1 year mark

Oaks first birthday has finally made it. I can't believe how fast this last year went. I couldn't help but reflect back on the day she was born. She was so tiny and was completely dependent on us to take care of her. Now she is a walking, talking, independent toddler. This last year has taught Andrew and I how to be the best parents we can be. We were a little worried when we left the hospital how to take care of her when we got home. We learned day by day and I'm not saying we are pros at parenting, we still have a lot to learn as she gets older. But we have a healthy happy baby to show for it. Oaklie puts a smile on our face everyday. She has her own little personality and she picks up on things fast. She only has to watch you do something once then she'll try to do it. This last year went by way too fast. Oak changed so much. She achieved so much in so little time. She went from crawling to walking at only 9 months. She is starting to say words like hi, yeah, and uh oh. Easy words but I'm impressed with how much she says. I can't wait to see what she learns this year.

Newborn

3 months

6 months

9 months

 one year

This last Sunday, we had most of the family come over to celebrate her birthday. It was so nice to have family around to celebrate with us. Andrew and I made Oaklie 2 birthday cakes. One for us to eat and one for her to dig into. They were both tye dye cake and I thought they turned out really good. She didn't really eat her cake. She thought it was fun to feed cake to her cousins then eat herself. She eventually took a little taste but she mostly played in it. Oak got spoiled by everyone for her birthday as well. We have so much stuff to send home with Christmas and her birthday. I don't know how we are going to get it all home. 

Christmas update

So Christmas has come and gone again. I don't like the next few weeks after Christmas. Its so sad. Everyone is putting away there decorations and the smell of peppermint and cookies is gone.

Santa Claus spoiled Oaklie. She got lots of toys. She wasn't interested in unwrapping all her gifts so I had to do most of the unwrapping. She got distracted by one new toy after the other that she forgot about all the other presents. We also got a little spoiled by each other and by family. We had a really good Christmas. It was so good to be home and spend the holidays with my family. Ty and Ash made it up Christmas night and the next day we  all went and saw Frozen. Which by the way is one of the cutest movies I have seen so go see it if you haven't yet.

Oaks birthday is tomorrow. Crazy!? I will post an update on her birthday and put some of her cute one year photos on here once I get the cd. But until then enjoy some pics of our Christmas at the Campbell's. :)

Christmas Cheer

Christmas is coming too fast. I want time to slow down so I can enjoy the Christmas spirit. I never knew how much fun Christmas would be with kids. I am so excited for Oaklie to see what Santa brought her on Christmas morning even though she won't understand what is going on.

We finally got to Idaho a couple weeks ago and it has been so much fun being home with family and being able to attend family parties so I can see everyone. Oaklie experienced snow for the first time. She liked it until she fell down in it then she wasn't too happy. I knew it was going to be cold, but I didnt expect it to be this cold. The weather so far has been freezing. I dont think its been over 20 degrees since I've been here and it's dropped well below zero a couple of times. Oaklie doesn't seemed to bothered by it but I have had her bundled up everytime we go out.

So far Oaklie has opened up her first present with the help of her cousin Tayzlie. She got to sit on Santa's lap and didn't enjoy that at all. Oak "helped" grandma decorate the tree, and she got to see snow for the first time. It has been a successful holiday season so far. Daddy just needs to get here and we have a few more family parties and its finally Christmas!!! :)

 Playing with cousins

Figured out she can through her shoes downstairs.

              Trying to get past the baby gate.

11 months!

In 3 days, Oaklie will be 11 months and only one month away from her first birthday and Christmas. :) This last month she has mastered walking. She is constantly on the go unless she's asleep. She has learned a few more sounds and words. She walks around the house saying uh-oh! It is just the cutest thing. As of right now, I am currently trying to wean Oak on a sippy cup. I am more then ready to be done nursing. Oaklie has been pretty stubborn so far but that is to be expected at first. I know for the first couple of days it is going to be a battle and there will be a lot of tears, but it is time. So if any mothers have any suggestions or tips it would be greatly appreciated. We learned recently that Oaklie LOVES Candy Canes. She can eat them all day if I would let her. I've been really good at keeping her away from sugar and juice, so her new love for Candy Canes comes as no surprise because that is the closest thing she has tried to candy besides a little bit of ice cream.

The days are counting down until Oaklie and I fly home. :) I am always excited to come home but I am dreading the plane ride. I am a little nervous flying with Oaklie alone... again. But this time she is walking so I have a feeling it is going to be a LONG trip for both of us. On the bright side of things, we will probably be staying until the first of April. Andrew will be going TDY to Cannon AFB in New Mexico for 2 months after the New Year so instead of flying back with him after Christmas then jumping on an air plane again in 2 weeks, we are just going to stay in Idaho. In fact we will be in Idaho for the majority of 2014. After Andrew's TDY ends in April, we will come back to Florida for 4 months then he will be deploying to Afghanistan for 4-6 months. Nothing is set in stone yet for his deployment but it is looking more likely to happen. 2014 is going to be challenging for us, but it is part of his job and I am so lucky that I have a family to go home to so Oaklie and I aren't here all by ourselves for months on end. They are definitely my rock during times like these. So blessed to have the family I do.

Its crazy to think the next time I get on, Oaklie will be turning one. This year has gone by so fast. It is true what they say. I wish time would slow down just a little bit so Oak wont get so big so fast. I still cant believe Thanksgiving is this week and then Christmas next month. Where did the fall go? It never feels like the holidays here. It has gotten a little cold, but I can still wear my flips flops. I know I am going to freeze next week but I am excited for it. A change in season will be good. We all just need to pray for snow so we can have a white Christmas then everything will be perfect. :)

10 Months and lots of Candy!

Oaklie turned 10 months on the 29th. Its crazy she will be one in 2 months. This last month, Oaklie started walking. She doesn't need the help of furniture to walk anymore. She gets into EVERYTHING. I feel like I can never keep my house clean because while I'm cleaning and putting things away, shes behind me pulling something else out. Oaklie has come to like getting in our cupboards and pulling everything out of them and spreading pots and pans out throughout the house. She definitely keeps me busy with all her messes. It is a lot more work now that she is mobile but this is the fun age. As much as I miss her cuddling, I love that she can now interact with us. Her personality is like none other. She has always loved to talk but she now mimics sounds we make and she is now saying mama. :) She is always smiling and laughing. She just brightens up my day.

Yesterday was Oaklie's first Halloween. She dressed up as Minnie Mouse and she was just the cutest Minnie ever. There were a lot of Minnie's this year but no one had the same costume as Oaklie. We got lots of compliments on how cute she was. In Florida they go house to house instead of trunk or treat and Oaklie enjoyed every minute of it. We got lots of candy and Oaklie was all smiles the whole time. So you can say her first Halloween was a success.

Now that Halloween is done with, we can now start getting ready for Thanksgiving and start listening to Christmas music. Oaklie's Christmas and birthday is all done and sent to Idaho. So I can now just enjoy the holidays and finish up last minute shopping with my family. And around this time next month I will be home. Crossing my fingers this month goes by quick. :)