Lessons on Love

Azure has taught us to love our neighbors by: HUGGING THEM!
Azure approached this girl and after telling her hi with a big smile and wave, she hugged her.
They did this for about 5 mins. I was so glad I had the camera.
Azure has a gift to make other kids feel special by acknowledging everyone with their own personal "Hi". We pray we can help her continue to develop this gift throughout her life. Her actions remind me to acknowlegde others, say hi and even give hugs, regardless if I just met the person minutes before. What a sweet, special girl our Azure Marie.

Toddlerhood

Sometime during the last 2 wks Azure has become a toddler.
It is a strange concept to all the sudden realize your baby is not a little baby anymore.

She is quick to let us know when her opinions are different from ours. When she starts walking in an unsafe direction and we grab her hand to direct her another way, she lets us know that she is independent and doesn't want to hold our hands.

So, when we attempt to pick her up, she will lay down on the floor as to say, "Nope! I'm not moving."

Along with these new demonstrations of determination come inquisitiveness and the ability to soak things up like a sponge. A week or so ago she got ahold of my cell phone, held it to her ear (with her shoulder even) and said, "Hi!" Wow! Has she really witnessed me doing that enough that she's able to mimic that action completely? With the shoulder hold and everything? I was amazed.

(Zoom in on Azure's face for further proof that she is indeed Charles' daughter)

It's great that everytime we go to CA we get to have family reunions on both sides. Charles' parents came from ID to Tally's wedding too so we got to see them. And we also got to see Grandpa Leavitt and Claire again who were visiting from Hawaii.

If only looking out the airplane window had amused her longer than 5 mins. of our 8 hr flight back home.

Ode to my mother

My mother is AMAZING!

She helped me shower, washed my hair, and helped me get dressed everyday for 3 wks.

When she was here she cleaned my bathrooms, washed my dishes, made us food, did my laundry and got up with Azure.

She washes dishes immediately after she uses them. Sadly I did not inherit this quality, or even desire for that matter.

I hope I can serve my children as well as she has served and continues to serve me. I love you, Mom!

Aunt Tally gets married

It was such a pretty day on Saturday, perfect for a wedding in So Cal- clear and not too hot. We were so happy to celebrate with Natalee and Angel. (You were right on the spelling Julie :)

Hiding my cast :)

The proud parents

Love this pic of Azure w/ her great nana

Great grandparents

The beautiful bride

Natalee looked absolutely gorgeous and mostly everything worked out as planned. We are so happy to have Angel as a brother-in-law. He is awesome!

5 years ago today

Today 5 years ago I came home from my mission in La Paz, Bolivia. Unfortunately I don't have a scanner to post any of my mission pics.

This is the view I had everyday in my second area->

It was an incredible experience. I loved testifying of Jesus Christ everyday.

Charles and I look forward to the day that we can serve another mission together.

Splish Splashin'

Azure sure had fun in her kiddie pool this week

And playing the piano

Her words of the month are "Whasdat?" and "Whosdat?" So cute! It's fun to start communicating verbally with her even on a small level.

I'm so glad I caught a picture of her hugging her aunt Tally, precious.

And those two pesky molars finally came in. Now she has 8 teeth!

Pulling our hair out

I am definitely ready to be reunited with my dear husband. Tomorrow is 1 week since our parting and I miss him terribly. During the 2 yrs and 2 months we've been married the longest we've been separated is 2 days. When he flys in on Friday, it will almost be 2 wks. (I know I have nothing to complain about compared to military wives w/ deployed husbands)

I have appreciated the help of my family in taking care of Azure. It is not a pretty sight to change a poopy diaper one-handed. Yikes! I am ready to have this cast off! Let's hope for a week and a half left. It is a blue cast by the way. My sister is getting married Saturday and I'm the matron of honor. Her colors are blue and orange. Unfortunately my cast is not the same shade of blue. I'm sure gonna look great in these wedding pics: scratches, scars, scabs, bruises, cast, and all :) At least it's not MY wedding.

For the past couple months Azure has simultaneously sucked her thumb with one hand and twisted her hair with the other. Today instead of twisting, she decided to pull. Pulling large clumps of hair out of her head! Her hair has just recently started to grow longer, but if she keeps this up she won't have any hair left! Oh and guess what she did w/ her hair? She ATE it. I'm not sure if she really swallowed any but she surely put it in her mouth. "We do NOT pull our hair out and eat it Azure."