A good day

 As I sat and watched Ali eat her fingers today I thought of the many lessons my mom taught me.

Most importantly, the sacred responsibility a mother has to teach her children. I felt a large sense of that responsibility today.

Not only is my one child a miracle from heaven, but she is just a little joy.

It's not always easy to be a mom, as I have yet to really learn, but I hope I can be half as good as my mom was and still is.

I also felt deep feelings of gratitude today for my sweet husband. 

In over three years of marriage he hasn't complained about anything I have or haven't done (I know better than anyone that there has been a lot for him to complain about).

But there have been unceasing words of kindness, hope, encouragement and love.

 

Ali and I are truly the luckiest girls in the world.

Paintings, Strawberries, and Ali

We had another painting adventure. We went to Sips n’ Strokes to celebrate Becky’s birthday (one of Jodi’s sister). We had lots of fun.



To see Becky’s painting, go here.

Ali now weighs over 11 pounds.
She continues to smile a lot when she first wakes up. Which is always better than waking up to a fussy baby. She still has not rolled over on her own, and she does not like to be on her tummy.

Here she is sitting in her boppy pillow looking at the little sun on her play gym.



Another pretty dress.



Here is Ali in the same dress taking her nap and kicking her covers off… like always.



Yesterday we started working on the family garden again. (It's at my parent's house.) We had to move the strawberries to a separate part of the yard so we could till the garden.
Here is a picture of it right before we transplanted them. They already have small green strawberries on them, and there are a lot of flowers for more to come in.






Here is a funny anecdote. One night we were making a no bake cookie recipe. Jodi said, “Put the flour in the pot.” So, I grabbed the flour and put it in the pot.
(See picture below of the result.)



Results: A lot of laughter

Also, here is our newest friend in our home. A cactus.
This picture was taken when it still had flowers. There aren’t any flowers on it anymore. Hopefully, they will bloom again.


Other great news! I have recently found out that they have changed how study abroad credits work for a degree in foreign language. Because of this I can now graduate by this summer. The problem I was facing when I found this out was that I had already told the Occupational Therapy Department that I would not be applying to the 2011 masters program after all.
Well, since I could now apply to the 2011 program because I will graduate on time, I went straight to the department to see if they would still take my application I had already completed.
They said they would still consider it and see if there were still seats available for me to get in.
Bad News: No more seats open.
Good News: With my credentials I scored # 1 on the waiting list in case someone decides not to accept the seat they were offered.

The OT Department chair said that they normally have someone drop out due to some reason or another and that my chances were good of them calling me.

Bottom line, I don't have to wait another year to finish all of my schooling. (That is, if I get in.)

A Hobby… and it’s a great one

Photography has been a hobby of mine for a long time now.
I consider myself to be in the business of capturing the joyful, the blissful, and the happily ever after.

See my photography here or on facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Adam-Westenhofer-Photography/118135661535093















To raise money for the March of Dimes and other premature babies I am giving an opportunity to get great photos and for a great cause.
Anyone who donates $25 to the March of Dimes I will provide a 30 minute photo session for one individual.
Do you want to get pictures with your special someone?
Donate $35 and I will do a couples session (45 min).

Would you like to get family pictures? Donate $45 and I will take you and your immediate family out for 1 hour of smiles.
I will provide a CD of the pictures to you so you can print pictures to your hearts content.

Don’t live in the Birmingham area, but know somebody who does?
This offer is transferable so you can give it as a gift to others.

Terms & Conditions:
Participants must smile. Couple must pretend to like each other to some degree. Families are not required to be like the Brady Bunch, but they do need to exhibit some bit of concern for each other.
Other more important conditions:
Proof of donation of one of the above amounts or more to our March of Dimes page.
Our March of Dimes Donation page: http://www.marchforbabies.org/personal_page.asp?pp=3569461&ct=4&w=4512339&u=ali_amazinglittleinfants

Mail your proof of donation with your name, phone number, and email address to: P.O. Box 502, Leeds, AL 35094.
You choose where you would like to do the pictures. Must be in the Birmingham, AL area.
Good through March 31st of 2012. I will start scheduling sessions May 15th, 2011.
Weddings are excluded.

Disclaimer: We are not responsible for individuals that can’t stop smiling after their session.



We have appreciated all of the love and support everyone has shown us in the past 5 months.
Go back to previous posts in October and see how far Ali has come.