11 months

She's got balance. She's got personality. She's got a pony tail sprout. She's got biped mobility. She's got WORDS! Miss Alara-lara has visibly changed quite a lot this past month. She took her first steps the week before she turned eleven months and is growing more confident in her strides. It is funny to watch baby girl test the waters because she still uses a lead foot and drags the back one instead of picking it up. She is elated when she succeeds in covering a predetermined distance and we all cheer for her. We've got a little explorer, crawling  and walking all over the house, investigating her world. Her facial expressions are also a hoot, especially her disgruntled look when she furrows her eyebrows. Ruth calls her a baby unicorn when I put Alara's hair into a tiny adorable pony tail sprout. Attempted words and phrases include, "Dada", "Mom", "All done", "Hi", and"Good girl". My baby is getting to be a big girl:sniff:: Happy-Sad.

She is waving hi and showing us the green marker she got on her hand right before we took these.

Being Silly

Gabe, Ruth, and  I were all wearing black and silver to church one Sunday so we had to take a picture. Always good to be silly with my sillies.

Peas in a Pod

 Sock buddies-they are each wearing one of David's old soccer socks. David and Lincoln make the best of friends. David will give Lincoln piggy back rides, play games with him, help him change clothes and even read to him. Lincoln is young enough that he is no longer a peer like Mac and Gabe, but more like a toy. It probably helps that he is also a boy too quite honestly. David doesn't have quite the same bond with the two girls yet. It warms my heart to see these two together though. 

I love to see the temple

Testing out my new lens taking night/early morning pictures of the temple. I was trying to get a full moon shot but apparently the lights at the temple don't go on till 6 am which was after the full moon had set- bummer. Maybe I'll be able to time it better some other month. Only a few more weeks till it is dedicated and open for patrons. It's very exciting, we feel very blessed. 

Happy-Sad

I've been feeling "Happy-Sad." I tried to Google a term that could more eloquently describe the mixed emotion I have been feeling lately as one thing ends and another begins. Suggested words included bittersweet, nostalgic, and poignant. Perhaps wistful. Summer has ended and school has begun. My sweet Ruth has started Preschool 4 mornings a week, Mac is in school full time now that he is in first grade, and the older two are gone as well. It is quieter and calmer without the oldest four in the house but I also miss them. I know they will thrive this year in school. Happy-Sad