On our walk today after lunch we stopped at the bridge over the "river" and took a couple photos. It was so sunny that Taylor got to experiance her shadow for the first time, it was fun to watch her dance around so she could make her shadow do the same. 
Here are a couple photos from gift opening, Taylor has enough toys now to last her a few years!
Cake pictures... we have taught Taylor too well, she was eating so polite, she would take small bites and then if a crumb fell out, she would carefully place it back in her dish, how sweet.. but as you can see, she did eventually make a mess (after about 10 minutes Daddy scooped her carrot cake out onto her tray so we would get some action, there was a bath needed by the end)
Then there was the piano.... this thing showed up in almost every photo. This was the next morning, Taylor just could not get enough of this thing (notice all the other toys she could be playing with) And somehow she knew just what to do with the microphone, she did a little concert for us at her party (see top photos)
I love how Christopher is just hanging out in the back vacuuming, lol. :)
Yesterday John was home part of the day and since it was such a nice day, we all headed outside for some yard work. Taylor got to swing while John mowed and I pulled weeds. Taylor was enjoying herself so much that we lost track of time and almost skipped her afternoon nap.. which is making me realize that it's about time to move her into the one nap stage. I can't wait for those three hour naps! 
Here is one more... I was playing with some textures on Photoshop, I love it when she squats down like this, I think it's so cute. :)
John is so wonderful, for Valentine's Day he told me not to make dinner and just to order chinese take-out. We rented a movie and are planning to have a nice romantic date tonight. Then if that wasn't enough, he came home with flowers for not only me, but Taylor too (he also hand picked my favorites - wild flowers), what a great Husband & Daddy. Taylor had fun holding the flower until she broke it in half, lol.. She didn't know any better. 
Here is a sneak peek of Taylor's Birthday dress. I bought it for only $7 at a re-sale store (it's almost new!) and did a few little things to make it more pretty. I added a pink flower, and some beads to go with my pink and yellow princess theme! I can't wait to see her in it! :)
John, Taylor and I spent this last weekend up in Maple Valley, WA to celebrate our nephew, Christopher's 1st Birthday. He is so much fun, we had a great time watching him eat his cake (which was ice cream because he is allergic to eggs). Here are a few photos fromt he weekend!
They go so fast and pull sleds and there very strong. They can be black, white, light brown, dark brown, brown, or a redish brownish color. They can be three diffrent colors two diffrent colors maybe even one color. I love huskys I think there really cute animals................... I LOVE DOGS
Poem Posted By Madison Walker,Age:8
I made a little collage of the whole year with Taylor, I really can't believe how fast it has gone by. It was a little emotional looking through all her photos from the last year, remembering her birth and seeing how much she has grown. I never thought I could love a little person so much, she is such a blessing and I hear that it only gets better as they grow and are able to communicate with you. What fun we have ahead, but oh how I'll miss my sweet little newborn angel! :)
I finally figured out what rubber bands to use for baby hair (another thing that Sara S. taught me) and I couldn't resist taking a photo of Taylor's first pigtails, I think she is so cute, just makes her look more like a little girl.. she is growing too fast!
Also a nice view of our (unfinished) backyard. We hope to landscape that this Spring/Summer. Last Summer, John and I worked really hard to get the front yard done (you should have seen it before!), it looks great now, just needs some time to grow and some finishing touches when the pocket book allows. ;)
PS - Taylor is chewing on her new "toothbrush", we have been brushing her teeth after meals and she loves chewing on it, I guess it feels good on her gums, she is getting her back teeth in.
Taylor officially started walking today!!! She was previously taking a step here and a step there, then the last few days she would take two steps at a time. Then today, I had something she wanted and she just went for it, walking through the opened floor. I thought it might have been a fluke so I had her try again and she just laughed and thought it was the funniest thing that I was so excited as she took about 16 steps!! 
Pizza after pizza, John finally said that the crust has now been perfected. I started out with a great easy recipe that my Mom gave me, (from a Yeast package) -- she usually tries to tweak it a bit to make it "heart healthier" by adding whole wheat flour ect... (She makes homemade pizza just about once a week, she is amazing) Mine didn't turn out at all, so I tried again, this time changing different aspects of it, still no luck... finally after altering and substituting for 11+ pizzas, we figured it out... I just followed the recipe exactly and it was perfect, but... not healthy. If anyone would like this super easy crust recipe, just email me. :) 
My gorgeous friend Brittney had me do her maternity photos last week and I think she made them all look great, she is 9 month pregnant in the photos and due any day now with a sweet little girl, Payten. I cannot wait to meet her! 
Saturday mornings are wonderful, John usually surprises me with something fabulous from the kitchen, such as stuffed hash browns & eggs, or homemade chai tea. Today he made a really yummy frittata with maple sausage. It was so good! I just love having a husband that knows a few things about cooking. :)
