I Know...

I have a one year old living in my house. Major posts are in order, but maybe if I keep delaying them I can stay in denial that she's not really one. Hopefully soon I'll find time to get on the computer and make a "real" post. Between Emme, work, and my calling there just doesn't seem to be enough hours in the day. Or to rephrase that enough energy in the day. I'm enjoying that girl so much.

And because every post is way better with a picture here is my little walrus.

Nailed It

I found this on Pinterest today and laughed until I cried. Man, does this sum up my baking skills. Like the time I used pancake mix instead of flour for cookies. Yeah they were fluffy alright.

Lagoon 2011

I'm trying to catch up on the crazy summer we've had. The day after our family reunion my family did our annual Lagoon Day. I was happy I could go on rides this year since last year was too close to my heart procedure and I wasn't able to ride. I'm excited for when Emme gets to ride the rides. She mainly stayed in her stroller this year, but enjoyed all the fun things to stare at.

Love this picture of the three strollers.  I'm so glad to have Emme so close in age to so many cousins.

Love her laid back attitude.

Blake, Teagan, and Bridger on Rattlesnake Rapids.

With grandma watching mommy on the ride with Makadee.

Surprising our crowd with funny faces on the way down.

Love Makadee's face.  She thought I was hilarious because well, I am. :)

The only ones daring enough for the rocket.

Look babe, No hands!!

Oh and P.S.  Emme turns ONE tomorrow.  YIKES!!!!

Pure Joy Pt. 2

Gregg's sister Staci took this photo the night we found out about Emme.  The best thing we could come up with in a hurry to share the good news with Gregg's parents was to tape a piece of paper to one of Herc's bandannas. 

This is what happiness looks like.

Pure Joy

2 Nephi 2:25
Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy.

September 1st will be a day we never forget.  It started on my way to work. I was down that day and felt the need to pray. I turned off the radio and poured my heart out like I had done so many times. I told Heavenly Father I was trying, REALLY trying to live in faith, but I wasn't doing a good job at it. I felt we had a baby coming soon, but every day went by without an email from a potential birth mom or even a hint we were being looked at.  I'll always remember rushing home from work to meet our caseworker after finding out we needed to sign paper work.   The shock of reading I was getting a baby. The deep gratitude that Heavenly Father did remember me and has a plan for me. Talking to Emme's aunt and setting up a time to meet {M}.
Most of all I'll remember the JOY. PURE JOY I felt that night. We called each of our siblings and my parents and shared the spectacular (there's not even a word good enough) news. We had screamers, bawlers, and just plain excited responses. A few people even collapsed to the ground. It made us realize how much everyone was on our team. After having so much bad news from us it was the best thing ever to give them good news.

This year we celebrated by getting in our Utah gear for their first game and going to dinner at Olive Garden because that's where we met Emme's birth mom and aunt. We reminisced over pasta and proudly showed off the girl that's made our lives amazing.

Tubes

At the end of June we were finally able to get tubes in Emme's ears. All went well and we had a good experience.  I only wish they'd let us keep the hospital outfit because she looked so dang cute in it.  Emme was grumpy after they woke her up, but it was mainly due to her being hungry. After we got food down her she was fine and back to normal. A girl after my own heart.  The surgery was so fast I barely had a chance to get on Facebook before the doctor came to talk to us.  

One thing that was cool was her anesthesiologist told us both of his kids were adopted and he only had a days notice for one of them. For some reason this made me feel safer knowing my child was in his care. Maybe because I felt more connected to him. Funny how knowing others have adopted makes you automatically understand them and all they've been through. 

Emme has had one infection since the tubes, but it was so nice just to do drops instead of taking her to the doctor and doing an antibiotic that makes her sick. It confirmed to me even more that it was a wise decision to put tubes in her ears.