The In-Betweens

I seriously love the age Eleanor is right now. She understands so much, she is getting so much better at expressing herself and what she wants. She is interested in everything and always learning.

The issue I am having is that sometimes I think she is bored. We play with her toys, roam around, she loves to help with chores like the dishwasher and "folding" and putting away laundry. We eat our meals. We try to go outside for walks as much as possible. But I want to make sure I am challenging her or teaching her as much as I can. I feel like a lot of the activities I come up with or can think of are just a little too "old" for her. Baking, putting pipe cleaners in the colander, sorting craft pom poms. I don't want to wish her older, I just wish I could come up with activities that are age appropriate  I mean, I know she is a 14 1/2 month old with little to no attention span but there has to be a few things.

We have found that she loves stickers. So that keeps her attention for a bit. And the girl loves books. I mean like big, puffy, heart lovin'. Books, over and and over. Which I love.

All this aside, Eleanor and I are in a really good place right now. It's not to say that I haven't loved other ages up until now, I just think that some of the previous challenges are starting to fade and my confidence as a mom continues to grow. I find that things I used to stress and agonize over are becoming less of a big deal as time goes on. I try really hard to go with the flow a little more. I think that was kind of an oxymoron. She really is such a good girl. She is happy most of the time. When she isn't I can usually figure out why. Minus the damn teeth! Those little buggers, seriously, come out of no where or take forever, for the love, to come in!

Again, we are really looking forward to nicer weather because I think E will want to live outside. Just like her mama.

Any ideas on good or fun activities for an almost 15 month old are very welcome!

Sunny Day Randoms

I know. I had to put "sunny" in my title because in our part of the world, it is a beautiful, February day that I have to celebrate and acknowledge!

First and foremost it is truly amazing what a little Vitamin D does for the mood, soul, skin, hair, etc. Okay, maybe a little carried away but this girl is getting a little tired of the short, dark days so I love a little brightness in my life. I also love introducing my baby girl to one of my favorite things--Mr. Sunshine!

Source: etsy.com via Allyce on Pinterest

It is so fun having friends with babies. We can get together and not feel weird about staring at our babies. Or being a little distracted because you are paying more attention to your baby than the friend you are visiting with. Swapping stories, advice or even some weird emotions you may be having is also nice.

Source: Uploaded by user via Allyce on Pinterest

It has been a long time coming but I am enjoying my Toms. I have wanted them for awhile. Tried them on and couldn't decide. Couldn't decide on a size or color. Thought they looked strange on my feet but good on everyone else. But I have finally decided and I love. And I can't wait to get a pair for Baby E.

 I have discovered the true meaning of coffee now that I have had a child. I have only been having one cup in the morning as opposed to the two maybe three in the past but I truly look forward to it and it is a nice start to the day while Baby E is at her happiest and we are waking up.

Source: earthytoastyspicy.blogspot.com via cindy on Pinterest

I am falling more and more in love with my cloth diapers everyday. Okay, well, not my cloth diapers. But Eleanor's. They are so cute, actually surprisingly easy to deal with and so much less garbage.

Source: familyoffarmers.blogspot.com via Amanda on Pinterest

The sunshine peeking out is really getting me excited for spring and our garden. Also for summer and being warm and grilling and being on the water and introducing E to nature and more.

Source: gardenrooms.typepad.com via Emily on Pinterest

I would love a garden that looked like this!

These are my thoughts for the day. I mean, I have more, but sometimes it is hard to get them organized with a sweet babe kickin' next to me so this is all for now. 

What are your Friday random thoughts?

Snow Day!

We sure get a lot of rain around this parts but usually not too much snow. I would say on average we get a pretty good dumping of snow every other year, it lasts for about 3-5 days and then it's gone. I wouldn't mind living in a place that gets a lot of snow every year but is prepared for it. You know, life doesn't stop because there is snow. That's what happens around here. So it's nice for a couple days to slow down and enjoy the white scenery but by day 3 we are all pretty ready to get back to business as usual. We have about 10 inches at my house right now which is quite a bit for these parts.

I just had to get the girl out for a picture in her first snow. My favorite little snow bunny. However, we are now, back in our warm house enjoying the view from inside!

Monday Mumblings

I love a rainy fall day that I get to stay home all day in my pajamas. I can do chores at my own pace, relax, watch a TV show here or there. It's really nice.
Someone else posted about this this morning but I have to chime in. Desperate Housewives is just losing me. I want to watch because it is the final season but more often than not I wander off to do something else and realize I have missed 15 minutes of the show! Would Tom and Lynette just figure things out already?!
I am definitely feeling more at peace with being ready for the baby than I was last week. All of a sudden I get overwhelmed by things but then realize that we are ready. We just need the baby.
I am coming to terms with the fact that this will be my last week of work.
I am getting a little over anxious to decorate for Christmas. I know, I know. It's still early. I think I can hold out for two more weeks!
For some reason I have been loving frozen, chopped spinach. I usually eat one package at a time but I could probably eat two.
I am so lucky to have such loving, generous and wonderful friends and family.
I need to get some new house plants to put in a planter Ben made.
I don't feel like I really have any TV shows that I am so in love with these days, but for some reason I have having a hard time with pulling the plug on the cable.
I think that our dog senses the addition to the family and she is needing some extra attention lately.
It was really cold and clear the past couple of days and I loved it.
We put our fleece sheets on our bed a few weeks ago and I LOVE them.
I watched quite a bit of football this weekend {for me}, like actually really watched it, and I enjoyed it!
There is a lot of tag removing and washing that comes with having a baby.

What are your randoms for this Monday?

Can I Get Out of This Cold?!

So as I have mentioned Hub and I are in Washington and his family is in Texas. While his mother constantly supports where we live and knows why we live here and whatnot, I know they would love us to move there. And there are some days, like yesterday and today, that I would just love to live there as well. Especially when she updates the family Facebook with this:

"Today is Tuesday, Feb 24 and it will be 80 today
I just love the warm, snow and ice free south!!!!!
What a great place to live and raise children!!! :-)
Love you"

OK! We get it! It's warm there. And sunny. And NOT icy {most of the time}. And there are palm trees. And the coast is less than 3 hours away. With warm water. Where we do this.

However. It is a winter-wonderland here right now. Yes, it's pretty and peaceful. It is fun to watch the snow fall but then people slide around, get in accidents, make for bad traffic and all of a sudden snow loses all of its magic. It's rather sad. 

I got a text from my best friend today and she said "Let's go somewhere warm for a few days. Just a short girls trip." These were our ideas:

Image {Funny where this image came from: a website for
a wedding planning guide. Hehe.}

Warm. Maybe a cheap flight. Wouldn't spend money there, just wander around and enjoy the "nicer" weather. {Weather: Low-Mid 60s. I like it.}

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Arizona. Warm. Maybe a cheap flight. Aunt has a house there. I have never been. {Weather: 60s and 70s. I'll take it.}

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California, baby. Sunny. Pretty beach. Cheap flight? Maybe. {I think you're probably beginning to see a trend here with our requirements.} {Weather: mid-high 60s. Yes, please!}

So, basically we want to go somewhere warm. It is cold here. Like 20s and 30s. I know there have been a ton of places to get blasted with winter storms worse than we have. Do I think this trip will happen? No. Why? Because looking at flights today, there are no cheap flights anymore! Too expensive for our liking. Most likely neither of us will get our butts in gear and plan it. Most likely a "girls night" of sorts will happen somewhere around here. Where it is still cold. Warming up with Baileys and hot chocolate is allowed right?

Do you fly south for the winter? What are your favorite "quick" getaways? Do you constantly dream of a vacation that never gets put into action?

My Deep, Dark Secret

Ok, it's not really that serious but honestly, there are a couple things I get a little embarrassed of at times. I would say that I am realizing I have a slight addiction to TV. I have been trying to figure this out lately and I can't. Hub and I have been debating whether to get rid of the cable subscription because we feel that we may watch a little too much TV. The only thing that makes Hub nervous is the whole cutting-off-the-sports-connection-thing. Which I totally get. However, since we have DVR it feels like there is always something to watch. The thing we get frustrated with is that we really, truly enjoy doing other things but it seems like sitting down and turning on the TV may be the easiest thing. We both love to read. We love to be outside {which obviously our options with that are limited right now due to weather}. We like working on our home. But, we also love TV. We have quite a few shows we watch and DVR as well as watch on Netflix. I am also guilty of just having the TV on when I am home alone which I think may sometimes be for more company than actually watching.

I am a little convinced that it is just because it is winter, when all shows are new and come a couple of months from now and we will be back to watching less and doing more. It is also hard when we work hard all week long, have limited time to see or talk to each other and then we have a chance to snuggle up on the couch and watch TV--of course I will take that activity, anytime! I will keep you updated on the talks of the cable subscription decision. {I know, what a totally riveting topic right?}

My next confession is that of a little habit of junk food. I have actually been pretty good about consuming better food for the past month or so, however, I am not totally above it. It is kind of how I am with my moods I would say. Kind of an all or nothing deal. For instance, a couple of days ago, I had been great all morning, eating yogurt and granola, fruit, string cheese and then I came home. I walked by the cookie jar and ate a cookie.

And then walked by the jar again and ate another.

And another.

And another.

AND ANOTHER!


Yes, people, that's right, FIVE homemade delicious, chocolate chip, walnut cookies. What in the world is wrong with me?

Most of the time on weekdays I have either yogurt, oatmeal, or some fruit for breakfast but this weekend, oh no, had to have ginormous breakfast at good ole'

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It's like this power takes over me and I can't. stop. eating. I love food. All kinds. Some days I can be so healthy and some days I am so not.

I feel that if I put these confessions out there and have actually put them in writing, maybe I will remind myself from time to time to keep myself in check. Steer clear of the TV, the cookie jar and the IHOP!

Do you have any secret vices? What do you do to curb them? Do you find yourself watching an abnormal amount of TV during the winter?

Moody

Aren't moods funny? Today was absolutely gorgeous outside. However it was freezing all. day. long. In an attempt to not be a total hermit, when I got off work I got the dog, went and picked up a friend and her little boy and decided we would go on a walk around a near by town and maybe go in and out of a couple of shops.

Let me just confess and say that I don't take my dog to near enough places with people that she isn't used to. first of all she whines in the car, which when it's just me by myself I can tune her out, but when I have company in the car, it's Uh-nnoying. So my thought of a perfect afternoon strolling in and out of a couple of shops in the nice weather turned into me being stressed out about making my dog mind, pretty sure my friend being stressed out that her little guy wasn't having as much fun as we thought he might and not really getting to look in any shops.

So, I get home. I think I will start a craft project, clip a couple of recipes I have been meaning to, do a few dishes, maybe prep a room for painting and what do I do? Flip through a magazine, check Facebook, check blogger, chat with the Hub on the computer, do a few dishes and now it is dark outside.

My moods are so funny, I tell ya. Sometimes it is all or nothin'. I am gung-ho about a project, flitting from room to room cleaning, or I am down, snuggled under a blanket not doing a single thing. Oh well, such is life and it is days like this that just keep me hoping for spring and the warmer weather with longer days that are bound to come.

What to do? What to do? {Image}

I think this weekend Hub and I may tackle a couple of home projects. Painting? Some woodworking? Trimming? We will see what is in store for this lil' house.

Do you get cabin fever? What do the cold, dark days do to your moods? What do you like to do to keep from going crazy?

And the Festivities Continue...

I said to Hub the other day that the day after Christmas is like the day after coming back from the honeymoon...kind of blue. There is so much build up, so much hype and preparation and then just like that, it's over! This year though, we don't really have to feel that way because we are having another Christmas with my family on New Year's Day! Pretty lucky, I would say.

Christmas in Texas was wonderful. We ate, we relaxed, we decorated the tree, we played games, listened to music, made gingerbread houses, gave and received, but best of all, just spent a lot of quality time together. I was slightly chilly on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day so I didn't feel too strange with 70+ degree weather like I had thought. Here are some highlights from the trip:

Tree adorned with many old, family ornaments {I even escaped with a few!}

Brother-in-law and I in our poker attire

Parents-in-law ready for a party

Hub 'n I ready for the party

so proud of our creations

Eager to open some gifts!

In our jammies by the tree

Enjoying the Shutterfly book we had made

The Alamo

Blurry, but I still like it!

A fun time was had and it's always hard to say goodbye. Looking forward to this week to continue the festivities with my family! Hope you all have been enjoying your season as much as I have!

Home for the Holidays

Finally, after a couple of years away, my husband gets to go home for the holidays--and obviously, I'm going with!

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I mean, I don't think this picture really represents what "home for the holidays" will look like for us, but I thought it was a nice image that stirs up memories of cozy holidays at home.

Our holiday may look a little more like this:

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That's right, San Antonio, TX. It is estimated to be 70ish+ and sunny on Christmas day. That's a little foreign to this lil' ol' Washington born and bred, rainy weather girl. This will be my first Christmas in 25 years that I am not with my parents and brother. Last year, Hub and I got a little taste of what it was like to wake up on Christmas morning with just the two of us. It was definitely different than Christmas pasts because our first Christmas spent together was the one before when his parents came and stayed with us. It was a busy, hustle-bustle with everyone around, but it was also picturesque because we actually had a white Christmas which happens about every other year here. 

I am so excited to experience this side of the family's traditions, see decorations, eat good food and even bring along some of my own ideas of Christmas traditions. It will be a short trip with lots planned to ensure we get the most out of the trip but the point is that we will be there for Christmas. We get to see some friends, go see some holiday decorations and get together with some extended family. 

I will obviously miss my family but I know I will be in good hands. My mother-in-law is also being very gracious in being very aware of how difficult this may be for my mom as my mother-in-law lives away from her son all the time. We may have a Skype session on Christmas day which may be nice. We head out tomorrow so I hope write a couple of posts while we are gone, but I may just have to play catch up when we return.

What are your favorite holiday traditions? Will you travel for the holiday? Was it hard when you spent your first Christmas away from "your" family?

Time to Set the Mood

We are hosting a holiday party tomorrow night. You know the type. White Elephant/Ugly Sweater/Holiday Cheer Party. Appetizers, desserts, drinks, laughs, games, friends and family--sounds like a great time. We did it last year. We did a New Year's version the year before. It always turns out to be quite enjoyable.

Hub and I attended a party last weekend of a family friend and I couldn't help but notice the "ambiance" of her house. It was dim but not dark. Light enough to navigate your way around but not giving you the feeling of being in a gym. Last year, I tried to convince Hub we should turn off the lights in the dining room (which is in between the front living room and the family room) but he said it was "too dark and weird." This year, my mom had a great idea for picking up some lower watt bulbs {apparently my brain just doesn't have the capacity to think of these types of things yet!} and I slipped them into the dining room light fixture today and I love the dimness!

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 None of our other rooms (besides the kitchen) are too bright so it will give a great ambiance. With the Christmas lights and candles to give a warm, cozy glow the house should have a nice feel come dusk tomorrow evening.

What tricks do you use to "set a mood" in your house? Are you thankful for the dark, winter-y months to "hide" any shortcuts in cleaning for a get together? {did I really just admit that?!}

Retail Therapy...

...is a funny term to me. I used to be a spender. Boy, I tell ya what. It was my money, I worked hard for it and I would spend as I pleased. Within reason, I mean I never got myself into any kinda trouble with the spendin'. I just liked clothes. And boots. And shoes. And coats. And coffee from espresso stands. And books. And magazines. Wow, I liked a lot of things! Still do. The thing is, when you get married and you share money with a whole 'nother person, spending gets a little more complicated. Spending is not as frivolous as it once was what with a mortgage. And household bills. And home improvements. And big, joint purchases. Don't get me wrong now, I love being married. And I love being a homeowner but they sure do come with compromises!

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Back to retail therapy. There is nothing {to me} like the feeling of spending a good chunk of change. Actually, I like spending small chunks, too. As I have gotten older though, I have found that retail therapy works even if I'm not spending the money on myself! Now, to tie this post in with the holiday season. I love giving gifts. I love looking at an item and thinking of a certain person, buying it, watching them open it and feeling satisfied with the feeling of being able to give something to someone I love. Something that really irks me about this time of year though is the sense of "obligatory gift giving"--well, they got me something so I have to get them something. I really, honestly can say that if I gave my friend, family member, even husband {wellll, maybe that's stretching it} a gift and did not receive one in return, I wouldn't mind because I got to give them something. I know some may not believe this but I can say it with absolute fact. Another irritation is "the spending factor"--I know the gift they are getting me is about this much so that's how much I have to spend. I am spending this much on this brother so I have to spend that much on that brother. Why, oh, why should it be about how much a gift costs rather than the meaning or reasoning behind the gift?

This may sound like a little Christmastime rant and take from it what you will, but those are my thoughts on gift giving. Now, I had a little retail therapy session today and the beneficiary of that session will be my husband. I feel so good about his Christmas gift and it is not because of how much I spent or because I had to get it for him. It is because I CANNOT wait to see the sheer delight on his face when he opens it! I feel that way about all of our gifts this year. We picked some good gifts and I can't wait to see the recipient's faces. For my next trick, I can't wait to get in the habit of making some gifts as well. I guess I don't have to wait a whole year to do that--there are birthdays, anniversaries and showers within the next year I could start in on!

What do you love most about gift-giving? What bothers you about gift-giving? Whose gift are you most excited to give?

Baking Frenzy 2010

First I will start with a quick weekend recap. Friday, I headed out with my mom to find her an outfit for a party we were all going to on Saturday. My mom is not the easiest person to shop with, but we ended up with a cute outfit that I think she liked. I hurried home to get ready for Hub's work holiday party. It was down in the city at a hotel. There were drinks, dancing and I got to meet some people that I hear him talk about quite often.

Saturday morning I went to work and then home for a few lazy hours before we headed out to a family friend's holiday party. Yummy appetizers, drinks and a pretty comical white elephant gift exchange ensued. Her house was decorated so festively {is that a word?}, I may have to "borrow" a couple of ideas for our get together this weekend!

Yesterday was a wonderful, glorious, cozy day at home. We watched a couple of Christmas movies--Fred Clause {which neither of us loved, but it could be because we fell asleep a couple of times during the movie} and the Santa Clause 2 {I think I had seen it once before but confirmed again that it isn't near as good as the first}. Well I started to get the baking itch which was supposed to start today however I couldn't wait.

Before Thanksgiving I was out grocery shopping and found these:

Yum, yum, yum and YUM! Not a lot says Christmas-time to me like mint flavoring. I have been drinking it my coffee and I also found some mint truffle chocolate kisses. So to use these mint baking chips, I just flipped the package over and followed the recipe!

1.Preheat oven to 350. Blend 1/2 cup salted butter (softened), 3/4 cup dark brown sugar, 1/2 cup white sugar, 1 tsp. baking soda, 1 tsp. baking powder, 2 tsp. vanilla extract, and 2 eggs.

2. Stir in one 10oz. package of Andes Baking Chips and 2 2/3 cups sifted flour.

3. Chill approximately one hour. Measure out approximately 1oz. of dough, form into a ball and flatten slightly.

4. Raise oven rack up one notch from center of oven.

5. Bake on non-stick pans at 350 for 8-10 minutes, let set on baking pans for 2 minutes before removing to wire racks to cool.

These cookies are so delicious. A few people have tasted them and I have had great feedback. Just the right amount of mint and a great texture. I am a moron, apparently and haven't taken a "finished" picture of the cookies yet but I will once I take them back out of the freezer. Try 'em, I tell you, they are easy and yummy! More to come after today, I have a great Taste of Home holiday baking magazine {you know, the kind at the checkout at the grocery store that's cover has great-looking recipes and then you look at the price and it's, like $10.99 and you think "10.99 for a magazine?!" but I bought this one because I LOVE Christmas baking and I have been nothing less than pleased with the recipes and I am proud of myself because I have had it for 3 years!} that I will be pulling recipes from and I will post them for you! Happy Holiday baking for you!

Twinkling...

{please excuse the blurriness of our tree. I really just wanted to get across
this reflection in the window.}

I have just realized {as in, realized last night} that I love the reflection of Christmas lights in my window almost as much as I love looking them straight on. 

It is so cozy.

And inviting.

And festive.

And glowing.

Glowing? Anyway, I just love it!

Winter Wonderland...

...In November!

Happy Thanksgiving Week!

There is nothing like the first snow of the year!