Christmas Cards!

I know that Christmas is still nearly 3 months away, but I was really excited to share these adorable Christmas cards that I got for free from Shutterfly.com!! I LOVE their website and storing all of my photos on it, and all of my orders come out flawless. :)

Stationery card

View the entire collection of cards.

Our Adoption Part 2: Bringing Amelia Home

After waiting in Salt Lake City for our paperwork to be approved to be able to cross state lines, we were able to board our flight back home to Los Angeles when Amelia was 6-days-old.  We were a little worried before our flight, but she was such a doll and slept the entire flight without a single incident and everyone couldn't help but admire how adorable she was.  It was so wonderful to be able to get back home to our apartment and adjust to being a family together. :) We worked through those exhausting amazing sleepless nights with our little Cricket chirping away through the midnight hours and it was fun to see the cats try to adjust to this new little being in the house.  I also spent many, many hours just gazing at this amazing little baby who I felt so happy and proud to call my child.

Sadie trying to decided what to do about Amelia

Precious little moments with my sweet baby girl

I love how this little babe sprawls out while she sleeps

Amelia May's first bath.  Her umbilical stump fell off at 10 days, so she got to take a bath before she was even 2 weeks old!

I love this little Cricket!!  Always so wide-eyed!

More bath-time fun! She looks so grumpy, but she actually really loves her baths!

Spending time on the Santa Monica Pier

Mesmerized by her mobile

It's so hard to believe that only a few months ago we were praying for this little girl to be in our arms.  I know that my Heavenly Father had his hand in making Michael and me parents and now that she is here, I couldn't imagine myself without her beautiful little life as a part of mine.  I love her more than I ever could have imagined and I know that everyday will be better than the last.

Our Adoption Part 1 - Meeting our Baby Girl

It's amazing how time seems relative to the situation that you are in.  I woke up today and realized that Amelia is 3-months-old and it hit me! Her little life has been such a whirlwind of decisions, traveling on airplanes, moving across the country and learning to adjust to a new life in Provo, and I haven't even documented her life here on the blog.  Amelia's adoption process seems like such a long time ago when I think about, but when I start to really ponder everything we went through to bring home our own little baby, I realize how substantial every little moment of our adoption was.  Well, rather than tell the entire story of how Amelia became our little girl,  I just thought I would post a pictorial timeline of our little cricket and give a few captions.  We've been through a lot in the past 3+ months, and these pictures don't do justice, but I think they are better than nothing.  I'm beyond happy to have this sweet little girl in my life, and I feel so blessed and privileged to be called her mommy.

Preparing for baby! Nursery is almost ready and we are almost ready, as well!

I'm so grateful to my mom for snapping this picture of the Michael and me seeing Amelia for the first time.  She was so beautiful and I couldn't help but completely break and down and cry. 

Amelia May Smith, born May 16th at 5:18 pm. 7lbs 12oz and 21 inches long.  Unfortunately, after she was born, the doctors were afraid that she had a infection and they had to put her on antibiotics and monitor her oxygen levels. 

Holding Amelia for the first time.  I couldn't stop crying.  Amelia's birth mother and father are amazing and we all sat in the NICU with Amelia for a while and talked.

Michael holding Amelia for the first time as her father.  This was such a special moment after the papers were signed in the hospital.

Showing off Amelia May Smith.  I didn't stop crying for about 5 days straight.  She was born on Wednesday and we were able to take her home on Saturday afternoon.  It was such an amazing experience.

I love this little cricket.

Leaving the hospital

Staying with mom and dad in Provo waiting for our approval to head back home to LA.

Sleepy Smiles.

She was so incredibly tiny!! I can't believe how adorably small she was.

So Blessed to be a Mommy...

Well, we've had quite the epic past 5 months or so... but it's all been worth it.

I'd like to introduce you all to little miss Amelia May Smith.  

She was born Wednesday, May 16th at 6:18 pm and weighed 7 lbs 12 ounces and was 21 inches long.  We couldn't be more in love and we can't believe the journey we've been on.  I will spend more time in the coming days filling you all in on our entire journey, but I just wanted everyone to see our little cricket. Our hearts have been filled with eternal love for this little girl and I feel so blessed to be a mommy.  This has been 7 years in the making, but it feels right to call her our daughter.  We love you so much little Amelia May!!

Hitting Golf Balls Off A Building

Brit, Drew, Mike and Me

Here in LA there is a driving range on top of a 6 story building downtown. It's really fun to go and hit golf balls off of. We've only been twice and we've been both times with our friends Drew and Brit and we hope to go back again soon! The second time we went, we thought to bring our camera along so that we could take some pictures of the fun we had!

Brit and Drew were both awesome! I wish I could say the same for me and Mike. I guess we just need a little more practice. :)

Here's to more practice!

New Year's Eve in Malibu

For New Year's Eve we were invited to stay the night with some friends who were house-sitting in Malibu. We went along with a few other couples and we had such a great time!

We enjoyed ourselves eating yummy secret-recipe burgers made by Josh, playing a fun Charades-One Word game, swimming in the pool, watching the Big Apple Ball drop at Midnight while drinking sparking cider, and even a 3am game of Risk. We had such a wonderful New Year's Eve and we even enjoyed some sunshine on the car ride back home.

We are so lucky to have such wonderful friends here in LA!!

The Girls won the Charades-One Word Game!! Woot Woot!!

The Flower Boys. Aren't they cute!?

Waiting for the ball to drop!

Austin and Rachel Robinson

Rachel and Heather preparing the Cidar! YUM!

Happy New Year's with our New Year's Hats on with Heather and Kael Alden

3am game of Risk

Happy New Year 2012!! We had such a great time! Thanks Sarah and Josh Rivera for inviting us!! We had so much fun!

Christmas in Utah!

Annual Christmas photo at the Daynes' home

This past Christmas Michael and I were able to drive out to Utah with some of our friends here in LA since our parents both live in Provo. It was really nice to take the 11-hour drive and be able to sit back and relax the entire time (thanks Kael for driving) and we even made some great stops along the way at the outlet mall and a yummy Greek restaurant. Once we got to Utah we spent some really exciting days with both my family and Mike's. Our agenda included my family's annual Christmas Fondue Dinner, Christmas Eve at Michael's sister's home, some wonderful, but very sad visits with Michael father in the hospital, and breakfast at Joe's in Provo before we headed back home. Unfortunately, we didn't get many pictures, but we still have a wonderful Christmas Vacation, nonetheless.

My super-duper adorable niece, Emily.

Michael's Trip to Egypt

Last October Michael had the opportunity to take a trip to Cairo, Egypt with some of his classmates to research housing. Although he left me behind in LA to take a quick 6 day "vacation" without me, at least he took pictures galore! Be prepared for LOTS and LOTS of them!

dinner in the desert

view of a pyramid

this picture looks photoshopped!

the tourists

the Arabian horse was biting Michael

I'm pretty jealous that Michael went on this amazing trip without me, but I can't wait for all the great trips we will be able to go on once he is finally finished with school in June. We have so much to look forward to!