Changes (video at the end)

Mara keeps amazing us everyday. A few weeks ago we decided that with a new baby coming, she needed to move into a toddler bed. So, two days ago we finally found one that would work and the crib was replaced. She was ready. We were expecting to have to walk her back to her bed repeatedly, but she goes right to sleep- and then sleeps better than ever. Tonight she decided to start doing her own hair as well; our little girl is growing up.

She also learned how to eat Reeses Pieces like a vacuum. There's no wrong way...

Our weekend

*If you don't like reading blogs, scroll to the end for a picture!*

Our new house is in such a great location. We live less than a mile from temple square!! How awesome is that!! I mentioned to Ian that we'd be in trouble if we lived so close but never took the opportunity to visit, even if we are only here for 2 months. He informed me that somewhere in Leviticus (or was it Numbers?) it actually stated that if you live less than a mile from temple square, even if its only 2 months, and you don't visit, then you can't get into heaven :)

So on Friday, after he got home from work, we took a walk down the hill. It was a fun adventure...and a steep walk home! Mara loved all of the water fountains and the pretty flowers. She ended up with one soaking wet pant leg, and had a blast dropping her rocks into the water and watching Ian retrieve them. Ian and I enjoyed the buildings, reading the plaques posted around the plaza, and taking in the general beauty of the area.

But of course, the best part was when President Uctdorf casually walked by us, showing off the beauty to the three people walking with him. Should I say that again?! We saw PRESIDENT UCTDORF! (It makes sense, we were right outside of his work building...) But don't worry, we played it cool. Of course, we wanted to follow him like groupies, but we didn't. I do have one complaint though- of all the times for Mara to stay with me and NOT get in the way of people walking by, why did she have to choose that moment!! I'm not saying that I wish she tripped him, but at least I could have had a reason to say hi without feeling like I was invading his space. SIGH... maybe next time. :)

Saturday was a trip down to Provo for a baby shower, and on the way back, we went to the Tanger Outlets in Park City to get some clothes for Ian. Fantastic day, trust me. As we were walking, I saw a sign for Pretzelmaker, and I wanted one....so Ian suggested we make our own!!

On Sunday, we did, and they were delicious. Amazingly delicious. No pictures, sorry.

Also on Sunday, Mara kept standing ON my shoes and everytime she took a step and the shoes DIDN'T follow, she got annoyed. So I helped her put them on. Thanks to Ian, we have a few cute pictures of Mara's first moment of dressing up in mommy's shoes :) Enjoy!

Morning Rituals

Two things that Mara does in the morning that make me smile everytime...

1. When I'm still lying in bed, but she wants me to wake up, she'll pick my glasses up off the end table and hand them to me, almost like a parent would when the kid won't wake up for school.

2. After getting dressed she runs to the full length mirror on my door. Now remember, I said "after getting dressed", not "having her hair done." It wasn't hung for a toddler so she can only see from her shoulders up but that doesn't bother her, she just wants to check herself out, bed head and all.

I totally love this girl!!!

P.S. to The Update

Two more collages that didn't make it into the original post.... so don't forget to read the other one :)Cell phone pics showing some of the "in the moment" fun from the last month- including her "I want the butter, not the bread" episode.

And Ian started work today! Mara likes his key card :)

The update

So, as Ian already mentioned in his post last night, we moved. And its been about a month since the last post...so rather than forcing you all to enjoy all of MY memories via pictures, Ian found me a collage app, and now, you get to see 15 images in one picture- aren't you glad!?!!

As Ian mentioned- he graduated!! It was an exciting event, and all of us had a ton of fun with his parents, especially the spoiled grandchild :) She didn't mind the spoiling, and recovery hasn't been nearly as nerve wracking as I expected it to be. We were sad as they left, and Mara looks to every "grandparent" as if they are her own, and then gets confused when its not who she was looking for. That part is plenty entertaining and cute!!

Graduation was soon forgotten as we began to move. As evidenced by the graduation robe in trash can, things were a little hectic. Lucky for us (but not so lucky for him, haha) Dad was still here when the move began. It was a huge help to have an extra pair of hands to help lift the heavy stuff and entertain the toddler. Speaking of the toddler- she liked moving! She "helped" when I was packing the "early baby" clothes, thought the wardrobe boxes were the best thing ever, and decided that she liked the bottom of the bookshelf even more when it was empty.

Before any of this happened, in early April I saw a tutorial online about making a toddler dress from a t-shirt. I just so happened to have a t-shirt that I didn't want, and a toddler to make the dress for, so I gave it a shot. Unfortunately, the neck is too large, so I think I'll just save it till the fall and hope it will fit a bit better!

Speaking of early April, we got this ultrasound of the baby in my belly!! I decided that his first public picture shouldn't be quite so revealing, so I blurred it, but you get the jist, I hope :)

But back to the child that is a bit more entertaining at this point- Mara loves food! She likes smoothies, and yogurt, and cinnamon rolls, and butter (preferably without the bread, but she'll eat that also if she has to.) She likes ice cream, and just like every other red-blooded person out there- she loves oreos!

She likes pretty much everything (except red sauce with pasta)- and while she's teething, she'll even go for a bite of her arm. Wow, child!

And of course, at 19 months, she's a whole lot of laughs, smiles, and snuggles. She is fascinated by pictures of her parents, sesame street characters, toys, "hopping on pop," playing angry birds, drawing with chalk, playing outside, and of course- being the center of her parents world....for now, at least :)

We Moved

We moved out of Provo and up to Salt Lake. If you want our address it is as follows:

Ian & Christen Pierce

## W ###### Ave

Salt Lake City, UT 841##

If you want the un-edited version, call us. Christen will be posting more about graduation and the move soon.

On another hand, I think this would have gotten Osama out of hiding a lot quicker.

It's a deca-stuffed oreo. 10 times the goodness.