June's Top Seven: Some Big Stuff & Such from Seven Weeks of Life

I usually have a hard time narrowing my periodic photos down to ten per post, but since most of my photos of June feature a baby just lying in repose & looking sweet, I will spare any viewers the monotony and post seven instead.

1&2

Although she seems to be growing before our eyes, 

June is still petite enough to squeeze he diapered bum into Mia's doll's chair.

3

She is one modest baby.  June does NOT like bath-time or being nude in any sense.

Keep me cozy & bundled, please!

4

Sweet baby June patiently awaiting her finalization at he courthouse:

 5

This baby (& family) is MINE, MINE, ALL MINE!

6

June wore the beautiful crocheted dress that my grandparents brought home from their mission in the Phillipines for my sister's blessing 14 years ago.  Mia wore it for all her special days too!

The blanket was crocheted for me as a baby by my Great-Gma Dorothy Pearl, 

and also Julianne Pearl's namesake. 

7

June's blessing was on beautiful, sunny day that we'd like to think was ordered just for her.  

During her blessing David had a similar experience to Mia's, in that he got to have and share a little glimpse into the kind of gal she is and will become.  What a treat for this Mama!

Spoiled, but Not Rotten

When Mia was born, were absolutely SHOWERED with love and support from countless sources.  The same thing has happened with June's arrival, if not to a greater degree, and despite the fact that she is our second girl!  

June's Party #1

Hosted by Nicole Gamble & Lisa Withers

Mia helped herself to the decor.

Sweet Lisa & June:

June's Party #2

Hosted by Sarah D'Hulst (also the girls' pediatrician) & lots of contributors

This sweet girl is one of my Primary kids and daughter of the hostess.  I had promised that she could hold June at the party, and she patiently awaited her baby time Sunday after tempting Sunday.

Friends Annie & Janelle admiring June's new crocheted hat & mary janes:

The fun cake that was especially appreciated by the kids in attendance:

June's Party #3

Hosted by Carrie Reese, Trudy Reese, & Lexi Reese

Here are my lovely Reese girls:

Mia has been pretty helpful when we are getting June primped for her events...

 ...and figured that her efforts warranted all the strawberry sneaking at the parties!

Mia's Top 10

1

A good thing about adoption is how often a girl can admit out-loud 

"I have the prettiest babes" 

without seeming personally vain.

2

After being inspired by Mary Poppin's skill with the measuring tape, Mia finds it intriguing to develop the skill herself.  Our dog or some grown-up's rear-end is usually her victim, and then subsequently declared to measure "One, Two, Ten, Seven, Four," but this time she is checking the work that Mom & Dad did after installing our new coat rack. 

 3

Mia is manning the lump of dirt that she has named "Mia's Mountain."  No one else is allowed to loiter there without her permission.  To ensure adherence, she assigned each of us (including June) our own mountains around the yard. 

4

Reading to a very convinced June while sustaining a Janet Jackson-esque clothing defect:

 5

Mia decided that the color pattern Mom had asked her to make at the bottom of this tower was over-rated and went for quantity instead of quality. 

This photo was taken just seconds before a most gratifying (to Mia) and destructive (to Mom) karate chop.

 6

This is NOT a flattering photo, but it is important for the sake of documentation.  Some of our really valuable time with Dad is spent doing awkward core work-outs while he eats popcorn on the sofa.  We can hardly warrant a flabby middle with a personal trainer as patriarch.  At least Mia comes up with some good cheaters' positions when he isn't looking.

 7

Mia's first birthday party attended:

You even get a sampling of Eastern Washington's fabulously diverse population!

8

Grating soap for laundry detergent.  She tried out lots of methods to land on what she deemed the most efficient (and messiest) technique.

 9

Painting-  Rather than create a nice-looking piece of art, 

her goal is usually to saturate one area so much that the paper rips.   

10

On one of our shopping trips (I feel like we are part of a whole caravan each time we go to the store), 

Mia invented a more leisurely way to get around.  

June's Top Ten: Week 3

1

2

3

Mia is June's self-appointed comforter:

4

5

Sweet cousin Sydney is particularly interested in our real-life dolly.

6

7

Dad soaks up all the June time he can get...and it usually looks like this:

8

9

As tired as I've been, I love the new look my bed has during the 5am hour:

10

Our musical repertoire is limited to whichever movie was last on the docket...
and as lovely as my out-of-tune voice is, please try to tune it out.

Mia's Top Ten

1

Fearlessly (as always) gettin' her climb on:

2

Concrete floors and high ceilings make for lovely acoustics...

but not so enjoyable when a toddler is still developing her fine motor skills!

3

Finally, Mia has a real dolly to rock in her chair!

4

Since she could walk, Mia has had a cleaning fetish.  

I try to encourage it--especially when it keeps her occupied for any length of time.  

The vacuum is often running, but my floor isn't necessarily any cleaner.

5

I never tire of recording this sweet cousin-ship!

6

Baby June arrived at home bearing a peace-keeping gift for her attention-laden big sis.

Here is Mia giving it a trial run!

7

Sunday morning pancake routine with Dad:

8

Savoring her chocolate dipped marshmallow from a fancy-schmancy brunch we had with June's birth family:

9

Directing Dad's wood-chopping chores:

10

Trying oh-so-hard to fulfill mom's "soft & gentle, soft & gentle" mantra:

June Saves the Day, too!

Our beautiful girl is here!

Welcome

Julianne Pearl

February 8th 2012

6 lbs 15 oz

21 inches

We've been calling her "June" or "Baby June" (for Mia's sake).

Su, our ever-gracious birth-mom, sacrificed her privacy to let us be a part of every second of June's incredible birth (I even got to "cut the cord." I'm surprised I was allowed to hold the scissors...I was such a mess!). Su is such a trooper and quite the natural birther. Like Asia (Mia's birth-mom), she has been so courageous and is trying hard to be strong though this heart-wrenching process. We also get to have birth-father, Anthony, involved in this adoption.  He is, likewise, our hero.

Our precious first moments with our new daughter.

                                                              June meeting grandmas...                                                                   

and grandpa...

    And the part I had been waiting for all day, 

June's intro to her proud big sis:

Home at last!

Next step? Finalization.  

Prayers please for all parties involved.  

This is joyous, but difficult and highly emotive stuff.