This picture makes me really happy

Some Things that I like about this cute girl

Hi Little Cutie,

You are 16 months old now, and here are a few things that I LOVE about you.

I love it that I get to kiss your perfect little cheeks everyday.

You have started telling jokes that only you understand. After a few syllables of baby chatter you will force out an uproarious laugh. Then more baby chatter and more laughing. While I don't understand your jokes, you always make me laugh.

You love love LOVE to dance. Currently your favorite song is by Adele, and when it comes on you will break out some crazy cute dance moves or start drumming to the beat.

Sometimes you spin in circles until you fall over.

You love to wave goodbye to people, but always after they are out of sight.

You have started "helping" around the house. You like to empty and load the dishwasher (with non-dish items) and you also have started to understand the idea of "putting it away" which means that I find random things in random places.

You really like monkeys (especially Curious George) which is appropriate because you are a such little monkey.

When your daddy tells you he is going to eat your nose, you stretch it out as far as you can towards his mouth (to help him eat it, of course).

You are still super sweet, super smiley, and love to be outside seeing new places and trying new things.

I love you little cutie! Thanks for making me smile every single day.

I might just be in baby picture taking heaven

Although a friend at work informed me that Maggie is NOT a baby anymore . . .

I finally bought myself an SLR camera, and I am SO happy (imagine that I said so in a voice about 3 octaves higher than my own). I think I might have an addiction. I know that I have a very messy house and I may have already burnt dinner even though it is only 4:54. Maybe I didn't get my baby dressed until noon today (no comment about when I got dressed) and perhaps I will still be sitting here when Joe gets home from work . . . but maybe I'll figure out how to take some freakin' AWESOME pictures!

Obviously, I didn't get Maggie all fussied up for her photo shoot (although she is modeling a pretty nice scab on her forehead) but this was my first shoot with my new camera so I just have to throw a couple pictures out there.

I love how quick the camera is--I won't miss any shots on account of the camera (only on account of the fact that I frequently miss the focus). I feel like my creativity has been unleashed. So fun!

Families

This last weekend I spent two nights in the ER as I do every 2 weeks.

Among my patients this weekend were two little girls: one was 11 years old with leukemia; she was little more than a skeleton (she only looked to be about 4 years old) and I am certain doesn't have much time left on this earth. She has probably spent mostof her life in hospitals along with her devoted parents, but she was a little angel and her parents cheerful, patient, and caring. The other little girl was only 10 weeks old and had a severe heart defect; although she appeared to be thriving, she had very poor cardiac output, and I am not sure was her prognosis will be. She also had loving and devoted parents.

As I cared for these two little girls I felt very strongly how much their Father in Heaven loved them as he does each of us. I felt so strongly that he sent those two sweet girls to earth so that they could get bodies and therefore return to Him one day as exalted beings.

I also cared for two elderly women. One was 87, feisty and vibrant. The other was 97 and quite sickly, but they shared one important similarity. They both had devoted and loving caregivers (one had a daughter and the other a niece). I could easily see how much each of these younger women loved the elder so dearly and how willingly the caregivers offered the care that now, in their later years, my patients require.

Taking care of these four patients in such a short window has made me ponder how brief and frail our existence on this earth is. At the same time, it made me realize how wise and loving our Heavenly Father is; how perfect his plan is for us to come to this earth in family units that can last for eternity. It is truly amazing. I am so grateful for my fantastic family.

On that note, Joe and I have been super fortunate to spend a lot of time with our families over the last month which has been an infrequent treat since we have moved to California. We loved visits from Joe's sister TeriAnne and her family, my parents, my brother Jeff and his wife Sam, and also loved spending some time in Utah with the rest of Joe's family.

Baby Gifts

Maggie walked up to me today and handed me a hair.

"Ooohhh thank you so much!" I said after realizing that she wasn't just handing me air.

She was VERY proud of herself.

McGrath State Park

What a beautiful weekend for camping near beachside.

Maggie had to help Joe set up the tent because I was too busy snapping pictures. It's okay. She didn't complain.

We had fun escaping just as a little family.

And we had fun playing at the beach; even though we brought bathing suits and boogie boards...

My favorite thing about this next photograph are the shuffling baby prints in the sand.

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words