My baby is 4 months?!

My smiley little girl!

She loves her gym... sometimes :)

My sister, Tiffany, came for a visit from Georgia.
Unfortunately, this was how Aileah was feeling
for most of the time she was visiting. Sorry, Tiff!

Aileah with 5 of her cousins... all the grandkids
on the Andes side. Aren't they super cute?!

Where does the time go? I can't believe Aileah will be turning 4 months on Sunday! I can't believe I haven't blogged since August! I am so grateful to have this cute, happy (yes, guys, she really is happy sometimes) little girl come to our family. Here is a run down on what she's been up to the last little while.

• She hates tummy time and so decided to roll over to her back. She did this 4 times in one day... but not again since.
• She loves, loves, loves blowing raspberries. A very wet, new development.
• She loves to play, grab, and suck on her feet.
• She is sucking her thumb lots. Not a Binky girl anymore.
• She laughs... really laughs. It is adorable.
• She rubs her eyes with the back of her hand when she's falling asleep.
• She usually cries when we go visit someone at their home. Not so fun... but I promise she is a happy girl at home. Sorry not everyone gets to see that :(
  
• She finally fits into "newborn" shoes... but still kicks them off.

Just a few of the things she does that makes me smile everyday. I love being a mom! She was definitely worth the wait!

Hiking= good, clean fun!

On Tuesday my sister, Valerie, invited our little family to go on a "hike" to Devil's Kitchen in the Nebo Loop. It was a nice little stroll down the path to the overlook. It was a beautiful view of red rocked formations. It was a really short walk... but the drive and company were fabulous! Thanks for letting us tag along Mendozas!
Today I decided we needed to hike Donut Falls in Big Cottonwood canyon. Neither Tom nor I have been up to Big Cottonwood. It was so beautiful! We are looking forward to more hiking trips up there! Here are a few pics from our hikes.
Our little sun worshipper!

This is near the Donut Falls trailhead. The

falls are much bigger... and very popular!

Time Flies! A quick update

Ok. Where did June go?! I honestly don't think a month has ever flown by so quickly! Here's a rapid rundown of what we've been up to lately.

We took Aileah for her first "hike". Ok... so really it's more of a pleasant stroll. But you gotta start somewhere, right? We went up to Bridal Veil Falls. She is one outdoorsy girl! She could be crying super hard but then stop the minute we get outside. We hope this is a lasting trait of hers.

On the 4th of July our little girl turned 1 month! Aileah is such a good, happy baby. She smiles and coos at us all the time. I am fortunate to have this summer to be a stay-at-home mom. I'm loving this time I have to spend with her. It breaks my heart to think of going back to work at the end of summer! What an adorable, long-awaited blessing this girl is. I kinda like her... a lot!
More often than not we hear, "She looks just like her daddy!" Who do you think she looks like?

We had Aileah's blessing on July 5th. We had so many friends and family members with us to celebrate this special day. We love you all! Aileah was wide awake during her blessing but didn't make a sound. She just stared at her Daddy with her beautiful big eyes! Tom gave her a beautiful blessing!

On Monday, Tom and I decided to go to a couple of places we've never been before. We went to Young Living Farms and the Lotus Temple. It was so nice to get out as a family!

I love my life! I have truly been blessed beyond anything I deserve. I have the privilege of being married to my best friend! I love seeing him with Aileah- it makes me fall in love with him all over again! He is such a great husband and father! I have a sweet little girl, who melts my heart with her smile. I love this little family. Yes... life is good!

The circle of life

We are pleased to announce the arrival of our precious little girl, Aileah Brooklyn Mann! She was born June 4, 2009, weighing 8 lbs 6 oz and measuring 20 inches long. She has quite a bit hair... and we were convinced she'd be bald! She is such a good baby. As I look at her my heart fills with joy and gratitude. We are grateful for the chance to be her parents and pray for the Lord's guidance to help us be the parents she deserves. We never imagined how much we would love her... or how much we would worry about her. This beautiful girl has definetely been worth the wait!

We were able to leave the hospital on Sunday. We hadn"t been home for too long when I got a call from my mom. She had just found out that my Grandpa Bill was not going to be able to have a much needed heart surgery. The doctors were sending him home for hospice care. Mom flew out the next morning. She was able to be there when he passed away as he slept. I am glad that he knew about Aileah. He was bragging to all the hospital staff :) I will remember Grandpa for sense of humor, his arguments with the missionaries, and for the compliments he paid me. I will miss him but I am grateful for the knowledge that we can be together again!

Sewing projects and some random pics!

Ok.. I hate pictures of me. But here I am one day before Aileah's due date.
Ugh! And I can't figure out how to turn it the right way... Sorry!

Tom took this sweet shot at Tracy Aviary!

Sorry... I can't figure out how to turn this one either!

A pelican shot I took at the Aviary.

A pinecone cluster at Thanksgiving Point.

The blanket I made for Aileah. It is super simple,

I know... but I did it to practice sewing straight lines.

The blessing gown! Grandma Stella helped rescue Aileah from

a fate worse than death... looking like white trash!

Thanks for all your patience and help, Mom!

Seven Days??!!!

I know, I know... I am a terrible blogger. Maybe I will feel more inclined to do it once I have Aileah to brag about. More desire, but less time. I cannot believe we are a week away from our due date! The past 9 months have, mostly, flown by! It doesn't really seem real yet that Tom and I will parents super soon! I am excited and nervous to see our precious little girl!
And now to catch you up on a couple of things that have been going on. The weekend after my last post I started (and almost finished) my practice blessing gown. I am grateful for my mom's patience with me. I am so worried that the gown will end up looking so white trash... but I know that my Mom will guide me through it and save us from that fate. I think the practice gown is coming along nicely... I have only the back and a hem left. Then on to the real thing!! Wish me luck!
On May 1st Tom and I escaped to Park City. My wonderful friend, Sofia, bought us a night stay at a Bed and Breakfast last year. We kept meaning to use it... but life gets so crazy! We used it 8 days before the gift certificate expired. We went up for a quick overnight trip. It was wonderful to get away and relax from work. We ended up having the entire house to ourselves. It was a new experience for the two of us. Neither of us had ever been to a B&B before. The house had been a condemned wreck until the owner came along and saved it. It was a rustic, older home. It was a fun night. Thanks for a much needed mini vacation, Sofia!

What was I thinking?!

So... ever since I found out we were pregnant I have planning to sew a blessing gown/ outfit for the baby. The problem is I don't know how to sew! It is a pretty ambitious undertaking but I really want to try it. After realizing we are down to 9, yes NINE, weeks before Aileah comes I decided I ought start to learn how to sew something. Yikes! Where did all the time go?!
I headed over to my Mom and Dad's house for a sewing lesson from Mom. I have only ever sewed one other item... a scripture bag made from a place mat. That project required lots of help from my wonderful roommate, Jessica. Mom and I decided to start with a blanket. Mom and Sheri must have thought I know more than I do...but I don't know the first thing about sewing! I provided lots of laughs for the two of them as I struggled to make my little project. I was able to do most of it on my own! I did need a little help from the ladies along the way. But I have finished my second sewing project! Next week... a practice blessing gown. I will try to post pictures of the blanket and dress later. What was I thinking?! I must be crazy!