Climb every mountain (or whatever is in sight)

Mary is more and more mobile each day. Just look at everything she is trying to climb . . .
The video basket . . .

The changing table/chest of drawers . . .

. . . during story time . . .

the dishwasher (and yes those are dirty ; ) - I'm not saying a word. Talk to my husband)

. . .up the high cafe table chair. . .

and let's not forget her crib.


Pretty soon she will be like one of these little hellions! (I say that with all the love in my heart)

And here is just another cute giraffe outfit (size 3-6 months still fits perfectly - in fact I got it because a lot of the other summer clothing I have for her is still too big). I got the bike shorts ($4) with my gymbucks (so they were actually $2)and then last week the matching shirt for $8. How fitting that the animals are climbing on top of each other. : )

More pool party pics.

Pool Party!

We've been having lots of fun with Beckie here. We had another cook out last night, a family photo shoot and lunch on Saturday, and Friday we hung out at Ivan's pool. It was about 5 in the evening so it was the perfect temperature and a good day to take Mary swimming for her first time. She did very well in the water and seemed to be enjoying herself. So cute right? You can't see the ruffle skirt very well here - but trust me - it's cute.

Jennifer and the girls were gone at girls camp, but Scott came and brought Joe. Check out Joe snorkeling!

And of course their were lots of games with Uncle Ivan. One such one was Ivan had Sterling on his back and he'd say "Hey, have you guys seen Sterling?" and then Sterling would say, "I'm right here!" and then Ivan would turn around to find him but he wouldn't be able to and it'd make the kids just giggle. Gotta love Eveie being a goon here!

Grandma, Grandpa, and Cat came too.Doesn't my Mom look so pretty here?




Even the chipmunk was enjoying things!

Botanic Gardens

Today was a free day at the Botanic Gardens. Beckie was meeting a friend down there and so my Mom and I decided to go too, but we'd just meet up with them for lunch. It was great fun minus the horrific traffic and parking. Nothing like building a new parking garage that is inadequate. My Mom and I have decided we need to run the gardens . . : )
These flowers were my favorite today at the gardens. The ones that have white and pink had the neatest design close up. They reminded me of peppermint candy!

Beckie and me

Grandma Bonnie and Mary


Mary and Me with Beckie's kidlets. Love these guys.

Aunt Beckie and Mary

Sterling (Sterlittle)

Cousins Eve and Mary. Eve was very good with Mary. Don't you love how Mary's hat is pirate-esk in this pic?

Grandma Bonnie and Sheri Anna

Sisters say the darnedest things

A few months ago, Catherine commented on a photo of Mary on facebook saying, "She's so funny looking!". After my initial shock and actually speaking with Catherine, I learned that when she said that, she meant that Mary was so funny and pulled funny faces. Jennifer and I tried to explain to Catherine that when you say someone is "funny looking", it isn't usually a compliment. She knows that now, but she still says "Mary is so funny looking!" I just shake my head and laugh.

Right up there with that . . . my sisters and Mom and neices Hannah and Emma were having lunch at the Cheesecake Factory last Saturday. At one point Beckie said in reference to Mary, "She looks like the dog on Never Ending Story". I just laughed. I seriously was not offended at all. In fact, I was kind of glad she said it. Made me feel better about when I told her last year that her daughter Sheri Anna's teeth reminded me of the Hunchback of Notre Dame (and that was before she chipped one!).
I know exactly what she means though. Mary's eyes, nose, and that cute little tongue that sticks out are all reminiscent of Falcor - who apparently is NOT a dog, but a dragon.
See any resemblance?





This picture would've been better if I could've gotten the picture of Falcor coming up over the buildings of the city. Do you know what I'm talking about?

And don't think Jennifer gets off easy. She told me in the last year that I have a "snaggle tooth". What can I say???? When you are this close with your sisters, you are bound to not edit yourself nearly as much as you do with regular folks.

Love my sisters and love the honesty! And P.S. I still think my daughter is the cutest, most beautiful, most sweet baby in the entire world. P.P.S. Do you wanna know who REALLY does look like Falcor? Victoria Beckham AKA Posh Spice - prior to her nose job.

Beckie's Surprise

So Beckie and her family got into town late last Friday night for a 2 1/2 week visit! Our entire family is thrilled. We have had so much fun already and have lots of plans while she is here . . . a family photo, get-togethers, etc. But I was most excited about one event in particular.

Beckie's best friend, Christina, told me this Spring that she was pregnant again and that she wanted to keep it a secret from Beckie until she came to visit. So this whole time I've kept it from everyone in my family (except Jeff and - only recently - Jennifer - with Christina's permission. Also, on accident I had labeled some photos that I gave to my Mom "4th of July and Christina's shower" so I had to tell her so she would keep it secret too).

Well, Christina had her baby on Saturday and we decided to reveal the secret on Sunday afternoon after church.

I had coordinated with Jennifer to keep Beckie at her place after church (Beckie went to her ward). I left Mary with Jeff, drove to Jen's, we blind-folded her, and hopped into the car and drove to Skyridge Medical Center.

Beckie had guessed that Christina had something to do with this surprise, but she thought it might have to do with her birthday on Monday. Still blind-folded, we took her up the elevator to the second floor. She remembered the smell since she delivered two babies there and said "Are we in a hospital?". Then right as we came up to Christina's room she asked, "Did Christina have a baby??!". Then we stepped into the room and lifted the blindfold. And there to Beckie's surprise was Christina in a hospital bed and her husband to her left holding their newest little baby, Charlotte.

Beckie was definately surprised! I think she almost cried. It was a pretty neat moment. I was glad I got to be a part of it.

It was so much fun orchestrating a surprise! They don't happen very often and I just was so excited planning it! It was fun to tease Beckie too.

Anyway, I didn't get to share any of the details of the shower I threw for Christina because we were keeping it a secret from my family, so I thought I'd share some now.

We decided the theme would be ABC because Christina's girls are Avery, Brielle, and the third was/is Charlotte. I had made ABC blocks (which is an entire post by itself) and lettered sugar cookies for the guests to take home that started with their first initial. I made a cool veggie pizza (this was the biggest hit), a fruit salad, some artichoke dip, and brought some boursin with crackers and also a cake. I ran out of time to make the bruschetta, but I think we had enough food. Christina also made some mini pigs in the blanket. The cake was made by Child's Bakery. Isn't it amazing???

We did a few shower games. The first was baby pictionary. It was probably the best shower game I've ever witnessed. I think everyone had fun. And we also did a game asking questions about Christina.


I really like throwing showers. I've thrown several in my life . . . one for Tara Smith, Heather Lacy, Julie Gedge, Beckie, and now Christina. Many of those years I didn't have any kids yet, but I'd like to think I was being motherly in my own way ; )

Yay for showers, friends, babies, sisters, surprises, and all the good things of life! Le Chaim!!!

Yo Rubber Ducky! You da bomb!

Here are some adorable pics of Mary taking a bath last Saturday. She gets so excited these days with the faucet and loves it when the water comes out! She also loves putting the wet washcloth in her mouth. I swear I try to give her water to drink. She doesn't seem that interested though. Isn't she so sweet and cute????!!!!

She makes me so happy.

How could she not? With a face like that lookin' up at you everyday, you can't help but smile and laugh. She brings me such joy. I love her so much. I hope I can be a good mother and that she will be happy. I hope that we will always be close and always have a good relationship. I hope I can always protect her.

I know that life is life - and with it comes disappointments, shattered dreams, mistakes, and growth. And I wish I could make it so that she will never be sad or hurt or disappointed. But all I can do is my best. And I know I will always do my best for her. I know I won't be perfect but I hope that she will thrive and be happy nevertheless.

Milestones and a dead coyote.

Mary seems to be doing lots of new things - basically within the past week.

Before this she was kinda swim crawling - slowly. Well, Jeff has been practicing with her - he jingles his belt out in front of her and tries to get her to grab it and pulls it away from her - and now she still is doing that army/swim crawl but she is pretty darn fast at it! (I'll try to post some of the video of her practicing with Jeff. BTW, Jeff helped her to start sitting up too.)

She also had her first juice box last Friday at Panera Bread (my sister Jennifer and I walked there for our morning walk and ate breadfast. It was to die for good btw). . .
and her first ride in a shopping cart this week.
I hadn't been planning for her to ride in the cart - but I got so tired holding her whilst at Hobby Lobby - and a cart was right there in an isle - that I gave in. I didn't even sterilize it first! *Gasp* But I did clean her hands once we were out to the car. I still prefer to hold her in my (I mean Beckie's) Moby wrap. But this was okay for just this once until she is a little more stable and until I can protect her from the germs of the cart better.

She is also super interested in using her own hands to eat. All along I've let her hold her own spoon. But she wants to pick up things from the tray. So we've been doing small bits of banana or watermelon. I even let her gnaw on a few apple slices - closely observing her of course - so she doesn't choke. Check out the teeth marks! I bet it feels really nice on her gums.
I've resisted giving her anything raw (besides banana and avacado) at this age because I'm not sure when you are really supposed to start that and I wanted to wait to talk to her doctor this month. But she did fine and didn't have any adverse reactions. It is funny to watch her with the watermelon. She will really suck on a piece and then spit it out.

Also, I caught her sitting up in her crib this week (she can sit up on her own if I place her sitting up. But this is the first time I think she really did it from a laying down position)and pulling on the bumper pads. So Jeff and I need to lower the crib ASAP.

Our Fourth was pretty quiet. Went to a family cookout and Toy Story 3 (so good!!!) the day before. We didn't even go see the fireworks - but it was pouring rain and I heard it was canceled anyway . . .

Here are some pics from the 4th . . .



We gave my Dad his Father's Day gift/birthday present . . . a snazzy microphone to attach to his video camera . . .

A nice picture of my Mom . . .

Cat and her piano student/friend/person of interest

And here is a picture of a dead coyote I found on the path of our walk today. Creepy! I had to walk past it and it was REALLY hard. On my way back, I decided to go a different way.