it's Christmas time in the city

It's becoming our tradition (Tyce, Rach and mine) to go and see the lights at Temple Square every Christmas season.  Last year we went the last weekend the lights were up so the crowds were insane.  I was pregnant, it was freezing, and the parking was pretty horrendous.  This year, we switched it up and went the first weekend the lights were on to lessen the crowd (and cold) situation.

For the first 15 minutes Lincoln did great, but he got cold faster than we anticipated (he was wearing so many layers he was literally one giant puff ball) so we walked around the short way and headed back to the [closely parked] car.  It was fun to see him reach out to touch the lights, and made us more excited (possible?) for Christmas.  The minute we got in the car, Lincoln nuzzled his cold nose against me, then happily babbled the rest of the drive (nursing=magic).  Once home, we made chocolate chip cookies and warmed up with hazelnut hot chocolate.  Now we just need a tree and it will officially feel like Christmas!

sweet potato, sweet potato!

So I'll admit, Lincoln doesn't eat as many solids as he should.  He's tried the basics, but I don't have a "system" down yet.  We're working on it, slowly building up our "super baby food," but I still have a few weeks before I feel completely confident in this pureed meal game.

On Thanksgiving, Tyce's mom mashed some sweet potatoes for Lincoln, and he was so happy I felt like I needed to stand up and solemnly swear to give my baby more solids and not deprive his poor, solids-starved little soul any longer (so help me God).  Seriously though, I did feel like Lincoln threw a few looks my way that said, "rude, mom!"

P.S. Did I mention Lincoln sat in the highchair (metal tray and all) that Tyce sat in when he was little?  Oh yes, it happened, and frankly I'm impressed by all of the babies who survived those things!  Talk about survival of the fittest - any baby weighing less than 20 lbs could slip right out and onto the floor!

sunday shares

Isn't it insane how fast time goes, especially with a baby?  And how much more fun everything is, too?  Tonight we are going to see the Christmas lights at temple square, so we're pulling out all of our warmest clothes and remembering how the little boy on A Christmas Story felt ("I can't put my arms down!").

*picture from last April (Lincoln was only a month old)!
And of course, here's a few of my favorites links this week:

Draw a stick man (seriously entertaining).

The site where you search for recipes based on what's already on your fridge.

Beautiful doily lamp tutorial (that leaves pretty shadows on the walls).

The effects of candy on your teeth enamel.

Funny attachable bicycle accessory that makes your bike look like a horse.

Awesome striped leggings (bonus: Lincoln and I could match)!

Cool photos of someone "playing with the moon."

The sunglasses on my Christmas wish list.

Thanksgiving (in 24 hours)

Our Thanksgiving this year was more of the mad dash type.  Late Wednesday night we left Salt Lake and drove to Tyce's parent's home in Idaho, then drove back after dinner on Thursday, making it home within 24 hours of leaving.  On Thanksgiving day, we woke up to a German pancake breakfast, then relaxed (and worked on nap time with Lincoln) until the turkey was done.

I have a very strict personal rule to never feel famished for more than a few hours (hello grouch), but for Thanksgiving I thought it would be smart to wait since the meal was so large.  After the delicious meal of turkey, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, stuffing, and candied yams, I remembered another reason I created that rule: I practically had to be rolled out the door because I ate so much.  And I forgot my stretchy pants.

this year

In Utah where most of the LDS girls get married by the age of 23, a few of my past birthdays haven't exactly felt like celebrations since I was single and the pressure to find my "someone" increasingly mounted.  Birthdays usually seemed more like "reminders" - to get married sooner than later - than fun.  I'm kinda excited about my birthday this year - not because of all the presents or the crown I will indefinitely wear all day, but because of what I already have in my life.

This year is different.  Since I knocked out marriage and a baby in one year, I have no more anxiety about the future.  Only excitement.  Who knew I'd love being a parent or a wife so much?  This year, I feel good about who I have become and where my life is headed.  No more questions or pressure, just my birthday.  It's about time, too!

hey guys!

Today we are getting ready to head up to Idaho for Thanksgiving with Tyce's parents.  Oh, and playing in diaper boxes.

ridiculous

Every winter it hits me: I married someone cool.  Really cool. 

 And ridiculously good at snowboarding.

always more favorites

Ah Sunday.  And lots of links!

Amazing photos from the 2011 National Geographic Photo Contest.

DIY faux fur vest.

Cake batter pancakes (we are trying these for my birthday this week)!

Your child's silhouette, engraved on a necklace.

Gratitude rolls.

Beautiful cinemagraphs.

I've had this birth story on my mind all week (and I might have cried when I read it).

Rice & beans for dinner once a week to remember how much we have.

make love, not war.

Lately I've felt great!  Like, Tony the Tiger great.  The past few months I've felt somewhere between run over and extremely drained, so this sudden bounce in my step is pretty awesome!  Since I was trying to adjust to a baby's demands, getting up 2-5 times a night and not running on my body's own selfish schedule anymore, I thought feeling so exhausted was normal.  And then.

And then I realized the only liquid I was drinking all day was Diet Coke, realized I don't get close to the recommended amount of liquid (not even water, just any liquid), and that my skin was not tolerating the seasonal change well.  After looking up the recommended amount of water to drink every day (nursing moms = 80 ounces!) I decided to commit.  Just for a few days, to see if I was missing anything (besides 50 trips to the bathroom).

The first day I drank 60 ounces and felt amazing.  I wasn't planning on feeling different, but my energy level jumped.  My lips aren't constantly chapped, my hair isn't as brittal, and I don't feel like I have a refrigerator strapped to my back (because, you know, it gets hard to walk around like that after 3.23 seconds).  I don't even buy Diet Coke anymore (possibly because there is literally no room in my stomach after so much water).  Maybe I'm experiencing a "no-duh" moment, but I'm still surprised at much better I feel.  From now on, all my water bottle hears from me is, "oh heyyyy!"

and then there were two

Phew!  This week Lincoln (and me!) put in some hard work getting those bottom two teeth through, and they are finally both out!  Good thing, because we could use a nap.

baby it's cold outside

I love bundling up every time I leave the house lately, it feels so festive!  The dropping temperature (okay and maybe the fact Michael Buble's Christmas album is on repeat) makes me want peppermint hot chocolate and rainbow candy canes already!

P.S. When I see these two boys together it makes my heart swell.

holiday season shopping? no thank you.

On Monday evening we decided to head over to the newly opened H&M, and see if we couldn't score some of their skinny jeans I keep hearing about.  The moment our stroller wheels crossed the cement onto tile, I knew it was a bad idea to keep heading deeper into the sea of people, but the jeans!  The blazers!  The fur vests!  By the time we made it halfway across the store I was beginning to suffocate in all of the pushy, wearing-five-trends-minimum, overzealous girls that filled the store (I moved out of Provo for a reason, because let's be honest, it gets intimidating).

There were so many people that we pushed our stroller onto the escalator and found the kid's section (still crowded but cheaper priced so I managed).  We scored a pretty adorable beanie for Lincoln, and one day, I will feel brave and mean enough to push my way through the masses.  But maybe without a baby in tow?

61 seconds of lincoln laughs

links i love

We've been hard at work, sleep training and holiday planning!  I hope everyone else's weekends have been good, can't you just feel Thanksgiving in the air?  I'm very excited about that over here.

This is an awesome commercial.

My favorite hooded towel big enough for toddlers.

Using book pages as wallpaper?  Yes, please.

A beautiful photograph wall I want in my future home.

Scandinavian-style leggings for under $6!

Use "matte for men" lip balm on top of your favorite lipstick color for a matte effect.

A fitness motivating website.  I need it!

J.Crew, bottled.  The perfect hue of lipstick (sold out, but not for long).

A manicure in your choice of OPI polish that never chips.

rachel turns 19

My sister, Rachel, turned 19 yesterday!  Since she's all the way up in Idaho I couldn't make her confetti waffles for breakfast or ice cream cake for dessert, so I made her this...

We will be celebrating later (since both of our birthdays are this month), but until then, I hope a little naked Lincoln helped!

penguins from texas

On Monday, Tyce's parents were in town and took us to the Aquarium.  They had penguins on loan from a Texas zoo (with an audience so large Tyce had to put Lincoln on his shoulders to see), sting rays we were able to pet, and beautiful jelly fish.  There were lots of snakes, and the aquarium had an infrared picture (ours is here) that showed how reptiles see warmth.

The entire time I kept whispering to Tyce, "that's all the space they get?  They hardly have room to stretch!"  Although the aquarium is a great learning experience, it's also a very sad and limiting place for animals.  Penguins just weren't made to be stuck in a small room in Sandy, Utah, you know?  And then we drove home, put Lincoln down for a nap, and ordered pizza.  Tyce's parents even watched Lincoln for us, so we snuck out for an hour!  Now that's my kind of Monday night.

this is how snakes see us

and personally, I am a little jealous!

*picture from our trip to the Aquarium, visiting the reptile section.

the more that you read, the more things you will know.

One of my favorite Dr. Suess lines is, “The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go.” 

When it's too cold to be outside and we don't have any plans, we usually head to our local bookstore.  While Lincoln is usually a wiggle worm, always moving and trying to find something new to put in his mouth, on our lap with an open book he is very still and very attentive.  I think I read "Brown Bear" at least 6 times a day, and I am in love with his interest in opening every book he can pull off his bookshelf.

The only downside to his new obsession with books is when we want to browse through magazines.  Because, you know.  Those pages are very colorful and tear easily (or apparently have "to Lincoln" written all over them.  And since Lincoln can read, this all makes sense).

favorite(s)

via

I hope everyone's Sunday has been as good as mine!  We went to Sugar House BBQ last night, had amazing ribs, then had bbq pulled pork sandwiches for lunch today.  That literally put me into a food coma, so my little family went to sleep and just woke up from a two hour hibernation.  Isn't the time change wonderful?  I was on time for church (when does that happen with a baby?) and Lincoln's bedtime is now an hour earlier.  Yes!  Here are a few of my favorites this week...

Great article on how to talk to little girls.

This website usually guarantees a laugh.

Awesome men's wedding band.

How to repair broken eye shadow!

Cute street art.

This shark robe for babies kills me.  

Oh Johnny Depp.  You're weird, but in this case, right on!

Our eyes are on this puffy suit for Lincoln this winter. 

Easy and fast salmon recipe we love.

a little something for your saturday...

it's snowing here! it's so pretty, but for the first time this season we've turned our heater on (so our apartment smells like something was burnt). we're almost over our colds and have tyce's parents visiting for the weekend, so hopefully we can remember to get naps in so this bug doesn't sneak back up on us! hope everyone is having a good weekend!

we've been working

All week we've been trying to beat this cold.   We have been taking lots of warm bubble baths, drinking lots of water, building forts out of sheets, and cuddling under the covers.  Lincoln's cough doesn't seem as bad today, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the germs are finally retreating.  One good thing about baby boy being sick is he sleeps more, so we've been working on getting a solid sleep schedule down.  If life gives you lemons...

giant pumpkins

On Halloween, we went and saw Utah's largest pumpkin (and lots of baby ones).  Lincoln has been sick so he was a little sleepy, but sitting in the dirt seemed to make him feel better.  I think there is something about dirt that soothes little boy's souls.  Like every month, October seemed to fly by, but it's nice to put on Christmas music and move closer to the "bigger" holidays of the season!