Julia's Standing Progress

Julia has been making some progress this week in her motor development. We started finding her standing up in her bed when she woke up from night time or naps. She then proceeded to pull herself up to her feet from the couch. I make a big deal of it by clapping and cheering for her. She loves it and will mimic me. She also will walk along the couch which is a big progress as well. She is 13 1/2 months so it was about time she decided to attempt this. I never got the feeling she was afraid of doing these things I think she just did not have the interest. I can tell she likes being on her feet now. She does very well when we hold her hands and walk with her. She probably has another month or so before she starts walking.

Family Pictures

We had family pictures taken the end of January by amici photography. It was a beautiful morning and it was very relaxing. The kids got to play as we moved around the neighborhood so it made it a pleasant experience.

Dean loves this pictures!

I love this shot below-it is so precious!

It was hard to get Julia to smile but she finally did it!

What a great looking couple!

Brian whispering sweet nothings in my ear!

Julia loved playing on the playground equipment!

Dean was being stubborn and would not look up at the camera

My First Quilt

I started my first quilt the beginning of October and just finished last week. I took a class taught by my friend Natalie Perry. She picked the quilt pattern and then taught us how to put it together. It was a little overwhelming at first but it was so fulfilling when it was complete. I enjoyed picking the color scheme for my quilt. I have now started another simple quilt with the leftover material I decided not to use for this one.

I know the back of the quilt is not the important side but I want to document the whole process. I just used some of my leftover scraps and hearts I did not use in the front.

Happy Birthday Brian!

It was Brian's birthday on Jan 27th. I was planning on posting that day but I guess I let it slip. He worked that day but was able to get a free breakfast at Joe's Farmhouse to take to his first meeting. Some of his coworkers decorated his office space to help him celebrate. Krispy Kreme gives out a free dozen doughnuts so Brian went to 3 different locations and we still have a dozen left. Too many doughnuts in the house but splurging is okay once in a while right?! I was able to meet him with the kids and we ate ate Joe's Barbeque and Liberty Market for his other free meals. He was great at sharing and we even had leftovers. He got Neil Diamond's newest release (he thought he was getting it for Christmas), a few shirts, and some ear phones for the gym. We enjoyed celebrating this special day with Brian. We love him and are so grateful to have him as a husband and father!

Julia 13 months

Julia has had a tough week with being sick. She has an ear infection and some respiratory problems. Sleeping 19 hours total in a day was her routine for a few days but she is doing so much better today. No more worry for her mother! She is fever free, actually ate breakfast, drank milk, and chugged down some water. She lost a pound because she would not eat and it was extremely hard to get her to drink. We missed seeing her smile and laugh so today has been refreshing.

She continues to enjoy crawling and is so fast especially if she wants something. She likes to crawl under tables. She is still working on pulling herself up. She is content just being on her knees. She likes to pretend she is talking on our cell phones. It is so cute to watch! Her hair is growing in so pretty and she loves to put her fingers through it. She is stubborn at times and very strong. It is just as hard giving her medicine as it is giving it to Dean. She likes playing peek a boo and will start it a lot of the times. She continues to be so easy and content most of the time. Even when she has been sick this week she has been very easy. She did not cry a lot, I would not have know she had an ear infection if we did not take her to the doctor. She is our cutie!

Mita - Juliette Veronique Amelie Peney Cardon

My grandmother, Mita, passed away on Tuesday morning. I was grateful to have had the opportunity to see her the night before her passing. She lived a long life of almost 97 years. This is the last picture that I had taken of her with Julia over a year ago at Christmas. She was a wonderful grandmother who loved everyone of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Each of us thought that we were her number 1. She had a beautiful but very strong French accent that was hard for some to understand but for me I loved it. I thought it was special. Some of the things that stick out to me about her are her love of family, chocolate, bread, genealogy, writing letters to her friends in Europe, making us pajamas for Christmas, sleeping over with cousins, playing dress up, fashion shows, Christmas Eve goody bags, soap, Kleenex, juicy fruit, having lipstick on my cheeks from her kisses, baby powder, scarfs, eating cereal for dinner when we we spent the night, spaghetti, raclette, grape kool aid in wine glasses, letters from her on my mission, and the list could keep going. She was always so kind and sweet to everyone she met. We miss her but are glad we can celebrate her this coming weekend! The is the obituary that my aunt and cousin wrote up in the paper today.

Juliette Veronique Amelie Peney Cardon
Cardon, Juliette Veronique Amelie Peney96, passed away on Tuesday, January 4, 2011, in Mesa, AZ. She was born on Friday, February 13, 1914, in Geneva, Switzerland. An active member of her community and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, she served two missions in the Swiss Temple with her husband. She is survived by her children Josette (Glen) Hakes, of Mesa, Kirk (Ann) Cardon, of Farmersville, Texas, Francine Cardon, of Phoenix, Christopher (Elizabeth) Cardon, of Gilbert, Michele (Kelly) Hall, of Middleton, Idaho, 17 grandchildren and 39 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband of 61 years, Stanley P. Cardon, her son, Jean-Jacques Cardon and a great-granddaughter, Elizabeth Smith. Visitation will be Friday, January 7th, at Hansen Chapel of Prayer, 108 North 56th Street, Mesa, from 6:00-8:00 pm. Services will be Saturday, January 8th, at 10:00 am, at the LDS Islands Ward Building, 1150 E. Elliot Road, Gilbert, AZ. Visitation from 9:00am-9:45am in the Relief Society room. Burial is in the Mesa City Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the March of Dimes or MADD or the charity of your choice. Please visit http://www.hansenmortuary.com/ to send online condolences.

New Year and Birthday

Brian and I went out on New Year's Eve to dinner and a movie. It was so nice being out on a date to celebrate the coming year. We tried 3 restaurants and found the shortest wait at Carabas. It was only a 75 minute wait instead of a 3 hour plus wait at Black Angus or Outback. We had gift cards so it did not matter which one we went to. The dinner was good and while we were waiting we met some nice snow birds! The weather was quite chilly so after the movie I had Brian get the car so I could wait inside. He is the one that suggested it because I get cold so easily. I attempted to stay up until midnight but we only lasted until 11:30pm. It wasn't a big priority I suppose.

New Year's Day we spent relaxing and running a few errands. We also went to Costa Vida for lunch for an early birthday celebration for me. We had my family over for dessert that night. My sister Emily made a chocolate cream pie and a banana cream pie while Mom made brownies for the kids. It was nice of them to provide the dessert!

Sunday the 2nd was my birthday. Brian let me relax in bed while he took care of the kids. Dean got up earlier than normal maybe he was used to our 8 am church. This year we have 1 pm church. It is nice to not have to rush in the morning but not sure how it will work with naps. Church went pretty good overall. Julia took an extra nap in the morning so she was great at church. I had to take her out during Sunday School due to her loud talking and our small class. She was great during Relief Society and I was able to stay the whole time. When we got home from church Dean crashed on the couch and Julia lasted until 5:30pm. I finally put her to bed for the night and she slept until about 7 am the next morning so it worked out great! We had to wake Dean up at 5:30 so he would go to bed at a normal time. Brian made me a mint oreo ice cream pie that night. It was so yummy! He also got me some items from Bath and Body Works. I am in the process of getting a new sewing machine that will be from other family members. I will update when I finally make the purchase.