Saturday, November 26, 2011

Cause He's Cute!









Wednesday, November 23, 2011

thankful

We have finally settled into our home and gone are the days of crazy infant schedules & demands, it seems in a nutshell, that we are arrived at our new normal, and I pretty much love it. This year, I finally have a few minutes to sit down and be thoughtful about being thankful. For starters, no surprise, I am thankful for Logan. I am thankful that he is healthy and that he laughs and makes me laugh every day - really that is all I ever need. He has shown me the gift of being a parent - which at times leaves me with frizzy hair and lots of crumbs in my car - but it has also given me a depth that I could never have achieved on my own. I could not have understood it before him, but I couldn't imagine living my life without this experience.

I am thankful for the family - blood and not - that keeps me in sane in the moments when I question whether or not moving 1000 miles away was worth it - and on the days when its not, I'm thankful for snail mail, voicemail and email that keep me connected to everyone that I love. I am still getting used to this stage of life - and I am thankful for the moments when everything feels just right!

Thursday, November 17, 2011

Sleeping in Seattle

I would title this post Sleepless in Seattle, but it was technically our first "getaway" without the baby - so really, it was pretty amazing sleep! We had such an awesome 36 carefree hours - even if we did talk about Logan, a lot! We had an amazing view from our hotel room and were pampered from the moment we arrived. A visit to Pike Place market and the first Starbucks, check, check and it was on to some site seeing, shopping and of course eating and lots of coffee drinking. We rounded out our trip with a whirl on the monorail and the Space Needle, it was a great weekend and we will be back!



























Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Logan Taylor - 16 Months

Logan turns 16 months old today - and it seems like we have entered full blown toddler-hood and for the most part, I love it! Logan is active, loves playing outdoors in our backyard and even in the rain. He is social and loves to show off when people come over to visit. He is eating everything, his favorites are pizza, Daddy's chicken stew, pretzel bites and lolly-pops! He is wearing size 18-24 months in clothes and still has 7 teeth. This month he learned how to dance which includes some fancy foot work and spinning in circles. He is a ham and loves laughing, including a nice fake laugh when he sees other people laughing. He is a quick study and learns new "tricks" all the time, including showing us the inside of his mouth(see pics). We love taking him new places and watching the world through his eyes. Happy 16 months big guy!









Wednesday, November 9, 2011

The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust



It's no surprise that my first pick would involve animals. This is the heart of many of my life passions and I am so impressed with what this nonprofit has created. So my first pick for my 30 for 30 project is the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust.

The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust is dedicated to the protection and conservation of wildlife and habitats in Kenya. Best known for the rescue and hand-rearing of milk dependent orphaned baby elephants and rhinos, so that they can return to the wild when grown, the DSWT also manages anti-poaching teams, mobile veterinary units and community outreach programs.

The save orphaned elephants and rhino's who are often left that way due to poaching. What an honor to help this organization serve the animals of Kenya and continue to fight for better anti-poaching laws.


On my bucket list of life is to see an African Safari - and I sure hope that by the time I get there - we still have many of these animals living happily in the wild and not just captivity.


Monday, November 7, 2011

30 for 30

So I have decided to change things up a bit - for me at least. You see, I am turning 30 is 2 days - and while I think I have come to terms with the number, it does spur some questions about where I am in my list of life goals. I made a list last year and have completed most of the items, but after I turn 30 I am going to move on from the list and instead spend a little time every month learning about and giving to something I believe in. So every month on the 9th, for my whole 30th year, I am going to donate $30 to a charity and highlight the best of what they do. So stay tuned for the the first version on Wednesday!

Thursday, November 3, 2011

A new Pumpkin Reciple

I decided to keep with tradition and try and new pumpkin dish this fall. So, thank you to Better Homes and Gardens for the best ever Pumpkin Macaroni and Cheese recipe. It was AMAZING! It really was pretty easy to make, just had to hit one extra store to find some good Fontina and has just enough of a pumpkin flavor to make for a great side or entree on a cold fall night!

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

A Spider in the House

Last night we celebrated our first Halloween in our new neighborhood and it was Awesome! Logan was a spider and it was the perfect costume since he is no longer into hats or any decor for the head! He helped us answer the door and hand out candy and our door bell got some major action, it was a busy night! We also let Logan have his first taste of lots of different kinds of candy and I'm pretty sure he liked them all (ahem, he is my son after all) - but his favorite are the lolly pops!