Extra Snugly

Poor Mallory has been hit with croup. She becomes extra snugly when she's not feeling well and is extremely content sitting on your lap or being held. Of course when you throw in some free food, she's a VERY happy camper. Here she is mooching off of dad's apple.

She points to EVERYTHING now.

She wasn't in the mood to share.

So serious about her chomping.

Spaghetti Face

Mallory doesn't get crazy excited about eating spaghetti, but the other night when we had it for dinner she decided to let a little bit of that crazy out and have fun with it. Here's her spaghetti face to prove that wearing your food can be just as enjoyable as eating it.

Can I Help You?

Classic Throwback

The pattern on these leggings of Mallory's remind me so much of the wild backgrounds that we had to choose from for my elementary school pictures. Remember those awful, loud-color backdrops? At the time I remember thinking they were so cool, but of course when I got older and looked back on those pictures it was more of a "what was I thinking?" moment. However, throw that pattern onto baby clothes and the moment then becomes a "classic throwback!"

Love those curls!

Folsom Turkey Trot Crew

Jamie, Jessica, me (and Mallory), Dad

She'll be my running buddy one day

One Year Photos

I had the lovely and talented Katie of Platinum Photography take Mallory's one year photos and of course the pictures came out fabulous! Katie had me meet her in a new spot for me - old town Roseville - and I love the variety of backdrops we had to work with. Though the pictures were taken in the middle of October, it was still pretty warm that day. Here are some of my favorites, and to see all of them go to my Shutterfly Share Site. Only two things I wish had been different: Jody were with us so we could've gotten family shots, and that I would've known the new shirt I had just purchased showed my stupid bra staps. Guess we'll have to schedule another photo session soon; darn!

Cousin Kaylee

Mallory is fascinated with her cousin Kaylee and always, always has a great time playing with her. Throw a in big box, some markers to turn it into a "Gril's rule, Boy's Druel" fort, and they were set. Love my family.

Cute Toosh

I took these pics using my cell phone about two months ago up at the park near our house. I love them and wasn't sure I'd be able to get them onto my computer to share. I randomly tried a USB cable from one of Mallory's toys and it fit my phone; score. Such a cute toosh she has!

Simple Toys

Laundry Basket Fun

Fun and Sassy

I love having long hair. And when I was pregnant with Mallory it grew like a weed. It was super healthy and shiny and soft. After Mallory was born, taking care of my long hair became an immediate nuisance and I almost always had it up in a ponytail. Over the course of the past year my hair has slowly become shorter and shorter out of a need to make it as simple as possible for me to take care of. I also kept cutting it as Mallory's fascination to pull and yank on it all of the time became more apparent. And even though it went from mid-waist to shoulder level, I still wasn't totally satisfied with the style of it.

So last week my craving to try a new hairstyle had me contacting my new sister-in-law Sara - who is an amazing hairstylist at The Garage Hair and Skin Lounge in Roseville - and she was able to fit me in this past Sunday. The style I chose: a-line with lots of highlights. The result: I totally LOVE it! She did an amazing job and I have gotten so many compliments on it so far. It feels good to have a hairstyle that is fun and sassy. I've had shorter hair in the past and always remember saying that I would never cut it short again; yet here I am with very short hair and I'm definitely not regretting my decision. And even when I need to put it back in a ponytail I still can - with a headband and/or lots of bobby pins, but it's possible. 

Late to the Party

Mkay. So I realize that I have a little bit of catching up to do, and I apologize (mother) for not updating the blog with more pictures. I really do have every intention of blogging once Mallory goes down around 7:30 - 8:00 p.m. but I've been getting side tracked a lot lately. I'm still adjusting to managing my time better now that I'm a mom, and figuring out shortcuts to get things done faster. I love stumbling across those shortcuts.

I'm a little late to the party, and by party I mean Mallory's first birthday party, and by late I mean that I'm SUPER late at blogging about it. So, let's begin.

We had it the day before her actual birthday, which was a Sunday at a really cool park in Folsom. The weather was perfect that day; sunny, a little warm but not too hot. Mallory was in a great mood and happy as a clam. Swinging (her fav), following her buddies down the slide, chasing the balloons, stealing people's food, inquisitive when we were all singing "Happy Birthday" to her, shy about digging into her cake but still managing to get frosting all over her face and in her hair. Mallory had just the perfect first birthday party; the kind that I had envisioned in my mind. And considering that the day before her party I was sick with food poisoning of some sort, I was so happy with the way that her party turned out. She was spoiled with extra love, attention, and gifts that day enjoying every minute of it; and so was I!

Loved the way these turned out but I'll never make them again!