Amelia's Hand

We have received many phone calls this past week asking how Amelia's hand is healing so we thought we should update our blog. On January 3rd, Amelia had her 9 month appointment in the morning and she was very well behaved. The pediatrician was slightly concerned because she had grown a lot length wise but due to the flu (which she had before christmas) she hasn't put on much weight. So cheese, yogurt and pasta were foods we had the okay to use to put some pounds on her. By the way, she LOVES yogurt now. Two hours after we arrived home we were back at the pediatricians office because I turned around for a moment and Amelia (who was on the other side of the room) crawled to the gas fireplace and touched it, burning her left hand. She had second degree burns, which created a massive blister on her palm and blisters on her fingertips. She was hysterical and I was hysterical. Thank goodness Nathan was calm and level headed.

Amelia was such a trooper, that first day was rough. They didn't want her crawling to pop the blisters so we had to practically hold her the whole day. She ended up popping the blister on her palm sometime during the night anyway. By day two she was crawling around like nothing had happened. She even left her band-aids alone, except she liked to suck on the sock that we put on her hand to protect the band-aids. Its almost been 3 weeks and her hand is almost completely healed.

After we got home from the pediatricians

A few days later, rocking out the sock look

A week later, her finger blisters were peeling

Just a few days ago, you can see how big the blister was on her palm but its getting better!

This morning, looking better each day.

Twilight to Midnight

I was asked about a month ago if I would be part of a group of local artists that would do a sidewalk chalk art piece for St. George's New Years Eve celebration, Twilight to Midnight. First off, I'm really quite shy with my art work. So the fact that I said yes, knowing my piece would be viewed by many people was quite the shock. I have been in nervous anticipation for the past month, my eye has even been twitching, which just added to bucket of emotions. But low and behold on Friday, in the 25 degree weather, adorned in four layers of clothing I completed my piece. Everything went pretty well, except I forgot to bring something to kneel on so my knees are pretty bruised and sore. Kneeling on cold concrete for a few hours will do that. Here are some pics of my piece, and some of the other pieces. My piece is abstract so keep that in mind. It was really neat to see so many different styles of art and the artists behind the work.

Some of the finished pieces.

My piece is the bottom right.

Fellow artists at work.

My piece. Sorry its not a better photo.

Holiday Fun

Amelia turned 9 months old

The tail end of Amelia's cheesy grin. She does it all the time. Its hilarious. AND you can see her two bottom teeth.

We had some INSANE weather. A full week of nonstop rain which caused some flooding and then snow. Never thought I would see white stuff living here.

Amelia loves playing with her little car/walker toy. This pic is especially for grandma and papa willy.

Met up with my best friend Joanna and her family and took the kids to the planetarium. It was beyond AWESOME to see her.

Amelia and Nathan at the planetarium.

For the Evans family: THE PURPLE BIRD IS BACK! (yes this is the original- consider the game BACK ON!) for everyone else, this fantastic tacky creature is a family christmas tradition, and it given to the unsuspecting recipient trojan horse style. I received it this year after many years of it being lost, it was in a christmas platter box. I should have known better. Who gives someone a christmas platter on christmas?!

Amelia LOVED climbing over the mountain of wrapping paper and boxes.

Nathan helped Amelia open her presents, she did a pretty good job unwrapping.

We took luminaries to my mothers grave christmas eve. It was the first year we have done it and apparently it is quite the christmas eve tradition. The cemetery looked beautiful with the snow and luminaries everywhere. There were tons of families there singing carols too.

Amelia in her christmas pj's. She was pretty excited to open a present.

Amelia and Nellie during the christmas eve party.

Amelia even learned to ride a bike. We start them young in this family. (Actually this bike was a present for a little girl in my grandparents ward, Amelia made sure it was in good working order)

Happy Holidays

Happy Holidays from our family to yours!

Amelia and I (yep- I'm back to a coppery red head)

Amelia sitting by the christmas tree, notice how she's pulled off her bow and headband, she's pretty quick at that.

This is our christmas card photo this year- we thought it would be funny if we all wore winter hats and short sleeve shirts because of the weather down here. Of course Amelia is slightly blurry, trying to get a 8 month old to sit still for a minute is INSANE...

Candy cane from Santa, I gave it to her to play with and next thing I know she broke it in half and was sucking on it. She was not a happy camper when I took it away.

Amelia and Santa, I was so happy she didn't cry or yank on his beard. She just stared at him. By the way this Santa totally looked legit.

Fall Fun

I had the chance to take Amelia to visit the school my mom worked at, Farnsworth was like a second family to us growing up. This is a photo of Amelia and I sitting on one of the two benches they have at the enterance of the school. The bench says "In Memory of Julie Felgar".

Amelia playing with her aunt Katie, she loves her aunt Katie.

Amelia and Nathan playing in the snow in Arizona.

Her new favorite thing- the stairs.

Amelia and Nana on Thanksgiving.

I know I've kinda turned into one of those bloggers who only updates every month, so I apologize. In my defense Amelia has become super mobile. Like mega lightening fast. She turned 8 months on monday and yesterday she crawled up 5 stairs! Today I wanted to show Nathan how great she was at climbing up the stairs and she crawled up all 16 of them. This morning I made the mistake of turning my back for a moment and where do I find her? she climbed up 3 stairs! She also left teeth marks on the coffee table when I went to get a drink. I can't leave her alone for a second.

Thanksgiving went really well, we drove to Nathan's parents home in Arizona and spent time with family. Amelia loved thanksgiving food, especially pumpkin pie, she would have ate the whole slice if I had let her. She also experienced snow for the first time and didn't know really how to react to it. She has also become quite the funny gal with food. If she can see someone eating something she really wants to eat it too. She's also loves to stand up and hold on to the furniture and walk, she is growing up so fast. (And she has two bottom teeth)

November was kinda a rough month, emotionally (for me), but thanks to the love and support from our family and friends, we made it through. The art museum is currently running a fabulous modern art exhibit which thrills me beyond belief. I was also asked to be a part of a group of local artists who design sidewalk art for the New Year's Eve celebration, which is nerve wracking and exciting.

Nathan is enjoying playing volleyball and works super hard. I asked him what I should add on his behalf and of course he replied nothing. So needless to say he is doing well and loves being a dad.

These are the days of our lives, or the past month of it!

Here are some photos of Amelia because I know thats why you are really here to see our blog!

Amelia and daddy before trick or treating

Amelia rocking out with pots and bowls- she loves bowls on her head

This is the face of the innocent child who wreaks havoc at our house

Did I mention I love Halloween?

Amelia the moo cow who cannot moo but blows raspberries instead

Sorry to those individuals who actually read this blog- my absence from the blogging world was due to the fact that my child can CRAWL! Amelia has been crawling for the last month and these past few weeks she has become very fast. She's into everything, crawling everywhere, and getting into places she cannot get out of. She has also been pulling herself up to a standing position, making her quite the climber (she can even climb out of her bumbo!). She also likes to turn pages of books, play with anything electronic, and wave to people. 7 months is such a fun age!

Nathan is preparing to go on a business trip this weekend, and Amelia and I will not be coming along. We'll be visiting my family and friends instead. I'm not looking forward to being apart from Nathan, but it will be really fun to show everyone Amelia at such a fun stage of her life. Nathan is also playing volleyball on our wards co-ed team. He is really excited to be playing again. Nathan is also convinced that Amelia will be walking by Christmas- if he is right- we're in trouble!!!

I have been quite busy with the Educational Committee at the art museum. I put together a special event next Wednesday night for our docents and its been quite the experience. I'm also teaching an art class to 3rd graders next week on Marc Chagall, which should be fun. Amelia and Nathan also had colds last week, which made for an extremely tired me. I'm so grateful that they are doing much better now and we were still able to celebrate Halloween, my favorite holiday.

I love the fall but I've been really dreading November. I'm really missing my mom right now. As much as I love Amelia, she reminds me of what I lost. Thank goodness I have such a wonderful support system all around me, I am so blessed.

6 months already!

Amelia is now 6 months old and as Nathan says "she's starting to be at the fun age". She talks and gabs constantly, I think she gets that from me! She also is on the move! She rolls places and then starts scooting backwards, when she figures out how to go forward we are really in for it. The baby proofing has begun.

Amelia at the ward swim party- she loves playing in the water

Wearing daddy's hat

Playing in a box

Chillin in her new highchair

Her new favorite thing is magazines- she can rip them apart in seconds!

Last weekend we went to Zion's National Park. It was the first time for Amelia and I and Nathan was really excited to take us. Entrance to the park was free and the shuttles were packed. We had a nice picnic lunch up there and went on a small hike after. Amelia LOVED it.

Amelia all tuckered out on the shuttle back to our car

Quick diaper change break

Riding on Nathan's back- Amelia loves shoulder rides so she was in heaven!

Loving the hike and being outdoors- how can you resist that smile?