The 14 month walk

It's official, as of yesterday! She walks and can do it freely. Over the past week, she took up to 12 steps on her own, but yesterday she made a record 50! Now she's beginning to walk like a pro. I'm so excited!

And We're Back

We had a rewarding visit with family and now we're back again to Provo. Even though it's been only a week, it takes a while to unpack things and restock the fridge and get things caught up and rolling again in one day after a blah 4 hours on the road. Avery did so well through everything today- good job! I had some super great buys at the grocery store and it lifted my spirits greatly from this exhausting day. It feels good too to sit down and type a little on my blog. Wish I had some pictures. These are some things I look forward to as I settle back down at home:

(1) working on brian's scrapbook (2) getting avery on the playground (3) feeling caught-up and cleaned-up (4) setting up some new goals (5) playing with our friends

Well, g-night everyone!

Out in the Country

We spent these last 7 days in Kimberly Idaho with family, helping do some work with the new add on at Brian's parent's house and landscaping at Shelly & Bryce's house. Lot's of digging! It felt good to be productive. There's something about that body-aching hard work that makes you feel like you've really accomplished something.

They do live in the country- out where the smallest lot is at least 2 acres. More people than not own horses or cows or some type of farm animal. I see many, many fields of crops (varying in sizes). Funny thing is that I don't feel very "hick-ish" when I'm there. I felt more hick-ish in Tennessee where people talk southern and are redneck in the country. The country in Idaho is very pleasant (probably because many people are LDS and don't drink and swear and wear extremely distasteful clothing). I like the values the country holds: Lots of hard workers (my husband being one). I'm amazed at how much he knows how to do, and the things he's picked up from his dad.

I doubt we'll live in the country someday, but it's nice to get a piece of it every once in a while. I like it. I like family, too. That's for sure.

Just Do it

By mistake, we had the same Relief Society Lesson as last week on the Holy Ghost. I was actually very grateful for this since I missed half of last week's for Avery. The topic discussed was how it is often hard to know if you're being prompted or guided by the Holy Ghost on certain things or not. I've learned that in many cases, it doesn't matter if you feel directly prompted by him or not; if it seems to be a good or decent action to take, JUST DO IT. (All good things are of God.) What have you got to lose? Of course, some cases take more scrutiny, but I'm not talking about those. And I know that we can't go around acting on every single good prompting we have either, but if it's in your power to do it, do it! Don't waste time debating on it.

That's actually another issue of mine. Making decisions. I debate a LOT and take forever to get things done because of it. One day I practiced making decisions. It's amazing how many decisions we make in one day- in one minute- we are CONSTANTLY making them! The way I practiced was to simply decide on an action then say aloud "I made a decision" to finalize it so I wouldn't continue to debate back and forth what to do. It was liberating! Sometimes I choose the less best way, but I'm proud that I chose and acted. With practice, I think I'd get much better and quicker.

Here are an example of decisions to be made constantly:

• Should I do dishes now or wait until after lunch?
• Should I shower before Avery gets up or after I've taken a walk?
• Should I make this or that for lunch?
• Should I use gel in my hair today?
• What do I wear today?
• Should I take the car out to run errands or wait until a later date?
• Should I buy cheap cream cheese or get the brand name that's on sale yet still not as cheap?

Do you have a hard time making decisions?

Self Discovery

I just read my friend, Jenni's, blog. She wrote about Retail Therapy and I couldn't help but agree with every single thing she said! It reminded me of a few days ago when I took a survey for Relief Society and had a self discovery. One of the questions was: "What is your favorite way to spend your free time?" I thought, "well, i like getting outdoors and roughing it a little... but i can't say it's my favorite, I just like it. I love to play games, but that's not a me thing- it's a group thing." hmm... as much as I deny it inside, I feel like somewhat of a shopaholic myself! Retail Therapy. That's gotta be it! Clearance, Sales, the whole nine yards. It just feels good to shop around, find good deals, get out of the house, yes, BUY something. Even though I, too, fight buyer's remorse, I can't hide the fact that I get a high from going shopping. So yes, I've come out of the closet- I DO love shopping. It's my favorite thing to do in my free time. I even like grocery shopping too. Crazy.

Congratulations, Brian!

Today Brian defended his thesis for graduate school here at BYU in front of a panel of 3 professors and the general audience (fellow lab members and family). Let me just tell you- he did SO WELL! And I'm not the only one to fend for his brilliance and hard work. One professor (Cox) said that Brian's is one of the most complete and well-written thesis' that he's ever read. Another (Magleby) commented on how much Brian's writing has improved (I second that, because I'm the one to help him edit and I can see the difference!). The presentation itself went so smoothly and I was very impressed with the general flow and comprehensiveness. He not only passed his thesis, but he was only asked to make very minor revisions (most people who do this have to make larger revisions). As a part of his thesis, he has also designed a compliant bicycle brake that just received a provisional patent. Well done, Brian. The title of his thesis is: "DEVELOPMENT OF A COMPLIANT MECHANISM SCHEME AND UTILIZATION OF A LIBRARY OF COMPLIANT MECHANISMS TO FACILITATE DESIGN."

Celebrating at Tucanos! :)

First Steps

Look at our baby! She's been so ready to do this for at least a couple months and she finally decided to just go for it. In fact, her first unassisted steps were not between us, they were from the coffee table to the kitchen chair without either of us coaxing her. In fact Brian only noticed the last 2 steps (it must have been about 5 to get there). We got so excited, we began to practice with her with the video going. She was so thrilled with our sudden excitement that she could hardly stand it (litterally)... she'd take a few fast steps and dive into our arms with laughter. I call it laugh-walking. Here is our baby girl: she can laugh-walk! LOVE HER LIKE CRAZY!

Commentary on church activity

I had a meeting with Halie Stout (Relief Society president) today about visiting teaching (I am a district supervisor). We got to talking about how some sisters we know seem to have deep and outstanding testimonies (rock hard), but don’t always do what you would expect from someone with such a solid testimony. You don’t always see them at church; they’re not an active visiting teacher; they don’t participate in any activities; they just don’t seem to be truly converted. I understand that I look at this with blind eyes, because I probably don’t know any of them enough to make this kind of judgment. Who knows what they do behind the scenes or what they’re going through or what kind of intents are in their hearts; I might think differently if I knew. All the same, it boggles my mind. I’m not seeing a “follow-through” on their convictions, it seems. Perhaps there is a bigger moat in my own eye; I should probably cultivate more love for the people around me.

Halie and I discussed the unmatchable blessings that come from active membership in the church. Simply coming to Relief Society each week brings an unfailing strength to our testimonies every time. We would want that for everyone. Do they know what they’re missing? Is what they’re engaging in instead compensating for that? I would think not.

However, perhaps these are just our convictions and testimonies. Everyone has their own strengths and weaknesses—something to bring to the table. Maybe these other peoples’ rock-hard testimonies are just as valuable whether or not they are active participators in the church and their callings. (Still, just saying that seems totally contradictory). Yet, I have to hand it to them because the way they bear testimony and feel love for others is beyond where I am at. I admire that. There is something to be admired in everyone. Regardless, I hold strong the belief that no matter who you are, it is imperative that you cultivate the strength of church activity. For the benefit of yourselves and others, but mostly for the building up of Zion.

Vocabulary

Everybody has to start somewhere. This is the vocabulary Avery has picked up so far:

• Uh-oh
• Bye-bye
• Yeah
• Hi

She also does well communicating with her gestures and expressions (she has many more than just these):

• Shakes her head or pouts when she's done eating
• Shoves something away that I offer if she doesn't want it
• Points to the things she wants
• Does all sorts of eager sounds/grunts when I offer something she wants (she knows what bread and cracker mean without even showing her)
• Lays her head on me when she's tired or just zones out
• Waves when someone is getting ready to head out and waves when she goes to bed

I have a funny story:

So, whenever Avery does something out of frustration (like shove all the food off her tray), I get very stern, point my finger, look her in the eye and say "NO." (Kind of like "bad dog!") So she gets the picture quickly and most of the time she gets really sensitive, sticks out her lower lip involuntarily, and begins to burst in alligator tears until I calm her (but that's a whole 'nother funny story- I'm not insensitive, I promise). This one day, I begin to be extra persistent at giving her a sippy drink even though she kept shaking her head, avoiding the straw. Finally she got fed up with me, gave me a very stern look, pointed her finger and gave a solid grunt that obviously mimicked "NO." I couldn't help but secretly laugh at how well she picked up my expression, even though she better not get too good at this!

The menu these days

I've come to somewhat of a crossroads with what to feed my child. She's finished up her baby food pretty much and has two teeth with two on the way. When I go grocery shopping I have to think harder about what I can feed her three times a day (plus snacks). I love how the produce guys at Maceys give her a free banana to eat every time I see them (but that's another story). I am surprised at how well she can eat what we're eating, but there are still occasions when I need something specifically for her. Thankfully, Avery is not a picky eater and I have great pride as a parent to know that my one-year-old will gladly eat a can of cold green beans or corn and actually prefers to have a real meal to eating snacks or drinking milk all day. She's doing better about drinking more these days (yay!), so I'm slowly giving up nursing and she is okay with it. I'd say we might nurse every other day now.

We have to be more careful with orange sections with the skin still on & apples with the peel still on. I probably should have know better all along, but those are pretty scary for her. Of course she's still not ready for hard fruits and veggies, nuts, and anything she can't "sog" to death.

This is what Avery's menu is like these days...

Breakfast: pancakes with milk or some cereal sogged in milk and spoon fed by us (she's not ready to try feeding herself with a utensil). She's not into juice yet. Fruit is always a treat (canned pineapple and mandarins or a banana are her favorite).

Lunch: steamed carrots or broccoli, canned green beans or corn, bread, the last of her rice cereal and canned meat.

Dinner: The same as lunch or whatever we're eating. She likes pretty much anything we put in front of her. Pasta, rice dish, beans, whatever. She also doesn't mind chocolate! :)

By the way, while we're on the subject of eating, we LOVE Avery's Bumbo with tray!!!!! It's so easy to assemble and clean up after eating. We're totally BIG fans!!!

Easter

For Easter & General Conference, we headed up to Grandma & Grandpa Great's house in Ogden. Many were there to help Uncle Dan (and family) tear apart their new house in Tremont for remodeling. We enjoyed taking time with family. On the way home on Sunday, we got to visit my brothers (and families) in Bountiful, too.

I'm proud that Avery is doing better drinking water/milk from her sippies. Here we let her have at a water bottle. She didn't do too bad...

...until then. (haha)

But she still loved it!

All the cousins love Avery. She loves to play with them too! Tallin and Koy showed her their work bench.

Grandma got Avery a new swim suit and cover-up for Easter! You'll see it when we go swimming. I couldn't help pulling out Avery's halloween bunny ears. :)

Just us back at home and trying to entertain ourselves without cousins.

That's my pretty girl.

Great Encouragement

In my recent scripture studies, I've come across these scriptures that I know will give me continued strength. I love them and will have to display them somewhere to remind me.

2 Timothy 3:12-17 (Paul speaking)

(12) Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution (13) But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. (14) But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; (15) And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. (16) All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: (17) That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

Luke 22:31-32 (The Lord speaking)

(31) And the Lord said, Simon (Bonnie), Simon (Bonnie), behold Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: (32) But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.