Bristol is 1!

We had a wonderful first birthday celebration for Bristol. My mom flew us up to HR to spend a long Mother's Day weekend with the whole family. It was awesome! Bristol is way too spoiled, but what do you expect when your the first grand baby and first great-grand baby! It was great seeing everyone and spending time together. Tom and Tracy made the trek up to HR as well to celebrate in the festivities. My grandfather Kelly and Harriett hosted the party and it turned out perfect. Sam said I should be on the TLC show 'Outrageous Kid Parties' with the way this one turned out. I think he was not anticipating how big of a celebration we were making out of this little girls first birthday. She only turns 1, once, right?!?!

05/08/11

Dear Bristol,
   You turned one today! How did this year go by so fast? I have the most vivid memory of the day you were born. I remember holding you for the very first time. You were so little and so very precious. I remember your daddy getting the chance to hold you for his first time. These moments are so special to us. You are so loved by everyone around you and so lucky to have the amazing family you were born to. Your grandparents, great-grandparents, aunts, uncles and great-aunts and uncles care for you so much. You have been a blessing in all of our lives.
    We are so excited to celebrate this day with you. You are one year old and it is a big moment in your life. You have changed a lot this past month. You still aren't walking, but you are sure trying!

Weight: 19.3                        Height: 32.5in      

•  This month your head did not grow. We are a little concerned, but your doctor said it is okay because you are obviously having no neuro issues. She wants to check it again in a month.
• You love shooting hoops with daddy- Nana bought you your first basketball hoop and you love dunking the ball when daddy lifts you up- You look to mom for a cheer and then you cheer!
• You still love the bath- we need to get you into swimming lessons soon!
• You still hold tight to your rag and bink- they are your comfort zone.
• You are learning to like the foods we eat- it is taking some getting used to, but you are getting there. 
• When you don't want something, you stick your hand out too it. I love that you can now communicate some things to us.
• You are learning Spanish and getting it- Ms. Monica, your teacher, speaks Spanish to you and she says you understand the commands better then when they are in English. Our little bilingua!
• You are still a Mommas girl. And I love it!!
• You have been trying to walk for a month now, still no success. You have taken 1.5 steps on your own, but then you fall. You act to silly when we are practicing and the giggling makes you tumble.
• You are getting your taste of being a little sibling in school- the other kids like to pick on you because you just sit there and take it. You don't fight back at all. 
• You are still the most easy going, happy baby. People tell us ALL the time how you never get upset and cry and how you are just so happy. I guess they don't see you when we leave you with someone else to care for you. You definitely are going through the separation anxiety thing. I guess it was unavoidable!
• You love your books- any book! I love that- you are going to be so studious!!
• Your personality is really starting to show. These are the characteristics we think you have thus far:
• A little more on the shy/timid side- that's more of your father in you.
• Quiet and reserve
• Very sweet
• Giggly and happy
• Independent
• Assertive
• You are saying a few words now:
• Momma
• Dada
• Duck, Duck
• Ahh-da (All done) You can do this sign too!
• Bah (Ball)

    We love you so very much. You are such an amazing daughter and we are so grateful you are in our lives. A whole year has gone by and it feels like a day. Watching you grow and learn is the most rewarding feeling ever. You are a smart little girl and love to learn. I can't wait for the next year and being able to see you grow. I love being your mommy!!


Love always and forever,


Mommy

Easter 2011

We had a wonderful Easter Sunday. It was nice because Sam and I both had the day off. We decided to have Sam's cousins and brother over for dinner. We all had a great time. Bristol loved her basket from the Easter bunny and really enjoyed hunting for her eggs.

1st Day of Daycare

I started my new job on April 11, 2011 and Bristol went to her first day of day care. She actually did great, for being with other people for the first time. She just jumped right in a started exploring. It made it a lot easier for me to say bye and head to work. I was lucky enough to stay home with her most of her first 11 months. I ended up getting this great job at the University of Utah in Peds research and it is a great opportunity for me. Daycare was our only option and we found this place in NSL called Kinder Care. I really liked it because they have a curriculum that they put all the kids on, so it is actually more like a school. Since then, she has transferred to a center up closer to the U, with the same type of curriculum, so that I can go and spend my lunch hour with her and we get to spend our travel time together. It has worked out great. It is also a lot smaller and more personal with one on one attention. She loves it and loves learning new things everyday.

Bristol is 11 months

                                                                                                                                 April 8, 2011

Dear Bristol,

            You are 11 months!! Oh my! You are growing into little toddler so fast. You are everywhere in the house, crawling like crazy and jabbering as much as you can possibly get out. You are so sweet with your kisses and hugs and we love you so much.

          
This month:

                        Weight: 19lbs 13oz          Height: 31in

·      You are so socialable when it comes to playing. You are really good at playing side by side with other little ones.
    You love meeting new friends. It is fun so see you interact and jabber with other little kids. 
    You love balls! As you can see in your pictures they make you giggle. You are so good at throwing them, I think it is natural.
    You still love your stuffed animals. It is so cute to see you around them because you hug them so tight and giggle.
    You are still very attached to your rag and bink. You love having them everywhere you go. It is nice to have something that comforts you besides your momma!
    You are starting to say words that associate with the actual object. You still say duck duck for bath, which is all my fault because I always say do you want you duck duck when you go to the bath. But, you are saying dada for dad and momma for mom. You try to say ball, but it's not quite there.
    You love following us around the house. You are very fast at crawling.
    Your first sentence is "Who's that?" and that is because I would take you around to the pictures in the house and ask you that question. It's pretty cute. Sometimes that is the very first thing you say when you wake up. I love it! And, so does everyone else.
    You are very attached to your momma. It makes it hard when you won't even go to daddy.

·      You are learning to use a spoon all by yourself. It’s quite messy when you do so.

·      You are a very picky eater. I wish it wasn’t true, but you will refuse food and just want to snack.

·      You snack a lot! And that is all you like to do.

·      You are loosing all your baby chunk. It makes me sad.

Bristol, we love you so much. I cannot believe in a month you will be 1 already. It is crazy how fast you are growing and how big you are getting. We love you so much and are so grateful for you in our lives.

Love always and forever,

Mommy

Spring Break Visit from The Kellys

Sam's parents came down for spring break. We just had a quick visit with them, since they were spending most of their time in Grand Jct. with Sam's grandparents. It was great to see them and we were able to spend time with Scott, Michelle and the kids as well as Steve.

March Maddness

This is the story of my life right now.. You can't expect anything less when you marry a Kelly. Luckily, I enjoy it too!

10 months.. really?!

I always say this, but honestly 2 more months and I will have a 1 year old. I'm in the midst of party planning and it is just too hard to believe. Bristol is really starting to act so much older, like a little person! It's crazy how that just happens.

Weight: 20lbs        Height:30in

March 8, 2011

Dear Bristol,

What a fun month this has been. So much has happened and you are really starting to become a little girl. You are slipping out of that baby stage so fast and I'm holding on so tight. It's hard to just let it happen, but I guess I don't have a choice. I feel that you are changing and growing so fast. It's just too fast. 

This month you have had so much happen:

• Your great grandma Flory sent you a Valentine's bear and you are inseparable with it. It is so cute, it just makes you feel so much better. You giggle whenever you spot Mr. Bear and then when you grab him you hug him and giggle so hard. I love that!
• You are starting to reach to us so we will either take you from the other or pick you up. That is fun to see.
• You had your first sucker this month. You loved it. You kept taking it out of your mouth and grabbing it then sticking it back in. It was so sweet for you that you were a little overwhelmed. Needless to say it was a huge mess. 
• You are now wanting to only feed yourself. You shake your head when you are done or don't want that food. You are becoming a picky eater.
• You are going through that separation anxiety thing. We were dreading this and hoping you wouldn't, but it's here. I can't even go to my class at the gym without them coming to get me. I hope it goes by soon. I do love that you miss me, but I want you to have fun with other people. 
• You love watching Finding Nemo. I think it is all the colors that are in the film.
• This month you had RSV. It wasn't a horrible case of it but you were still sick for 3 weeks. Then after that you caught a stomach virus that I had which made it go for another week. Poor thing!
• You are starting to show you personality so much now. It is fun to see how giggly and cheerful you are. You are the BEST baby!

Bristol, we love you so much. Your first birthday is right around the corner and I cannot believe it. Where have these 10 months gone? It just goes way too fast. You are turning into a little girl and it is so fun to see this happen. We love you always.

Love,

Mommy