Powerful: Derek + Laura

My sweet daughter Brooklyn is 1! I can't believe that. That means I have been a mom for 1 year. Good news is we both have survived! She's grown so much sine she's been 1. She didn't become a toddler overnight but as soon as she could walk she left those baby years behind her and hasn't looked back. I on the other hand seem to always be looking at her like my little baby. I guess I need to get with the times and realize my baby girl is no longer a baby. Here are some of our fun activities and happenings from her 12th month: 1st dentist appointment: 12/11/2103 Learned to clap: 12/19/13 Tried whole milk and wasn't a fan (still isn't) Celebrated her very first Christmas Celebrated her 1st birthday  Pointed, and still points, at everything Will open the door if you ask her to Knows how to turn on and off the light switches when you ask Loves to read and loves her blanket Is more of a sound sleeper than I knew. She slept through a fire alarm and a lo...

So I mentioned last week that I was really looking forward to this weekend. I knew it was going to be relaxing and exactly what I needed. Friday afternoon started with a prenatal massage and a pedicure. Everything was perfect. My parents and siblings set me up with this for my birthday. I have never felt so awesome during pregnancy. I wish that massage could've lasted like 4 hours. I felt relaxed for the first time in a long time. I need to get massages more often. I also loved that I got to have my feet taken care of. They even gave me a paraffin wax treatment. Loved every minute of this. Later that night Derek and I headed to Park City for a weekend getaway. For my birthday I told him that I needed a nice weekend away from work, cold weather, stresses of being pregnant, etc. We found a Groupon deal for a condo. So glad we did it. We got a great price on the place and it had everything I needed: fireplace, huge jacuzzi bathtub, cable TV, a nice kitchen. Mostly I just needed th...

That's right...I got a birthday weekend. That's what happens when you have a birthday on Friday and also so close to your mom's. My mom's birthday is the day before mine which always makes celebrating so much better since we can celebrate together. I was truly blessed to have such a great weekend. Friday it snowed like crazy. No joke. I hate the snow. I knew the snow just couldn't hold off another weekend. Since I have swollen feet I had to wear flip flops outside all day and my feet were freezing. It was nice to finally get home after work and not have to go outside for a while. Anyways during this awesome snow storm I was able to go out to lunch with Emily and Elizabeth. Emily's birthday was earlier in November so we had fun celebrating. Later that night Derek took me out to the Olive Garden so I could enjoy their salad and breadsticks. Always hits the spot. Love their breadsticks. He was so wonderful and got me some really thoughtful gifts. He bought me tum...