10 MONTHS!

I cannot believe that in two short months I will have a 1 year old. This has to be one of my favorite ages (I say that like I've been a mother of all ages - I haven't, but I have been around a lot of kids in my day). From when they are 6 months up until they turn 1 - it is incredible how much and how quickly they learn and change. Man, I continue to fall more and more in love with this little girl. We love you Darla Anne.

one little indian

Ward Halloween Party - our little indian (with her elephant friend Jane)

She is already posing for photos.

Baby Boom-Box

Cereal box prizes have really moved up in the world. This little boom box (actually it's a guitar hero amplifier) that she is playing with is the toy of the week found inside of Frosted Flakes. Every time it starts playing music she shakes it, as you see in the video. She often does that same hand movement with any music or song. Cute girl.

Refreshing

You know that sound you make after taking a long, cool drink of something. That release of air (no not a burp) that almost sounds like the opening of a coke can. Well the other day Erik taught Darla to make that sound after she drinks from her sippy cup. Now she does it just about every single time. And whenever Erik or I go to drink something she will make the sound as she watches us. We can't help but laugh.  This morning when I was nursing her, she stopped and looked up at me and made that perfect sound followed by the biggest smile I've ever seen, just waiting for me burst into laugher. Of course I started laughing and she just went right back to nursing with a little smile on her face because she knew how smart she was. That had to be the best way to start the day. I have a clever girl on my hands. 

Make a Wish

How hilarious is that! Erik and Darla play on the LoveSac with blankets and all until her hair is just like a dandelion. I love it! I'm so proud of Erik for catching it. 

Before & After

           
                   
                           
                                     

The first two pictures are a typical sight. She wakes up from her naps with hilarious hair. But then we like to create even more crazy hairdos in the tub. She LOVES the bath. Rocking her to sleep last night I was enjoying the aroma of Johnson-Johnson baby lotion. Delicious. 

Quirky? I've been tagged -

So when I found out that I had been tagged I didn't even know what I was supposed to do - I still kind of don't, may be that is the first quirky thing about me. I'm not up on all the blog lingo.

These are some things I've thought of though,

1. I wear a toe ring and have worn the same toe ring since about my jr. year of high school. I love it. I'm not going to lie.

2. If I can I drink out of a glass with a straw. I love straws. 

3. When I find a song I like I listen to it non stop for a week or two and then I get sick of it and have to find a different song. 

4. I love q-tips. Cleaning out my ears is one of my favorite after shower routines. 

5. I don't enjoy naps one bit. They make me more tired. 

6. Shaving my legs? What's that? From about the end of October till April I don't even think about shaving. 

That's all for now. 

I tag Ali, Bren, and Kim

Short, but Sweet.

I don't know why it cuts off the tip of her head, but you still get the point.

Purple

What about that purple dress!!!! We went and found some outlets this weekend and got some great deals on a few things for Daddy and Darla. Cheesecake Factory was a delightful date on Friday and dessert wasn't too bad either :) We enjoyed watching the stand up comedian Jim Gaffigan once again. If you haven't watched him before it is a MUST! Hilarious. My face was hurting from laughing. There is nothing better than a good laugh.

Fish Face

This week she not only has figured out how to suck in those little cheeks of hers, but now waves hello/good-bye, plays pat-a-cake, and can climb the stairs (with supervision of course!). Thank goodness it's FRIDAY! Despite all the battles of sleep this week, Erik was able to get his first of many A's on a Grad level test - way to go Daddy!

I've started to get extremely excited for the holidays. It seems like this time of year always flies by. Before I know it we'll be in Salt Lake celebrating Darla's 1st birthday! Crazy. I believe Darla is going to be an Indian for Halloween (thanks to Afton for her costume). Erik and I are glad to have a little someone to tote around so we can get some candy - yum. Strolling down the isles at Target the other day I was tempted by the oodles of candy displayed but then I looked in my cart at Darla and realized I get to go Trick-or-Treating this year! I guess one way to stay young is to have children, right?

long day, long night - short life

         

        

          

An hour later, I'm lying her down in her crib - she stays asleep. 2 1/2 hours later I'm lying her down in her crib - she stays asleep. 2 minutes later, I'm lying her down in her crib - she stays asleep. I believe the most repeated wish of a mother is- please stay asleep. My little Darla isn't a sleeper. In those times of bouncing, rocking, and soothing I've learned more than I've wanted to know about myself. I have also learned much about Darla as well as our Heavenly Father. He seems to bounce, rock, and soothe us our whole life long - why then can't we endure it for a few hours?

"1, 2, 3, 4, tell me that you love me more."

Look at Erik. I couldn't stop myself from taking a few pictures of him last night when he got home from the Priesthood Session. Oh, he is handsome.  And some may wonder from where Darla got her blue eyes. Yesterday Erik said, "Man, I am going to be on my knees my whole life. Right now I'm on my knees playing with Darla and soon enough I'll constantly be on my knees praying for her."

Darla pretends everything is a phone. Is this a sign of things to come?

Darla is a little reader. She will sit and flip through books all day long. (Thanks to Crazy Grandma for her two new books.)

She is my little crawler. Right now I can hear her sneaking behind me into the kitchen to see what crumbs she can find - yes we do feed her.

Darla stood in front of the laptop pretty much the whole first session of conference. She would get so excited and wave at the speaker. 

words-worth

I have just been reading some of my favorite blogs (Ali, Cath, Trishy, and Liz) and I would like to thank them for the way they write. May be I should put a bit more thought into what I post instead of spiting out whatever I can, as fast as I can. You know, I was going to be an English major. That didn't last very long - especially when I realized that I had to read a novel size list of books. But words and their worth have always intrigued me. I remember telling someone once that one of my passions is words. And it's true. May be it's descriptive language, or small details placed just right. Perhaps I should hire one of my favorite writers as my editor to help me along. Perhaps. I love words.

Nelson Look-alike Meter

MyHeritage: Family tree - Genealogy - Celebrity - Collage - Morph

Well for all of you who are convinced that Darla is PURE RICHARDS, and for those of you who are convinced that she is PURE NELSON - I guess she is a pretty good mix! :)