5 Years 4 Days 2 hours...

For our 5 year wedding anniversary, Josh and I took a weekend trip to Park City. It was the perfect getaway because we just did a lot of relaxing which we both needed desperately. My parents were kind enough to watch Meili on Friday night and meet us for lunch in Park City on Saturday. We had never both been away from Meili overnight, and she had a total of 5 different babysitters last week, so I was really nervous about how she would handle it. Luckily, my mom and dad said she was perfect (their words not mine.) My dad even commented to my mom that he wasn't sure if Meili knows how to cry. Well, I think most of can attest that she definitely does know how, but nevertheless, I was glad it went so well. She was also awesome for Josh and I. I wasn't sure how she would do with naps, and sleeping through the night etc, and I'm happy to say she slept great both nights, and took all her regular naps (which meant Josh and I also took all her regular naps. Two naps a day is WONDERFUL!!)

This is Good Thymes where we went for lunch one day.

And we took Meili swimming for her first time, and took A LOT of pictures, because she is just so cute!

I would like to point out that her hair never got wet, so if you notice that it looks wet in the pictures, that's because Josh greased her head up with so much sunscreen that it took two washes to get it out.

We got her a little boat to float around in, and I was so glad that we did because it kept her shaded.

This face doesn't show it, but she really did like swimming.

If Meili could talk, she would say, "Would someone fetch me a refreshing beverage?"

So cute!

As I said, lots of pictures, and that's only like half of them!

This next picture is to show Meili's first ever pony tail. I think my parents played some kind of trick on us, because they had her for less than 24 hours, but I swear, she grew up so much!!! Maybe it was the pony tail.

And to commemorate our first 5 years, I included some pictures of some of the highlights. They would have been better, but I hate BLOGGER!!!

Our wedding. June 24, 2006

We went to my friend's wedding in December of '06. I had to include this picture because the San Diego temple is where Josh actually wanted to get married.

Our cruise in December of 2007.

New York in 2008.

Cruise in 2009.

Many basketball games and football games over the years.

Park City in 2011.

And the years just keep getting better and better!!! Here's to the next 5!

Father's Day

Because I've spent the last 3 years of my life teaching parents how to parent, sometimes I feel I have the upper hand on that in mine and Josh's relationship. But the truth is, just like with so many other things in his life, when it comes to being a dad, Josh is a natural. For Mother's Day in our ward, the Primary presidency asked the kids to make a card for their moms. As I fed Meili, I watched what happened. Around the outside of the room, all the other teachers started chatting with one another, the presidency hurriedly tried to get things done before the next group came in. There, in the middle of the room, Josh was sprawled out on the floor, showing the kids how to make their cards and talking to them about the colors they were choosing. Eventually the kids, one by one, waited to show Josh their creation. As I was sitting there, one of the teachers came to me and whispered, "I'm sure you already know this, but he is the most marvelous man. He is so good with the kids-so patient, and they just love him. You chose well." I just smiled and agreed because I do already know that, but it's still nice to have a reminder every once in awhile.

Since this is Josh's first year being a full-blown dad, and Meili couldn't be reached for comment at this time (nap time), I thought that I would write Josh a little note on her behalf. I think this is what she would say if she could...

I love you Daddy,

I love that you buy me crazy hats, and dress me in weird outfits, but I know that nothing in the world makes you prouder.

I love that you feed me bananas mixed with peas, so that hopefully someday I will hate bananas like you.

I love that sometimes you let me take naps on your lap instead of always in my crib like mommy.

I love that when you talk to me you get so excited and talk in such a high pitch that only dogs can hear.

I love that you take me to play with the puppies because mommy is too afraid.

I love that you can't help but brag about me to all your friends.

I love that I know just how much you love me because I make you smile bigger than anyone else.

Happy Father's Day Daddy to my best Daddy in the whole world!

Love, Bubba

7 months

After my last experience at JC Penney, I decided on just working on taking my own pictures. This picture is not my best work, and I definitely shouldn't use a wrinkly sheet next time, but I took so few pictures this month that I just had to include it.

Oh, and apparently Josh added a little effect to this one without me noticing.

But we had to get Meili with her favorite toys in the world. Cell phones and remotes.

Josh's friend Jonny, who is currently in the military serving in Korea, sent a little outfit for Meili awhile ago. It's still a little big and this picture is so blurry, but it's so cute!! (Apparently along with a less wrinkly sheet, I need a less wiggly baby :) Good luck with that I guess!) I realize that the shoes are too big. All her shoes are too big. She just has tiny feet.

Thumbs up to Jonny!

New milestones-
-Meili's little personality is showing more and more everyday. She knows what she wants and doesn't want, and is pretty determined to get her way whatever it is. Already, at 7 months! Yikes!

-As anticipated, Meili still isn't crawling yet, but she is getting closer and closer. When she REALLY wants something (which is basically all the time) she does this little army crawl when she just rocks her body back and forth, until she inches toward whatever it is.

-I've tried and tried but she is not on board for solid food yet. She does really well eating baby food, but anything that has a texture or taste she is not into. We've tried Gerber crackers and yogurt bites, bread, crepes, potatoes, rice, mandarin oranges, strawberries, watermelon, raspberries, peas, etc. etc. and she just won't have it. She likes sucking on carrots, sugar snap peas, and cucumbers though. So we'll keep working at it, because I am definitely ready to move on from baby food.

-She scrunches her nose and squints her eyes when she smiles now, and has just learned how to kind of snort like a pig.

-Josh has been working with her on saying Ma Ma and Da Da, but instead she learned Na Na and is very proud of herself.

-Recently she has become a mama's girl, which makes me happy sometimes, but makes life a little harder most of the time. It's especially bad right when I get home from work. She is so excited to see me, but I usually run upstairs to change my clothes, go to the bathroom, or wash my hands, and she just starts crying. One day she actually started crying the moment I walked in the door-like she was so excited that she just didn't know what to do. What can I say? She's my little girl-crying for no reason at all!

Since I didn't update her stats last month... At her six-month check up, she weighed 14 1/2 lbs. and was 27 1/2 inches long. She is in the 97th percentile for her height, and the 20th for her weight. Just keeps getting taller and skinnier-but I promise it's not because we don't feed her, it's all the reaching that makes her tall, and the wiggling that makes her skinny!