourself for a lot of pictures!

On Monday we had a joint birthday party with Ainsley's one day younger friend, Maverick. She wore a red polka dot dress and new shoes. I teared up several times just watching our friends and their kids play with my kid. Community is a true blessing from the Lord.

 If you're itching to see a little video of the birthday babes tearing into their cake, watch this video!

On Ainsley's actual birthday we had a quiet three guest party- the birthday lady, my foxy husband, and me. We played with her new picnic basket (thanks, Kristi!) ate macaroni-and-cheese, and went out for gelato. Ainsley might not have loved the Elmo cake from her birthday party but she was quite into the strawberry gelato!

Finally, on Sunday we had a family party for this one year old Miss. BOTH sides of our family make the trek to Elgin. I baked three dozen cupcakes from scratch, making myself very proud. Everyone sat around talking, eating, and laughing- the perfect birthday party. 

When the last guest had left and the last piece of wrapping paper was picked up off of our hardwood floors, I sat outside on our deck with my husband and felt oddly sad. My daughter is no longer an infant. While moments of this past year were really stretching for us, it has easily been the fullest, most joyful year of my life...and now it is done. When Ainsley was first born, a good friend told me that the days will be long but the years will be short. This year was so very short. Challenging, messy, humbling, memorable, fun and short. 

The party girl was a little pooped after all the merriment had ceased. 

Milestone

Today is my baby's birthday! She is officially one year old. I am happy to report, I have had no emotionally wrought moments of "time is slipping by too fast" realizations. Rather, I feel so crazy, overwhelmingly, buttons bursting proud of this little lady. I can't wait to post some birthday party pictures (we had a friend party on Monday and a family party is happening on Sunday) and share all of the details of our birthday festivities.
Until then...
Happiest of birthdays to my joyful, warm, adventure girl. You bring me so much joy.

If the baby ain't happy...

I've had a bit of a day. First Day of School went splendid- love my students, love what I get to teach, double love that I can wear jeans to work now. As soon as I got home, however, Ainsley decided that today was not her favorite. She voiced her displeasure in whines, cries, screeches, growls, and a wide variety of stink eyes. Ugh.
Thankfully, Joel is home now. AND, he brought take-out. That man is too much, I tell you.

Our Bird Baby

Ainsley is a voracious, sometimes insatiable eater. She eats with gumption, grunting and talking in between bites. I have yet to find a food that she won't eat. Favorites are still sweet potatoes, bites of banana, and mango. I've come to call her my baby bird because when she wants another bite of food (which is quite often) she will open her mouth as wide as she can in hopeful anticipation. We had to capture a few pictures to ensure that we never forget this silly quirk of hers.

Ainsley's newest tricks...

Along with pulling herself up and saying a few words, the lady has learned to clap. She is not selfish with her applause, either. BUT, her best and most purposeful claps are reserved for Joel. Of course.
Here's a video. Yes, I am that mama.

If anyone is curious about what words our little wonder is saying, the answer to that question would be "Daddy" (sigh), "woah" and "baby." No "mama" in sight.

Beating the heat

Running errands in 90+ degree weather isn't so bad, if you've got a trusty sidekick. 

Daddy's girl

Winding down after a long day.