Sorry for the lapse in posting lately. We have had a busy 3 months! We have been learning to be parents to the cutest girl in the world, and while she keeps us super busy we couldn't be happier to be her mom and dad! The past 3 months have been full of new routines, sleeping patterns, and schedules- all mixed in with a definite learning curve. Luckily we have the most patient little girl in the world. Whether we are struggling to put a onesie over her head, trying to clean up an exploded diaper, or just trying to figure out the dang snaps on her pajamas, Kaitlyn rarely cries. Instead, she just gives us this patient look that seems to say "well, I might not have gotten the smartest parents, but at least they try hard." :-) She really is such a cutie. One thing she definitely inherited from her parents is the love to socialize. She loves people. The minute anyone starts to talk to her she rewards them with the biggest and most heartwarming smile. She also loves to "talk" to people and to try and sing along to her mom and dad's goofy songs. She is definitely a people person (and I dare say she might compete with her mother for "the most talkative child of all time" award... ha ha).
Kaitlyn is also growing like a weed. At her 2 month doctor check-up she weighed 13.1 ounces (95 percentile) and was 24 inches long (98 percentile). So she is a proportionally big girl. She still eats super well (and thankfully can now eat a meal in about 15-20 minutes instead of the hour it used to take her) and consistently sleeps through the night (she has been doing this since she was 1 month old. I know it's a miracle... but like her mommy, this girl loves her sleep!) Phillip and I often joke that Kaitlyn has spoiled us so much with her good habits that we are quickly going to want another child and will then be blessed with a rambunctious and crazy child who will never sleep... I guess we will just have to wait and see :-)
Here is a picture of Kaitlyn when she was 1 week old and then again at 3 months old. Can you believe how much she has grown!?
On November 13th Kaitlyn was blessed by her dad in our ward here in Provo. It was a very emotional and special day for us. The blessing was beautiful and we were surrounded by many people that love our baby girl, including Phillip's mom and some of his siblings who traveled out from Delaware to meet baby Kaitlyn.
Blessing day girl:
with proud parents and Grandma Sumpter on blessing day:
With Grandpa Dave after blessing:
We recently had a wonderful Christmas break with my family in Salt Lake. All of my siblings were able to be together for Christmas (something that hasn't happened in 6 years) and we had a blast together. Phillip and I also celebrated out 5th wedding anniversary. These 5 years have flown by (in a good way!) and I am still very happy and feel very blessed to be Mrs. Sumpter.
Kaitlyn hanging out with Grandma Shirley and cousin Katy:
With cousin Sarah being Jesus in the nativity and with Grandma Jane Christmas Eve:
Christmas Eve Santas!:
So ya... you can definitely tell that we are obsessed with this little girl. (I swear she already knows how to roll her eyes because she rolls them at me every time I smother her face with kisses. I keep expecting her to say, "oh mom, will you lay off already!") But I can't help it, I have never felt more joy in my entire life. She is everything that we are grateful for this holiday season. I can remember last year when I yearned for a baby so so much that it hurt to breathe sometimes. I remember everyone telling me that parenthood would come so I shouldn't be sad. However I must say, this little girl was worth being sad over, because I was definitely missing the most wonderful experience in the world. So I will say this- the tears, pain, and sometimes pure agony of longing for a child for 4 long years was well worth crying over, but parenthood was definitely worth waiting for. I feel like I can better relate with Alma the younger, who after experiencing the deepest of agony for his past sins, even sinking into "the gall of bitterness", later expressed his joy in the gospel by proclaiming that through the Savior he was able to rise above this pain, and make the amazing proclamation that his "soul was filled with joy as exceeding as was [his] pain!". Back when I was feeling the pain of losing a child and yearning so much for another, I never imagined I could feel so much joy. Though I must admit I haven't forgotten the pain I felt in losing my son, I can firmly say that the joy that Kaitlyn brings to me, as well as knowing that I will see and raise Benjamin again one day, has brought me more joy than I ever thought possible. I am so grateful for this new testimony that I have in the gospel of Jesus Christ. I will forever be grateful for my Savior and His atonement, because without Him I couldn't be given my most precious gift- an eternal family.
Cutest girl in the world:
Hanging with Daddy and a mom who smooshes her face with love:
Showing off her new tricks- sitting in the bumbo, sticking out her tongue, and her all-time favorite thing- blowing bubbles:
It's exhausting being this cute:
So Happy New Year everyone. We are so grateful for our eventful year of 2011 (year in review coming soon), and are looking forward to 2012 which will bring many more changes, including graduating from law school and moving out east.
