Walking in a winter wonderland

We have been going on so many walks lately. It really is like a winter wonderland here at the lake. The lake reminds me of that scene in Elf where he is walking down to America from the North Pole. The only word I can think to describe it is magical. Leighland LOVES walks whether it is in her stroller or front pack she talks, and talks, stares at all the trees and the sky then usually passes out. We always stop in the lodge to say hi to Daddy and grab some hot cocoa. Walks with her have been one of my very favorite things since we could first go out, which we did the first week she was born. I remember our first walk, just the two of us. I could hardly wait to take out our Bob stroller, it was a hot summer day and getting outside in the fresh air felt rejuvenating. It was just me and my new baby, MY BABY. I don't think I will ever forget it. I had been dreaming of taking her for walks the whole time I was pregnant and there we were. I still feel the same way, it is our special time together. Running used to be my special time to kind of destress and now I get to share it with her. She just started fitting in her ergo carrier, so we have been going on more hikes, having to straddle trees and such which is fun compared to a simple walk. The other day only part of the lake was frozen but it was melting and it created these big cracking noises. It was pretty awesome to see and hear the ice panels splitting apart. But then two days ago it was like 45 degrees and sunny! The lake had a million shards of ice like a tide coming in and that was very cool too. I don't think a day in December could have been more beautiful.

Our very first walk together

The sunny day walk

Yesterday I got to be the recipient of a 4 handed massage for free! Um...I don't know how you can go back to a regular one after that, it felt soooo good!! I needed it too. My shoulders and neck get seriously sore lugging around a nearly 16 pound baby on 3 mile walks, and in her car seat up a steep stair case. It was a great little Christmas present and just what I needed to refresh.

Last weekend there was a going away/Christmas party at the lodge. Leighland sat comfortably with Santa, we drank hot chocolate, had pie and got presents. It was a great time. Leighland just smiled and played most of the time then fell right asleep to the band that was playing Christmas music. I don't think it could have gone better. We are headed to the coast for Christmas and I'm so excited to see friends and family and have a road trip with my two favorite people. Merry Christmas! I hope you all have a safe and wonderful holiday!

The lodge at Christmas where we visit Daddy and get hot cocoa

Merry Christmas from Leighland!!

Inventory 1

Leighland from my view in the ergo carrier on our walk the other day. She still loves staring at the trees. She loves the outdoors just like her Momma and Daddy.

Making: Random crochet projects that I keep not finishing. Like Leighland's owl hat, an ear warmer, a scarf.
Cooking: lots of crockpot meals like pot roast (my favorite) and southwest tortellini soup.
Drinking: a homemade peppermint mocha, one of the best parts of my morning.
Reading: blogs, and information about 4 month old behavior and sleep regression.
Wanting: more time in the day to complete all these things.
Looking: for ways to be more efficient, with my health and nutrition, home organization, and taking care of babes. I'm always striving to make the most of it all.
Playing: tickle and kiss monster
Wasting: time on the internet, yes that counteracts my wanting and looking....I'm working on it!
Sewing: crochet pieces like flowers, hearts and buttons onto works.
Wishing: happiness for my family, especially my sister and her girls
Enjoying: the beautiful scenery here, like the lake beginning to freeze over
Waiting: for my massage in a couple of days!
Liking: Christmas smells, like my bath and body works candle
Wondering: what I should make for breakfast/lunch, let's just call it brunch
Loving: so much, but let's say lately I'm loving the softness of the inside of Leighland's hands. She just recently has been caressing our faces and it is so sweet. She probably gets a million kisses a day on those little palms. And I'm loving my husband as always, but lately his imperfections have been making me laugh and love him more like how he cannot keep track of socks and they end up in the couch, always leaving the kitchen cabinets open, and how he always leaves his hair gel open after he leaves for work. It is just him, and I love him.
Hoping: that our Christmas presents will make it in time to our family members.
Marveling: at the development of a child, that we created this human being and she fills my heart with so much joy. I love watching her grow and learn, it truly is marvelous.
Needing: to up my food game. I need to shop more, Cook more, pre-plan more to be healthier.
Smelling: baby lotion
Wearing: this is obvious, sweats - a green thermal Henley, white fuzzy slippers and grey Nike pants. But hey I'm getting ready to change!
Following: my besties new blog brittylu.com
Noticing: I need to get my bangs cut
Knowing: that I need to appreciate every minute because it goes by too fast.
Thinking: that my husband is crazy for fly boarding on a freezing cold day.
Feeling: rushed, just reminded I have to go to a Christmas get together this afternoon, thanks hubby for reminding me last minute.
Bookmarking: house beautiful magazine pages
Opening: presents this afternoon
Giggling: at Leighland's growl noises
Feeling: grateful, oh so grateful!

This list came from thedaybookblog.com

Christmas List for Baby

I know this is super late, but better late than never! The number one thing Leighland needs for Christmas is a jumper. I think it's a necessity and she has reached the age. I'm excited about that. She also could use some new toys. I love vintage hand crafted style toys like the wooden rainbows and tea set. She could use some comfy new clothes in 6-9 month size. I can't wait for her to wear two piece PJ sets so I had to throw that on there. And I thought the hanging kind of jumper would be fun to have in the mudroom, but totally not a need, just an extra for fun thing. I loooove baby leg warmers and Leighland and her thighs love them too! So I will have to get her a lot more of those. I could have also thrown some books in there because you can never have too many! But here is her very first Christmas list. We can't wait to share the holiday with our babes.

1. Fisher Price Jumper
2. Grimm's wooden stacking rainbows
3. Baby leg warmers
4. Baby keyboard
5. Two piece Jammie's
6. Lion block toy
7. Wooden tea set
8. Drawstring pants
9. Jumper
10. Snow suit

Christmas List for Her

I have to say, every year I get older it is harder to come up with a Christmas list. I feel like I have everything I need. So my list was hard to pull together. I had to try and think of things I might want instead of need. It came down to random ideas of things I really wouldn't buy for myself. I am probably the easiest person to shop for though because I literally LOVE everything. For me it really is the thought that means so much, or the time and energy put into even getting me a gift. So here is my random Christmas list. When it comes down to it, I love clothes especially sweaters and it is so crazy how becoming a mom makes your clothing preferences take a 360! All I want is comfy, functional, convenient (for feeding) and easy. Nothing too fancy but I still want cute... Hence my clothing choices. I have soooo many clothes and some really cute dressier things but a part of me is scared they will never see the light of day again. But really that is totally fine by me. When looking at this though it just makes me laugh because it is totally a stay at home mom kind of list. Nothing like sophisticated sweats haha. Oh and when it comes to watches and jewelry, I pretty much like them all!

1. Sweater
2. Lens
3. No Link just random diamond earrings
4. VS Slippers
5. Sweater jacket
6. Coat
7. Watch
8. Sweats
9. PJs

4 Months Old

This little miss turned 4 months old November 30th. It is crazy how fast time flies. This age so far is my favorite, and people keep telling me I will keep saying that as time goes on... I believe them. So life with a 4 month old is pretty awesome. She is interactive, talks LIKE CRAZY!! Squeeks and smiles, gurgles and blows bubbles like it's nobodies business. My favorite bubble blowing is right before she goes to sleep at night and she is trying to stay awake, she sounds like the last bit of air in a balloon being released. Like she can't quite muster up the energy to give it a good go, so its just that last bit of deflation she has in her haha. 

She goes to bed at about 8:30 each night, all it takes is some kisses to her forehead, the touch of our hand on her cheek or temples and she is out. She normally sleeps until 4:30-5:30, feeds, then it is back to sleep until between 8:00 and 9:30. But she gets off track here and there. She still loves her carseat and only does well sometimes with naps but overall she is just an awesome baby. The toys she likes right now are her Sophie giraffe, her crinkly rattles and soft books and things, and anything she can chew on. She loves chewing on hands and her blankets. Another favorite pass time is rolling around on the floor, grabbing her feet and talking as loud as she can. She loves when daddy flies her around too. I really can't complain. She is just so much fun right now. 

Where I've been

Well, I started this blog then bam! Internet went out. We are connected to the lodge network out here in the boondocks so I figured it had to do with living on a mountain in the trees. Come to find out a month later of living like a recluse with no tv, service, or Internet...it was the router. Awesome but fixable. So here we are! Back again!

Currently it is like a darn blizzard outside and it's lovely. I love our cozy little home in the mountains, in the boondocks. Leighland had her 4 month checkup yesterday and she is thriving. I'm so proud of her. She was a big hit at the doctors office, squeeling, talking and smiling. She made a big mess of the paper on the patient table and it was pretty darn cute. I don't want to brag but the nurses said they couldn't get over her and that they see a lot of babies but she was one of the cutest :). That made us so darn happy and proud. We think she's the cutest too! Surprise, surprise. But for stats she is still a chunker at 15.9 lbs at the 85th percentile,75th percentile for length and something like 35th for head size. She hit a big milestone a couple days ago and rolled over from her back to tummy. She also had her first big laugh last week. They are rare but every now and then she does it. It's probably my favorite sound of all.

We had some 3 month photos done of her and I can't stop looking at them! It was a challenge to get them but the end result was so worth it. The cream "blanket" she is on is also special because it is actually a shawl/sweater of mine that I was wearing the night I found out I was pregnant which was the day after Thanksgiving 2012. A big thanks to Ashlee Ann Photography for capturing these precious moments. I love how high she got doing tummy time in the basket, her little happy faces melt my heart. We are so blessed with such a sweet, happy and smart girl.