Baby Food.

This is how I spent most of my day:

Stella is one well-fed baby, I'll tell you.  You are looking at the following veggies which were cooked and pureed in our kitchen today:  broccoli, cauliflower, butternut squash, summer squash, zucchini, potatoes, carrots, green beans...phew, I'm tired just writing about it!  Nothing but the best for my baby!

Stella and friends.

I am grateful to have spent time with some good friends the other day.  Pam and her baby, James, are doing so well and he is simply adorable.  I have a hard time remembering how tiny Stella was when she was first born, but seeing James and holding him does bring back memories from those first days of parenthood.  I remember how Stella had a difficult time eating at first and we had to feed her with a tube; I remember her little, uncoordinated legs and arms; I remember watching Tim hold his daughter in complete wonderment.  I honestly thought that it couldn't ever get better than the first days of being a mom, but every single day is better than the one before - how is that possible?  I love watching Pam hold her son and I'm excited to see him grow up and to experience the joys and challenges of motherhood together.  It's so nice not to have to do this alone!

It was also great to see Nicole and to finally meet her man, Marlon.  Stella really enjoyed making some new friends!

Nicole will be a GREAT mommy someday!

Stella loved Marlon.

Proud mama Pammie and Nicole.

Papa Tim and Mama Pam with Sweet Baby James!

Pixie.

Family portrait!

I've wanted a pixie cut since I was in high school but I could never get up the courage to do it.  It's such a drastic move and I felt too scared and worried about what other people would think - whether other people would like it and whether I'd look like a boy and hate it.

I finally did it and I'm so glad I did - not so much because I am in love with it (I have yet to decide what I really think), but I'm mostly glad because it's worth doing things that scare you once in a while...especially when the reason you are NOT doing something is because of what other people will think of you.  I know I spend at least part of my time worrying about other people's opinions on things that don't really matter, especially something as insignificant as a new haircut.

I liked this article that described my internal struggle with short-hair - it helped motivate me to take the plunge!

Me and my wonderful friend, Brandi - and all our kiddos!

Adventures with Sandra and the Kiddos!

Stella getting her daily dose of germs...

Yesterday, we met Sandra and her kiddos at the New Hampshire Children's Museum in Dover - it is fabulous!  I am hoping for Stella's birthday that we get a membership to the museum so that we can visit regularly; how great would that be, huh?  You have access to tons of educational toys and you don't have to clean up or deal with the clutter in your own home!  We had a blast watching the kids play together and experience all the museum has to offer, and we got half off passes at our local library so it was totally worth it.

Love connection?

She's growing like a weed!

Stella, Madison, and Mikayla.

King Landon.

Who is that mysterious girl behind that mask?

Madison playing us some tunes.

Sandra, Mikayla, and Stella were on TV!

I don't know what to say about this :)

Decorating With What's Important.

I finally got around to putting a few things out to mark the Christmas Season, my favorite of which is my nativity scene...an amazing gift from last Christmas, compliments of my mom.  We don't have a tree (at least not yet), but the nativity is more important to me than a tree - it reminds me of the true reason for the season, the birth of the Savior.  I am so thankful to celebrate this holiday for what it really is - thankful that we have made a conscious choice, regardless of our financial want or plenty, to limit our consumption and to turn our hearts and minds to the arrival of the Christ-child.  Tim and I have talked about the kinds of things we want to mark all our future Christmases with Stella - fewer presents and more intentionality; this means keeping the focus on Jesus.  

The Cutest Dress In The World.

When we visited the Cape this past week, we got together with my extended family at my Aunt Francine's house.  Stella received some early Christmas presents from my aunt and cousin, including an AMAZING dress from Francine.  I have never seen anything more precious in my life; it is truly my favorite item of clothing Stella has ever received.  The dress reminded Fran of a Carl Larrson painting - Larrson was a Swedish painter and his subjects (many of whom were his own children) don the most simple, beautiful clothing.  Check out some of his work here.  My mom loved his paintings, so I grew up familiar with his prints.  

For the first time, I went out and bought something for Stella to wear (we've been given all our clothing thus far); she needed some tights and I also found baby leg warmers...come on!  I took Stella to Tim's Staff Christmas Party today and we had a blast.  This is the final product: green dress (a la Francine), red tights, ivory leg warmers, hat and booties (from cousin Mozelle):

Stella and Mark, one of Tim's co-workers.

My little Swedish angel.

I'm having trouble seeing the family resemblance here...

Stella and Jen, another one of Tim's co-workers.

Christmas at Mimi's

Birdy and mimi, checking out the tree.

I'm very thankful for the time Stella and I got to spend with my mom this past week.  Because of the back-and-forth about our house situation we haven't gotten around to decorating for Christmas.  It was wonderful to step inside my mom's house on Saturday; it felt like I was stepping into a kind of "Cottage Christmas Catalog" (or something like that...).  Anyone who knows my mother knows that she has a way of making any house feel like a home - and she sure did an excellent job on her Cape Cod cottage in Pocasset.  

I especially loved watching my mom hold her little "Birdy" while sharing stories about all the ornaments on her tree...all of them have a story of their own.  Tonight I am going to put out a few decorations to mark this marvelous holiday because being on the Cape got me in the Christmas spirit, finally.

Here are a few of my favorite photo memories:

Precious moment between the bird and her mimi.

Bathtime is the best in mimi's sink!

Generations of cousins.

Cousin love - so cute!

Birdy LOVED the ornaments...

...especially her little pine-cone.