Happy Mother's Day

Dear Mom,

I just wanted to say Happy Mother's Day to the greatest mom in the world. I am so fortunate to have you in my life...I really don't know what I would do without you, you're my best friend! Thank you for being such a wonderful and loving mother throughout my life. There has NEVER been a time in my life where I have had to wonder if you loved me, or if you were going to be there for me in any way I needed you. I never worried if my mom was going to be in the crowd to watch/support me in anything I did. I have always known that you would love me no matter what, and I could come to you with anything. You were the perfect balance of a mother and a friend. You have always put our needs before your own, and have sacrificed so much for all of us over the years. I hope you know how much I love you and appreciate everything you have done and continue to do for me. I thank you for teaching me how to become a good mother by being the mother you were and still are. And now as I am a mother, I truely understand the magnitude of this calling and why you did/do so much for us. You are unlike anyone I have ever met, you live for your children and now your granddaughter; it is your greatest joy. I hope to be able to do for my children what you have done for us. I thank you for loving my daughter to no end and being so involved in our lives. You know exactly how to support me and help me learn without getting in the way of me being a mom to Elle. She loves you dearly as evidenced by how she smiles and reaches for you, and I know that she is always safe in your care and will be loved just as much as Rusty and I love her. She is blessed to have such a wonderful grandma as I am blessed to have you as a mother.

Thank you, and I love you!

Elle,

I love you more than you will know until you become a mother yourself; it is truely the greatest blessing I have been given in my life and I hope to live up to what you deserve. I thank my Heavenly Father for you everyday and and am humbled that he would see me fit to care for you, His child. I know I will make many mistakes along the way, but hopefully you will love me through them and know that I want to do what is best for you. I love watching you grow and learn. I love how your little face lights up everytime you look at me. Each and everyday is the most wonderful and rewarding experience; Thank you for making me a mother!

5 months!

My beautiful blue-eyed girl!

Big and tall and strong...that is the name of the song Rusty made up that he sings to her when he pulls her from lying on her back to standing. We started doing this when she was about 2 months old and now she LOVES to stand...she hardly ever sits!
I bought her some sunglasses for summer, we were going to go on a walk, so I decided to put them on her...she apparently doesn't mind b/c she didn't even touch them...not once! That's my girl!

This is the face she makes about 100 times a day, she's sniffing in and out of her nose really fast, it's hilarious and I never get tired of seeing her do it!

She's so much fun, everyday is something new and I can't believe how fast she has grown!

What she's doing now:

She loves her exersaucer, she beats and chews it to death;

she is contantly spitting/blowing raspberries or sniffing in and out;

loves playing on her tummy, can spin to get anything she wants...but if she's on a blanket and the toy is too far, she'll pull the blanket toward her until the toy is within reach!

Freaks out (in public) if I am out of sight;

Freaks out if (not so attractive) strangers try to talk to her;

loves her daddy...she lights up when he walks in the room and talks to her (but if I leave her with him and go run an errand, she's not too happy);

stares and moves her fingers when daddy signs to her;

has the cutest laugh, highpitched squeals, and deep gravely voice when she babbles!