11 months old...

Reese will be 11months old tomorrow and each month seems to go faster than the last. I have to say that she is so much fun right now. She makes me laugh everyday and I am always amazed at how quickly she learns how to do something as well as how busy she is. I don't know if this is every child or if I am just a bad mother, but Reese is always falling and hitting her head. She wants to walk to badly and is getting very close and so she climbs up on everything. She loves to climb the stairs, walk with her walker, dance, and sing. She also loves running water! When she takes a bath, she loves to put her face and hands in running water. I have been trying to get her to not drink her bath water though. Yesterday, she was playing in my room and I was going to hurry and take a quick shower. She usually just plays and doesn't pay attention to me. We have a walk-in shower and I was getting my face wet, when I hear Reese. So I wipe my face off and look down and she is soakin wet in her pajamas and loving the water on her face. I was laughing so hard!

Here are a few of my favorite memories from the past month.  

 Reese finally started eating more normal food. She used to gag on everything, but now she is a champ. She loves Cheerios, craisins, eggs,  bananas, and carrots. She was eating Cheerios and was really tired and I found cherrios stuck on her face:) The next morning, we decided to do cherrios art again, but I was the artist:)

I love this picture of her hand. Her new thing lately is to reach under the door when you go to the bathroom. She acts like she is missing out on some amazing thing! (Don't worry, this is after I went to the bathroom AND washed my hands, then took the picture)

 So this is when ron went to the bathroom. I realized what she was doing on the outside of the bathroom.  She sticks her bum in the air and looks under. So funny!

Reese also loves playing with her cousin Isla. Reese just follows her around everywhere and wants to do everything Isla is doing. They have so much energy.

 Reese always climbs up to the fridge, but Isla opened the doors when I wasn't watching and I laughed when I took this picture, because I can totally see them being mischevious and getting into trouble. Reese being the instigator and Isla grabbing everything.

Nurture your marriage.

So last week, I taught a FHE on nurturing or working on your marriage. It's funny how at so many things in our life: jobs, cleaning, school, church callings, exercise, being a parent, etc. The list could go on and on, but one thing we think will just be blissfully happy without any work is our marriage. Well, at least my marriage would not be blissfully happy without nurturing it. This is something simple, but Ron and I just wrote down 10 SPECIFIC things each day that we were grateful for that our spouse did or who they are. I have to say, I love him more already. Here are a few things from this past week that I am grateful for.....
 -taking out the garbage cause I hate to do it.
-calling me on the way home from work to see if I need anything from the grocery store
- complimenting my sewing projects
-work so I can be a stay at home mom
-fold clothes and put them away
- Come home at lunch to see Reese and I
- always makes sure to give Reese and I a kiss when he goes to work and when he comes home
-  leads our family in scripture study and family prayer
- plays with Reese
-plays with our dogs
-cleans up dog poop cause I hate that too
- checks my online store for errors
- at night when I am sewing, he will sometimes come up and work on projects by me so we can talk.
- stopping at Applebees to get me my grilled oriental chicken salad with everything on the side.

- went to Costco for me.
- changes Reese's diarrhea diapers yesterday
- helps me clean up dinner
- fixed the printer
- oh yeah, again, take out garbage. I seriously hate it.
Such small things, but I am grateful for such a wonderful husband that works so hard for our family.

Things that matter most

 I have been meaning to catch up on my personal blog lately, but I have been kinda busy sewing. I was really scared to start selling dresses, but it has been a success so far and that gives me confidence. While I was working at the pilates studio, I was saving the money I earned to go towards our next adoption, so I figured I needed to find a new means to contribute. Anyways, once I opened my ReesiePie SHOP, I started getting orders and I was really excited. I am grateful for small promptings though that remind us of what is most important. I can see myself getting so wrapped up in making and selling dresses that I forget to do the things that really make a difference. I have made it a priority to never put my sewing in front of Reese or Ron, but I felt that I was starting to slack on my missionary efforts or just visiting others. We as women, have such a capacity to do good and I am grateful for small promptings that help us to remember not only who we are, but the things of most worth.  I love it when I get a good chastening! Grateful for a Heavenly Father that keeps me on track!

Another thing I am grateful for is the temple! Last week, Ron and I went to the temple and I had felt bad lately because before we adopted Reese, I made it a goal to attend the temple once a week. After we adopted and I need to add that the Ogden temple was being reconstructed, it has been a lot more difficult and we were making it once a month. Well, I was talking to my sister in law and she was telling me about a talk she had listened to about the desires of our hearts and I finally realized why it is so important to make your home a temple. I may not be able to go to the temple once a week anymore, but I can make my home a temple where the spirit dwells and Reese can feel of Heavenly Father's presence here. After feeling of this prompting, I didn't feel so disheartened, but a motivation to keep the spirit in my home.

10 months old

I know I say this every month, but I can't believe how quickly Reese is growing and learning. She takes in everything around her and I love being home to watch her. I absolutely love this stage in her life and in my life. She is such a cuddler and is jabbering away. Reese loves to crawl really fast and climbs up on everything.  She loves to play peek-a-boo, get tickled, jump, walk with you, get thrown in the air, and give kisses. She loves to give herself kisses on the fridge. 

 I have to admit that I have a little bit of separation anxiety. I don't know if it is just because she is our first or because our past failed placements, but I cannot be away from Reese very long or I just start to miss her so much. If there are big problems in my life that I feel like I cannot control, I just have to hold Reese because I am afraid she will be taken away. I need to get over these anxieties soon or else Reese will not be going to pre-school.

 Reese's smile. She is hilarious because she loves to show off her teeth. So proud!!

 Reese loves to play with the drawer under the oven. Not the greatest place to play but she bounces so that the drawer bangs in and out. We are trying to break this habit.

 Yes, everything goes on her head!

 Showing off her teeth again! She is seriously a cheeser.

 Reese is so funny! As soon as the light comes on for the flash, she turns toward the camera and smiles. 

 I love her more and more each day. I love being home with her and I love watching and teaching her new things. Being a mom is the best!!