20 month goodies

It's official, 20 months is my favorite age! The things that come out of this little turkey's mouth are both hilarious and sweet, sassy and thoughtful. She soaks everything up like a sponge and she is unbelievably empathetic– she really has the best personality! There's not a chance I'm biased about this either. 

Here are some the "kill me with cute" things Liv is doing currently:

I have never formally worked with her on numbers (or anything else for that matter). I don't find it necessary to force learning at this age but I'm constantly talking to her and she LOVES books so we read all throughout the day. A few weeks ago, she started saying, "One, two, free, go!" before she'd jump off a step or run down the sidewalk. Then one day she counted to 10, unprompted and out of the blue. "One, two, free, four, six, nine, ten!" She did it again and again the exact same way and has ever since.

I am very big on kids having manners so we work on saying please and thank you a lot. This morning when I set her breakfast in front of her, she said, "Here ya go, thank you, welcome!" Just covering all the bases :)

She says, "Ta-da" when she completes something, "bummer dude" when something unfortunate happens, and is obsessed with picking her toe jams (thanks papa!). She knows how to put her own socks and shoes on and insists on having a turn buckling her highchair straps and zipping her coat. The other day I overheard her saying, "Pee-Ew! Papa tooted." Papa wasn't even home.

Current cute words:

-Heggie (heavy)

-Beeyo (video)

-Peekies (pictures)

-Wib (Liv)

-Wogurt (yogurt)

-Whood (food)

-Kinnie (her cousin Corynn who we call Corynnie)

-Tadin (her cousin Cavan)

-Damaw (grandma)

-Peas (please)

-Oss (off)

-Tinky (stinky)

I have to censor myself when I talk to the dogs now that Liv picks up on everything. She walks outside on the back deck and waves her finger in the air shouting, "no, no, no barkin!" and demands that they "way down" when they come inside. She tells them to "zip it" quite often.

She also says, "top it!" and "hey!" in a very sassy manner when she is objecting to something.

Liv is a very reasonable kid. I can often use logic to explain why we have to keep our coat on when we're outside and why we can't eat crackers for every meal. She is also cautious and considerate. If I ask her to be careful of the hot oven door, she will be. She is curious yet respectful of the fragile ornaments on the Christmas tree and is sure to only look with her eyes.

If someone is hurt or sad, she leans in to their face and says, "you OK?" in a sweet, high voice while cupping their chin in her hand. When they respond that they're OK, she says, "I'm OK too."

I hope to never forget how adorable and remarkable this age truly is. Each day gets a little sweeter with this precious girl. 

What a blessing she is in our lives!

Fall Festivities

So many things about this picture make me want to simultaneously giggle and weep. She looks like such a big kid walking with her hands in her pockets, sporting that glorious grin. I am reminded how quickly time passes when I compare this year's pumpkin picking photos to those taken last year. 

Liv was just a tiny six month old last time, obliging me with a few festive photo ops. But this year, she truly got it. She wanted to pull the wagon all by herself. She picked out her own pumpkin, ran through the corn maze and waved at the scarecrow. 

My baby is a year and a half now, recently weaned and insisting she do many things without my help. How quickly these little turkeys go from totally and completely dependent on you for survival, to this "I can do it myself" attitude!

Wishing you and yours all the best in pumpkin carving, apple picking and cozy sweater wearing this fall season!

Cheeeeeese

Recently, Liv has begun to understand what I'm doing when I pull out my iPhone or camera to take her picture. She gives the cheekiest grin, says "cheeeeese!" and then immediately asks to see the picture.

It is so much fun watching her personality unfold at this age. She has a great sense of humor, can be silly and wild, but also likes to stick close to her mama in unfamiliar situations. When Keane asks her if mama is her best friend, she enthusiastically shouts, "YEAH!"

Everyday is a new adventure with her and the belly laughs keep coming– from both of us!

Such a ham!

12 months

I realize I'm posting this 3.5 months late but my anal retentiveness wouldn't let me forget to post the very last month in the series...so better late than never!

Here's what was going on during this beauty's eleventh month:

-Babbling all the time. Using a lot of inflection.

-New tooth sprouting

-Saying, "Whoa!" when she falls or drops something

-Smelling flowers

-Mocking Daphne's whining by imitating her

-Grinding her teeth (worst noise imaginable, BTW)

-Always on the go and never wanting to come inside

There! 

Months 1-12 are finally complete! 

Phew.

We're back

Well, would you look at that. It seems I inadvertently took a three month hiatus from writing. I could do all sorts of explaining about how time got away from me, but the truth is I needed a break from all this sharing. For a long time, all I wanted was for readers to find their way here. I wanted to create a sense of community and belonging among women and mothers. I wanted a space where people could come to share a laugh, commiserate about the trials of parenthood, inspire or be inspired, and most importantly, connect in an age of utter disconnection.

But a few years into it, I got scared. What if what I was writing wasn't interesting to people anymore? Was I sharing too much? Not enough? How would Liv feel when she's older knowing that I'd detailed her life on the internet? Once something is put out there, you can never get it back, after all. I began feeling insecure about my decision to write instead of empowered by it.

So I decided to take a step back and sit in silence for a while. Our days marched on and a lot of things happened. We celebrated a first birthday with the most special people in Liv's life. We bought another house and moved for the 8th time in 7 years. Life changed and we grew, and through it all, I just kept thinking, I should really be writing this all down. If for nothing else than our own memory.

I remembered why I started this blog in the first place. It's our family's storybook and our daughter's babybook. Over the years, Keane and I have spent so much time looking back through old blog posts– reminiscing about our adventures, laughing at our missteps and reliving the emotion of our biggest moments together. I thought about how, in 50 years from now, when my hair is white and my skin is wrinkled, I'll cherish this collection of writings more than most things. Memories fade but words and photos live on. My hope is that Liv will appreciate reading these snippets from her family and maybe even develop a love of writing like her mama.

So I've decided not to worry about the "audience," and just write. If people come, great. If they find enjoyment from our stories, even better. But I have to remember, first and foremost, this is for us and the pressure is off.

So for now, we're back...with stories to tell.

Letters to Liv: Happy First Birthday

My Dearest Liv,

It's 8:40pm and I'm writing you this letter from bed. You are sound asleep in the next room without the slightest idea of just how meaningful this moment is to me. Right now, exactly one year ago, I was in labor with you.

I remember every detail about that day so vividly. I felt my first contraction early Saturday afternoon while I rested my aching body on the couch. I was still 6 days out from my due date and had fully expected for you to come late, so I was a little shocked it was all happening so soon.

Knowing it could still be days before active labor truly started, your papa and I tried to wait patiently without getting our hopes up too much. We watched episodes of Breaking Bad and ate rotisserie chicken and mashed potatoes while casually timing my contractions. I bounced on the big blue ball, stopping every five minutes or so to breathe through the waves that rolled over my core.

Around 9:00pm, papa called the midwife to see if we should head to the birth center. My contractions had gotten strong and were coming every few minutes at this point. Another hour passed before we were given the green light to come in.

I remember walking out to the car thinking that the next time we returned home, you'd be with us and our lives would forever be changed. The air was cool and our street was silent. I paused in papa's arms through one last contraction before buckling in and making the 20 minute drive to the birth center. From the back seat, I closed my eyes and said a prayer for us. For you, that your journey into the world would be a safe one; and for me, that I could remain strong through it all.

Papa called our families to inform them that you were on your way.

The next 16 hours were the most intense of my entire life. Contractions came every 1.5 to 2 minutes and lasted 60 seconds or more. Each time one ended, I had just enough time to refocus and gather strength for the next. I labored in bed, on a ball, draped over a sling, lunging up and down stairs, floating in a tub, hanging from papa's neck, and hovering over a birth stool.

Our room was warm, quiet and peaceful. I listened to nature sounds and sniffed peppermint essential oil anytime I got nauseous. Had it not been for the unbelievable pain, I would have thought I was at a spa.

Your papa was by my side the entire time. He never asked if I was thirsty, instead just held a straw to my mouth and I drank. He rested when I did, but stood up the instant a contraction started to brace some of my weight for me. There were very few words spoken between us during labor but we were more in sync than ever before.

By about 1:30pm the next day, you were ready to come out. It wasn't at all like the movies, Liv. No one was directing me on when or how to push. There were no beeping monitors or people coming in and out of my room. There was simply a nurse and a midwife kneeling beside my birth tub, gently encouraging and praising me. "You are doing great, mama" they kept saying.

Mama! It dawned on me that I was just minutes away from becoming your mama! With a few final pushes, you came out into the water and into my arms forever.

You have changed me in so many ways, sweet Liv. I never knew I could love this deeply, live this selflessly or care this much...and all while sustaining prolonged sleep deprivation! You are sweet and sensitive, wild and free, independent and courageous. You are everything I hoped my daughter might be.

Your life is such a wonderful gift and this year has been my favorite yet. Thank you for coming into our world and choosing us as your parents. We are the lucky ones, Liv.

Happiest first birthday to you.


To the moon and back,

Mama

11 months

Don't know her stats but let's just leave it at this: chicken legs. 

New this month:

-Growling like a wild animal.

-Clapping, specifically to "If You're Happy and You Know It."

-Kissing. On the lips... with a wet, open mouth.

-Saying Mama, Dada, Dog, Deh (yeah), and Doh (no)

-Cutting a new top tooth (that's 5 total)

-Obsession with shredding toilet paper. She tears it into tiny little pieces and leaves a trail around the house for me to clean. She's very much like a cat. 

-Loving on command. When I ask her to give someone or something a "love," she gently rests her head on it. Her favorite recipients of loves are soft things like blankets and stuffed animals. 

-Fascination with teeth and tongues. While she nurses, she jams her fingers into my mouth and plays with my teeth. She thinks it's the funniest thing in the world when I pretend to bite them.

-Moving like Jagger. She sways one arm back and forth with bent knees anytime she hears music or I ask her to dance. It's quite possibly the cutest thing she does. 

-Carrying heaving objects around the house. She loves a challenge so anything big, heavy or awkward to handle, she lugs from room to room while grunting. 

-Exclusively walking (and running). Crawling is for the birds now.

-Better understanding of the world around her. I can say to her, "Liv, do you want to go for a walk in the stroller?" She'll respond with, "Deh" (her way of saying Yeah). I'll then ask her to get her shoes from her room so we can go. She'll stop what she's doing, go into her bedroom and emerge with her shoes in hand. Brilliant, I tell you!

-Learning about emotions. She laughs when Keane and I laugh or when she sees someone on TV laughing. She also appeared very concerned when she saw me crying the other day and actually reached out to touch my tears. I love that she's showing empathy at this age. 

-No more scowling! Thank the sweet Lord for that. 

If you need me over the next few weeks, I'll be cursing that hood rat called TIME. Because how has it been almost a full year. How?

Months 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 here

Fishy Fishy

Do you guys remember that terrible sounding jingle that McDonalds came up with a while back for their equally terrible sounding Fish McBites? Well, it was actually brilliant marketing because that dreaded song is ALWAYS stuck in my head. And it's infuriating. 

Oddly enough, the jingle is very appropriate for our recent day spent at the Aquarium. 

We were having one of those mornings... You know, the kind where your 10 month old is being super whiney for no reason and there's nothing you can do to pull her out of her funk? Yeah, that kind. 

So I loaded her up in the car and we headed to the Downtown Aquarium for a change of scenery. I hadn't been there in years and it was her first time. 

It's so fun to go places like this with her now that she's walking. She could explore at her own pace and the best part was, we went on a Wednesday and pretty much had the place to ourselves. Since I didn't have to worry about her getting trampled or lost, I let her have total freedom. 

She was mesmerized. 

The aquarium is neat because you can walk right up to the exhibits where the fish are constantly moving. It's easy for little ones to stay engaged since there is so much to watch. Sometimes, places like the zoo prove to be a bit boring for her because many of the animals are far away and not doing a whole lot. 

At the very end of the aquarium were the sharks. Now, there aren't too many things that creep me out in this world. I'm not one of those girls that runs screaming when they see a spider. I'm perfectly fine squishing them with a tissue and moving on with my day. Snakes aren't my cup of tea but I can handle them as long as they aren't on me. But Sharks...There is something so eerie to me about a shark. Their eyes, their teeth, the ways they glide through the water. 

When Liv and I walked into this final, dark exhibit with floor to ceiling glass and dozens of sharks swimming around, my stomach dropped. It didn't help that we were the only ones in the room and the Jaws song was blaring through the speakers around us. I was certain they were all staring at me. They can sense fear, right?! I snapped a few photos and quickly ushered Liv out of the room to the safety of the snack bar. 

Despite the creepy sharks, we had such a great time at the aquarium and can't wait to go back. Next time we'll be sure to take papa with us...you know, for protection.

 

10 months

It's cliché, I know, but I really can't believe how big our girl has gotten. She is going to be a year old the next time I blink. 

What? No, I'm not crying! There's just dust in my eye. 

Ok, on to accomplishments from last month. The biggest and most exciting milestone is that we now have a walker on our hands! Liv took her first steps just two days after turning nine months and then spent the next few weeks gaining the confidence to inch further and further on her own. She now toddles all around by herself. Although she doesn't need any help from us, she still enjoys the comfort of holding onto our finger for support. 

Other notable happenings:

-Makes the sweetest cooing noises as she's falling asleep. While I nurse her to sleep in the evening, she drifts off and lets out the most glorious little throaty sounds in existence. She's so peaceful and relaxed.  It's music to my ears!

-Learned to feed the dogs at meal time and now attempts to give them all her food. I appreciate her desire to share but we are going to end up with some seriously fat dogs if this continues. On a related note, Liv is their new favorite person. 

-Developed quite the 'tude. For about 2.5 weeks, Liv looked at everyone and everything with disdain. My once smiley baby had morphed into someone I didn't recognize and wore a permanent scowl on her face. We were starting to become concerned and went back and forth about how to handle this phase (at least we hoped it was a phase). Should we laugh? Do it back to her? Ignore it all together? I'm happy to report we are now on the other side and she's back to smiling and waving at everyone she meets. Thank goodness.

Lately in photos

We've been surviving bouts of the polar vortex over here with lots of indoor activities and play dates with friends. Luckily, unlike the rest of the country, our sub zero weather was broken up by temperatures that reached the 60's some days so it hasn't been all bad. 

Here are some Instagram (@raysyoursights) and iPhone photos of what we've been up to recently. 

Struttin' around with her fancy lady fan//Carefully observing the big kids at the playground//Proving that she can now climb onto furniture and make herself comfy, all on her own//Tantrums which are starting far too early for my liking//Exploring the market at the Children's Museum with her pal Drew//Double date with Brooke and Cameron to the Butterfly Pavilion//Dog beds are her happy place//ET phone home//Sunday family brunch

A sick little cream puff//Pear to the face//My attempt at Valentine's nails//Sleeping beauty//I can never and will never get over her feet. OBSESSED//First swim with some friends, Charlie Mae and Ellie//Mama and baby photo op at the pool//Family hike in Evergreen//All my children

Exploring the mountains with papa//Valentine's Day celebration with my main squeeze//Chocolate cake the size of one's head//Feeling guilty for being short with Siri//So much love for my guy after spending hours talking about our goals for our marriage//Play date at Olen's house...his mama makes the coolest toys!//Olen and Liv, born just 3 days apart//Ikea//Just moments before L picked up a handful of dog poop at the park. YAY!

Baby Eats

Around six months, we began introducing Liv to solid foods via the Baby Led Weaning approach. I loved the idea of exposing her to a wide variety of flavors at a young age. With BLW, baby eats what you eat– ideally wholesome, nutritious foods in their natural form. If you are having steak and veggies for dinner, well then baby gets a chunk of meat and a spear of broccoli to gnaw on too. The method encourages the use of plenty of spices and dispels the myth that babies require bland foods. It makes sense when you think about all the babies in other cultures who regularly eat spicy foods at each meal. Some of our favorites to sprinkle on meats, rice and baked vegetables are garlic powder, rosemary, curry powder and sage. 

Neither Keane nor I are picky eaters so it was really important to us that our children develop a well rounded palate. I also refuse to make a different meal for everyone in our household so out of necessity, our kids need to be able to enjoy foods other than chicken nuggets and mac and cheese. 

Following this method and being liberal with what we offer Liv has really paid off. We get so many comments from family, friends and fellow restaurant goers about how well she eats. There really isn't a food she won't gobble up. Her favorites include kale, mushrooms, broccoli, cauliflower, black beans, kiwi, blackberries, pomegranates, eggs, chicken, and beef. 

The fact that she eats pretty much anything I do makes life so much easier, but I will admit, there are times when I'm feeling lazy and don't want to have to think about making a meal. Times when I decide to eat chips and salsa for dinner or hold off on making breakfast for myself until L's morning nap. That's when having a variety of frozen purées on hand for quick, healthy meal options for her is super convenient. I can simply reach into the freezer and quickly thaw a couple cubes of fruit and veggie blends without any thought or preparation. 

The organic squeeze pouches of baby food are nice to keep in the diaper bag for when we are on the go but at $1.89 a pop, they add up quick. So when we're home, mama's blends are what she gets!

Every three weeks or so, I come up with some combinations I think sound good and stock up on produce. I use a food processor to make big batches which I then freeze in ice trays. 

Here are a few tried and true recipes in our house:

Apple Carrot

Peel, core and slice apples. Place spears in 1 inch of boiling water for 10 minutes or until tender. Peel and steam carrots for approximately 20 minutes. Place both in food processor until smooth. 

Apple Peach Corn Chia Seeds

I used organic frozen peaches since they aren't currently in season. I also used frozen organic corn because that's what I had on hand. Place all ingredients into food processor until smooth.  

Tropical Fruit Spinach 

(Steamed pears, fresh kiwi, mango, banana, and spinach)

Blend all ingredients until smooth.

Beets Kale Banana Pear

Clean and peel beets. Cut into small chunks and steam for 15-20 minutes or until tender. Add raw kale, banana, steamed pears and beets to food processor until smooth.

Pumpkin Banana

Blend organic canned pumpkin and banana

Butternut Squash Sweet Potato 

This one is easy because you can pop both ingredients in the oven at the same time. Slice squash in half lengthwise and scoop out the seeds. Place both halves face down in a baking dish with about 1 inch of water. Bake at 400 for 40 minutes to an hour. Let cool, then scoop out the "meat." Puncture sweet potatoes with a fork and place in the same oven for the same amount of time. Once cooled, scoop out potato from skin and process until smooth. Add a few dashes of cinnamon to taste. 

Pear Sauce

 Steam pears. Once cooked, blend in food processor and add vanilla extract and cinnamon to taste.

A few months ago I made a huge batch of beets and discovered they weren't Liv's favorite. So instead of wasting all those wonderful nutrients, I added a little frozen beets to other recipes to pack in more vitamins. The bright pink cube you see in the picture is Pear Sauce with some frozen beets thrown in. They don't change the flavor, and they make everything prettier! Win win. 

If you are making purées with a single vegetable, try experimenting with some yummy spices. Add basil, thyme or tarragon to carrots. Sprinkle garlic powder, sage or pepper on green beans or peas. I don't use exact measurements of anything, I just do a lot of taste testing while I cook. 

Some other combinations you could try are Broccoli Apple, Sweet Potato Corn Apple, Spinach Pumpkin Chickpea, or Blueberry Pear Carrot. The combinations are endless. Just use what you have on hand and taste as you go. Chances are if you think it's tasty, you're babe will too.

Try using organic ingredients when possible and make things in bulk. You'll save time if you steam a whole pot of apples or bake a few sweet potatoes at once, and use them in several different recipes. 

Depending on your baby's texture preference, you can add vitamin rich water from the steamed fruits or veggies to the purées to make them more runny. Breast milk or formula is also a great option.

I really recommend getting some silicone ice trays. I've found they make larger cubes than traditional ice trays and it is much easier to get them out once frozen.  

Making your own healthy baby food doesn't have to be a daunting task. With a little planning, you can create lots of fun flavors for your little one to enjoy! 

Vote for us!!

9 months

15lbs 11oz, 27.75in long

This picture slays me. 

I've had to rethink our method for taking these monthly photos because she simply won't lie still. Since standing is more her style these days, this was much more successful. 

Lots of new developments last month:

-Began cruising with a walker she was given for Christmas

-Stands on her own without any help from furniture or us

-Smiles at everything but reserves her giggles for things that are really, really funny.

-Gives "loves" to soft things, i.e. stuffed animals, blankets, sheepskin rug (She gently rests her head on them and smiles at us while we say, "looooves")

-Enjoys pulling things out of drawers and baskets, then putting them back in. Each night before bed, she diligently yanks all her clothes out of her hamper and then throws them around the room. Then she moves on to the books in her basket and the toys in the drawer. Her most favorite activity is taking all of papa's jeans out of the dresser, one by one. 

-Understands the signs for Milk, All Done, More, Eat, Dog, Mama, and Papa

-Loves music and thrashes her body around whenever she hears it

-Mastered going up stairs

-Still has no idea how to come back down

-Gives high fives

-Plays games. When I say, "I'm gonna get you!"she scurries away from me, giggling.

And spoiler alert:: this girl took her first steps two days after turning 9 months. 

Here we go!

New Beginnings

Just when I was starting to wrap my head around 2013, BAM! Another year gone.

Welcome, 2014. I trust you will be good to us.

Last year was a good one. We welcomed a baby girl into the family and our world was shaken to its core in the best possible way. I wholeheartedly embraced the job I always knew I was meant for and became a stay-at-home mama. K and I adjusted to our new normal, kissing sleep goodbye for the foreseeable future and figuring out how to juggle the added responsibility of caring for a tiny, helpless human.

Since ringing in 2014 nearly one week ago, I've been spending a lot of time pondering what it is that I envision for this new year; what it is that I want from it– from myself, really.

More so than any other year, I feel I have a true opportunity for a start fresh. There are several things that need tweaking in my life and I feel ready to dig deep and put in the work. There really is no time like the present, right?

Above all else, I want to stop using time as an excuse for my shortcomings. Phrases like, "I'm too busy" or, "I wish there were more hours in the day" frequent my vocabulary more than they should. I want to stop complaining about time because the more attention I give to lack, the bigger lack becomes.

Once I've loosened my grip on the clock and allow time to flow as it should, I plan to re-prioritize the important things in life:

Health- Physical, Emotional, Spiritual. I want to schedule more time each week to attend a yoga class, journal, sit in silence, take a bath by candlelight, and serve others. I want to get out of the city, away from the constant chatter of people and buzz of electronics. I want to find a church that we are excited about attending and one that we can raise our daughter in. I want to finally start the book study with Keane that we've been talking about doing for months. I want to simplify my world.
Relationships- I want to strive to be a better wife, mother, daughter, sister, and friend everyday. Send a handwritten note just because. Help someone move (it's truly my least favorite thing to do EVER so this is a big one), cook a meal and deliver it when someone is ill. Smile at more strangers. Chat with the clerk at the grocery store rather than rushing off to my next activity. See the Good and the God in everyone I meet. Be selfless more of the time.
Creativity- Turn off the television, put down the phone and create something. A lavish meal, a fun painting, a blog post that's been brewing in my brain for months. I want to paint my nails, listen to loud music, dance wildly with my husband.

I'm avoiding using the word "resolutions" because statistics prove that those things are never successfully kept. Instead, this list is more of a direction I wish to take. It's a personal mission for my life.

I took this photo a year and a half ago in Aspen.
It makes my soul happy.

Here's to you, 2014...

Let's make it good.

8 months

15lbs 1oz

These monthly photos are proving more and more difficult to take since L refuses to lie flat on her back anymore. Here's the best shot of this squirmy blur I was able to get. 

New last month:

-First plane ride (she did great)

-First time at the beach (she ate a lot of sand)

-Started saying "mama" (be still my beating heart)

-Began yanking the hair straight out of my head (I embraced the "Mom Cut")

-Learned how to clap and wave (so proud of herself)

-Walking around furniture and cruising with the help of our fingers (oooh our aching backs)

-Climbs stairs (still recovering from many small heart attacks)

-Developed the most endearing emphysema voice and uses it whenever she's excited (sounds like an 80 year old lifelong smoker)

-Became a very distracted nurser (I have better things to do than lie still and drink milk, ma!). She now attempts to nurse in a downward dog yoga pose, just to avoid lying down. You're welcome for that visual. 

I swear this girl is taking after her Tio Brennon and Grandpa Jett and will be walking by 9 months. Baby proofing has taken on a whole new meaning now that she pulls herself up onto anything and everything, i.e. the toilet (GROSS), the refrigerator drawers (and attempts to CLIMB into them), the TV cabinet (and does a CHIN UP on the top shelf- WTF?), and the open dishwasher racks (I now have to hand wash the knives).

Time with this munchkin keeps getting better. She is so COOL and I truly enjoy spending time with her. She's funny, a little ornery, and very courageous. She's always up for anything, just like her papa and me. She's not so much into baths anymore, but adores mealtime and must be storing all her food in a hallow leg because she's still a twig. 

My strong-willed child holds her own at playgroups when other babies try to snatch her toys. After giving them the stink eye, she rips her beloved rattle or ball away from the vultures and moves along to another area of the room. That's my girl! 

She is fearless and adventurous and loves making new friends. At a recent music class, she crawled to the other side of the room and sat on a woman's lap whom she'd never seen before. Having always been a shy child myself, I beamed with pride while watching my outgoing babe explore her world. 

Boy, do I love that Liv Evelyn.

Merry Merry

These last couple of weeks have been pure magic for our little family. Liv experienced several firsts this Christmas season and was showered with goodies by so many loving family members. Although she's too little to grasp the meaning of this holiday, the excitement of it all was certainly not lost on her.  

She opened lots of prizes, danced to every existing variation of Jingle Bell Rock, decorated cookies with mama, and tempted the fate of very breakable ornaments which were hung too low on the tree...oops! I always thought Christmas was the best as a kid, but now I know I was wrong. It's WAY better as a parent. 

Merry Christmas and happiest New Year wishes from our family to yours!