Lately...

What's new here? Not a lot.

C still likes to get her hands on anything technological:

She's also been practicing her gangster knife skills... Today is her first day in nursery. Girl's got to be prepared, right? (Don't worry, it's just a stick. But it still scares me.)

Today is also Tom's first day as the Primary chorister. This guy is going to rock it:

And yes, it's also my first day in the primary as the new 1st counselor. Good luck kids! (You'll need it).

We've been enjoying the cooler weather... nice not to feel locked inside our house all the time.

C is as independent as ever. The girl is happy as long as she's in charge of the activity plans.

Yes, she knows who the real boss is:

She's grown like a weed! This girl was once in the 2% for height... but she's jumped to 75% now. She just grows and grows and grows... looking older every day. I love it.

She still climbs on everything. And I mean everything. The girl has got some mad skills, wicked bruises, and one terrified mama. (Don't worry, we keep the office closed now.)

I still find little people wrapped in towels adorable:

Like super adorable:

Especially when they make funny duck faces:

 Pretty much this girl is just adorable.

Oh yeah, and C wanted to wish you all a very (creepy) Halloween!  Yay for October!!! We love FALL!

(Okay, so she fluctuates between adorable and scary. But boy do we love her!)

Monday Thoughts

Hello Blog-Land.

Lately I've had many random thoughts running through my little head. (Or big head, as it may be...) Luckily, this blog is the perfect place for my maybe-not-very-articulate-or-particularly-witty-or-insightful-but-things-I'd-like-to-share thoughts.

Of course, like most posts lately, I will end with some cute pics. I don't even care if you read the following bullet lists... you can just scroll down to see my adorable baby if you want. I wouldn't blame you.  :)

• Last week, after too many nights where the girl didn't want to sleep, I was really really tired. As Tom was leaving for work, he asked me if I was okay. Below is a concise version of my response:

"I'm good. I'm just tired. Really tired. My brain hurts... that's how tired I am. But I'm good. I just want to make cookies, though. That's all I really want to do. I want to make the world's best cookies. I want to give them to people. I want to eat them. Why can't I just make cookies, Tom?" (He told me I could.) "I can't make cookies right now, I would eat them all.  All of them. Every single one. I would tell myself I would give them away to neighbors, but it's too hot to walk down the stairs to give them to someone. So I would eat them all. I want to make the world's best cookies. That's all I want to do with my life right now."

Needless to say, I was pretty tired... and yet, here I am a week later still wishing I could make the world's best cookies. I'm pretty sure that is my real calling in life. I'm going to get on that one of these days.

• I keep wanting to delete my facebook account... I probably won't, but some days I really want to. I love that I can know what's going on in my friend's lives (and, let's be honest... I also love knowing what's going on in the lives of people I don't really know anymore), but I really hate how our "social" world is so... well, NOT social. The online community, while useful in many ways, makes it too easy to just "know" what's going on rather being a part of it. And more than anything, I HATE how things like fb and some blogs just continue to promote a nasty junior-high-ish feeling of ALWAYS comparing yourself to someone. I just don't think it brings out the best in people or relationships.  /rant

• It's raining right now, the baby is asleep, and therefore life feels pretty good. If only I were making cookies.

• I keep feeling like really good things are on the horizon. I often get this feeling around spring time. I can never explain the feeling in a way that fully satisfies my experience with it, but it's good. 

• I have ice cream in my freezer that I'm not eating. What is wrong with this picture?

• I have a really beautiful, energetic, eager, sometimes dramatic little girl. Wanna see:

Peace out, internet.

A New Decade

Hello Blog World!  Did you miss me?  I'm sure you did.  Well, time for another edition of bullet-list-blogs!

• Last week I turned the BIG 3 - 0.  Seriously, how did I get to be 30?!  I'm actually okay with a new decade.  I figure it's going to be rock-star awesome.
• For said birthday, Tom took me on a hot air balloon ride!  It was was awesome.  Despite the fact that we had to leave at 5 in the morning (which meant I had to wake up at 4 to feed the girl and get ready), AND that the baby decided that for my birthday she would sleep ZERO hours the night before, it was really awesome.  I'll post some pics below of the fun event.
• The rest of the birthday was nice and relaxing.  We took some naps (much needed naps.  See above bullet point), we ate some yummy milkshakes, and Tom created a most wonderful blog for me featuring the nicest messages from friends and family.  It was beautiful.  Thanks to all who sent my good vibes.  I definitely feel the love.
• The Parade of Homes is back on!  This is our favorite yearly tradition--something we've been able to do every year since we were dating.  I love looking at beautiful homes with Tom.  Thankfully, Baby Girl loves it as well.
• Speaking of the babe, here are her latest stats: Weight is 11 lbs 2 oz (45%), Height is 22.25" (29%), and Head Circumference is 15.5 (53%).  Yeah, she inherited her parent's big noggin.  
• A funny thing: Recently I have found the baby with her arms behind her head.  This seems to be how she likes to fall asleep lately.  I think it's hilarious.  I've been able to get a small sampling of photos to prove this funny phenomenon.  :)
• I am performing in a benefit concert this week.  It's the first time I've performed in over two years (!) ... hopefully it goes well.  Should be fun.
• Well, that's about it.  Life just keeps on moving, one day after the other.  It's pretty boring, but really good nonetheless.

Here are some pics to send you on your way!

Some Birthday Pics:

Tired but happy.

Tom helped hold the balloon while they filled it.

The inside top of the balloon.

Heber City.  Beautiful.

We survived!

Parade of Homes:

The Girl's Favorite Resting Position:

Yes, it's dark... that because she was supposed to be asleep.

Another night time snap shot.

Chillin' on the couch.

Chillin' on the floor.

A few other cute photos for good measure:

Ready for church.  Taken last week.

This is a couple of weeks old, but a rare pic of the girl smiling.  She smiles all the time, but always changes to a confused face when I put a camera up.

Ditto to the caption above.  :)

Happenings...

I can't believe our little girl is already one month old!  Wow, time really does fly.  We love having her home with us (and I can't tell you how much I prefer having her out of me instead of inside of me--even with the sleepless nights).  I feel like there is so much going on, and yet nothing really at the same time.

For those interested in reading an EPIC long novel, AKA: My Birth Story, head on over to my other blog to read it.

Otherwise, here is a nice concise bullet list of happenings.  I'd write more, but I have a baby to attend to.  :)

• A sad note:  My grandpa passed away at the beginning of this month.  While I know he's in a better place (and no longer having to deal with a failing body), he will definitely be missed.  I've been pretty lucky considering that I'm almost 30 and this is the first grandparent I've lost, but it doesn't make it any easier.  He was a great man, and I am grateful for the legacy he leaves behind.
• A happy note:  A chiropractor friend of ours was gracious enough to come see Baby Girl and help her poor little spine out.  She had something of a traumatic birth, and the two adjustments he generously did for her have made a world of difference.  If anyone needs a good chiropractor, let me know.  This guy is awesome.
• A maybe happy note:  Because Baby Girl was dealing with some fussiness, I went off dairy to see if it would help.  This may be jinxing myself, but we think the spinal adjustment was the real key and that I might be able to go back to my cheese and ice cream.  Joy!
• Tom and I are both really tired.  The last time I got 4 hours of consecutive sleep was 4 months ago.  But despite that, I'm grateful to still be healthy and functional.  I'm pretty sure that someone upstairs is helping me out a lot.
• Despite said tiredness, we are really loving this little newborn.  She has definitely changed our life, but for the better.  
• Today I was able to take Baby Girl on a nice long walk using my awesome moby wrap.  I felt a bit silly by how triumphant the walk made me feel.  But some days you got to find victory in the small things.
• Baby Girl knows how to make some awesome faces.  Love, love, love it.

And for good measure, a few pictures (these are all off my phone, so not the best quality.  But I wanted to share some of the awesome faces this girl makes):

She was smiling for a good ten minutes, but every time I brought the camera up to snap a pic she would get confused.  This was the best I could get of her awesome smile.

Sleepy Smile.

"What do you want, punk?"

Got milk?

Zombie Hands

And my favorite little cross-eyed pucker.

That's it for now!

loves and hugs.