The Sprinkle on Top

After ten months of getting to be a part of this little girlie's life, you start to realize what life's all about. It's summer mornings sitting in the backyard--Lucy lounging in the shady grass while you pick blades of grass and digs up rocks. It's sun-kissed skin on a two-mile hike to Ely Creek Falls along with a warm nap and snacks where we sneakily took Lucy. It's weekend fairs at Dino"SAUR" days to shop from local vendors and listen to live music. It's crawling in the grass at city parks and playing with maracas at the Pasifika festival in Provo.   It's summer afternoons in the kiddie pool splashing and playing with toys. It's weekly play dates at the park with our new friends. It's many weekend trips to the Wasatch Front to be spoiled by grandmas and grandpas, loved by aunts and uncles, and to play with cousins of all ages. It's playing at Highland Glen Park and splashing in the chilly pond water... not to mention ...

This past month has been a whirlwind and I've loved every minute of it. Many people have told me how sad it is that babies grow up so fast. It is sad, but it's more fun and exciting to watch you learn and grow every day. We get a lot of Mommy-Daughter time and I have loved getting to be a part of every milestone you've hit and die every time your face lights up when I walk into the room. But some of my favorites... Every morning after you eat breakfast, I lay you on your changing pad by the window. After you're all cleaned up and dressed, we open the curtains and blinds. You roll onto your tummy and just watch out the window. Nothing exciting ever happens - well, once a neighbor was jump-starting his car - but you like to stare at the sky and tall grass. We lay on our backs and read stories. I lay you down first and you're usually confused until I lay down next to you. I pull out a book to read but instead of looking at the book, you turn and look ...

Hey Baby Girl, I'm so in love with you! You're 5 months old today and my how time has flown. I catch myself reminiscing to the first few weeks and months of your life and how difficult they were as you and I both adjusted to a new world with each other, but mostly how hard they were because you didn't feel good and I didn't know any better.  The past month has been a whirlwind of fun as you've reached and surpassed milestones and as your sweet personality has shone through your smiles and chuckles and brightened our home.  Over the past month you had your first battle with a cold - dry cough, very stuffy nose, and worst of all, a double ear infection! You and daddy both got sick over Thanksgiving and despite my best efforts to keep everything clean so the germs wouldn't spread, I got sick too. (I'm not blaming anyone but you did sneeze and cough multiple times on me while I was playing with you and I got sprayed in the face... mouth open in ...

I always heard that 4 months was the miracle month. At 4 months your baby would start sleeping through the night. At 4 months you can start feeding your baby rice cereal and solids. At 4 months... It's all true and this past month we have seen so many changes (for the better) happen in this little girl's life. Overnight, Evie, you became a big girl and gave up breast milk for formula. The change was not a happy one at first, but oh my the changes were worth every heartbreaking tear as we made the switch. Along with taking the bottle, you actually take a pacifier now, too. When mommy gives you your pacifier before bed or nap, your eyes close and you drift off within minutes when it used to take hours (no exaggeration). You love to suck on your pacifier, and roll it around in your mouth until it falls out. Sometimes you spit it out on purpose to make room for all of your fingers. It's a rare day when we don't catch you sucking on your fingers, mommy's hair...

Over the past month as I've sat with Evie for countless hours mornings and nights nursing, rocking, burping, diapering, and singing lullabies, I'm amazed at how there's no end to the things I love about her. And I'm always finding more. So I wanted to write them down for her to have on her "one month birthday". I love the way you growl  when you eat, The sound of your soft snores  when you sleep. Your gassy smiles  and tickle  spots, Your burps and toots  that squirt daddy lots. Your thick, dark hair and matching eyes , Your long fingers  and toes  and overall size . You let Lucy lick your fingers and toes, And don't often cry when she gets your nose. I love the way your whole hand curls To wrap around a single finger . I love your heavy eyelids as you fight to keep off sleep, And your total dead weight when at last you give up in defeat. I love your soft coos and when you listen to me sing, I love the love in your eyes when I ...