Aaron, thanks for being such a sweet, loving, tender, consistent and wonderful father! You are our man and we love you so much!!!!!

Visiting Washington

Last week I was blessed to get to spend the week with my dear friend from grad school and her family and close friends. Autumn and I flew to Spokane and drove down to the Palouse (I found out this is a geographic name specific to this place - meaning rolling hills). This trip was very filled with many emotions. Excitement, sadness, thankfulness, heart ache, joy, love and so much more. It was a wonderful trip - exactly where we were supposed to be.

This is the first time I've traveled back to this area since October of 2008 when I was there for Grace's Memorial service. I know it is not even fair to say this - as the great loss in that month was not my own - but that time in my life was undoubtedly one the hardest. Watching a dear friend go through the worst of losses here on earth - losing a sweet baby. The overwhelming grief and sadness - and wishing more than anything that I was able to give more support than I could being so very far away. I was so grateful for a window into my friend's heart through her blog - to feel close and connected to her when I was hundreds of miles away. I floundered to figure out how to be a friend in unspeakable grief. This loss quickly became a significant part of my life. I longed for communications and opportunities to love my friend. Tears frequently fall from my eyes as I pray for my friends and as think about the tragedy.

This last week was filled with joy and happiness in celebrating the gift of their daughter born in May. What a treasure she is. We got to soak in her coos, sleepy smiles, tender cuddles and sweet essence. What a blessing. To see joy and happiness on my dear friend's face as she tenderly cared for her daughter warmed my heart to the core. This incredible joy and happiness is a new chapter in life.
The emotions of sadness, grief and longing will forever linger. Sweet Grace will be missed forever and the dreams of what she would be doing will always come to mind. She'd be giving her tiny sister sweet kisses, hugging Autumn, getting excited about the birds in the back yard and crawling all over her mommy and daddy, as 2 year olds do. Monday Grace had her second birthday. I'm sure she had a grand party in heaven loving Jesus with a beautiful crown of gold. Here on earth she was missed and honored. With a lovely gathering of close friends, we honored Grace, remembered her with fondness, sang her happy birthday and cried out in grief that she wasn't with us. I was so honored to be there, to love, hug, cry, remember, and honor. I lack words to express the experience of the last 21 months, there really aren't words - only an ache. An ache that will really only go away when we all get to heaven and can all be together again.
It was sad to leave. I wished I lived closer. Again phone calls, emails and ecards will have to suffice, as presence isn't an option. Looking forward to the next visit!

9 months old!

Sweet baby - you are now 9 months old!

The last month has been one of so many smiles and so much joy. For the most part you are such a happy happy baby. You bring so much love to our lives. Just last night you played in between your daddy and I and gave us snuggles, kisses, goobers, giggles and so many smiles. We are so blessed!
This month you have started doing exciting new things! The biggest one being taking your first steps on your own at 8 months 20 days! We are both excited and scared about this new milestone! You are just not quite old enough to know what no means or what might be dangerous, so we have to watch you like a hawk. You are so busy! You want to check everything out - small, big, wet, hard, soft... you inspect and then taste! Just yesterday you clapped with daddy and you still love playing peek a boo! You are more consistently waving good bye and still like to give big toothy kisses.

Milestones:
Imitated "mama" "dada" and "au um"
Said Ella when looking at our puppy, and occasionally "repeating puppy"
Coming to us when we call for you
Cruising along the furniture
Took your first independent steps
Yesterday you sat up from my leg and walked 5 steps to daddy
You got your first bug bite )-:
Went to your first MLB game





Your Stats:
Height 26 1/2" = 75%
Weight 16 pounds 13 ounces = 12%
Head 17" = 25%

Foods you have eaten so far - quinoa, rice, oatmeal, spelt, barley, avocado, applesauce, apricot, applesauce, sweet potatoes, green beans, peas, carrots, banana, puffs, mango, soy beans, pear, butternut squash, acorn squash, cherries, blueberries, plain Greek yogurt, ground chicken, kiwi, potato, watermelon, and honey dew.
Keep growing big and strong! We are so proud of you!
Love,
Mommy and Daddy

The Busy Life!

Wow - the last week has been crazy busy and so good! Last weekend my best friend from the college years came into town and stayed with us with her husband for another good friend's wedding. It was so nice to get to see her and spend some time with her husband, as the only other time we've seen him was during their wedding festivities! Sunday we were able to go to a Rockies game all together. After they left Aaron and I both felt like Brian Regan had stayed with us for the weekend - he is that funny! (-: Our friend's wedding out at Ellis Ranch was lovely - she even came in on a horse drawn carriage - so romantic! Monday night we were able to spend the evening with friends in Fort Collins and other friends that had come into town for the wedding! Then Tuesday night we had dinner with Aaron's best friend and his wife who were in town from Myanmar! Also this week Aaron and his dad were able to move the pluming and electric for the washer and dryer - the first step for us t be able to put a toilet in the basement. Thursday we took off for Glenwood Springs for me to work the weekend and to go to my best friend from HS's daughters 2nd birthday party! I think this may be the last time for a while that we get to see so many of our closest friends in such a short time! (and baby Autumn did awesome with all the activity!)

On other fronts - my co-worker busted his ACL surgery and is having surgery again at the end of the month. Sad. Means there will be more hours to cover and big holes in the schedule when I'm out of town for the next 15 weeks. )-:

Next week I leave to go see a dear friend in Washington! I'm so excited to see her and meet her new baby girl! That and any moment my sister in law will be going in to labor to bring my nephew into the world! Praising God for all the miracles of life around me!