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Hey everyone (all you millions of people who check this blog every day, just hoping for a new post from us) We've moved our blog over to Wordpress. The url is the same except for wordpress: stalisha 'dot' wordpress.com

15 Months

She had her 15 month appointment this week. Her head is still 95th percentile while her weight hangs out around 30th. My small girl with the big head.

She was content to look at the books until her doctor came in, at which point she waved by and tried to leave. She does not love people messing with her. Unless it involves finger nail polish apparently. You can’t tell in the picture, but all twenty of her nails are painted purple. She begged one of her sitters to do it. Anyway, that’s off topic, but it did not make me look credible when I told the doctor that she cries no matter who tries to make her sit still. I might have a girly girl on my hands.

Easter Camping

As long as I can remember, my family has spent the days leading up to Easter camping at Huntsville State Park with many other families from the area. These were days of family bike rides, smores by the fire, alligator hunting, and late night games – the best of both worlds because you got to hang out with your family and your friends at the same time.

One of the things I was excited for when we moved back to Texas after college was the chance to rejoin the annual excursion.  Although 2013 technically marked Naomi’s first Huntsville camping trip, I think this year she noticed a little more…and she loved it!

The first morning she woke up, looked out through the mesh at the trees beyond, and grinned. That grin lasted pretty much the whole time. Case in point:

It didn’t hurt that we also introduced her to her new bike seat…

And took her on her first egg hunt…

Maybe next year we’ll even let her eat some of her candy.

She also got some quality time with grandparents, aunts, and uncles (especially Aunt Mary!)

Which meant that Stephen and I got some quality time as well. We even found an alligator hanging out in the nearby cove.

Citius. Altius. Fortius.

The opening ceremonies of the Olympics are a funny contrast. The Olympics offer the world a chance to join together and compete in a peaceful (though not always friendly) manner. It is an international event. At the same time, it's a chance for the host country to showcase itself and say, "Look how cool we are." interesting contrast.

Anyway, I look forward to the next couple weeks. We'll see if Naomi is inspired at all. Of course, first we have to teach her how to dress herself properly.

Learning from Naomi

Don't be afraid of falling. 

Or of climbing high.

Learn to catch yourself (with style). 

Then get up and keep going. 

But rest when you're tired.

Find a place that's just yours.

(Preferably one with a view)

Go outside and smile.

Don't refuse a push,

Or a ride.

Better Late Than Never?

Found this draft from July that for some reason I never published:

Alisha's brother Erik got home from Korea a week ago, so we though we better come down and introduce him to Naomi. Apparantly he never even saw pictures of her pregnant, so we need to make up for some poor communication.

As part of our trip, we went to the Houston temple with Erik and Alisha's parents. Three years ago, we were sealed together there. There was something poignant about taking our baby to the place where our family began.

I love visiting the temple because there is so much to learn there. Much of the ceremony focuses on the creation of the world. It reminded me that one of the most important things we can do as children of the Creator is to create. It may be a lot of work to figure out how to create as an attorney, but I know it can be done.

While her parents and grandparents were in the temple, Naomi got to spend the time with her Aunt Jenni. Hooray for wonderful sisters-in-law! Naomi was asleep when we went in, but very awake when we came out. Awake and very smiley (well, after she ate). We were able to take lots of pictures.

Naomi did wonderful all day. Starting with the temple trip, then lunch at the Olive Garden. After that we went to the beach, then went swimming. Naomi stayed happy through it all. She had a couple short naps, but she was awake a lot of the afternoon and evening. She drifted off while eating (which she hasn't done for a while). After she was done Alisha handed her to me and I just laid her in the crib. If only it were always that easy. She proceeded to sleep for 10 hours straight. Maybe we should have big trips like this more often.