Merry

Even though I was ready for Christmas early this year, like always, December 1-20 have flown by. I kinda wish it wasn't sandwiched so close to Thanksgiving so I have, let's say, 2 months to enjoy my decor and the holiday spirit? That would be my ideal.

We've pretty much crossed all to-dos off the list-disneyland, time with Grandma & Grandpa, baking day, visiting Santa, looking at lights and baking banana bread, which is in the oven as I type! I'm looking forward to a relaxing weekend with family, and of course, sharing in Shelbys 1st Christmas!

Merry Christmas everyone!
Xoxo

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*Insert cute Christmas song lyric here*

Note to reader: Only one ornament was broken in the taking of these pictures.

I decided to get an early start on decorating at the Anderson house this year. The indoor and outdoor decor was up and the house was in order the day after Thanksgiving. That same resolve did not, however, reflect my blogging efforts. But at least this is post is coming out before Christmas! I love the Holidays, and for some reason they seem even sweeter now that we're sharing them with Shelby. That, and I'm home to appreciate my house during the day! 

 I decided last year, since our family collection of ornaments are minimal, to get an itty bitty tree and put our special ornaments there. It's just right, for right now, and I like how my big tree stays coordinated while the few special ornaments we have don't get lost in the shuffle but are in a place all their own. 

 It's the little things that get me giddy lately, and pardon me getting all sentimental, but we have 3 stockings now! I love hers, and doesn't Oatmeal (the little bear from Grandma) fit perfectly? Eeek, I love it!

And yes, in keeping with my sentimentalism, someone in our house is starting to eat solids. And by solids I mean watered down rice cereal...ch-ch-ch-changes!

{4 months}

Time needs to slow down. I feel like I'm on a fast train and although the ride is smooth and my favorite people are with me, I look out the window and see precious moments and stages flying by. I am trying best to enjoy the moments, savor the sweetness this little lady brings and embrace the new milestones that keep creeping up!

For my own (and I'm sure my Mom's) viewing pleasure, some of Shelbys 4 month milestones and our favorite traits.

- she finds her pacifier chain, grabs it and pulls her paci out over, and over, and over...
-she can almost put it back in again.
- we have giggles. Official, someone is making me laugh giggles.
- stopped sleeping thru the night. Then started again.
- her bald spot is bad. It's been rubbed smooth.
- she will let me cut and file her nails without throwing a fit.
-when she comes downstairs, she always looks at the pictures of Dave and I and her.
- occasionally I'll hear her waking up with coos. It's so cute!
- she sits in her stroller like a big girl.
- when she's relaxed she'll hold her hands together and we say she's being 'reverent'.
- she can sit on my hip now. I feel like I have such a big girl on my hands.
- we have a half roll over. Haven't ever got all the way over, but we're working on it.

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my thankful list {4th ed.}

as i'm watching the nate berkus show, he's having a 'favorite things' segment. reminded me of oprah's, but on a much more modest scale. these kinds of episodes always get me excited. i know i'm not getting any of it, but i always feel the thrill of anticipation for what the audience has in store. i think i'm living vicariously through them. during the segment, the popcorn looked delicious, the keihls products made me want to buy some, and then i got to thinking what are some of my favorite things? how fun would it be to be able to give my favorite things to other people?! then my thoughts drifted to wants, and then i stopped myself and looked around. i have so much to be happy with! i am truly blessed. so i'm definitely not giving things away, and i'm not necessarily going to list my favorite things, but in lieu of wants, i figured i was due to be thankful. and it is november. tis the season, right?

in no particular order...
1. crock pot meals. speaking of which, corn chowder is cooking as i type.
2. nice neighbors. we took a walk/jog the other night, and stopped to chat with some of ours. makes me feel part of something, a little safer and warm and fuzzy.
3. daily chats with my mom. i mean seriously, who listens better than a mom?
4. having a family. going from 2 to 3 has been the best thing ever.
5. shelbys night time routine. i love our quiet moments. she's sleepy, sweet and cuddly.
6. the season of all things pumpkin. round two of pumpkin chocolate chip cookies will be made today.
7. my mommy baby yoga class. twice a week with my friend lisa and a handful of mommys and their babes. it's so nice to relax, be with fellow moms and treat my body right.
8. our trip to the temple with aaron and whitney. it was much needed, and much enjoyed.
9. free magazine subscriptions (as long as i cancel them by jan.) from loehmans.
10. friends in my ward. it's great to heytell, text, laugh, plan black friday and craft.

Who knew?! (x's 2)

First, I must start by saying that there is a whole world of blogger that I'm completely out of touch with. Google reader? What's that? Do I know how to put that little list on the side that shows who has updated their blogs lately? Nope. And who knew that you could see the views to your blog, traffic feeds and even countries they're coming from! Seriously, it's like Aladdin..."A whole new world". I'm going to take Whitney (from Eat, Sleep, Cuddle fame) up on our conversation and have her give me an updated look and catapult me into the "real" blogging world! So Whitney, let's do this!

Also, my 'who knew' # 2 is something I am hesitant to post publicly. Don't worry, everything's ok. It's nothing scary, nothing tragic, none of that. Ready?.....I'm signing up for a 5k (insert sigh of relief, and maybe a laugh or two here). I have been wanting to get back into better shape since before I was pregnant. Then I got pregnant. Now I'm not, and the opportunity, for a wonderful cause has presented itself. The Run for Ruby is taking place on January 7th, 2012. Now that i'm a mom, I love my little lady more than words can describe. I feel so grateful for eternal families and want to show my support for the Taylor family. Getting my butt out and running 3 miles is the least I can do.

And for a sneak peek, my SIL Les took some fun pics the other afternoon of our little family of 3. I needed some cute pictures of us for Christmas cards...and she delivered!

wicked cute

Happy late Halloween everyone. This year was, obviously, Shelby's first Halloween. I don't know about you other Moms out there, but I felt quite the pressure (not from anyone, just internal) to make sure Shelby was ready and totally cute! I'm sure there are much better things I could have worried about. Much more important things I could have done with my time instead of endlessly browsing Etsy. Oh the laundry I could have done while I searched for leg warmers and witch hats, and the time I spent trying to find a plain black onesie?! Who would have thought that would be so difficult! But I mean really...I'm glad I did. We went to trunk or treat for our ward on Saturday and spent Halloween night at Leslie & Davids with family. I had good intentions of walking with Shelbs and Dave through the neighborhood, but in true 3 month old fashion, she fell asleep. I can't even believe that next year she'll be a big girl and walking around. AHHH! One day at a time, right? Right.

My Thankful List {3rd ed}

Life has been good lately. Really good! It's not necessarily one thing in particular, but just a series of days and events. This week, our schedule was full. I think Shelby and I had plans every day this week 

(which made for a cranky baby by Saturday!)

Shelbs sitting big in her stroller @ Dianeyland

We played, we went to Disneyland, we visited, we dined, we shopped, we said goodbye to a life and celebrated another, we spent quality time with family and by yesterday, we were tired. We topped off a busy week today with a church meeting for each of us, followed by church itself, a nap for Dave and Shelby, and then a wonderful evening spent at the Ruby Jane foundation event. It was a nice evening, for a wonderful cause. (If you'd like to know more about the foundation, visit here). My wonderful parents came out to watch Shelbs while we attended. It was a great way to end a busy week. It made me feel especially grateful for eternal families and the togetherness and friendship that can come through our church. 

I'm hoping that this weeks offers a lighter schedule. Someone needs to get some decent naps under her belt, and another someone needs to clean some house. 

Tonight i'm especially thankful for...
1. Grandparents who love their Granddaughter.
2. A full nights sleep.
3. Shelby's new favorite play thing, her play mat.
4. Non-ingrown toenails. Having one stinks.
5. Homemade bread for toast for breakfast.
6. Generous parent in-laws.
7. The RSM lake across the street.
8. A husband who does my "honey do's" without complaint.
9. Being the winning bidder on a retractable screen door.
10. The moments that only I can comfort Shelby.

{3 months}

Yesterday was Shelbs 3 month birthday. It's hard for me to believe. Time flies and we love her SO much! I'm torn between loving the changes I see in her every day and yearning for the tiny little baby she was not long ago.

Some of our favorite things about this age:

• The conversations and cooing she does when we talk to her. 
• How her little legs rarely stop kicking.
• Her fist is her new found friend.
• Last week she started sleeping through the night. 
• 3 months brought about a more mellow and happier her.
• She tracks us and follows our movements.
• I feel like I finally know her needs and wants.
• Naps have become easy and routine.
• She smiles at most everyone!
• The chunky rolls on her thighs. Just wanna eat them up!

Can't wait to see the changes the coming months bring!

A name & a blessing

 On Sunday at church, we blessed Shelby. In our church, this is a chance for the Dad to give their child a blessing. Typically it includes blessings of health, wishes for their future and words of love for them. (feel free to learn more about our church here)

It was so wonderful to see so many of our family and friends there to support us. 

I am so grateful for Dave and how loving he is with Shelby. He has jumped into the role of Dad what seems to me, pretty seamlessly. We celebrated afterward at our house where we ate, chatted, the kids played and it rounded out a great day! 

New leaf?

Although her 'official' 3 month birthday isn't until later this week, it's seems as though week 12 has brought about some changes. Big changes. Fantastic changes. Like she's turned a new leaf. You see, Shelby has never been a tough baby, but she did enter a fussy stage after she exited the newborn-sleep-all-the-time phase. Then, one night last week, she slept all night. 10-6. What an amazing (once in a while) thing I told myself! Then it happened again. And again. Soon it had been almost a week. On what may have very well been the same day, she slept in the car, without a peep. And that was a big difference from the Shelby who cried hysterically when the car stopped, and almost as suddenly stopped once I hit the gas. (Once I realized that's just how it was going to be, it was hilarious how fast her switch flipped from crying to silent). But now, she just hangs out in the back seat for the most part. And I'm SO ok with that. And lastly, she's started to fall asleep randomly on her own. What? My baby needs to be bounced, held, rocked or nursed to sleep. Nope. In my lap at the in-laws? Asleep. Laying in her crib for naps? Asleep. Playing on her playmat? Asleep! I loved this little girl at birth. I loved her at one month, but my love for her grows deeper and more intense every day! I want to eat her up. Eeek! I just can't get enough!

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There's an App for That...

I was just about to email all my recent photos from my phone to myself, then save them on the computer when I looked at my phone and said, DUH! You have an app for that! Silly me, how many times in the last few weeks have I had the urge to blog, but because all my photos are on my phone, stopped short and thought, not now, it's too much work! Oh boy, does pregnancy brain last beyond pregnancy? I think I have proof.

SO, here is our last month in photos.

We went to Grandma and Grandpas for dinner. When we pulled up, this is what we found in the backseat.

Seriously we couldn't stop laughing!



We went to the fair with out friends John & Darby. We bought fried food, candy and John came home with the entire angry birds cast in stuffed animal form. Isn't that what everyone does at the fair?



We took camera pictures together, in none of which she was looking at the camera. Oh yeah, and I dyed my hair.



I joined this, became addicted, and surprisingly, yummy and cute things have come from it!



...Like this wreath I made on Saturday!



...And this monkey bread I made during GC.



And lastly, we co-napped for the first time in a while on Monday. I loved every cuddly second of it.

Now I must do some laundry and shower while that "window of opportunity" I've spoken of still exists.

Anyone home?

Hello? Where have I been you may ask? (ok I'm pretty sure no ones really been asking that, my blog isn't that popular!) but, just in case you felt like my slight break in blogging was getting too long, I assure you i've been completely pre-occupied with other things. Only one of which is pretty important, but both pretty neato.
1. These tasty cheeks. Seriously, as Rachel Zoe says, I die.

2. This site. Holy moly. If I thought FB was addicting...wrong!


I'm in love. From random tutorials on how to do waves with a flat iron (I've only ever used a curling iron!) to delish recipes like this...


And how about the wreath I plan to make? Too cute!


So with all these fab ideas, my blogging material should increase tenfold, right?!

And yes, If you haven't noticed, I am blogging during a 2am feeding. But I mean really, how can mind when it's with this little lady?



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my thankful list {2nd ed.}

While the baby is napping, I wanted to take a few quiet moments to show my appreciation for things in my life. This past Thursday, Dave and I celebrated 4 years of wedded bliss. Ok, ok. I'll be real. It hasn't all been blissful. There have been disagreements, job losses, hard decisions, long awaited decisions, ups, downs, and in-betweens. There have been lots of blissful moments too though. Honeymooning, buying our home, deciding to start a family, welcoming Shelby into our lives, nights at home doing nothing, scenic drives to nowhere, in depth conversations and more. I am now, more than ever, grateful for him, all he does and the relationship we have created and continue to grow.
Here's some things I discovered about Dave through the years...

He's a mean BBQer

exceptional cookie baker...

and a precise present wrapper

He enjoys relaxing...

 and being one with wild animals.

He knows how to party!

and how to shoot.

 He's a good brother and son

a fun uncle

 a wonderful Dad

and the man I get to celebrate anniversaries with

So here's my 2nd edition of what I'm thankful for:

1. Being an eternal family.
2. The importance to Dave of my staying home to raise our children.
3. My Mom and our almost daily conversations.
4. Good friends (who will spend their Sat. plating palm trees in our backyard...eh hem Aaron...)
5. Uninterrupted showers. Of which I've had 4 this week!
6. The Cheesecake Factory. Hands down one of our favorite places to eat!
7. The cooler weather the past two days! It feels like fall, for the moment at least.
8. Having a washer/dryer at my home. The days of apartment living are not forgotten, and weren't easy.
9. Living in a wonderful ward with great people (church-speak for the non-mormons).
10. My new sunglasses and Tory Burch flats. SO excited!