What's in a Name?

Now that our blog is no longer being linked to an adoption profile I am most regretful that I didn't choose a more inspiring blog name. Using our first names as our title just doesn't ignite curiosity. I don't think it gets more bland, boring and vanilla flavored than that. I was thinking something like Persy's Pomegranate, Bliss and Kiss or The Nerd Herd. Maybe even a catchy phrase or favorite scripture. Oh well, it's rather too late for that now. In the words of my favorite childhood character, Anne Shirley, "I don't believe a rose would smell as nice if it was called a thistle or a skunk cabbage." Hopefully we're still coming up roses despite our skunk cabbage of a name. :)

Showered with Love: Part II

On Saturday, my family hosted a wonderful shower for Persephone. It was fun to see many of my relatives and show off Persy.


Aunt Julie and Cousin Melodie


Wendy, Grammy, Persy


My creative sister came up with many fun games. In my favorite game, each guest was given a bag of candy and then told to create a baby out of their items. I got to be the judge for the best work of art!


Aunt Laura, Grandma, Persephone


Great Aunt Janelle


Shower Babies

What a Weekend!

One of the great things about living in Utah is the additional July holiday. We had a long and fun weekend. Here are some of the pics! (The baby shower really needed its own post.)


On Pioneer Day, Persy and I went on a walk and I was hoping to celebrate the holiday by going out to breakfast with her. Unfortunately, we went just a couple of blocks before she spit up her entire breakfast and soaked herself and the car seat. She was rather distressed and I ended up walking most of the way home with her in one hand and pushing the stroller with the other. It was a little ridiculous! Gabe ended up picking us up at a gas station and we actually got to go to breakfast together, so I can't complain. This is the cute bath that followed the huge mess.


Playtime After the Bath


At Liberty Park to See the Fireworks

SH_Osmonds_009
Originally uploaded by Sam Hussein

On Friday Gabe had a Daddy-Daughter Night while I went with my family to see the Osmonds in concert. We had a blast!


Saturday, after a very fun baby shower, Gabe and I went to a Bees Game with Persy. The game was sponsored by Gabe's law firm. We thought Persy would be cranky because it had been a very long day for her and she hadn't been taking naps. Instead, she was an absolute delight. She really enjoyed being outside,feeling the breeze and looking at all the lights. What a great baby!


Beautiful Rainbow at the Game


Just Outside the Stadium

Fun Afternoon at the Park

Persy and I spent a few hours at the park with my sister-in-law and her children today. We had a great time!


Persy in Her Sun Hat



Cute Cousin Halle



I tried dipping her toes in the water, but she hated it and started to squeal!

The People Magnet

This little girl is a people magnet! My favorite part of our resent trip to Sun Valley was simply walking around with Persephone. Everywhere we went we got stopped by strangers asking how old she is, and her name, exclaiming how tiny/cute/delicate she looks. My favorite comment came from a five-year-old girl I met, who admired how she looked like a little doll and then exclaimed, "Oh, She looks like she's pretending to be dead!" I've seriously never felt so famous! I highly recommend getting one of these if you want to instantly make friends with strangers.

Hemingway Slept Here

Gabe and I just got back from Sun Valley where Gabe attended the Utah Bar Convention. We had a very relaxed vacation, spending much of the time with Persy in the nice lodge. The lodge happened to be the same place that Hemingway stayed while working on his book, "For Whom the Bell Tolls."



Ernest Hemingway's grave site in Sun Valley, Idaho.



I had never been to Sun Valley before. It is gorgeous, moutainous place with little shops and restaurants much like those in Park City.



We have many fussy pictures of Persephone from the vacation! She fussed at restaurants, social functions and in the car. I've decided that life with Persy is much better, but traveling is worse. Next time we attend the convention I hope that we are able to participate in more of the activities. It would be fun to take Persy on the nice bike trail that extends the length of the valley. I'm also looking forward to taking her swimming.

Showered with Love

I've had a couple of showers this month with friends and co-workers. I have been amazed with how generous everyone has been. It has been a blast to see everyone and introduce Persy. Gabe and I are very, very blessed to have so many people that care about us. (Note: I also had a wonderful shower from my dear book club friends and I foolishly forgot to take pictures. Thanks to Sharon for hosting!)



Melia and Julia



Shower with girlfriends at P.F. Chang's



Rebecca and Melia



Some library friends Eboni, Abbie, Dane (Not all of my library friends are shown because I know some of them are potentially blog shy.)



Big Balloons from library shower

One Wonderful Month

It has been one happy and exciting month since we brought Persy into our family. I just can’t adequately describe how rewarding this experience has been, (and continues to be day after day.) I love being a mother and I feel overjoyed that we were able to be blessed through the miracle of adoption. Going through the adoption process has really strengthened my faith and testimony of the Savior. I feel like I have a greater understanding of how much the Lord loves us and cares about each of us. When we found out that we had been chosen to be the parents of Persephone I felt such a warm sense of our Heavenly Father’s love not only for us, but for our daughter. I really know that he has a plan for her life.

Smiley

We got our first "real" smile from Persy this morning while I was kissing her neck and belly. It wasn't a full out dimple smile, but she was definitely reacting to the kisses. It made me SO happy! I can't wait for the giggling and cooing that will soon follow.

Beaver Utah has the Best Bathrooms

We drove all over the state this last weekend visiting friends and family in Logan, and Springville. We also drove to St. George where Gabe had a deposition. Persy did great in the car and the entire trip was without incident except for one major diaper blow out involving nearly 8 wet wipes and a handy Tide-to-go pen. I felt like I was truly being initiated into the motherhood club! Thankfully we were at a really snazzy truck stop in Beaver, Utah of all places. I gave Persy a good wet wipe rub down and then took the entire car seat to be washed and quick dried under the powerful bathroom hand dryer. Here are some pictures from our visits with family, (there were no pictures of the diaper incident! :)


Family picture taken near pond at Wendy's parent's house


In Grandpa's hammock


4 Generations of Wendy's Family


4 Generations of Gabe's Family

Hawaiian Princess

Gettin' My Groove On

One unexpected delight of motherhood has been the amount of time I get to spend dancing with Persy. Sometimes she gets so fussy that the only thing that will console her is to throw her in the sling, put on the i-pod, and dance the grumpies away. She just loves her sling and the rhythmic movement calms her right to sleep. I'm sure that my sex appeal goes way down when I'm grooving with a baby attached, but we have fun just the same. I guess I should unplug the i-pod and put on an old fashioned CD to see what kind of music she responds to. So far, I've exposed her to Mozart, Yo-Yo Ma, Broadway, and the Gypsy Kings. She seems unimpressed!