7 months

It's hard to believe that Scout's really 7 months now. Eric and I can't decide if the time has gone fast or slow, but it's gone nonetheless. Even though time continues to slip away, Scout continues to make us feel younger. I've noticed that Eric and I are smiling and laughing a lot more these days, and it's all thanks to this little goofball.

She still sleeps through the night (from about 7pm-7am), and she's been on solids for a month now...we're lucky if she eats a few bites a day. She doesn't love any of it, but she seems to tolerate the carrots best. We selfishly still feed her the peaches purely for the entertainment value. Her reaction is similar to how we might respond to chomping into a lemon, only much cuter. She can finally roll over both ways now...just a few days ago, it was only back to front which meant she would sometimes wake up in the middle of the night in a fuss until we flipped her back to her back.

Because of Eric's work schedule, he doesn't always get to see much of Scout during the weekdays so he likes to steal a few late-night snuggles before he goes to bed. She's always wide awake with a huge grin when he walks in, but then she goes right back to sleep when he leaves.

The other day I read a blog post entitled, "Motherhood: Easier Than I Thought" (or "Better than What They Tell You"). I found myself relating to a good portion of the post and feeling guilty for it because I realize that it's not so easy for many first-time moms (and certainly not for moms with multiple children). There are a lot of factors that come into play - several of which, I know nothing about due to the fact that Scout was adopted. Factors like: recovering from labor, recovering from 9 MONTHS of pregnancy, hormones, weight gain, postpartum, exhaustion/frustration/pain from breastfeeding, etc, etc. I also know new moms with colicky babies...babies with allergies...babies who throw everything up...babies who don't sleep...babies with special needs, etc. I really am aware of how fortunate we are that Scout's been so easy on us. I'm sure the terrible twos will hit us twice as hard, and if not the toddler years, then we'll probably have a spicy pre-teen/teen on our hands. But, for now, I'm just going to enjoy this sweet stage while I can. :)

For Memorial Day, we visited the cemetery in Emmett where some of my family members were buried, including my dad. This was our first time taking Scout.

She loves Dad's schnoz. 

So sweet.

She may be an easy baby, but she still has her moments. :)

Strollin'

Scout and I try and walk 3-4x a week.

Before Scout, I was always envious of those cute moms "strolling" down the street with their sweet babes. How nice it must be to spend all day with that cute little bundle and have time for leisurely walks in the sunshine.

I'm learning, however, that our walks, although lovely, are more of a necessity.  A necessity for getting this mommy butt into shape and a necessity for getting out of the house, away from the dirty dishes, the piles of laundry, the client requests and the church responsibilities. Away from all of that and into the fresh air where baby is no longer fussy and is completely content in her stroller sucking away on her shoulder straps.

The Wetlands (just a mile or so from our house). It's sort of an ugly pretty.
On one of our walks, I actually spotted a couple sunbathing here. Only in Idaho.

Walking along the canal bank behind our house (and, yes, sucking on her delicious strap)

Lots and lots of frogs. Whenever I try to sneak up on them to snap a photo, I always hear 2 or 3 splashing into the water.

Baby Showers!

Ok, this blog post is so very late (only 8 months), but I wanted to do it anyway...because it was too good not to document.

Back in September, my family threw the sweetest baby shower.

SIL Robbie & her best friend Kim who we LOVE (she's the one who knit 2 hats and a blankie for Scout in a day)

Tiffany, SIL & master party planner

The ladies of the family

Nieces Hanna, Talia holding Finley, Faith, Emma (not related) & Cami (only missing Clare & Ella and, of course, Scout)

The incredibly generous "loot".

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In December, the YW spoiled me with a 2nd baby shower.

Wise YW sharing their advice.

Brooke's Letter to the Editor (her Adoption Experience)

Brooke, Scout's birth mom, wrote this beautiful letter to the editor. As I read it to Eric aloud, we both had tears in our eyes and were once again overwhelmed with gratitude to have Scout AND Brooke in our lives. Brooke really is family to us now.

So, I was asked to write a letter to the editor of the local newspaper about birth mothers and my experience with adoption. Tell me what you think! Here it is:

My name is Brooke Woodbury, I'm 18 years old, and I placed my baby girl with an adoptive couple a little over 6 months ago. I chose to place because I wanted my baby to have the life she deserved and unfortunately, that was everything I couldn't give her. I didn't want her to have to suffer because of my mistake.

I found my couple on the "It's About Love" website through LDS Family Services. Finding a couple was not easy but when I found them, I knew instantly that they were who my baby was always meant to be with. I have an open adoption so I am involved in my daughter's life. I am in close contact with the adoptive couple and I can see my baby often. Our adoption is very casual. It feels as if we are family and in a sense, we are.

Adoption is filled with love. A birth mother loves her child so much that they are willing to place them in the arms of a couple that is ready and prepared for that little, perfect miracle. Only my daughter could ever understand how much I love her. After all, she's the only one that knows what my heart sounds like from the inside.