Dear Lucy

Happy birthday dear Lucy. A year ago today you changed everything.  I spent months before your birth trying to imagine what it would feel like to be a mother. What you would look like? Would you like me? How would I know how to take care of you?  I spent months praying for you and wanting you more than I had ever wanted anything.  I spent months loving you before I even knew you. And then on March 25, 2012 you came. After a long, hard labor,  the first thing I thought when I saw you was,  "she has really long fingers ". The first few days of your life were the best of mine. You were so perfect and beautiful.  I held you and with a flood of emotion I thought to myself, "He knew. He knew that if I had my choice of any baby in the world, this is the baby I would have chosen". I still thank Heavenly Father every day that you're my daughter and that I get to spend all my time with you. 

Sweet Lucy, I pray for you everyday. I pray that you will remember who you are. You are my beautiful daughter and a beautiful daughter of God. I look at you and I know you will be an influence for good. You have taught me so much about our Father and Savior. You have brought the spirit into our home and I have felt the love our father has for us as never before. Thank you for being mine and blessing me everyday with your sweet spirit.  I love more than I can say.

Love,

Your mother

2 Days Old

Driving home from the hospital

 1 week

2 weeks

. Easter Sunday

 4 weeks

2 months

 3 months

 4 months

5 months

 6 months

 7 months

 8 months

 9 months

 10 months

11 months

Birthday Eve

I feel like this has been a really busy week, but I can't think of anything interesting to talk about.  Maybe the most exciting thing is that our bath has been running for the last hour and a half.  We gave Lucy her bath and can't get the water to shut off.  We called the emergency maintenance man, but nothing yet.  It's a good thing the tub drains faster than it fills. 

Lucy gets soaked because she sticks her head in the shower when we're showering. 

After her bath

 Aunt Mel, Cora, and Rebecca stopped by for a visit on Friday.  It was so good to see them and Lucy loved having them around. 

 Lucy got a ball and a set of keys for her birthday from the Hoemann's.  She loves her presents.  Thanks guys! 

 Love them.  Such a cute picture because she's holding her new toys. 

 I love seeing the way she sleeps. 

I was cutting strawberries up and putting them on her high char tray.  I went into the kitchen for a second and she stole a whole one off the table.  It looks like I don't need to cut them anymore.

Duck...Duck...Duck!

We came back from Stafford on Tuesday and enjoyed our last few days of spring break.  Lucy pretended she never took any steps until today.  She has shown no interest in walking to her mom or dad, but today she steadied herself enough to get to one of the Elders today. They came over for dinner and she let go of me and took a few steps right to one of them. It's weird, because she gets attached to strangers.  We went to an institute class on Friday and she wanted anybody but me to hold her.  She was going up to any sister in sight and reaching out her arms for them to hold her. 

We went to Farmville on Wednesday.   Bryan had to meet somebody he's working with for his Immigration Clinic, so we tagged along.  We went on a walking tour and then out to dinner.  It was a fun family outing. 

Lucy's mirror so we can see over her huge car seat.  She did great on the ride to Farmville, but the ride home...we don't want to talk about it. 

 Bryan's meeting was at the library so Lucy and I hung out in the children's section which was fun. A girl that looked about 6 brought Lucy a bunch of toys to play with.  As she was bringing over the toys she was talking to herself.  Imagine this in a very southern accent, "Babies.  Sometimes them are nice and sometimes them needs their beauty sleep". 

 This was at a furniture store we went into.  I don't really know what else to say about it.  

Lucy goosey.  I was ironing and she was being really good in her highchair, but apparently she was tired. She was snacking and then she just laid her head down. 

We went to the duck pond yesterday with the intention to feed the ducks.  As it turned out, we fed the duck. 

 Somebody from church gave us their play kitchen. Happy early birthday Lucy. 

 My quilt is finished! Thanks to my mom for the top and my mother-in-law for the quilting.  I finished putting to binding on all by myself (with a little help from youtube videos). 

Lucy's Big Day!

What a week.  It was so much fun, I'm even a day late making this post.  For starters, we got snow! A lot of snow. UVa cancelled classes for the first time in 12 years.  Lucy and I were very happy to have daddy home all day.  We had a lot of fun playing in the snow. 

It's also spring break starting today so we came to Stafford last Friday.  We got to go to the temple on Saturday for a session and a friend's sealing.  Grandma Jones stayed with Lucy which was great.  She's figured out that Grandma is fun to play with and she gives her cookies too. 

Last, but not least, we have big news from the Lucy Goosey.  She took her first steps today!  We were at  Grandma's house tonight and she let go of the table and walked a few steps to her Grandma.  It was so cute.  I didn't anticipate how proud of that baby I would feel after she walked.  She's so cute. 

Snow!

Tasting snow

 She and daddy were making snowballs.  Dad also made the snow man.  I think he's so cute (both the snowman and the dad)

Lucy and dad went sledding on a garbage bag

This is what Lucy does in the grocery cart . She likes to face the direction she's going.  

Penny was in town and I wanted to see her and Melanie today. Bryan had the car today so DeAnn let me take her van to Melanie's house. DeAnn expressed some concern that I would crash the van, but she didn't have anything to worry about.  I'm a responsible driver. 

Out and About

We had a normal low key week, which I was very happy about.  We started Monday off rough because Lucy didn't sleep well on Sunday night.  She can't seem to shake this cough.  On Monday we walked to meet dad for lunch after Lucy was having a rough time napping. I knew we needed to get out of the house because I wouldn't cry in a public place. She's been getting better ever since. We still have some coughing at night, but overall we're doing much better. 

Bryan gets credit for the most exciting thing that happened this week. It was the other morning and Bryan was hanging out with Lucy while I was minding my own business in the bedroom. While in the room I heard the unmistakable sound of glass shattering. I ran out to see Bryan holding Lucy in the hallway just outside our room. They both looked shocked and they were surrounded by a sea of glass.  I asked, "What was that?!" and he said calmly, "Her head".  It took one look up to see that the light fixture was missing off the light on the ceiling.  Oh boy.  I'm glad nobody was hurt. 

Here we are with dad at lunch.  She enjoyed the walk and it was good to get out. 

Lucy found an old pacifier. She didn't know what to do with it. 

 Lucy was helping me take the clothes off the line, but she wasn't having a very good time.  That is until I pulled her blanket off and gave it to her. 

 Her latest game.  She loves getting into the tub.  It's especially difficult when you're trying to shower and she pulls the curtain back and dumps stuff in. 

Lucy! Don't eat the soap!

Nothing exciting here. Seriously.  I just like watching her play when she's in her own world.