Tree Hunt

Our annual family Christmas tree hunt was a success! We decided to go up to Cedar Mountain this year so we didn't have to drive quite so far. It was freezing as usually but mostly it was just a blast to all be together tracking through the snow to find that perfect tree. When I say perfect, I  mean perfect cuz Momma Spendlove is picky about her Christmas trees! We had snowball fights, did a little sledding and drank hot chocolate to stay warm. Ended the day at Pizza Hut, because dad always gets his way and now that's just tradition. ;) It was another great year with our evergrowing family!! 

A fun new tradition we started with the Jansons is this mouthwatering Charcuterie Board! After hunting all day for Christmas Trees we built up quite the appetite so it was perfect to head over and enjoy this with them! Isn't that platter just Pinterest worthy! 

MONTH ELEVEN

How is my baby almost one!!! This past month has been a big one. She now walks and pretty well I might add. She started the week she turned 10 and has been just moving ever since. It didn't really surprise me that she walked before a year, she has always wanted and tried to be so mobile. You'll often find her dragging a shirt or hand towel around and getting angry when she steps on it and can't walk anymore. She's got a short temper like her daddy ;) Her first word after mom and dad is "dog" and she says it for dogs and all other animals. We are working on Cat or Kitty. She understands certain phrases such as "go for a walk" or "time to get out".  She loves to wave at everyone and knows that "hello" and "Bye-bye" means to wave. She's so talkative right now and trying out new sounds. The best part is she puffs out her lips when talking! Her most favorite place to go right now is Home Depot to see all the Christmas Trees. You will always hear her saying WOW or OOH about everything right now. I love her excitement and love for life at this age! She brings so much light and love to our little family and we are incredibly blessed to have her.  

Weight & Height - Grace has actually lost a little weight being so mobile this month. She weighs 18 lbs and she's just over 2 ft tall (26 inches). She is thinning out now that she's walking and loosing her cute little baby chub. When I kiss her cheeks you can feel them sunk in a bit. She's wearing 9-12 month and some 12-18 month clothing. 

Sleep -  She is back to sleeping 5-6 hour stretches and still LOVES to cuddle! I'm starting to wonder if our king size bed will someday sleep Ethan and I and our x amount of kids that all love to cuddle. You know, that wouldn't be the worst thing in the world. She still naps at least once a day. Rarely twice because she'd rather be awake and playing. She doesn't want to miss anything. She's back in our room because after about three weeks in her own room I decided it really wasn't worth it for me to stay sain and be able to have the energy to take care of her all day. She didn't sleep for more than two hours at a time so I was constantly getting up in the night. I'd rather still co-sleep and get 6-hour stretches than have her in her own room sleeping 2. Oh, the joys of sleep training. Not my talent.

Eat - Grace will eat anything and everything she finds on the floor ;) She loves her yogurt melts and holding/eating her own apple. She will only sit in the high chair for a limited time and then when she's done she constantly tries to climb out! Her dad loves sharing his sweets and treats with her and I have to constantly remind him she's still a baby! Although, she sure does have a sweet tooth! She's gonna love her cake smash next month!! 

Mommy Update: This month we are headed to Jamaica and I'm having a hard time deciding whether or not to leave her. It's too hard to leave my baby. I'm still too attached. I guess it'll depend on how she's sleeping.  I think I'll always have this strong attachment to my baby girl, it's just something I'll have to learn to adjust to. Ah, I'm so lucky to be her mom. 

Monthly Photo Dump
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Logan + Lagoon

This month Ethan didn't have Drill so we decided to head up North anyways and celebrate Ethan's Birthday, as well as our little niece Olive's Birthday. We spent the day at Lagoon Amusement Park and the next morning enjoyed a catered brunch followed by Boo at the Logan ZooUtah. It was so nice to be up there all weekend and actually get to see my husband! 

I honestly wish I could say Grace love her first ride...but it was quite the opposite. She hated it!! However, she did love watching all the rides and people. Watch the video below. :)

MONTH TEN

DOUBLE DIGITS!! Wow! Grace is seeming more and more like a soon to be one year old! She's getting sooo big!! It just blows my mind how fast a year can go!  She's gotten so cuddly lately. In fact, my favorite time of day is right when she wakes up because she just wants to lay and cuddle for a few minutes. There's nothing sweeter than her initiating the cuddle session for a change instead of me forcing her! ;)  You'll often find Grace under the table waking between the chairs or trying to climb the stairs when I'm not looking! Last week I got distracted folding laundry and by the time I realized Grace was missing she had made it all the way up the stairs and into the guest bathroom splashing in the toilet! We purchased a baby gate that afternoon! If you missed it, go check out my last post of her nine-month photoshoot. She's such a doll! 

Weight & Height - Grace was last weighed at 19lbs but I think it's closer to 20lbs. She is almost ready to be switched to a bigger size car seat because of her height. She's wearing size 3 diapers still and 6-9 month, and some small 12-month clothing. Like adorable little sweaters!! Just in time for fall! 

Sleep - We found a schedule that is working pretty well. Wake at 8-8:30. Walk to the park/workout. Breakfast. Nap 10. Eat. Play. Nap in the afternoon, depending on our schedule that day, around 2-3pm. Eat. Play. Bath around 7:30-8 and bed at 8-830.   She still wakes up 2 times a night for feedings, but I've slowly been decreasing her amount at nighttime and she doesn't even notice and then is right back asleep within 5 minutes. Oh and she's officially sleeping in her own room now! It's great to have our room/bed back!! If I'm being honest, I do miss her sometimes. I may or may not check the owlet app at least once a minute. 

Eat - She eats table food and she eats it well! She wants whatever is going into our mouths! Dad is still learning that she's still just a little girl and doesn't have as many teeth as we do to chew large pieces. She is very stubborn and will not eat anything she doesn't want to. She also learned this new trick where she spits and blows raspberries, constantly! 

Mommy Update: Still working at the dental office from home, getting the hang of Young Women's Secretary and trying to squeeze in as much gym time as I can. I've really gotten back into cycling in spin classes and trying to do a no sugar phase! We'll see how that goes. I love this mommy life I'm living. 
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Monthly Photo Dump
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