Hazel ~ 5 Months

here's that dang hat again. I need another one perhaps a white one that is as small as this tan one but I'm pretty sure that doesn't exist. So, she'll just keep her head warm with this one until then. The outfit is from my friend, Jamie. She sells them on her website With a Touch of Glitter. I'm in love with the tutu and darling onesie she custom made for Hazie-girl.

{For the record, Hazel does not sit on her own yet. This was a lucky shot I got right before she face-planted on the bed and consequently had a meltdown.}

I know I usually just gush and gush about her each month but it's the only way I can completely describe how much I love this baby girl. I might have my mommy-goggles on, but she's darling, precious, adorable, funny, smart, and cute. She's definitely my girl - attached to me at all times unless she's sleeping. But, just yesterday Jarom got to snuggle her during a nap and he just beamed that she finally let him hold her. I secretly like having a territorial infant but that may come back to bite me later. I love that Cannon realizes that he can make her laugh. She watches him all day and sometimes she catches his eye and she grins her crinkly grin. It makes me laugh every time.

5 Months brings these fun milestones:

• Rolling over both ways
• Grabbing toys and putting them in her mouth
• Sitting in her walker and exer-saucer
• Playing with her elusive toes
• Had her first road-trip to California and slept the whole time - no joke
• Taking 2 naps a day and mostly sleeps through the night
• Laughing at silly things
• Tolerating her crazy brother
• Giving huge slobbery kisses
• Surprising us with her ear-piercing banshee screams. She's definitely a soprano.
  

We pretty much kind of love our Hazie.

Halloween Rundown

annon is finally old enough to really enjoy trick-or-treating. We took both kids in the wagon and he would run up to each house and yell "trick-or-treat" with extreme enthusiasm. Then he darted back into the wagon with a huge grin as we headed to the next house for a repeat. We headed home after about an hour and a half but he showed no signs of slowing - just freezing. Hazel did what she does best. Slept the whole time. We also got to hang out with Jarom's little sister or "Auntie Welly" who did not have the best day. She's a trooper and is a fabulous, doting Auntie.
We had a scrumptious dinner of monster brains and witch eyeballs before we left. When we got back we were greeted with cinamon rolls and hot cocoa to warm our fingers and toes.
Cannon loved his football costume - except for the helmet. He even had shoulder pads and knee guards and all that stuff. Thanks to Grandma Sheri and Grandpa who gave us this costume last year. Jarom was proud of his little Raider. Hazel was a BYU cheerleader. We had to represent both of Jarom's teams. I don't know of a BYU cheerleader with chunkier legs, but she was adorable. I didn't get any pictures of her besides the ones with all of us (sorry mom!). I'll try again later. She was not impressed by any of our Halloween antics.

The whole crew
I hope you had a happy and safe Halloween!

Writer's Block

ometimes I think writer's block doesn't necessarily mean not having anything to write about. Maybe sometimes it means that we just don't know how to go about sharing it. That's the kind I have today. I have something to say that I just don't know how to fit between my ramblings about apple cake and football games. I even feel conflicted about sharing this. It's so personal. But, if I don't share it I'll be lying about an important event. An important person in my life. So, I will be brief. I'll share a glimpse.

Baby Anu was our niece. We met her for a moment before she was gone. She is beautiful. Her parents are strong. Her family misses her. She'll always be remembered. Families are forever.

My Mother-in-law shared this poem and I love it.

Parable of Immortality

I am standing upon the seashore.
A ship at my side spreads her white sails to the morning breeze
and starts for the blue ocean.
She is an object of beauty and strength,
and I stand and watch until at last she hangs
like a speck of white cloud
just where the sea and sky come down to mingle with each other.
Then someone at my side says,
" There she goes! "
Gone where?
Gone from my sight . . . that is all.
She is just as large in mast and hull and spar
as she was when she left my side
and just as able to bear her load of living freight
to the place of destination.
Her diminished size is in me, not in her.
And just at the moment
when someone at my side says,
" There she goes! "
there are other eyes watching her coming . . .
and other voices ready to take up the glad shout . . .
" Here she comes! "

-Henry Van Dyke

The Perfect Fall Meal

all is the best season for cooking. The bountiful harvest always lends itself to comforting soups, pies, and ciders. I wanted to take beautiful pictures of the meal we had on Sunday after Conference. I forgot. I stink. But, I'll make an exception to my 'every post has a photo' rule for this one. It was good. I want you to try it.

I made this white chili. It's slightly spicy (just right if you ask me), creamy, and cheesy. The perfect compliment to the chili were these breadsticks. I let them rise and then form them into breadsticks. Let them rise again and then top with the butter, Parmesan and a sprinkle of salad supreme seasoning.

Then for dessert we had apple cake. I happen to have 2 bushels of apples from a generous teacher at Jarom's school. I posted a plea on facebook to help me use them up. This was one of the suggestions. I'm in love.

Apple Cake

Ingredients:
1 cup of sugar.
2 cups of diced apples
1 beaten egg.
1/2 cup of vegetable oil.
1 1/2 cups of flour.
1 teaspoon of baking soda.
1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon.
1/2 teaspoon of salt.

Directions:
Mix in order. Pour into a greased 8*8 inch pan. Bake until toothpick inserted comes out clean. Bake at 350F for half an hour or so. *I baked it for 45 minutes.

It was heaven with a scoop of vanilla ice cream while it's still warm from the oven. Pure heaven. In my house, you can never go wrong with apples and cinnamon. I hope you try this meal sometime. It warmed us up and was the perfect combination of Fall.

A huge thanks to the friends who shared these recipes with me.

A Date Night

t's been a while. We needed one. I still can't leave Hazel so she came with. Dinner at the Purple Turtle + BYU game. We left Cannon with his Auntie Haley. He adores her. It was refreshing. And not nearly as cold as we thought it might be. She slept the WHOLE time. Cougars won. Jarom gave me a peck every time they scored. Awww, sweet. The guys behind us were obnoxious. The best part about BYU games? Frozen lemonade. The pink kind. So good. Worth the $4. Maybe we'll do again soon. Or not. It's always nice to be together. Even if Hazel tags along.

Hazel ~4 Months

azel is 4 months old today. I did these pictures of her yesterday. I have loved this hat and flower since she was born and they might be a little too big still but I just can't wait any longer to have her wear them. I was comparing her to Cannon's four month pictures and they are starting to look different. Cannon definitely looks like his daddy. Hazel looks a little more like me. There are a few things that I don't want to forget about her at this age. Feel free to skip over this part since it's mostly for me.

The other day, Jarom and I decided to go to the temple. I left her for the first time with my parents. We were gone about 2 hours when we arrived back at my parents to pick them both up. My sister, Haley, was holding Hazel and when she (Hazel, not Haley) saw me walk into the kitchen her little legs started kicking and she started hyperventilating. When I grabbed her she stopped and gave a quiet little squeal. I melted. Cannon has always been extremely independent. The few times we have left him with a sitter, he's been oblivious to the fact that we are gone. This little display from Hazel just made me feel happy that she seems to like me. It's nice to have one that appreciates me being around for a change. She's definitely my girl.

Here are some things she is doing:

• Grabs for objects (toys, shiny objects)
• Takes 2 naps during the day
• Coos at any interested companion
• Blows bubbles
• Loves baths
• Loves Cannon
• Laughs when she is tickled
• Wears size 3-6 month clothing
• Plays with Mommy's hair
• Sits propped against couch cushions
• Wants to be held constantly
• Likes to take walks
• Doesn't scream during tummy time

I just love this little girl. She is still struggling with eczema. It seems that dairy is not the culprit so we're still being extra careful with other allergens. Her face and head have been much more clear the past week. Other than that, she is thriving and has managed to wrap us all around her little finger. That's our Hazie girl.

It's Fall

Today is rainy and cloudy and gray. I love it. I absolutely love it. Yesterday we played in the sunshine for a bit. I knew it might be a while until we see the sun again so we played for a long time. My eyes were watery from allergies by the time we came in. I'm glad we did it. I have a feeling this might be a long Winter as far as Cannon is concerned. But for me it's bring on the blankets and cocoa, sweaters and rosy cheeks. I couldn't be more ready for this cozy, comfy, snuggly time of year.