A Post-Christmas Update

Stella's real cute.
That's all.

Pumpkin pie is to Thanksgiving as gingerbread men are to Christmas.

It's not too late to make a batch!

Don't Oliver's look appetizing?

Gingerbread Cookies from my Grandma B

1 cup molasses
1/2 cup shortening
3 cups flour
2 teaspoons ginger
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt

1. heat molasses and pour over the shortening; mix
2. in a separate bowl, mix all dry ingredients with a whisk
3. add dry ingredients to the molasses mixture; mix
4. chill for a little while
5. roll, cut, and bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes, or so
6. cool completely
7. decorate and eat

I could hold this baby all day long.

Oh wait, I usually do.

It's raining pine needles in my living room.

We may have jumped the gun when we got our tree right after Thanksgiving.

It's fading fast.

Christmas Card Rejects

Our cards* are in the mail.

I had a hard time deciding which picture to use.
Here are the photos that I loved, but that didn't quite make the cut:

Keep an eye on your mailboxes!

*In case you were wondering,
we are sending out 2 cards this year.
These are from the regular Christmas card.
Don't ask me to see our silly one.
I will not be posting it.

I'm not sure Gramma would approve

but Miss Stella went to church for the first time today.
(After going to the ward Christmas party Friday night,
I couldn't quite rationalize staying home from church for another week.)

Sundance Shirts and Poojie Pants

thanks, mom.

A Little Stella Fix

OK, so maybe it's not that impressive.

But this is the longest my hair has been since I was 16.

I feel like it is halfway down my back.
It's really not.
Maybe I should cut it.


Oliver is wondering what the heck I am doing taking pictures of the back of my head.
And yes, it is almost 3 pm and he is still in his pajamas.
We have a new baby at our house.
We don't get out much.

Thank heaven for this little girl.

We love our Stella.
She is the lovliest baby.
(Even though she is crying in this picture.)
There is nothing like a brand new baby to bring peace into a home.
They are just so close to heaven.

She is nursing like a champ, by the way.
While that's great news,
it's really making Mike regret the $90 he paid to rent the pump.

Oh well.

White shirts and 3 year old boys just don't mix.

I was a fool to think they would.
(p.s. this picture really doesn't do the dirt justice.)

Chubbiness has been achieved.

After a tense weigh-in at the doctor today,
we got the good news that Stella is back to her birth weight.

Phew.

The Big 3-0

Happy Birthday, Les!
I love you.

(Now, move to Arizona, already.)

We need more chubbiness around here.

(Miss Stella, one day old)
Look at those cheeks!

Something is a problem.
(That's what Oliver likes to say.)

Miss Stella is not gaining any weight.
She is down 9 ounces from her birth weight.
That means she's skinny.

I think I've figured out why.
She's a lazy bum.
She falls asleep as soon as I start nursing her.
Every time.
No matter how wide awake she was seconds before.
There's no vigorous sucking and not much swallowing.
Just lots of sleeping.

I am all about breast milk.
I love nursing my babies.
But I've had to supplement her with formula.
It's stinky.
But you know what?
She really likes drinking from a bottle.

So I rented a pump.
Wish me luck.

This might just be the world's tackiest Christmas tree

but if you are 5 and your name is Mabel, it is also the most beautiful.