December Happenings- in pictures

Cutest little mousey

Park time

Ingrid practicing for sitting on Santa's lap

Hipster Barista

Eden's first big snow

Temple Square Christmas lights with our lovely friends

Eden woke up so, I will leave this post at pictures. Perhaps more thoughts on Advent and Christmas later.

Thanksgiving Adventures with Susu

I realize I am finally getting around to Thanksgiving and Christmas is four days away. How did it get here so fast? 


Davis's mom (Susu) came for a long Thanksgiving visit. She recently retired from her job and we wanted to take a little trip to celebrate.  So we went to Zion National Park and stayed at a nice hotel. We relaxed and saw some of the natural beautiful sites. We are never disappointed with Southern Utah. What a great state to end up living in!

Eden is thrilled to be at Zion
and out of the car

Little hiker babe

Zion Canyon from the start of the Narrows

On the way home, we stopped at Bryce Canyon National Park. Eden has officially been to four of the Mighty Five, the five National Parks in Utah. She is quite the six month old adventurer. We just need to take her to Capitol Reef now. Although traveling is trickier with a little one, we have enjoyed these adventures more. The world is new, fresh and exciting for her. She also doesn't have misplaced expectations of experiences being ultimately fulfilling.

These two.

Family time at Bryce

She makes these travels more fun and more complicated
but I wouldn't change a thing!

Top left: Bryce Canyon, Top Right: Zion
Bottom Left: Arches, Bottom Right: Canyonlands

Our little pre-Thanksgiving adventure was successful. Susu enjoyed seeing a different part of the country and we enjoyed getting out of the city for a bit.

Our Thanksgiving was celebrated with friends and family. Davis made the turkey and southern chicken dressing. I made a sweet potato casserole that spared no butter. Davis did a great job cooking the bird. I am glad he enjoys that challenge! We had a lovely afternoon of eating and visiting. The day after we went out to do a little shopping. It was insanity and not my favorite activity. However, it is great for people watching.


Finally, we got our Christmas tree and decorated it. The toilet paper roll and aluminum foil star still adorns the top. Ingrid and Eden opened up a couple early presents from Susu to hang on the tree. Eden loved the tree and lights.

Oh Christmas tree! Oh Christmass tree!

Ingrid sniffing her present

We had a wonderful time with Susu. We are very thankful for her!

A Weekend Away

It's cold and chilly these days and I am tired. I took a nap already today, taking my chances that Eden might be taking a longer nap. Thankfully she did. She has been grumpy because of traveling and vaccines yesterday. I can't blame her, I imagine her little chunky thighs hurt and she is so tired from taking in life around her.

Today is Davis's 29th birthday. We met when we were 19 and here we are celebrated ten years later with birthdays, a child, moves, jobs, a house, a puppy, travels, and great friends and family. I love him so very much. My heart overflows with joy walking by his side in life.

We are between two weekends of travel. This past weekend we went to Moab with our great friends and neighbors. We both have little girls and are in very similar life phases. Plus, we just really enjoy time with them. The trip was extremely enjoyable and relaxing. We love traveling around Utah, it is a gorgeous state with so much to offer. Next weekend we will take Davis's mom to Zion National Park.

So, let me photo drop now. Since the little one is stirring and I am about to be on duty again.

Third time to Arches National Park and we finally made it to Delicate Arch.
It was worth it.

Happy Family. Beautiful World.

This piece of rock is mysterious, delicate, and lovely. And very popular. We waited our turn for this shot.

Phil and Harper

The next day we went to Canyonlands National Park after a nice, long slow morning.

I love my little Eden

Kassi and Harper

Life is more fun and more challenging with children. But we all can't imagine anything better.

Her cheeks!

It's just so far.

Kassi demonstrating the safe approach to canyon viewing.
We appreciate their weirdness.

Group shot taken by a guy who almost dropped Kassi's phone. close call.

this was just a pretty little scene

Mesa Arch

Father daughter time. They are they best.

So there you go! Have a lovely day. Happy Birthday Davis!

SIX WHOLE MONTHS

I am freaking out a bit that Eden turned 6 months old on Sunday. How can it be she that is a whole half a year already?!?! Each little moment seems long but then every day seems to speed by us. My heart has never been so full and joyful but so raw and vulnerable. Children, man, they make your heart feel all sorts of things you never could imagine before them. I knew I would love her but I didn't realize how much I would love her and it continues to grow as she grows.

Happy 6 months, little lovie!

We have found so much pleasure in watching her meet milestones. She is very smiley with her big rosey cheeks. She interacts with us more and more daily and discovers cause and affect. She can roll all over the place and scoot backwards a bit. She is trying foods and sitting up in shopping carts, if they have a safety belt. She works on coordinating movements and is pretty good at it. Watching her interact with her environment is so fun. We just love her so much!

All smiles in her winter hat
(until it covers her eyes)

checking out beets for the first time

shopping cart fun!

We have just started trying out a few foods. We are doing a combination of baby led weaning and pureed foods. She likes to suck/gum on apple slices. Beets seem tasty and fun until she actually got a bit of it stuck in her mouth. She is very skeptical of most foods for whatever reason at this time. But we aren't in a hurry and she there is fun in learning about textures, tastes, smells and so on. Funny girl does like to suck on kale leaves but applesauce is way too weird for her still. If she is going to be in our house, she will eventually fall in love with food of all kinds. Well, if nature and nurture have any role in child development.

Utah Symphony date night

AND we were able to go on a real date night this past Saturday. A super sweet and awesome girl from church watched Eden for us while we went out. Funny note, she was my camper at Ridge Haven many moons ago and is now a PhD student at the University of Utah. Thank you, Elena! We haven't been to a symphony since our due day date over 6 months ago. After the symphony we had dessert together at a local restaurant. It was a lovely evening and much needed. It was strange to think that just half a year ago, our lives were just the two of us going on dates whenever we pleased. While that time was fantastic, we are so thankful for our new addition and obligations.

Halloween

Cutest little pumpkin

Eden experienced her first Halloween. Neither Davis nor I grew up celebrating much Halloween other than trick or treating and Reformation Celebrations at church. So, we weren't planning on doing much. But a five dollar pumpkin suit and a party at Davis's work seemed like a totally acceptable way to have fun! Eden picked out a few pieces of candy as we explored the building's decoration. I ate the pieces Eden picked out, thanks Eden! On Saturday we celebrated with friends who found out they will be having a boy in February. Again, Eden dressed as a pumpkin for the party. It was the perfect amount of Halloween fun for us.

Sunday best!

a little play time together

Every day seems to fly by. The weather is getting cooler and therefore harder to get outside. These two have been "playing" together on the floor. I can't believe how big Eden is getting. It is such a joy to watch her grow.

End of October

This past week we had more family come to visit us. Davis's sister, Caroline, her husband, Dustin, and their youngest, Levi, made the trek from North Carolina to Utah. Caroline earned a retreat from her work and Dustin came along to check out Utah's fly fishing scene. Apparently we have some good fly fishing around these parts.

I like the progression in these. Photos are more challenging with kids.

We did what we do best. Eat and enjoy the company of others. We made some meals at home and also ate out. They saw some of the local sites and we caught up on each other's lives. It was really fantastic having them come stay. We wish we could see them more often.

Breakfast at Eva's before they left

We weren't too great at getting photos of the adventures but that only means we were having too much fun to stop and take pictures.




Eden is getting more mobile. I put her down on the floor and she usually starts rolling or scooting backwards/sideways. She isn't close to crawling yet but it's hard to keep her in one spot. This is especially tricky when we try to change her diaper. She immediately flips over on the changing table.

becoming increasingly interactive
with her environment :)

She rolled into the couch and seemed to be
having a good time playing there

I tried to get her to sleep today without being swaddled. Poor thing keeps flapping her arms like wings and rolling all over the crib. She played with her pacifer and threw onto the floor several times. It took an hour to nap this morning. I gave up after 45 minutes this afternoon and swaddled her.

gumming on an apple

Also, we haven't been feeding her real food yet. However, she has gotten tastes of things. She enjoys gumming on apple slices. Honeycrisp is the best. This coming weekend will be her first Halloween. Our first Halloween with kids. Typically we do absolutely nothing for holiday. It seems weird to celebrate spooky, creepy, gross, and evil things. Growing up we trick-or-treated and had Reformation parties at church. However, this year I splurged on a $5 pumpkin onesie for the occasion. After I get off work tomorrow I will take her to Davis's work so she can do a little trick-or-treating. Actually, she'll just be visiting people dressed like a pumpkin since none of us need candy.

To Florida We Went...

Davis's dad, step-mom, and half sister live in Orlando. My grandmother lives in Northern Florida, in a very rural area on the Suwanee River. We hadn't seen these parts of our families in a while. It seemed time to make a trek to Florida. My parents also came down from Georgia to see us too.

Eden had her first flight ever to Orlando. It was a red-eye deal and I was super nervous. She did great! Mostly she slept and ate and when she was awake she was happy. Hooray! We had breakfast with Davis's family before we headed to my grandmother's for the weekend.

So very jungle-like compared to Utah!

rope swinging

here is hoping those alligators don't try to get us

There isn't much to do but spend time together. So that's exactly what we did. Except Davis and I went on a walking adventure along jungle-like paths I used to explore in my youth.

Eden and Grandma-great (and me)

Eden loves her grammie and griz!
They love her back.

Eden was able to meet my grandmother, whom she is named after. Marie Genevieve and Eden Genevieve, two peas in a pod. I am so thankful we made it down when we did. Grandma got sick shortly after we left and ended up in the hospital. She is doing better now but would have made visiting harder. I love seeing our family together. Every time we part ways it stings the heart. I am grateful for quick and frequent transport to the ones we love. Back in the olden days a move across the country could be a goodbye forever deal.

On Tuesday while we were traveling, I had my 29th birthday. We were able to see a best friend, and my "twin", and somewhat see the ocean. Two things that were important to me on this trip.

Florida loving

We met up with Alexis at St. Mark's nature preserve. There was the ocean (but no beach), a light house, birds, crabs, and some alligators. We had lunch at Sonic. I went into a diabetic coma from my birthday cake shake. Then we parted ways and went back to Orlando. There we celebrated with carrot cake, trick candles, and family time. It was a good birthday.

Cocoa beach adventures

OoooMmmmGggg. My heart!!

The next day we took a little side trip to Cocoa beach where there was actually a beach with the ocean. Eden seemed cool with it until a way caught us by surprised and she got splashed more than she wanted. We strolled up and down the beach until we felt she had enough sun. Eden got a lot of swimming time later that week at the neighborhood pool. She became more and more comfortable in the water and even splashed a little. Sadly, no pictures of that though.

Florida adventures in Orlando

We mostly hung around Davis's dad's house. We played with Lilly when she was not in school or gymnastics. We took Regan, the Basset Hound, for walks. Most of our time was spent relaxing in the humidity. We enjoyed some seafood as well. I am sad to report we forgot to take pictures together. I think Davis's dad has some but I need to get them from him.

Our trip back was an evening flight. Eden struggled a little more with this. She didn't cry, just some screaming, not too bad over all. But everyone seemed nice about thankfully.  I guess Orlando to SLC probably has lots of kids on the flight normally anyway.

I hear my little one stirring from her nap. Time to go!