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!

18 months

I'm a week late in this blog entry due to our Christmas trip to Oregon, but couldn't let this 1 1/2 year mark for Logan go by unnoticed. Our sweet boy is 18 months now!! I was realizing how much he has changed in the last month, but then also realized that who he was 18 months ago still remains the same today - the sweetest little punkin there ever was.

In the last few weeks, our sweet Finny boy has begun amusing us with "the face". This all began a few weeks ago when we were in San Diego, out for dinner with Auntie Court and Uncle Kris. In a silly moment, he opened his eyes wide, and smiled so hard his face began shaking uncontrollably. Of course, his captive audience roared in laughter which propelled him into repeated "faces", and now he will do this face when asked anytime, anywhere. His personality is becoming silly and bigger than life - especially in the company of his big brother. They love to have yelling competitions and chase each other which is simply adorable to watch. He is becoming a bit more verbal, and while in Ashland this past week, he began saying "Apple" ("Ahhh-pah"). Our lo lo's also received his 9th tooth this month, and has become fixated on puzzles and games. He is growing and changing, and yet at the end of the day, he is the same little love I took home 18 months ago- a sweet soul who loves to cuddle and smile and bring such light to our family.


We love you Logan Finley!!

The holiday frenzy...

December's calendar has filled up more than in years past and although the chaos is enough to do me in, it's all fun stuff and we are enjoying this time with our sweet family so much!

Having a 3 1/2 year old has made Christmas come alive, and definitely brings to life the innocence and magic of the season! The Christmas tree decorating, the preschool holiday show, seeing Santa and telling him "I would like a Dumbo puzzle, a Toy Story puzzle, and a Peter Pan puzzle, THAT'S IT!", going to Disneyland and seeing his baby blues light up beyond belief, the home town holiday parade, date night with mama to "A Christmas Carol", well this time is so darn special. And our little Lo Los is our sweet angel that loves to follow his big brother, and although wasn't a fan of Santa, is digging the ornaments and gifts under the tree!

And we are so excited to continue the fun as we venture to Ashland in a few days for a very wonderful christmas! Can't wait to celebrate baby Keaton's 1st christmas and see the cousins together in Ashland specialness!

Solo

This weekend, it was just me and my littles. And as I sit here Sunday night, I am both exhausted and elated! Exhausted because I mean really- a 3 1/2 year old and a 17month old keep anyone hopping!! I am beat! And elated, because it felt really good to know I could do this myself. Not that I really thought I couldn't, but because Morgan and I co-parent to the fullest, it's rare that I go at it alone and I forget how "much" it is for one! Weekends like this remind me of my high regard for Morgan as an amazing father, and a daddy that couldn't be more involved...

On a side note, I had a girls night last night (well me, Carrie Bradshaw, Charlotte, Samantha, and Miranda...ha!) and finally watched Sex in the City 2! Classic scene when Charlotte and Miranda apprehensively acknowledge how difficult parenting can be. And then they "drink" to women who don't have full time help...! All mommies out there would get a chuckle out of this scene!!

P.S. - I didn't totally tell the truth about being solo the entire weekend... Uncle Justin saved me Friday night when we went to the Santa Light Parade. Parking a mile away and not bringing the stroller, I would really have been in over my head without him. Big shoutout to my brother!!

Pictures to come once I come up from air- and once I get them from my pal, Flora. Mommy of the year here didn't charge her camera for the parade...!! :)

Turkey with our turkeys

Thanksgiving was quite eventful as always this year, and a lot of fun! We managed to keep fairly organized with all the bouncing around from location to location and even enjoyed some relaxation! And boy were the kids troopers!!

We headed out Wednesday evening to stay with Cici, and woke up Thanksgiving morning, continuing our annual tradition (9th in a row) of doing the Run for the Hungry . I love this tradition, and it makes my heart smile to know my boys are learing to give back on the day of being thankful. After our turkey trot, we headed over for a fabulous thanksgiving gathering and meal at Auntie Court's and Uncle Kris' house. They really outdid themselves, and we were sad to not have a bit more time with them. On to dinner #2 at Pa & Noni's with all the aunts, uncles, great grandmas, and cousins. It was a chaotic (in a good way) time, and one that the kids totally enjoyed. (It was a hoot watching my cousins whom I once babysat, play hide and go seek with my littles...). Friday morning, we headed up to Mount Laguna and it was then, that I could feel myself breathe the clean air and relax in to a nice weekend of calmness and peace, knowing we'd be staying put for 2 days in our cozy cabin. We played games, went to Julian to shop the craft fairs, watched movies, did crafts, and ate everything turkey (Turkey sandwiches, turkey soup, turkey chili...!) And although I personally have decided I might have hit the end of the road with doing the dual celebrations, it was a fabulous weekend and I am so thankful for all the good memories!