Innocence and Perfection

This, in my opinion, is the best shot I have ever taken of Shelby. All I can think of when I look at this picture is the two words in the title of this post. But, oh how she can be feisty!

Purple Lay-Z-Boy...Can't Beat It!

Justin's parents bought Shelby a new chair, all of her own! She LOVES it too! She used to always want to get on the sofa and jump (much to my delight), but with her own chair she has forgotten about the sofa. Yea!! She is so proud of HER chair! Thanks Oma and Opa!

Drinking her milk with her friend Raffi!
Kicking back with a good book!

In her J-Lo T-shirt from Auntie Jen's Ironman in June!
Complete with matching ottoman!
Chillin' with a snack!

Happy Halloween!

Halloween was super fun this year! We went trick-or-treating with some friends of ours, Dave and Jen, and their little girl Maddie. Justin's mom was also here, so that made it even more special. Shelby seemed to enjoy all of the kids in their costumes. She would walk up to each house (or we'd carry her up there) and say "hi!". We didn't ask for candy for her, since we'd be the ones eating it, but a couple of homes would let her rummage through their candy bowls and pick something out. She always picked Twix! Here are some pics!

Our little family:
Oma (Dorothy, Justin's mom) and Shelby, Twix in hand:
Oma, me and Shelby:
Oma, Justin and Shelby:

Shelby at someone's door:
Maddie and Shelby:

Maddie and Shelby, again!

Cheese Lovers Unite

Shelby loves cheese!!! The other night at dinner she snatched up the bag of shredded cheese and helped herself. Here are a few pics, and a fun video!!

Yummy...cheese! Did I spill some on my pants?


What are you looking at?


Here's her sweet hand in the bag.


Enjoy the video!

Rock and Ice Chicks Rule!

Rock and Ice is a magazine dedicated to climbers, of both rock and ice. Living in Colorado, we have access to both!!! Every January there is an ice climbing competition in Ouray that we have had the opportunity to attend. Well, I've only been once. I was pregnant two years ago, and then last year Shelby was too young. Check out this web site. There's a cool video about it! Last year, Justin's twin sister, Jen, ventured out with Justin and the group we go with every year. She loved it!!!!! Jen is amazing...do you remember this post? Okay, so I'm excited that I figured out how to do links!!!

For Shelby's birthday this year, Jen sent this cool onesie.


As you can see, Shelby is excited about being a future rock and ice climber!

Shelby's First Movie

Shelby was able to enjoy her first movie today! She hasn't been feeling very well and I needed to do the dishes, so I figured she would enjoy relaxing on the sofa with a couple of stuffed animals (the love of her life...other than Mommy and Daddy of course). So, I popped in Winnie the Pooh and tried it out on her. She really liked it! Justin and I have tried to not let her watch TV, but today was an exception. She watched about 15 minutes and then we turned it off. She enjoyed it though!

Got Yogurt??

This is after Shelby tried to drink her yogurt out of her bowl. Milk mustaches are sooo 2007! Get with the times people!!! :)

FEED ME!!!!!!!!

Shelby loves to eat. Sometimes it worries me that she wants to eat because she's bored. Justin sweetly reminds me that she's a growing girl and very active. He's a series of pictures that I think you'll enjoy!

"Uh Mom, is there ANYTHING to eat??"


"Can you put me in my chair?" Usually this is accompanied with her signing and saying "eat"...too cute.


"Get this silly jacket off me so I can roll up my sleeves and EAT!"



And finally..."FEED ME!!"

Peterson Look-alike Meter

I'm Outta Here!

My mom had a super cute purse made for Shelby, and Shelby loves it! She also has a little gift bag that she likes to play with. She'll put them both on her shoulder and walk around the house, saying "bye bye!". I think she's ready to go shopping! Daddy is so pleased! :) Enjoy the video. It's short but sweet!!

I was looking through some pictures of Shelby and came across these. They were taken about two months ago. I had completely forgotten about them and I thought they were super cute. I remember how excited she was to stand in Daddy's boots, and at the same time a little unsure. She wouldn't let go of them! It made me think about how well I'd fill my Daddy's boots. Not my earthly father, but my Heavenly father. How well would I fill his boots? I'm sad to say that my Father's boots would dwarf my feet. His boots are so big! But, the greatest part is that His grace covers me. It doesn't matter that I could never fill his boots...or even start to put them on. The thing that matters is that I continue to try!

The Shack

I have never prided myself in the fact that I'm not much of a reader, and yet I have never done much to make reading more of a priority. I've read a few good books in my 31 years: The Count of Monte Cristo, The Secret Garden, a Calvin & Hobbs comic book. :) Then there was a beautiful trilogy by Richard Paul Evans: Timepiece, The Christmas Box, and The Letter - great, quick-read books. I've read a few Max Lucado books as well. All-in-all, I could probably count the number of REAL books (Calvin & Hobbs not included) on both hands...maybe even one and a half hands.

My dad and I were on the phone a few months ago and he mentioned The Shack. I had never heard of it, but several people at my parents' church were reading it. He told me that Justin and I should read it. But he warned me, "if you start it, you have to finish it." A couple of days later I was talking to my mom about it and she warned me that it may not be the right book for me. When she explained why, I decided I definitely did NOT want to read it. Eventually I changed my mind.

A few weeks ago I decided to give it a try. I read the first couple of chapters, closed it and put it away. I was so distraught by the whole thing. Ever since Shelby came into our lives I have not been able to handle so many things that used to never upset me, at least not how they upset me now. I had only read about two chapters and I was bawling. I was crying to Justin out of anger and personal pain. So, instead of me finishing the book, Justin decided to read it himself. I love my husband. He is so amazing and beautiful. He read the book and not only enjoyed it but cried his way through it too. When he was done he told me that I really should finish it.

So, I have finished it. And I can't believe that my heart is intact. I cried through the first half from the pain and heartache that any parent will feel if he/she reads this book. I cried through the second half from the experience the main character goes through to heal from his loss. This book, while somewhat controversial, is absolutely beautiful. For anyone experiencing doubt, a sense of loss, a sense of confusion. If you ask questions that you can't find an answer to, if you feel that you don't understand how God works, or why He works the way He does (or the way you think He does), this book may be a good stepping stone. It is of course fiction, but some of the suggested answers that the author offers are not only eye-opening but refreshing.

I'd love to hear anyone's comments if you have read the book. Has it changed the way you see God? Do you feel you better understand Him?

If you haven't read the book I recommend that you read it. But remember, if you start it - you have to finish it!

Baby Dedication Day

Today at church we had baby dedication day. I was so excited!! I put Shelby in a dress that my great-grandmother made for me (I wore it when I was Shelby's age!!). So, Shelby's great-great-grandmother made it. She looked so precious in it.

We made quite the show during church. First off, she was talking with another little boy from across the aisle. She did NOT want to sit still, so she was walking up and down the aisle. Thankfully it was during the songs, so nobody really heard her. When they called us up front we all sat on the front pews, well, except Shelby. For some reason she felt that the rules didn't apply to her today. So, Justin and I took turns getting her off the stage as she would climb the steps to stand next to our preacher. I think for our benefit the preacher told us not to shush our babies during church. He said, "When was the last time you had a family gathering and everyone was quiet?" When they called us all up onto the stage, Shelby would do all she could to get out of our arms and roam the stage, talking to everyone. When it was FINALLY over (thanks to a stressed out mom) I took Shelby to the nursery. On the way out of the auditorium everyone was smiling and laughing at us. I had people tell me how funny she was and that they didn't even bow their heads during the prayer because they were watching her! The main downside is that the preacher charged us with - well, something. Justin and I were so distracted! The preacher read something and all of the parents were to day, "We do". I have no idea what he read, but when the time came to say "we do" all I was thinking in my head was, "sure, we do - we doooo".

Hopefully some of the pics capture a small glimpse of the day!

Dropping Shelby off for Sunday School - prior to the madness!!


Squirming from Daddy. Look at the other sweet little girls, so nicely letting their parents hold them.

Squirming from Daddy, still.

And now squirming from Mommy - no one is immune.
A miraculous family picture!

Pig Tails!

We've just started putting Shelby's hair up in pig tails! She is such a big girl. She will sit on the floor while Mommy or Daddy does her hair. I think she knows we're fixing her up! She always wants to look her best!!!




Sitting with Daddy, sucking my thumb...life doesn't get better than this!

Feeding Herself

We've been working on getting Shelby to use her spoon to feed herself. So far she's done fairly well. Here are some pictures from her first attempt with yogurt...fun!!



Forget the spoon, this is much easier!



How does this thing work again?



Yummy!

Happy Anniversary!!

Today is my and Justin's FIVE YEAR anniversary! I can't believe it's already been five years. The time has flown by so quickly! We have done some wonderful things so far: moved to Colorado, bought a house, had a baby, climbed a few mountains (literally and figuratively), gone ice climbing (okay, so only Justin has done that one), and attempted tent camping on several occasions with minimal success. The main thing we haven't done that we both look forward to is traveling!

To my loving husband Justin, I cannot put into words how amazing you are - as both a husband and father. You are such a blessing to me and Shelby. Thank you for always being honest and true. Thank you for never conforming to others, but always being who you are. Thank you for your desire to serve the Lord. Thank you for loving and protecting me. Thank you for showering your love, excitement, and joy on Shelby. You are so smitten with her, and she knows and feels it. Your relationship is priceless. I am so thankful for all that you do for me. You truly take care of me!! These past five years have been so wonderful, and I know God has blessings for us in the future!!! I love you with all of my heart!!

Stubbornness Must Run in the Family

As I'm typing this, Shelby and I are having our first "battle". I think she must be a fruitarian or something. Anytime it's time to eat, all she wants is fruit!!! At this very moment she is sitting in her booster seat, waiting for her fruit. Instead, she has meat sticks with ketchup!! Normally, a much-desired snack. Instead of eating them with much delight, she is alternating from either sucking her thumb and looking at me with her sweet eyes, or crying the most pathetic cry. I hate having to lay down the law!!! I'm so weak when it comes to sticking to my guns, at least with my sweet baby girl! I just hate that 80% of her diet is fruit!!!!!! Am I doing the right thing? I know that babies have phases of liking certain things. Any adivce??

Showers of Fun

Baby showers are always so much fun, and especially when they act as a reunion of sorts. Earlier this month I was in Texas for a long weekend, and it just so happened to be the weekend of my best friend's shower!!! The greatest part was being there with "the gang"!!! I have never been able to be at my friends' baby showers, so this was very special for me.


Here's a picture of all of us (Holly, Lori, Christine, me):



Here's me and Christine:



And here is Christine!! She looks so adorable with her little belly!!! She's due in three weeks!!!!!!

Shelby loves her stuffed animals! This first video is every stuffed animal lover's dream come true! Unfortunately she continues to say Daddy ever-so-perfectly, and refuses to even attempt to say Mama (sniff, sniff). At first we used to have her do what she does in this video to laugh about it, but now it's a little sad for me. Obviously she won't call me Daddy forever, but I can't wait for the day when she looks at me and calls me Mama.

Bowheads Unite!

Since Shelby was born I have always loved donning her with a bow. Unfortunately, lately she has learned to pull them out, especially when she gets tired and sucks her thumb. But, when Shelby was first born, my mom sent us some bows that were perfect for her, and that actually stayed in her hair.

Here are a couple of pictures of Shelby with the original bows.

Here she is getting a kiss from "aunt" Christine!



We did try the bows that wrap around your head, but they looked silly on Shelby. I think she had too much hair. She even looks ticked off about it in the bottom picture! Don't worry, we didn't let her out of the house with these on!!! :)



Now we've moved on to a new era! My friend Whitney inspired me to make my own bows!!! I had so much fun too!!! I made ten bows last weekend...TEN! Here's a preview. I'm sure as I practice they'll get fancier...fun!! (The other little girl in the picture is Shelby's pal Alana. We were babysitting for some friends...just in case anyone wondered if we adopted without telling anyone!!)