Mommy Manda

So it's been a while since Lucy's surgery, I can't believe that she is 7 months already!  It's amazing to me how much time flies now that i'm busy with her.  Lucy is doing amazingly well.  She's a trooper holding out with her helmet through a very hot and dry summer that came early this year.

one week after Surgery 

yesterday after her bath.

the Easter dress I made for her

worn out at the mall earlier this week

I love this little angel

bouncing is the best thing ever!

or maybe swinging is

After Lucy's surgery Nick and I decided that it was time to act on the prompting we had that I need to be a full time mommy and I was able to quit my job and start staying home full time.  To compensate for my lack of income Nick switched to the night shift at his work that pays 2 dollars more an hour.  He struggles with working nights 3-4 nights a week but he does it because he loves us and he knows how important it is for me to be here for Lucy.  He is AMAZING and I love him even more because of his sacrifice. I know that our tight budget stresses him sometimes but we are loving that we get more time as a family!

I love being a mom.  I love watching Lucy grow and develop and learn new things.  I wish I had been better at blogging or journaling so that I could remember all the amazing things I get to see through her eyes for the first time. I love watching her discover things like grass and sprinklers and animals. Today Lucy discovered her shadow and we played with our hand shadows on the wall.  Wednesday Grandma Gilbert taught her to clap her hands to play patty-cake.  She's trying to learn to wave but I don't know if she's figured out it's supposed to be as a hello or goodbye because she just does it all the time.  We went to visit friends and family in California at the beginning of June and Lucy started scooting.  She is SO close to actually getting her tummy off the ground and full blown crawling!  We have started solid food and she has learned how to do the pincher grasp and LOVES to pick up Cheerios.   She loves avocado, watermelon and pears. We went to the water park that we have passes too last Monday for family night and discovered that Lucy LOVES to swim.  she was splashing and laughing and jumping to her heart's content.  She loves animals, she tortures our cat because she doesn't know how to be gentle and just want's to love it.  She giggles like mad every time we see the Dogs at Aunt Jenny's or Grandma Gilbert's house.  But I think Lucy's favorite thing in the world is her Daddy.  She thinks he is the funnest, funniest most amazing thing in the world.  Nick is so good at making her smile and distracting her when she thinks she wants to cry.  When he comes home in the morning or when he gets up in the afternoon her whole face lights up to see him.  

I'm so happy that we have Lucy and I know that she is a blessing and a miracle from our Heavenly Father.  So many things could have been different and we wouldn't have her.  I love each new thing she learns and I am so excited to watch her grow up (not to quickly though).