The shirt says it all...

So true

Grammy and Grandpa Ullrich just left after a ten day visit.  We kept pretty busy visiting the Phx Desert Botanical Garden, visiting Great Grandma in Sun City, playing at the beach pool, and enjoying some warm weather.  Brian and I even got away for a night: a "stay-cation" in Tempe.  Overall, it was a wonderful two weeks. 

Walking with Great G'ma and Grandpa

the girls

Our little butterfly

I'm not sure who enjoyed this more...

Desert Botanical Garden

Peekaboo

Loves to swing

Screw the Easter eggs, rocks are easier to find

Growth Spurt!

Last week Malina measured in at 30 in. long, which bumps her into the 75th percentile for height!  Her weight measured at a whopping 19.1 pounds, which puts her somewhere between the 10-25th percentile.  We play outside all day long...trying to enjoy the weather before it really heats up! 

Malina terrorizing Pumba...

They are surprisingly best buds...can never get both of them looking at me at the same time.

Playing in the mud

Favorite evening activity: playing with the dogs' water bowl

   

Happy Birthday!!

The saying "Time flies when you're having fun" doesn't do this past year justice.  We celebrated Malina's first birthday for an entire weekend with family and friends.  Malina's grandparents, G'ma and G'pa Kuhn, drove in for the special weekend.  On her birthday she enjoyed pancakes for the first time, a visit to a nearby park, and dinner out at our favorite mexican joint.  The real party took place the following day as we invited friends over to celebrate with us.  Malina is so blessed to have such a loving family and such amazing friends, and we are so blessed to have Malina as our darling little girl.  Here are some pics from Malina's birthday weekend.

After trying to put the candle out with her fingers.

"Yummy!"

Intently reading a birthday card

Birthday dinner

First time eating cake!

Last celebration of months gone by...

Malina is now 11 months old!  We started by celebrating the days, then the weeks, and finally the months.  In just a few short weeks Malina will be a year old.  That makes this the final monthly update, although I'm sure I will still celebrate her little milestones.  It has been an extremely busy month with many play dates, zoo trips, and visits by family and friends.  My best friend Ann visited for a weekend and Dad just left after nearly a week long visit.  We are so blessed to have such amazing friends and family who make such a huge effort to see us!

Enjoying the sand at the beach pool

Happy Hour with Ann

 

Feeding a giraffe at the zoo

Malina is soo big!

Malina's version of playing pool

Visiting grandma in Sun City

Enjoying the beautiful weather!

"Please no pictures, I'm still in my pj's!"

Not so sure about her outfit

Loves to swing

Duck, Duck, Duck

Yes, Malina's first real word is duck.  She has been saying "duh," and "da" for some time now...usually meaning daddy, doggie, or dolly. A month ago Uncle Jason and Uncle Kenny brought her this light-up, sparkly bath toy which sealed the deal for "Duck."  When we go to the park to see the real ducks she has no idea what we're talking about because her concept of duck is quite different.  She looks at us as if we're crazy...obviously real ducks are pink and pretty. 

10 months old

January 16th marked Malina's tenth month!  It's extremely scary to think that in just two months she will be a year old.  She will always be our little baby.  A few fun facts about Malina ... :)

~ Malina is a butt-scooter:  She scoots around on her bottom using one arm as a row.  Some (the Rebers) have said she looks like a silverback gorilla as she flys from point A to point B.  She is so proficient at butt-scooting that we're sure she'll never crawl.  Just another instance of Malina doing things her way. 

~ She eats a "meat and potatoes" type meal for breakfast because she won't eat meat at any other time during the day.  Her typical breakfast includes a mush of chicken, sweet potatoes, and banana- yum!

~ Malina loves getting dirty outside and prefers to dig in the grass with the doggies.

~ She loves playing with her Daddy, especially when he "chases" her around the house.

~ She is obsessed with playing peek-a-boo

~ Malina has a favorite doll, who is appropriately named "Dolly"

Malina and her Dolly

She can't wait to bounce

Enjoying a Saturday at our neighborhood Chili Festival

More holiday photos

"Huh, looks a lot like Grandpa."

Grandma and Grandpa Ullrich

Malina and her Daddy

Meeting Uncle Louie for the first time

Silver Bells still does the trick

Riding her train around the house

At Grandma's

Our little family :)

I've just realized we're right in the middle of 4 out of 5 weekends of family!  Might as well post a few holiday pictures before our next group visits.  This weekend Jason and Kenny arrive after spending the week in Vegas!