Cute, Cute, Cute

Mackay is such a cutie these days. The last few weeks have been especially fun and exciting with her, probably because she's not teething. (It's nice to have a break every once in a while, for the both of us).

Grandma and Grandpa Barker came to visit last week and we were so excited. They live kind of out of the way, so we don't get to see them as often as they'd like, and I'm sure they don't get to see Mackay as often as they would hope, either. When they came up to Rexburg, we were trying to think of all these fun things to do, so we decided to go see Mesa Falls and take a short hike. We got all ready, (it takes a lot of preparation when you have a 1 year old), I had on my choco sandals which are my hiking shoes, and we drove the 45 minutes to Mesa Falls. Who would have thought that the snow hasn't melted, the roads aren't plowed, and snowmobiles are taking over the roads up there. So, we ate our lunch in the parking lot before driving home.

Here is Nate in his flip flops. And of course, he tried to start a snowball fight.
Another model pose. Look how deep the snow still is--in May!
Mackay loved playing in Grandma and Grandpa's car.
Grandma and Grandpa also learned first hand the hold that chocolate has on this little girl. She can turn from angel to...not angel in a matter of seconds when she seeds food that is brown. She must have it, she will do anything to get it, and she will not stop until it is in her mouth.

Here is Mackay playing with my headset. When I was working from home I got this so that I could multi-task while being on the phone. Of course it broke a week or two after I got it, so now it is Mackay's toy.


Our neighbors put a swing up for their little boy, who happens to be completely terrified of it. So, thanks to them, we now have a neighborhood swing. Every other child in the complex absolutely loves it, including Mackay.

Mackay's first steps....again

On Mackay's 1st birthday she crawled for the first time, and then a few minutes later she took 5 steps. So, we thought she was walking, but we haven't been able to get her to do that since. Until today! She finally started walking, a month after her first steps, and she just took off! It was really fun to see how excited she was. Hopefully tomorrow she still wants to walk around.

(And I'm pretty sure this is my last post for the day).

This video is really good, but it is sideways. So, if you are interested, it's worth turning your head and getting a kink in your neck. Also, when Mackay fell at the end of this video on her face, she just layed there for a while because she was so exhausted. After her "walking spree" it was time for her lunch, and she just hunched over in her high chair, completely drained, and didn't eat much of anything because she was so tired. It was so cute!

Okay, one last post

This is the last post of the day, and then I really need to be productive. Since this is my last semester, I was thinking about all the great opportunities that being a college student gives me. One thing that I knew I would regret was not taking some fun classes that I have always wanted to take, but I just never have because it didn't count towards my major. I am taking a photography class right now, and I am loving it. What an amazing opportunity to have such a great class right at my fingertips. Who knows when/if I will get to do this again? We just turned in our first assignment, and compared with a lot of other people in the class, I'm not that bad. I got out of bed early one day with an urge to go take pictures with the great morning light. Half a block from our apartment, which I pass multiple times a day, is this tabernacle. It was so relaxing being out in the crisp air completely alone.


Needless to say I have fallen in love with photography, and plan on developing my skills more in this area. Nate helped me out by getting me an early birthday present--a nice camera that I can practice taking better pictures with. A lot better than a point-and-shoot.

I also plan on taking pictures of things in Rexburg that I will miss when we are gone. I will keep you updated.

(And now I really need to get back to studying for my test.)

Random

Instead of doing homework the other night, I was reading a parenting magazine that got sent to my house accidentally. Natalie Baker as opposed to Nate Barker. (You can see the confusion.) There was the funniest thing in it that when I was reading it, I couldn't stop laughing. Nate eventually looked at me and said, "You're trying to get me to ask you what you're reading, aren't you?" He was a little annoyed, since he was trying to do his homework. And no, I wasn't even thinking of that, but I immediately shared it with him anyway and he, (even if it was against his will), had to give a slight chuckle or two. So I decided to share with all of you what was so funny that I haven't been able to stop thinking about since.

What words have come out of your mouth that, before becoming a mom, you never imagined saying? (All of these must be said with a calm, high pitched voice.)

"We don't play with our poo, please."

"This is not yelling. THIS IS YELLING!!"

"No more wetting your hair with spit, okay?"

"Wow, vegetables, yum-yum-yum!"

"Nobody touch anybody ever again!"

and my personal favorite...

"Get the plunger out of your mouth. Yucky."
(I couldn't even type this one without pausing at least twice to close my eyes, put my head down, and give a slight chuckle.)

I hope you all enjoyed this as much as I did. I have been working on an actual blog with pictures, but it's slow coming. I better get back to homework now.

Bill: Mackay's Best Friend

The life of Bill is an interesting one. Born into the poverty of China and later given up for adoption through the Walmart Adoption Agency, Bill was given to a little girl with a bright future named Mackay. The connection of friendship began almost immediately as they celebrated their first Easter together (you might recognize this picture from a previous post). Mackay loves Bill and Bill loves Mackay. In fact, because of their strong bond of friendship, they comfort each other at night as they sleep together.

Mackay and Bill recently went away on a weekend trip to Utah to visit Mackay's uncles and grandparents. As you can see, Mackay and Bill enjoyed the company of Uncle Chad as they sat upon a small promontory.

However, despite the loving home and child which has welcomed Bill, he still struggles from two disturbing issues of his past. First of all, Bill cannot swim. This caused frustration throughout the days on the playground while all the other baby ducks gleefully played in the ponds of China and Walmart. The fact that he cannot swim, further compounds the confusion of whether or not he is truly a duck or a chicken. As one might guess, this would cause some increased anxiety and identity problems as he tries to figure out who he is. This has been the subject of debate between Bill's adoptive parents who finally named him Bill because his bill looks more like a bill than a beak. Plus he has webbed toes. Nonetheless, the depression and frustration over this issue has recently pushed Bill over the edge.

Last night, his friend Mackay, got very sick for the first time. So sick that she threw-up seven times. Being fatigued from throwing up, she was unable to understand why her macaroni's and peas were completely still intact (we discovered that she doesn't chew her food).

While playing with Mackay and enjoying each others' company, Mackay threw up on Bill and got him all dirty. This single act pushed Bill into an irrational state and subsequently he bit Mackay on the toes.

Surely, in a home of justice this act could not go unpunished. Bill was quickly reprehended and held for questioning and punishment.

He was later duly charged with provoked violence and sentenced to 10 minutes confinement without bail or bond. However, he was permitted one visitor during this time.

More Amazing Adventures

As you all probably know, Nate got an internship with Southwest Airlines in Dallas, Texas for after we graduate. Actually, for six weeks after we graduate, so we'll see what happens in that break. He will be doing internal audit as an internship right now, but it has extremely high potential of turning into a job, so we are excited! Some concerns naturally arise, though: 1) I have never lived outside of Idaho or Utah--I want a gun. 2) I hate the idea of cockroaches, I will probably have an emotional breakdown the first time I am confronted by one (or ten, or twenty, whatever number they like to congregate in). 3) I have heard there are scorpions. If this is a true statement, I will be incredibly diligent/paranoid in making beds. I can't imagine slipping into my nice, comfy, warm bed and have something like that in the bottom to greet me.

Now, I'm not completely set on having a gun, and Nate probably won't let me, but another option is karate. I know there is a level in a certain kind of karate that you have to register with the state in which you reside because you have the ability to kill somebody with your bare hands. That would make me feel pretty safe, too. So we'll see which road I take.

Here is a more local amazing adventure. Our first hike of the season. (This actually occurred back in April, but we've been busy).

This first picture occurred in April, is in the same folder as the hike, but has nothing to do actually with the hike. We can say this is her bath afterwards, but I really can't remember. I just didn't want to have to go back into my April folder. We thought her hair was cute. And her cute "cheese" smile.
Mackay's hand print on our car. We thought it was so cute. This was taken at the time of the hike.
Nate got some new hiking boots for Christmas, and whenever he is wearing them and there is water around, he has to go step in it. (I'm not kidding.)

There were these signs along the trail that told about the history of the area and wildlife around. It was a little book (not too little, made out of wood), but Mackay wanted to turn the pages, so Nate had to smash his face against the board so she could read the book.
This is one of the many breaks we took along the way. It looks like Mackay is giving a thumbs up.
Nate's model pose with poor Mackay in the back.
After the hike we met our friends, Mark and Christine, at Big Jud's, a local favorite, famous for their big hamburgers. We got one burger and split it in four and we were all satisfied after. Since this picture Christine has had her baby. A whopping 9 lb 7 0z little boy they named Gavin.Mark has never been to many of the local favorites, so we have taken it upon ourselves to show him the perks of Rexburg. After checking Big Jud's off the list, Mesa Falls and the Sand Dunes are some of the activities we have left.There is a wall with pictures of everyone who has successfully completed eating the Big Jud. Nate did it a few years ago, and so did his date. (Not me.) They also have a board for those that have eaten the double Jud, and the Triple. I actually am feeling sick right now even thinking about that.

Happy Birthday, Mackay! (and Happy Easter, and Happy some other stuff)

We have had a great time with our one year old. Here Nate has pulled up Mackay's socks and taken off her pants to accentuate her developing thighs. Easter morning Mackay and I woke up to Easter Baskets and Candy. I was letting Mackay go through her basket, pulling out all of the messy Easter grass. Every time she picked up a chocolate egg I would take it from her and eat it. One got away from me, and this is what we saw when she turned around. Mackay was foaming white at the mouth.

This is Bill. Bill has a pink bow with polka-dots, but Nate named him Bill. Mackay now sleeps with Bill every night, and carries him around the house with her sometimes. This is their first picture together.
Grandma Barker sent Mackay some stickers and a picture of Jesus to decorate for Easter. She was really good at pulling off the stickers and eating them. So we decided that this would have to do.Mackay and I sat right by each other at Easter dinner with our friends, the Millers, and Uncle Matt. I didn't notice when she had stopped eating and started smearing her potatoes all over herself, me, and her high chair. Mackay with her bowl. She was having so much fun we just conceded to the fact that she was getting a bath afterwards, and we let her do her thing.



The night before Mackay's birthday Nate was working with her on learning to blow out her candle. She just wanted to eat the flame or grab it.

These are the first pictures of Mackay on her big day.
Mackay's favorite part of the day was probably seeing her uncles and Grandma and Grandpa Fillmore, and her balloons. She played for about an hour in her crib with her balloons before everyone else arrived. She wouldn't let me get her out.

This picture is Mackay with her balloons pretty soon after she awoke.

Pretty princess birthday girl! Some other highlights of Mackay's birthday is that she learned to crawl! A few minutes later she started walking!! It was a crazy day, and we haven't been able to get her to walk since, but it was a great birthday present to everyone present.

Mackay loved all of her presents. She enjoyed slowly ripping the wrapping paper, savoring every moment.
Mark, Christine, and Berkeley got Mackay a swimming suit for her birthday. We were so excited she had to try it on right away.
Here is Mackay wearing my slippers. (I got these slippers probably about 8+ years ago, and I still love them. Not so much for their aesthetic value, but their comfort level is beyond anything you would be able to believe.)
Here Mackay is lounging on the couch reading how to play Sudoku.