Morgan's 2!!

Well...I thought the terrible twos would skip Morgan...but she sure has developed an attitude :)
We did have a fun birthday party for her featuring Elmo of course. I think the best part of the party was watching her open her tickle-me Elmo. She is so concerned for others that she even felt bad when Elmo fell down laughing! Picking him up and giving him hugs saying sorry to him. It definitely was cute! We were also surprised that she let us blindfold her to play "pin the nose on Elmo" which she did really well and got the closest her 2nd time around. We even had Elmo and Big Bird on her cake which she loves to play with as well.
We also changed her crib to a big girl bed now (with a railing) she was all about that and kept getting Nate and I to come with her so she could show us her "new" bed. However, she didn't want to go to sleep the first night. So instead of just hearing her cry a little when we put her to bed...we get banging on the door now too since she can get out of her bed. But in the morning it was back to being excited about the bed again.
It's amazing how fast she is growing up! She still loves to dance and will now sing along to certain songs...she still loves the wheels on the bus and will be the only kid in nursery singing along to the song with the leaders. Thanks to Grandma Layton I think it will always be one of her favorites. We've decided to have her be a monkey this year for Halloween which really suits her well...she is grabbing on to counters and chairs and swinging from them. Scares me especially when she decides to do it from the stage at the church! She's going to let go and fall! She hates to shop but loves to hold clothes up to her and go look in the mirror...so as long as every once in a while I give her something to "wear" she'll shop with us. She is getting quite the vocabulary and the way she says somethings are hilarious.
She has learned when we say amen but must feel like she has to say it the loudest and this recent fast Sunday happened to amen after someones testimony pretty loud that everyone turned around to look even the Bishop came up to us afterwards and said "so this is our little amener!" She loves to take the sacrament and when the bread and water are to be put away makes it her business to make sure she says goodbye to them. So as everyone is reverently taking the sacrament we hear "bye bye Bread!" and then again later "bye bye water" Like I've said before just really polite and wants to make sure who she is talking to will hear her.
Morgan's newest thing lately is that of course when she is in trouble she'll then cry out for the other parent...so most of the time she is crying out for daddy when I put her in time out. When I tell her that daddy is at work she immediately asks for "Steve" and then for "Megan". Who would have thought that she'd call for her uncle Steve?!!! She seems to tie him into every one that we know...when we tell her we are going to go see her cousins Gavin and baby Tanner and I ask who else thinking she'll say Marty and Megan she says Steve.
Morgan also seems to be getting a really good memory...when we pray we usually mention my parents on their mission in Mongolia. I was in a hurry one day and just left them out of our lunch prayer and Morgan immediately said "Grandma Grandpa". So we had to say another prayer for them. (she did the same thing to Nate as well) she sure loves them and wants to keep them in our prayers.
Well I know that this is a lot but hopefully it should make up for being a slacker and not posting enough (right Dawnelle? I'm trying)

New York, New York!!!!

Well...we survived the planes, trains and taxis of New York! We went with Nate's parents and had an overall good time. I think Morgan's highlight of the whole trip was seeing a life size Elmo walking the streets and of course mommy and daddy chasing him down to get him to take a picture with their daughter. That is all she could talk about the rest of the day! Elmo...Elmo...Elmo!!! At first she loved the subways...but I have to tell you...standing next to some crazy lady yelling to everyone wasn't exactly my idea of fun. I sure held on to Morgan on that ride! Nate, Val and I got to see the Broadway show Grease. And even got the bonus of seeing Taylor Hicks sing live! It's too bad that after winning American Idol he now sings 1 song on stage and that's it. I think his career is off to a great start!!

Sunday we made a valiant effort to go to church. Taking subways and running to try and get there on time (which by the way to those of you who know me we were pretty darn close!) All to find a sign on the door saying they were working on the building and all the wards were meeting else where that day...well...we tried...so we went to the park and played. Whoever said missing church wasn't fun? We will just blame that example on Grandma and Grandpa :)

Nate and I were able to enjoy an evening out alone and went to the Empire State building and eat the "best New York pizza" guaranteed!(at least that's what the owner told us) I have to admit it was pretty good.

All of us went and saw the reconstruction at ground zero (twin towers) and off to the statue of Liberty. Now you'd think from driving a boat herself Morgan would be totally a pro at boats...I don't think a single person couldn't hear her screaming even over the engines of the boat. So needless to say...our pictures at the statue were hard to get...she just did not want to cooperate! Hopefully this is her extent of the terrible twos. We went to Ellis Island...Morgan and I staid outside and chased the birds...isn't that what happened there anyways?

Its funny how a child can go from one degree to another in moods. All day her crying and then to a scream on the subway back to the hotel (although if you saw what was on the subway with us sometimes...we'd all be screaming!!) all that to go to miss polite at dinner and telling every waiter/waitress or person for that matter that walked by a hello or thank you. (a little louder than what some would like but you know what...she was being polite and just wanted them to know) Times like that make me smile and glad that she's learning those things instead of cuss words or who knows what!!!

Our last day there Nate and I went on a tour of NBC studios. Which turned out to be very interesting. We want to go back and see Conan O'Brien or SNL live. The studios just looked fun and it would have been interesting to say the least.

I think all of us were tired by the end of our trip especially the little one! But I think she really enjoyed spending time with her Grandma and Grandpa! (hopefully we didn't scare them away!)

Mexico Pictures

Mexico

Well we just got back from Mexico...we did end up taking Morgan with us and she was so excited! Let's just say...in between loosing our passports, Nate breaking his toe and Morgan loosing my wedding ring at the beach....we had a pretty good time! (we found my ring after digging in the sand for over an hour...all I have to say is God does answer prayers)
when we first got into our room all Morgan did was run around and look out the window.It took us a few minutes but we were able to get her comfortable with the beach. She loved the water and didn't want to get out!! She was able to hold some parrots and even a squirrel monkey. (I enjoyed that one too). We were able to take her on a submarine and watch fish swim by from inside and we were lucky enough to see some turtles. On the boat ride to the submarine the captain let Morgan drive the boat and she took that responsibility VERY seriously. :) Nate and I went Para sailing together at the same time...ended up leaving Morgan with one of the captains on the boat as they drove us around up in the air. But don't worry we could see her the whole time. We had a blast! Morgan picked up some new words while we were there. She can say beach very clearly and "ohla" so she is learning Spanish! Our child is a genius!
We also decided to get our hair done, and an hour and a half later our heads were transformed. All in all it was nice to get away and relax! I'm already to go back!!