On Lizzie announcing her true intentions towards her mom

So, it finally happened.  That day I have been subconsciously hoping for since the day she was born.  It came suddenly and seriously.  I did not fish for it or push it.  We were just getting ready for bed and then the most beautiful words came.  She stopped what she was doing, paused, looked at me as if you search for words and said, "Mommy."  I said "yes?"  "I love you."  She said it with certainty and veracity.  No smiles but much deliberation.  It made my day and my life.  It happened a couple of days ago.

My sweet little 2 1/2 year old (so far no terrible twos, knock on wood) is the best!  Here is my eternal prayer - that I may through word and deed show her that I love her too in the best senses of the word.  I want her to know that I am her friend and her steward but NEVER her boss or ultimate judge.  I want her to feel no judgement and only unconditional love from me.  Although I may at times reprimand her in the future, I want her to know through it all that that I respect her.

Lizzie, I love you too so much.  Dear God, please help me to be the kind of mother she needs me to be. Thank you for this opportunity.

We got a pony

I know huh?  From a goldfish to a pony!  Makes a lotta sense.  Nah, just playin.  We're on a pony trial period that I pretty much knew would end in giving the pony back after 24 hours.  She is adorbs but it's the wrong time for her.  She's too lonely out there, Lizzie's too young for her, I'm too busy being a mom, and she will barely let me pet her.

We got a goldfish

Isn't she such a ray of sunshine?  Oh yeah the fish.  Yeah we actually got a buddy for it and they both died within a week.  So sad! : (  But Lizzie sure enjoyed feeding it.  Not sure what we did wrong but I love staring at my lovely little girl.

Paul's Birthday party

I had such a great weekend last weekend.  Paul and I went apple picking and Martha and her family came up to join us about halfway through.  We went apple picking at this place in Midway called Huber Grove.  It was so idyllic up there.  They gave us these long poles and we could take as many apples as we could find in 2 hours.  We even saw a pretty little deer prancing around.  Two hours of happy times and heaven was what it was.  That was the beginning of Paul's birthday day.  

Then, we went to Deer Creek Reservoir to party with friends there and go boating but it ended up raining cats and dogs so about 35 adults and kids ended up at our lovely home.  It all worked out in the end. There was plenty of pizza and music and good conversation.  Paul even had a cake.  It think he enjoyed his special day.

Paul with the apple picker

Me, at one with the apple picker. It's like another limb to me. 

Don't you just love the apple basket and Greta?

Do you see the little deer at the end of the tree alley?  Made my day.

  

Moses is 5 months

So the statistics are in!  He is a young, fine strapping lad:  82% weight and 92% height for his age group!  He has a proud poppa.  That translates into 18 pounds and 28 inches.  He seems to have popped over the last week.  I'm so proud of my beautiful, smiling boy.  Here are more fine facts and figures on Mr. MoMac:

• He can roll to his side
• He can grab on to the rings of his playgym
• He just started grabbing at his feet.  I love when babies do that.
• He smiles so much and laughs too sometimes.
• He is hungrier than ever.  He's an 8-10 oz baby every 4 hours.
• He takes a 3 hour nap in the morning and then another 2 1/2 - 3 hour nap in the afternoon and he is slowly growing out of his last nap of the day.
• He is no longer swaddled
• He sleeps in his pack and play now.  No more bassinet
• He "talks" and "coos" and is such a dear one

I think that's about it.  Now some pics for you to enjoy.

Visiting Mama Neldita at the IMC in Murray

With his daddy up at Bear Lake

With his brand new cousin baby Abraham, not even a day old!!

His new trick, grabbing his toes

Paul and Nelda's day off

We recently went on a nice all day date.  Jemmy came up to take care of the kids and we went to the Bountiful temple, then ate at our friend David's restaurant in Layton - Mejor Que Nada, and then we spent the rest of the day at Lagoon.  It was rainy off and on so the lines were small.  We look happy huh?  It was such a priceless day.  I love being around Paul and dating him.  I love him so much and I love my happy, full life.

Bear Lake 2013

I absolutely love this picture!  It's Lizzie with her cousin Hazel.  I love it because it was probably the best day of Lizzie's life.  We spent Labor Day weekend at Bear Lake and Lizzie "worked" so hard all day on the beach.  She played with the sand and swam and was soo soo happy.  It thrilled me to see her like that.  I think Moses liked it too but he was too little to go into the water and sun etc being under 6 months and all.  I just love going to Bear Lake and I'm so grateful Dave, Paul's brother, provides us that opportunity.  Here are more pics.

Lizzie working hard

At the pool by Dave's place

Lizzie with her new buddy Katie, Stewart Gilmore's little girl

Bear Lake shake with daddy