Happy Birthday Steve!

Today is my sweet husband's 26th birthday. I am so blessed to have him in my life!!! He is a wonderful dad to Miss E as well. I couldn't ask for a better companion to enjoy the journey with! I love you Steve!

Tonight I watched the ABC Primetime special on teen pregnancy and my heart broke right in half. It really brought to the surface feelings I had on my own pregnancy and how trying it was as a happily married woman. I am lucky enough to have had the means to afford a child and to care for her as well as to have a loving husband who is here for E and I and would do anything for the two of us. I absolutely cannot imagine having gone through pregnancy, labor, childbirth, and the first few months of E's life without Steve. I am not sure I would have made it. These girls who were pregnant at 14, 15, 16, 17 had nothing like the support that I have. Granted, their parents are helping them out, but in most of the cases the babies' dads are not around and those who were around had relationship problems. In some cases the girls chose to give their babies up for adoption, but most chose to keep them. I just wish I had the means (and emotional/physical ability) to adopt a baby from a girl who needs a loving home for their child. I would love to encourage the girls to continue to live their lives as the young girls that they are and to let their children grow up in a family with a mom and a dad. I cannot imagine how hard of a thing that would be after carrying and delivering a child, but I also cannot imagine raising a child in a home or situation that I knew was less than wonderful.

Sorry for my little soapbox rant, but I have been thinking about the situation of teenage pregnancy so much lately. Our country has some of the most sex education in the world and yet we have such a high incidence of teenage/unwed pregnancy. It is beyond me! I feel for these young girls and even more for their sweet babies. I just want to bring them home to my loving home!!! I hope this hasn't offended anyone in any way..I just needed to vent a little bit... I think I'm going to go snuggle my little munchkin now!

Wow!

I have always been really easily touched by music. I cry whenever I see musicals or someone sings in church. Jon Schmidt is one of my favorite composers and when I saw this on several other blogs I just had to share. This arrangement of Love Story by Taylor Swift and Viva la Vida by Coldplay made my heart soar and brought tears to my eyes. I realize it's quite long but for a musical uplift take a few minutes to not only listen, but watch. (Around 4 minutes I'm pretty sure his fingers are going to fall off...it is unnatural for anyone's fingers to move that fast!!!)

Enjoy!

More E

I was thinking this week about the post I made about E being 4 months and I realized that I left out a few things. This post is mostly for me, but I'll add some pictures for your viewing pleasure!

*E has started not only grabbing toys but her feet as well. This is really entertaining for us and was what helped her to learn to roll from her back to her tummy.
*Her new security and comfort "thing" is to suck her thumb. I never wanted my children to suck their thumbs, but when the binky didn't work and the thumb went in, I wasn't complaining. This has helped her to sleep through the night because she wakes up and cries for about 20 seconds and then pops it in and goes back to sleep....blessed relief for me!!!
The foot grab in action...I tried to get a picture of it in her mouth but to no avail.



My mom got E this super cute outfit so of course I had to get a picture! (She had black jeans and silver sandals on also!)

Blessing Day

Today was a very special day for our family. In our church babies are given a name and a blessing (kind of like a christening). This is done by their father or any other worthy Priesthood holder in their family or a close friend. Steve was able to perform E's blessing today and it was beautiful. We were so lucky to have so many in our family attend. We even had some friends drive up to be a part of our sacred day. Thanks to all who drove from all over Utah, Nevada, and Idaho to help us celebrate!!! I am so grateful to be a part of a church that celebrates the family and teaches that we can live eternally with our families. I am thankful for a loving Heavenly Father who provided a way in our Savior to be cleansed from our sins so this is possible!

Family portrait (E's dress was made by my Grandma on my Dad's side...it is gorgeous!!!)


This is my sweet family...I love these guys!

Maternal 4 Generation picture

Paternal 4 Generation picture

4 Months Old!

Some highlights from this month...

E got to have her first pool day over Memorial Day weekend. She liked it as long as we were holding her close!

This is my cute little sunglasses model. She seems to like them because she can see when it is so sunny.

E turned 4 months old on Thursday! We took her to the doctor and found out that she is doing great and growing just like she should. Sadly she had to get more shots and this time she screamed! (No pictures after the doctor this time.)

Just waiting for the doctor to come back from lunch...glamour shot!

4 Month Stats and Milestones:
Weight: 14.3 lbs (75%)
Height: 26 in (100 %)
Head: 16 1/4 in (75%)
*Grabbing: Miss E started grabbing for things this month! This includes hair, jewelry, and her own feet. Most of the things she grabs end up in her mouth. This is fun though, because the toys we have hanging from her carseat actually serve a purpose now!
*Rolling over from front to back...
***Update: Tonight she actually rolled from her back to her front! Hooray!
*Voice: She as discovered that she has a voice and she will share it all the time.
*Giggles and laughs

Basically (not to brag or anything ; ) ) she has accomplished the majority of the milestones the doctor has told us to look for in the next two months. Next we have to look forward to baby proofing our house! I never knew I could love this little munchkin so much but my heart grows more and more each day!!!

Gotta Love It

This was the scene yesterday after church...I am one lucky mamma!