Crashing Through Glass

Valentines Day Family Home Evening: Fill Our Home With Love

2014-02-05T22:10:00.001-06:00

Ok, this was totally fun and we all had a great time. And it introduced a lead-up-to Valentines day activity that we are all thoroughly enjoying!
Here is what we did:

Song: As I Have Loved You

Discussion/Lesson: Talk about how Heavenly Father and Jesus love everyone, even people who aren’t being very nice. Talk about how we are all brothers and sisters.
---Give examples of times someone has been mean. Like a friend not sharing. Ask if we should still love them.
---Each share times when we have really felt loved.
---Brainstorm together different ways to show love to all people. (smiling at everyone, brining meals to families in need, opening the door for a stranger, sharing with kids at the park, inviting kids to play our game at the park, etc….)
---Brainstorm together different ways to show love to our friends and family. (telling them you love them, helping little sister do hard things, helping keep the house clean, snuggling, etc….)

Craft: We made what we are calling “Love Mailboxes”. Take 1 paper plate and tape to it a half paper plate. Punch a hole in the top, decorate, hang up, and we now have the perfect size little spots to put love notes in! We write each other love notes on these cute little doily paper cutouts I got at the dollar store, stick it in the mailbox of the person we are loving on, and then (in our family) we ruuuun to that person and URGE them to check their love box! Then the read it, give eachother hugs and kisses and talk about how sweet that was, and then hang it up somewhere in the house with a piece of tape. Therefore “Filling out home with love”. And we are all having so much fun with it! And if we are good at showing each other love that day, then when we wake up in the morning there are little heart shaped candies waiting for us in our boxes :). I later added another “mail box” hanging on the bottom with the heart papers, markers, and the tape for easy access.

Activity: Scavenger Hunt. Before FHE, I cut out 6 hearts and wrote a simple location in the house that wouldn’t be too difficult for my four year old to figure out, look at the pictures below for examples. HE LOVED THIS. Each clue led to another clue, and the hunt ended at Mr.Bears reading corner who was holding new valentines day pajamas for each of the kids as well as a handful of heart shaped chocolate.
----Side Note----The kids needed new pjs anyways, I’m not just splurging to FHE
-----A Side Note to a Side Note------Old Navy is having a great sale right now, I got these ones and these ones for just 7.50 each in store (regularly $15). And of course stocked up a little on a bunch of other totally cute spring/summer clothes, all kids stuff is 30-50% off right now, go go!

Video: I ended up skipping showing this because we got started late, but I think it would be a good addition! Jeffrey R. Holland speaks on “How do I Love Thee?” and I also loooove this video, but wouldn’t be using it in a lesson with little kids.

p.s. Anyone doing/loving the Valentines Day Challenge? I am LOVING it!!!! I feel like between that and this our home is truly being
xoxo Filled With Love xoxo

Valentines Day Marriage Challenge

2014-01-31T23:25:00.001-06:00

So this was just going to be our little thing, but then I started thinking, this is a good idea! I’m happy with this idea! And I searched on the gigantic world wide web for something similar and just didn’t find anything that I liked. So I’m sharing in case some of you like this idea too :) .
Here is how I’m making our Valentines day season, the season of looooooooove (in that deep sexy voice) extra special!
I came up with a “Challenge” for me and my husband leading up to Valentines Day. He helped make the list and is fully onboard:

The Attitude
---> Be in the mindset that you have to WIN OVER your spouse. (think about what this really means…no hideous pajamas...sweet nothings…etc. etc..)
---> Become fluent in your spouse’s love language. Speak it 100% of the time.

The Tasks
---> 30 distraction free minutes together each day (esp. no electronics of any kind!)
---> Keep a shared journal that we each write in daily (if you are both giving it 100%, then its bound to be more of a love story journal)
---> No criticizing each other (no matter how ridiculous you think the other is being)
---> Each read the five love languages book (not a part of the 30 minutes)

And my totally artistically gifted sister made this adorable perfect printable for me to put up where we’ll see it! Yay! Feel free to print it off and join in the challenge!

Click here to download the 8.5”x11” free printable

Whether you join in on our little challenge, or create your own, I think you should do something to take advantage of the endless reminders of love this month….the store windows plastered in hearts, the pink and chocolate heart shaped candy, the cute little stuffed bears holding a big plush heart….

Instead of thinking of how every holiday has become SO commercialized, I’m going try and use these as reminders of how in love I am and how blessed with love I have been.

I would love to hear in the comments what you are doing to focus on love this month!
I also have some fun little lovey ideas in store for my little munchkins that will be a separate post.

Our Icepocalypse Entertainment: Us!

2014-01-27T20:55:00.001-06:00

Here is one of the many things we did to have fun while trapped inside in this strangely FREEZING Texas weather. I love a reason to get cozy, make homemade bread, have a fire, and go nowhere! Also the perfect opportunity to learn Atlas’s favorite song on the guitar and reveal to him that I have a Rockstar Guitar (as Atlas naturally refers to it as), I can’t believe that I haven’t brought it out in so long that my own child didn’t know we owned one! (I play the acoustic everyday, just my electric has been forgotten over time…)

So, I totally don’t expect anyone besides me to watch all precious 9 minutes and 24 seconds of this, and I thought about that while editing, but really, I wanted to make sure that I was making it for me, for our memory, remembering the different aspects of playing music with my little kids, and trying to do something as ridiculous as get them to sit still and cross my fingers that they will unleash all the cuteness for the camera. So of course I had a very difficult time cutting out anything. Be happy its not the original 40 minutes that it started out as.

Pardon the head cutting offs and the un-tuned guitars. Those are results of you know, attempting to make a video with munchkins.

Outtakes at the end.

FOUR!

2014-01-19T22:44:00.001-06:00

MY SUNSHINE is four years old!!!!
When I think of how incredible the last four years have been, I feel selfish.
I am overwhelmed with how much this tiny/big little person has changed me.
How much my life has changed since he joined me.
How every little giggle that escapes his mouth make the angels smile.
How every day I somehow love him more and more.
How he has made me a far better person that I would have ever thought possible.
How he has managed to make the sunniest days even brighter.

I don’t know what I possibly may have done in the past life to deserve such a soul to be a part of my universe.

He is just…..the perfect child. And to all of you who know him personally, you know exactly what I mean. When I was pregnant, I would pray that he would be healthy and perfect with no birth complications. I didn’t realize the perfect part would be answer and granted literally.

I kill myself when I ever get mad at him. He is so full of love. Anything he does, he does for joy of life. Never because he wants to cause pain or difficulty on another person. Even those times when I have just put Urban to sleep and he bursts in, waking her up, with an armful of potential snuggle buddies for her, even when I’ve told him not to do that, how could I possibly be mad??? Everything he does he does with his eyes twinkling and taking in the whole world of positive energy. He soaks it up. He radiates. He loves me so much. He tells me all the time. Gently stroking my arm while we’re snuggling.

Excited always to help wash the dishes. Carefully sweeping up messes. Scrubbing and scrubbing Urban’s messy spot at the table. And its not that the novelty of cleaning hasn’t worn off yet, he helps me with these things almost every time we eat. I never ask him to. And he’s gotten really good at them. I often tell him he should go play until I’m done cleaning. He’s told me that he wants to be with me so we should clean together.

He brings me flowers, rocks, sticks, things that are special to him, not because his daddy told him to or he saw it done somewhere, but because he has something special that brings him happiness, and he wants to share that happiness.

He doesn’t even get mad when me make him stay at the table (for hours) until he finishes his food….he just….finds happiness somehow. Singing, playing with his hands, toes. Making funny clicking sounds. Anything.

He will find joy. And then he’ll share that joy with every person and thing that is so lucky to make his acquaintance.
Life is better everyday with him in it.

Written in Picture

2014-01-13T00:05:00.001-06:00

A story of an everyday moment: a diaper and clothing change after breakfast.

--------No posing. No directing. Observing through the lens--------

***Leave a link in the comments to your story written in picture***

Realization. Priorities.

2014-01-08T22:54:00.001-06:00

This last week, this first week of the year….has been amazing! And it is so painfully obvious why….

My goals have been at the front of my mind. And I’ve been doing them. In my “free time”, I have been doing things I actually enjoy and care about, as opposed to doing some cop-out-I-just-want-to-lay-here-and-not-function-for-as-long-as-possible….. I haven’t allowed myself to get caught up in the difficulties of being a home keeper and mother. Or the ease of letting my brain unwind while watching one (ahem…two…three….) episodes of Alias (recent addiction, thanks to Amazon Prime…)….

The craziest part…I have been energetic. And I have been going to bed at about 2am every night in order to do it all….

The magical solution to all of my life problems? Putting my Faith First and prioritizing my priorities!

Some of you may be reading this with one eyebrow raised because of the obviousness (I’m lookin at you General Conference speakers)….but I am so happy to have finally taken this “life secret” to heart! I can surely say I will think twice before skipping out on meaningful prayers and concentrated scripture study. And something that really sets me free--- journal writing. My chance to calm down and reflect on what the day was really about. The moments had, the lessons learned. Pondering in what way it can all be done better, or even repeated the next day.

And after the kids go to bed, writing in my book, learning new songs on the guitar, working on many other new year goal I made, using my talents, it is the most fulfilling thing next to being a mother and a wife.

Besides priorities, I think its really helps me a lot putting my thoughts out there for the world to see, things I can’t back down from, not once I’ve committed to them in front of the world (or to ya know, the world as far as this blog and the small # of people that read it! Yay for you!).

When I say I’ve put my priorities first, that in no way means I’ve put my children or duties as a mother second. It means that somehow, when I balance everything the way it should be balanced, everything else just falls into place….its like…my daily clock has slowed down, allowing me to squeeze more into it…

But I’m not talking about squeezing more into it in a way that I’m pushing myself too far. I mean. I’ve had so much more quality time with my family. Its because when I’m playing with them, I’m present. My mind isn’t wondering when I’m possibly going to find the time to do things I know I need for self progression.

And at the “end of the day”, when little bodies are bathed, snuggled, and tucked in tight…. when the evidence of imaginative, magic-believing little people’s playfulness has been cleaned up and stored for tomorrows adventures…. when spilled milk has been wiped up and thrown pieces of bread taken away from the impending threat of ants…… I have still had time do these things.

You know that feeling you get sometimes (or for some of us, all the time) when you feel guilt at the end of the day for the things you didn’t accomplish, even when you were crazy busy all day? But maybe you didn’t pick the right things to be crazy busy with or didn’t do them efficiently enough? But really, maybe you’r daily clock can’t slow down because all you can think about it the things you wish you had more time to do ….. Were you really PRESENT for the most precious people in your life???

I haven’t had that at all this week.

Its magical, and I have no intention of letting it fade.

Somehow in my letting the “things that make my soul sing” slip by the wayside, these pictures never saw the light of day! Taken by me dear and talented friend Lori over a year ago! Look at my babies!!

Christmas Day

2014-01-04T13:59:00.001-06:00

^^^I knew you would all want a family picture of us with Mike and I kissing^^^

Then we were so fortunate to join with friends for a lovely Christmas dinner. Here are just a few pix from the evening at their home:

Atlas asked for one thing this Christmas, for the last three months. A Ninja Turtle Skateboard. He even told Santa when he sat on his lap. And then Santa said, “well you make sure to clean up your toys Christmas eve so that I don’t trip on anything”. And it was so sweet that Atlas remembered this and made sure to tidy up after he set out the cinnamon rolls for santa (yumm!) and the carrots for Rudolf.
When I was a child, and found out there was no Santa Claus, I was shattered. I thought I would never enjoy Christmas the same again.
Then I had children.
And then I realized how utterly wrong I was.
And now, creating the magic for them, encouraging them to see this world for what it wants to be, and not for what us hard hearted, practical, pessimistic, imperfect adult humans of this world have MADE it to be…. it is a magical place. This world wants to be a magical place, but we drag it down….
Seeing it through their eyes, I realized that I couldn’t have experienced the fullness of the Magic of childhood until I had lived both sides of it- through my own eyes as a child, and then through my children’s eyes, as a mother.
I’m realizing more and more every day why the Lord commanded us to multiply, we cannot experience the fullness of life until we give our own life to these innocent, magic-believing little souls….

We were so blessed by many loved ones, I was continually shocked by all of the kind, loving gifts we were so blessed to unwrap Christmas morning and even in the days before Christmas. I won’t list them all, but everyone please do know, you truly blessed our Christmas!

Here is what Mike and I did for the kids-
-Urban would not get out of this little car even to open a present or have some candy. Thus, we all sat around this little car most of the morning showing things to urban and giving her presents to unwrap without having to leave her precious little vehicle. Adorable. And since then, she spends most of the day that we are at the house stuffing as many stuffed animals as she can fit into the car, and little shelf of a trunk, then trying to climb in/sit on all of her little passengers, and then cruising around, but mostly sitting there in park, because its still kinda hard to go and all of her little friends fall out when she moves :). PERFECT, last minute gift given to us by friends whose child had outgrown it. It was just perfect. Atlas loves it as well, even if he does just barely fit.
-Mike made them a puppet stage and we gave them several nice puppets in addition to many we already had. We put on several impromptu puppet shows, the kids couldn’t be cuter standing/sitting right in front of the stage, talking back to the puppets, interacting, laughing, loving it.
-Mike gave the kids and I quite the surprise! For the last few days he had been slaving in his “office” “fixing the ceiling” (a major plumbing issue had left a large gap in the ceiling among other problems)….We were given strict instruction NOT to EVER EVER open the door because of “toxic chemicals” and yadda yadda. So when he opened the door for us to a bright, cheery, painted, new CRAFT/FUN room….we were all shocked! He gave up his office for us to have this beautiful, perfect space to do crafts, reading, learning, playing, whatever our hearts desire it to be! I have so many plans and can’t wait to share what we’ve already done!

I have so many more pictures and videos that I would love to share from our Christmas season, but I’d like to think I’ve gotten over the “stress out about documenting” phase of being a mother and so you know what….there is some Grammy Winning adorable material I’ve got that just might never really see the light of day. But the memories will live on in my heart forever.

Noon Years Eve & Resolutions

2014-01-01T23:18:00.001-06:00

We went to a super fun party at a community library nearby called “Noon Years Eve” (am I the only one bothered by the nonsensicality of the name? And is nonsensicality even a word?!) Well let me tell you, little kids know how to party! It did get pretty crazy at the countdown to noon and the balloon drop…I lost sight of my 3 year old for an extended period of time, and my smaller child was clutching my body in fear of all of the noisemakers and kids going crazy trying to grab balloons and stomping on bubble wrap. But amidst all of the fair type games and fun crafts and fun music, my mommy friend and I realized, this is as party as new years eve is going to get for us mommies! Downing half filled cups of sprite and shaking rice-filled-cups-taped-together noisemakers as we count down to mid-day at the library. I do love the life of a momma! I’m glad we were able to do something to help our little kids capture the excitement of a New Year.

^^^Urban’s favorite little buddy^^^

I don’t usually make resolutions at New Years, because I’ve always thought, shouldn’t I be thinking of ways to be better like….always? I’m working on things to make myself a better person always. But, I never really give myself deadlines, or set measurable goals. And its occurred to me, this is kind of cool. The entire rest of the world (mostly…I assume…I guess…), is alive with energy to be better, to try harder, for a bright NEW YEAR, with hope, for love, believing in a better world if only the people occupying this planet can be better. And I was thinking that I’d like to add to that energy, and you know, 365 days is a good “check in” plan. Concrete. So I’ll keep my non concrete goals coming and going throughout the year, and I want to set a few concrete goals for this one year. Measurable goals with a deadline.

So I’m going to be crazy, really put myself out there, and post these for the world to see and hold me to. If anybody else out there is doing one of these too, let me know and we can bug each other about them!

My 2014 New Years Resolutions

AKA - my measurable goals that I am setting a deadline for (vs. my day-to-day non measurable goals that are ongoing…like…ya know…be more patient when Atlas is disobedient, assume the best in people, fight my negative inner voice with optimism...etc., etc…. Ongoing goals.)

Read the entire Book of Mormon
Read the scriptures and write in my journal every day
Conquer at least one thing I have previously failed at
Do a public musical performance at least once this year
Write 100 pages in my book
Give yoga a real chance
A House of Order: “a place for everything and everything in its place” –> Get there
Put together 3 months of food storage
Get back on the Real Food wagon
Be more thoughtful about the movies/music Urban takes in

And then Mike and I have a few goals together as well, as a family, that helps us progress together and feel unified.

And I could talk your face off about each individual goal on my list here and what it means to me and my plans to fulfilling it, and I can also almost promise you that I will, one by one throughout the year, talk your face off about them. That’s the great thing about having a blog and feeling like I can be open about voicing these things….if anybody is bored or bothered by what I say, they don’t have to read it! Yay! Which means that it means even more to me that whoever out there that is reading any of my ramblings cares at all :-).

I am so excited for 2014!!!

P.S. I see goals and resolutions as a plan to not regret the way we spent this life. To not feel like we were sleep walking, passively letting life pass us by. Here is one of my very favorite people talking about living a life with no regrets.

P.P.S…..today Atlas insisted on writing a letter to Santa Claus (his writing is scribbling, pretending he’s writing). It read: “Dear Santa Claus, did you have a good day doing Christmas?”

Our Family Picture/Christmas Card

2013-12-31T15:54:00.001-06:00

I hope you all had the Merriest Christmas! I never thought I would be so cliché as to grow up and start saying phrases such as

“I can’t believe Christmas is already over”
“Is it really already the end of December!?”
“It goes by so fast!”
”Its over in the blink of an eye!”

…yet it seems these days that these phrases are all that comes out of my mouth! Sheesh. Seriously though… (cliché coming….) WHERE does the time go?! Well this Christmas season I can say that the time did not disappear into meaningless day to day activities while we waited for the big Christmas day to come. We had a wonderful December. And I think I can attribute that mostly to my advent calendar. It was such a Festive, Christ centered, exciting, sugary, way to start every day this month and I’m so glad I finally buckled down and made it. I did a huge post about it because I really felt that it was going to be the clincher for me to feel like I didn’t miss out on a month that seems to be stuck on fast forward. I didn’t get to do nearly as much as I had planned due to sickness and you know, life happening…

…but it feels so good to look back on a certain time like this, and say to myself, I’m happy with how I spent my time.

p.s.I've decided to try and make this a tradition, to take a family picture in this green chair on Thanksgiving day. Here is last years. When I posted that, my friend Megan jokingly said that she dared us to take that same picture in 20 years...well...yeah! Great idea!

Today

2013-12-22T23:37:00.001-06:00

This is what playing in the leaves in the backyard, after church, in December, in Texas looks like

In Austin, Texas……

We get to enjoy these beautiful autumn colors extra extra long.

Play outside year round.

Fall and winter clothes are completely acceptable because its just cold enough to need them but just warm enough to not be Eskimo-level bundled.

Instead of bundling up to go play in the snow in December, we plop into our rainboots and raincoats and go puddle-jump in the warm, pouring rain.

Last year Atlas was in love with the movie White Christmas. This year we introduced him to Holiday Inn. He calls it the other White Christmas. And if you’re wondering if he loves it as well, I’ll just tell you that he is currently working on a special dance number inspired by Fred Astair in Holiday Inn, if all goes well and nobody gets hurt, there should soon be a video here of the performance….

I’ve sworn to raise a well rounded boy. You know, the kind that would never be narrow-minded enough to say “I only listen to _______ kind of music” and would certainly never utter a phrase such as “Musicals are boring” (GASP). So far so good. BUT, that doesn’t mean I don’t allow him to be the little boy he is. FOR EXAMPLE….

Tonight at Sleepy Music Time, he was laying in bed, snuggled up under his covers, and I was sitting on his bed playing the guitar, as usual. Now, I swoon and die every time he softly sings along with me, and tonight, while singing Silent Night. it would have been a lovely time to chime in. Very peaceful, very classic and touching. But what was he doing? He was shooting me with a gun he fashioned out of his hands. And people, this was not your average finger-and-thumb gun, it was some strange twisted-fingers-double-hands-arm-trigger gun. And there were sound effects. But I just kept on singin. Boys will be boys. And I love all that he is. Fred Astair dancing and Momma-shootin boy and all.
OUTTAKES

Lets end this post with a creepy-smiled-I’m-watching-you picture of me. I post it because Atlas took it, like, a real actual portrait style and framed picture! What?! I need to get this kid his own camera.

Inspired

2013-12-06T15:06:00.001-06:00

Inspirational quotes keep me motivated and full of energy to accomplish something great! I have sticky notes, ugly ripped up pieces of paper, whatever I could find at the moment stuck all over the walls in my house with a short note scribbled on it, something I found highly inspiring in that moment and to make sure I didn’t forget about it or put it off to make it cute, I just throw it on whatever I can find a put it on whatever wall is closest. Most days I don’t stop and read more than one (except the ones at the kitchen sink, those ones get a lot of attention), but whenever I feel inclined to pause, look at a random piece of paper on my wall, and read it, it is always just what I needed to hear that day and gives me a little boost and something meaningful to think about, thinking about how I might apply it to my life. Led by the spirit, of course. There are probably thousands of wonderful, uplifting quotes by this inspirational man, but here are just a few that are my favorites.

Happy Birthday LalalaLindseyann!!

2013-12-05T20:27:00.001-06:00

You have ALWAYS been my role model, favorite playmate, and best friend.My heart is content when we close our eyes, and just strum, always in sync with eachother.

^^best friend necklaces^^

^^I really shouldn’t be ok with myself in this picture…but I love it because its me and my favorite….^^
^^Scary Movie^^At this time, Lindsey, I would like to formally thank you for all of the times you “allowed” me to sleep on the floor next to your bed because I was scared in my room, and for all of those times you (grudgingly) accompanied me to the bathroom in the middle of the night to protect me from monsters. You’re a real good sis.

She is one of two girls (my momma being the other, of course) on this planet that always, always, understands me and I never need to feel judged. Only her can I have a pointless, hilarious, deep conversation for hours on gchat. I have no doubt that we chose to be sisters in our life before Earth, we knew we couldn't live without eachother constantly there, or at least, I begged and begged her to be my sister and she agreed ;). Love you sis. My heart breaks every day we are apart! But I bet you had a wonderful birthday with your incredible family and the wonderful life you have created for yourself. You continue to inspire me and be my big, role model sister/best friend!

p.s.Atlas of course sang you his yearly happy birthday to aunt lindsey song (although, this one had a lot of airplanes and rocket ships in it, I think the birthday theme may have been slightly lost….), but I have been fighting trying to get it on the computer! I don’t know why it won’t work…anyways, consider yourself loved on your birthday by Atlas too! Oh an Urban was totally was part of the song too, she was naked, I thought you would like some jiggling in your birthday video….)

Christ, Making Memories, And Yummy Fun

2013-12-05T01:10:00.001-06:00

I am far from crafty, but it seems that every once in a while I succeed with something that I’ve been dying to do for years. This is one of those times, and I am so thrilled with how my advent calendar turned out!
Being something I’ve put so much thought into, and since I had such a difficult time balancing fun, Christ centered, and age appropriateness, I am going to share exactly what I did so that anyone else out there might have an easier time if they are anything like me in their expectations for an advent calendar, and like me, are having a hard time finding something just like it on the internet (proud much here???). Bonus for you if you live in the Austin area…I’ve already hunted down all of the fun local stuff! Let me know if you know of something you think we’d enjoy that I don’t have listed here!

Primary function: Introduce my children to the true Spirit of Christmas, to plant a desire in them to center their hearts on Christ & Charity….

Which in my opinion is already so strong and innate in a child, it is their natural disposition towards life as long as we, ruined adults, don’t spoil it.

Therefore, I will strive to encourage this disposition of charity and Christ-like love, to nurture it to grow strong, as one might nurture a seed, it might still grow even if one neglects it, but to ensure it grows, and to ensure it grows strong, it needs love and specialized attention.

The Calendar:

After sorting through probably hundreds of ideas throughout the web, I decided to do my own thing, something that:
A. Wouldn’t stress me out
B. Would be more than just candy
C. Would be only as expensive as the candy and the activities themselves cost
D. Would be a good mix of Christ centered Charity and simple, Christmas kiddo fun
How I made it is very simple (it must be if I did it):

A large frame (I spotted this one beside a dumpster the day before)
Bakers twine (or any kind of string/yarn)
Clothes pins
Candy
Fabric scraps - fold a big piece of fabric in half and cut out 24 little boxes (which will of course be 48 pieces of fabric since you had it folded in half) of varying sizes to look kind of random, sewed them on three sides extremely roughly (I did back stitch to ensure they withstand the ripping of candy out of them), then flip them right-side out so that the seam is on the inside. The tops aren't closed off, just pinned shut with the clothes pin.

If you don’t like mine or have these materials already on hand, here are a few that I almost made which are equally cheap/easy looking: here, here, here, here.
I also found some adorable, cheap, medium sized envelopes at hobby lobby for just $3 for a pack of 12, which is what I almost did.
And here is just some more good inspiration.

The Scriptures:

I don’t know where exactly I received this scripture list, I just know that I walked out of Church holding this piece of paper that was titled “Scripture Advent”, on the same Sunday that I was going to finally sit down and make this Advent calendar I’d been daydreaming about during Church, and it just happened to include both scripture from the Bible and the Book of Mormon just as I’d dreamed, and it just happened to be all printed out so all I had to do was cut it up…so meant to be!
Never a better way to get a child to sit still than candy. So it works out kind of perfect to read the scripture while they eat their exciting new treat.
December 1: Isaiah 7:14
December 2: 2 Nephi 26:3
December 3: Matthew 15:30
December 4: 2 Nephi 2:9
December 5: 3 Nephi 11:1-11
December 6: Mark 16:5
December 7: Moroni 7:28
December 8: Luke 23:33-34
December 9: 1 Nephi 19:9
December 10: 2 Nephi 9:21
December 11: Matthew 14:17-21
December 12: 3 Nephi 11:15
December 13: John 13:34
December 14: Matthew 20:30-34
December 15: 2 Nephi 2:26
December 16: Matthew 4:23
December 17: Luke 2:46-47
December 18: Matthew 3:16
December 19: 2 Nephi 2:6
December 20: Luke 2:8-11
December 21: Matthew 1:21-23
December 22: Helaman 14:2-4
December 23: Helaman 14:5-8
December 24: Luke 2:12-16

The Activities:

Many of these are specific to the area we live, but take a little time and do some Google searching to see what special memory making activities you can find in your area!
This list took a lot of thought on my part specifically for my kids and their ages right now. Many of them the toddler probably won’t be participating in as much, but will be valuable for my preschooler.
It is a mix of fun outings, simple crafts, and charitable activities.
There are more than 24 here, so I have the option to skip on any that I don’t feel really fits into our schedule.
NOTE that I did not put these activities in the calendar baggies. I don’t want to feel like there is anything that I HAVE to do that I don’t WANT to do on a certain day, that would certainly add stress! So the kids THINK there are activities in every one, but really I just decide the night before which one I want to do tomorrow, and then sneak it in before I go to bed. Keep it as stress free as possible. Nobody is going to have a heartfelt, beautiful, best-childhood-memory moment if the day was just so busy that they didn’t have time to eat dinner or get rest of have down time to enjoy life.

Make it natural. Make your December full, but not busy.

Get a Christmas Tree (cut our own at Elgin tree farm)
Play in the Snow at the National Geographic snow event (Free-- Dec. 6, 3-6pm – 5206 Balcones Dr, Austin)
Learn about and celebrate St.Nicholas Day (Dec. 6th – maybe get this book, do the wooden shoe thing with golden candy?? Watch Veggietales – St.Nicholas: A story of Joyful Giving?? Make Santa beards for ourselves out of cotton balls & wear with string around ears?? Make Santa hats out of paper?? Or a Santa Mask?? More ideas)
Go on a hayride around the luminary festival (Wells Branch. Dec. 13th & 14th – pix with Santa & free hot chocolate)
Go to Bethlehem (Free, 108 S. Vanderveer, Burnet, TX -- Dec. 6,7,8,13,14,15 6-9pm- arrive early not on Sat.)
Go to a local Symphony Orchestra Christmas Concert (Free, Dec. 13th & 14th, 7:30pm -- Here for directions )
Go to local Handbells concert (Free, Dec. 12th-16th, different times and locations, check here)
Make & decorate cookies for Santa Claus (Dec. 23rd)
Go ice skating in Fredericksburg
Go ice skating on Whole Foods roof downtown
Go for a horse drawn carriage ride at the Domain (Fri. & Sat. until Christmas, starting at 5:30. Make it a night & go to an early dinner at Maggiano’s)
Go walk down 37th Street (directions)
Go see the Zilker Trail of Lights (Dec. 8th-22nd. Pre-purchase shuttle tix at HEB for $3/per adult - shuttle locations)
Get in PJs, bring hot chocolate, and drive through Rock’N’Lights (Old Settlers Park in Round Rock, 6-10pm)
Go sing carols at a nursing home and bring homemade ornaments or small gift. Or do a Christmas storytime. (still working on this one, I am hoping to get a group of friends with small children together to do this with us)
Donate some old toys to Operation Blue Santa
Make chocolate dipped pretzels, wrap and keep in car to give away to homeless at stop lights
Make wreaths and donate to Battered Women’s shelter
Make & give treats & cards to neighbors
Write a letter to Santa
Make popcorn chain
Make handprint tree (this)
Make footprint reindeer (this)
Make paper snowflakes (make extras for nursing home…if they turn out nice – Love this & this)
Make salt dough ornaments (1/2 c. salt, 1/2 c. flour, 1/4 c. water – knead, make ornament, poke hole in top, bake @ 200 for 3 hours – make extras for nursing home)
Make a snow-globe (hot glue, jar, fake snow, water)
Make gingerbread houses
Turn the fridge into a snowman (like this)
Make a backdrop like on White Christmas (this, obviously)

*****Other festivities that I don’t think need to be on the Advent calendar to happen include*******

Watch the Christmas Devotional on Dec. 8th 7pm CST (if you are only going to do ONE Christ centered thing as a family…do this one!)
Preparing and performing a talent for the family on Christmas Eve. or Christmas Day
Telling the nativity story in front of our fireplace fire on Christmas eve. (Felt board printable)
Opening PJs and a new Christmas book on Christmas eve.
Help kids make homemade gifts for the kids to give from themselves to their little friends
Christmas storytimes at Barnes & Noble (Wednesdays @ 11am – Arboretum)
Polar Express storytime at Barnes & Noble (Dec. 6th @ 7pm, wear pjs)
See the lights at a super decked out home nearby (2207 Klattenhoff Dr., Austin, TX 78728)
Christmas storytimes at our library (Wells Branch @10:30 & 11:15 on Mon & Fri)
Movies to watch:
-A Charlie Brown Christmas
-It’s a wonderful life
-White Christmas
-A Chipmunk Christmas
-Veggietales – St.Nicholas: A story of Joyful Giving
-Elf
-Chuck Jones’ original How the Grinch Stole Christmas
-The Grinch
-Miracle on 34th Street

*****Yet more festivities- these ones aren't on my priority list, but maybe someone reading this would be interested*******

More Christmas Musical Performances - the more expensive ones (this Nutcracker Ballet Fri. & Sat. $15-$50, this Messiah Dec. 7th $20/ea, this Dec. 13th $20/ea, this Dec. 14th $25/ea)
Lady Bird Johnson Luminations Holiday Light Event (free with 2 cans of food, dec. 14th & 15th, 6-9pm - frosty the snowman, caroling, crafts)
Snow at the Hill Country Galleria in Bee Cave (Free, 12700 hill country blvd, bee cave, 78738 dec 7th & 21st. 12-4pm)
Choral Concert at the capitol (free, Dec. 7th 12pm 1100 congress st. - choir info here)
Its a Wonderful Life live radio show ($25 Thurs, Fri, Sat, Sun till dec. 22nd.-- more info)
Go to Follow The Star (walk/drive through/live nativity type of performance where you walk through 10 critical scenes from Christ's life -- cedar park - Dec. 5,6,7 from 6:30-9:30 free, bring nonperishable food items. Good Shepherd Lutheran, 700 W. Whitestone Blvd., Cedar Park, TX 78613)

Last year again. The Christmas Card picture that never made it onto a Christmas card. Ay. And yes, I’m starting to realize that Mike and I are always kissing in our family pictures while our kids are looking not at the camera. What can I say, we do what’s natural.

Edit: added a few more Austin events I came across!

A Happy Thought in The Midst Of...

2013-11-30T21:56:00.000-06:00

(last year)

Its been a rough week. Like, test who you really are kind of week. Like, if it don't kill ya, it will make you stronger kind of week. And I really believe those things, that when times are tough, one can take great pride in never losing a certain optimism. And when its over, when you overcame, when you look back with the knowledge that you actually smiled and enjoyed moments of the journey because you knew what a funny story it would be to look back on how laughably bad things were, that sense of accomplishment, that pride in yourself will move you up a few notches in the got-this-life-figure-out pole. And that kind of confidence boost is priceless. And when a person gots confidence, a person can do anything.

I believe that life is like a muscle, lets imagine our life is a bicep. And if you want a stronger, more awesome bicep, you can't just go to the gym everyday for 10 years and lift 10 lbs for a half hour. The strength will remain the same, and it will be easy. You know what you gotta do, you have to increase the weight. You have to push your limits. Because right when it starts to burn. Right when you want to stop because it hurts so bad. THAT is the moment when you grow.

In short, I truly am grateful for when life teaches me a lesson. I would never give up the rough times I've been through to make my life easier. Looking back at who I was five years ago, I can't believe how little I knew about life! This, is a journey. An Adventure. What adventure movie can you think of where everything went right and easy? (booooooooorrrring!)

I can't wait to see what kind of person I am ten years down the road, with ten more years of muscle-growin under the belt.

Here is us last Christmas, after the most grueling 3 months of my life (I really think so). Moving from the west coast, leaving all of our friends who had become like family, ditching so many of our loved things that we couldn't bring along, to a scary new, lonely place, with no job. And look at how good things turned out! (I will not allow this week to taint the past year as we come upon our 1 year anniversary here!)

p.s.

To those who are aware of the plumbing incident, that was definitely the straw that prompted this post, but not the only straw on my back at the moment! Thankyou for everyone who has expressed their prayers and concern during this issue and during our flu sufferings! Love you all <3

Something Spoooooooky!

2013-11-27T00:48:00.001-06:00

Just Kidding! The only adjective to properly describe this post is….ADORABLE.

Except for my incredible homemade Halloween décor…. that was just awesome spooky (proud much?!):

I always said I would never put wings or tulle on my toddler girl for Halloween like every single other mother in the world does. And I stand by the tulle thing and do not plan to budge there. BUT then Atlas decided he wanted to be Peter Pan, and of COURSE my initial reaction was “Urban will be the PERFECT Shmee!!”

So I had it all planned out. And then….I started to feel bad….after all….I’ve already had a boy to dress up all these years, and this poor little girl already wears boy clothes half the time anyways since her mother has this thing against pink and purple and frilleyness and all of those convenient hand-me-down boy clothes (I like to think of many of them as unisex…right?)….maybe for Halloween, she should be something she isn’t every day….poor thing was always mistaken for a chubby little baby boy, especially after we would tell people her name….ay ay ay…..

Soo anyways, I decided to go the fairy route. But of course I wanted her and Atlas to be matching little woodland dwellers. So here was my first time sewing Halloween costumes, or, well, anything significant for the matter! I was kind of brimming with pride for like, ever over these… Oh and I was Captain Hook, of course.

Let me explain if this picture is confusing- Atlas is holding my hook, and I am holding his “bubble sword”. We actually have fun, cool, fake pirate swords and knifes in our toy box, but Atlas insisted on using his bubble wand instead of a knife, what can I say, a lover not a fighter!

It was so much fun to have Mike’s Dad and Uncle in town for Halloween! It was an extra fantastic weekend!

^^These two….this is Atlas’s adorable little buddy who just happened to be dressed up as Tinkerbell, no coordinating intended! And of course when we ask them to strike a pose so the mommy’s can snap a few, they just start nuzzling, NO BIG DEAL! Ah. Just killing it you two.

And the baby in fairy wings would not be complete without a little photoshop magic! (had to)

After the day, after the sugar, after the bath….The Crash.

October Fun

2013-11-23T16:31:00.001-06:00

Nothing like packing into a friends minivan for a long beautiful drive to an awesome fun pumpkin patch! Sweetberry Farm in Marble Falls did not disappoint!

Soccer!

2013-10-28T23:24:00.001-05:00

I hope nobody was holding their breath, here is a little piece of our summer, Atlas’s first team sport! He is officially a soccer player because he has a medal and a certificate to prove it.

Atlas fell madly in love with Coach Duckey. She makes fun quacking sounds and gives him a duck stamp at the end of practice. All week he would randomly say “we’ve got to hurry, coach ducky is waiting for us!” when it was still days before soccer practice :).

Of course I must give my two cents on the whole experience. The short opinion- 3.5 is too young. Not to be that parent or anything…but Atlas and one other kid were really the only ones that were ready for it, and maybe they were slightly older than the rest, but the rest, it was just a bit stressful, they would run away off of the field, and their parents would get all flustered and try to get them to go back and listen to the coach because by golly they were paying for this experience and they wanted their child to LOVE IT. I get it. But I think that between the parents trying to get the kids to participate, and the coach trying to wrangle 10 wild kiddos into doing something they weren't too interested in, I think it wasn’t the most positive of experiences. Atlas loved it, but I don’t think it would do it at this age again. I’m glad that he didn’t feel the same way though :-)

This picture is significant because it was when Urban was still very new to the whole family wrestling scene. Was this really only 5 months ago?! Goodness me….

A Family Night Out

2013-09-30T15:11:00.001-05:00

So many things to catch up on, but I’m just going to skip all that and focus on the now, or I will drive myself crazy and never actually post a single thing. My goal is to feel somewhat a little up to date before it comes time to post this years Pumpkin Patch pictures, because I’m still stressing over the fact that I haven’t posted last years pumpkin patch pictures. Oy vey….what kind of mother am I?! ;)

This is a few days ago, at the Oasis up above Lake Travis. The self proclaimed “Austin Capital of Sunsets”. I’m going to have to agree with that title! They even ring a gong once the sun slips behind the mountains. Not that we got to hear that gong, the kids lasted until about 5 minutes before that happened, so we slipped away before the sun (har har).

Watching these kids grow and discover the world and discover their own little personalities is such an adventure. Atlas has such passion for the most random things. Like wearing these rain boots and using his umbrella when it is clearly a beautiful sunny day. Urban with the little words she decides to perfect and say over and over. (Definitely an Urban update coming soon).

And I decided to have a little bit of fun with my phone tripod and made my first time lapse! Bucket list! (watch in FS)

BTW, hold your hats, I’m going to blow you away…..we’ve officially lived in Austin for a year! WOAH.

Up next in crazy unbelievable facts: Urban’s 1st birthday pictures.

Swing Life Away

2013-07-02T00:33:00.000-05:00

On a stroll home from the park, we ran into one of our kind neighbors who promptly offered Atlas a motorcycle tire! Score! Turns out, motorcycle tires make the PERFECT tire swing! Our junky backyard just went way up in coolness.

In other backyard news, our garden is growing!!!! I must admit, I was quite the unfaithful cliché, having little to no faith that a seed would grow, well really the faith problem was not the seed, but myself. The more I read about gardening, the more I believed I would fail, all of these expert gardeners out there making me think that everything has to be totally perfect, I fell victim. Anyhew, I’m still skeptical something edible will result, but we’re gonna keep watering and weeding and watching it grow!

Although you can see the disorder of our backyard in these pictures, we have since completely cleaned it up, and raked up all of the leaves and sticks, and spread grass seed! It is now between 1/2 and 1 inch tall!!

And this little one, oh dear. The days that we work in the yard, she is like a little homeless child. This picture was taken at the beginning, but within a few minutes of being back there she is completely covered in dirt, slobber (which turns the dirt to mud), and depending on the day, snot (which turns the dirt to putty). It is much nicer now that she is walking, but she pretty much just toddles around eating things and looking like she doesn’t have parents.

BTW, I’m still completely in love with my Nokia Lumia 920, just in case you were wondering whats up with all of the special fx…

hearts

2013-06-03T23:58:00.001-05:00

This snotty, slobbery mess had a 102 fever last week, yet was still the sweetest thang in town. Poor little bear has been cutting teeth left and right. Last I checked she had eight teeth!

I love that she finally loves to be rocked to sleep! She got used to it while we were travelling and she was cutting teeth, rough combination! But rocking her to sleep really soothed her and now she’s decided that we should just do that every night. Mike and I are both more than ok with that.

She stares right into my eyes as I rock her. She doesn’t close her eyes and fall asleep. Her eyes close when she falls asleep, keeping eye contact the whole time. She likes to wave her arm around, letting it swing at her side as she goes left, to right in my arms. Many times she will babble away as her eyes get heavier, and heavier. Often times letting a babble trail off into one long groan as she forgets that she was talking.

<3

Clean Eating

2013-05-31T21:38:00.001-05:00

We are not die-hard about it, in fact, we pretty much forget about any said guidelines every Friday night (movie & treats…c'mon!) but this is the basic diet that we follow in our day to day:

No refined sweeteners (like refined sugar (marked on ingredients lists just as “sugar”), any form of corn syrup, cane juice, or Splenda)
No refined grains (unless it says “100% whole” in front of it, chances are it’s a marketing ploy to make you think your eating something healthy when really its just the same ol refined)
Nothing from a package or box or can that has more than 8ish ingredients (I get veerrrrry wary at 10). And the ingredients must be real things, not unpronounceable chemicals.
A fruit or vegetable with every meal.
Fish two or more times a week
Red meat no more than once a week

And recently I have added to my personal plan, not the kids or Mike’s

5 smaller meals instead of 3 regular.

Finding a way to follow this diet has been a difficult and frustrating journey. Its been a matter of finding recipes that work for us (meaning meals that take less than 20 minutes to prepare) to get us all eating our healthy, complete, clean dinner together at the table BEFORE 9pm.
I’m VERY happy with where we are now. Dinner is served at 5:30. Our plates are always full of vegetables, no processed foods, and are usually pretty tasty [just don’t ask Mike…;)]
I’m working on a very long post about our journey to clean eating, I’d love for others who are stuck in the processed food rut to see that it really isn’t that hard to feed your family food that will provide energy, liveliness, and pull you out your rut! And that really, it IS possible to get your toddler to eat that. Been there. I’d love to have a place on this blog that can be a resource for practical family snacks and meals that can classify as “clean” eating or “real foods”. Recipes and ideas that I use everyday (as a person that doesn’t manage time very well) and can’t spend a lot of time in the kitchen!
Well, there are a lot of things I’d love to do, so we’ll see if any of that ever happens! For now, I just want to share my current favorite snack for that 4oclock slump I get in before dinnertime. Its so addicting and yummy! Its not like a healthy super food or anything, but it’s a healthy crunchy alternative to some of the food crutches of this country….like potato chips!

Just remember….it is not prudent to eat the whole bag at once and then lick the rest of the hummus out with your fingers…just sayin…

tip: measure out the suggested serving size before starting to eat, and then PUT THE REST AWAY. And eat slowly*.

1 serving of these chips and hummus is about 200 calories. So make sure to account for that in your other meals. It works though, because these are filling calories :-)

p.s.---I’m not claiming to be a true thru and thru clean eater….We don’t eat all organic. We indulge in treats more often then we should. I will buy products with chemicals in them here and there for whatever random reason (though I really do try not to!)…If you are looking for a better and more hardcore example of clean eating, I would recommend http://www.100daysofrealfood.com …it’s a fantastic blog that has really inspired me and kick started me into the clean eating world. There are wonderful meal plans and a wealth of knowledge when learning all of the secrets to eating clean!

Magic

2013-05-30T21:01:00.001-05:00

Right at dusk, in that in-between time as the sun surrenders the sky to the moon, leaving a soft, greyish blue light over the grass and the creek trickling through the backyard, something magical happens here in Austin.

Fireflies!!

Or lightening bugs…name?? When we realized that it wasn’t just some weird play of reflections on our glass door, we stopped the rush of getting kids to bed, cleaning up dinner dishes, and fell in love with our amazing, weedy, no grass, backyard 50 times more than we already were. We sat watching for at least an hour.

Now every evening I leave the blinds open past the time that passers-by can see in our window, to witness God’s magic and beauty yet again.

source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lissyl/4609696283/

For Me

2013-05-28T22:33:00.001-05:00

I really do want to blog regularly.
But I get so caught up in getting caught up with pictures and cuteness of the kids that just MUST be documented and how-dare-I blog about “whatever” when I HAVEN’T . EVEN . POSTED . THOSE . HALLOWEEN . PICTURES . YET . !?!?!
BUT I have two quotes that keep ringing in my ears:

“DOUBT KILLS MORE DREAMS THAN FAILURE EVER WILL.”

and

“WHERE PERFORMANCE IS MEASURED, PERFORMANCE IMPROVES.”

I need to remember that a blog post doesn’t have to be perfectly worded, formatted, pictures processed to the perfect black and whiteness, DOUBT or fear that I don’t have time to make it PERFECT stop me ALL the time.
AND I think this blog would be a great place for me to talk about how I’m trying to be a better person and all that...
So I’m going to give this a shot, just blogging, for me.
Not blogging to show the world that I have the CUTEST kids ever made (which, ahem, I do…and umm I still will blog that…), and not blogging to declutter my hard drive by deleting pictures that aren’t good enough to make the blog cut, and not blogging to try and help others (I don’t even know how I’d do that anyways…), but just writing because I love to write and because I need to spend some time on me right now.
In general, I’m trying really hard to take more me time. As per my husband’s insistence.
I feel that I have made great progress in life lately. And its an amazing feeling. A big part of this was getting into running.
In the last three months I’ve gone from two extremes-

Who I was:

I hate running so much, but I know its good for me so I’m going to do it, I’m going to get all dressed in fun running clothes with my cool headphones, I’m pumped I’m so ready for this run!! And after running for 5 minutes I lay flat on the ground gasping for my life and I just let all the passersby assume that I just finished running a secret marathon. (I could really only run for about .20 miles)

Who I am now:

On days I don’t run, I’m an irritable Debbie downer. I crave a good run. I run 5k (3.10 miles) every day, no stopping to walk, a steady half hour every single time. Once a week I do an hour run, this usually gets me about 5.5miles. I’ve even gotten to the point that I can have a good chat with a friend while running!

What I’ve Learned

I’ve learned that when things get hard, like, really hard, you just gotta push through and it will get better. Have I been told that my whole life, uh, YEAH, but I thought that everybody was just saying that so that I’d keep trying! But guess what…its true!

At first it was literal – the route I run is slightly uphill for a small part. For a while I would run hard and stop right as I got to the top of the hill, thinking I deserved to rest now since I made it to the top! Makes sense right? Well one day I decided to keep running after I got to the top…wow! It was amazing! I pushed and pushed and made it to the top and then kept going! And guess what…it got easier!! This simple, silly little hill on the path that runs past my house has taught me so much about life.

“The harder the battle, the sweeter the victory.”

The first time I ran the 5k loop without stopping, the accomplishment that I felt and the utter joy and self satisfaction ranks right up there with some of the happiest moments of my life.

And since I can’t bring myself to do a post without pictures, here are some strait from my phone- untouched! Most from Memorial Day weekend, some just from life lately.

Urban Liona at 6 Months Old

2013-02-11T23:03:00.001-06:00

Loves cruisin around the house in her walker. Went the furthest ever yesterday. I was completely shocked to turn around while making dinner, after having left her in the living room, she was right there smiling up at me in the kitchen doorway! Sneaky. The look on Urban's face when she realizes that she has taken herself somewhere, its pure wonder and joy. The independence, the excitement, the fun, she absolutely loves it. Her arms up and flailing as she runs crookedly. Sometimes she gets so excited as she is heading strait for me, but then with a slightly off push of her little feet the walker starts heading the wrong way, yet her head turns to continue facing me and smiling as her body confusedly goes the other way. Yesterday I was trying to get her to cone to me with air kisses and baby talk, then atlas jumped into the game in a different direction and started calling Urban to him. She got soooooo excited, looked back and forth between me and atlas. Then went strait to atlas! When she got there he gave her a kiss. Mike and I both melted inside.
Really great at sitting up. Can sit unassisted for about ten seconds after being balanced. Likes the bumbo.
Loves Sophie the vullie giraffe. Specifically, Sophie's feet....I guess those are hoofs...
Enjoys looking out the window.
Loves sitting in the bottom seat of the stroller.
Adores looking in the mirror.
Still loves ceiling fans.
Loves sitting in her bath seat and is filled with awe when water falls from a cup.
Grabs EVERYTHING. Its so precious how excited she gets when her little fingers are reaching, streeeetching for whatever is juuuust out of her reach.
Is very patient and sometimes even giggly when her brother gets rough with her.
Fits best in size 9 clothes
Lights up when she receives attention, even if its just making eye contact.
Puts herself to sleep after a nice little session of being rocked and lovingly sang to.
Waves her arms in excitement, nor knowing what to do with them.
Still absolutely must be burped after eating. Unburped Urban is unhappy Urban.
Loves suckin those little toesies
No longer wants her arms swaddled

Urban Liona. 5 Months Old.

2013-02-11T22:54:00.001-06:00

Is so vocal when she wants attention or is having fun with a toy. Does these really adorable, really high pitched and loud screams.
Loves flying like an airplane above mommy and daddy.
Sometimes she will just lay in her crib happy screaming screaming and laughing at herself, often playing with her feet.
Loves playing with her feet and sucking on her toes.
Has 7 arm notches
Chooses to only roll over when no one is watching. Has apparently rolled both front to back and back to front.
Loves to pull her brother’s hair out (literally) and he LOVES when she does even more than she loves pulling it out (I’m serious)
Cranes her very strong neck around when she wants to see something that she is turned away from. Will stop at nothing.
Recognizes when she is about to be tickled and gets excited.
More ticklish every month! She is most ticklish on her neck and the sides of her tummy.
Officially does not fit in her soft foldable bathtub in the sink anymore. Sadly for all of us. Mommy breaks her back leaning over the bathtub now, and baby hates laying down in the bathtub. We need to figure out a new system…
Hair has gotten somewhat “wispy”. There is ONE strand that is much, much longer than the rest. Right smack in the middle of the top of her head.
95th percentile for weight. 90th for height. And 97th for head! Big girl!
Still has a very soft cry. We often will think she is just fussing and making noises trying to fall asleep, so we let her be, then we go up to find that she has tears streaming down. Sad but sweet because she will get to that point without ever letting out a “normal” baby cry.