four on the fourth

a.whole.nother month has zipped by in our world and it seems that all we had to do was blink.
This last month or so have brought us much relief, comfort and stability about our new brand of "normal"...
I finally believe (cuz I'm experiencing it) that there is in fact "real" life after newborns... something that I doubted those first few weeks/months of rarely venturing out of the bedroom!

I wish you could hear the sounds coming out of her mouth in this picture. So many happy yells and squeals.

I think she's letting me know that she's tired of the camera in her face today! :)


Leah had her 4 month well-check today and she pretty much dazzled Dr Suzy with her charm, grins and giggles. (something I'm totally used to her doing to me daily)

4 month stats

*13lbs 8oz

*25 inches long

*42.25cm head circumference

And here's a bit more of what we've (meaning she's) been up to lately:

Leah's first wedding... my nephew Colby and his dazzling, darling bride Rashell




Discovering toys and finding her favorites:
(sophie the giraffe, snuggly bunny blankie, and easy to handle links)


Most of them find their way straight into her mouth!


...but her favorite chew toys are still her hands! She is fascinated with figuring out how to make them work and nearly always has them in her mouth.
(and she still loves bathtime)


Always smiling for mama and finally starting to fill out her 3-6 mth clothes

She is totally fascinated with mirrors. She is totally content to sit, talk, smile and laugh with that cute little friend she's found in the mirror for long periods of time.
(it *might* just be one of my favorite things that she's doing right now)

We really do spend lots of long afternoons in front of the mirror, singing songs to our fun friends who sing right back! :)

She is getting really good at sitting up in her bumbo. She's loving being right in the middle of things with us.

She still isn't a huge fan of tummy time, although she is getting better at it.
She tries really hard to reach for her toys... but sooner or later she gives up and just lays her head down and waits for it to be over. It's pretty much adorable...

- She is still sleeping through the night for the most part, with occasional late night or early morning wake-ups

- Naps have gotten much better, she's taking 2-3 naps lasting anywhere from 45 minutes to 3 hours

- She loves watching sports with her daddy. She's pretty disinterested in the TV unless a basketball or football game is on.

- She's a total daddy's girl. She saves her best smiles and giggles just for him.

- She almost always wakes up happy and smiley

- She likes to have her diaper changed.

- She's still a great eater and other than an occasional bottle of pumped milk, is still exclusively breastfeeding.

- She doesn't take a binkie. Although we have tried several times, she has never been interested in it. There's both good and bad in that.

- She still only sleeps swaddled tightly... a habit we need to try and break, as she's getting to big and strong. (any ideas?)

- It's looking nearly certain that her eyes will be a greenish-brown

- I love her more every.single.day and feel so lucky to be her mama and buddy.

This face seriously makes my heart squeal!

xox

02.03.07

On this very night, four{4} years ago, after an afternoon at the spa getting fresh fingers and toes, I was here, in an amazing double-suite dancing, laughing, celebrating, feasting on takeout from here and pretty much having the time of my life with a handful of my favorite lovelies....

It was literally one of the most fun nights of my life!

And if you can even believe it, things got even better the next morning as, with the help of many, I primped and fussed...

so I could go here to marry the most amazing boy I've ever known.

I knew that night that he was the one for me and that I was making the right decision... but I had no idea just how lucky I really was.

Mister J. is postively the best thing that has e.v.e.r happened to me. The last 4 years have consisted of some of my lowest lows and no doubt my highest highs. He has been my constant rock, my best friend, confidant, cheerleader, travel buddy, sounding board, shoulder to lean on and the best babydaddy I could ever ask for!

~Happy Anniversary CJ~

I pretty much dig you to the moon and back!

Check us out...

We were lucky enough to be featured as a guest blogger today over @ petite lemon prints(although the post was actually written just before littlemiss arrived)

If you haven't heard of them, you must check them out here. They have the most amazing personalized nursery decor! You'll find everything from alphabet posters, growth charts, photo posters, birth announcements, etc. etc. etc. The wall art can be ordered as high quality posters or even stretched canvas. (The photo posters on stretch canvas are AMAZING)

I can't tell you how much I love Leah's alphabet chart, customized to perfectly match her nursery! We're already working on those ABCs! :)

I also had Jessica, one of the amazing designers at petite lemon, design our Christmas Card/ Leah's Birth Announcement this year. Bottom line... she's pretty fabulous and so is petite lemon.

(Oh, and you should like them on facebook and/or follow their blog...they always have awesome freebie printables, like these thank you cards and more)

Ummmm...

Excuse me.... but how is she getting so big, so fast?

It won't be long until she will be helping me in the kitchen, not just watching me.

But no hurry, please.

I'm loving her just the way she is at this very moment!

****

By way of other news... she has digressed a bit in her amazing night time sleep habits, but she has currently been napping peacefully for 2 hours and 13 minutes. It's a new record by about 1 hour and 17 minutes. I'm not quite sure why I can't just have it all?!?

three.amazing.years.

My heart is full and I am flooded with sweet, tender emotions. I have had the honor of serving with the Young Women in my ward for the last 3 years. Probably my favorite calling ever. I have always known that inevitably this day would one day come and I would have to pass the torch and these amazing girls over to someone new, but I never expected that I would be this much of a mess.

Oh, how I love them!

I remember receiving this calling and sobbing, mostly because I felt so overwhelmed and inadequate. I remember my sister telling me that as long as I had a testimony of the gospel and could love the girls, that was all I needed. Now, as this calling is taken away, I sob realizing that I absolutely could love them, more than I ever thought possible in fact, and they have strengthened my testimony in more ways that I can possibly express.

I stand convinced that I needed them in my life, far more than they needed me in theirs.

These amazing young women and the incredible ladies that I served with will always be some of my dearest eternal friends. And I will always be one of their greatest cheerleaders in life!

How do you sum up three years of doing, being, learning, playing, trekking, camping, creating, sharing, growing, serving and loving?

I don't know, but pictures are a start....

I thank them from the bottom of my heart for loving and supporting me.

They have brought more light and joy to my life than they will ever know.

three.

three whole months. an entire season. a quarter of a year.

time goes too fast.

(*** disclaimer: please know that these monthly posts are for me and my own forgetful mind. I know that the minute details of her life are ridiculously boring to all, save a very select few)

(I can't tell you how excited I get each month to put her in her special onesie! Thanks again to my amazing friend Allisen!)

3 month dish:

• She's sleeping through the night like a champ. Leah goes to bed between 9-10pm, wakes up between 8-9am. It is heaven. (i.will.never.take.sleep.for.granted.ever.again.)
• She is still a great eater and seems to get new chubby rolls every single day. She and I are both pleased with our comfort and moderate enjoyment of breast feeding. Relief
• She has now graduated to size 2 diaper.
• She chats and jabbers most of the day. Lots of happy sighs, squeals, coos & goos and sometimes some intense yells (mostly when I'm not paying attention to her.) Almost always, her arms and legs are spastically waving too.
• She's found her hands and she can't keep them out of her mouth. She gets nearly her entire fist in her mouth. It's crazy and hilarious.
• She has a blowout almost every single day. Sometimes two. It sucks. She is an all or nothing kind of girl. Nothing, nothing, nothing and then in an instant, it's everywhere. Sometimes from her armpits to her toes. I hate it. I thought it was too small of diapers, but even the larger size hasn't made any difference. Boo.
• She loves bathtime and is getting really playful. She loves splashing with her arms and legs and usually the entire bathroom and mom and dad are a sloppy mess once we're all done. Her baths and lotion massages are seriously the best part of our bedtime routine.
• Although she is awesome at night, she is still really high maintenance during the daylight hours. She is not a good napper. 45 minutes is about as long as she ever sleeps at a time during the day. She doesn't want to miss anything and likes lots of attention. We don't get a lot done around here, needless to say.
• Her fingernails grow like CRAZY. I have to cut them a couple of times a week. But her toenails don't seem to grow at all. Haven't cut them once.
• Her squinty eye, open mouth, sometimes tongue out smile is my very favorite. It pretty much makes me giddy.
• I'm not sure if she has any idea how much she is loved, but we try especially hard every.single.day to make sure she does!

One of her favorite spots to hang out and chat with mama. I'm telling you, this is the best invention. ever.

We have it in our kitchen and it saves my sanity as I'm cooking or working on projects. She loves it so much and so do I. It's the only reason I ever get anything done! (thanks again gma & gpa)

(yep... that's the smile that I was talking about!)

Happy Quarter of a Year Littlemiss!

And the name by which she shall be known...

Sometimes I wish that I could just hit pause. Stop and be still. Savor the moment just a little more. Yesterday was one of those days. Seeing my sweet, amazing husband use his priesthood to bless our sweet, miraculous daughter was one of the most tender moments I have experienced as a mama. Her blessing was so beautiful and we were surrounded and enveloped by family and dear friends. It was a day that evoked many emotions within me, mostly just pure, overwhelming gratitude.

My amazing, talented, beautiful and dear friend Amy spent the day with us, beautifully capturing precious memories from this incredible day. I can't thank her enough. I didn't have to pick up my camera once.



Mama & Leah's matching pearl bracelets from Grandma.

three generations

There is nothing sweeter in life than a daddy adoring his daughter.

Leah wasn't sure about all these pictures and she wasn't crazy about being all dressed up, but she was a good sport.

absolutely smitten

Grandma Leah's ruby ring.

I know that she continues to watch over her little namesake and certainly was with us for her special day.

Amy and I with our two very special baby girls.

Leah & Hope

We invited all of our families and many dear friends over for a feast and celebration afterwards.

Leah was so relieved to get out of her dress and have some snuggle time with all those who love her.

The best part of any feast. Dessert and lots of it!

And THIS is the happiest mama on earth.

Thank you to all who shared this special day with us and helped to make it so wonderful.

Thank you to my husband for blessing my life and blessing hers.

And thank you to the little baby girl who made me a mama, who completes my world and owns my heart.

Christmas with a Littlemiss

Everything about the holidays seemed magical this year. Leah didn't have a clue what was going on, but I couldn't have been more giddy about having my own sweet little family this year.

The annual Christmas Eve Soup Night at Grandma's house.

Ugly Sweaters and all.

Sweet Santababy
(outfit courtesy of "NOT the worst uncle in the world" and amazing cousin Cassidy)

The nativity. A perfect way to end any Christmas Eve gathering.
Leah was the babe in swaddling clothes and per usual, the moment humbled me.

By the time we got home that night, visions of sugarplums were already dancing in her head.
She was soooo tired.

****

After a glorious 10.5 hour Silent Night, we awoke to find that between Santa, grandmas, grandpas, aunts, uncles and cousins... she made a pretty good haul for a not-quite-12 week old.

Mom was especially excited to find that Santa had brought us a new stroller, so if it ever warms up again we are ready for trips to the park, zoo and all around the neighborhood

Leah wasn't sure what to think of everything, but once she got used to the idea, she seemed pretty excited about new soft dollies, sophie the giraffe and most of all a cool new bouncy play thingamajigg, among other things.


****

After our traditional breakfast, it was off to Grandma & Grandpa Johnson's for lunch. The kids all found pillow pets waiting for them, but much to her cousins disbelief, Leah slept through all the excitement. However I'm sure she will love her ladybug, once she gets just a bit bigger.

****

We were lucky enough to spend the rest of Christmas day at home, just the 3 of us.

Chris and I loved our gift the very best....

A sweet, curious, mesmerized, miraculous baby girl.

A Christmas gift the will be difficult to ever top!