She is 1...

     This year has gone by so FAST!! I can hardly believe my baby is one... except she isn't even a baby anymore... She's a toddler. Leilani is all over the place~ walking, climbing, and getting into everything!! her favorite place to hang out right now is the bottom stair... Its like her little seat, just her size.
      We got to spend this last weekend in Eagle with most of Dusty's family, It was so nice to spend the weekend with them all, and let Leilani get to know them all a little better, while there she became brave around small animals and followed the cats around whenever she could. it was cute. We went and hiked up to hanging lake on Sunday, we learned we need a backpack to carry Leilani in. But everyone helped carry her up to the top, which helped out a ton! It was so beautiful at the top! If your ever near Glenwood Springs CO, i recommend going up to hanging lake.
       The weekend before this was Leilani's birthday weekend, It was so fun the celebrations started in the middle of the week, when aunt Kara came back from New York and hung out with us and helped me get everything ready for Leilani's birthday Party. We made banners, one for Leilani and one for her grandpa Platt his birthday was Saturday, We decorated Leilani's cake and made Grandpas, then she had to go so she could work and earn some money for school. Friday Aunt Kelli came down for all the festivities. We had such a blast with her. that night Dusty, Kelli, Leilani and I all went to Panera and bought some little bunt cakes (from Nothing bunt cakes)  to have for Leilani's birthday. It was so cute watching her try to eat her little cake. all she got was frosting but she really enjoyed it. and had it EVERYWHERE (even inside her ear). we then all walked over to Target so Kelli could get a present for her and Dusty found another gift for Leilani, he fell in love with it and had to come beg me for it... ( it was a baby music turn table thing, very cool) and I realized it was really late and so we also bought Leilani some pajamas so I could change her, then she could just stay asleep when we got home.

Leilani had to wake up for her party, so she needed some snuggles

getting ready to blow out her candle

Uncle Rian and cousin Deklan

Grandpa doing one for the money

YAY!!  Leilani

She Loves doing One for the Money with Grandpa

Playing with Rian and Deklan

had to get one in there of the Birthday boy

I started this post months ago...  The next day was her party so we ran all over town getting last minutes things. Kelli and I came up with a great idea to line Grandpas cake with Twix bars and tie a ribbon around it so that the cake wouldn't become an avalanche cake. It looked great! The party was fun, Friends and Family came, and we got to celebrate 2 birthdays. It was really great seeing everyone and letting Leilani dive into a piece of cake and ice cream. She had fun playing with her cousin Deklan and Uncle Rian who are 3 years older.

update on us...

   Dusty is working at Target from 4 AM to around 12:30... he comes home very exhausted and takes a nap with Leilani. He is taking the summer off from school since fafsa grants really only cover 2 semesters. He has picked up a hobby, he loves to work out in the garage with all my dads tools and build things, so far he has made a crib (with lots of help from my dad and grandpa), and some cookbook stands (i'll have to post pictures later as I have lost my camera). He has plans to make a step/drawer for me to put under the crib (since it is way to high for me to put Leilani in it), and a sorting laundry hamper for me:) He is very talented with woodworking, I wish we could afford to buy him all these tools but for now he'll have to borrow my dads.
    I finished dental assisting school with like a 99.2% (not bragging) I was just proud of myself. and am now looking for a job. Meanwhile, I am LOVING being able to spend so much time with Leilani, she is the most perfect, beautiful little girl I have ever seen. I look at her and still cant believe she is mine, I have wanted to be a mom for so long, and it is everything I always thought it would be. I  LOVE being a mom!!! Saladmaster did not work out for me because I was away from my family way too much, (and other reasons)  it is an amazing product and maybe in the future it might work out, but for now its not for me.
     Now for Leilani since thats who we're all interested in anyway..., She is now 9 months old. that's right 9 months. Where did the time go you ask, I have NO IDEA! I ask myself that everyday and then demand her to quit growing up, It doesn't work... I came to the realization at about 6 1/2 months that I was slowing her development down by swaddling her still, so pretty much cold turkey we stopped that and she started crawling, but it was like a shoulder crawl... hard to explain. at 8 1/2 months she very unexpectedly took 3 steps... and a few here and there after that but has now mastered the real crawl and has no interest in trying any more... but she does pull herself up on everything and cruise, and I am happy about that... She is the happiest baby I have ever seen, and I have seen a lot. everywhere we go people comment on her eyes, her smile and how happy she is, that always makes me feel good. Her hair... we still cannot decide if its going to be blonde, brown, red, or strawberry blonde... it is different every time I look  at her.  But one thing is for sure... she is My beautiful little angel.
    Dusty finally got on board with sleep training her so we tried to start that at the beginning of the week.She did well for one night then got a cold and had a hard time breathing so sleep training is put off for a little while longer... it sure sucks though... I think that is the only time she really ever cries, even if she gets hurt (unless it really hurt) all she does then is scrunch up her nose and mouth and breathe heavy at us for a few seconds. its the cutest thing... ok I think that is all I can think of right now...  thanks for reading about the Platt's.

Catching Up...

    So much has happened in the last three months, I worked for Saladmaster, in our first month we did so good that our boss sent us to Vegas for a Saladmaster conference hotel and airfare free some meals free and second row to Blue Man Group Free... It was a much needed vacation for Dusty and I, and Leilani had fun too! While we were there Dusty (we) got to hang out with one of his best friends and his family, it was so nice to see them and get to know them a little better. After Vegas everything was go-go-go again... well it got to be too much for me so we decided to give up Saladmaster, (I love the product, I believe in it and I know it can change lives, I saw it. But I have to have a job in a dental office because I got a scholarship/grant from Colorado on the stipulation of me working in the field for a while. The day after we gave it up, it was like a big weight had been lifted off my shoulders. I was able to spend more time with Leilani and Dusty. Now I have 3 classes left, then we will be looking for a job hopefully in Idaho so that Dusty can go to BYU-I.
    Leilani is almost 7 months old, I cant believe it!! the time has flown by so fast! the other day Dusty and I were shopping for a birthday present for Gabe (he is now 3), while shopping I decided that Leilani was not allowed to have a first birthday because she is not allowed to grow up... If only it could work that way. But I guess its a good thing that we do grow up, I just wish it lasted longer. it feels like yesterday that we brought our beautiful baby girl home. She is doing so great, she now sits, rolls, reaches for us, pushes herself around the floor (mostly backwards), she is eating baby food and loves it!! We are still introducing foods to her but so far so good.
   (Sorry I am not posting pictures, I have lost my camera. so when I find it, I will post some).

What a crazy week!!

    This week has been so CRAZY!! I started working with one of my best friends for Saladmaster, which is healthy cookware, it is amazing and is a product that really sells itself. What we do is cooking demonstrations, how to cook with out oils, fats and waters in your food to keep the nutrition in and the fat out. So on Friday we went to a dinner to observe and learn ( which meant I left Leilani for about 4 hours with daddy), Saturday we had an event to recruit people to do dinners for, which was from 12-5 plus commute (7 hours away from my baby). Sunday I started dental assisting school (12 weeks of no church I was so bummed) from 9 AM-4:30PM (usually 6PM), So all day away from my baby. Monday another dinner. (our first... We did awesome! but another 4.5 hours from Leilani). When I got home I had a breakdown... I felt like such a terrible mother! I have been gone so much from my baby, and now she is not only fighting Dusty going to sleep but now me... Tuesday Amy and I had training, So I just took her with me after crying on and off all day about how bad I felt for leaving her so much... (I think postpartum is catching up to I cried way too much yesterday!) Today, our second dinner, We did great, a few small bumps but we are still learning... so another 6 hours form Leilani. tomorrow I have school from 6-10PM, Friday we have our third dinner, Saturday we have a lunch and a dinner, Sunday I have school again and the breakdown may come again sometime in between all that... But In the midst of all this I have such a wonderful supportive husband who is doing great with Leilani, and trying to help me deal with my emotional breakdowns, he is so Awesome!!! Leilani is also doing great she is handling this all really great! I am so blessed to have such a wonderful little family! I love them so much!!
     On a different note Leilani turned 4 months old on the 21st of January,  She is doing great, she is right on track. rolling over lifting and holding her head, reaching out for mommy and daddy... She weighed in at 14.4 pounds, so she went from under the 10th percentile at birth to about the 50th. she was 231/4inches (I think), also in the 50th percentile. She is not on solids yet, but starting to notice us take stuff to our mouth and reaching out for it so maybe one of these days we'll try out some cereal... She is still sleeping all the way through the night, sometimes better than me (j/k). She is getting to where she will take a 1.5-2 hour nap in her cradle... I am so proud of her, she is such an awesome baby! Dusty and I are so grateful to have her!!

4 months

     On Saturday (the 21st),  Leilani turned 4 months old...  She is the most precious thing in the world... my nephews and future nieces are a close 2nd. But right now its all about my baby girl.  She is so beautiful, very laid back and pretty much the best baby EVER!!  About a week ago I started to try to enforce her taking her naps in her bed instead of my arms so I could accomplish stuff during the day. She does really good at it if I get her swaddled tight, She doesn't have bubble, and I lay her down at exactly the right moment. Otherwise, she ends up sleeping in my arms or I end up sleeping with her in our bed. So I would say its a work in progress...
     I am trying to get a scholarship from the state of Colorado to pay for Dental assisting school, so the other day I had a meeting about it. I walked in the door just as Leilani rolled over for the first time. I was a little disappointed I missed it. She is developing and growing so fast, within the last couple of weeks she discovered her feet (she loves to play with them during diaper changes), she rolled over from her back to her front (when her arm is stuck under her she can roll back to her back, she laughs while she is awake, and is trying to sit up. its all happening so fast!!! Oh, and she got VERY ticklish!!
     Today she had her 4 month check up. She weighs 14.4 pounds and is 24 3/4 inches long she is in the 50th percentile for everything. The Dr. said she is perfect! She got more shots today... this time was not as traumatic on every one. no tears were spilled by anyone. She just screamed at us VERY angrily!!!
     Dusty started a new semester of school and a  job with Target, he has to be there by 4 AM. so he leaves here at 3:30AM... on a good note... he comes to bed with me again. I think that's it for us...

Leilani's Blessing day

Dusty Great Grandma and Grandma, (4 generations)

We have the same facial expressions!  Like mother like daughter.

Her cousin Deklan loves her so much!!

and she loves him!

Great grandma Astin

Aunt Shiree

Grandpa and Grandma Bott

Grandma Chenoweth

WHAT A CRAZY DAY!!! I planned to wake up early and get my hair done and look cute for this very special day... Well my little alarm clock decided to sleep in. Church starts at 9 am, I woke up checked my phone and sat straight up "Dusty its 8:10". We had to leave in a half hour!!! I'm pretty sure I took like a 1 minute shower. I was in and out while Dusty woke up. I threw my clothes on, woke Leilani up and ran up stairs to borrow a skirt from my mom, threw that on and ran back downstairs to get Leilani dressed, Her aunt Jenn crocheted her a beautiful blessing dress... the sleeve went half way up her forearm... AHH!!! I ran back upstairs, luckily my mom had found my blessing dress about a month before she was born.. I grabbed it out of her closet and ran back downstairs and put it on her... It fit!! I could breathe for a second! Then I ran downstairs to see if Dusty was ready, "Where are my pants?"  Oh man I cant remember washing them or putting them away... I was freaking out!!! I looked everywhere! Dusty looked everywhere!! Finally he saw a pile of folded laundry/ Christmas presents I hadn't put away yet.. he found them! I could breathe again! I ran upstairs again to find my mom putting Leilani in her car seat (thank you!!!) I finished while my mom left to go save some seats with Shiree and Kevin, (thankfully my dad had already saved a couple rows for everyone!) Then we had to scrape windows and our cars license plates were expired... Oh my goodness I was thinking what else could go wrong... maybe we could hit all the red lights... YEP that is what happened... But  we got there just barely on time. Dusty gave her a beautiful Blessing.
I am so blessed to have married a worthy priesthood holder who can do these things for our Children.. I love him so much! And I love our little Leilani, I can't imagine out life without her!!

update on us...

    I thought I would give a little update before Abby had to remind me.
    We had a great Christmas! We spent the morning with my family (that were still home for Christmas), the afternoon with Dusty's dad and family, and tried to spend the evening with friends but we were all to tired...  Leilani was spoiled and got lots of new clothes and some toys.   New Years was lots of fun we had some friends over and played Killer Bunnies(new game Eric gave us for Christmas) and other games. It was truly a blessing to have Leilani with us for these holidays, it was so nice to have such a perfect person with us to celebrate the birth of Christ and a new year.
    Leilani giggled for the first time today while we were eating dinner with my mom and dad. She had been talking all night, and was just in a really good mood for that late in the evening (6 pm is usually her time to start getting fussy). She had to put her 2 cents  into the conversation, and when all of our attention was on her she got very excited and started. My dad started to clap and she cooed, Dusty started to clap and she started to put her hands together, so I helped her clap. She let out a little giggle. She has a "tickle bone" like her mommy, so I tickled it, and she let out her first prolonged giggle, it was just the cutest thing. And the best part was my mom got it on her video camera!!