family portraits 2011

I've been dying to post these ever since we took them, but I was waiting for our New Year's Cards to get to everyone first. The photos really captured this time in our lives with our little girl getting so big and our little boy on the way, not to mention my super hot husband's awesome winter beard. I'm so in love with them (and I can't believe how different we look compared to last year's family photos).

I'm really lucky to have such wonderful and talented sister-in-laws. Heather took the photos (in 28 degree weather, not counting wind chill!), Camila cut and colored my hair, and Claire did my makeup and styled my hair (I'm really into braid crowns right now). Apparently it takes a team of professionals to make me look decent!

I bought a Groupon for holiday cards at Minted.com months ago and planned on waiting to do a shoot until we were in Washington for Christmas so that my belly would be bigger and Heather could take the photos. Haven't you heard? New Year cards are the new Christmas cards.

Thanks again to Heather for sharing her talent with us, I know how it is! Thanks also to Camila and Claire for making me look good, you guys are so lucky you don't live close to me cuz I'd be constantly bugging you. And thank you, Ryan, for coming along to make Juniper laugh and smile for the camera, its the burden of being her favorite person, I guess!

CREDITS:

If you are in the Seattle-Puyallup area, Heather Mann Photography is your girl. 

Camila Anderson is also in Washington, contact me if you are interested in being beautified beyond belief and I will put you in touch.

And If you are in the Provo area Claire Mann also does amazing hair and makeup (no jokes about the model on her website, please!).

  

love it (or hate it)

Valentine's Day is one of those holidays I feel like most people either love or hate. This V-Day will mark the 8 year anniversary of mine and G's first kiss. So obviously, I love it. Also, I've always wanted to be like my mom when I grew up because she always marked the lesser holidays with decorations, special foods, and small gifts. She still shows up with little holiday themed gifts, they are just usually for Juniper now (which I love).

I had fun curating Juniper's Easter basket last year but now that shes getting bigger I feel like its time to start living up to my mom's legacy and start some lesser-holiday traditions. Also, the house always feels so bare after taking Christmas down that even G complains about it.

So I copied my super cute sister-in-law, Heather, and made a Valentine's Day wreath. I even copied these pictures from her blog because her door is a hundred times prettier than my rusted, beige metal security door. I'm a big fat copycat. So thanks Heather and Mom for being so awesome.

Heather's notes on how to make it, here.

Dear Baby Boy,

   I'm 6 months pregnant and, although I'd like you to bake in there for exactly 14 more weeks, I really can't wait to meet you. Your dad and I are dying to see what you look like... will you be another of my look-alikes or will you take after your dad?! Its killing us. I also wish I knew what your name is. We aren't even close to choosing your name yet, maybe you could send us a sign? I'm still so thrilled that you are a boy and I'm so excited for all of the new boyish things that you're going to bring into our lives.
   Before now I had thought that baby kicks were pretty much all the same but I've been surprised at how much more active you are than your big sister was. You are in a completely different position than her, but it might also just be your personality starting to show through, and its impressive how hard and how long you will be kicking and punching and rolling around at one time. Your dad never misses an opportunity to cuddle up to me and feel all of your bouncing around. He also loves to get really close and tell you all sorts of wonderful things. I'm sure you're going to recognize his voice right away when you get here.
   Although things are a little different this time around and we aren't alone much together, sometimes (like right now, when your dad is out running and your sister is in bed) I can tell you are awake and I sit and talk to you and rub my belly. When its just the two of us I feel especially close to you. We already have a song I sing only to you (its about cowboys!) and I like to imagine you in there enjoying it. There is a special place in our family for you and a lot of love waiting for you when you get here. Please, take your time, grow big and strong and healthy. And keep kicking me all day and night, its more comforting to me than you'll ever know.

We love you.

yours,
Mom

auld lang syne

The reality of G's current work schedule has sunk in for all 3 of us and its bummin' us out, big time. So heres one last photo from our trip to Washington, taken on New Year's Eve, to help ease the pain of being back to real life. I love the craziness of cousin photos and I love the sheer joy on Juniper's face. She was in a constant state of Cousin Heaven. We've spent the last several New Year's Eves in that house and we've got some great traditions going... a big, yummy dinner, an impressive fireworks show put on by the husbands, a few raucous games of Catch Phrase, and then toasting with sparkling apple cider and singing Auld Lang Syne (accompanied by Marcilyn on piano, cuz we're classy). A perfect start to 2012. Now if we could just become independently wealthy so G could quit his job...

rainy day pony ride

We are back in SD recovering from a wonderful Christmas vacation in Washington. I was just going through the last of the photos I took that week and fell in love with these. On one of many rainy days, G's mom took Juniper for her own private pony ride at the stables just down the street from G's childhood home. Juniper was in heaven.

I don't know what the pony's real name was because we called him Lil' Sebastian the whole time. Parks and Rec, anyone?

 

Juniper has always been close with her daddy but this was the longest amount of time they'd spent together since last Christmas, and she took her obsession with him to a whole new level. It was amazing to watch.

Juniper Jean and her namesake, Marlena Jean. Our Junie's got some cowgirl in her blood and it shows.

Her other obsession all week was her Uncle Ryan. He was so sweet and patient as she constantly demanded his attention all week, and it was pretty funny to watch her run after him and bring him back every time he tried to leave the room. I didn't have the heart to tell her hes about to have his own little monkey.

G's parents sharing a kiss (not posed, mind you). They are the best. Thanks for taking our Juniper on her own special ride, Marlena, she can't wait to graduate to horses!

happy new year

Prepare yourselves, this is adorable.

I kind of love those guys. If you aren't already watching Zooey's show New Girl, I highly recommend it.

I hope everyone rings in the new year just the way they want to! (I say that because I much prefer cuddling with my honey on the couch while toasting our sparkling apple cider to partying)

featured on jane reaction!

I'm so flattered that talented graphic designer and friend Erin Jane asked me to write a guest post on her blog. She just had a baby (named Henry Fox, how amazing is that?) so I shared my favorite essential baby products with her and her readers. Jane lives in Hawaii and posts the coolest things, you should definitely follow her.

annual family talent show

From last night's craziness...

G and I (accompanied on shakers by Merrick and Juniper) sang one of our favorite songs right now, "Up on a Mountain" by The Welcome Wagon.

piroshky & chocolatine

Yesterday was our annual trip to Pike's Place Market in Seattle. One of my favorite things in the world is the way we eat our way through that place. It has such incredible food. I'm sure part of it is that a trip to Pike's Place includes a lot of walking in the cold on a rainy day, which works up quite an appetite, but it truly is great. Anyway, I took these on the monorail on our way from the Space Needle to the market and then couldn't be bothered to bend over and fish my camera out of the stroller the rest of the trip. It has to be something pretty good to get me to bend over this big belly of mine.

I love this little bunny.

christmas festivities 2011

We are up in Washington enjoying Christmas with G's family. Its the first time Juniper has been with all of her cousins (she is the youngest of 10) and she is in heaven. She follows them everywhere, loves the attention and is constantly showing off for the grown-ups. We are enjoying every minute.

The Nativity, as read by Pop Pop.

Juniper as The Angel. She was surprisingly cool about her baby doll playing the roll of Baby Jesus.

G reading "The Night Before Christmas." A favorite tradition.

Christmas morning! Still dark and still a little groggy, we loved watching her go through her stocking for the first time.

A perfect Christmas day was followed by a perfect Christmas dinner at Camila's house with the whole family. Love, love, love.

Merry Christmas!

We hope your day is filled with lots of love, happiness, and good food!

teeny socks advent calendar

Even though we've been married for half a decade, there are still little things we haven't yet added to our collection of Christmas paraphernalia. This year my mom gathered 25 little baby socks for me to make the cutest advent calendar ever. I didn't fill it this December since Juniper isn't allowed candy yet and G and I couldn't think of anything we like that comes individually wrapped. Its looked great hanging on our dining room wall all month, though! I plan on printing out Christmas themed scriptures next year and tucking them into each tiny sock to be read while we eat our treats. Directions (though somewhat unnecessary) right here.

christmas part one

Since we can't be everywhere at once, earlier this week we had Christmas Part One with my mom, step-dad, and younger sister. We had a delicious meal and then opened some great presents. Juniper hasn't opened a present since her first birthday and it seems like she understands whats going on a lot more, its fun for us to watch. Here she is being really excited about some cute new shoes (the girl loves shoes)...

 

We love you guys!
Only 4 more sleeps till Christmas Part Two!

bananas foster french toast

Our cousin and favorite person Darci came down this weekend and Juniper was instantly smitten. These are some Instagram photos we took at the zoo on Saturday after brunch at the Fig Tree Cafe (we never take Junie to restaurants anymore, I had almost forgotten how great eating breakfast out is).

We love you Darci!