Snapshot #505: Wearing Blue

February 29, 2012.  San Jose, California.  The two games the BYU Men's Basketball team came to the Bay Area we were in Utah, of course.  The 2012 West Coast Conference Tournament begins today.  Go Cougs!

Snapshot #504: Recipe Diaries Page

February 28, 2012.  San Jose, California.  I have added a new feature to my blog--a quick reference page featuring my Recipe Diaries.  To view the page click on the tab just under the blog heading that says 'Recipe Diaries' (to the right of 'Home') or click here.  

Snapshot #503: Celebrate The Little Things

February 27, 2012.  San Jose, California.  Today I celebrate 503 snapshots of my daily life (taken over the last 21 months.)  I am thankful for this blog because it gives me occasion to pay tribute to the little things of every day life--making sure they don't get forgotten.  This weekend, for example, Hazel transitioned from three daily naps to two.

Recipe Diaries: Snapshot #502: Lemon Tart with Rosemary Crust

February 25, 2012.  San Jose, California.  I made this fabulous lemon tart this afternoon; SO tasty and I love the use of spelt flour and rosemary in the crust!  This is definitely a recipe I will be using again.  AND it used five lemons (there is hope for my loaded lemon tree after all.)

Snapshot #501: The Great Outdoors

February 24, 2012.  San Jose, California.  It's 72 degrees outside...feels like summer, so Hazel and I spent some time enjoying the great outdoors.  Turns out, chewing on grass makes her laugh.

Snapshot #500: The Baby & Toddler Cookbook

February 23, 2012.  San Jose, California.  I've been reading my new cookbook, "The Baby & Toddler Cookbook" (a thoughtful gift from my mother-in-law).  Because I make all of Hazel's baby food from scratch, this will be helpful in expanding my repertoire.  Thanks Debbie!

Snapshot #499: Hazel in a Bonnet

February 22, 2012.  San Jose, California.  Here's a picture of Hazel all dressed in white outside the Twin Falls temple last Saturday.  The photo shoot of her in her little temple dress will come soon.  (This is your sneak peak.)

Snapshot #498: Pencil Portrait of Hazel

February 21, 2012.  San Jose, California.  We flew back to California late last night.  I regret we had to leave behind this most incredible gift from my father--a pencil portrait of Hazel.  The talented artist that he is, he captured her essence in full detail.  Thank you Dad.  The portrait is just too precious to have packed without the proper protection, so we'll get it in a month or two after I talk the in-laws into coming for a visit.  

Snapshot #497: Hazel and Her Grandmas

February 20, 2012.  Salt Lake to San Jose.  We sure love Grandmas.

Snapshot #496: A Sealing and A Blessing

February 19, 2012.  Wendell, Idaho.  For the record, here is a copy of the invitation for Hazel's temple sealing and her blessing, which took place yesterday.

Snapshot #495: Temple Sealing

February 18, 2012.  Twin Fall, Idaho.  On this remarkable day, Dave and I were eternally sealed to our sweet Hazel.

Snapshot #494: Adoption Finalization

February 17, 2012.  Provo, Utah.  Dave and I went to court this morning and finalized the adoption of our little Hazel.  The finalization hearing was more emotional than I had anticipated it would be.

Snapshot #493: Aunt Britton

February 16, 2012.  Salt lake City, Utah.  Hazel spent all day today with her Aunt Britton.  I am thankful for the blessing they are in one another's lives.

Snapshot #492: Table Decorations

February 15, 2012.  San Jose to Salt Lake.  All my bags are packed and I'm ready to go.  The above pictures are my inspiration for the centerpieces for the luncheon we will have on Saturday following Hazel's temple sealing.  

Snapshot #491: Hazel's Blessing Dress

February 14, 2012.  San Jose, California.  Today I am washing and ironing and packing to get ready for our early morning flight to Utah tomorrow.  After Hazel is sealed to us in the temple Saturday morning, she will officially be given her name and a blessing in this dress.  It will be a beautiful day!

Snapshot #490: Friends

February 13, 2012.  San Jose, California.  Zazu is such a good cat.  He not only tolerates Hazel's interest in him...he also comes to give her loves when she's crying.  I think this is the start of a good long relationship.

Snapshot #489: Almaden Lake Park

February 11, 2012.  San Jose, California.  Today our little family discovered Almaden Lake Park in South San Jose (a great find!), then went out to dinner to celebrate our wedding anniversary.  

Snapshot #488: Hello Self

February 10, 2012.  San Jose, California.  Hello self...it's nice to meet you.  

Snapshot #487: Hazel's First Kiss

February 9, 2012.  San Jose, California.  The sequence of events went something like this...

They started out as just friends...then Hazel reached out to encourage him.

He responded by holding her hand (she pretended not to notice).

Then, he came in for the kiss...

*@#*!!  He was floored...she couldn't stop smiling.

Snapshot #486: More Vaccinations

February 8, 2012.  San Jose, California.  Today was Hazel's six month checkup with her Pediatrician.  It was scheduled during her naptime, so all she wanted to do was sleep...despite the half dozen people doting on her.  She received another dosage of vaccinations; if it's anything like the last time, she'll be running a high fever the next 48 hours.  Poor girl.  

Snapshot #485: Sleep Training

February 7, 2012.  San Jose, California.  "They" say sleep training only takes 3 nights...but our experience has been more like 3 weeks.  Days 1-3 we weaned her off her overnight bottles.  Days 4-6 we weaned ourselves off of responding to every little cry.  Days 7-9 she slept 11-12 hours straight (something I didn't know was possible).  Days 10-12 were hit and miss; maybe she'd wake up maybe she wouldn't.  Day 13 she woke up every two hours (is she teething? is she cold?).  Last night, Day 14 she slept 12 hours straight.  Hopefully by the end of this week we will have had a miraculous week of continuous nighttime sleep--just in time to travel to Utah/Idaho and throw everything off again.  (Parenting...perhaps there's no such thing as figuring it out.)      

Snapshot #484: Oh My

February 6, 2012.  San Jose, California.  Oh my, look what Hazel can do.  (Not for very long though.)

Snapshot #483: Hazel's 6 Month Photo Shoot

February 4, 2012.  San Jose, California.  Today Hazel is 6 Months.  She is our joy!

Snapshot #482: "The Paper Garden"

February 3, 2012.  San Jose, California.  As slow a reader as I am, I am happy to report the completion of another book, "The Paper Garden" by Molly Peacock.  This one, I would like to purchase and add to my personal library.  I will be thinking about it for days, weeks, months, and years to come.  The writing was sophisticated, the true story of Mary Delany captivating, and the Flora Delanica inspiring; the culminating point being that "Some things just take living long enough to do."  I truly appreciated the examination of the nature of creativity.  The effect on me has been increased respect and optimism for the aging process.  Another benefit...I have discovered my preferred genre to read...biographies.   

Snapshot #481: Uh-Oh

February 2, 2012.  San Jose, California.  We're in big trouble now...she's about to start crawling.

Snapshot #480: Itty Bitty Hands & Feet

February 1, 2012.  San Jose, California.  Remember when I had imprints made for Hazel?  Well, here they are; age 2-1/2 Months.