the end of the hiatus:

Wow... nearly two whole months have gone by. It was a much needed break from all things blogging... but we certainly haven't taken a break from life. In fact.... we've been having more fun than ever! 

My little baby is hardly a baby anymore. It seems that she takes new steps towards full-fledged toddlerdom on a daily basis. As imagined, it's all very bittersweet for me. I struggle every day and often have to ask myself if I am enjoying her enough and taking advantage of the moment enough... she is changing and growing so quickly.

A little bit about what we've all been up to...

Weaning. As imagined it was much, much harder on mama than it was on her. But after 15 1/2 months, we finally weaned this last month. I am so proud that we made it that long and although it's nice to have my body back(ish), I miss it much more than I thought I would.

Lots of time with dada. Due to holiday weekends, vacations and early church it seems that we've had daddy around a lot more than usual and it's been heaven. This girl loves her dada (and so do I). It is without a doubt my favorite word that she says. She has the most endearing tone and she can't say dada without smiling. It makes my heart so happy. She still only says "mama" when she's grumpy or needs something... and it's not nearly as endearing. Every morning when Chris leaves, she gives him big kisses and she's usually waiting to greet him the same way when he gets home.

Leah is learning new things every day. She knows most of her body parts, loves to sing and dance, play peek-a-boo, knows several animal sounds and still jabbers tons of nonsense. She is all girl and is already obsessed with jewelry, dressing up and rummaging through my make-up bag. Nearly all of my chapsticks and lipsticks have little finger gauges out of them. She always wants to have a necklace on and uses dishtowels and whatever else she can find to drape over her or put on.

I love watching her personality develop. She is starting to develop compassion and awareness of others. In church, anytime she hears a baby cry.... she gets such a concerned and sad look on her face and just wants me to make it better. She loves her baby doll and her stuffed animals and is constantly smothering them with loves and kisses. She has really expressive eyes and eyebrows and makes some of the funniest facial expressions. I love how freely she shares her emotions.

Littlemiss has been taking baths in the big tub for the last month or so and she pretty much thinks it's the best thing since crackers shaped like animals came into her life...

She still loves music and especially any toy that plays music, especially her pink teddy bear and she is especially obsessed with the mini organ at Grandpa and Grandma's house. (I've already told Chris that we might have to start saving for a piano and piano lessons)

SwimBabies. Leah and her best buddy Sawyer started swimming lessons a few weeks ago. I think she is still a little unsure about the whole getting dunked under the water thing, but she seems to be coming around.

Books. Books. Books. She is becoming more obsessed with books all the time. He loves to sit all by herself in the rocking chair and read them by herself. She likes to pick the books she wants to read now, is starting to want to read them "again" and has even been going through a phase where she like to take books to bed with her.

Along with her new found independence, she also wants to feed herself. She still isn't very good at the "scooping" part, but she's pretty good and getting the loaded spoon right to her mouth! Self-feeding has been one of the stages that I have been looking forward to the very least!

This past month LJ got her very first passport, and got her very first stamp...

as well celebrated our 5th wedding anniversary at one of our very favorite destinations... 

{more details posted soon} 

We played with cousins and had a fun girls day as we helped with Kadence's special project again this year. We love any time spent with all of our favorite girls especially when we are helping with something so worthwhile and honoring someone so special!

Littlemiss and I made Daddy a special Valentine's Dinner and finished the night with chocolate covered strawberries, which Leah inhaled. Some might think we're crazy, but I love that she's a part of all of our special date nights. :)

We also took our very first trip to the Aquarium last week and Leah loved it. She was mesmerized by all of the fish and was especially enamored by a silly little otter than swam endless circles right in front of her. She laughed and thought it was so funny. Unfortunately, I left my camera in the car.... so we're already planning another trip again soon.

Occasionally CJ and I do get a little alone time and special date nights. We scored great tickets to the Jazz game recently and loved every minute of it. Leah even got to have a sleepover with G&G and Aunt JoJo and also loved every minute of it. It was a nice little break.... but man were we happy to see this little squirt again!

It's been a great start to 2012 for the C*K*J's and I have a feeling that it's just gonna keep getting better!!

A Big Welcome to 2012...

We had a blast bidding adieu to 2011...never mind that we did it about 5 hours early. We figured it was midnight somewhere and being that we aren't big night owls to begin with and especially during this season of our lives {living with a toddler and all}... we did our celebrating a bit early this year!

Nothing says celebration like a plateful of appetizers, homemade naan, saffron rice, tikka masala and the ones we hold most dear!

And, of course, some fancy beverages to enjoy and "cheers" with. 

That was without a doubt Leah's favorite part of the party:

2011 was a really good year for us, it's the year that we really learned how to be a family of three. As we look back on all that we've learned, the milestones we've passed, the adventures we've shared and the love that we've felt.... we are incredibly humbled at how lucky we are and totally ecstatic to see what 2012 brings our way.

Happy New Year!

2011 Holiday Bucket Listing :: Recap

We (meaning I) pretty much loved having a checklist to guide us, ensuring that these holidays were the C*K*J's very best yet. (CJ may or may not have felt that it was a little intense... and too closely resembled a honey-do list) Regardless.... it was a great holiday season and we made the most of it!!

A few last favorites highlighting all of our bucket-listing glory...

Holiday Baking:: I love having an assistant in the kitchen and made sure to include her in baking some of our favorites this year!

She's a pretty good taste-tester and if she approves... they must be good!

Our first annual Bethlehem Dinner::

Neither Chris or Leah knew quite what to think of this night at first, but it turned out to be so fun! We donned our best Bethlehem apparel, dimmed the lights, created a special playlist of songs about our Saviour's life, lit candles, and ate a simple delicious dinner on the floor with our little family. We enjoyed homemade flatbread, goat cheese stuffed peppers, hummus, olive tapenade, grapes and feta cheese crumbles drizzled with olive oil and cracked black pepper. We drank grape juice, sang hymns and enjoyed every single minute of it! A new C*K*J tradition for sure!

Holiday Centered Date Nights and Family Home Evenings::

There is nothing better time with my two favorite dates, especially when it involves pretty clothes, twinkling lights, sparkles or chocolate of any kind. We had a few nights this month that included several of these things and I loved it!

Leah even managed a few dates of her own this month::

Can you even stand how adorable these two are?!? 

Just 4 days apart, they are best buddies. I LOVE watching them together and how excited they get when they see each other. Such a cute sweet little friendship!

***

Although we didn't quite check off every last item on our list, we came awfully close (hard to make snowballs with no snow, eh) and had such a fun time doing it! 

All in all... the 2011 Holiday Bucket List was a smashing success. (And even CJ agrees)

A C*K*J Christmas

He came! Santa Claus came! Hooray!

Leah loved opening presents!! She quickly caught on to all the fun there was to be had. She was so cute, draping the ribbons around her neck as a fun accessory. She was anxious to try her new jammies on right away and play with everything she opened. She hugged her toys and read her books and listened to all the musical toys over and over and over and loved everything about it!

When we were done, it looked like a cyclone had come through the living room!

But once we sorted through the mayhem, we discovered that she ended up with a pretty good haul. What a lucky and loved littlemiss she is! 

Mama and Daddy were uber-thrilled to see that Santa left us the beginnings of a new family room right there in our kitchen, complete with a big new tv, cozy couch and even an ottoman! Wahoo! He must have been listening to Mama beg and plead for it for a while!  It still needs a little work...but WAHOO!

We enjoyed a lazy morning in our pjs while we feasted on our traditional Christmas morning brunch of quiche, creme brulee french toast, fruit, fresh squeezed juice and yummy hot chocolate.

*** 

I actually loved that Christmas was on a Sunday this year and it may also have been the one Sunday of the year that I actually loved having 1pm church. We had a leisurely morning opening gifts, a yummy brunch, and  still managed to sneak in a short toddler nap all before we had to get ready for one of my favorite Sacrament Meetings of the year.

Man, I love this girl!!

After an absolutely beautiful Christmas program by our ward choir, it was off to Grandma and Grandpa Johnson's for another yummy meal, presents and more time with loved ones.

It was such a nice day and such a wonderful holiday. In just 24 hours, we managed to spend great quality time with all of our loved ones and still have time at home with our little family, creating memories and new traditions that perfectly compliment each of our families!

It was a very Merry Christmas, indeed!

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve has long been one of most most favorite nights of the whole year! I love the magic that's in the air, the anticipation and excitement, the food and the traditions that I hold dear.

It's true what I've always heard... it's even better with little ones. Although Leah didn't really understand the whole premise of Christmas this year, she was still fascinated with the lights and tinsel and ribbon and presents and so much time with family and loved ones. I truly loved discovering the holidays again through the eyes of a child but even more so, through the eyes of a mother who desires so strongly to make things special and memorable for her little family.

Christmas Eve is the night that we spend with my family so we donned our cheesiest holiday sweaters for the annual party at my parents.

Leah loved getting to open presents...

and swing with Grandpa...

and play the organ 

I told him he opened Pandora's box with that one, but he doesn't seem to mind. :)

and snuggle and play games with all of her favorite people

 We enjoyed a delicious dinner, reminisced about Christmas' past, played the traditional white elephant gift exchange and of course, we finished the evening watching the story of the nativity and remembering the real reason that we celebrate the holidays. It was a near perfect evening with loved ones and I'm so thankful to my parents for hosting what has now become a huge and sometimes raucous crowd!

It's nearly impossible to get everyone in one picture anymore, but we came pretty close. We're just missing a few stragglers that we couldn't seem to round up.

Is my mom not adorable in her new apron? 

I assure you that Mrs Claus has nothing on this woman!She's as amazing as they come!

Grandma & Grandpa with their two youngest grandkids (excluding greats), Leah and her sweet cousin Trey:

*** 

After the last of the snuggles and loves from Grandma and Grandpa, we were off for home to prepare for an anticipated visit from Old Saint Nick.

We helped Leah write a note and color a picture and then we prepared a late night snack for Santa... a mug of nice cold eggnog and 2 yummy cookies (just in case he wanted to take one back to Mrs Claus. Let's not forget her.... since I'm pretty sure she does most of the work anyway, right?)

Leah didn't quite understand the process and just saw it as 2 available cookies while I was trying to get a picture. She was pretty mad when Daddy took it away from her and her freshly brushed teeth.

It was way past her bedtime at that point and it pretty much went downhill really fast from there...

...but all things considered, it was a magical Christmas Eve!