Awww

-- Sent from my Palm Pixi

'First day of Babysitting'

It's like their first day of school! :) Loving their shirts. Thank you McKenzie, Evan loves his 'I'm the big brother' shirt. :)

-- Sent from my Palm Pixi

tomorrow

i start back to work after a month long, unexpected leave from my salon. i am feeling bittersweet about it. i love and miss my clients but i was already sad to leave just evan now how will i feel about little cora grace too? i know i know, it will be fine but still, i have it to think about. my clients are trickling back to me and i hope they can stay loyal a little longer, for however long i keep doing hair so i can pay for these babies (especially the unexpected go across the country for kind, lol). ;). i'll just really have to pick up my hair game and maybe serenade them a little to sweeten the pot. ;) lol.


on some other interesting news... currently, my friend rachel has been watching evan and doing a bang up job of it. he loves her (almost) as much as me (and in moments of tantrums, sometimes does prefer her, lol) and really loves having a playmate in her youngest of 4 daughters Emma. he will be spoiled for the next two days cause all the girls are home for the summer and they love him so he will be WORE out! and cora, well, she won't know what to do with all the attention (hopefully she get's to sleep at some point, she'll let them know). anyway, this week a client asked why i don't have someone come to my home instead. assuming that would be WAAAAAY out of my budget i've always passed on the thought but after more discussion, i realized it would cost the same so she asked if she could ask her babysitter if she knew someone. after some him hawing, i said sure and in a matter of 2 days, we had a cute young lady named Mandy at our door this morning who we really like and she will be starting next week! i'm really grateful to, so far, had such kind and loving women to watch my children while i have put them in other's care. i know evan has thrived in these situations and made great friendships with my friends children and now to have him in his own home will make me feel one step closer to that myself. although working while i have children isn't my 'dream', it is necessary for our family for now and i hope it will continue to prepare our family to afford me home full time soon. michael and i work hard towards that dream and are not willing to be burdened by debt in order to do it so i have to be a little more patient and that is what gets me through my work days. that and the fact that i have the best clients/friends on earth. so, see you tomorrow chop shop, i've missed you.


oh yeah and sorry but i'm really looking forward to coming home tomorrow night to watch the season premier of BIG BROTHER!!! he he he he he he he he. Rusty, you feelin' me? ha ha ha

Milk chocolate & Butterscotch chip Cookies

Coming right up! Mmmmm.

-- Sent from my Palm Pixi

Mr. Independent

-- Sent from my Palm Pixi

Motherhood: An Eternal Partnership with God

Motherhood: An Eternal Partnership with God

Isn't it though? :) I would extend this topic to "Parenthood" but Mothers especially do play a unique role in raising children. I hope all the mom's reading this do feel their divine worth and I hope those of you yearning to be mothers can know you can be preparing now to be the parent (and spouse to your husband) your children deserve. God Bless.

Independance Day Photos of Cora Grace

(btw, Evan does not cooperate for photo shoots so sorry if you're missing seeing him in these posed shots. I miss him in them for sure. smile)

I'm baaack my sweet tart

Mmmmm :)

-- Sent from my Palm Pixi

'someone' likes sour cream and guacamole. :)

-- Sent from my Palm Pixi

mischief and mayhem

...and an ad for ikea. don't you just love his new doggy cup michael got him!?



"Here I am!" is what he said when I asked "Where is Evan?"

It was a beautiful day out today, not too humid, warm and even breezy :) ahhh....

she has a pesky brother already. ;)

one month

Cora Grace... It is hard to believe that one month ago Heavenly Father asked if we wanted to have a baby daughter. We didn't get to prepare 9 months for you. We didn't even get the 2 weeks we had for Evan. We had no days physically to prepare for you but spiritually, we had been ready for you all our lives. Recently I started reading the Book of Mormon from start to finish and blogged about a particular days feeling during reading (http://michaelandlila.blogspot.com/2010/04/book-of-mormon-read-passage.html). Before feeling prompted to do the reading, I had 'needed something' in my life and specifically some spiritual strengthening. I was feeling inadequate in my calling at church as Young Single Adult Advisor (with Michael) since Evan keeps us so busy and instead of giving up on it, I decided there was more effort to be made even though there were so many road blocks. Anyway, I knew if I would read, somehow it would benefit me personally and therefore our family too. Specifically, I knew somehow it would benefit our next adoption somehow. I thought it would make me more mentally prepared to sort of 'take what comes' in retrospect is how I could describe my feelings. I have to say when the call came to be your parents, I think we were surprisingly both ready and reading and learning helped me be calm through the chaos. Many experiences up to that call had just happened to get us ready and I'm grateful. While away to get you in California, the blessings manifested in first having a special cousin Juliet born just 4 hours before you on the same day, same state. The chance happening that you were born in the same town that my brother Jesse lives so we had family to stay with and to share in our excitement (something even Evan's birth did have). We also got to see my parents and other siblings, their families while you were a newborn (instead of at 6-7months like Evan) and many of our California friends that gave us much needed clothes and supplies for you. When we returned, our friends and family here, showered you with their excitement and love. You have healed my heart from aches of infertility and old adoption woes. You are a beautiful girl, sweet and calm. I am so grateful you joined our family, even at the last minute. Evan loves you and can't wait to see you in the morning or after his nap. He loves to help when you cry. Today you were hungry and crying and Evan came over to give you a hug. You get many compliments, "She is beautiful", "look at how much blond hair she has!?" and everyone compliments your pictures. You are in a way, everyone's baby. Like Evan, so many prayed for the day you would get to join our family that they are extended family members now each wanting to know what you are doing next. That is a blessing to me after so many years of childlessness and tearfully praying for you to come. I hope you get to be a big sister one day (we'll have to pray for daddy's sanity first) and get to be a best friend to Evan as you two grow. Happy One month old Birthday beautiful daughter, we love you very much. :) - Mommy, Daddy and Evan

almost 3 weeks old, pictures (posted a week late. lol)

So, my favorite pictures are in true life and I do love taking pictures myself of our family, "at arms length". (though sometimes, only a professional can get the other look we need. grin). All of these were taken by me except the last one from Michael. Thank you for capturing a glimpse of the love I feel for our daughter and for our little growing family. I love you honey! xoxo

Father's Day shots for Daddy. We hope you like them. :)

look at the daddy loving his baby girl. grin.

one last shot, taken by michael...

Amazing Shannon Hairr Photography... :)

http://shannonhairr.blogspot.com/2010/06/beautiful-cora.html

quick note.

i have so many overwhelming feelings that i want to blog and share with all of you but i lack the time and energy till i get cora's room together completely and out of my living room and kitchen (almost there!). i'm still not sure what 'statement' i want to make in there but it's important to me to make one for her and not just throw something together since she was so "unexpected" for lack of a better term. anyway, I just want to put a HUGE thank you out there in cyber world (before i have time for formal ones) to everyone for their sweet comments, prayers, mailings, love, generosity of time/service or talent. we have had baby showers and individuals bring cora needed gifts (piled all over my house, he he), we've been showered with delicious meals (we are open to a full time position to prepare us breakfast, lunch and dinner. lol) and LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOVE. We give it right back. I was telling a friend today that I feel like cora has been with me all my life and i forget when someone comes up excited. i'm like, "Oh yeah, she's new here! yes, isn't it great!?" :) we are fans of what has happened in our family like everyone else and just feel Cora is so special in her own way. I'm just so glad she has quickly melted in with our family. Evan is getting used to her, knowing that when she cries it is because she wants a bottle or pacifier (if there's one of either laying around, he brings it to her). today i was in the kitchen finishing some lunch preparedness while she cried for her 1 minute overdue bottle. all the sudden it was quiet and I came in to see if she fell asleep or something and there was evan who found a pacifier somewhere and was reaching over her 'room' (the pack n play), dangling it over her head, lowering it to her mouth. UGH! heart melting! I'm so proud of him for adjusting so quickly to an unexpected sibling. I can't wait till he wants to cuddle her.
Anyway, in closing, I'd like to thank my friend Denise G and her daughter Allison who stopped for a visit and among other things brought.... popcorn and ovaltine! :) You must reeeeeeaaaaallly love me. lol. alright, good bye for now. xoxo

Helping?

Does this look like a 20 month old helping .... Or hindering? Lol

-- Sent from my Palm Pixi