Can you guess?

I bet you can . . . what Mary will be for Halloween this year.


That's right. A giraffe. I wasn't planning originally to have her dress up this year. But when I saw the adorable "Wild Things" line at GAP this year - and that they had a giraffe - and knowing I could let Mary wear this outfit even after Halloween - how could I resist? I really want to get a picture with a bunch of babies in the different outfits. They had a pig (I know my friend Christina's little baby girl is going to dress in that), a cow, cheetah, bunny, zebra, and maybe another. ANYWAY . . .

Jeff's work had their Halloween party yesterday and so it was good I had gotten her a costume.


She looked too cute.

Birthday Girl!

Saturday we had a little party for Mary's first birthday. Here are some pics!
(Please excuse my husband as he starts to yawn ; )).

Lots of family and friends and babies came!
With Grandma Bonnie


Christina and Little Charli (Charlotte)


Miss Annabel and "The Lady Mary" as she calls her


Lots of friends and family- we don't have pics of everyone : (


Lots of GREAT gifts!

Oh! And cupcakes too!


Thanks so much everyone!!!!
Love,
Annie, Jeff, and Mary
P.S. I'll see if it is possible to post the slideshow we made.

Happy Birthday to Our Sweet Mary Pie

Today Mary is one year old!!!! Can you believe it? Has it gone by so quickly for you all as well?

She is SUCH a joy. I have loved being her mother and have enjoyed motherhood very much. I pretty much work all day long from the moment I get up to the moment I lay my head down. But it doesn't feel like work.

Mary is sweet and smart and beautiful. I just couldn't be happier with her. She has been a blessing to our home and to our marriage.

Happy Birthday Mary Nicole Sullins!

Pasquini's

So yesterday Mary and I went to Pasquini's with the Robinsons/Murrays to celebrate my sister Jennifer's birthday. It was delicious!

Mary ate her whole body weight in food it seemed. At one point she was sitting on Jennifer's lap and helping herself to the black olives on Jennifer's slice of pizza.
Looks like she takes after her momma on this one. Jeff's family has been stunned on occasion to watch me go through an entire can of black olives. They just don't understand how one could enjoy them so much. And I don't think they understand what they are missing. But anyway . . .

we ordered Mary her very own side of sliced olives.



She also likes to try to pick up things like applesauce - but in yesterday's case - it was the tomato sauce for the breadsticks. We finally gave her a breadstick and showed her what to do and she went in for it with reckless abandon. She loved it and was having so much fun.



We all really enjoyed having Mary as our entertainment for the day.

Oh! And I had to share her new shoes that she got to wear yesterday too!

Funny, Sweet, and Sassy

Funny Mary.


Sweet Mary.


Sassy Mary.


I'm having a ball being her mother. I didn't get much work done yesterday because of it. But I don't regret that. She is such a joy!

Power Struggles

Lately I've been hearing "looks like your entering a new phase" or similar comments as people watch me run after Mary so she won't climb up the steps in Sacrament meeting or as she heads directly for the piano in Relief Society.

Today I felt like we had a few power struggles - Mary and me. I'd try to put her diaper on and she'd use the entire force of her little body to wriggle away from me (I would just let her go buck if I didn't have carpet . . .) or she'd want that pool of lipgloss that she opened and cried when I took it away. All along I've had to do this kind of thing . . .but she seems more determined now to have her way than before.

Here we go . . .

Today I was reminded of something my Mom has reminded us of a lot. Mormons believe that we existed spiritually in Heaven before we came to earth and that during that time, Jesus presented a plan that we would come to earth, get bodies, and be tried and tested and that we would use our agency to make choices for ourselves - whether those choices were good or bad. We also believe that Satan presented a plan that would allow us to come to earth but that our choices would be made for us. We believe that everyone who is on this earth chose Jesus's plan - that we would choose for ourselves and not be forced to do what was right.

So my Mom always says we were born with that will. We fought for that will. And babies do fight for their will! It is a part of our nature - we are born with it.

Is it bad . . .

. . .that I have my credit card number memorized? It really is so much more convenient that way.