19 months

Logan,

I'm two days late, but I couldn't let this 19 month mark go by without notating how you my little punkin, have changed so much this past month! Just in the last few weeks, some pretty big milestones have occurred. To begin with, 3 (almost 4) devilish molars have taken over your mouth. It is the first time I have seen you cranky for days straight and when swiping the inside of your mouth, there was no denying those little bastards were the culprit! Luckily, only 1 is left and ready to pierce through any day. This makes a total of 12 teeth you have, and your gorgeous smile is quickly becoming one of a more toothy grin.

Also, in the last few weeks, your verbal skills have appeared to explode. Over Christmas you began saying "Apple" (I still believe this HAS to be because of the sheer volume of apples I devoured during my pregnancy with you), and since you have really begun using sounds to communicate. You now say Hi (Ha!), Bye (Ba!), "whoa, whoa, whoa", more (mah) and a few others. You're on your way, my sweet!

You love to do puzzles, stack blocks and seem to have taken a liking to cuddly things which is just too cute to see you becoming affectionate. Lately, you have been spotted walking around with Colin's baby under your arm or cuddling his baby so today we all set out to find you your own baby. After your papa helped you examine every baby doll on the shelf, we settled on a purple and blue soft bodied baby that is quite sweet. I love that you and your brother have a baby of your own, and you are sweet and cuddly and affectionate to them as well as everyone you encounter.

You are in love with reading, and right now you just can't get enough of the book "Only in Dreams". You will race across the room with a book in hand and then right before getting to mama or daddy, you will turn around so you are facing front, inch up into our laps and tip your head back to assume the most comfortable of positions for reading. I love, love, love these moments and somethings really wish I could freeze time.

Happy 19 months to my little angel...

Love, Mama

Big Bear Getaway

Time with great friends, a cozy cabin, and lots of relaxing was exactly what I hoped for our Big Bear weekend... and exactly what it was!! Our 4 day/4 night adventure was such fun, and the 4 little ones between us were champs (aside from the less than perfect sleep between babies in our rooms, full sized, rickety beds and 3 year olds who decided 5:30 was a suitable wake up time). But who needs sleep anyway when you have a beautiful cabin which was full of laughter, happy babes, music, good food & wine, and a whole lot of Yatzee after the littles were snug in their beds...
And our days were spent adventuring into Big Bear and Lake Arrowhead for sledding, tubing, shopping and playing at Lollipop park which made for lots of smiles!!

It's always a true test of friendship to spend 4 days and nights with another family, and we passed the test! :) Not that we didn't think we would... :) We had a blast and pocketed some fabulous memories with our pals Flora, Mike, Tyler and little dancing queen, Megan :) Maybe it will become an annual family vacation for us all?! :)

Christmas & New Years Fun

What a whirlwind couple of weeks! We made our way up to Ashland for Christmas and despite some concern it may be a wild and rainy drive, we made it through without much difficulty. Once there, we could really enjoy a wintery christmas!

Some of our favorite moments included Colin's inaugural ice skating venture down at Lithia Park, sledding up at Mt. Ashland, walks down through town, playing with Grammie and cousin Keaton, and of course, watching our wee ones on Christmas morning.










We returned home on the 27th and enjoyed a low key week of family time prior to ringing in the new year with family and friends. It was totally chaotic with 8 adults and 7 kids aged 3 and under, but represented life as we know it perfectly :)

Morgan and I thoughtfully discussed 2010 and we reflected on our blessed family and the life we share. We also remembered the sadness of Zoey but keep she, Jada and Jordan in a place of total perfection.

We are so excited to see what 2011 brings, knowing that life continues to be completely full, wonderful and adventurous with our family!