Laughing, Laughing, Laughing

Up until a couple of weeks ago, I had only heard Lucy laugh in her sleep. She's giggled a couple of times, but not for extended periods. Then yesterday we went to a homecoming of one of Devin's cousins and one of his other cousins fiance was there and asked to hold Lucy. Well I have to say that I was just a little bit jealous that a complete stranger could make my little girl laugh! No worries though, the jealousy was quickly replaced by joy, just seeing her laugh was enough to make me happy! Anyways, enough about me (sorry, I can get carried away...). To make a long story short, yesterday was a very busy day, and a very stimulating day for Lucy Mae. We wanted to go to bed around 10 (and we assumed that since Lucy had been up so much she would fall asleep quickly) we took her downstairs and started getting ready....Well she was awake as anything and wanting to play. So I went to take care of something in another room and when I came back this is what I beheld... ... ...

This was the most I had ever heard her laugh at one time! AND I LOVE IT! I can't help but smile when I hear it. I think that's why babies are so special....everything they do is adorable.
We're coming up on the end of the semester and it's now crunch time for finishing assignments and getting ready for finals. I'm excited to be finishing because this is the busiest I'll be with school ever! I found out that grants will cover independent study over the spring and summer terms! As long as I take one class on campus. So, that's what I'm going to do (assuming that I get the grant :D). I'll be taking one class (on campus) for both spring and summer terms and then taking 2 independent study courses. Then in the fall I'll take two more classes and be done!!! Yay! I can't wait. I'm happy that I'm finishing my degree but I really just want to be home with Lucy Mae. That is going to be her present for her birthday - a mom that will no longer be leaving her! :D I am STOKED!
Devin is working hard to get good grades! He will be applying to the Mechanical Engineering program over the summer so we'll know for sure by Fall semester what direction he'll be going with his studies (everyone keep him in your prayers that he'll get accepted, he has worked harder than anyone I know to make this dream come true and I'm really hoping that he'll make it). Seminary teaching is going great as well. They let the students know by the end of April if they're invited back to the next class. If he gets accepted to that he's going to have to defer for a couple of semesters so that he can get closer to graduation before they get him in a classroom. This summer is going to be full of news...I'm hoping it'll all be good news.
Well that is our update for now, Hope this finds you all well and happy!

The other day I held up the camera and told Lucy to smile this was the first picture... Then I said it again and She did it!! ;D

Bottom's up!

Last week Lucy made big step towards crawling! She lifted her bum off the ground! I was amazed to see it. Usually she'll just kick her legs and move her arms around, but because her belly is so big she tends to get a little high-centered and feet just can't seem to make contact with the ground. But that phase has passed! She's now lifting her bum off and can even get her belly off the floor too! Now we're just working on her arm strength. She tends to use her back to lift her head, so I'm thinking her rolly arms are probably NOT made of muscle :D.

Not only is she learning to push up with her legs but she's discovering that she can roll! She can't do it by herself (I'm the only reason why she's even rolled over) BUT she's starting, she'll lay on her stomach and stretch her arms forward while she leans to one side...so it's not far off :D (or I'm just SUPER hopeful and helplessly blind to my daughters inabilities...either way, I think she'll do it soon!). I haven't captured her attempts on video yet but as soon as I do I'll post it :D

Fudge!

I've been wanting fudge for a while now, I don't normally crave fudge so this was new for me. Well last night I was sick of craving it so I decided to make it. I have never made it but i've heard of people making it in a jiffy so I figured it wouldn't be that hard....Oh boy was I wrong! Fudge is supposed to firm-up....I don't think firm fudge could do this :D

It's not a total failure though! I found out it tastes great on ice cream!! Yay! This gives me the perfect excuse to go buy some :D

Wanting to change

I have some changes I want to make in my life, or I guess I should call them improvements. I'm hoping that by writing them here I will be more motivated to make those changes. I know...lame...I have to write it on my blog so that I'll actually do it! Well, there are two possible outcomes: either I'll do it - and you will all know that why I've made better efforts in these areas OR I won't and everyone will know that I've failed... So here it goes:

#1: I want to be better at staying in touch with those I love (i.e. family and close friends). Because I STINK at it :(. I don't know why it's so hard for me, but it is. So, no more procrastinating for me. I'm determined to change my ways and show my love.
#2: I want to write in my journal MORE!
#3: I want to be a better blogger...that may seem silly but I think it's a good way to let those you love know what's going on in your life, especially if you cannot talk to everyone as often as you would like. ALSO, I heard from a sister whom I love that blogging could double as a journal! I think it's a great idea and will help me in my efforts to be better at recording my personal history.

That's it for now. I don't want to list too many or I'll just be over whelmed and not be able to do any of them :D

Cousins

Devin's older brother Patrick and his wife, Whitney, had a little boy almost exactly one month after we had Lucy. They are exactly four weeks apart! :D I thought that was kind of fun. I was super excited to see how similar and different they would be. I thought that because they were cousins they would have look alike in some way, but alas, they do not. They seem to be almost complete opposites. Alden is SUPER chill, and has some of the cutest cheeks I have ever seen. I always think that Lucy is getting SO big all the time, but then I put her up next to Alden (who is four weeks younger mind you) and she all the sudden doesn't look so big :D It's been fun to watch them grow together these last couple of months, and to see how they change. It's even more fun to see when they actually interact with one another. I can't wait till their chasing each other around the house and playing! It's going to be so fun! Last week when they were all down her visiting we took some pictures!

They are SO very different....

In looks....

But so very NOT different....

In size :D