Cutest Baby in the World

Sorry, I know I'm totally biased but I just think she's the most beautiful baby in the whole world.

Half a year has gone by already.

I honestly can't believe how drastically my life has changed in just six months. I mean, I wouldn't go so far to say that I used to be selfish, but I definitely knew how to take care of myself. I would frequently take long soaks in the tub with a magazine, never having to worry about when Darin would bring Nora in crying. I could relax on the couch for hours playing stupid computer games or watching movies without straining my ears for the baby monitor.

I could go shopping without toting 50 pounds of baby items. I mean you all know that running quickly into the store no longer exists after a child. And don't even get me started about going to the movies. How I yearn to watch a movie on the big screen, drink a Coke out of my movie mug, and stuff my face with popcorn. I wish I would have went to a hundred more movies before I had Nora.

But my life is so much more complete with her in it. I'm amazed how she learns and grows every day. She still loves Baby Einstein and watches it almost every day (I use the TV as a babysitter already). I love watching her smile when the caterpillar comes up on the screen.

I started feeding her solids a few weeks ago. She loves sweet potatoes the best so far and hates avocados. She's had pears and bananas and carrots and is really a pretty good eater. However, you wouldn't be able to tell by her weight still. She's in the first percentile still weighing in at a whopping 12 pounds 3 ounces. She's in the 43% for height and 53% for head circumference. She's just a skinny little peanut with a big noggin.

She can almost sit up by herself. She does it for 10-15 seconds before toppling over.

She grabs anything that is put in front of her face, and most things enter her mouth. Which usually consists of her whole hand.

She sleeps pretty well now. I put her in her crib wide awake and she goes to sleep by herself which is great, except for when I'm not at home. Read: church is a nightmare when it's nap time. She wakes up a few times a night for her binki but since I stopped feeding her at night she's been sleeping much better.

But most importantly she's a pretty happy baby (which she didn't used to be) and that makes me happy. Being a mother is so fulfulling. I didn't grow up wanting to be a mother and I definitely never thought I'd be a stay at home mom. Now I wouldn't change it for anything. I'm so grateful for Darin and that he supports us so I can because there's nowhere else in the world I'd rather be.

Not even at a movie.

I love May.....

I love May. We celebrated our 4th anniversary this past weekend along with Mother's Day.

I can't believe we've been married 4 years. In some ways it seems like the time has flown by and in other ways, it feels like Darin has been in my life for as long as I can remember. I honestly don't know where I would be without him. People say that all the time. I know it's sort of cliche, but truly, I probably wouldn't have been on the best path had he not entered my life. He's such an amazing husband, father, friend. Even when I think he isn't listening to me, he is.

Case in point.

I've been wanting to do a mentorship with one of my favorite photographers for SO LONG. But it just wasn't in the budget and there were so many other things I needed for my business that I hadn't really given it a thought recently. I only mentioned it to him a couple times, but obviously he was listening, because this is what he got me for our anniversary/mother's day. He never disappoints. I'm so excited for it and can't wait for all the things I'm going to learn.

We enjoyed lunch at the park, the beatiful weather, and each other's company.

Last year I got my first Mother's day gift in our ward. A CD or something if I remember right. I was pregnant at the time and couldn't even begin to anticipate what being a mother was going to be like. This year I got a chocolate bar at church, and don't get me wrong, I really liked the chocolate bar, but obviously there's no better gift than just getting to spend every day with my little girl. She brings me more joy than I could ever imagine.

Her and Diesel are best friends already. (Even though the look here signifies that she's absolutely terrified, I promise she wasn't.)

She is OBSESSED with her toes now.

Grab the toes.

Examine the toes.

Insert the toes.

Did I mention she's REALLY good at inserting the toes? She is.

These pictures make me laugh. Darin is a REALLY good Dad, but sometimes he's a little engrosed in his sports or whatever show he's currently occupied with. Sometimes he ignores Nora. And Nora doesn't like to be ignored. So she starts whining and I remind him, "You need to entertain her". I look over to see him haphazardly piling her toys on top of her without really even paying attention. I brought it to his attention and we laughed and then had to snap these funny pictures.

She didn't think it was funny.

I started feeding Nora fresh pears with her cereal. I simmered some pears to soften them up then pureed them and she LOVES it.

This is our life.