11 months

This month brought some warmer weather for us. We are so excited to be able to go for more walks. You have always loved being outside, even since you were born. I think the big bright sky and warm sunshine is so appealing and calming to you. We took advantage of the decent weather and enjoyed showing you around the park in our neighborhood. Not a huge surprise that you love to swing, but it still brought joy to our heats watching your smile get bigger and bigger with each swing forward. Many hours will be spent enjoying the park with you. Daddy let you ride on his lap as he went down the slide. 

We always knew you liked music, even from the time you were still growing in mom. You have discovered the piano and what sounds can come from it. Standing up, you can reach your hands onto the piano and like to play the keys. Of course you like to perform, so you have to make sure that everyone is in attendance for your concerts. This only makes you beam brighter and try to play louder. I think lessons will be something we look into for you. 

Your balance has improved so much as the month has progressed. You even took several, unassisted walking steps forward on 05.06.2017. For whatever reason, you do best when you are holding something in your hands as you walk. We will count it as walking, even if you cheat and end up crawling to get somewhere faster. Our evenings this month have consisted of sitting on the floor and you walking back and forth from Daddy to me. We are so proud of you and its crazy seeing our little baby grow up and acting more and more like a toddler. 

Another tooth is erupting! Tooth #F is coming in right on top. You have already started to test out what you can do with them. I have caught you grinding them together, the sounds sets me on edge. Crackers and Cheerios are lots of fun to crunch. You like to bite them in half now. More teeth still to come and then even more things you can enjoy eating. 

As a family, we took the opportunity to attend the Idaho Falls Temple open house. Mommy was a little nervous that it might be hard for you to behave as we walked through the Temple. Needless to say, you continue to surprise us. You were an extremely well behaved girl. Daddy and I mostly alternated who held you as we walked from room to room, but you never cried or fussed. As we continued our tour, I couldn't help but feel extremely blessed that we were able to share this experience with you. I am sure you were able to feel just how special of a place we were at that moment. We are so lucky that you are sealed to us for eternity. 

Things at our house are going so well. We all seem to have a pretty good routine down. About 7-8pm is about the time you start winding down for the evening. We usually give you a bath, read a book or two, brush teeth, and then we start to settle down for bed. It easy to tell when you get sleepy. You love to have your blanket up on Daddy or Mommy's shoulder and then you will lean your head in and cuddle up close. Your hands will work their way up and down to lightly brush against our arms as we hold you. Sometimes you reach up and will begin playing with Mommy's hair. I laugh that you do this, because as a little girl your Mommy did the same thing. I use to twirl your Poppy's hair; he claims this is why he no longer has hair. Serves me right that my daughter would do the same as me. Please don't pull all my hair out!

My favorite thing about this month is all in thanks to you. This month I was able to celebrate my very first official Mother's Day. This day is something I have looked forward to for an extremely long time and it all became possible thanks to you, my little miss Aria. You and Daddy presented me with a beautiful figurine that has a Daddy, Mommy, and baby all close together. It is entitled Our Gift. Aria, I want you to know that Mommy loves you very much. You and your Daddy are my everything. I am still learning and I know that I might not be perfect, but I hope to be your best friend and be the very best Mommy I can be for you. Thank you for my first ever official Mother's Day. I Love You Aria. 

10 months

The beginning of the month you were working on getting your strength to stand up without assistance. It only took you like another week before you got that little trick down. Overall I would say your balance is getting better and better. You love to check and make sure we are watching you. We don't think it will be too long before you start walking, then I think it will be impossible to keep up with you! At least we are completely sleeping through the nights now. This will hopefully give me more energy to match yours baby girl.

It's officially you can now say "Dada"! It seems to be your new favorite word now. Daddy is beaming with pride every time you say it. Even when you yell it during church....we are working on teaching you about volume now. Together you and daddy read your Dada book and you finish with the last page saying "dadadadada" basically until you run out of breath. The two of you have the cutest relationship and I adore the love you have for one another.

Along with practicing words we have been working on our baby signs. You have the "more" sign down, although it looks a lot like your clapping too. Sometimes you even interlock your fingers and just shake your hands back and forth. We count it though. The "please" sign is still in the works.

Aria you celebrated your very first Easter this month. We attended an Easter egg hunt in Grandma and Grandpa Stokes neighborhood. Your cousins Carter and Jenna were able to join us this year too. Daddy made sure to help you pick out a couple eggs from the yards that were assigned to your age group. You did well even placing your plastic egg in your pink basket. After you let it drop into the basket you liked to dump it over so you could pick the egg up again. Your favorite part was to shake the eggs, because the candy made a fun rattle sound. We attempted to dye Easter Eggs, but you were less than interested this year. Daddy and I decorated one for each of us to have for Easter breakfast. Although you didn't care for coloring eggs, you sure like to eat them. As a family, we spent the day together. Breakfast, Easter baskets, church meetings, and Sunday naps. We joined the Stokes family for dinner and a special family home evening on the meaning of Easter.

It was a great Easter celebration, even if you were feeling a bit off. You began to run a fever and wanted only to cuddle daddy or me all day. Later that week you found that you were working on another new tooth. #P has been working itself right next to the other one. Two teeth right on the bottom. We will be needing to schedule to have your dental exam and cleaning done around your first birthday. Mommy is pretty excited to take you into work and introduce you to all the fun things we will use to clean and examine your teeth. 

This tooth hasn't been easy to cut through. So Daddy thought of a wonderful idea to get your mind off of it. He took us to Artic Circle and bought all of us an ice cream cone. Yours was just the right size for you. You dove right into it and even got some on your nose. You were a little surprised at the cold touch of it, but your eyes got wide and lit up as you kept biting more ice cream off the cone. You were so messy by the end of it. It was so worth it to watch you enjoy that sweet little treat.

Just as we were thinking you were wouldn't learn any more new words for a while you go ahead and surprise us again. It seems you are trying to say "Daisy". We realized that we all do say daisy a lot, to teach you her name as well distinguish each of your toys. Needless to say you have shared a few things back and forth. You love your Daisy puppy so much. You try to show how much you love her by petting her softly. Daisy loves to give kisses to you and you will lean right in with an open mouth to give her a kiss in return. It's so funny that we all giggle at the sight. Daisy loves to come over especially when you are eating. She has realized you are good at sharing. You will give one piece to you and then a piece to Daisy. What a sweet hearted girl you are. Its amazing seeing your personality shine through! Daddy and Mommy love you very much Aria.