Courtland's Birthday and the Competition Ends!

So we ended our weight loss competition a few days before Courtland's birthday and the results were extremely close! Courtland lost two more pounds than me but my percentage was 2/10ths better than his so I WON!!! And if I hadn't won, I'm sure I'd plea my case that I was actually pregnant the whole competition as well so it was not fair to begin with- ha. Anyway, thankfully I did not have to get Courtland halo for his birthday, but that left me with no ideas of what to get him because that is literally all he wanted. Instead he ended up with a new battery for his computer that was completely dead, a wireless mouse, and some clothes- nothing exciting, sorry babe! He did get the traditional breakfast in bed, no Mckell duties for the day, and his favorite dinner. We're not the biggest on birthday celebrations, but I wish we were. Anyone have fun traditions they do every year or things that make birthdays more exciting- we can apply them to my birthday coming up this Friday- ha!

Mckell's actual Birthday

On Mckell's actual birthday we gave her a cupcake to eat instead of the messy cake and she loved it! This time she didn't cry or anything but dug right in and ate up the whole thing laughing and giggling the entire time- the joys of being one!

We took her for her one year check up a few days later and these were her stats:

Weight: 18.19lbs, 8.96%

Height: 29.25", 56.98%

Head: 17.59", 38.9%

Basically I have a skinny little thing that still can fit into 3-6 month bottoms but I'm now putting 6-12 month on her anyway. She is just the cutest little thing and my new favorite thing she's doing is every time Lucy barks or growls, Mckell shakes her finger at her and says no no! And of course we can't get enough of her hugs and kisses- so precious!

Mckell's surprise present at her party....

That's right, baby Astill #2 is on it's way!!!! I don't think we were quite expecting to be pregnant yet but we're excited none the less. At Mckell's birthday party, for her last present to open, it was a shirt that says "Big Sisters Rock." I don't know if everyone really understood at first, but then my mom said, "Uh is that some kind of announcement?" And yes it was- so the cat's out of the bag!! Interesting thing about 'pee sticks' as I call them... I kinda thought I might be pregnant so I sneakily bought a three pack test and the first one was negative. But after a week of still no you know what, I took a second test. This one was just faintly positive and because I wasn't going to need the third test anytime soon- a few days later I took the third. Anyway, I haven't been to the doctor yet, but it's not my style to hold in the news- but we think the baby will arrive sometime the end of April, beginning of May!

As far as school goes- no worries, I'm still going! I'm determined to FINALLY graduate! Courtland and I both will graduate in April and I can not begin to express what a relief it will be. I have seriously been in college FOREVER!

Mckell's very first birthday party!!!

We celebrated Mckell's first birthday last weekend! She had a lot of fun even though she wasn't feeling very well with ear infections.

Mckell and her daddy

Mckell sitting in her new rocking chair she got from G&G Rabe

Playing with Aunt Allison and grandma Astill

Gr. G&G Critchlow were so sweet to come out to the party

My friends Rachael, Cassi, and Ali also came to help celebrate

Mckell loved opening all her presents, her favorites have been her baby from us and lap top from G&G Astill

Tessa, Kambree, and Mckell checking out the new toys

And of course the traditional 'eat your very own cake'

She was just curious at first

and confused because we were letting her get it all over her hands and didn't know quite what to think

But ended up not too happy because she couldn't get the frosting off her hands, didn't help she wasn't feeling well too. None of us wanted to hold her and she was just screaming reaching for us. We were all just laughing at her, poor girl!

Getting cleaned up in the tub

Sporting her new jammies from the Astill's

Eating some veggies, we had forgotten to feed her real food in all the commotion. And a shout out to Rachael for putting Mckell's hair in her very first pony! I'm going to have to practice to get one in- she always screams every time I try.

Mckell sure had a fun birthday party. Thanks everyone for coming and helping make her first birthday a hit!

Tub Time!

Mckell LOVES tub time and could stay in for hours! She slips and goes under quite a bit so we're always on the rescue but she still loves it.

Spending some time with daddy

Mckell only got to spend a few days with daddy before he had to fly out to Tennessee and she wanted to be with him every second of it.

Mckell clinging on for dear life, pleading for him not to leave her! ha

going down the slide at the Layton park

today she didn't love the swings so much

Graham and Mckell

Grandma and Sophie sporting matching outfits

photographer help

Does anyone know of a good, fun photographer that is decently priced (I'm thinking around $100)? Also one that will give you a cd of some of the edited pictures from the shoot? I do digital scrap booking so that's why I like to get a cd of the best pictures. I'm wanting to do one year pictures of Mckell and family pictures in the fall.

Let me know, thanks!

The stakes are HIGH!!!

Just some friendly competition....

So Courtland only was in Utah for a few days and then flew back to Tennessee to sell for the last 2 weeks of summer. Poor guy- I don't know how I'm going to make it up to him for all his hard work this summer! However, before he left we decided we needed a little friendly competition to spice up our time apart. So we have challenged ourselves to a weight loss competition! We weighed ourselves before he left and will again after he gets home. Now the fun part- what the winner gets if....

Courtland wins: he gets to buy the new halo game coming out in September that he is absolutely DYING to get and I can't go shopping for 3 months!

Nicole wins: Courtland will not EVER get to purchase the new halo game and I get to pick out a new bedspread!

Now for those who know us best, know Courtland plays more than his fair share of video/computer games and I shop way too much. Therefore this is beyond a HUGE competition for us.

May the most determined contestant win!!! haha

Also joining our competition is my mom- she wanted in on the action. So if she beats me then my dad has agreed to put shelves up in the play room they will be making. And between my mom and I whoever wins has to take the other one to get their toes done.

All I can say is I've got to hit the gym, and FAST!!!!

Anyone have tips on how to drop pounds quick??

Graham's First Birthday!

Ben and Kendra were in Utah for Graham's first birthday so we celebrated baseball style!

Don't you just adore that oh so happy face- he knows what's coming... CHOCOLATE CAKE all to himself!!

Me and Mckell- wish daddy could have come but he was still in Cali.

And yes, I recently went from a blond to a brunet thanks to Ali's fabulous hair styling skills!

Splash Pad Fun

My mom, Kendra, Sophie, Graham, Mckell and I went to the splash pad behind the OAC one afternoon. Mckell loved playing in the water. It was our first time there and I thought it was such a fun little park- I'm sure we'll be back many times! Thanks for introducing us Kendra!