More About Michelle

Michelle is doing so many new, exciting, funny things. She is discovering what she likes (and what she doesn't like too!)

She likes climbing, and she likes sliding. She enjoyed this trip to the McDonald's playland while I was on Spring Break and we met Jim for lunch one day.

More than any food, Michelle loves CHEESE! Cheese, by the way, was her first word. She loves almost all kinds, even the spicy cheeses. We have found a few types of swiss she doesn't care for.

Michelle already loves shoes. She likes to put them on. Once she gets on two, she tries to put on a third, realizes she can't, and kicks off the two she has on so she can start over again. It is quite adorable and she will sit and do this for 30 minutes or more. It doesn't really matter whose shoes they are, either.

Michelle also likes being outside, though I think she likes it better when she is wearing play clothes than when she is dressed for church! She has finally started standing on her own, and we are hopeful that very soon she will be walking on her own too!

I think she didn't like the taste of dirt very much, but most kids learn that one the hard way . . . and learn it again and again! So I am sure this is not the last time I will have to help her get the dirt out of her mouth! Luckily Dad saved the day by running in the house and getting her a drink to wash it out with.

We are still getting prepared for our big move to Idaho Falls. We have packed up some of our house and next week Jim is taking a trip up there to haul some stuff which we will store at my mom and stepdad's house. They have been a lot of help to us and we appreciate it! Let us all just hope I don't go into labor while he is gone!

We don't know for sure where we are going to live once we get there. If I were not pregnant this would be easier, but we would still have the issue of needing to sell our house in Show Low. Still, it is early in the home buying season and we are hopeful that something good will happen. Until then, maybe we will set up our camping stuff somewhere and live at a campground for the summer! :) That would be exciting with a newborn! No, really, we may stay with my mom and stepdad for a few days until we locate a place for sure. We may rent, we may buy. I guess we will know in about a month (depending on when Lena decides to come).

Some good times

Michelle loves the park! The weather was finally nice enough (barely) to take her the other day, and when it was time to leave, she started screaming! She really was having such a good time, so we took her back again Saturday. The ground is quite wet still, but she doesn't seem to mind.

Also on Saturday, Gary came for a visit. He will be here until Wednesday! We are so excited to have him and Michelle just LOVES her Uncle Gary!

We were lucky he was here because the Bishop called us Sunday morning (45 minutes before church) and asked us to speak to fill in for someone who was sick! So Gary watched her while we spoke! She was really great for him! And he was pretty good too!

Way to go, Idaho!

Well, most of you who read this blog already know, but there are a few of you who don't (sorry, Jacqui, I do plan on returning your phone call, things are just REALLY crazy right now) . . . We are moving to Idaho Falls. After more than a year of applying for jobs all over the country, Jim got THREE, yes THREE job offers in one month. He got an offer in Las Vegas, an offer in Idaho Falls, and then just last week, another in Tacoma. The job in Idaho Falls is BY FAR the best career move for Jim, and therefore for our little family. They really wanted him, paid his way up there AND per diem for the time he spent up there for an "interview". They also don't want him to leave his pregnant wife alone, so they told him he could start anytime between now and May 17. We are really hoping we can sell the house by then. Honestly, we have felt good about this job in Idaho from the moment they called and so we feel that is where we are supposed to be next. Heavenly Father has blessed us so much in our marriage and we have tried to do as he has directed. I just have to have faith that things will work out with the house. Someone out there wants to buy my cute little starter home! (Hopefully sooner than later so we can get moving on a house in Idaho Falls.) Anyway, it is a big move, a big change for us in a lot of ways. But we feel good about it and are very excited.

Poor Michelle is going to have her entire world turned upside down in a couple of months . . . new home, new little sister, new routines. Good thing kids are so resiliant! She isn't walking yet, but we keep thinking, any day now! Maybe if Jim would stop picking her up every time she bats her big brown eyes, gives a little smile, and holds out her hands . . . :) To be fair, it is pretty tough to resist when she is so dang CUTE!

Look how cute she was playing with her cousin Maya when we went to visit for Cousin Andrew's baby blessing this past weekend!

Playtime

Jim and Michelle were so cute I had to capture it on film.

Family Pictures

We made an appointment to have Michelle's 1 year picture taken (a month or so late, admittedly) and at the last minute decided to to family pictures at the same time. They turned out pretty well, so I thought I would share some. We are sending some in the mail out to family, but if you want one that you don't get, or want a different size, let us know because we bought the copyright for them all.

Michelle was tired by the time we got in to our appointment (45 minutes late!) But, as always, she puts on a show for the camera. She is such a little performer.

First Savings Account

Michelle opened her first savings account yesterday! We actually went before Christmas to do it, but I didn't have her social security number memorized yet . . . I'm such a bad mom sometimes! :) Anyway, I memorized it and we went yesterday. Thanks to grandparents for Christmas gifts to fill her first savings account!

Back Home Again

We made it home safely from Christmas in Utah. Michelle enjoyed our trip to the north of Utah, where she got to play with her cousins that she rarely sees. They adored her and she loved the attention. She loved the toys from Grandpa and Grandma Thompson too (except the penguin which, for some odd reason, scares her to tears).

Now, back at home, her favorite games involve throwing toys. She likes to pull all the pieces out of her puzzle and throw them across the room. She likes to take all the animals out of her Little People barn and throw them. She also LOVES when Mom or Dad builds a tower of blocks so she can knock it down!

She is also becoming quite the serious musician with all her musical instruments, like her new guitar.

A big accomplishment Sunday . . . she finally pulled herself up to a standing position. And we were thrilled, even if the chosen spot was one of the few "no-no" spots in the house.