Six Months Old...

As you know, Stella is now (as of almost two weeks ago) officially six months old. She is definitely a 'baby' now, rather than an infant. I love watching her develop but at the same time it pains me to see her grow so fast! I just want to capture every stage she goes through and never forget what it was like.

She has such a little personality. She's a really sweet baby; always smiling and laughing. She is really starting to love being around all her little cousins - she just sits there and watches them - she is so entertained by the things they do. You can tell she can't wait until she can join in the fun!

We are having fun getting ready for her 'first Christmas'. I found in a local boutique a cute little soft baby doll that is actually named 'Baby Stella' (which is what everyone calls our Stella). I thought that was so cute...so, I bought her that doll for Christmas and the little baby stroller and cradle that go with it. There is also a line of books called 'Stella'. They are really cute books where this little girl goes on all these adventures - like 'Stella - Princess of the Sky' and 'Stella - Princess of the Sea', etc. So, I couldn't resist getting her those as well. The funny part about it is that I was actually hiding these gifts in Cameron's office. He came in and started laughing at me for hiding presents from a six month old baby...but I thought we better get into the practice of it! :)

This week the adoption becomes final. We are waiting impatiently (LOL) to receive the official word that everything has been signed off in the courts. After that we will wait for them to send us all the official paperwork and then we can schedule to bless and be sealed to her. We are very excited.

Here are a few recent pictures of her. Georgeous as always!

Halloween and Other Things...

19 - 23 Weeks...

Hello! Well, I finally have some good pictures to post for you to see...These range from about October 20th until just yesterday. Thank you to Spencer and Angie for the cute little outfits you sent. She has worn them both and the boots will be so cute this winter!

It seems amazing that Stella is now five months old. In some ways it seems like she's been here forever - and in others ways it seems like yesterday she was born. It is so much fun watching her grow and change every day. She is rolling over both ways now and is on the verge of sitting up. It looks like she is going to get her two bottom teeth here pretty soon. She reaches for things she wants now including if she wants someone to pick her up, which is so cute! She loves her 'exer-saucer' which is the toy she sits in and plays with all the little toys around the edge. She will jump and laugh and play in that thing for quite a long time! She continues to be a happy baby who loves to laugh and smile. She is such a joy in our lives.

Stella's Halloween Costume - She was a bumble bee! She was even in the 'Gilbert Republic' newspaper in her costume - on the front page!

Happy little Bumble Bee at our Trunk-Or-Treat party in our ward.

Stella with Mom and Dad passing out candy at our Trunk or Treat.

Stella in one of her 'scary' Halloween outfits! :)

Wearing her Babies Gone Batty Onesie! So cute.

Again - On Halloween Day.

On Halloween.



This one makes me laugh - her little belly is so cute.

Stella at a family reunion

She loves her baths! (She's wearing a washcloth!)

Jenny and Stella at a wedding. Stella was the Belle of the Ball!





Growing Cuter Everyday! - That's for sure! :)

Again...




Stella in her Exer-saucer - Funny Girl.

Weeks 15 - 17...

Hello! Well - it's been a few weeks since I have updated only because we haven't been doing much! So, I haven't had many pictures to share! Hopefully in the next few weeks I should have some good pictures since Halloween is coming up!

Stella is growing every day and looking so much older now suddenly! She is using her hands a lot more now and can easily grab toys and fingers, etc, that are placed in front of her. She is rolling over - but only now and again...She has become attached to this one little silky blanket and she likes to hold that and feel it with her fingers when she goes to sleep. She started eating rice cereal last week. She loved it right from the very first bite! It creates quite a disaster when she eats it, but she loves it! She can only eat all organic, soy-free rice...the first kind we gave her had soy in it and she had a little bit of an allergic reaction (some hives on her cheeks and neck).

She's so funny - she is very particular lately about who she will let hold her! She mostly likes to be with me, then Cameron...and after that, she'll pretty much cry if anyone else takes her...I think it's just a phase - but it sure does make her cousins and aunts / grandmas crazy! I guess she and I need to get out more often, around other people! :)

Here are some recent pictures of her!

In her guitar pajamas - still no hair to speak of! :)

She has the cutest gummy smile!

Here is Stella and Dad watching football last Sunday after church. Neither one could take their eyes off the TV!

Sitting in her Bumbo chair. She thinks she is such a big girl when she sits up in it!

Weeks 13 and 14...

Well - weeks 13 and 14 are now complete! I can't believe how fast the time is flying by. Even though I am always anxious to see what she will do next or how she will grow and change - I also ask her every day to stop growing-up already! I know I will miss this little baby stage when it is over. Stella is absolutely the most beautiful, funny, adorable baby ever!

Last week we went to the East Coast and took her with us. I can't bear to leave her behind just yet. She had her first plane ride...and got to see her first baseball game - at Fenway Park (Boston Redsox) - a memorable experience for sure. She and I only stayed about 4 innings and then she was ready for bed!.. then we took her to NYC. I'm not kidding when I tell you that we could hardly even get anywhere because so many people (mostly ladies) were stopping us to oggle over Stella! Of course it never gets old hearing how cute she is - but by the end it was getting almost rediculous! :)

She has become a lot more vocal over the last week or two. She's learning to use her voice a lot more and she has the cutest little high voice. She's doing a lot of cooing and talking. She looks like she thinks she is really telling you something when she talks! She's growing a little chubbier now - getting some little rolls on her legs finally. She's still wearing 0 - 3 month size clothes - but I think pretty soon she'll be able to move into some of her 3 - 6 month sizes. (I hope so - because all her 0 - 3 month clothes are very summery!).

We've started taking a morning walk in the stroller. When she gets up around 6 am, it is cool enough that we can take her outside. She loves her walks - she is quiet the whole time and just looks around at everything.

Here are some recent pictures of her.

Spencer, do you remember, we bought this outfit when you were here? Well, finally it fits!

Stella being held by her cousin, Sam. Her cousins can't get enough of her!

Stella's other cousin, Luke. He is exactly a year older than Stella. At this birthday party, he was trying to give her hugs and kisses the whole time! :)

Stella and her best friend, Junior watching Baby Einstein.

Here she is also watching Baby Einstein - she has figured out the TV and is obsessed! Anytime it is on, she cranes her neck around to try to see it! Funny!

Here she is sticking her tongue out at the camera (as usual!), at the Redsox game in Boston. Dad was telling her all about the plays. I don't think she was listening...LOL.

Stella and Dad at the Redsox game.

Stella on her first plane ride. The plane wasn't too full - so she got her own seat. She slept on her beanie-bed almost the whole way! She looks pretty tired in this picture! :)

Weeks 11 and 12...

Hello! Here are the latest and greatest pictures of little Stella. Don't you love her smile (above)? She has the best smile.

She turns three months old this week! Can you believe it! She went to the doctor two weeks ago; she is 10 lbs. 1 oz., 23 inches long. (Her height is in the 55%, her weight is in the 10%, her head circumference is in the 35% (all for her age). So, she's doing good in height, she just needs to keep gaining weight! :)

Here she is at our friend's house in Las Vegas.

Stella (right) with her friend Lulu (left) ready to hit the road.

This one is funny! It looks like she's pointing at her tongue.

Spencer, you gave her the outfit she's wearing in this picture! It's so cute and bright.

Nine and Ten Weeks Old!

Stella has been a busy girl over the past couple of weeks! We went on a family vacation with my family (Jenny) a couple weeks ago to California - then ended up going on another one with Cameron's family this past weekend (again to California!). This time we went to Disneyland and the beach - so I did get some pictures of her in those two places.







Overall, she's doing very well, as usual! She's starting to actually look chubby in the face and belly (her legs are still pretty skinny!). She had her first runny/stuffy nose last week - poor little thing...but it didn't develop into any real illness or anything so that is good. She is smiling a lot now and starting to laugh a little bit...she smiles the most when Cameron sings her little songs that he makes up! :) She sure is a pretty little girl!







Here are some pictures of the last 2 weeks - sorry that Cameron and I are in a lot of them (I'm sure you really want to see pictures of us! LOL) - I just didn't have that many of just the baby...So, here you go!

Stella and Cameron in Disneyland

Stella and Jenny at the beach -sorry it's sideways - I keep on rotating it, and for some reason it keeps going back sideways!! :(

Stella at the fireworks in Disneyland - they didn't even phase her!..she just kept right on sleeping.

Stella crashed out after the beach on the way back to the hotel.

Stella and I like to color coordinate our clothes! :) I know - cheesy! LOL.

Stella during her afternoon nap.