... that it was Father's Day!

Happy First Father's Day, Matty!!!

Matt loves kids and he's really good with them, so I knew he would be a great dad! He loves our little Jas so much and she loves him right back! He takes such good care of her and they are so stinkin cute together.

I have been wanting to get Matt a decent grill for a long time, and we finally had a backyard to put it in! I figured it would be the perfect Father's Day gift! Although, I did have ulterior motives I guess... I really love steak.

Happy Father's Day, Matty! I love you!!!!!!!

... that Jas was officially two months!

The. Cutest. And growing at an exponential rate.

I knew Jas would be big because both of her birth parents were very tall. But seriously? Two months and she's already off the charts for height???? At least give me a chance! There are several bets going that she will be taller than me by the fourth grade.

I'm betting third grade, honestly.

Jas got lots and lots of mommy time during the 12 weeks that I worked part time from home

And occasionally a little daddy time too. He titled this picture: Smart Baby.

She does look rather advanced.

It took a little while, but I think she's starting to like her big sister ChrisTina Aguilera

And she definitely likes visits from her buddy Boe.

Am came into town and I got to introduce Jas to her sister from another mister/future BFF/college roommate

They were obviously enamored with each other.

Jas was so sweet at this age! She is the easiest baby to make smile, and she even started to laugh! Once. She laughed once and then she didn't laugh again for about another month. But it was the cutest thing in the world!

I love my Jas!!!!!

... that Renee got married!!!

Congratulations to the Blochers!!!

The happy couple got married at the new Provo City Center temple and it was a great day! Jas made some new cousin friends who took care of her in the temple waiting room while we were inside, and she was great the whole time!

 Then Matt had daddy duty while I helped make sure all the guys and gals had the right bouquets and boutonnieres. The rain stopped at just the perfect moment for us to take some pics and it was gorgeous!

After the temple, we all raced up to American Fork for the reception at Tracy's house! My second task was to glue ribbon onto the flower jars, and all of the decorations ended up looking fantastic. It was a little windy outside, but the food was delicious, the dancing was awesome, and the baby snuggles were plentiful!

My mom had been asking me for a family pic for weeks, but I had been putting her off because I knew we were going to be all dressed up for the wedding:



Worth the wait. All the heart eyes!!!

Jas did great all day long. I seriously never worry about taking her anywhere because she is so good! Matt and I were able to help out, enjoy the reception, and overall have a great time with family.



We love the Blochers!

... that I had my first Mother's Day?

Mother's day has been a little weird for me for a long time. Some years I handled it better than others, but mostly it has just been a slightly awkward day of hope and sadness. I knew that I would be a mother one day, but it didn't stop me from feeling like it was a day that never really applied to me. Maybe that's just the way all wives always feel before they have kids, I don't know. But I've felt that way about Mother's Day since I was twelve. And I know that there are a lot of people who struggle with Mother's Day much worse than I do, so I never want to complain.

Matt has always been so sweet to me on Mother's Day. He always made sure that I knew that he knew I would be a great mom someday. And my family would often wish me a happy future Mother's Day as well, which is also so sweet. But it has always been just a little bittersweet.

I was excited and scared for my first Mother's Day. I finally had a baby! I was finally actually a mother! I finally didn't have to stand up and accept gifts or recognition in church awkwardly because I didn't have kids yet! I finally deserved that title and those gifts and could take them unabashedly! But I also knew that at the same time, Big Jasmine was going to be somewhere feeling very, very sad.

A few days before Mother's Day, Big Jasmine had asked me if we could video chat on Mother's Day, and I said of course. I sat on my couch, held Jas in my lap, and just pointed the camera at her so that her birth mother could see her. I held the camera as Big Jasmine called over all of Jas' brothers one by one to say hello to their sister and tell her they loved her and how beautiful she is. I was nervous and very unsure of myself as I tried very carefully to say happy things that would not upset Big Jasmine. I wanted her to have a happy Mother's Day, and I did not want to ruin my own. After 20 minutes, we said goodbye and I hung up the phone with a sigh of relief. It had gone well; as well as I could have hoped for. A little later that evening, I sent her some pictures of Jas, so she could keep that memory forever.

That night, we had dinner at Matt's parent's house, made by all the men of course, and I had tons of congratulations from family and friends on my first Mother's Day. Matt promised me the best Mother's Day present yet: a trip to Harry Potter World!!! (which I have yet to cash in on... soon!) and it was a great day. And yet, still stressful... still a little bittersweet.

I am so incredibly grateful for this amazing baby girl. She is the biggest miracle that has ever happened to me in my whole entire life. I am still awestruck on a daily basis that she is ours. And yet in the midst of my joy, there is still a little sadness and a little heartbreak for her other family across the country that loves her too. So maybe Mother's Day will always be a little awkward and a little bittersweet for me. But I am tremendously grateful for it all the same.

I love being a mother so much!

... that babies are fun!!!

Life with an almost two month old:

Lots of snuggles





Lots of half smiles



Lots of visitors! Including our fave Auntie Jacky

And our fave Laugies, Marcie and Pierce! 

We also had a couple of visits from our fave buddy Boe when his mom needed an emergency babysitter. 

Took me right back to my nannying days! Two babies under one? Ain't no thang, I got this!!!

Lots of trying to still get all the chores done,

And lots and lots and lots and lots and lots of poop.

This happened at the temple right in the middle of Renee's bridal photo shoot, which I was supposed to be helping with when I wasn't trying to clean up the most disgusting poop explosion in the history of babies. Thankfully the bridals turned out okay anyway.

I love my Jas more than anything!!!!!

... that my work loves Jas!!!!!!!!!

Seriously, everyone at my office loves Jas! Deb wanted to throw us a shower as well, and it was awesome! I am so lucky to have such a great work family!

Yes, I almost fit entirely inside of that gift bag.

I am so grateful for such wonderful friends who supported me through all of this! I was truly amazed by how many people came out to show their love for me and Jas. I could not have survived coming to work everyday if it weren't for these amazing people who lifted me up and lightened my load.

I love my work family!!!!!!!!!