Christmas time is come and gone

I love Christmas!!

This year I was challenged to bring the feeling of Christmas into my home. It was difficult. With me not working the funds are low and with a baby who doesn't know the difference yet it was up to me to participate in all things Christmas that we could. I usually have no problem with giving instead of getting but this year I couldn't just go buy a gift for someone. For a while this bothered me. Then I started seeing all kind of homemade goodies everywhere and thought about how much I love getting goodies at Christmas from people. So this year was my year to bake!!

I had SO much fun!!

Here are some pictures of my baking goodness:

Pumpkin Choc. Chunk Cookies

My first attempt at fudge!

Adam gave me a Christmas Bouquet

Our little tree

Dear Lavender

I am completely and utterly in love with you.

I love everything about you.

I love your wispy soft hair.

I love your long scratchy fingernails.

I love your squishy chunky thighs.

I love your clammy feet.

I love the smell of your breath.

I love your breathy laugh.

I love that you get happy and smile and kick when you see me.

I love that you twist your fingers in my hair.

I love your ear-bleeding squeals.

I love your snores.

I love that you 'talk' to your papa more than anyone else.

I love your bottom lip when you cry.

I love the way you make my home feel.

I love that you turned me into your mama.

I love you, and I always will.

AAAAHH!

Lavender found her thumb! Hopefully she wont suck her thumb till she's 10 like I did! Oh well, I guess there are worse habits she could have!

Here are a few videos or your viewing pleasure.

Aunty Melinda put lipstick on me!

Give us a kiss!

All the Goings On!

We have had lots of family coming and going over the last few weeks and have enjoyed every minute of it! After Glen left, Adam's mom, Marilyn came to visit, then it was Owen and Melinda, then Shanon and Matt and kids. Also my parents came and so did Sariah and Cora. Everyone was here for Lavender's baby blessing. We have had a blast! I know it really meant so much to Adam that his family that could make it, did. He misses them a lot! One of the days we took them all to the Hot Pots in Midway. Everyone had a blast! They were SO hot that everyone had to stand out in the FREEZING weather to cool down. Here are some pictures from the day.

This was too cute to not post. Cora's little bum about to jump back into the springs.
This is Adam's sister Shanon, her husband Matt and their children Cameron and Ashton. We had a lot of fun with them. We miss them SOOOO much!!

I would like to point out... I made Lala's blessing dress. I got some instruction from Jessica but am very proud of the dress. It turned out so well!! Me and the parents at the blessing.

I love this pic even though its blurry. For some reason my camera was being weird. Adam's mom is having a conversation with Lala.

I was so blown away at the amount of family that came to her blessing. It really floored me and made me realize that I need to make more of an effort to show appreciation for them. I need to not forget the little things that i love to get from friends and family so much and reciprocate. I've never tried to keep/make a new years resolution but this year I am going to. We'll see how attempt number one works out.

I am so thankful for my family, for their love for me and their willingness to express it.

I will post some more pictures and video of hanging out with O-dog and Mel soon... I promise.

thats life

Lala loves her Papa!
Lavender has sensitive skin. She has a spot of infected eczema on the back of her neck. Of course it got really bad and itchy on saturday. She hardly slept at all that night. On monday we went to see her doctor, got some ointment for it and by saturday night she was smiling at her Papa. When I saw her smile I realized that she hadn't smiled for 2 days. How awful to not see my baby smile for 2 whole days! I was upset that it took so long for me to notice.

Anyway, Adam's dad has been here visiting. Its been nice having someone make breakfast for me every morning but I fear that Lavender has totally been spoiled and will scream when she gets put down. Its hard to tell a grandparent to stop picking up their grand daughter... its been a long week in this little apartment.

Momma-hood

Who would have thought that I would love this so much? Sure it is hard and I miss communicating with adults. Shame on me for doubting that I would enjoy this! The funny thing is that I'm not just enjoying the mothering part of it. I'm having a good time becoming a better homemaker... I know... Olea?! a homemaker?!

I have been successfully following through on my promise to myself; that I would learn how to cook (and do so more often) once I was staying at home more. The internet sure helps! I have been looking up ideas and recipes and they have been turning out pretty good if I say so myself! I'm rather proud of it actually. Here are some pictures of Lavender for your viewing pleasure

Say what?

Camouflage.

You talkin' to me?

Lavender enjoying her Baby Einstein dvd. It amazes me how much she likes them. Her favorites are the Baby's first signs, Baby Beethoven, and Baby Mozart.

Our trip to the Doctor!

Lavender has eczema!! You can kind of see all the little red spots on her tummy and her entire neck is red and rough. It started a few weeks or so ago. I had been putting apricot kernel oil on her and that kept it at bay but did not seem to make it go away. I made the mistake of switching to baby oil and BOOM! breakout... Plus she got her first set of shots. She did really well, only screamed for the second shot (the nurse said that is the one that stings). But she recovered very well and has been sleeping and snuggling her mama and papa all day! Its so hard to see her uncomfortable! As the day has progressed I have been putting Eucerin on her and the redness is starting to fade a bit. We'll see how the bath helps tonight!

On a better note.. she is 13lbs and 25in. She gained 2.5 lbs and 2in. in the last month!! 2 inches is a lot!! She is at a 93%. But did anyone doubt that she would be a big girl? I didn't think so.

Busy,Busy,Busy

Today Lavender took her first bottle! This gives me hope that I may be able to work in a salon soon. Also, since I no longer work at Telos I colored my hair back to the way I like it, dark with a fuschia streak. I feel like myself again!

A week ago I was able to go visit my family in Washington. It was a spur of the moment trip when my Mother called and said she needed help canning 250 pounds of smoked salmon. I had a blast! Here are some pictures from my trip.

Here is my mom with a VERY small portion of the salmon.

This is my Dad showing all the grandkids how the apple press works. They were very involved in the process and were in charge of throwing the apples into the top while Grandad cranked.

Here is Grandad with Lala. She is trying to figure him out!

Here is my beautiful sister Sariah playing with Lavender in my parents backyard. (Lala looks like a podling from The Dark Crystal.)

The Many Faces of Lavender

I can't believe how big she is! She is learning new facial expressions and likes to stare and Adam and try to make his faces. We cant get enough of her!

Lala loves being in her Papa's arms!
I almost caught her smiling in this one!
This is my impression of an old man!

Her trip to the Farmers Market in Papa's arms.

Give us a Kiss!

I'm a Mom...

At least once a day you hear this in my house:

Me to Adam: Dude....I'm a Mom.

Adam: Dude... I know.

Me: I pushed that (point at Lavender) out of my vagina.

Adam: I know... I saw it.

Me: ...Weird.

Adam: ...Weird.

I do have to admit that I am taking to being a mom much more than I thought I would.  On top of that I am TOTALLY surprised at how much this little girl poops! She is seriously a high production poop factory.

I still need to take her for her first well baby visit so I dont know how much she weighs right now but she seems to be getting some more rolls.

Lavender Matisse Mills

Well she is here at last!  Our beautiful girl was born on July 24.  She was a wopping 9lbs and 22in long.  I was in labor for 8 hours all together. Not too shabby.

We are both doing really well, and are actually leaving tomorrow morning to drive up to northern Idaho to the big family reunion! It is going to be an adventure for all three of us! 

Adam is trying so hard to get some sleep whenever he can because he is working his butt off for us.  More pics to come soon!

Due Date!!

Well its finally here... I think someone forgot to tell the baby! My mom arrived this morning and came with me to the midwives' to get checked up. I'm having contractions but nothing really serious. Trying to stay active to 'encourage' this little girl to come on out.

We are SO ready. I'm not just saying that because I'm sick of being pregnant. Adam and I are as ready as we can be. We have the clothes, the diapers, we re-arranged the apt. Really.. we are ready!

So here are 2 photos of 'the belly' one is one of the first ones ever taken the next it the most recent ones.

Did I miss something?!?

Well, well, well.... I'm here!! I had almost completely forgotten about this little page, much to the chagrin of my Mother, I'm sure.  I guess I should spark this thing up again since I will be spending more time at home soon enough.  

So... here I am sitting at home in front of this computer drinking liquid goodness (roastarama) and eating peanut butter toast wondering what there is to really wright about.  I haven't done anything really exciting, except grow a life in my abdomen.  Its getting big by the way.  My abdomen.... not the life... well, I guess it is too... kinda connected.  Anyway, I am looking forward to going on maternity leave because I am getting exhausted at work. I don't know how other women do it!  Maybe if I sat down all day I wouldn't mind but running around the Academy is kicking my butt!

Adam is working at the foundry still and loves it for the most part, besides a pinched nerve in his shoulder.

We started our hypnobirthing classes last week and we are both really excited about it. 33 weeks today... not much time left.  I should probably try to gather more things that we need.  I'm procrastinating of course. 

Wow...I'm kind of boring.

I will end this with the hope that it will be more interesting for others to read when I write next... and soon, I hope. :)