Ivy Lou Turned 2

Well, it happened.

My baby became a kid.

Stephen's parents flew in for the birthday weekend and we started celebrations with some pancakes. It quickly became apparent that Ivy does not like fire.

But she does like presents. As she sat down to open her gifts she said, "Okay! Here I go!" which is her longest string of words ever. She was either really good at faking enthusiasm or genuinely excited about everything she received, including the socks that I purchased to make my Gap.com order total eligible for free shipping.

We spent the afternoon at the zoo, cause, you know, it was a day that ends in "y". We're at the zoo all. The. Time. As we pulled into the parking lot Ivy said, "Monkey, lion, quack quack," quack quack referring to the geese and peacocks that roam the grounds. Ivy chased a peacock for a good ten minutes, and we fed half a bag of popcorn to the geese. We also saw a baby leopard, performing sea lions, and zip-lining monkeys. Mary and Phil (the Walter parents) took Ivy for a ride on the carousel, a real birthday miracle, and I have one million pictures of their blurry faces on the back of a ceramic cheetah, like so:

It was a short visit for Mary and Phil who flew home that evening, and Stephen, Ivy and I spent the rest of the night watching Brave and eating popcorn.

The next day, her actual birthday, we had my aunt, uncle and cousins over for dinner and cake. They have kept us alive and nourished these past two and a half years with Sunday dinners at their house, and we decided it was finally time to return the favor so they joined us in our shoebox apartment. But because I am apparently incapable of photographing anything or anyone beyond my child, I have no proof that guests were actually in attendance.

Anyway. Here's the cake. It's a frog. My vision of what I wanted the cake to be was a lot less sloppy, but my vision didn't account for my lack of piping bags and tips. 

Still afraid of the candle flames, this is as close as she would get.

Two years ago, when I was waiting for Ivy's arrival, I'd take long walks around the neighborhood to try and jolt my body into labor. Everyday I listened to "She's a Rainbow" and everyday I grew more excited (read: unbelievably anxious, irritable, and impatient) to meet my baby girl. When she finally did make her appearance, she did not disappoint. 

I can't believe it's been two years. I can't believe this sweet kid is mine.

Our lucky number

At his Birthday Breakfast this morning

Happy 26 years to the husband! 

I think it's so strange that Stephen had 23 birthdays before we were married. 22 before we even met. Twenty two years living completely independent of each other, unaware that the other person existed. Now here we are, celebrating Stephen's third birthday as a wedded couple, with a child, completely dependent on each other. And thank goodness for that. It's such a relief to have my best friend by my side at all times. Someone who always has something interesting to say. Someone who enjoys heckling movies as much as I do. Someone who agrees that burgers should be a separate and essential food group. Someone who puts everyone at ease. Someone who will start laughing at the exact same thing at the exact same moment I do. Someone who takes good care of me. Someone who takes good care of my baby. Someone who hates his birthday, so I should probably stop. But Happy Birthday, Love. 

that nobody can deny

This guy!

Nicholas Tyler Morley, my brother, turns 24 today. 

The think about Nick is that he's the life of every party. I've never had a conversation with Nick and not laughed. Well, I mean, maybe when I was eight and he was six and I wanted a turn on the play station, I might not have laughed then, but all other times definitely. The other thing about Nick is he's not one of those funny people that is jerk about it and won't give anyone else a laugh. In fact he's the most gernerous laugher I've ever know. Tell a joke around Nick and it will kill every time even though he knows a better one.

Thanks for the laughs, Nick. 

Happy 24!

Happy days of birth

This week both  Phil (far right) and Michael (Second to right) have birthdays.

Ivy loves her Grandpa Phil.

She giggles every time he talks. For good reason. He's a funny guy.

And she's obviously enthused to have Michael for an uncle.

Why else would she raise the roof?

Ivy's pretty lucky (and so am I) to call these two, as well the rest of the Walter clan, family.

Happy Birthday Grandpa Phil! Happy Birthday Uncle Michael!

Shout hooray

Yesterday Carey, aka Mom, had a big birthday. 

A year ago, when we found out we had a wee one on the way, I wasn't sure how my parents would feel about becoming grandparents. I hoped they wouldn't feel that we were somehow prematurely aging them. So I was relieved when Carey wept with joy after we told her the news. She's been in Rocks Star Grandma mode ever since. 

Without Carey, I don't think we would have survived the first week after Ivy was born. When she left to go home to Utah, I sobbed uncontrollably. She made everything perfect, kept our apartment cleaner than it's ever been (and probably ever will be), got up in the night with Ivy, insisted that I relax, drove us to doctors appointments, cooked constantly, and babysat so Stephen and I could go get sushi after nine months of deprivation. 

Not only does she make 50  and grandmotherdom look really good, but so far Carey is the single person who can make Ivy giggle at any moment. Ivy laughs at everyone, but usually only sporadically. With Carey, it's patty cake and chuckle fest all the time.

We love you, Nana Carey.

Happy Birthday, Grandma Mary!

Love,

Ivy and Fam

never question bruce dickinson

Yesterday I turned 26 years old and Ivy turned one month old.
To celebrate, on Saturday night we took Ivy out for her first burger. She was super hungry and ordered a ton of food:



JUST KIDDING, settle down. I'm not feeding my infant fast food. She's a pretty strict vegetarian. In actuality, all the excitement was too  much for Ivy and she fell asleep. I, however, did some pretty serious damage to a cheeseburger and fries.

That crazy look in my eyes? That's burger lust. I love me a beef patty smothered in cheese.

Yesterday Stephen made pizza and I made a cake. We've been watching a lot of Cake Boss on Netflix, and we've started channeling Buddy (THE cake boss) while in the kitchen by saying things like, "The two of Youz, youz guyz set the table." or, "I gotta get this friggin cake made and then I gotta friggin eat it." It's the greatest show. I made chocolate cake because that's Ivy's favorite. JUST KIDDING, settle down, I'm not feeding my infant chocolate cake. She prefers vanilla. No, seriously, I'm just kidding. Please don't call the authorities.

Hey! You! What are you doing on March 30? There's no way you already have plans unless you're a celebrity or royalty or both like Kate Middleton. Kate? Are you reading? Please share all your beauty secrets. The rest of you should come to The Porch at Muse Music in Provo on March 30. Yours truly will be telling a story, and so will other more legit people. Tickets go on sale tomorrow morning. Purchase them here: http://utahporch.org/tickets



he's a jolly good fellow

Happy Birthday Ollie!

We hope you enjoy the treats, the new leash, and your new toy duck, which you haven't let out of your sight for the past three hours. You make us laugh every day, and while you have your naughty puppy moments, we're so glad you're a part of our ever-growing family.

yes it is

Some of use have to learn how to be cool. We have to observe others, and learn from their ways.

Then there are those of us who are born cool. They are the observed. Like my sister Hannah:

18 years ago, Hannah was born cool.
For a while, it was hard on Hannah to have an older sister who is a little bit spazzy and wears socks with boat shoes. After having surgery at a young age, Hannah's attending nurse asked her about her family. Hannah replied, "I have a mom, a dad, and a brother." No mention of sister. She would draw family portraits of her mom, dad, brother and even dog, but no me.
Luckily she eventually came around, and over the years, she has not only become more radical, but has also become sweet and generous and the best sister anyone could ask for, let alone the best soon to be aunt for Baby Ivy. She's going to redefine "cool aunt", and I'm so grateful our daughter will have Hannah in her life becuase she needs to look up to someone who knows better than to wear socks with boat shoes.

Happy 18, Han!

so special

Brad (Dad),

Brad and his older brother Eric, fascinated.

I feel like one of the most valuable things you've taught me is the ability to be amused by very little. I've never met anyone who can find so much humor in so little, and it certainly makes life worth living. I hope it's something Baby Walter inherits, and if not, I hope you can teach her that garbage trucks are just as entertaining as television.
Happy last birthday before grandfatherdom.