On eliciting adoration (Our Utah Trip)

I want to know what the secret is. She was a little grumpy and little sick, but Lucy still crawls through a world with faces like these looking at her:

In fact, she was so adored that I'm pretty sure she has forgotten how to walk. All she had to do was hold her hands up in the air and someone would swoop her up and take her anywhere she wanted to go. But on the flip side, she learned to do a little adoring of her own. When she sees a stuffed animal she will hold it tightly to her face and let out a little sigh.

Lucy's First Christmas

Christmas Eve in Ogden. Lucy takes a moment, between feeding her uncle Pete chocolate pie and being toted around to everything she points at and says 'that' to, to contemplate the meaning of Christmas.

On Christmas morning we learn quickly that one bite for Pete and one bite for Lucy in rapid succession equals a sick baby. She threw up for a good portion of the morning but was still a good sport about all the activity (and sitting on a towel).

By afternoon in Logan she starts feeling well enough to put up with being squished in to boxes of different sizes.

Found

On my way home from shopping with "the girls" this is what I found on the side of the road. Don't they look cozy and cute? Lucy loves hanging out with her grandpa and it made me laugh aloud to find my baby bundled up in the cold on the side of the road.

Meeting Santa

In the airport they had a Santa station we could not resist. It was funny because they were instructing me on jumping out of the picture before she started to cry. Little did they know that this girl is only intrigued, and very rarely scared, by new events.

Hello?

Lucy is getting pretty good at the phone thing. She even likes to hold to phone to her ear (or back of her head - again, we are working on the spacial awareness thing) while she skypes.

My Well

I have been blessed to have many places and people that meet very specific needs that I have, but very rarely do I find a place and person that consistently reaches into those needs and refills me for the week ahead. I count on our Sunday dinners.

Lucy takes advantage of the activity all around to sneak a cookie or two.

Where is Your Nose?

Lucy can find other peoples' noses but she has a very difficult time finding her own. But oh it is fun to watch her try.

Christmas Festivities or Why Babies Need Their Dads

With our first batch of Christmas goodies behind us, I believe the holiday season is officially underway in our household. According to Lucy, it was a success.

On that note, this is what I heard coming from the sink area while putting some plates in the freezer, "Lucy, your chocolate lipstick looks so good." It reminded me of an article I read before Lucy was born about babies and their dads. Sure Mike and Lucy sometimes get a little rowdy and loud and dirty and break some hard-won patterns, but that is exactly what Lucy needs. I am always running around with a paper towel to keep her clean and carrying her in full upright position but I do believe this girl needs to get a little chocolate on her clothes while hanging upside down and clinging to her dad. Not to say that said dad is not also the one giving her a bath afterward, he is great about the practical as well.

Sometimes Being a Mom is Fun

Sometimes Lucy will giggle for hours while playing the same game over and over again with Mike

Sometimes Lucy looks so big next to little babies and I remember how exciting it has been watching her grow

Sometimes Lucy finds a friend and their "parallel play" merges into cute interactions that are fun to watch

Sometimes Lucy lets everyone know she is indeed a "wild one" and they love it.

Sometimes Lucy sees things for the very first time that us adults have seen many times and forgot the wonder.

Sometimes having Lucy means we get to hang out with awesome babies and their parents.

Sometimes I can stand to look at myself in a photo because I have such a cute "prop" (yes, I have been accused of using Lucy as a prop in pictures).

Sometimes I realize that having an amazing husband and darling babe makes me one lucky girl.

Sometimes Being a Mom is Hard

Sometimes everything moves so fast I don't have time to sit down once in a day

Sometimes I smell poo all day even though I've changed her diaper 20 times

Sometimes it takes as long to fall asleep for a nap as the nap itself actually lasts

Sometimes I go a whole day without starting an actual task because I don't want to be interrupted

Sometimes I avoid leaving the house simply because I dread buckling the carseat

Sometimes I pick up the house five times in one day

Sometimes Lucy puts her hands on my face and looks me in the eyes and I think, "How could I ever live without this little girl."