Looking forward now, we are excited for what adventures may come. 2015 is going to be great!
Elsie opened her Christmas presents from Grandma and Grandpa Parker in January since we didn't see them for Christmas. Elsie loved tearing up the wrapping paper and sucking on every toy and item of clothing she received. "Thanks for the great presents, Gma and Gpa!"
Just taking a little reading break before getting dressed for bed. This cracks me up when she does this. It looks like she's really reading to herself. She'll just stay like that for like a minute, examining the page thoroughly. I've got a little book worm on my hands.
Though she's not much of a shower fan, Elsie is really starting to love bath time. Mostly because she gets to suck on her rubber ducky the whole time. Ahhh, the good life!
Playing in Mom and Dad's room while we all get ready for the day. She loves watching me blow dry and hair and put makeup on. And it's a treat when I let her hold mascara or something. It's so funny how my stuff if more fun that her toys usually. Silly little girly girl.
"What? I can sit on the couch like a big person."
"And I can work an iPhone. No biggy. I'm a smarty pants already."
Pretty in shocking pink! Cutest little sleepy face you ever saw!
She started saying "Mama ma ma ma ma" this month but she babbles a lot and I'm not sure she associates it with me yet. But soon enough, she's gonna be a little chatter box, I think.
This girl loves her daddy! She loves when she gets that undivided attention so she can pat his face, pinch his nose, pull on his shirt strings/buttons and laugh and the funny noises he makes. He can really get her laughing. She has started laughing a lot more now and doesn't make us work so hard for it anymore. She's a pretty happy girl most of the time.
"Hey, Dad! Turn off your phone and look at me!"
"Yeah! Let me touch your wiskers."
I love making Elsie head bands and bows. Just experimenting with an old T-shirt. I don't think she likes this one....a little too Harley Davidson I think... LOL!
Keeping herself busy on the floor in the craft room while I make bows. She's really pretty good at entertaining herself for a while.
"Here, let me help you organized these papers. I'll put some in my mouth and throw the rest on the ground. Is that what you needed, Dad?"
Elsie has started getting a little more clingy at times and needing her mom/dad to cuddle her especially when we meet new people. She's still pretty friendly and doesn't freak out right away, but it feels good to know she prefers me and Mike to anyone else. The feeling is mutual Babe! LOVE!
That little pointy tongue is always out....hahaha....I can't get enough!
A very warm winter outfit for Elsie from Gma Sara. She's only worn it once though...it has been an uncommonly warm winter here in Utah! She looks like a little Russian doll in this cute coat and hat!
Elsie loves going to the mail box with Auntie Stephy. She gets so excited and kicks her feet as soon as the door opens to go outside.
Elsie is eating pretty much everything now. She loves black beans and bread and cherrios and sweet potatoes and blueberries and anything off of Mom and Dad's plates. Any little thing she can put into her little hand and then chew with 2 teeth. She definitely prefers to feed herself rather than be spoon fed though. She can be very independent at times.
I crocheted this little infinity scarf for her. She looks like a little woman in her sweater and scarf. :)
I got to be Steph's model for a new eyelash application technique she was learning. It's nice to not have to worry about eye makeup and know that your lashes are long and black and curled without any effort.
I still have a lot of peaches and the year is going by quickly. It'll be August/Sept again before we know it! So I got out a bunch of peach jars and some raspberries from Costco and made more jam...it turned out the best it ever has! Yay! I'm getting better at this domestic canning/cooking stuff!
Elsie got a new girl cousin on 1/26/15. Mike's little sister Sarah had her first baby: Harper Jean Ruzicka. She's beautiful! We are so excited to meet her when they come visit next time (they live in Texas).
These two hung out for a couple hours so that Mike and I could go on a real date one night. We saw the BYU Vocal Point accapella group perform in Salt Lake, and we got some dinner at CPK. Fun! It's so nice having Stephanie around, and she loves tending Elsie so much that we often have to remind her that she's OUR child. Hehe!
My friend started a little support group for people with infertility issues, and we all had dinner one night this month. I'm in a good place with this issue myself, having been able to adopt so quickly after our failed IVF adventure. We're happy with the way we are building our family and most of the time I don't even mind that I'll probably never experience pregnancy. But I do have my moments, and that will probably never completely go away. I know that Lord will send me my children in the way He has intended and when He has planned. I didn't always feel this way though. I went through dark times just like any woman who struggles with infertility. It was really great to meet all of these women, hear their stories and hear what they've learned or are trying to learn on their journeys. We all had pretty different stories, yet could relate to a very similar feeling of loss in our lives. It was very upbeat and fun and we joked and laughed about things that others might not have laughed at; but you have to laugh at some things just to keep from crying-and we all understood that well. It's always nice to meet people who totally understand what you've gone through or are going through. It makes you feel like you're not alone in your suffering. And I don't think it's an accident that when we go through a trial, we end up meeting many other people going through that exact trial - so that we can help each other through it, and be reminded that others, including our Savior know what we're feeling and we are not alone.
We're going to keep meeting every month and just catch up, have a girls night, let go of whatever is stressing us at the time and help each other cope and find the resources we need at that time. A really brilliant idea by my friend Erin and I'm so happy to be a part of it! The more that merrier, so if you know of anyone in need of this specific support/sisterhood, let me know!
