Joy: a source or cause of delight

A few days ago... or was it a few weeks ago? Wow! Time goes so fast sometimes that I can't keep one day separated from another... anyway, whenever it was, I was thinking about the people in my life that have really had a profound influence on me. One of these people is a good friend in our ward.  She has such an amazing way of making everyone, and I'm not joking when I say EVERYONE feel like she totally and completely loves them.  I think if it weren't for her I would have had a very hard time living in Salt Lake City. There have been so many times I've been feeling crazy and stepped out the door to find some little surprise hanging on my doorknob.  I often find myself thinking, "how can I become just like her?  She always seems to know when someone needs her." Well, one of the things she does, and that I have started thinking about a lot is finding joy in life.  So... when I started thinking about her I started thinking about the things that bring me joy. Guess what? Those things most often start with family and sort of flow from there.

One thing that never ceases to bring me joy is my baby's funny faces.  Here she is trying "solids" for the first time.  She isn't sure what to think of the whole "texture" thing since this rice really has no flavor.

 Another thing that makes me super delighted is watching my girls play with each other.  I am so glad they love each other and so thankful for these moments...

 However short lived they are. (I was trying to post a video of Victoria and Leah playing, and fighting, but it wouldn't work.)

Four Months

 Much has happened in the last four months.  I don't know what to blog about, but feeling a little guilty for not keeping up to date on anything, I decided I might as well post something.  So here are my adorables,

Leah insisted on doing her own hair.  Victoria's hairstyle was an experiment gone wrong, oh well they sure are adorable kids.

Diliana found her thumb, ooh how adorable!

Leah wanted to take a picture of Diliana,(she did a pretty good job for a two-year-old photographer) look at those cute CUTE cheeks! I love having a chubby baby!

Victoria and Leah love playing with the baby, one of their favorite games is making a tent for her

 I feel very blessed!

Feeling busy

The past few months have felt pretty busy for us.  My doctor told me he didn't think I would make it all the way to my due date, so I believed him and two weeks before the due date I started to feel anxiety (and contractions) over when the baby would come and if I would be prepared for the holidays, Victoria's birthday, and the baby's arrival.  The baby didn't come two weeks early... relief, but then again... wishing...

Christmas came and went, the baby didn't come... so tired of being pregnant!!!! Still, not too bad because I could still make Victoria's birthday cake... so much pain, no consistent contractions...

Victoria had a fun birthday.  She went out on a Daddy-Daughter-Date and had ice cream.  We made her a castle cake, and she opened a few presents.  I can't believe I have a four year old! 

My due date, the one I wasn't supposed to make it to, came and went, and so did the New Year.  We were tired of waiting for baby so we headed to Kanosh to celebrate with the family.  Sure it seemed a little crazy to go on a 2.5 hour drive when I was supposed to be going into labor "anytime," but we were sure glad we were  where we wanted to be and not sitting at home wishing, waiting, and wondering.  We spent the weekend there and on the morning of the third, we left Victoria and Leah at Grandma's house and we came back to the city.  The doctor checked me.  I said I wanted to be done.  He arranged to meet us at the hospital in a couple of hours and we went out to eat.  Then at 2:30 pm, I got a little help from medical science and went into labor.   Diliana (pronounced DeeLeeAwna) was born at 7:02 p.m.  Yes, I know we told people we were naming her Genevieve, but after thinking about it a lot, we decided she just looks too Bulgarian to have a name like Genevieve, Genevieve is not at all Bulgarian, Diliana is. I think it's a beautiful name, but if you can't handle it, you can call her Didi (Dee Dee).  :) Words cannot describe the relief and joy at having her here.  The girls really love their baby, and I am happy to say that they are adjusting pretty well to her and she to them.   

 The birthday princess in her new cape (which she calls her "princess cave")

 Diliana, just finished getting weighed (7 lb. 9 oz.) and labeled.

Eyes still puffy, but washed up and peaceful.