Ada, 11 months

How did this happen? Eleven months? Wasn't I just begging for my epidural? Staring out my hospital window at the "U" on the mountain, grateful for this most auspicious of views? Joking with Chris about how awesome it would be if this girl appeared by noon--and then surprised when we weren't too off the mark? Staring into her sweet face for the first time? Demanding my discharge papers? Where has this year gone?

Straight to my heart is where it's gone, and I don't mind a bit if that's cheesy. This has been quite the year. I know I haven't documented every little detail of her development the way I did with W. I hope one day when she sees this, she will be flattered by the truth that I would so much rather be living and experiencing her moments with her than be preoccupied by preserving them. Documentation is important, but it takes a decided backseat to getting caught up in her world, her magic. She has burst into her own tiny person.

*Has discovered singing in a big way
*Shakes her finger for "No more monkeys jumping on the bed!"
*Is taking steps
*Still just her two bottom teeth, but if my eyes aren't deceiving me, it looks like she'll be getting at least 4 more very soon. Poor girl!
*Has become super clingy to me. Maybe because Chris was gone for so long? I don't know.
*Finds W's sippy cup every day and drinks it until she's discovered--which always ends in hysterics for all parties involved. This has gotten to be such a bad habit that I've taken to giving her her own sippy cup with milk in it (I know, she's not supposed to have cow's milk for another month--whatever. I give her strawberries, too, now, and she's just fine).

*Has become interested in books; won't sit still very long while being read to, but will read to herself.
*Waves to people
*Plays "Jaws" with Chris (when he pretends to be a shark and chases her around while singing the Jaws theme music, then chews on her when he catches her; also, sometimes she will be the shark and sing the theme song and chase Chris, which is even funnier)
*Dances to a beat
*Says "Hi," especially to her own reflection in the mirror
*Loves bath time
*Likes playing "blast-off" with Chris
*Finds every single stray piece of paper-like substance that might be lurking in various corners of our home; then tears it to bits; then tries to eat it

*Has a crush on Elliott Buehler, one of the elders in our ward that Chris home teaches. We sit in front of him and his wife in Sacrament meeting and she flirts shamelessly. Seriously, all through the meeting she makes eyes at him and giggles at him. She is not this way with anyone else, and it's hilarious. We think maybe it's because he has a beard like Chris's and reminds her of him? In any case, she's nuts about him.

High Five for Friday

It's Friday! And there's lots to be excited about this week:

1. Chris is home from Ecuador: He spent a little more than 2 weeks there with a geochemistry professor from the U doing research on how mining practices are affecting the environment. Pretty amazing, no? Now he's back with an undergraduate research position (yes, I'm bragging. Who cares? This man is great!) analyzing samples. Great stuff for grad school applications, which is right around the corner. Oahu? Portland? Santa Cruz? Salt Lake? Where WILL we end up?

2. Ada taking steps! She was hesitantly taking a few steps here and there, but the night before Chris got home, she decided hesitancy was overrated and is now figuring it out pretty well, though crawling is still her preferred modus operandi.

3. Great weather. This week has been beautiful and filled with outdoor activities and exercising. We've taken walks, eaten out on the patio/balcony, shopped at City Creek, gone to the new exhibit at the zoo, and tonight we're headed for one of our favorite summer traditions, Concerts in the Park, just down the street. How's THAT for a run-on sentence?

4. Discovering 'gift packages' in the beauty department. I love a good deal, especially when that deal includes getting otherwise pricey favorites at a steep discount. Philosophy's gift sets were the discovery today. Seriously, who'd have thought you could save so much? That's, of course, if you find a gift set where nothing will go to waste. Which I did. Which makes me happy.

5. Purchasing some much needed organizational tools. We are sort of overflowing our space here. Part of this reason is that I am not a very good organizer. I lack the ability to look at a space and know how to make it look neat and crisp, which is a shame, because I'm a huge fan of orderliness, straight/clean lines, etc. But I have purchased some bins that should help with storage, and am hoping to add some in-closet organizers soon. I watched Mary Poppins this week, and am inspired by her ability to snap! put things in order.

So, anyway, that's what's going on around here. How was your week?