It happened...

Well, we'd gotten our first few steps here and there over the last month. But, tonight it happened: Maizey started walking! Walking everywhere! Walking anytime we put her down. It's like someone just flipped a switch and now she's a walking fool! And, if I may add a hint of ridiculousness to this, just in time for summer! Now she can wear dresses and shorts and I don't have to worry about her little legs! Yay! On the other hand, it's time to safety proof, and I mean really safety proof! Here she is just tonight...

Also, Maizey had her 1 year checkup today. Weighing in at 19lbs and 12oz and measuring 29.75in she's growing nicely along her curve, a fact that makes me very proud. She's in the 75% for height (taking after daddy) and in the 25% in weight (not taking after mommy). We also were instructed to start weaning her off of formula and the bottle and to start giving her cow's milk and feeding her what we eat at our meals. Um, the thing is we eat randomly and sort of sporadically these days with me in school and studying at night. It's time for us to buckle down and start being better and preparing healthy, well thought out meals. I don't want Maizey eating a ton of processed garbage. I was raised eating really wholesome, nutrient-rich, fresh foods (shout out to my mama). We almost never ate food that came out of a box and every night at dinner we sat around the table with candles lit and salad and milk with our meals. I want the same for Maizey, but I want to expose her to all different types of foods. At the moment she's still a vegetarian (and I'm fighting hard to keep it this way--Ryan has a different agenda), and tonight was to be her first real meal with mom and dad. So, we had huevos rancheros and glasses of milk. She loved it!! I think that all the big girl treatment is what got her walking tonight! I'm very proud of my girl, but very nervous I'm gonna eff her up and give her food issues. It's time to pull out all my useless-til-now organic toddler food books.

So, there is a lot more to cover. Maizey turned one on Saturday. Unfortunately, she was pretty run down with a cold. We spent most of the day in bed trying to make sure she got as much rest as possible so she'd feel good for Sunday--which was the day we celebrated. And, boy did we celebrate! The morning was pretty low-key, Maizey fell asleep in the Moby wrap while I vacuumed. I gotta say, I didn't think the Moby would be useful once Maizey got a little older, but something about it still really chills her out. I strap her to my back and she's content there for hours--and this is a girl who doesn't like to be held for more than a second, she always wants to be busy busy. Anyway, Sunday afternoon we met up with Maizey's friends and family at the Little Gym. I gotta say, the Little Gym kicked butt. The teachers were awesome and SO helpful. Maizey had a great time and we are enrolling her in classes ASAP. This girl loves any place where she can go crazy, and the Little Gym is that place! We played hard and then had cupcakes and snacks and then played some more. I think that everyone had a great time, I know Maizey did. After the Little Gym we headed back to our house with our immediate families for dinner and more cake! We didn't want to use up play time at the gym to open gifts, so we opened them at home. Maizey made out like a bandit! She got amazing toys, books, and clothes. She definitely won't need anything until her next birthday for sure! After a long day, my still sick not-so-little girl fell fast asleep. The next day she had 3 of the biggest, dirtiest diapers on record. I think that's what eating 1/4 of your body weight in cake will do to you!

Here are a LOT of photos of the event. I know it's boring to other people, but I loved too many to whittle it down any more.

Looking adorable in, what else, Naartjie!

Cousin Harper

Cousins Ari and Darren, or as I often call them Dari and Arren.

All lined up.

Jack and Maizey. Already in love.Upside down.Jack and Tatum, brother and sister.Happy birthday to you!Her first bit of cake.Cousin Jackson putting a whole mini-cupcake in his mouth!
Playing with the teacher.

The parachute might be her favorite thing in the WORLD!

Jackson had the biggest, craziest grin on his face! He loved this!!!!All of 3 of us mamas had our babies within about a month.
After party. Playing in the backyard. Gettin' love from uncle Brion. He's whispering about Porsches into her ear.

Riding the dog. She thinks this is the funniest thing ever! Her own little cake.

She got daddy messy, but she was just getting started! See what I mean?Um, she missed her afternoon nap and was sick. So after a long day, she was quite fussy.
We got her washed up and changed and she was ready to open gifts!Elmo Live was a hit. But, I think the adults enjoyed it more--mostly Brion.

Here is Maizey's new face she makes for the camera. It cracks me up. I want to eat her up!

Princess.

Crazy lovin' the outdoors!

We went and saw Seinfeld with the Fasts last week. We had a blast and he was hysterical. We started the night with dinner and drinks at Von's, saw the show, and then had more drinks at another bar before heading home. It was a great time!

Josh and Lacey.

The weekend before last we went to Tahuya (the cabin) with our friends. Here's Maizey on the ferry ride over. She's ridden ferries plenty of times, but I think this is the first time she really "got" it.

Darren being shy to auntie Jill. I think this picture is hysterical.

George and the kiddos.

Half of the gang. The half that is related.
Auntie Jessica with her posse. I think this photo is so funny. I was sitting with Maizey, who is eating rocks, and Ari, who is nourishing her cuticles--because what else would a little girl want to do at the beach?

The love of my life.

Cousins and BFFs.