Twenty-Three....eee....eee

Twenty-Two was a great age! I think it's very possible that I had the most growth this year than ever before. Becoming a Mom obviously definitely was my favorite part of this year. An age may never be so memorable as this one has been for me.
And whenever I hear Taylor Swifts "22" I think I am always going to have a few sweet flashbacks. I think the saddest part of turning 23 on Saturday is that I can no longer sing Taylor Swifts "22" and feel like it's my song. Yes, my song...even though this song is so completely far from the life I am living and the 22 that I know... In fact, I'm pretty sure Jay Leno's "63" version is closer to the life I live more than Taylors "22", (I have the dance moves to prove it...sadly).



But still, I like to pretend it's a song for me. And you know what, maybe it was a little bit for me, transitioning into Motherhood wasn't the easiest thing that I ever did. Turning up that song and with Aleah in my arms and dancing to it, brought a little bit of sanity. Maybe for a few reasons, but especially because it stopped Aleah's crying. This song many times was a life saver for me and her. I'm glad also to tell you she is not deaf and so far has no symptoms of shaken baby syndrome. Sweet memories.

But I'm excited to start a new year. I think twenty-three is going to be an ever better year for me. I'm ready for it!

House Hunting...ROUND 2

I don't know why we are currently visiting homes and browsing zillow again. We have 8 months left on our apartment lease. Of course, we can get out, just not as cheap as would be nice..but we can get out alright.

In September we got into an apartment and when the six month lease came up in March we still didn't feel like we were ready just yet to buy. We liked our apartments well enough, so we signed for a year. And now, in July, for whatever odd reason...we have home buying on our brains again. I'm not positive we are meant to be buying a house right now, but it's not a bad idea to do a little looking. As much though, as I would like a house, I really hate house hunting.
For us, it seems to be something a little like this....

What you always imagined it would be like to buy your first home..

So happy! And pretty.

It's a great time to buy! But we wait until we are ready...

Pay off some debt, get some things taken care of, and now, we are ready!

Let's do this.

 And then...find out prices have risen and continue to rise. Your price range isn't what it could have been ten months ago when you waited and got into an apartment instead of buying.

 Wait 8 more months for lease to be up...where will the home prices be then? Hm...

Looking is worth it...if it falls into place then great, if not, there is our answer...

  Oooh, this one looks alright...

Nooo..no, no..noo... 

I am not a fixer-upper. 

One day, maybe...today, I am not.

Or..
 For Heaven Sakes PEOPLE! Stop it.

And...

Why am I still looking through the pictures for this house..?!

And then there's the house that is pretty alright...great price, inside looks nice...

But the yard looks like this...

 Or you had to drive through this..

and pass that to get there.

 And then you find something you really do love and you really do want...fits your price range, great location, looks pretty... Seems like you were meant to be....but it doesn't turn out.
Investor buys it up or someone had more money and a better offer....or the agent you talked to in the model home doesn't call you back after you talked to them just two days ago.
It is a wild little process.

Ohhh, pretty kitchen. I want you.

But like I said, we are just going to see how things pan out the next 8 months. If something falls into place, then that is great, and if not, maybe we'll see the blessing in it down the road. I have to remind myself that Heavenly Father knows what is best for us. That there is a timing for everything and I have to trust in His plan for me and not my own. I was also reminded the other night after getting frustrated about the whole home buying process how blessed I really am. Humbling. I have so much more to be grateful for in life! I'll take all I have over a new pretty perfect little house, for sure!

Even with my better outlook though, I still had to share a little bit of what house hunting with the Hansen's has looked like. Hopefully someone else reading this was able to nod their head in a "I get this" kind of way.

Lately

Catching up with us...

Cade and I went on a "date" the other week. A little shooting practice for me. I don't like that little gun. The bigger .22 was fine, and not so intimidating...but that little gun..I don't like it. Since the .22 isn't actually ours though, learning how to load and shoot it wasn't my main focus. I got to know this little gun and spent a few (probably too many) bullets until I felt a little bit more confident in shooting it. It is a nice feeling that when Cade isn't home I know that I can protect myself and daughter. Let's all just say a little prayer right now that I will never have to be in that kind of a situation though.
I'm happy we got in the little bit of shooting practice!

Boise State Jack looks much better as a shooting target than on our car antenna

Targets

 Aleah's long and awkward hairs finally got a little bit trimmed. I never knew you could be so sad about cleaning up a look. Now, I definitely can't put ponytails in. Dang.

 Fun at the park

A new fun spot to play!

Eating like a big girl. Chicken, Mashed Potatoes and Green beans

 Juice in a sippy. Yep. I'm doing it. Not that this is bad mommy thing, I just didn't want to introduce sweets until after her first year...  She also eats ice cream, cookies and plenty of other sweet treats that her pediatrician would kill me over. ....Shoot.
 

But LOOK! Broccoli!..

Bruises are the norm lately. She bumps into everything. Hi chubbeh cheekies!

Her boyish green toothbrush, (I know). She HATES when I try to take it away to put it back. Good little tooth brusher! Let's keep this up!

At Aleah's nine month appointment she was...

Height: 26.5"  (16th percentile)
Weight: 16 lb 11 0z (14th)

44.5 cm for Head (65th)

Those percentages have gotten loow. Even that little big noggin.

She still only has two teeth

Makes you work for kisses

Not a snuggler...never really was though.

Loudest chatty baby in church. I really don't think that's an exaggeration. I secretly find it really cute, but I realize this could eventually be a bit of an issue.

We've tried teaching her just a few signs. "More", "Milk" & "Please"..  So far she has only picked up on "Milk" and I can't help but still be a little bit proud when I ask her to say please and she signs "Milk". Close enough, I know what you meant, you sweet little child of mine. 

Last week I got mastis. This late in the game? Yep. It wasn't too bad... The first four hours were the worst, it was something close to death.. Flu-like symptoms, more like worst-flu-I'v-ever-had-in-my-life-like symptoms.  Threw up three times & passed out all three times, because I do that when I throw up. Fever..chills..  And then after about four hours it got better and wasn't too awful. Thank goodness for a sweet Mother-In-Law who I can always call and ask for help during those times. Took Aleah for me so that I could pass out and die and not have to worry about who was going to help her while I couldn't. 
But really, I have a FANTASTIC Mother-In-Law. 
And only three months until it's wean time baby. ...Oh, how sad...don't grow up Aleah.

Our Fourth

Aleah's first 4th of July looked a little like this...

Ryder showing new tricks

-Breakfast at the Seamons

-BBQ with Cade's parents and sister

-Fireworks at Ann Morrison with family

Picture on the left was taken just hours after Aleah was born. Everything had settled down and now it was time for everyone to sleep.  

....Except I just couldn't. Even though I had not slept since my nap about 3 P.M. the previous day, (and it was now about 8 in the morning) I was still not could not sleep.  

I'm wired funny.  

Cade was fast asleep, sleeping better than a baby (or at least, better than this baby did, for a looong time).  And I was trying.  

But then she got the hiccups and well, hello, she had to be held.  

(Clearly I'm not the reason she is so needy and expects to be held or given attention all the time...clearly.)

So I held her and took this picture for my parents.  It was the first time I noticed the red in her hair.  I sent, "Is that by chance...red hair?? :)"

That red hair from her Dad is so fun to me.  I love it!  Can't wait to see how it changes or looks as time passes.  

Our firey red head...

 

 Why can't money grow on trees?  

This rocking chair at Cracker Barrel is cute and she loved it.  

Sixty bucks....mmm, I'll wait on that purchase for now.

This new suit kills me! It is so cute! One picture just is not enough--so you're welcome for three.

And thank you pinterest for exisiting..  Swimming has gotten just a little bit more fun for us!
1, 2, 3! UNDER! :)
"How to teach your baby to swim (6-12 months)"
Here is that link:
http://domanmom.com/2012/06/how-to-teach-your-baby-to-swim-6-12-months/

Craft gone so wrong. Turns out, food coloring is not very washable...noted.

 Another three shots. I want this girl to grow hair quicker, can you tell?  I keep trying to do ponytails or hair clips....it's not time yet.  A little taste of what is to come though when her hair gets a little longer. :)

Seven Months

Month seven ends tonight.  It was my very favorite age so far..  Could that be because Aleah made it a habit of sleeping through the night?  Or possibly her personality is coming out more than it has before?  Maybe the silly forced fake laughs...or the waves hello that actually resemble the sign for "milk" in baby sign language, (oh those sweet waves!)... I think it's all those and more.  It was such a good month.  Even with the fits that I can't believe she throws.  It was my favorite.  Hoping month eight is just as good!

And here is my attempt at documenting our fun month....I hope your expectations for my blog posts are low enough by now...  Because this is about to be a really sloppy and unorganized post with pictures that aren't going to add up and annoying spaces galore.  Enjoy.  

 My parents and brother came in to town and it was such a nice weekend with the whole family!  Even though I'm about to post too many pictures...I'm pretty sure that I didn't take enough that weekend.

We went to the zoo....

  Giraffe jammies and Grandma Koyle :)

...Golfed, played at the park and had a bbq with the Hatfields where we also rode horses (thanks Talise!), shot a few guns and played with cute little german shepard puppies. A lot of fun!

  

And a little bit of everything else from the last little bit...

 Welcome home daddy!

Pulling faces in the morning :)

Hanging at the pool. She LOVES the water!  And I've never enjoyed swimming so much until this summer!

Lunch with Mommy, her fortune (thanks Panda guy for two fortune cookies!) said: "Keep your plans secret for now". Um...check!

I put two little ponies in her hair and then decided it just wasn't quite working out...so instead of taking pictures of two little pigtails...we have here a shot of our little Ace Ventura.  She's so happy about it too..

Poor dog.

Playing with her baby and binki

 Fun at Grandma and Grandpa Hansen's!

 The best shots I could get today...

 Annnd Goodnight!