Sunshine in Troutdale

I cannot explain to you just how grateful I am when the sun shines here in the winter/early spring time. We have been taking advantage of these days by going for walks and to the park. Natalie loves showing off her walking skills to anyone who passes. One little boy was so impressed with her he tried to kiss her, snotty nose and all. Too bad the mom's interfered. 

Just like Momma

Natalie does not really like wearing a hat these days. I tried to get her to keep it on by showing her I would wear one as well. She got a kick out of seeing me put one on. Hers promptly came off still. 

Lovely drool.... She is such a fun little girl. I even got to rock her to sleep the other night. She hasn't let me do that since she was about four months old. I can't believe she is almost one.

Projects

       

I like to have small projects to work on throughout the week. They help give me direction in my unorganized days, especially when Justin is traveling for work. Our stake had a Relief Society Service day a couple of weeks ago, and this was one of the projects we did for it. It is an apron made especially for Alzheimer patients. One of the only senses they can still use is that of touch. This apron has a variety of textures and fidget items to help them soothe and entertain themselves. The aprons needed to be made before the activity and then the items were sewn on that day. It was a fun project to once again work on my sewing skills. I am excited for those who get to use them.

One of my jobs while in college was cleaning at an assisted living facility. They had a couple of Alzheimer units. I know that these would have been very beneficial for those residence. I am grateful I had the opportunity to do a small act of service for those who suffer from this disease. 

We also made pillowcases for cancer patients, tied quilts, collected food items for the local food pantry and tied fleece banquets. It was a fun, fulfilling day.

February

The shortest month of the year, but I feel like it has been a little long this time around. I think it is just because I am tired of the winter weather. We had a huge snow storm (especially for this area) the second weekend of the month. Church was cancelled, and while I feel a little guilty saying this, I was celebrating! It was a cold, exciting weekend that we were able to hunker down and pretend like the world didn't exist because no one could get anywhere anyways. By Monday, I had cabin fever being that I had not really gone anywhere since the Thursday before. Luckily the snow melted off on Tuesday morning and we broke out of the house!

Justin has been on the road again for work. The last two weeks he was gone pretty much the whole time with the exception of two days. It was crazy, and some days are harder than others, but this week I have appreciated him being home so much more!

Natalie and I have maintained a pretty consistent schedule with story time at the library, running errands, play dates, and work out class. We will be excited when it warms up a bit and we can get outside to walk and go to the park again. Living here I have had some really neat opportunities to interact with people who have beliefs and cultures that are so different from anything I have ever experienced before.

Last week at story time I talked to a mother who was Muslim and originally from Kuwait. For a small town farm girl, this was really exciting! She was awesome and very kind. I thoroughly enjoyed our conversation and was simply impressed with how she lives her life and religious beliefs. If there are many more people in the world like that, there is a lot of good being accomplished.

It has been enlightening this last year to find common ground with people that do not share my same beliefs, but are still great people. I have made friends with an atheist, a woman who never wanted to be a mom until she changed her mind when she was older, and some who have moved here leaving there families a long ways a way. All of these people have made me stretch as a person to get to know them and I am so glad they did. The world is a big place full of interesting people and I know God is trying to teach me that day by day.

We tried to go to the temple one time this month. It is about a 35 minute drive there and we definitely have to be organized and planned for such an event with getting a babysitter. Well, everything was worked out with the exception of the checking the temple schedule. Yeh, we got there and they were closed. It was a huge disappointment and reminder to check the temple schedule. We are going to try again this weekend and I am fairly certain we will be successful.

I made some amazing zucchini muffins last weekend for Justin's Uncle's family that was in town. I didn't tell the kids what kind of muffins they were because I wanted them to try them first. His little cousin who is eight asked, "What is that magical green stuff in them, it makes them so yummy!"

When I told him it was zucchini he was surprised! He said, "I don't even like zucchini but those are good." He ate like four more. The recipe is on the 71 toes blog.  We had a great time with the cousins and his aunt and uncle. They came in late Friday night and after touring some waterfalls in the Gorge left that afternoon.

We have been doing some light house hunting. Things almost got pretty serious last week. We prayed about on particular house before completing the paperwork on it and felt strongly not to go ahead with it. So we are waiting, praying and saving for the right one. The housing market here is intense. Meaning expensive (compared to what we are used to) and it is going up.

Valentines Day we were able to go on a date, Hurray! Olive Garden and a trip to Kinko's so I could make some copies for my lesson. It was really enjoyable to be just a couple for a couple of hours.

Last thoughts for February, Justin is amazing. He works so hard at being a good worker so that he can provide well for us. (I hope that makes since) He brought home a completed operator's manual for the product he is in charge of for his company. It is huge and technical and boring, but he helped write it. It has been two years this month since we moved here and he has accomplished so much in not only his career, but also being a great husband and father. I couldn't do what I am doing without him and We could not do what we are doing without the Lord. As this month wraps up I am continually reminded of the Lord's generous tender mercies and guidance in our life.

Sorry this is so long. That is February. Maybe I will get a new computer soon and can be more consistent in the blogging world. Enjoy these pictures of what February has brought for our almost one year old.

Crazy hair after the ponytail falls out because of nap time.

 Playing with her new shoes

 Trying to get the camera from mom.

Justin and Ruth Blazzard

11 Months Old

Wow, this post has been on my to do list for a couple of weeks now, but with our college computer dying this is the first time I have been able to really get it done without a computer crashing on me. Here we go. She is 11 months old and on the move!

She took her first consecutive steps on January 29th

Since then she has been very diligent at practicing her walking each day

This week she has walked up and down the hall and through the kitchen without falling. 

I bought her a pair of shoes to wear when we are out and about and she is still getting used to them.

Her hair is coming in thick and red. It is beautiful and ADORABLE in a pony tail.

She is still a social butterfly. Many people refer to her as the "ward" baby because she will go to pretty much anyone and is always friendly to those who approach her. 

She ripped a hymn book page last Sunday. It was just a corner, but I felt terrible. 

She has been obsessed with them since she was like five months old. 

She doesn't really like vegetables. I keep offering them, so hopefully this changes throughout this year.

She has figured out how to open cupboards and gladly unloads them for me multiple times a day.

She is growing in her ability to express her love for us. It is the sweetest thing in the world to have her lay her head on your shoulder and she give you a hug. 

She keeps me on my toes everyday with her curiosity about anything that she can get into. 

Only 11 more days and she will be ONE!

Justin and Ruth Blazzard

Wednesday Monster Cookies and Tomorrow

I have a recipe for Monster Cookies that was given to me eight years ago when I was a state FFA officer. I remember loving the cookies, but for some reason never found the time to bake them. Well, Wednesday that all changed and let me tell you they were just as delicious as I remember! There is something about M&M's in a cookie that give them an extra awesomeness score. (I know that isn't even a word) Here is the recipe if you need to try it out.

LaGrande Monster Cookies
3 eggs
1 C Brown Sugar
3/4 tsp. Vanilla
1 C Sugar
2 tsp. Baking Soda
1 cube butter
1 1/2 C Peanut Butter
4 1/2 C Oatmeal
1/2 C chocolate chips (I put a little bit more than this in)
1/2 C m&m's (same thing, a few more never hurts)
1/8 C Chopped Nuts.

Mix and use cookie or ice cream scoop to place on cookie sheet. Bake for 10-12 minutes at 350* Then enjoy! Did you notice there isn't any flour in them?

Not only did we have awesome cookies this week, but also got Natalie to eat from a squeezable fruit pouch. The first time I tried this we were waiting to board a flight to Utah. She let everything run out of her mouth onto me. Needless to say it was a huge mess and not something I was excited to attempt again. However, the convenience of them kept nagging at me as the months have passed. We are working really hard on getting her to eat more solid foods and this is hardest when we are out on the go. I knew these fruit pouches could be the solution, if only.....Luckily, yesterday was a success!

Justin is giving a presentation tomorrow for the Association of Oregon Loggers. He has put in a lot of hours on preparing this. My thoughts and positive thinking vibes will be with him as we go throughout our day. He has done an amazing job with launching this new product for his company and this year is going to be the biggest year for it yet.

Natalie and I are looking forward to tomorrow. We are helping out with a scavenger hunt for a young lady we go to church with. Then I think we are going to head over to the pool and do some swimming. We will anxiously await Justin's arrival at our door in the late afternoon. Lastly, we get to end our day with the anticipation of church in the morning and maybe a movie (well just for mom and dad, Nat will get to go to sleep). I don't know what could be better than that? Have a great weekend!



Justin and Ruth Blazzard

10 Months Old

You like how her expression is the same in all three of those?

 

So these pictures pretty much sum up this little lady at 10 months old. 

She is a mover and LOVES to unload things. As you can see from the pictures she already unloaded several books and cds from their proper place, and now she decided to help me with the laundry. 

The first pictures are from us looking at the Ipad. 

She LOVES this as well! If you are looking at it she puts down whatever she is doing and bee lines it for your lap. If you don't pick her up right away she huffs and laughs to get you to look at her and then she gives a big grin to be picked up. I am in for it when she can find it on her own. 

She is starting to eat more variety of solid foods. 

Every time she eats something that previously she detested I do a little happy dance in my head.

She still takes a bottle about three times a day, once in the morning, mid- day and right before bed. I have got to start weaning her from that mid-day one.

She claps, waves and can say "Hi." She has started making the sounds of "mamama" and "dadada", but does not yet associate them with Justin or I.

She has gotten much better at drinking from a sippy cup.

She is getting close to standing independent of anything and I think she will be walking soon.

She loves going to story time and when Justin gets home from work.

She is still pretty much up to letting anyone hold her. One of Justin's good friends has a beard and she is fascinated by that. They are good buddies. 

Her hair is getting longer, but doing anything with it is about ridiculous. 

She throws her head back if I try to touch it.

I can't believe she is this old already and I am grateful I get to be home with her each day to watch her change and grow.