grateful

Today, I'm feeling ever so grateful for my beautiful little girl. She rocks my world, keeps me on my feet, and helps me realize what life is really about. General Conference this weekend really helped me to once again realize the importance of motherhood and all the joy that it brings. And all the things that we, as parents, can do for our children so that they know that we love them.

I also once again realized, thanks to conference, how much I really need to improve. Lena deserves more than I feel like I'm able to give her sometimes. Thank goodness for the atonement and the ability that I have to repent and improve.

Here's the proof in picture form of just how perfect Lena is.

I love her to little bits and pieces. I hope I can work to be as good for her as she is for me.

the perfect weekend

This weekend was perfect. Here are a few reasons why:

• Lewis had Thursday and Friday off of work, so we took Lena to the zoo [or at least tried to take her to the zoo]. But after 2 and a half hours in the car wondering why it was taking so long to get there, we realized - it's spring break. and the only sunny day all week! So after almost 3 hours in the car (the zoo's only an hour away), we decided just to turn around. But we had come all this way! We needed to do at least something. So we went to the aquarium, found a parking spot in the first row, and took Lena inside. And boy did she love it. At least the penguins. Loved the penguins.

watching them swim around!

she doesn't look happy, but I promise she was. She never smiles for the camera

you can't really tell because the guy with the BYU hat is in the way, but she's reaching out to touch the penguins

• We went to Lewis's mission reunion for the Honduras mission and Lewis was able to see a lot of the individuals he served with. We had baleadas. Which are basically just eggs, beans, sour cream, cheese and avocado on a beautifully thick tortilla, eaten like a taco. Delicious.
• Conference was this weekend. And I was able to hear some much needed words of wisdom and guidance. Loved being reminded how to be a better wife, mother, and missionary. If you're interested in hearing what my church teaches, you can listen to the talks here, until they're printed in a few weeks. Ask me how if you want a copy and I'll get the talks to you!
• Lena [conveniently] naps at 10 and then again at 2, which is exactly when conference airs! So Lewis and I were baby-less and able to snuggle (almost) the whole time.
• Alex, Kim, Brannon and Emily came over for dinner. And we ate our fair share of burgers, chips, vegetables (I'm trying to teach myself to like more veggies), and banana bread.

where's spot!?

Lena loves to read. Loves it more than anything. I have to hide her books from her to get her to stop. But she's figured out all my hiding spots - under the couch, under the all the chairs, under the bed, and even in the dresser drawers. She hasn't yet figured out the whole behind-the-pillow thing. So I'm still safe with that one for now at least.

Her favorite book right now (it changes every week) is Where's Spot? She loves flipping through the pages and lifting the flaps to see if Spot's behind the door, under the bed, under the stairs, under the rug, etc. etc. When she finally gets to the page where Spot's hiding (in the basket - in case you wanted to know. Hope I didn't spoil the ending), she starts smiling and bouncing in our laps. She can't wait to lift the flap and see Spot!

I caught her and dad reading the other day. I had to hide behind the couch so she wouldn't see the camera. But it was so fun to watch her look for Spot with dad!

I've been found!

and she found Spot!

the last swaddle

Lewis and I were curious to what Lena would look like if we swaddled her. And if she'd freak if we wrapped her, like she's done in the past.

So we tried it.

loving life! (not really)

trying to escape

freedom!

Easter Egg Hunt

Growing up, I was so excited to have kids so I could start traditions with them during the holidays. But lately, I've been wondering why start now when Lena [first] won't even understand what's going on, and [second], definitely won't remember. Call me the Easter grinch, because I didn't want to do anything (except buy bunny ears and make Lena wear them: check!).

see? she loves them

then we really did get her to smile

Lewis convinced me to just buy eggs at the store, and we'd at least get some cute pictures of Lena playing with them, even if she doesn't understand what they are.

So I did. I bought eggs (36 of them! Can't have too many, right?).

And then, while Lena was eating, I set up our easter egg hunt around our living room. I tried to hide the eggs are carefully as I could so that it was as difficult for Lena as possible (note the sarcasm).

a lot more eggs were hidden outside the scenes, too. we probably hid 20 or 25

We didn't think she'd really understand it or know what was going on. But I put away all her other toys so she would know what we meant when we kept saying "egg." At first, she just started crawling to them because we were pointing them out to her. Lewis kept telling her to "put them in the basket" and then he would drop them in the basket for her.

not really understanding what's going on

She learned pretty quick what "egg" meant and what she needed to do to get to them.

And, surprisingly, it didn't take her to too long to learn to drop the egg in the basket. She had never dropped things on her own before, so Lewis and I didn't think that she'd be able to do it. But, like always, she surprised us.

the first time Lena dropped the egg in on her own. dad's so proud

And then after she found them all, she sat by all her eggs and wanted to chew on them. Because she earned it.

hair

Lena tells me that sometimes she feels self-conscious about the fact that she doesn't have any hair. I told her not to worry about it, that it will grow in when it's supposed to and that even if it doesn't she looks beautiful without it. She doesn't need hair to be beautiful or well-loved or a light in other people's lives.

But to make her feel better anyways, Lewis and I got her a wig.

Not really. We found it at my parent's place and thought we'd put it on her head. Because she can't say no anyways.

She was so happy to see what she'd look like with hair! But, she also realized that she looks just as beautiful without hair as she does with it. Even more beautiful if you ask me.

puppet show

Lewis and I might be the only ones who really appreciate this video. But I hope it can bring a little light to someone's day.

Lewis likes to give Lena puppet shows while she's spending time in her bouncer. This one really had her going.

dance dance

When Lena hears music, or if I start singing to her, she dances. Basically, that means she just bounces up and down on her bum. But the other day, she was mid crawl when she heard some music come on. And she couldn't let the unusual position stop her from getting her groove on.

So she did just that.

And it was so so funny.

stairs

Lena loves to crawl up the stairs. We can't get her to stop. Sometimes she wants to go up 10 or 20 times a day. I'm exhausted just following her. I can't imagine how she still has so much energy when she's the one climbing with those little lets.

But she is getting fast!

mom help! he's gonna kiss me!

Now all we need to do it to teach her to go down. So far, she just wants to go head first. We're working on it.

kisses

A few weeks ago, sweet little Lena learned a new trick.

And it melts our hearts every time.

Dad gets kisses before he leaves for work, when he comes home, and before bed (if she's not too sleepy).

Mom gets kisses when she remembers to ask.

And even her new toy panda gets kisses. She was hesitant at first, but warmed up to him after a few days.

Lena will even give high fives, is starting to clap (intentionally), and wave good-bye.

Keep learning sweet Lena!