Running in Circles

- this little boy is standing on his own for periods of time and has taken a handful of steps

- loves his mama!

- starting signing "all done" and "please"

- all day just says "mmmm- mmm" and "Ummm"

- gets us stopped at the store constantly because he's smiling at everyone.

- Has 5 teeth

- naps at 9:00 and 1:00

- loves to eat everything thats giving to him. 

- especially loves green vegetables (romaine, broccoli, avocado, apples) and all STARCHY CARBS

- can hold his bottle by himself 

- has been going to bed awake now so peacefully! 

- loves to "help" unload the dishwasher and the toy basket

- seriously just hams it up for people at the store

- is pulling hair and biting my bare skin :(

- loves going for daily walks, but definitely it is getting colder outside.

- thinks hats are hilarious

- loves grabbing his feet, laying flat on his tummy while playing, and sucking his thumb

Today is the first cold day here in Dallas and what can I say other than we are all a bunch of wimps.

 Hazel and I both had jackets, tights, and blankets on in the car on the way to church. I haven't taken my socks off all day and the heater is on. My candle is lit and we're making a warm dinner. 

It probably isn't all that bad and we better get ready since we're heading to Utah but I'll be the first to admit I've turned into a cold-weather wimp.

But, hey- he humidity is at a low of 29%.

-always the optimistic-

I'm having a major pity party over here today. The things I worry about and pray for solutions for- just seem to be getting harder. 

Brice finally got a new client assignment, and I was REALLY hoping it could be somewhere he could take the DART conveniently, but instead it will be about twice the distance away. So longer commute for him and definitely more inconvenient for me to get the car. 

Our apartment is feeling smaller and smaller as Henry is crawling all over. We still try to get out everyday for a walk, but I'm just feeling claustrophobic being in our apartment all day.

I'm just feeling bummed out, but I guess with Thanksgiving being a week away I really should just start counting my blessings. I know I have a lot to be grateful for too.

:: hazel ::

1. I love to organize and clean. a clean car. a clean house. clean laundry. someone else's cupboards. cleaning and organizing totally relaxes me.

2. I love a good before & after. House renovations. make-overs. an organization spree.

3. I really enjoy cooking, but dread baking.

4. I've been training hard for a half-marathon PR. I don't even want to say the time I'm hoping for, but I feel like I'm on track.

5.  I only have 16 shirts hanging in my closet. 

6.  I have a bad habit of only getting a haircut like twice a year but my next one is going to be good. Cut and Color!!

7. I can count the number of times I've cried on one hand since having Hazel. I'm going to blame it on hormone fluctuation but even when I feel like I need a good cry there's nothing.

8. I love running with music on. It definitely keeps me motivated and my thoughts busy, but I want to start running without it. I'm working on having less noise in my daily life in general. 

9. I love having a daily routine but I've noticed that when my routine gets messed up (vacations, sleeping in, etc) I have a hard time adjusting. I want to be disciplined, but more go with the flow. I want to be dependable but need to relax more.

10. this is embarrassing, but I've watched Gilmore girls all the way through THREE times now. And only saw two movies in a theater last year. weird.

:: hazel ::

1. is eating so much these days- every hour she is asking for a snack. We are out of food two days before I can grocery shop again.

2. is loving eating her lunch sandwiches in cookie cutter shapes. I put some fruit on a kabob stick for a snack and she thought I was the greatest.

3. has started wanting to take showers instead of baths.

4. is learning the days of the week- but Tuesday is always "Taco Tuesday"

5. has woken up so early since daylight savings- I hope she adjusts sooner than later.

:: henry ::

1. is teething again.

2. is standing alone for a few seconds at a time all by himself.

3. he bites my shoulders daily. and pinches me so hard. 

4. Up until this point I'd say 80% of nap times/bedtimes I nurse Henry to sleep, but for the last two weeks I've put him in his crib mostly awake and he plays for a minute and then has fallen asleep on his own.

5. Henry just loves personal attention from anyone. If I sing him a song, or do peekaboo he gives the best giggles and smiles. 

6. he is starting to get hard at church. He usually is good during sacrament and then naps during Sunday school, but Relief Society is hard. There's too many people to let him crawl around, but sitting on my lap for an hour is out of the picture.

:: breann ::

1. really loving this whole "being a mom" thing right now. 

2. wishing i could have $30 and an hour to myself for a manicure and pedicure.

3. I've been reading "Eat & Run" about a vegan marathoner- neither one of those thing is too appealing to me (a little too extreme) but it has really gotten me thinking about what foods we really should limit even more. I'm sure Brice will be thrilled :)

4. getting nervous to race in a few weeks. I've set a time goal but really we will just see how it goes.

5. I need some new clothes- I feel like I'm wearing the same few outfits over and over.

6. I've been loving this "ponderize" addition to our scripture study. Its amazing how quickly I can memorize a verse when I look at it every time I walk into the kitchen.

:: brice ::

1. Is working hard and still really likes his job.

2.  Has saved the day at church several times in the last few weeks when it comes to technology issues.

3. played basketball last week and flag football this week. 

4. will tell you he's not a runner, but he's still getting up at 6:20 four times a week, follows a training plan, prepares his Gatorade and water bottles the night before, and I constantly catch him looking at running gear online,

5. Told me he needs a project so I'm trying to figure out a few things he can maybe make. I just want to be out of an apartment before we have more furniture- I'm starting to feel claustrophobic.

6. needs a haircut but every time I bring it up he says he's not "mentally prepared"- whatever that means ;)

One year I'll get totally into Halloween, but I just can't help it....its just not my favorite. Holidays are definitely more fun with kids and this year Hazel was so excited about all of it. 

All week she practiced saying "trick or treat" and "trunk-trick-treat" and I'm copper, can I have some candy?"

Brice gets ALL the credit for all the sewing done for these costumes- and i'll take credit for the hot gluing! 

We were able to go trick or treating in a close by neighborhood with some of our favorite friends. Its so fun to watch there kiddos together and were so grateful for the friends we've made here in Dallas. Our brave Hazel loved trick or treating and wasn't nervous about any of it, but she totally got spooked by a jumping spider that got her. She was in tears and pretty shaken up about it all night.

So, here's to a few more days of dessert after lunch/dinner and then I'm tossing the rest of the candy and maybe next year the whole family will get in character :) 

don't hold your breath though.