Belle's New Adventures

This past month has been so fun! My youngest sister Amanda came down to visit during her spring break. We had a blast going to the park, on walks, shopping, and going to the Mesa Temple Easter Pageant! Belle loves to be outside, especially now that she can crawl. It has been so exciting to see her realize that she can move around on her own. Now there is no limit to where she can go in the house. We have been waiting for the swimming pool to warm up, and hopefully it will in the next few weeks! We can't wait to put Belle in her swimming suit and play with her in the water. We love hearing her "talk" all the time, especially in the morning while she plays in her crib before she gets up. She is growing up too fast. Way too fast.

Belle and me in our matching Easter dresses. She will be so embarrassed about this fifteen years from now...but I loved it!
A close up of Belle in her Easter dress.
At the Easter Pageant at the Mesa Temple.
She LOVES to swing.
She doesn't really know how cool slides are yet!
Crawling in action!
Crawling to get the camera! Always trying to get something.
Finally a great picture of Belle's real smile!
She will put anything in her mouth, even toothbrushes. Funny, since she still doesn't have any teeth.

Meeting Miss Olivia

The primary reason for going to Utah was to meet my new niece, Olivia! She is such a cutie and it was so fun to hold and play with her. We got to go to a shower for Andrea and Olivia and also got to attend Olivia's blessing. What a wonderful week we had with family!
It was so funny to watch Belle and Olivia look at and play with each other. Yes, Belle is a chunk and Olivia is just a tiny little thing!

Daniel, Andrea and Olivia--such a cute family!

Just the girls.

Holding Miss Olivia at her shower.

Our March Madness

A lot has happened in the last month! Platte had his birthday--he turned 27! Belle had her half birthday. She learned to sit all by herself, and has completely enjoyed the world of baby food. Belle and I had the chance to go to Utah to see my family. We got to meet Olivia for the first time, see Amanda perform in her high school musical (Aida), go to BYU to visit Adam and Whitney, and spend a lot of time with my parents! Platte had his spring break the same week we went to Utah. Luckily, we got to spend a few days with him before we left for our trip--but he had to stay home to work on a research paper due the first day back from the break. It's been a great month so far!
The first time Belle sat up all by herself!

Just chillin' at a BBQ we had with some friends from law school.

We went out for pizza with some friends for Platte's Birthday!

Hanging out in Whitney's dorm room.

Amanda as a peacock model in the musical!

So far she loves her yellow and orange vegetables.

I just love this picture!

Belle Turns Five Months!

This past month has zoomed by. Here are some of the highlights--Belle learned to roll over, and over, and over again. We began to feed her cereal, and she likes it! Belle learned to sit up by herself (almost). Belle got to see my family a lot over the web cam--she even got to meet her Uncle France and Aunt Lindsey over the web cam too! My brother and his wife Andrea had their first baby. They named her Olivia, and she is adorable. Platte's brother and his wife Andrea had their fourth baby. They named him Andrew--he will probably be a lot like his brother Brigham and love to play in the mud. We went out to one of my favorite restaurants for Valentine's Day, PF Chang's, and Platte even liked it (a miracle)!

Cutie!!

I LOVE this outfit!

She's not sure about the spoon yet.

Look at the form!

Valentine's Day PF Chang's style

Christmas and the New Year

We had an awesome Christmas with family and friends. Belle even stayed awake while we opened presents on Christmas morning. It was fun getting away from the heat so we could spend time playing in the snow. We realize once again that our families are incredible and mean so much to us. Although we enjoy living in Mesa, we miss them! School has started again and Platte is looking forward to completing his second year of law school. I still enjoy being home with Belle. Finding new ways to make her laugh is a riot. She constantly makes our home a wonderful place to be.

An afternoon at the Mesa Temple.

Four months and still too cute for words!

Belle holding Bunny Blue Eyes and wearing her matching sleeper. My Mom made both of these and gave them to Belle for Christmas! She even wrote a little book about Belle and Bunny Blue Eyes and made a matching quilt to go with it! My Mom is so creative!!!

We had fun visiting Grandpa at work--and eating lunch at the Lion House.

Blue Belle

We had fun playing fox and geese--and tackling each other in the snow.

Mostly, Belle just likes to stare at the toys on her gym. Gotta learn to use those arms!

As you can see, Belle was spoiled big time!

Grandpa loves to hold Belle and Belle loves to be held by Grandpa--he was the first one to make her laugh.

Thanksgiving and Belle's Blessing

We went home for Thanksgiving and it was so much fun! Belle was the highlight of all the parties! We ate dinner with my family in the afternoon and then went down to Springville that night to play with the Nielson bunch. All of Belle's aunts, uncles, and cousins adored her throughout the week. She loved being held by everyone! Then on Saturday we blessed Belle at my parents' house. My whole family was there and most of Platte's siblings were there. Belle was a little angel. Everything was perfect and we appreciate everyone for coming! Here are pictures of Belle in her first white dress. :)
So pleasant

The Ricks Family, Grandpa Gardner, aunts, uncles, and cousins, and Paige

The Nielson Family, and Blaine, Amy and kids

Belle in her blessing dress laying on the beautiful afghan my mother crocheted for her

I Have Been Tagged

Lucky Seven

7 Things I can do:
1. I can play the piano and the organ
2. I can cook
3. I can read (yes, I know most people can read--I just mean I can read, love, and appreciate a good book)
4. I can quilt and sew
5. I can play and watch sports with Platte
6. I can tell if something in my house has been touched or moved
7. I can scuba dive

7 Things I can't do:
1. I can't eat ramen and tomato juice like a true Nielson
2. I can't do crafts
3. I can't dance
4. I can't call random people on the phone (or even not so random people). Calling people scares me.
5. I can't draw
6. I can't eat fish
7. I can't whistle

7 things that attracted me to Platte:
1. His kindness to everybody he knows and meets
2. His smile and looks
3. His spirituality
4. His athleticism
5. His family and his background
6. His work ethic
7. Simply the way he has lived his life, even when it hasn't been perfect or easy

7 Things I often say:
1. I love you
2. How was your day?
3. Hi, Mom
4. You are too cute for words!
5. It's okay sweetie
6. What are you cryin' about?
7. Good job to you (Don't know why we add the "to you" part, but we do)

7 People I admire:
1. Platte
2. My mom
3. My dad
4. Daniel and Andrea
5. Adam
6. Whitney
7. Amanda

7 Favorite Foods:
1. Potatoes (especially au gratin, baked, and mashed)
2. Pretty much all sweets (Key Lime Pie--only from Florida, cheesecake, blondie--from Applebee's, homemade pie, homemade cookies)
3. Homemade soup and bread
4. Cafe Rio pork salad
5. Waffles with peaches and cream
6. Training Table's Bacon Ranch Burger
7. Drinks--Stephen's Hot Chocolate (Mint Truffle), steamed milk, and strawberry milk
And despite this we actually do eat quite healthy at our house!

7 people I tag
1. Anybody who wants to