March 27-April 2015

We made our way back to California for the 2nd court date, and it was a hard day full of a lot of heavy emotion and stress, but overall, it went really well. Afterward, we were able to meet up with Jenna (Elsie's birth mother) and her kids for a fun little visit at the park. We are so grateful for all the wonderful people in Elsie's family who love her so much and have her best interest as the top priority. It's so wonderful to have a good relationship with Jenna, Lucy and Nate. It gives me peace of mind to know that she will not have to wonder where she came from and will be able to know Jenna. Adoptions really is about love, and I see that love in Jenna's eyes every time we visit her with Elsie. We're forever grateful to her and she is grateful to us as well - we answered each other's prayers, and because of it, Elsie is loved by more people than she knows! Adoption is an adventure and an amazing blessing! 

This is one of Elsie's favorite toys at grandma Sara'\\s house....oh that face! She's just growing too fast!




Since moving into our home, Mike has redone a lot of the yard, and it is looking really great!

Before:

After:

Helping Steph pick out the perfect wedding dress...but first let's take a selfie.

I learned to make bow ties and made all the bow ties for Steph and Teague's wedding. I'm pretty proud of how they turned out:

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She is in love with shoes! I wonder where she got that from? (My first words every morning when I was little were: "Mommy, where's my shoes?"...hehe!) She's always asking me to put them on her and tries on my shoes too.

Sharing her toys so nicely a grandma Parker's. She and Ivy are so cute together!

More braids. Julia experimented on me (above) and I on her (below). I just love braids!

Little baby genius!

One of her favorite sleeping positions....is that why they call it child's pose in yoga?

It snowed end of March and also in April after there were blossoms on our fruit trees. No peaches this year I guess. Darn Spring snow! Unpredictable weather here in Utah!

One night, she wouldn't go back to sleep and it was late and I was doing a sewing project, so I made a little bed for her on the floor of my sewing room and put on Baby Einstein Lullaby. Don't let this picture of tranquility fool you...it didn't work for long. She's too curious.

Look at my beautiful youngest sister on her prom night! Modest is hottest, and dang she looks pretty! I can't believe my little baby sister is all grown up and graduating HS and coming to BYU in the Fall! She's amazing! Anyone who meets her can't help but love her. Love you Jules!

After about 3-4 weeks after our last court date in California, we got the news that we'd won the case. Mike got the call first, and rushed over to me at work with a bottle of marinellis and had lunch with me to celebrate. What an awesome day! Next step is to wait 60 days (during which time, the birth father has the right to appeal if he chooses), and then finalize the adoption!

We are sooooo happy!

We went out to dinner with Seph, Teague, and Steven to celebrate.  Elsie loves her uncle Steven, and his hats.

The week of her 1st birthday, Elsie had a constant fever. It would break now and then with medicine, but continued to return for about 4 days. It finally went away and we had our happy little Elsie back again on the day after her birthday. Poor thing! Being sick, while also teething, is no fun!

We went to St.George for Elsie's 1st birthday because the Madsen family was all gathering for Michael Hilton's wedding there. We had fun, and Elsie was a good sport even while being a little sickly still.

So funny how she loves sun glasses and will keep them on for a while. I have to get her a pair of her own. It's just too cute!



 Sewing with grandma Sara:

 Elsie loves getting into Mommy's makeup and nail polish cupboard:

Pretty in pink for her birthday and the wedding (same day).

Breakfast in St. George before returning back to Lehi:

We got home to a present from the Snows - big legos! So fun! Thanks so much!

Easter egg hunt at Grandma MarJean's:

Feeling better in time for her 1-year check up. She lost a little weight while being sick (refused to eat much), but other than that, all good.

Elsie and I go for walks a lot around our little neighborhood. She loves a good stroller ride, especially when we stop by the swings at the park. Spring/summer time in Utah is so gorgeous! I had to take a picture of these beautiful tree blossoms on our route.

LC loves playing with people her own size. This is her and her cousin Wells playing together so nicely at Summer's place. It's fun to have so many of my cousins and their kids nearby.

Speaking of cousins nearby, Christiana recently moved to Arizona and we all miss her terribly. She came back to visit for a couple weeks and I watched her three little cuties for an afternoon while she was out. Elsie loved having 3 little playmates!

"Isla bit my finger!"...haha!

My little porker always has to have two of everything when she's eating...one for each hand of course!

A few days after she turned 1, we had my HS friend Cayly come by and do a birthday/cake smash photoshoot of LC. They turned out beautiful!

She wouldn't smile until we put some bread in her hands

 

 

She's starting to stand up holding on to things. Those little chubby legs are so cute and awkward when she is standing.

She will always lie her head down and snuggle her blanket when she gets a hold of it...even in the standing position. So cute!