6 months!

What? Could it really be 6 whole months??? My head tells me no, but the cold, wintery weather outside assures me that it's not July anymore. I swear that it was just yesterday I was having Mexican food cravings and hoping that my burrito would make babies so that I could have a million burritos at home to satisfy my cravings. Burritos....yum! Hopefully with our next child, food will be able to self-reproduce in abundance just for me. :)

Well, Claire is healthy, happy, and such a wonderful little spirit in our home. We love her to pieces and can't seem to get enough of her chubby, squishy, kissable cheeks. She started saying, "momomomomom" just last week. I'm sure she doesn't know she's saying "Mom" but it sure makes me happy and it's so cute to hear her little girl voice. She still laughs like a (ahem) man. Actually I don't know how to describe her laugh. It's more like a cough sound with a little bit of growl in it. When she really gets going it's more like a laugh. She can roll over with the best of them, and she sits up like champ. Her hair is filling in, but her "skunk do" is still as dominant as ever (she has sooo much hair in the middle of her head-front to back and it looks like a skunk). She likes it when I do lots of laundry since she has to blow-out at least once every other day. She likes rice cereal and will be starting BABY FOOD next week! Wahoo! She is starting to reach for you when you go to pick her up. Her favorite song is "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" and loves to be sung to. I think she likes it when I read to her; however, she may just enjoy looking at the book hoping to get a munch out of the pages. She really is the sweetest little thing and she is so good to us. Always being happy and a relatively easy baby. I still can't believe that she's growing so fast, but we're enjoying every second of it!

Here she is just a few hours after being born.

Here are a couple of pictures taken within the last few days. Such a sweet little girl she's turning out to be. :)

*An update on my wrist situation. I went to physical therapy and they told me it was most likely De Quervain's tenosynovitis. Super painful! I went to the hand surgeon on Monday and he just confirmed that. Instead of surgery, I got a cortisone shot and most likely will not need surgery (hallelujah!), but will know for sure if it comes back in about 2-3 months. I'm so grateful! It feels so much better.

Tragic Accident

If you watched the news on Tuesday night, then you probably saw that a two year old little girl in Sandy was killed. She was my second cousin. :( Her name is Akayla and she has the sweetest little face complete with the perfect precious moments eyes and chubby little cheeks.

My cousin, Angie was re-positioning the car due to the snowy forecast for the next day and Akayla slipped out of the house when Angie ran over her little body. It's hard to see a little two year old in a big 15 passenger van. As a mother, I can't even imagine what poor Angie is going through. Lance also blames himself because he thinks he should have been paying closer attention inside, but he was also taking care of one of the other 5 kids. Of all the sweet parents in the world, I'm so sad this happened to them. They are obviously not handling it very well, and we are just asking for everyone's help. There has been a Well's Fargo account set up for her where donations can be made. The account is "Audrey Jacobson in lieu of Akayla Zoe Ferguson." My heart just breaks for their family!

You see these stories on the news all the time. I actually watched it yesterday morning and thought, "How sad, I'm so glad I don't know who that is because it would be so hard for me." My mom called me about 10 minutes later with the news. Shock and tears settled over the whole day. I've always wanted to donate to causes like these and I guess this will be my jumpstart to always putting a little money in them. Does something to you when it's your family. It would be very appreciated, I know they need it, and it's a great service opportunity for a family in need.

Here is the news link: http://www.ksl.com/index.php?nid=148&sid=14055644

My Happy Little Life.

First of all, I have a new goal. Brian and I have been talking recently and I have made a goal to be more positive. I don't really think I'm a negative person per se, but when I read negative things, then I get irked. Really irked. Sometimes uncontrollably irritated. So, if there is a negative something posted, well, anywhere, I am simply going to ignore it and not pay any attention to it. I really struggle with people being down on themselves (weight loss/gain, beauty, talents, you name it). I think this is a recent thing for me. Since I have had Claire, I have really had my testimony strengthened on how much we are loved. If I can love this sweet little girl beyond what I can even describe, then how much am I loved by Heavenly Father? I've never really considered myself to be so loved as a child, but then again, I've never had a child that I have loved so deeply that I worry every waking (and sleeping) moments. When I think that I couldn't possibly love her more, she smiles or chews on her tongue and it takes all my strength not to squeeze her to smithereens! I am positive that I am loved that much and more by my parents and by the man upstairs.

Now, as for my happy little life. I am going to now describe little things that make my stomach flutter.

1. I know this is CRAZY weird! However, just wait and someday you'll understand if you don't already. I am so grateful for baby blow outs. Yes, you read it right. After two days of not having a decent bowel movement, a huge one is welcomed and even praised in my book! Sure, washing it all of the clothes gets a little old at times, but boy howdy, I am grateful for them on occasion.

2. The funny nursing moments. Like today, Claire is a monster. She's even growling like one. Teething, maybe? Dirty, nope. Sleepy, nope. Hungry, YES. So, I sit down to nurse her and resume the position. She eats for about 7 seconds and proceeds to stretch my nursing parts out to the ends of the earth because she thinks looking around and eating at the same time sounds like a better plan. So, instead I just stand her up, she looks around, and starts to whine because she is hungry again. I'm sorry that stretchable, leather nipples are not on the menu today, but at this Dairy Queen you either eat being still or go without.

3. Waking Brian up with that cute little face. If I wake Brian up it's usually followed by groaning and rolling over. If I put Claire by him, she'll put her fat little hands on his nose and pull, but he loves it. He always comments on how cute she is. It's also way more effective in getting him up because when she wants to play with your face, she doesn't let up.

4. Our new SWIMMING POOL!!!! Ok, lame excuse for a pool, but Claire doesn't know the difference yet. I had to put that cute swim suit on her though and "go swimming" at least once during the winter. I'm hoping and praying that it still fits her in the summer.

5. This picture. I look at it and cannot stop laughing. I promise that she's not drunk.

Also, Brian doesn't like when I don't wipe the drool away before picture taking. But, there's no use, it's permanent.

And this picture. It's just so cute.

6. One word. Hubster. He's wonderful, charming, and completely ridiculous at times. We laughed our guts out this weekend over so many things. I love a good laugh and a good friend to laugh with. He's the little kid I need in my life so that I don't get angry mommy lines in my forehead or naggy wifey stiffness in my fingers. He's the right amount of everything and I love him.

For now, that's my happy little life. Not much, but it's all ok by me. :)