8 weeks

Lucy is growing so much and learning lots of fun new tricks. We love her smiles. She is starting to give them away more willingly. We had to work pretty hard for them in the beginning. She is making lots more sounds and fun little noises. It is so much fun to watch her grow.Holding objects is a little beyond her age but we had fun trying to get this shot.

Lucy is getting better at bearing weight on her legs. She likes to shake her shoulders too.

Lucy's favorite past times are video-caming with her cousins.

Scott is reading Lucy a book in this picture. I think Lucy was paying more attention to her silly dad. James is so good with her.

We call this time-out, but actually she loves it. She will just sit and watch what's going on around her until she wants a little attention.

Lucy is making lots of new friends. We were mad because she actually cracked her first real smile for Mike. Not mom. Not dad. MIKE.

Overall, Lucy is a pleasant little girl, and we love her so much. We invision daily of what life will be like as she grows older. And then she does just that.

Spring Break 2011

We went down to St. George last weekend for Emily's baptism. We enjoyed the weather so much that we traveled back down there on Wednesday night for James' spring break. We really wanted to do something fun, because this would be his last break for awhile. Disneyland was an idea, but we decided it might be a little much for Lucy, so we vacationed in St. George. We visited museums, went miniture golfing, took tours of historic sites, visited a little with family, but mostly just partied. We had a lot of fun. It was a good break. And it was much more free than Disneyland would have been. It was our first family vacation and Lucy did great!

Lucy with her great-grandma.

I had baths in this same bowl when I was a baby. Lucy liked it lots better than in the tub at home. I may need to purchase a large multi-purpose bowl like this one.

Lucy got to meet her cousins and they loved her. Emily couldn't stop saying, "She's SO Cute!" I loved it. Mason's kids got to hold her but we were in the chapel for Emily's baptism and we didn't get any pictures.

Lucy got lots of Grandma time. I am grateful for Grandma taking lots of pictures.

Such a cutie. And the Queen of Daddy's Heart.

We decided to tour the town. I have lived in St. George and never taken a tour at the tabernacle. Lucy had a blow out while we were there. Her first blow out. We were just grateful she pooped. She had been a little stopped up.

At the St. George tabernacle.

We saw the different sights in St. George. We went up and toured the Art Museum. The exhibit was amazing. The weather was so nice. We loved it! We spent as much time outside as possible.

We visited the Rosenbruche Wildlife Museum. I used to work there way back when. It hasn't changed a bit.

I Love THIS Girl!!!

There are not words to describe how much I love this little girl. I am growing more fond of her everyday. Every morning I am more excited for her to wake up so I can hold her. She is growing so fast. I didn't think that in the beginning, but lately it seems like she changes after every nap. She is smiling more and more and just getting more fun. We had a fun time this last weekend in St. George, but failed to get pictures, so we decided we better head back down there for James' spring break. We will not fail this time. I do have some fun video to share as well, but haven't quite figured that out yet.

I thought this was funny. James has lots of mission pictures like this one. Apparently it is a cool pose for pictures in Uruguay. I guess Lucy has some Uruguay'an blood running through her veins.

Stretched out on Daddy. I can't get enough of these pictures.

Lucy smiles most in the morning. I love mornings with her. She's crankiest in the evening, just before we put her to bed. Even though she is cranky once she gets to sleep, she stays asleep until 6 am. It's amazing!! I do not know how I got so lucky to get a baby that comes with her own schedule. She is like clock work. And now my body is used to the schedule as well.

Conference Weekend

I apologize for the lack of posts this last week, but Lucy has been sick and it was difficult to get anything done, except hold her and make her as comfortable as possible. I enjoyed all the time holding her, even though I was exhausted and sick myself by the time she was better. It was a trying week for James and I. I know there are many more to come and some more likely will be worse than others, but we made it through with the hope of the conference weekend at the end. I love my weekends more than anything now. They get me through the week. I hardly care if James has to do homework all day Saturday, I just love having him in the house with me. James makes me so happy, and I will be happy to spend all my life and all of eternity working right by his side.

I was grateful for all the talks about teaching our children the gospel. Although, it adds a lot of pressure on us as parents to make sure our children have a good foundation, along with this admonition, we were given a lot of tools to help us along the way. I want so badly for Lucy to know better than I did that she is a daughter of God and what that really means in the eternal perspective of this life. I want her to be stronger and have more confidence in her Savior's Atonement than I ever did. I want her to be able to resist temptations as they come from peers, because I know I can not protect her from the evils of the world. I can teach her what is right. I can help her know about the Adversary and how he works. I look forward to this challenge with faith, and know that it won't be easy. As I make the proper sacrifices for her, I am learning to love her as the Savior loves me.

I love my Savior. I know with out a doubt he loves me. I know God answers prayers. Even on those dark, hopeless days that I occasionally experience, I know they will end and I can begin a new. I know that I would not love life so much if I was not a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. And so I am thankful to my God for sending me to the family that He did. It is a blessing everyday.

Put on your Sunday clothes when you feel down and out

We aren't feeling down and out. We just went shopping!

I bought this cute red dress, because Lucy didn't fit into any of her clothes yet. I got excited to dress her up. We decided to try our hand at a photo shoot. Again, I'm not a photographer and these were the best shots we got.

Lucy is doing great! She is still sleeping throught the night and is so great at church.

Lucy is working on smiling. She is getting close though.

Another update: 4 weeks tomorrow

Tomorrow Lucy will be 4 weeks old. It's crazy how fast time is going. I went back and looked at some of her new born pictures and she really has changed so much. It has been a lot of fun being home with her all day. We have been with out a car for the last three days, and I thought I might get tired of being cooped up in our small apartment. Quite the opposite. We have stayed very busy and not been blue or depressed at all. It is a kind of challenge to see what I can accomplish each day, while taking care of a baby. For example, we have mastered laundry. Lucy actually loves it. I set her on top of the warm dry laundry and carry her back to the apartment that way. She usually falls asleep instantly. Cooking was a challenge in the beginning, but now I will either put together dinner while she is asleep earlier in the day, or she will just sit in the swing and watch me contently.

Occasionally Lucy has a bad night but for the most part she is a great sleeper. I hope her pediatrician never reads this, but last night she slept for 8 hours with out waking up to be fed. (That can't be normal... but we let her continue sleeping and it felt great!)

Let me just take a short bit of this blog and thank my dear James for all of his hard work as well. The semester is shortly coming to a close and I have been so impressed how James has been able to stay up on all his homework through all of this. He has worked tirelessly to do so, but he has managed and still finds time to help me out with Lucy when he is home. James pretty much takes over her care on weekends. He insists, and by the time Monday comes I get excited that its my turn again. I am so grateful for his help. He is juggling a lot right now. James will be applying for graduate school soon, which only adds to the stress of it all. Oh and not to mention I will be going back to work in just 4 weeks (AHHHH!!!) I am so grateful to have him by my side. He really is the best support to me and he makes me soooooo happy. He is a wonderful dad. James, you are the best!

PS. I don't think I have ever mentioned on this blog, but this family has joined the rest of the BYU basketball junkies and we are stinkin' excited for the game tonight. It has been so much fun to be a part of the excitement this season. I have been ever grateful for our all sport passes and the fun times spent at the Marriott center this season. GO COUGARS! (I know Kyle and JoEllen are cringing as I mention that, but it must be said)

Lucy Lucy Lucy, 3 Weeks: A Picture Post Update for the Grandparents

Remember I mentioned in the last blog, I am not the best photographer...? These were the best shots out of SEVERAL more that were taken. Lucy sure is cute though. It is not her fault. Her mom will get the hang of this picture taking thing one of these days.

Cross eyed Lucy.

Tummy time with Daddy.

More tummy time with Mommy.

Lucy looks a lot like her Aunt Anna in this one, I think. I've always thought she had a lot of Stewart in her. You can really see it in this one. So CUTE!

No matter how many times we fold down the blanket so it is not covering her face, this is how we find Lucy after every nap or when she wakes up in the morning. Scares her mother to death.