This past week has been full of rain and left over dinners. 🙂 Poor Ben! 

I have managed to take lots of pictures of Hallie to show you what she’s been up to. 

She decided she now likes binkies. We have tried since she was born to get her to take one, hoping that she would cry less or stop using me as a pacifier. She has refused until last week. She found one of her binkies in her toy bucket and sucked on it for like 10 min. She did this multiple times until we decided that we weren’t going to let her start this habit now. It’s TOO late! 

I think this picture is hilarious! Another new thing Hallie has picked up is throwing Tantrums. Whenever we take something away from her that she’s not supposed to have or tell her no she starts crying and waves her arms in the air. It lasts about 30 sec and then she’s over it. It’s annoying but funny and I’m sure it’s just the beginning.

  Our good friends the Hooper’s gave Hallie this high chair. Thanks Stacey! I tore up some green beans for her and she went to town! It’s amazing how good she is at making messes. I hope she got as much in her mouth as she did on the floor. 🙂 She’s getting so BIG!!

I just HAD to post this picture. While she was eating her green beans I kept calling her name trying to get her to look at the camera and this is what I got. She’s such a cheeser! I love it. 

Last night some of the ladies in my ward and I had a Girl’s Night Out. It was so fun! 

Thanks girls for making me feel young again!

This past weekend we made a quick trip to Philadelphia. Ben’s brother Brogan was there on a business trip and we thought we’d go see him and all the history sites. We didn’t decide to go until Thursday so we packed light and made the most of our two day trip. (I had to talk in Church on Sunday.) 

We stayed in a sweet hotel with a great view of the city and brought Hallie’s bed so she wouldn’t get used to sleeping with me again. There is so much to see in Philly! Ben and I both have a passion for the history of our country. I tutored American Heritage in college for 3 years and Ben’s career goal is to teach the principles of Liberty in a college setting.  We loved seeing where the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution were drafted and signed. There was a special feeling in the room. It was SO GREAT! 

Here are lots and lots of pictures!!!

The room where the Constitution Convention was held and Signers Hall

         Independence Hall                            First Woman President. 

          Hallie checking out the view from our room

                                           The Famous Rocky statue and stairs 

       Me and Hal                                   Town Hall                           Center of the city

       Philly Cheesesteaks!!!!               Hal checking herself out in the Hotel room

                                          Famous LOVE statue.

My first Mother’s Day was wonderful! Last year I was seven months pregnant on Mother’s Day and never could have never imagined the change that was going to take place. Being a Mom is the hardest, most challenging, patience trying, worthwhile, and rewarding thing I have ever done.  I love my little Hallie more than I ever thought was possible. My heart has grown by leaps and bounds these past nine months. I have also gained a whole new respect and love for my own mother, who as I am told, had to put up with a very stubborn baby herself (me!) Mom I love you! 

This past Sunday I found myself staring at Hallie as she slept and with tears in my eyes I thanked the Lord that he has trusted me with her. She is my little best friend, my first child, my munchkin lover (as I often call her), and my huge blessing.  

Here are some pictures from Mother’s Day

With that said Hallie turns 9 months today!! As I watch her play I am blown away by how big and smart she is. She is one determined and strong willed little girl. My friend Cheata took some amazing pictures of Hallie at the beach yesterday. Here is just a small, small sample of what turned out. 

More pictures to come. Thanks Cheata they are AMAZING!

It’s been along time since I’ve posted pictures of Hallie (besides her sleeping.) So today you get a bunch of cute, but random pictures. Here’s just a taste of what we’ve been up too. 

Taking walks (Yes, oddly enough it was so cold she needed a coat and hat.) 

Learning new tricks-like how to open drawers, climb inside, and then throw everything out. 

Giving LOTS of kisses!!

Listening to music on mom’s new ipod. (Thanks Ben!!)

Finding a pretzel bag mom and dad forgot to put away, dumping it out, then eating. YUMM

Doing whatever it takes to get books off of the book shelf.  

(We put the box in front of the shelf to stop her, but she just learned to crawl on TOP of the box to get what she wants. The little stinker!! You should see the lengths we go to now to stop her or at least slow her down.)

Happy Mother’s Day tomorrow!! 

My Brother’s wife, Katrina, called me yesterday to inform me that I’m going to be an aunt. Yeah!! Hallie will have a cousin around her age.  Maybe she won’t always hate family reunions. 🙂

On another note, my mother in law, LaRae, is having a mother’s day give-a-way on her blog. She wants to know your funniest mom moment. The best story wins an amazing handmade silky blanket (made out of lingerie material!) 

 Go enter and good luck!!

After 9 months Hallie is now sleeping on her own!! To read how we did it go to my mom blog. 

The Young Mother’s Club

Here are some pictures of Hallie when she finally fell asleep. Face pressed against the mesh. haha