Happy Birthday Daddy!

So today was Craig's birthday, that means a big party, lots of gifts, candles on a cake, celebration...right? Yay, maybe 10 years ago, but not for this 31 year old. Instead we simply spent the day together as a family shopping at Ikea. Kylie enjoyed the Ikea experience at least as much as Craig and I did, she explored everything. She is loving her new-found freedom and just takes off wherever she wants. We often hang back to see if she will turn and look for us, or realize how far away she is, but she doesn't. She takes off and eventually we are tracking her down and redirecting her back to where she came from. Highlights from the Ikea trip... once we had our boxed items stacked on the rolling cart, she climbed up and down, on and off the cart and boxes at least 20 times. It was like she thought she was at Gymboree practicing her gross motor climbing skills. She also discovered automatic sliding doors. She was toddling around while Craig and I disassembled an item we purchased (when you purchase a discounted item "as is" they make you take it apart yourself so you can fit it in your car), she toddled close to the sliding doors to exit the store and they opened for her. She stopped and looked at us with this look of excitement and wonder. She giggled and walked through the doors into an entry way that held another set of doors leading to the outside. While she was in there the doors closed behind her, looking a little nervous, she turned around and started walking back toward us, doors opened, she squealed with excitement and came walking back through. This was fun for a couple minutes until she made it far enough to trigger the second set of doors to open, the invitation to adventure outside was simply too strong. As this point she sees me coming to get her, she screams and actually takes about 4 running steps toward the door. We couldn't believe it, she just started walking on her own about a week ago, now she is running? And not just running, but running away from us in the middle of a huge store? So it begins, the next three years of chasing our daughter around, either that or investing in one of those animal "backpacks" that has a leash for a tail :o) Over all it was a fun day, we got some good stuff for our bedroom and a couple cute things for Kylie.

We can't believe we didn't post on Kylie's 13 month birthday, we have become slackers on the blog, and we are sorry to those of you who feel it is your connection to Miss May.

Here are a few photos from the past few days...

-Natalie

Yummm black beans. Another new food she loves right now, couscous.

Mesmerized by the swing, she just loves them these days.

Ford park.

"Oh being a princess is so exhausting."

She always manages to make a new friend everywhere she goes, this little boy had a very fun toy Kylie enjoyed playing with.

She is always trying to put her glasses on her face, they usually end up around her neck...

Not this time! She managed to get them all the way on and she was so proud of herself.

"Sure I will sign that for you."

This is what happens when Mommy is gone for a little bit during the evening, clean, naked baby loose pulling her pony around the house.

Yesterday morning she decided that climbing up on the bedside table was a good idea, that's why we call her our little monkey.

Testing our some chairs at Ikea.

Happy Birthday Daddy! Kylie gave Craig his card first thing this morning.

Can't say we are super proud of this, but she sure is cute!