Meeting a baby

A baby cousin that is. Brooklyn did just that, met her new baby cousin, Addie. I love the name and it totally suits the darling face and softest hair that it comes with. She's precious. 

Brooklyn wasn't sure about ME holding baby Addie. She became a little protective and also wanted to pull her socks off. Tiny socks. Brooklyn looked huge next to her and I honestly can't believe that she was once that small. It seems like yesterday. Gosh. Eight months later.

Amanda is such a sweet mommy. She loves that baby. Oh that baby. For now, I'll call her Little Addie. She's so little. She's not premature, just so tiny compared to her big cousin Brooklyn Jayde over here. What what. 

That big Brooklyn Jayde screamed and cried the whole way from Pleasant Grove to home. No joke. I guess she already misses Little Addie. We'll definitely have to get them together soon Manda.

(look how sad she is to leave)

K but seriously, that car ride took it all out of me. Oh man. I tried everything to calm my distraught baby, but she was not having it. When I got her out of the car she was still crying. Took her in the house, still crying. I let her cry it out in her crib and then she settled down. Darn those tough moments huh Brookie?


So what did I do to de-stress from that really fun drive? I went to City Creek with Chelsea. Thanks for inviting me! We had a blast being pampered in LUSH and trying almost every product they have. If you go, ask for Heidi. She's the best.


We finished off the night with Italian sodas (raspberry) and parted ways. It totally lifted my spirits and gave me the break I needed to go back home and be the best mom I can be. Those breaks are amazing! Are they not? Who's with me?!


Thanks again Chels.


As I drove home I couldn't help but become totally overwhelmed with the love I have for that baby at home. And for the husband I left to care for her. He's such a good dad. Honestly. He really and truly is. He's also a great husband. He'd do anything for me. He would. He's constantly asking me what he could do to make me happy. Those are his exact words. I'm a lucky girl. I have two amazing people that I get to take care of for the rest of my life (and they'll take care of me). I'm so so grateful.

Weekend lunching and shopping

(love that mug!)

Everyone knows (if you've been reading this blog for awhile) that I love the weekends. Who doesn't? I guess I'm just, I guess you'd say, passionate about them. Especially weekends like the one I just enjoyed.

Friday, I got to go to lunch with a long time friend, Syd, and her two darling kids. Syd is the kind of friend that I'm close to, even though we don't see each other much. When we do finally get together, we can pick up right where we left off. Nothing better. We met up at Paradise Bakery and Cafe, home of THE best chocolate chip cookie in the world. Serious. Go see for yourself!

We enjoyed catching up and munching on each other's children. I mean, look at this face. I could not help myself.

(the cheeks - am I right or am I right)

Brooklyn enjoyed sitting in her high chair while I inhaled my turkey & cranberry sandwich and chocolate chip cookie, and then she wanted to be held the rest of the time. 

Duffy wanted Brooklyn to play with him, but she was too busy sucking and chewing on Syd's phone cover. Also, flinging the slobber off of the phone cover. Thanks for being so willing to be covered in baby slobber Syd!

We were there for almost two hours, though it didn't feel like it. We had a lot to talk about. I just couldn't get enough of this sweet little face! I wish I would have gotten a good one of his little nose scrunched up. Cutest thing.

We had Lilee take some pictures of us. She's so big. I can't believe she's old enough to be going to Kindergarten in the fall. She really was born yesterday. I swear it. 

Syd, let's not wait this long to get together again. I miss your face, and obviously your kids' faces. We have too much fun together to have any excuses. Plus, we're so cool.

Love, Me.

The evening brought another trip to City Creek Center. That's right. I was dying to go back. It's too hard to take that whole masterpiece in in just one visit. So, of course we went back. This time with husbands in tow (Brookie came too). But not before we stuffed our faces with some homemade pizza and homemade steak fries. Oh and there were grapes and carrots too. To make it healthy and stuff.

Chelsea and I were both dying to get into LUSH, which neither of us had been successful in doing our first trip to CCC. So even though it was packed to the max, we squeezed our way in. I automatically dubbed it, SLUSH. Satan's store. There are WAY too many things that I want to buy that I DON'T need. I WANT WANT WANT! That means Satan created it right? But seriously, this store was awesome and Chelsea and I ended up talking about it for the rest of the weekend. No lie.

(just a taste of LUSH)

We then enjoyed a little more shopping/browsing while the boys took care of Brooklyn. They were there more to people watch/take in the place and experience what CCC has to offer.

Chelsea and I enjoyed shopping and talking together and have decided we will be doing it again soon and very often. We shop together well. Even if we're just looking around. And we feel that CCC has taken it to another level. We love you CCC! (can you tell i'm obsessed? I need help!)

(us on the sky bridge)

(Uncle Jeremy and Brookie - hangin by 'the fireplace')

We ended up miraculously running into Kayla and Haley there. Shocking. Not. They love the place as much as I do. They had some fun with Brooklyn and then we went our separate ways. Except, Haley came home with us to have a sleepover. Yay for sleepovers!

Saturday was spent at my in laws. There was more pizza, lots of visiting, and some more shopping. I went with my mother-in-law to a Wood Connection kind of store where they had tons and tons of darling crafty things. My mother-in-law loves this stuff and got herself some of those darling things to make her own and have in her home.

Chelsea and I went perusing at Target and Old Navy. Lots of stuff for us to drool over. Chelsea even bought these candy Nerds mini eggs that were so yummy. I love that stuff. I love Easter candy. Thanks again for being so willing to share Chels!

Then it was pasta for dinner and ice cream at Farr's. So good. Definitely a good end to our Saturday. On the way home, Brooklyn got super upset. She was way tired and wouldn't settle down. So, I did what any mother would do, while keeping my seat belt fastened, I got up on my knees, leaned over as far as I could into her car seat, and nursed her. Not kidding. Hey everyone else on the freeway, I'm just nursing my baby while she's still in her car seat! James laughed and I did the best I could to keep myself covered. It was dark outside. But still. Risky business. 

Sunday was nice. James and I took turns with Brooklyn again and after church was over I renewed my temple recommend. I NEED to get to the temple! ASAP! I will do it. It's a priority. So, keep me honest and if you see me on the street, ask if I've been. Kick me in the pants if I haven't. Thanks.

Lastly, happy 8 months Brooklyn Jayde. I love you so darn much! And so does your daddy.

So excited for general conference this weekend. My fave.  

City Creek Center

Happy Friday friends! It's going to be a good weekend. Temps here are going to be nice and high and therefore, lots of sun! It makes me happy.


As for our adventure at the City Creek Center, it was amazing! That place is ridiculous. The atmosphere it creates in downtown SLC is hard to explain. I really can't come up with a word to describe it. You'll have to go and see for yourself. 


So, without further ado... here is our CCC afternoon in a series of pictures and some commentating. Enjoy!

Brooklyn getting her game face on as we head downtown.

Trying adorable baby things on in H&M. It was a little crazy in there!

The architecture and surroundings are so cool. It's like being indoor and outdoor all at once.

This is Lush. The one store I wanted to check out, but could NOT get into. That place was hoppin'. I'll be back soon Lush.

Kayla and Haley checking the map to make sure we were about to head in the right direction. So many stores, so many choices.

f21 was the coolest store we went in. I loved the set-up. We spent most of our time here. Drooling mostly.

Ahh...escalators.

Just enjoying ourselves. The weather = so nice.

(I need a tan. Big time!)

The only store I bought something in. Love Culture. I couldn't leave without this hat.

There were musicians at every corner. I loved it.

Brooklyn enjoying the sky walk.

Getting ready to watch the fountains.

My favorite stop of the day: Tiffany's. I'm obsessed with the key charm necklaces.

This statue girl...intense. 

Enjoying Albion. Cute cute swim suits and tennis skirts.

Kayla designing a swim suit.

A great afternoon with my sisters and daughter. Many more trips there in the future. You have to come check it out.

h a p p y  w e e k e n d i n g !

Cheerwine

Today, Chelsea and I were on the hunt for some Cheerwine. If you've never heard of Cheerwine it's because we don't have it here in the West. I've heard about it from James because he had it when he lived in North Carolina, and I've actually tried it because Dev sent some home from North Carolina during his mission.

It's good stuff.

I thought it would be a good addition to our Christmas dinner this year and was determined to get it.

I knew that the awesome toy store in Provo, Blickenstaffs, had it. We headed there first. This place is amazing. Toys, candy, and anything else a child could dream of.

(tree made of everything candy! all of it!)

We, however, were interested in the vintage soda. When we finally found it, we discovered only 3 left. Darn. But, little did we know that this was a good thing. Chelsea ended up getting this amazing peach soda and it also led us to an awesome store in Draper to find the rest of the Cheerwine we needed.

So onto Draper we went. We found the store quite quickly and were pretty curious when we pulled up.

It definitely had our attention. But the inside. Oh the inside. There was a cheese room! I was in heaven. Tons of cheese. Every kind you can imagine.

(this weighed more than Brooklyn)

There was also a whole wall of any kind of specialty or vintage soda ever created (ok that's a little dramatic). And of course, they had Cheerwine. The store became a fast favorite and we definitely plan on going back very soon.

(yes, that is Apple Beer in the bottom right corner...my fave)

The day ended with Tori's birthday dinner at Robintino's in Bountiful. We enjoyed pizza and pasta. Brooklyn enjoyed all the lights, decorations, and ceiling fans. Tori turned the big 18 so it was a pretty special birthday. She used her birthday magic to make Brooklyn fall asleep in her arms. So cute.

All in all, fun fun day and a good evening with great family and good food.

family filled weekends + Happy Thoughts

Brooklyn and I went school clothes shopping with Grandma, Grandpa, Auntie Googs, and Aunt Haley.

Once again, she did so well in her car seat and loved being pushed around the mall in her stroller by Grandpa.

It was nice for me to be able to get out and walk around a little bit while enjoying some good family shopping time.

We even extended the trip and had lunch at Olive Garden...

once again, she was so good!

I really think she knows when she has an audience. Really.

(nap with Grandpa - she was asleep until I took the picture darn it)

Afterwards, we rounded up Daddy and we headed up to Coalville to celebrate Chandler's birthday.

That night, Brooklyn had her first sleepover. She slept right between Grandma and Grandpa and only got up once to be fed. What a good baby! I think Grandma and Grandpa were a little more excited about the sleepover than she was.

Tonight it was our turn to host James' family for Family Home Evening. I served Lemon Basil - Grilled Corn Pasta. It turned out pretty yummy. I paired it with rolls, baked beans, raspberry jello, and cantaloupe.

(source)

Chelsea added a delicious banana cake as dessert. So good. She left some extra for us to enjoy and right now I have 3 pieces starin me down.

A little while before everyone headed home, Brooklyn had a bit of a melt down. I fed her, she screamed, I rocked her, she screamed. She was tired, hungry, and mad.

So...

I put her in the shower with her daddy.

She lOVED it.

She was so relaxed and mellow...

Until I took her towel off to put her diaper, lotion, and jammies on.

Darn those jammies.

It was a great weekend. I only wish they lasted longer. It's nice to have James around all day. I miss him when he's at work. He's working hard for our little family and we love him for it!

Happy Thoughts on Monday

1. my house is vacuumed...ahh...bliss

2. I get to spend all day with my little miss

3. James starting the dishwasher = clean dishes!

4. my new lip gloss!

5. a full tank-a-gas

Raspberries & Shopping

My mom came down to SLC to help me get my delicious raspberries turned into jam.

Haley came too.

She was the babysitter, but Grandma had a hard time staying focused on the task at hand and helped with the baby just as much. :)

I love raspberry jam. Can't wait to slather it on some toast!

Afterward, we took Brooklyn on her first shopping trip!

She slept the whole time.

 

What a good baby.