One Month Old

There is probably another post on this blog labeled One Month Old, but I figured it was a while back and so we are probably okay to reuse the title. After all, we once again have a one month old in our midst.

Azure is growing so fast. I can't believe how big she is already. We've had to adjust the carseat already and there are several outfits that she can no longer wear. It really does go by fast. It seems like it was just yesterday that I was lying on the couch crying because I was still pregnant and now we are an entire month past that. Crazy.

At one month Azure:
~ is 10 lbs 4 oz and almost 22 inches long (Cormac was 11 lbs and 23 inches at this point in his life)
~ loves to snuggle. She especially loves to be with her mom.
~ has been having tummy troubles. We are altering my diet right now to see if it helps. Poor baby.
~ is getting really good at holding her head up on her own.
~ is losing a little hair on the top but it's coming in nice in the back. Cormac has a unibrow and Azure has a mullet. We're so proud of these kids.
~ is still not decided on what eye color she is going to have. They are a nice grey/blue right now.
~ loves to look around. She enjoys being in the little play yard or in her swing. Lots to look at there.
~ is a super sweet little thing, but a little demanding in that she wants to be held 90% of the day (just liker her brother did).
~ refuses to take a binki.

I should have taken a close up of her face, but this gives it a little better angle. Everyone is asking how Cormac is doing with the new baby. Actually he's doing rather well. When she cries he tries to comfort her with putting more blankets on her or giving her kisses. He really likes to give her kisses. It's very sweet. He occasionally takes issue with the amount of time mom is occupied with the baby, but for the most part he's doing really well.

We sure love this girl and are happy she's ours. It's fun to be a family of four. The other day we had errands to do and split off: the boys worked in the yard and Azure and I went to the grocery store. It was kind of fun. Life is good. We feel very complete for the moment, which is nice.

Family Picture

My sister was here two weekends ago and we decided that since she is a much better photographer than most we'd ask her to take a family picture. Want to see how it turned out? Apparently toddlers don't like to have their picture taken. Especially on a beautiful sunny day when we are outside.

Watching Cormac run away from the family picture attempt.

We tried.

Azure's Blessing

We decided to rush a little and get Azure blessed when she was only 13 days old. Normally we would have liked to have waited until she was at least a month or two old, but it just didn't work out that way. My parents were in town, and Ammon's parents were a day away from going into the MTC for their mission. Since we wanted both to be present it seemed like a good day to do it. So on March 4th (my parents 29th wedding anniversary no less) we went ahead and blessed our dear girl.

We really wanted a family picture. But you see, all of Cormac's cousins were around and he was not interested in a family picture. Actually, I think he wouldn't have been interested anyway, but it didn't help that all his cousins were here to play.

This is the best we got. He isn't screaming too much in this one. But then there are the fancy shadows. Oh well.

Azure with her Great Grandma Jaynes (Ammon's grandmother). We were so happy she could be there with us as well.

Ammon's mom makes wedding quilts for all of her children. She also makes a baby quilt for each of her grandchildren among other blankets that she makes. Azure was her 20th grandchild. She has 6 children. Ammon's the youngest and the last to get married. Let's just say Coralee's a busy woman. She had the goal to finish our wedding quilt before she left for her mission (they are in Nauvoo by the way). She gave it to us at the blessing. It's gorgeous. I am going to do a separate post with more pictures of it sometime, but for now, this is a quick glimpse. Coralee's amazing.

Life father like son. After a good meal you need a nap right? Obviously. I love this picture. Everyone is visiting and Mark and Enoch are sleeping.

A picture with Azure and Sister and Elder Dahl. We are so proud of these two going on a mission. They will be gone for 18 months. We are going to miss them, but know that they are going to do good things.

Another attempt at a family picture. This is as good as it got. It was a wonderful but hard day. Cormac was exhausted by this point. And he was very upset that no one had let him ride in their car with them. He hadn't had a nap. He had a new sister. He was getting over a cold. He didn't have much to eat; he was too busy playing with his cousins. And then he had played extremely hard. Poor boy. I was tired too.

I didn't get a picture of my parents with Azure. They worked all week to put together a wonderful lunch for all of our family that came to the blessing. It was beautiful. It was delicious. My parents were wonderful to take care of us. My mom is an amazing cook. And Cormac really bonded with his Grandpa. They loved to wrestle. It was fun to have them. They saved my life for this blessing. I never could have pulled off a meal for everyone right after having a baby. Thanks Mom and Dad.

Azure was blessed in the dress that my sister and I were blessed in as little babies. It was made special for us by my Grandma Garrison. It's a gorgeous dress. She looked like an angel. She was so tiny in so much fabric. Her headband was bought for her special by my mom, her Grammie.

Not the greatest picture, but I thought you'd like to see this great expanse of dress. And the afghan was made by Ammon's mom, Coralee (another one of the many projects that she does).

And I found these darling little shoes. We had to buy the premie size because she's so tiny. I thought they were really sweet though.

Ammon gave her a beautiful blessing. This gal has a wonderful life ahead of her. We are so thankful to have her in our family. Sure love her. And we sure love all of our family who came to support us and our dear daughter.

I'm Thankful for Frogs

Yesterday Cormac went to nursery for the first time in a few weeks. Our Sunday schedule has been a little  off since the arrival of our little Azure. Yesterday the lesson was about how God created the water animals.

Cormac came home as a frog. Then he climbed around and jumped around the house for us to show just how frog like he can be. So cute. He's sure growing up fast.

Sleeping Beauty

Azure likes to sleep in our bed with us. I love to snuggle with her. I know eventually it will be less pleasant, and we are making good progress with getting her to sleep in her own bed at night. But in the mornings I bring her into our bed so we can all squeeze in a couple more hours of sleep. Can I just tell you how much I love waking up to this sweet little face? I'm smitten.

A Real Person - Part 2

Back in December of 2009 I posted this picture:

This was when Cormac got his first mail. His Social Security card making him a real person. Well, I thought it only fitting that we commemorated Azures introduction into being a real person the same way. Picture evidence:

Welcome to the world Little Azure. We are so happy to have you here. And now you're a real person.

Happenings Around the Dahl House

I thought I'd share a few pictures from the last few weeks as a family of four. We've been enjoying our new little bundle. Azure is a sweet and darling little baby. She's pretty amiable most of the time, as long as Mom isn't too far away. She likes her mom. What can I say, her mom's a pretty awesome lady. . . ahem.

During the first two weeks of Azure's life she preferred to be left alone when she was awake. She really liked to just sit and look around. So I got out this little play yard that Cormac loved when he was little. I set her in it and Cormac climbed right in too. I don't think she's ever been in there when her brother hasn't joined her.

Azure has a thing about sticking out her tongue. My parents have told me that I loved to stick out my tongue as a little one as well. In fact the first time I met my dad I looked him right in the eye and stuck out my tongue. I guess my daughter takes after me a little.

Here she is at 2 weeks old wide awake. She was pretty jaundiced, poor little gal. This outfit was from Grammie. It's pretty cute. But she's already outgrown it at 3 weeks old.

Grandpa was teaching Cormac how to shave. I bet you didn't know that it goes over much better if you involve Thomas in your shaving endeavors.

Grammie with her second grandchild and only granddaughter. They enjoyed some snuggle time while my mom was here being my slave. Thanks for everything, Mom.

Cormac really likes lying down next to Azure. Not sure why. He is also really into giving her kisses. Apart from that he's really not too interested in her. Although the other day she got really upset when I was in the bathroom. I could hear Cormac saying, "Bebe sad." Which made me nervous. I hurried out to find him trying to cover her up with another blanket in her bed. He was doing a really good job. It was pretty sweet of him. Then today he was putting on chapstick and he put some on me, then he decided to share with Azure and he put some on her eye for her. I don't think she was too happy about it, but at least Cormac's trying to share.

And here she is today. Three weeks old. She has grown so much. She is probably about as big as Cormac was when he was born. So there's that. She did have a cute green bow for St. Patrick's day, but it didn't last too long. She doesn't like having them on too much.

Azure is wonderful. She makes me so happy. I love to snuggle with my sweet girl. Her jaundice is cleared up and she's doing much better. I am still healing. I forget how long it takes. But at least we aren't moving this time around. We've had so much help from friends and family as well which has been so wonderful. Thanks to everyone. But mostly thanks to Ammon. He's incredible. He has been doing everything. He does the cooking, cleaning, shopping, and entertaining of Cormac. He's the diaper changing champion as well. I couldn't do this without him. He's truly amazing. And he does all of this while holding down a full time job. I'm so thankful that I have him.