Phoebe Month Six

This month, Phoebe...

• ...Ate her first veggie and fruit solids. She hates peas, doesn't mind green beans, and loves fruit. At first, she just took what she didn't like with a sour face. Now, she utilizes her cleft to spit distasteful foods out.
• ...Had her first Christmas! She got books and bibs and clothes and a few toys.
• ...Met Aunt Jessica "in person" over Skype.
• ...Can sit up all by herself without any help.
• ...Is becoming much more aware. She's learning what she wants, and when she wants it, SHE WANTS IT! She can't say any real words, but the closest is "Nah! Nah! Nah!" when she doesn't want something. (Great--her first word is going to be "No.")
• ...Learned she has a tongue and made us laugh for a week by sticking it out at us.
• ...Started riding in the stroller forward facing without the car seat adapter. 
• ...Got the surgery for her cleft scheduled. It's going to be on Tuesday, March 13th. 

I love taking the time to put together these photo collages because it forces me to slow down and really think about Phoebe as a person. Sometimes in the route monotony of daily living, taking care of Phoebe can feel like a to-do task. But when I slow down and think about her like today, I feel immensely grateful that Heavenly Father has blessed us with such a sweet little girl. For the most part, she's very happy, ready to giggle, wanting to see the world, excited to meet new people, and loving her mommy and daddy. Sometimes I have to remind myself that baby Phoebe isn't going to stay baby for forever, so I better soak it up while I can. 

Happy Birthday to Me!

I have a daily quote book I'm reading this year and yesterday's quote was from Mark Twain, and goes: “The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why.” I find it serendipitous that the first of the two days mentioned in this quote--"the day you are born"--happens to have been that same day for me. Yesterday was my birthday! But what made me stop and think was the second half of the quote--"the day you find out why" part.

I feel grateful that as of yesterday, I've lived 26 full and wonderful years of not having to stress over and wonder about and find out why I was born because I've always known. I born into a home where the gospel of Jesus Christ was taught, and as such, I've always known my purpose here on earth.

That purpose stems from the knowledge that I am a daughter of God. I know that He sent me here to learn and experience for myself the bad from the good, to gain a body, to prove what I'm made of, and to return to Him because I love Him. I am grateful for the energy and purpose this knowledge gives me.

If you are reading this, that probably means you know me and I consider you a friend. If there's one thing I could give all my friends after all they've given me, it's a knowledge of these things that I've just talked about. If you don't know what The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints teaches about our purpose here on earth, I invite you to find out why by checking out Mormon.org. If what you read peaks your interest, you can find out more by talking to someone in person. If not, no harm done!

Thank you to everyone for making the past 26 years fabulous! Besides the lack of brain power I'm already experiencing (just ask my husband about the key fiasco that happened yesterday at church!), I'm really looking forward to being one year older and wiser too.

Phoebe Month Five

Here's what Phoebe's been up to in month five...

• Trying out--and loving!--rice cereal. She's so anxious to eat it when we feed her that she yanks the spoon towards her face!
• Her first big road trip. We went to Idaho for Thanksgiving.
• She's stopped trying to eat her hands as much and has moved on to trying to eat her feet. She could probably be a yoga instructor with some of the poses she comes up with in order to get her foot into her mouth.
• She's much more aware and loves to play! That means that sometimes when mom (me!) sets her down, that's pretty boring and that silly mom should pick her right back up. Hence, I've discovered that if I ever lost a hand, I could still get a lot done around the house.
• She continues to love walks and runs with mom.
• The bathtub is her happy place.
• When she's tired, she makes bubbling noises with her mouth.
• She's stopped squealing so much, but still loves to be with people and in new places.
• She's crying for me to go pick her up from her nap right now, so I guess that's all I get to tell!

Thanksgiving 2017

This year for Thanksgiving Phoebe and I hit the road and traveled to Idaho with my family. Sadly, Jon could not take time off of work to join us. Luckily, he had good friends and his sister nearby to keep him company.

Phoebe and I did the travel with my parents and Kate which was FANTASTIC because they helped me take care of Phoebe for a whole week! Of course, everyone we visited got to meet and hold and help with Phoebe too!

My mom was kind enough to come get Phoebe and I the day before leaving state so we could spend the night there and Jon could keep the car. We got to visit with Abby that night, who unfortunately also couldn't get off work and, therefore, couldn't join us. I'm glad she got to see and hang out with the Phoebester a bit that night at least!

That night was also fun because Holly, Jules, and Alix came over to say hi and hang out for a bit. You know you have good friends when you can go months without saying a word and then when you get back together, you pick up like not a day has passed. That's how I felt that night. PLUS, Holly asked me to be her bridesmaid when she gets married next September, which I am SUPER excited for!

The next day Kate, Phoebe, and I squeezed into the middle seat of my parents' snazy new car and we went to Boise to stay the night at my Grandma and Grandpa Sorenesen's place. I loved getting to introduce Phoebe to my grandparents and Aunt Janet.

The next day we traveled to Pocetello, Idaho to spend some time with my dad's sister, Christy, and her family. We had such an awesome time hanging out, doing crafts, and going on walks.

A few days later we headed back to Grandma and Grandpa Sorensen's place to get ready for and spend Thanksgiving Day with my mom's family. Here Emily joined us and we had three of the five sisters together!

Thanksgiving ended, we headed back home, and then Saturday Jon drove down to spend the day with us and to hear Abby announce her exciting news to everyone...she got her mission call and is going the the Alberquerie, New Mexico mission! She leaves on January 3rd. We are so excited for her!

Overall, the week was a blissful break from the responsibilities of "real" life in exchange for some wonderful family time. I am glad to be back at home with Jon, though, and look forward to spending Phoebe's first Christmas together with everyone!