Family Pictures 2013

All thanks to an amazingly talented photographer, miss Rachael Anthoney, we have beautiful family photos!
It was a beautiful day for early November in Rexburg, Idaho and it was so much fun to be out with Reece and play in the park while our pictures were being taken. Thank you Rachael!

How beautiful is she? I'm completely biased because I'm her mother, but still. Beautiful.

Derek (27), Taylor (23), Reece (13 mos)

Miss Reece Turns One

Just hours old.

Reece turned one on October 5th, and I cannot believe that my tiny little newborn is now a big one year old girl! Things that Reece can and loves to do:

• Walk EVERYWHERE. She started walking just after she hit 11 months, and now refuses to use any other mode of transportation. 
• Play peek-a-boo. Her favorite time to do this is when I'm folding laundry. She'll pick up a piece of clothing, hold it up over her face, and leave it there until I say, "Where's Reecie?" And then she'll drop it down and giggle hysterically. 
• Read books. She has recently started showing a great love for her books. Her favorites are "More Spaghetti, I Say!", "The Tickle Tree", and "Thankful Together". She always picks those out first.
• Say "hi" to anyone she sees. This is a new word for her, and she thinks she's so cute when she says it. And that's because she is. 
• Tell me "all done" and "please" using sign language. She will do these two signs for anything she wants or doesn't want.
• Play with our phones and computers. 'Nuff said.
• Swing and go down the slides at the park. She thinks it's the funniest thing in the world for her to push herself down the slide and have me catch her. I love her giggles.
• To be outside and explore. She loves to be in the grass and pick flowers or weeds and bring them to me. 
• Taking baths. Bath time is one of Reece's favorites. I'll bring her into the bathroom with me, and as soon as I push the shower curtain aside she squeals with delight and stands next to the tub on her tippy-toes trying to touch the water that's coming out of the faucet. She loves, loves, loves taking baths. Until we actually have to get down to the washing part.

Reece is still one of the happiest girls I know! She is rarely cranky unless she's hungry or teething. The poor girl is bumping her head constantly because she's still perfecting the art of keeping her balance, but she's a tough cookie and only cries when it really, really hurts.

At her one year well child checkup she weighed 19.1 pounds (17th percentile) and was 29 inches long (45th percentile). She's a little lady! I was really surprised when they told me she was only in the 17th percentile for her weight. I could kind of tell she was a little under average for height, she's shorter than most other babies her age. But I thought she'd be right at average, if not over, for her weight because she's always hungry and eats so much! But, overall, she's perfect. The bad part about her appointment was that she had to get six shots. The poor girl had band-aids all over her legs.

Waiting for the doc.

Her band-aid covered legs.

My dad came into town for General Conference, so he got to be here for Reece's birthday! It was so much fun to have my dad here, and Reece loved getting to spend some time with Gramps. Conference was SO good, as always. I definitely caught more of this October's conference than last year's, considering that Reece was born the Friday night before conference.

Taking a birthday nap with Dad during Conference.

We had her party after the Priesthood Session of General Conference. My mom and little sister Morgan were on FaceTime on my dad's iPad while we opened presents. Reece was not into opening her presents at all. She would help me tear off a big piece of wrapping paper and immediately lose any interest in continuing to unwrap the gift. So, I sat and undid all the wrapping I had done the night before. But she got SPOILED ROTTEN. Seriously. Spoiled.

This is only around half of what she got. I could only fit half of it on there. Evidence that she got spoiled rotten!

After presents we got her birthday cake ready, with just one lone candle, and sang to her. She had no idea what to do with the candle and just wanted to play with the flame. So we blew out the candle for her. I was very proud of this cake that I made! It's chocolate cake with chocolate frosting. I made the cake and frosting from scratch, and then piped the little swirls onto the sides. However, I used the frosting from the store to do those, so they were a little melty and hard to do with such soft frosting. But I had fun, and it's the first cake I've ever made that actually looks halfway decent!

She definitely loved her cake. She devoured it! The ice cream was a different story. It was too cold for her, so she just threw it on the ground with a disgusted look on her face.

I'm so sad this one is blurry! But, it was too cute not to share.

She was a complete disaster when she was done eating, so Derek held her by her armpits, I took off her diaper, and we put her in the tub for a bath.  

She's in the middle of telling me "all done".

CAKE BEARD!

By the end of the night, my little girl was exhausted and very ready for bed. She fell asleep with her arm slung around one of her new presents from Grandma and Grandpa Thetford (a monkey that plays lullabies and night-time sounds), running her hand up and down the monkey's face.

The next day, after the sessions of General Conference, we went to the nature park and walked around. It was a beautiful day, and all the trees are starting to turn those bright shades of red, yellow, and orange that make fall my favorite season.

It blows my mind that Reece is one. It doesn't feel like it was a year ago that I was spending my first few days with her. I distinctly remember my mom rocking Reece in the glider when she was just four days old. She looked at me and said, "Just wait until she turns one. You aren't going to believe how fast the time went and you won't have any idea where that year has gone." Well mom, you were spot on. Derek's and my love for Reece increases with every day that we spend with her, and since day one we haven't been able to imagine life without her. She is our everything and the perfect addition to our family. 

Happy First Birthday Reece Averie!

Immediately

Derek and I read the scriptures together every night. We recently started reading the New Testament, starting in Matthew. Tonight as we were reading, we came across the story where Peter walks on water to go out and meet Jesus. While I have heard this story more times than I can count, something about it struck me differently tonight than it had before.

26 And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear.
27 But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.
28 And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.
29 And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.
(St. Matthew 14:27-29,King James Version)

Everyone will emphasize the amazing faith that Peter acted upon in that moment. Not only did he have the faith that Christ would make it possible for him to walk on water, but he had enough faith to act upon it and step out of the boat. When I try and put myself in Peter's shoes, I can't imagine the faith it took to step out into the stormy sea.

Most of us don't have such drastic experiences when we act on our faith. Our daily lives provide much more "normal" opportunities for us to trust in the Lord. For some, it may be that you have the faith to make it through another day of work. For others it may be that you have the faith that you will receive the help you need to finally get work. And for me, it is often the faith that I will make it through another day with my crazy, adventurous, getting-into-everything, beautiful little girl. That I'll have the patience I need to help her learn and that I'll be able to act and speak in a way so that she never doubts the love I have for her. I have a framed tile in my home that says, "Help me, Lord, to remember that nothing is going to happen to me today that you and I cannot handle together." That is one of my favorite quotes. I love it. It lifts me up and bolsters my faith each day as I read it over for the millionth time.

30 But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.
(St. Matthew 14:30, King James Version)

But then, the wind picks up. The waves get bigger. And life gets more difficult. Your boss tells you that the project you have been slaving over for the past year and half is now cancelled, so all your hard work, stress, and time has been for nothing. You finally heard about the job interview that you felt really good about, and they're going to "keep you in mind for future openings." Your daughter tipped over a glass of milk and it spilled all over your recipe book and computer. It could be a number of things that make you feel like you are beginning to sink. For a moment, our faith falters. We feel desperation setting in and we no longer feel the confidence we felt before. But we have to do what Peter does, when we feel our faith begin to crumble. We have to pick up enough pieces so that we are able to cry out to the Lord for help.


31 And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O ye of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?
(St. Matthew 14:31, King James Version)

Immediately. That is what struck me differently than before. Jesus didn't wait a second longer than he had to. As soon as Peter asked for help, Jesus "stretched forth his hand". And it is the same for us. As soon as we take those few minutes to say a silent prayer, or get down on our knees and ask for help, we will receive it. Our answer won't come in the form of all of our stresses and worries magically disappearing. But Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ will simply take us by the hand, and help lift us up so that we are better able to handle it. Christ didn't make the level of the sea water decrease so that Peter was once again standing on the top. He took his hand, and lifted him up. He lifted him up immediately after he asked. We aren't going to get a phone call two seconds after we say "amen" from someone offering us a raise, or offering us the perfect job we've been waiting for. And we won't see the spilled milk magically get cleaned up. But what we will most likely feel is an overwhelming sense of peace and love. We will be comforted. Because our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ are there, waiting for that moment when they can immediately lend the help we are desperately in need of.

I think that in my life I need to live more true to this example. I need to be more willing to immediately give. Sometimes, when I know that I'm right about something and Derek doesn't agree, I won't help him right away when he asks. I'll smartly say, "Well, you said I was wrong, so obviously you don't need my help." Typical, smart-alec Taylor move right there, folks. I wait until he gets frustrated and mad so that I feel like my "point" will sink in better when I do go over and help him. How ridiculous is that?! I would smack my former self if I could. But, I can't. What I can do is not let him get frustrated and mad. Give him the help he asks for when he asks for it. Maybe even before! Christ didn't wait for Peter to be on the brink of drowning before he saved him. He picked him up right away, the moment he asked. And He does the same for us. He doesn't want to let us sink into the depths of despair or bitterness without stretching forth His hand to help. We just have to have the faith to ask Him.

So, no matter the crisis or mini-catastrophe, if you feel like the never ending sea of life's adventures is starting to overwhelm you, ask for help. Gather what faith you have left in the tank for the day, and just ask. I know that you will receive it. I know that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ love us and are anxiously waiting to help us. It doesn't even matter if it's something you think is silly. Even if you're a new mom with a lot on your plate and you feel inadequate because your little monster keeps destroying the case to Thor. (I'd be surprised if it makes it through another 24 hours.) If you sincerely need help, just ask. You will receive it. Immediately.