The Evolution of our Christmas

Merry Christmas to everyone! We are having a lovely day at home with our whole family. Presents were opened, delicious breakfast was eaten, movies were watched, naps were taken.

I love Christmas. I think I get that from my mom. She loves Christmas the most. Our house is bedazzled in wreaths and swags and lights and snowmen galore. Its kind of like Disneyland, but the food is better. Fancy!

Last night we had our traditional crab and clam chowder dinner. We sang around the piano and read the nativity story from the Bible. We opened our one Christmas Eve present (jammies!) and sat around the Christmas tree to catch up. This year, all four siblings and their families were in attendance. It was just like when we were little.

I remember so many Christmases from my childhood. Sleeping upstairs so I wouldn't hear Santa, Mario kart tournaments until the early morning hours, racing down the stairs with my brothers and sisters to see the spread on Christmas morning. I loved those times. Now our holidays are a little bit different. There are babies running around. Isabelle was passed around like an Olympic torch. Our family is slowly multiplying and it just keeps getting more fun.

I thought I would miss being a kid and believing in Santa and all the magic that comes with that. But, honestly, I like this part better. Having children around brings all that magic back- their faces are priceless, and I wouldn't trade that for the world. Plus, I still feel like that little kid running down the stairs to see what Santa left me.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that I like being semi grown up. I love my husband. I love Isabelle. I love spending the holidays with our family. We have had a wonderful Christmas together and I look forward to many more.

Baby Blessing

In our church, when a baby is born we give them a name and a special blessing for their new little life. Last Sunday (last Sunday? Sunday before that? what day is it?) was Isabelle's blessing day on our last Sunday in Utah. My parents flew out for the occasion, and our friends and family all joined us Sunday morning for the blessing and brunch.

It was an extra special day since Jazz was able to bless sweet Isabelle. Almost a year ago, Jazz made the decision to be baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. So much can happen in a year! I won't lie, my heart was just exploding, I was so proud of my husband and my family, I wanted to burst.

Handsome husband and Isabelle in her beautiful white dress

The Brunch Chefs. Mo and Sabs made a delicious brunch with three different quiches, mini muffins, scones, fresh fruit, etc. If I haven't said it before... I have the best sisters in the world!

All the Utah cousins

Such a happy day

Mom, Dad, and Fancy Isabelle

All smiles for Grandpa

We had a great weekend together, and it was wonderful to celebrate Isabelle's arrival into our happy family. For more information about blessing a baby in our church, click here.

Mitchell is Moving

Our apartment is empty. Our cars are stuffed full. I'm blogging live from beautiful and scenic Winnemucca, Nevada.

How did this week go? Well.. it definitely went, thats for sure. We used a great u-pack freight service, basically we stuffed a trailer full of our stuff, and someone else is moving it for us. Awesome, right? The trailer was delivered last Tuesday, and we spent four days packing, moving, lifting, boxing, taping, and cleaning. It will all be delivered to Redding on Tuesday. Jazz had to work most of the day today, so we drove about 5 1/2 hours this evening to get a good head start.

As I was packing up my 100th million box, I thought to myself, how in the sam hell did we accumulate so much junk. When we moved in to the apartment, we had NOTHING. Then we got married, got a lot of new stuff, had a baby, got even more new stuff. The results are catastrophic. Junk central.

It was a little sad pulling out of our apartment driveway today. We LOVED living in our little basement abode. After all, this was the apartment that we moved into as sparkly newlyweds. It was the place we brought our beautiful newborn baby girl home to. We have celebrated birthdays and anniversaries and holidays there. We have so many wonderful memories, it will always be a special to us.

I'm excited about the move. I'm excited to unpack and make a new home for new memories. I'm excited to be close to my Mom and Dad. I'm excited for sunny days and warmer winters. I'm excited to explore the area with Jazz and Isabelle. I'm excited to embark on our new adventure together.

My dad ran into an old friend of mine at the mall last night. As they were chatting, he was telling her about our move home- he told her it was the "best Christmas present ever."

I think I have to agree.

12/17/09

I hate not blogging for a week.

We are packing.

And moving.

And cleaning.

And it is hard.

I hate it.

I'm never moving again.

We have too much stuff.

I'm not kidding, way too much.

I'm too tired.

And I just want to go to sleep.

I wish I had cooler things to blog about.

But I have boxes on the brain.

Help.

December brings..

I love everything about December. I wish I could put it in my pocket and carry it around with me all year. This December has been one for the books for sure:

1. The return of Bearded Jazz. (Remember this post?)Oh, how I have missed you! As a tradition, Jazz grows a beard from Thanksgiving to Christmas. Except last year I convinced him to keep it a bit longer. (March maybe? April?) Yes, some of you may think he should be driving a big rig and chopping wood, but I think he looks lovely.

What is this, like the best picture of all time? Yeah, pretty much.

2. My one year anniversary from divorcing diet pepsi. My beloved soft drink was causing massive migraines since I was basically ingesting it around the clock. They like to trick you into believing that its a free treat since it has no calories. Don't let them fool you! Anyway I kicked the habit cold turkey last November so it has been ONE MIRACULOUS YEAR without it. I'm headache free (yippee!) but my soul is empty. Diet pepsi, you will always be in my heart.

3. Freezing temperatures. Edit, BELOW FREEZING. Are you kidding me? I was watching the news this morning and the current temperature in Provo was zero. ZERO. What do you even do in this kind of weather? I'm afraid to take Isabelle out for fear she will turn into a sold block of ice. 17 degrees is very, very cold.

Oh hey, nice reflection Micci.

4. Big changes for the Sorensen family. In case you haven't heard, Jazz has been offered a new job-at a hospital in Redding, California. Gasp! The three of us will be packing up and moving west sometime next week. Yes, as in, next week.

It is a bittersweet move- we love this area, we love our apartment, we love our ward. We have family close by, the mountains right next door, and great things to do in Salt Lake. But, California will be a new grand adventure for us. It is a wonderful opportunity and we are so thankful that Jazz was offered this position. More details to follow.

PS If you are wondering if we need help moving, the answer is yes.

Surprise, more pictures.

Remember Isabelle's newborn photos? Well, we finally got the rest of them from our shoot in October. Isabelle was 13 days old. She is so small! There are 34 total, and I honestly considered posting all of them because honestly she looks adorable in all of them. But I showed some self control. Behold:

2 months

Dear Sweet Isabelle,

Little Isabelle, yesterday you turned two months. You are getting a little bit bigger and stronger every day! You are learning to smile and to sit up and use your neck muscles- you are growing so much! Your eyelashes are full and long and your little toes look like tiny grapes from Mom's summer garden. You can grab on to things now, anything in your reach- my shirt or your pacifier or a burpie. You still love to be swaddled tightly, and you love to be rocked to sleep.

Yesterday we went to the pediatricians for your well visit. You are a petite 9 pounds, 8 ounces and you are 22 inches long! That puts you in about the 25% percentile for your growth. You are so cute and miniature and we are so thankful you are healthy.

Izzie, you should know how much your father loves and adores you. He carefully bathes you and puts lotion on your little body, he changes your diapers, he holds you tightly in his big arms. He laughs at your funny faces and rocks you when you cry. I love him more now than ever and I could not ask for a better partner in parenting.

Just in the last few days you have learned to smile. We smile our big goofy faces at you and you light up right back at us- and a little piece of my heart explodes for you. Isabelle, I had no idea what my life would be like after you arrived. I knew it would be different, I knew things would change, but I didn't really know how much. I usually fight change, I am such a creature of habit. But you are the most wonderful change I have ever experienced.

Sometimes you fall asleep on my shoulder, your little face turned towards my chin. Your mouth pops open when you are in a deep sleep, and I can feel your warm sweet breath on my skin. These are moments I wish I could save and put in a jar for when you are all grown up and you no longer fit on my shoulder. I'm so thankful, grateful, excited, thrilled to be your mother, and to share these moments with you.



xoxox



Momma

Our Holiday Week

WHAT has HAPPENED to my BLOG. I mean, really, one update in a week? Pitiful. It's like I'm busy or something! Okay true I'm busy but I miss my blog, so I'm back in the saddle.

Our trip to California was a SUCCESS. Isabelle did so well in the car, I think she was less cranky than me by the end of it! (I hate that drive.) The 12-hour drive was definitely worth it, we had a great week with our family.

We had a lovely Thanksgiving Feast with friends and family, complete with a tasty deep fried turkey. Delish!

Isabelle met Aunt JaNae and cousin Madilyn

And Aunt Francie (Her battery powered hat moves around and sings. awesome.)

We put on our fancys and went to the Cascade Christmas show

Where we all watched Scott and Mom perform a fantastic holiday show

Madilyn really enjoyed the leaves outside (Love her boots. I mean, really?)

And I think we wore little Isabelle out. Yes I know her suit is huge on her but it kept her warm!

We also ate a lot of food, played some games, hit up the burrito bandito, and watched some holiday movies. Really, what more could we ask for?

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving!

This is my view from our couch, sitting with family and friends, full from turkey and stuffing, enjoying our afternoon. Hope you are all having an equally lovely holiday today!

11/24/09

So.

Turns out we are making a last minute trip to Redding for Thanksgiving. And by last minute, I mean we decided last night at ten pm.

12 hours in a car. With a 7 week old. Twice in five days.

Are we crazy? Yes, yes, we are.

BUT. We get to see Mom and Scott's show. (What show? See here. Need tickets? See here.) And Isabelle will get to meet aunts and uncles and cousins and all kinds of special people. Plus, I'm sure we will hit the Burrito Bandito. So, there's that.

If you need me tomorrow, sorry, I'm spending the day in the car with my two favorite people.

A few of my favorite (baby) things

Girls in white dresses with blue satin sashes.
Snowflakes that stay on my nose and eyelashes!

Okay enough of that. Isabelle's arrival has prompted an overwhelming influx of baby crap. Clothes and toys and bedding and burp cloths and accessories etc. We have so much stuff. Honestly, I know there are things we won't use or that she won't wear, but some things have been invaluable to us the last two months. (Holy hell! Two months!) So here is my unsolicited opinion on all things baby related. You're welcome.

1. Ergo Carrier. Recommended by my friend Kaylene, this carrier has been awesome. Isabelle sits in it while I clean or do dishes, its perfect for outings, and it is so versatile. Bonus: I can put it on by myself, and it holds up to 40+ pounds, plus it is super comfortable.

2. Mylicon gas drops- works wonders on a fussy baby. Never leave home without them. I'm not kidding, we will turn around for them.

3. Homemade burp cloths. We use them for EVERYTHING. I made 8, and we haven't used any of the other million that we have. They are super absorbent, they wash easily, plus they are cute. Next time you are having a baby, call me, and I will send some your way. I love them THAT much.
4. Lily padz. My sister-in-law JaNae gave these to me at my shower and let me tell you what. They are the coolest thing since sliced bread. I won't go into detail for fear my mother will fall over dead if I discuss breast feeding on my blog, but seriously, get some asap.


5. Skip Hop changing pad. Perfect if you don't need your whole diaper bag, or if your husband is running to change the baby. It's small, holds diapers and wipes, and unfolds for convenient baby placement. The mat can be cleaned easily, which is important when those size one diapers are still a little bit too big. I will not tell you how we found that out. Plus, its stylish without being too baby/girly/pink. Know what I mean? Bonus: Well priced! We got ours from csnbaby.com, which also has great nursery furniture.

6. Moses Basket by Land of Nod. (We have the green one) Easy to move around, Isabelle has slept soundly in it since day one. We can put it our room, in the crib, on the floor, in the living room, in the bathroom, literally ANYWHERE.

7. A swing. Any swing, really. Ours is a Brentwood Baby Swing, graciously gifted by our ward. I don't think I would ever get a shower before 6 pm without this thing. She loves it. It plays music and has nature sounds and has a bunch of different swing settings.
8. Oxyclean. Great for honestly any stain, especially a certain one gifted by our sweet daughter on a frequent basis. My mom taught me to use it as a pre-soak for really soiled items, then throw a scoop in each laundry load. Comes out clean every. single. time. Billy Mays, may you rest in pitchman peace.

9. This baby:

Sorry, not available in stores.

Don't bother with: bulb nasal aspirator (q-tips work much better), A Snoogle, any newborn clothes without feet, those special swaddling things (receiving blankets worked best for us), and also, getting dressed.

xo.

Dad's 52nd

My dad flew out this past weekend for a whirlwind 48-hour visit to meet Miss Isabelle. We had a great time. Saturday night we celebrated his 52nd birthday (which is today!) with dinner at Market Street and a famous Morgan Cake.

When I was a little girl, I would not let my mother touch my hair. I would scream and cry and throw fits when it was time to have it combed or styled. I mean, total meltdown. As a result of this, my mom only had a few options of haircuts for me. Let's just say that me and Timmy from next door had the exact same hair style. (Not your fault, mom.)

With five kids to get ready for church on Sunday mornings, my parents would divide and conquer and share the kid-getting-ready duties. I remembering standing in my parents bathroom and dad blow drying my short hair. He was so good at it, he would brush it as it dried so it curled perfectly under all the way around my head. I will never forget how his hands felt on my head as he did my hair. The same hands have stitched up my face, they have gently laid on my head during special priesthood blessings, the same hands have washed and dried little Isabelle's hair this past weekend.

Dad, Happy Birthday, I love all of our memories together. Thanks for coming out last weekend and making more.

Isabelle's Newborns

We had some newborn photos taken of Isabelle when she was 14 days old. Here are our favorites- though ALL of them were fantastic, it took us forever to choose. Photos were taken by Laura of Means a Lot Photography in Heber City.

Which is your favorite?