Rosie is 8 Month's Old!

"Rosie Ray" as we like to call her is a total ball of energy!
She keeps us on our toes constantly.

During her 7th month she learned how to sit up on her own and loves playing with toys while sitting up. She has great balance and rarely falls over but even if she does she goes right on playing without crying. Rosie absolutely loves swimming in the pool. She kicks and splashes and giggles a lot. She babbles like crazy all day long and has started saying "dadada" as well. She melts our hearts now because she reaches out for us to pick her up and then pats us on the back repeatedly afterward.

This last month she learned how to jump, that is pretty much all she does all day long (in our laps, in the walker, in her bed, etc.) Lately, she has so much energy that we have to wear her out before bedtime and so we put her in the "Jenny Jump Up." Andrew taught her how to crawl this last week and she still sort of cries and whines like we are torturing her when we want her to show off her new trick. It is hilarious and so darn cute when she slides down on her belly and pushes with her feet and elbows (military style) to get closer to us and then pauses to put her face down on the floor and pout only to start up again. My favorite new trick that she has learned is clapping. When we sing Patty Cake or clap for her then she starts clapping as well and I love it! The last thing that I have documented and noticed is that Rosie sometimes has shy moments when will lay her head down on my shoulder if someone is trying to talk to her.

I love this girl and I especially love seeing how much she loves Andrew and I back. We are so lucky to be her parents.

Happier Than Ever

I have been thinking a lot lately and I have concluded that right now in my life I am happier than ever.
I can't tell you another time when I have felt happiness, peace and love at this kind of level. It has something to do with the fact that I am no longer a college student jumping through hoops for my professors and everything to do with the fact that I love my little family and the stage we are in at this very moment.

Our life together is not perfect but it is in my eyes as I seek to find the good in those less than perfect moments. We still make very little money working less than ideal jobs but somehow we make ends meet for the necessities and whatever we have leftover we spend happily on movies and food. We have always loved living close to both of our families but we find ourselves enjoying it even more as Rosie gets to know her grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins so well. We are so fortunate to have good friends who we love spending our nights with playing cards and talking about life and of course laughing a lot too. Andrew and I have told each other countless times since Rosie was born how blessed we are to have a healthy and happy little girl. She fills each day with new and exciting wonders and so much joy. We have and are currently seeing so many blessings pouring into our lives and we are grateful for the gospel that helps ground us and provide hope for the future.

Life is simple but wonderful right now and I dare say that I am happier than ever.

Rosie is Four Month's Old...Wait Whoops Six Month's Old!

Okay so we are squishing these two posts into one because somehow life got the best of me again and I have slipped behind on recording. But to help myself remember the small, simple beauties of my everyday with Rosie I keep a long running note on my phone and add to it each time I see or experience something new and exciting with her.


(**Disclaimer: This part was written two months ago when I began this post so I left it as is and didn't add a word.) This girl is growing up fast, yet she still feels and looks so tiny to me. She has learned to like tummy time [finally] and we have even witnessed her rolling over from her back to her tummy a few times just this last week (end of April...) We love to cheer her on as she discovers new things. Rosie loves one-on-one attention so she can look us in the eyes. She loves to smile and talk to us a lot everyday. I have a feeling she will be a little chatter box. Grandma Helen gave her some laminated pictures and we carry them around with us everywhere because she really likes to look at them. She focuses really hard and gets a serious face on like she is studying each one. Another funny thing that she has started doing is trying to eat her fists, sometimes both at the same time.


Month five was spent living at my parent's house while Andrew was in NYC for an internship. We spent a lot of time playing with grandmas, aunts and cousins. My mom and sisters helped me train Rosie to take bottles in order to fatten her up. She was a little on the small side at her four month Dr. appointment so we took her eating/sleeping/pooping patterns pretty seriously that month. My mom also encouraged me to get Rosie sleeping in her crib instead of her swing and by the end of the month when we moved home, she was sleeping in a crib like a champ.

Rosie turned six months a little over a week ago and boy have we seen the changes rolling in everyday in the last little while. She can now sit up on her own and grins so big like she is proving that she is a "big girl" while doing so. She is a pretty good eater though I only get around to feeding her real baby food about once or twice a day (I know I should be better about this.) We started giving her a snack called "Puffs" this last week and she has a little bit of a hard time keeping them in her mouth but she is persistent at trying to eat them. Her giggle is now a daily occurrence and each time I hear it my heart melts. I'm certain there is nothing cuter. Rosie's little personality has starting showing a lot more lately. She is goofy like her dad and gets hangry like her mom. She has started sticking the tip of her tongue out and waiting until someone notices and laughs and then she laughs too. Her first experience swimming was this last month and she kicks and splashes in the water a lot. The last little thing I want to record about her is her new trick: Babbling. It is hilarious and I have tried to capture it on video so many times. She babbles playfully, happily and sometimes it gets serious and sounds like she is lecturing me about something that she really wants me to hear.

Oh how we love her so!
(more and more each day!)

Lou Lou and Company at Bijou Market

Bijou Market only comes around 2x a year and I swear it should be considered it's own holiday because it is so much fun. I have loved crafting and creating for this year's upcoming spring event the very most!! I feel like I have finally found something that I love to make and that I love to see on Rosie as well as other sweet baby girls. Bijou is this Friday and Saturday and you do not want to miss out!

Look for the Lou Lou & Company booth because we will have our prices discounted 10%-30% off of everything we make.

There is a link to our shop on the side bar of my blog if you are interested in checking out the different products we make.

..Mini Ceramic Piggy Banks..

I was out shopping with my mom the other day and found these adorable mini piggy banks. I took them home and painted and embellished them a little to give each one a some personality. They measure 4.5" long by 3" wide and 3" tall. I think they would be fun to put in a child's room.

I put them in the shop for you all to go and check out.

-Karen