Advent calendar

I am not a crafty blogger but I do love creating new things whether it is a craft, sewing, or a new recipe to try. Many times I get my inspiration from Pinterest postings and try to put my own little touch of creativity to each project. 

When we were first married Dave liked the idea of getting the throw away advent calendars with chocolate pieces in them. I was not the biggest fan of the chocolate and since then I have been on the hunt for an advent I love because I love the idea of a scripture and treat each day in December! In the stores there are many with tiny little boxes that cost way more than I am willing to spend. I have searched Pinterest to find a style I like and with the help of one who used baby food jars I was able to create my own! I am so happy with the final result and I can fit our daily scripture and a treat for every member of the family in each jar :) 

As part of enjoying the journey of life, creating new things brings such a sense of accomplishment that can not be replaced by a quick purchase at the store!

Rock Island camping

We were truly put to the test back in October when we went camping for two nights at Rock Island State Park. I had seen in the forecast that there would be rain but we still hoped that it would change as is typical for weather in this area. When we arrived it was barely drizzling but in the time of putting up our tent it began to pour. It poured all night long. We ended up eating our next days lunch for dinner because we could have a fire and the camp stove wouldn't stay lit. 

Luckily our next day was beautiful! We were able to hike to (and through) beautiful waterfalls and enjoy the peace of the outdoors. We hope to go back when it is warmer next year to also enjoy some swimming and possibly stay longer because it is a great area to be. I have posted collages of our trip below. The picture of "rapunzels castle" (as Bailee called it) was used as a water pump to a cotton mill across the street that was no longer used once a flood happened in the early 1900's. There was a lot more history through the years of floods wiping out efforts of production and times of success in the area as well. 

That night we had trouble with our fire again and through Dave's determination, we were able to enjoy a fire late in the night. We even woke Bailee up again because she had been so sad that she couldn't see the fire, but she ended up sleeping on Dave's lap anyway and still missed it.

Overall the girls loved being outside and having fun getting dirty! 

Baby profile

We just can't get enough of her little side profile! She has food in her mouth but I couldn't resist documenting her cute little face :)

Rapunzel and Pascal

Bailee has been talking about Halloween and her costume since August. She decided to be Rapunzel and decided that Elise must be Pascal as her little sidekick. Then she realized she needs a Flynn Rider so of course daddy must fill that role. Once she had that figured out what was mommy going to be? She then decided I should be the horse :) I decided to stick to the role of "Creator of costumes" :) about mid-September she changed her mind about six or seven times but by then I had already bought the fabric so it was a done deal and I was convinced I would start the project any day at that point. Well that bag of fabric sat in my closet until October and with Bailee asked DAILY when she could try on her costume so I decided to get my act together and get going. Well I whipped it out in less than a week and I am so exited for her to wear it out for Halloween festivities! Our ward activity is this Saturday so I had a bit of a crunch time to get these done. To make her dress I followed a tutorial by http://www.makeit-loveit.com and made it my own.  I love that I don't have to buy patterns and I can use clothes the girls have to make up my own. It makes for more of a challenge and I personally have found it easier than figuring out pattern paper. My projects may come out a little straighter if I used a pattern but so far everything has turned out ok so I'll just keep to my little system of making my own :) 

Park time

After a Sunday home with sick girls we decided to spend some time at the park yesterday. On the sick note I learned Bailee's was from hidden mold in her waterbottle. I felt terrible especially when I discovered a little in mine as well! I felt sick once I found it and did an all day soak and clean. I wash them regularly but didn't know I could have been taking off the mouthpiece to clean it. Regardless I am grateful they are all clean now and it was just a little upset stomach and nothing worse. Thinking about it still makes me queasy!

   Well we wanted to get out but couldn't decide on anything specific so as we were driving we decided to go to a sports complex near us that has playgrounds. We couldn't have picked a better place to spend a little bit of our afternoon. Since we don't have a yard Elise was so happy to crawl around in the grass and pick up leaves.. Then proceed to put them in her mouth. Elise is growing so fast. She babbles a lot and gets so excited when she plays with Bailee. She currently things my phone case is the best teether and will throw some pretty dramatic fits when she doesn't get it. She definitely is beginning to realize the power of her voice and knowing what she wants. She is so smiley and happy and loves to be chased. She continues to stand very well on her own. She is a pincher. Arms, neck, face, or whatever she can get to. She also has a fascination with hair but mostly just for other little kids or babies. That is always the first thing she will grab for. 

Bailee loved having some play time with daddy in the field. We decided to go to a freshly mowed outfield of a softball field to let her run and feel free. She raced with us and attempted cartwheels. Dave and I were surprised we were still able, although I felt a bit of a pull on some muscles that have not been used in a while :) 

Sword fighting... Bailee was definitely at an advantage. 

Dave and I both have great memories of playing outside in our yards as kids and even though we aren't in our own house yet, we were glad to find a place that we can go for the girls to experience open grass to play. The next time we go we will definitely remember our bat and balls to get a little batting practice in :)

Daniel Smith Days at Rock Castle

On Saturday we had a little family outing on a beautiful day! We visited a historic home just a couple of miles away from us that belonged to Daniel smith and his family. He was a part of creating the state lines that form Tennessee among other things. Andrew Jackson was a relative of his and there was even a man at the event who portrays him and did a great job! 

When the house was built the lake wasn't there but the property is gorgeous and is now surrounded by beautiful homes. 

There was a little herb and flower garden where we were able to try a plant (can't remember the name) that was really sweet and resembled peas to me. We also tried some chocolate peppermint leaves! We were just trying to feel like we lived in the early 1800's. 

Excuse my terrible posture!! So one of my favorite things to see was the basket making. I loved the ones they had on display and I signed up to get the information for when they do classes to make your own! I love baskets but always feel the ones in the store are not worth the price for the cheap quality which they appear to be made. I am hoping the class will be budget worthy and I can have a piece of functional home decor that I made myself. 

They had lawn games from the era as well as writing with a quill. 

They put on a fashion show, right at Elise's naptime, and I loved hearing about the clothing and styles of that time. I was so grateful to be able to listen and watch without distraction as Elise slept and Dave had Bailee. 

Once the fashion show was over Bailee went on her own to listen to a woman play the harp and then had some time to play with her friend from nursery who was there with her mom. The harp music was beautiful and we really enjoyed sitting on the hay bails feeling the breeze and just listening. 

Lastly we toured the house. We were only able to see a couple of rooms but I always enjoy imagining what it would have been like living in that time. It really makes me grateful to live in the times that we do with SO many conveniences! 

Dave sacrificed some sleep so we were able to go but we were happy to be out as a family and to learn a little bit of the history in our area. 

Bailee the reader

Bailee has always taken to reading and has always loved books. Most nights we have to limit the amount that we read to 3 or we would be reading late into the night. This summer she has started to enjoy listening to chapter books as well. We started with The Little Princess and soon after were reading Cinderella and other fairy tales. We let her have a little extra time up while Elise settles for bed to just sit on the couch and look at books as she is doing in the picture. She loves that time to feel like she is older and gets a special privilege. We are so grateful for her love for reading and we spend a lot of time at the library because of it :)

Tennessee State Fair

Yes I have been terrible about posting but I am trying to decide how I want to journal since there are so many options and I love the app I use. Anyway.. Trying to blog again :)

Today we decided to try out the Tennesee State Fair and although we can't compare it to the one in California it was still a nice day out as a family. 

We got ready and headed to Nashville this morning. The temperature dropped to being in the 60's so it was nice being out with much cooler weather during the day. It really felt like fall and it got me excited for my fall candles. I have realized that I am only in the mood to burn candles in the fall but it is something I look forward to in the season. 

We saw the biggest pumpkins and watermelons that I never knew could exist and it made me wonder how they even taste because I had been taught that bigger doesn't always mean that it will taste good. Anyway, they were my favorite of the displays! 

Man oh man this baby is yummy! In the 8 months she has been in our family I just can't get enough of her! She has such a fun personality and is so happy and loving. I continue to be greatful for the greater plans The Lord had in store for our family by blessing us with her :) 

We watched the flying hounds and some pig races which were both entertaining. 

So I am usually very anti-fried fair food but today I was feeling curious and went ahead to experience deep fried Oreos. Really they were not too bad. I probably won't go searching for them again but it is always fun to experience new things :) We even let Bailee play the dart toss game to win a stuffed animal which she is holding below. She had fun with it :)

As we were about to head to our car we finally noticed some horses arriving and decided to go check things out as our last stop. Bailee had an experience riding in June while we were in California and ever since we got back I have had the thought in the back of my mind to contact some of the programs here to start getting involved to see if it is something she really wants to pursue. Dave and I also love seeing horses and they really are majestic. 

Overall it was fun to just be together in our community and to check out the fair here :)

3 months

Elise is 3 months old now! She is over 15 lbs already and 24 in long. She has grown so much that I now have lots of extra small diapers to figure out something to do with. 

She is such a good baby now that I don't have milk and ice cream. Other dairy products don't seem to affect her the same as those two do so I am grateful I can at least enjoy some things again :) 

Our typical nighttime routine. After bath I feed and rock her a bit before laying her down in the port a crib next to my bed. She typically sleeps 4-5 hours before wanting to eat again and then stays with me the remainder of the night. I have debated putting her in with Bailee within the next few months but I love waking up to her sweet little body next to me with a big smile on her face. 

Sitting up

I knew that once I put her in, there was no going back. That is, going back to the floor. She LOVES being up and watching all that goes on. Elise is so happy sitting and her happiness is infectious! Bailee sits in it too and fits well. She hated it at Elise's age but thinks it is the coolest chair in the house now :)

Dishes, teething, and bedtime stories

Bailee washed off all of the dishes and put them up on a towel to dry! I was so proud of her enjoying cleaning. It is times like this that remind me of the importance of being an example. She watches me cleaning and desires to help an it becomes a positive thing instead of a dreaded chore. I waited until she napped to do a more thorough cleaning and when Dave came home she proudly showed him all of the dishes she cleaned. 

Elise is teething and fell asleep gnawing on the side of my thumb during dinner. I hate having my hand in her mouth but it worked so much better than the teething toys or a pacifier. I then had to get Bailee ready for bed holding her this way. It was quite the task! For once I truly felt like I was super mom :) haha. Wiping a bottom, washing my hands, brushing teeth, putting on Jammie's, all while holding a baby who awkwardly has her mouth clenched to my finger... I am sure many moms can relate on some level. 

Ending the night all reading together. Bailee had Elise in her lap for the first book before Dave got home and I didn't want that time to end. I loved being able to read to both girls cuddled up on Bailee's little toddler bed :)

My Bailee.

This little girl gives me so much joy! She is growing up so fast and catches on to things she learns so quickly. She is sick today and as much as I hate to see her discomfort, ever since she was little, I have found a bit of delight in her being sick. She is such an active girl that when she is sick, I can finally soak up extra cuddles and love from her that is typically hard to get :) Elise was sleeping in her bed so I was able to lay with Bailee and rub her back singing songs at her request. It felt so wonderful to cuddle and hold my big baby girl and provide her with the comfort she needed. 

Sweet Bailee

I have been thinking about my blog title "Enjoying our Journey" and how that came from a talk by President Monson years ago to make the most of life whatever stage you are in. I typically post the most positive and "fluffy" side of our journey, but decided today that I should be including the blessings through the "not-so fluffy" side of our journey as well. 

Bailee loves her little sister and it makes me so happy to see her just want to be close to her and love her. 

Elise is having some serious trouble with her tummy as I have mentioned before and I am now on a strict "no dairy" diet to hopefully help. So far it hasn't made a difference, but we will see how the next week goes. Elise only slept on me last night which made for an extremely restless night for me. She would scrunch up her body with discomfort regularly and wake unsettled. I definitely had zero motivation to get up and work out this morning.

With all of that, I have very little patience and energy but want to share that Bailee has been my angel today. First she came and layed next to Elise as I changed her diaper and just started singing to her. She started with a primary song that quickly became made up words and a conglomeration of movie lines and primary songs that she knows. Her little voice calmed her sister and gave me peace as well. Later, after I had been trying all sorts of ways to get Elise asleep, Bailee came running into my room to try helping once again. She jumped on my bed, put in the paci, and started to sing what she knows of "I am a child of God". Although her comfort didn't last long, it was enough to remind me that these are The Lord's children and they need my care and love. 

Once I finally got her to sleep, holding her, I listened to a talk by Elder Holland that I needed to hear. I was reminded to "remember the Savior’s own anguished example: if the bitter cup does not pass, drink it and be strong, trusting in happier days ahead." (Like a Broken Vessel). Although my bitter cup is small in this example and I have so much to be grateful for, it reminded me that these times will pass. In moments of struggle and feeling inadequate as a mother, I know I can always find strength in The Lord to make it to the happier days. 

2 months

Today Elise is 2 months old! I discovered a solution to her fussy hours in the evening! Strap her in snug to the "hug a bub", turn on just dance and start moving :) 

February

It has been a little while since my last post for a few reasons. I feel like with the little bit of down time I have, it is spent catching up on house chores or spending a little time with Dave. I also was really sick with mastitis which any nursing mother who has ever experienced that knows it is miserable and you can do very little during that time. I was so grateful for my friend Courtney who took Bailee, came and held Elise so I could sleep, then kept both girls when Dave finally had to take me to emergency care and then another day to my OB. I couldn't have done it without her! 

This was during me being sick and camping out in the living room. Yes I surprisingly fit between them (on my side of course). 

Elise is wonderful most of the time. From about 5 or 6 to 8 pm she has a bout of fussiness. It is odd because it seems a lot like colic but we are able to soothe her as we try every technique we know to calm a baby. She loves the bath and once she is in there all is well. As soon as she is out, she is like a ticking time bomb and we try to get her comfortable in our rocking arms to prevent as much of the discomfort and fussiness possible. To us it seems as if she builds up too much gas in her tummy throughout the day, even with regular burping, that by the evening time it turns to too much pressure causing pain. 

She is such a happy baby otherwise that it makes it more bearable to get through the off and on fussiness at night. 

Bailee constantly requests pictures when babies are involved :)

We finally got out on a warm day! Poor Elise doesn't know what to do about the sun. Poor winter baby. We only had her face it for the brief seconds to take this picture. 

Bailee is giving Elise a check up :)

Our girls :)