Thanksgiving and Phoenix 2016

We drove to Phoenix to visit my sister Ruth and her family for Thanksgiving. We had gone to their place for Thanksgiving once before, when Abby was a baby so it had been 4 years. Definitely time to do it again. The girls had a blast with their cousins Nathan and Lizzie, spending lots of time out on the trampoline.

We all went on a hike on the hill behind their house, which I've surprisingly never done before even with all our visits over the years. So neat that they can literally walk out their back door into this.

On Thanksgiving morning Ruth, Lizzie, and I did the local turkey trot. Lizzie did her first 5k ever (!!!) and I did the 10k, my first race since having Sadie (who was about 8 weeks old at this point). It felt so good to be out there running again!

The day after Thanksgiving we we out for a fun boat ride. We've never done anything like it with the girls before so it was a fun experience for all of us. Abby and Rua were so excited.

And then we finished off with a visit to the gigantic Christmas tree. Such a fun trip!

Sadie baby blessing

Sadie was blessed in church today. Eric blessed her and it was just beautiful, except for all the crying she did during it! No, that was beautiful too. :) It was definitely her personality shining through! You are loved little girl and it was so wonderful to honor you and your birth today. With how difficult its been in many aspects since Sadie was born, it was good to have this special day to step back and remind ourselves how incredibly blessed we are. Even if we have to deal with a ton of crying, we've got Sadie and that's sure something special.

Yep, there she is

Letter to Sadie, 2 months

Dearest Sadie,

Another month older!

This has continued to be a pretty rough month with long nights and lots of crying. We bought a co-sleeper, thinking that if we could keep you close by in bed, it would be easier, but you just do not stay asleep in there, you seem to sleep best in a rocking bassinet that we borrowed from a friend. You also seem to hate being swaddled, you just break out of them, but then wake yourself up so easily if you are not swaddled. You do seem to be starting to fall alseep at a more predictable time for the night, though it is usually pretty early, by 6pm. And you are starting to have a little bit longer stretch at the beginning of the night.

We have started venturing out this past month some more. Unfortunately you still absolutely hate your car seat, so going anywhere is sure stressful as you just cry and cry. We made a trip to Phoenix for Thanksgiving and oh dear did you let us know that you did not want to be in the car all those hours.

When we are out, you like to be bundled up and nap in the wrap. Though, unlike your sisters, you seem to only want to be in there if you are sleeping, you don't like to be strap

You haven't given us any smiles yet. I was hoping for some 6 weeks smiles, but nope. Not yet. Please hurry little one, I'd like to know that you like us at least a little bit!

Your sisters adore you and always want to hold you. You tolerate it a little bit. You got to meet your Arizona cousins, Lizzie and Nathan this month, and they also loved to hold you.

Some firsts this month:
First Halloween - you were an owl, just like your big sister Rua.
First Thanksgiving
First road trip
First bath, yeah it took us a while...

We love you Sadie! Even if you won't smile at us.:)

  

  

You actually look kind of happy here!

Sleeping Sadie and Mamma

I love you,

Love,

Your Mamma

Halloween 2016

I had told myself and Eric that I wasn't going to make costumes this year. I mean, we would have a newborn and how would I fit that in? And we have plenty of dress-up stuff. Well... I made them costumes. I just couldn't not do it! And in my defense, I did actually sew them up before Sadie was even born so it wasn't too stressful at all. 

And we have such a little owl love that I just had to make her an owl costume. And then I sort of talked Abby into being a mermaid because I've had this awesome mermaid costume tutorial saved for a couple years. I don't think she even really knew what a mermaid was before I showed her the pictures. 😁

Anyway, they turned out just darling! Tutorial for mermaid here and owl tutorial is no longer available when I looked.

Eric went as Prince Eric to go along with Abby and I was a 'tree' and Sadie was also an owl.

We met up with birth class friends for pictures and trick or treating.