Glamourous!

Pictured below is my most frequently worn accessory over the last
month. It can be worn in the hair, over the shoulder, or down the
shirt- as pictured below. I am hoping this goes out of style soon!

Sunday best

All ready for church! Our friend gave her this dress at one of her showers. Dress and tights from Baby GAP. If only she could stay this smiley all Sunday! Sundays are tough with church being right during morning nap time. Sometimes she will fall asleep easily and other times I spend the majority of the service in the nursery or walking around trying to get her to sleep while she fusses. Just part of this season of life for us right now.

Happy Sunday!

4 Months & Sunday Best

Isabella turned 4 months today!


Here she is in her Sunday best and also posing her for monthly picture with her zebra. She crossed her legs on her own! So sweet! Her Sunday dress is from Macy's from her Nana and dress shoes from Room to dream from her Mimi. (I think you will see a theme of who her clothes are from!)

Month 4 was a big one as we had our first Christmas together, first NYE, first trip to Dallas, and first real laugh. She has been babbling to us more and showing lots of expressions. She has just rolled over one more time since 11 weeks, but likes being on her tummy more and is getting stronger holding her head. On a typical night she sleeps from 10-5, eats, and then sleeps around 3 more hours. But we will have nights when she wakes up 2 or 3 times to eat, sleeps much later, or goes to bed earlier...no real schedule here yet I am still just following her cues. She is still napping 3-4 times a day and I am wondering we will start loosing some of those naps. At the doctor she weighed 13.3 lbs this month, which is up 2lbs from our 2 month appointment, and was 24 1/4 inches long. She took her 4 month shots like a champ, even though those 30 second cries break our heart. I really am trying to just soak in every minute and every day- even the difficult parts. Time really is going by so fast and I don't wish any of it away right now.

I captured some of her faces on her 4 month birthday:





Everything goes in the mouth these days!
Love you sweet girl, you give us so much joy!

First Zoo Trip

Michael's parents got us a zoo pass for Christmas and we used it for the first time today. I love the zoo and am so excited to have it! The great thing about a zoo pass, especially with such a little one, is you can go and stay a short time or long time and not worry about it. It was a crisp 57 degrees, but that felt a lot warmer than the teens we had earlier in the week. We first headed to see my favorites- the giraffes, but they were not out. Isabella seemed to love being outside in her stroller and fell asleep half way through our time there. We had a great time together!

lazy morning thursday

-Love that I had already planned for today to be our at-home day this week.
-Love that Michael's work is closed until 1 today so we have an unexpected morning with him home.


-Love that I had some pioneer woman cinnamon rolls in the freezer to warm up for breakfast.

What I don't love is the continuous coverage of the "winter storm" taking over the today show.


You can't see through our middle window because it is covered in a sheet of ice. My favorite quote from the news this morning from the weather terrorists (as my father in law calls them) was: "Be careful taking that first step out on the drive way this morning- because it could be your last". YIKES!


Izzy says: Psssh! Not gonna let icepocalypse 2011 get me down! :)

Weekend Delights and Progress toward 30 B4 30

I spent a good part of Saturday working around the house and on my 30 before 30 goal of purging our home of stuff we don't need.


Here is round one of "the purge". I would say I made good progress! We got rid of shoes, clothes, blankets, towels, some decor we don't use anymore, purses, and lots more! We took a load to Goodwill and the rest to our church for the garage sale we're having for Mexico missions.


My sister dropped by with this happy present for me. (Happy present is what my mom calls unexpected fun gifts at times that are not birthdays, Christmas, etc. The phrase "I've got a happy present for you" is always a good one in our family!) Cozy socks packaged like a cupcake! So cute! I hated to open them, but it would be silly not to.

Our friends asked us to trade a date night with them and we had ours this weekend.

Here we are: A couple of young, crazy kids; Me looking tired as usual...
We wanted to try a place we haven't been before. So we headed over to Big Truck Tacos.


Michael had the Thunder burrito and I had the chicken burrito and we ordered a side of queso. THE GOOD: The queso and chips were INCREDIBLE... some of the best we've had in long time. Both of our burritos were good, but the chicken in mine was a bit spicy for my taste. Michael's had ground bison meat in it which was a bit different, but he said the taste was good. It also had fried potatoes and he is a huge fan of potatoes in burritos so that was great for him. Michael, who is our resident salsa expert, also said the regular red salsa and the tomatillo salsa were both amazingly delicious. THE BAD: Portion sizes. Our burritos were WAY TOO BIG. Next time, we will probably try their tacos. Although the regular red salsa and the tomatillo were great, Michael tried a healthy glob of each of the other four salsas and we are lucky he has his taste buds today. I thought I was going to have to use a fire extinguisher at one point. THE CONCLUSION: The chips and queso were great. The burritos were good, though a bit big. The two milder salsas were legit and flavorful. Next time we'll get tacos or share a burrito and do not... I repeat DO NOT try the other salsas in large amounts... a single dab will do just fine for each.
YAY for our 2nd of 10 new restaurants!


Next on to Pinkitzel for dessert and good conversation.

Sunday was busy with church, naps, a men's ministry meeting for Michael, more church, grocery shopping...the usual. We capped off our night with trying this Frozen hot chocolate mix I got at Christmas.

It was delicious and tasted just like I remember at Serendipity.

I love a weekend full of productivity, relaxation, family time, staying in pajamas all day, and yummy food!

Sunday Best

I am joining Katie this week for an edition of Sunday Best. As she states little girls have the sweetest dress clothes, but don't get a ton of wear out of them.

Here is Isabella today in a purple velvet dress from my mom and booties made by our friend Shannon. Her bow was in her Christmas stocking from Lil Dudes and Divas. Every Sunday when we get home I promptly change her into jammies, because I sure don't enjoy lounging around with my tights on!
Happy Sunday evening! We have had a great weekend and are looking forward to a day off for Michael tomorrow!

30 things project- One restaurant down!

I got the idea of the 30 before 30 list from a blog I read where the girl had done a 25 before 25 list, then 26 before 26, and was working on her 27 before 27 list. The lists were a mix of fun things, relational things, personal growth, house projects, etc. It looked like a fun idea to me. But I was disappointed to read her post as she was wrapping up her 27th year and she stated she did not accomplish much on the list, which made her frustrated and disappointed in herself, and there would be no more lists.

Which I suppose contributed to my hesitation with my list. I didn't want something that is supposed to be for fun to turn out to be something that was like an albatross around my neck. I can take things too seriously at times and really I just wanted the list to be a reminder of fun things I want to do and things I really would like to accomplish this year. If I don't get them all crossed off I have not "failed" this year. There will be many other things I will do this year that are even more significant- such as daily taking care of my baby.

Anyway- I have tried my first new restaurant! It was Lee's Sandwiches. Michael loves Lee's and has been there many times with friends for lunch, but I have never been. We had a groupon there and Michael was off work, so off we went. You order at a counter, then sit at a table until your number is called. I got a turkey croissant sandwich and a crab rangoon. I thought the sandwich was just fine, nothing special about it. Michael says their Asian sandwiches are best. The Asian sandwiches are very cheap, just a little over $2, but I was not feeling adventurous this day. If you are looking for cheap, decent food or Asian sandwiches- head over to Lee's. But you will probably find me at City Bites, Charley's Steakery, or Schlotzsky's!

9 more new places to try!

30 before 30 list

So I have been working on my 30 before 30 list for a couple of weeks now, but I keep hesitating to finalize it or share it. Why? I may be over analyzing a little...shocking, I know. I keep thinking are these really THE 30 things I want to do this year? Are there others?

So here is the deal- the list is just for fun, I may change it, and if I don't finish them all this year- no big deal. :) Here goes:

1. Host a meal exchange (Everyone makes a frozen meal for however many people are coming, every exchanges and goes home with that many meals to have ready in their freezer. Let me know if you are interested!)

2. Try 10 new restaurants

3. Plant bushes/roses/flowers/ground cover (ANYTHING) in the flower bed under Izzy’s window (It is an eyesore every time I look at it!)

4. Make curtains for the dining room window. We have some, but they are the same color as the walls and I want some more color. I have never seen any I like to buy, so figure I should make some. (And when I say "make" I mean have my mom come over and help me make them!:)

5. Play with my daughter in the ocean

6. Travel to a new place (Could be in the state or out of state)

7. Read 30 books

8. Memorize 24 scriptures

9. Loose 20 lbs

10. Run a 5K

11. Get on at least 4 insurance boards and 1 EAP as a therapy provider

12. Make my own baby food (My friend raves about her baby food maker that I have been eying. But such a hefty price tag!)

13. Take a cooking class

14. Begin saving for a trip to Greece for our 10 year anniversary. (Even if we don't have the money by our 10th- to have begun saving for it.)

15. Successfully cook a roast (By successfully I mean not dry)

16. Complete Isabella’s baby book through year 1

17. Enjoy a family picnic

18. Go see the Yukon Christmas lights

19. Watch fireworks

20. Watch the sun rise over the ocean

21. Give my time to a cause

22. Donate money to a good work

23. Purge our home of stuff we don’t need

24. Buy fresh peaches and have my Mom teach me to make her peach cobbler with a lattice top

25. Grow my own herbs

26. Send letters & business cards out about my private practice

27. Do a random act of kindness for a stranger

28. Go a month with no soda (I have picked January to do this, so here is to day 9 of no soda)

29. Plan and host an adorable 1^st birthday party (I am counting on my sister and mom's help with this)

30. Go through the boxes in our garage and decide what I want to keep and give away

So there you have it. Nothing crazy extravagant. No bull riding, skydiving, or hot air balloon rides. Just things I enjoy, that make me happy, and things I have been putting off that I want to accomplish. (Mom you had no idea you would have to work so hard for me to turn 30!) I will update as I make progress or finish something on the list. Happy 2011 and last year of my Twenties!

Mischievious

This was our "have a good day daddy" pic I emailed to Michael
yesterday. How mischievous is that look on my baby's face!

If only I knew it was telling me: "I am going to sleep all day today
and then gave a growth spurt in the night and wake up to eat all night like when I was first born! Ha ha jokes on you Mom!"

A challenge for the year

I was in need of a new challenge for this year and decided to join the scripture memory team that I read about on Beth Moore's blog. Basically you commit to memorizing two scriptures per month for a total of 24 for the year. You post your scripture to her blog on the 1st and 15th of every month.

For my first one I chose Philippians 4:12-
"I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want."

This verse speaks to me for many different reasons during this season of life. My favorite part is where it says, "I have learned". In my striving toward contentment it is encouraging to me to know that being content is something that can be learned and not a quality that you either have or don't have. And while my level of contentment with myself, my roles, my house, and so on ebbs and flows, I hope to be continually learning and striving toward a goal of more consistent contentment in what God has blessed me with.
It is not too late to join if you are needing a challenge for this year that seems very doable. I already have a list of other verses that I want to memorize this year.

Our morning reading

A time for reflecting

I love question games! Sometimes the hard part is coming up with the questions. (Which when that is the point of the game- is no fun!)
I found this list of 20 Questions for a New Years Eve Reflection and Michael and I asked them last night as we were waiting for the new year to get here. Check them out and reflect on last year as you look forward to the new year!
http://www.incourage.me/2010/12/20-questions-for-a-new-years-eve-reflection-2.html

Here's to fresh starts, a renewed focus, simplicity, and new adventures!