The Updike's

So we just reached a new milestone with Lily... Yup, you guessed it - Walking! OK, so maybe not totally, but she is starting to take her first steps. And as you will see from the videos, she is a pretty determined little girl (when she wants to be)! Even when Christina tried to help her stand back up, she started to complain because she wanted to do it herself. Obviously, we still have a ways to go before she is an "expert" walker, but she sure made her parents proud last night! We are definitely her favorite cheerleaders! Additionally, she is a little climber. The other day, Christina was doing some things around the house and walked into the kitchen to find this. She loves to open up drawers, cabinets, or whatever and pull everything out on the floor. And now, she likes to climb in to whatever she has emptied! Such a cutie!

Who can resist chocolate and whip cream?? Our superstar photographer who took our wonderful family pictures, Erica, invited our little family over for dinner. We had such a great time! Lily loved playing with the other 3 kiddies. Perhaps the highlight of the day for Lily was "Penny" the dog. She could not get enough of her. Yes, she even enjoyed the kisses on the mouth from the dog and for whatever reason - Lily loved putting her finger in the dogs mouth and having her lick it. (pretty yucky to me - but she was in heaven!) (And NO Garrett, we are not getting a dog!) :) Can you tell how excited Lily is to be out on a warm spring day?? It was heaven for both Lily and I! Even more fun in the sun with her beloved walker. Last but not least, having fun with Uncle Grant! Thanks for being a champ, Grant, and playing with her!

It was so fun! I finally surprised Garrett on his birthday. He had no idea. It was so great! Hope you had a awesome birthday, Garrett! Yes, I forgot birthday candles . . . so I used Lily's first birthday candle - - yes, Garrett, you are #1 to us! (I was so involved in the moment that I forgot to get a picture of the cake before we ate it. Sweet Lily helped daddy blow out the candle.) Our great friends, the Paynes, let us use their awesome theater and game room for the celebration. We played this totally fun video game called "Just Dance." Yes, we even got dad to do it. So fun!! Look at Garrett bust out his moves! Thanks to all the family and friends that were able to come! A hit of the night was a wild game of "NUTS." It is a wildly entertaining and intense game on the pool table... we will have to show you sometime.

In preparation of Garrett's birthday celebration tomorrow . . . I thought it would be so great to post some awesome pictures of him through the years. What a great life he has lived! Lily and I are sure proud of you, Garrett! Happy Pre-Birthday Garrett! We sure love you!! ** I will post actual birthday pictures tomorrow on his real birthday**

What a cutie! This is the good life . . . sitting in a stroller watching a little T.V. Such a sweet face! Trouble!! Just got caught taking out all of the baby wipes. Little Stinker! Playing with the cousins! Awesome Hair! Bath time fun! We love to make Lily laugh! Ahhhh . . . love those kisses!

I don't know who was more excited for Lily's birthday - - her or her parents! To start her big day . . . we surprised her by sneaking into her room while she was asleep and we tied a couple of balloons to her crib. Her usual wake up consists of crying a bit before someone comes and gets her. However, this morning we heard 2 seconds of crying followed by "ooohhhs and aaaahhhs." It was so cute! She absolutely loved the balloons. So much so that she did not want her mom and dad to even take her out of her crib. (That's a first!) The highlight of the day continued to be the balloons! If only a couple of balloons could make her just as happy at 16 years-old. (That would be awesome!) She enjoyed a grilled cheese sandwich that she absolutely loved at Sonic for lunch. Perhaps the only downfall of the whole day was the shots she received at the doctor's office. (I know . . . what mother schedules an appointment on her baby's birthday? I figure at 1, a g...

We most definitely have a monkey on our hands! Lily now loves to climb on anything and everything. My sister and I walked into the room and saw this: Even though Little Gavin was stepped on . . . I think he was fascinated by this little monkey standing on his swing. More monkey business . . . I am sure that the door to the oven on this kitchen set was not intended as a step stool!