All By Myself

Julia's new thing lately is to say, "I do it myself." I know all kids go through this phase but so soon? Man, little miss independent already. Anyway, she typically wants to dress herself or get in high chair all by herself. But the new thing is her princess puzzle. We have a Disney puzzle with 500 little pieces and she likes to get it out and find all the parts that go together but its just a little to hard for her to do. So we found a 24 piece puzzle the other day and she loves it. Everyday and probably 3-4 times a day she will want to sit and do her puzzle. Well she needed a lot of help in the beginning and last night she was able to put it together without any help at all! She was so proud of herself. I was at work and she knocked on the door and said, "come look, mommy." I went to the table and her puzzle was put together. Layne said she did it all by herself. She was so excited and said "daddy, no help me, all by myself!" It was so cute. I told her we would have to go get a few more so she could see if she can put those together ALL BY

HERSELF!!

Dressing herself

This is what Julia put on to wear the other day and she did it all by herself!!! Funny kid!!



I just love the pumpkin halloween socks pulled up as high as they will go with the polka-dotted snow boots :) And since her other flower hat is getting a little small I got her this new one....loves it just as much!!

Swimming

Julia loves to be in the water. So we have discovered a new place to go and swim while its still cold outside, our local Lehi rec center. She swims for free and the adults pay but its so worth it. Gets us out of the house and it wears her out for the rest of the day!! So today was a swim day. This time we invited Amy and Gramma Mott to come with us. They were excited to see Julia swim and see what the "bucket" was she always talks about.

The 'bucket' sits up really high on a platform and then fills with water. When its ready to dump out a little bell will chime and then hold on because the 'bucket' is ready to let loose!!

Julia and Gramma sitting under the bucket's down pour! And its not a light down pour either!

Julia at the end of the swim!!! It was a work out. When we leave its tradition that she gets to have a doughnut after each swim. The first time we went swimming at this pool I said we could stop at the store on the way home and get a treat and she happened to pick out a doughnut. So ever since then whenever we get done she is quick to remind me she wants her doughnut! I figure she's earned it!

You know when all the talks on Sunday and even the lesson you are teaching are all about the same thing or at least are strongly related in topic. I think this is the Lord's way of saying, "PAY ATTENTION!" and/or maybe just a subtle way of saying you need to work on some things.

Its just been one of those weeks where everything goes wrong or at least differently than you had hoped. Its been stressful and busy at home and with work. Its been overwhelming and discouraging at times BUT the Lord was teaching me something all week or at least preparing me to hear what I needed to hear at church today. Sometimes if we just sit and listen or in my case take notice of the spirit and what its trying to say to me then the things that seem so hard and overwhelming really aren't so bad. Not as bad as we think anyway.

EVERYTHING always works itself out. Maybe not the way we want or how we plan but it always works out. I have to remind myself of this daily!! And this isn't anything new for me...not a big "A-HA" moment but just a little reminder to put God first in my life! When we do that simple little thing all the unnecessary things fall away and all other things are put into there proper place. Life doesn't seem as hard or as stressful when we do the things we are asked to do!

Tender Moments

I was lying down with Julia in her new bed the other night trying to get her to go to sleep. I told her we had to lay still and be quiet. She was sharing her blanket and patting my shoulder. I told her I wanted her to sing me some songs so I could sleep. The one she knows best and most all the words is to the song"I Love to see the Temple." So she sang that to me all by herself. I would try to help with her certain parts and she would just 'ssshhh' me and keep going. I was amazed at what she knew. She sang a few other of our favorites. It was a great end to my day!

I wasn't able to capture her singing that night but I made another attempt and this is the result. She is singing a few other songs plus the one she knows the best.....enjoy!

Pig Tails

I asked Julia if she wanted to put her hair in Pig Tails today and she said sure. So her hair is finally long enough to fit them in without falling out all over. After I was done putting them in she wanted to go take a look in the mirror. They probably won't last long but they sure are cute!!

Happy Valentines Day!

Layne and Julia

2 VERY SPECIAL people in my life!

Don't know how I would live without you 2! Love you both

so very much. HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!!

Count Down to Disneyland

Julia and I made a paper chain today to help us count down the days until we go to Disneyland. Its a month away and we are all super excited. I think Layne is the most excited of all. We leave March 8th and get to meet up with Grandma and Grandpa Cromwell. Its going be so much fun! Everytime Julia sees a plane she says 'we go on plane, mommy.' So she is excited to even ride on the plane. And whenever we bring it up she says she wants to go see Mickey and Minnie. We can't wait....30 days and counting :)

Big Girl Bed

This weekend Grandpa Cromwell came down from Preston with Julia's new bed. We had been talking about it all week with Julia to let her know her new 'big girl' bed that would be coming. She was so excited and probably told everybody about it too! Saturday came and daddy and grandpa set up her new bed and she loved it. She wanted everyone to come and sit down on her bed and told everyone to take off their shoes first. I was gone most of Saturday and wasn't able to see her sleep in her bed until I got home and she was sound asleep in her bed at nap time and bed time. She looked so small in the 'big bed.' I was a little worried that she would get up and not stay in her bed but I asked Layne and he said she will play around on the bed for awhile but never got out and finally fell asleep. So nice to hear but she may get wise and realize I can get out and play. The first night she did fall out of bed and was crying in her door way for us but went right back to sleep when we put her back in bed. And its weird to see her just walk out of her room after her naps. In the mornings she still yells out for mommy or daddy. And we really hope this will help with her potty training. Its seems to have been working already. Last night she would call out to us and say she had to go potty and we would just go check on her. So hopefully she will eventually learn to just get up and go. Kinda sad that she is no longer in her crib and not such a little baby anymore...she is growing up to fast. Hopefully we will be able to fill up the spot in the crib soon! And a big THANKS to Grandma and Grandpa Cromwell for the new 'BIG GIRL' bed.