Favorite times

Sometimes my only motivation at school all day is my bath time chats with my girl. Today reminded me of one of my favorite comics.

Inspiring thoughts, Harper. Thanks for the good conversation.

El Tour de Tucson

For documentation purposes of our lives for family and all other blog stalkers out there, here's my story of El Tour de Tucson. El Tour de Tucson is a 100-mile bike race that is held in late November every year that is rumored to be one of the easiest Century Rides in the country and generally yields around 9000 riders. It starts downtown early in the morning and the participants ride to the East side of the city, then up through the foothills finally riding down the long frontage road ending up back downtown. If you find yourself needing to cross the race route at any point, plan an extra 15 minutes to your trip; the entire city bends to the riders. The police force is all along the route managing traffic and completely shutting down the race route to auto traffic. Its quite a spectacle.

I think Elizabeth started talking about riding in the Tour in our first year here, but I (wisely) made sure her bike stayed in the corner in a pile of bent spokes and flat tires from her previous accident while she was pregnant. Shortly after Harper was born I took her bike to the shop down the road for repair and she was quickly training again.

The first funny/awesome part of this story is Elizabeth's hesitancy to sign up for the race. She waited and waited, all the while osculating because she was still nursing Harper at the time and didn't want to miss any feedings. Finally the night before the race came and she had decided not to ride, what a great mom. Our neighbor came over to say hello and talked Elizabeth into riding with her the next day. So, on a whim, my wife rode 65 miles in the Tour with some of our good friends/neighbors. (Here's the second funny/awesome part of the story) True to her desire to not miss a feeding, we coordinated to meet somewhere along the race route so she could feed Harper.

waiting for mommy at the finish line

The two of us stood on the corner of the street waiting for her to come around and cheering on all the other riders. She finally showed up and fed Harper and I refilled her water bottles and gave her my half-eaten sandwich. That's a top notch support crew folks.

Here are some pictures of the occasion. Do enjoy. 

the finish line sequence

  

 

 

post race snack

staying warm, mid-November Arizona style

Way to go Mommy!

nine months

I have been so busy since we got back from being in Utah for Christmas break with photography jobs that I haven't done all the blog posts I have wanted to.  I want to catch up on the last couple of months and all that has been going on.  Stay tuned and I will do my best.  But I wanted to share a few pictures of our baby girl who is suddenly nine months old.  Harper got a set of classic, wood blocks from her Grammy and Papa and I got some great shots of her with them that I wanted to share.

 

 I love when she catches her reflection in the little mirror above her carseat 

and smiles and then makes herself laugh.

 

 I love that she wants to crawl so bad and practices a lot.  

She spins 360s on our tile floor over and over and explores everything she can.

 

 Harper likes to give big, fat, wet kisses to her mama.

  

Oh and how I LOVE her little birthmark on the back of her arm!

 

 And those huge blue eyes are pretty much the cutest thing in the world.

A chilly day in Tucson

Today the three of us had an inside day as we got a small taste of what our new life in Seattle will be like in a years time. It has been cold for the past few days in the desert, but today it rained all day, preventing most walks and other outside activities. For dinner we put on our rain gear and had a brick oven pizza at one of our favorite restaurants in town. Harper got extra cozy for the trip and we couldn't stop staring at her in her bunting. If we get to wear clothes like this in the northwest, I think we'll fit in just fine.

morgan

It has been a tender, tear-filled, difficult week.  Our friends' three-year-old son, Morgan, died on Wednesday after being in the Pediatric ICU for seven weeks after nearly drowning.  Morgan's dad is in Brady's MBA program.  The entire thing seems like a horrific dream that I will wake up from.  Being a mother has made the experience so much more tender for me.  Each time I have rocked Harper to sleep since Morgan passed away, I have savored the time with my baby girl realizing the fragility of life and ached for Morgan's sweet parents.  I am so grateful for an eternal family and the peace that Morgan truly is in a better place and is preparing for the day when he can be reunited with his parents and little brother.

Morgan's funeral was a wonderful tribute to a vibrant, happy boy.  His parents, Victor and Jenedy both gave sweet talks filled with love and memories of their son.  Their stake president also spoke and I loved his perspective on their having lost Morgan.  He said: "Children are an important part to how we receive joy. The power of the atonement is what allows us to convert sorrow and grief and transform it into joy. It’s difficult to understand at this time, but in Doctrine & Covenants 101:36 it says - “Wherefore fear not even unto death for in this world your joy is not full, but in me, your joy is full.” Today we’re here to mourn with those that mourn, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort. That’s why we’re here, to do what we can to help and to tell this family that we love them. However we could be here mourning for joy lost, as Morgan is no longer with us. But because of our knowledge of the gospel and the atonement, and the plan of salvation, I submit to you that we are here to mourn for joy postponed. That is a promise from our father in heaven, that joy will be returned."  My favorite was part was when he said we are not mourning joy lost, but joy postponed.

The closing hymn was "Behold! A Royal Army" and I found myself thinking it was an unexpected choice.  Morgan's first name was Victory (a derivative of his father's and his grandma Victoria).  As we neared the chorus, my eyes drifted ahead and I suddenly understood why we were singing it and I couldn't stop crying:

Victory, victory,
Thro’ Him that redeemed us!
Victory, victory,
Thro’ Jesus Christ our Lord!
Victory, victory, victory,
Thro’ Jesus Christ our Lord!

Oh, when the war is ended,
When strife and conflict cease,
When all are safely gathered
Within the vale of peace,
Before the King eternal,
That vast and mighty throng
Shall praise His Name forever,
And this shall be their song.

Oh for that day when the war has ended and we are gathered in that "vale of peace."  After the funeral ended, we all met outside and were given a blue or white balloon and then released them together.  It was a poignant way to end as we all stared heavenward and watched as they floated from sight.  There is so much in this life, our future and eternity that is out of our sight and beyond our understanding.  How grateful I am for a Heavenly Father who loves us and does not leave us comfortless.   I believe He will surround Morgan's family with angels, has sent them unimaginable strength to go on and gave us His Son so as to reunite us with our loved ones one day.

six months, part II

six months and counting

How is this little lady six months old?  I can't believe she is already half way to a year.  But I can't really remember life before her.  Harper is filled with smiles and shares them readily with anyone who will talk to her.  She wakes up most of the time talking and chirping for someone to come get her so we can start the day or continue where we left off. 

How I was blessed with this joyful, lively little spirit is beyond me.  I love watching her learn and master new skills, which she seems to be doing on a daily basis.  Harper uses her tiny hands so delicately as she explores.  I promise to write a post soon about something other than my baby girl, but for now just enjoy with me her twinkling eyes and contagious smile.

6 Months!!!

Today was Harper's 6 month birthday! While Mommy and Daddy were wallowing in their sorrows of time passing too quickly, Harper seemed to grow even more before their eyes. She has never been more happy, smiley or squawky.

To celebrate, the three of us tried some solid foods. Harper reached a new level of facial expression. Do enjoy.

With some apprehension, we opened the applesauce.

The first bite

Not quite sure what just happened

One more

Solids aren't so bad

All done!!!