Capturing December: bright

"Bright."
If only the "shopping" day and "bright" day had been switched. Because wouldn't you know we went shopping yesterday. Wow. So out of character for us. But we went all out and strolled the mall, of all places. I know. It was a new day. It's was Jared's wonderful idea. And even though we went to go Christmas shopping, we came home with 10D nails to fix our lose steps out front, and a much needed winter hat for me. That's it. We are far too practical to make Christmas shopping fun and surprising.

"Bright" smiling faces :)

Capturing December: shopping

Today's theme is shopping. HA! I don't shop. Hardly at all. All year long. I buy food. That's about it. So, of course I haven't bought much of anything for Christmas. One year I drew or painted a picture for everyone in my family. Another year I wrote them all a personal poem. Other years I crocheted scarves or sewed quilts. I am just not a great gift giver in all the conventional ways. But when I give gifts, they are homemade and lovely. However, I don't have the time, money or energy to be on top of gifts this year. But my awesome neighbor has bought lots of presents and gets boxes on her doorstep almost daily. 

This is my participation in shopping: I took one of my neighbor's big boxes and the guy and I made a Christmas box fort. 

1. I poked holes in the sides and top with scissors

2. The guy got in the dark, empty box

3. He watched it light up as I put the bulbs in one by one.

4. When he got sick of that he came out and helped me put them in the holes

5. We eventually cut a door on one side

Voila! IF I had gone shopping and had a bunch of big boxes, this is one thing I would have done with them. Thanks, Shan, for the box!

Capturing December: red, joyous, temperature

"red"

"joyous"
It was a joyous day. We went to the temple. I attended the temple and we all enjoyed the Christmas lights and displays at the temple visitor's center. 

"today's temperature"
It has been near 70 the last few days. I am enjoying flip flops in December.

L's nine week summary

What a whirl. I know I've written it before, but it is the truth. These have been rough weeks of our lives, allowing us to savor and appreciate the smooth days even more.

Growth:

• At her 2 month check up she weighed 10 pounds 8 oz., 35th percentile
• She was 23 inches long, the 75th percentile
• And her head is perfectly average, the 50th percentile
• She is officially out of newborn clothes and getting big 

Skills:

• She can hold her head up much better, but she struggles turning her head to the right. She does not yet have full range of motion. We are doing some simple physical therapy at home and it is helping. Her head is getting flat on the one side from uneven time looking to the left. 
• She greatly dislikes tummy time. She cried after even one minute on her tummy, but we are changing the scene and reassuring her as much as possible to make it enjoyable. She is getting more patient and able to lift her head a bit higher. She still needs lots of practice.
• She somtimes coos and ahhs and I LOVE those happy moments of communication. They are tender mercies.

Health:

• It's official. After many weeks of trial and error, she is undoubtedly having allergic, digestive reactions to both diary and gluten. She reacts in painful, crying fits and sleepless days whenever I eat even a spoonful of green bean casserole, with cream and cheese in it. She suffers from constipation and thick, mucus-filled stools when I eat bread. It's now painfully clear that if she is to be comfortable and breastfeed, I have to cut out all dairy and all gluten. I know it is going to be EXTREMELY difficult, but worth it. That's what sacrifice is. Giving up something for something better. If you are around when I eat, please help me. For L's sake.
• The yeast comes and goes and it is visible when we eat sugar (obviously) or even carbohydrates. It is getting better and is now manageable, however. Yay! It's taken lots of coconut oil, anti-fungal creams as well as oral nystatin.
• The progress we have made in her digestive health has come with the aide and advice of our family nurse practitioner, her pediatrition, our naturopath M.D., our chiropractor specializing in pregnant woman and children, and countless friends and family. Thank you for all your advice and suggestions!

Personality:

• L is very sensitive to sounds and is jumpy. She frowns and makes her opinions clear when the guy hollers or household activities get loud. Today at church she was perfectly content in a friend's arms until the piano boomed out the intro to the closing song. She also jumped each time the door clicked with the comings and goings of class members. 
• She loves a particular animal mobile and smiles at the lion almost every time she's under it.
• She loves looking at lights, especially the new Christmas tree lights.
• She likes being outside and in warm water. We might have a water baby on ours hands. Water is very calming to her. 
• When she gets tired and is ready for sleep, we better get her ready for bed and put her down right away. Holding her just gets her more worked up. The best remedy is to get her swaddled and comfortable in bed right away. She wants to be alone so we better get out of her face quick. :)
• She does have opinions and makes them clear. When she is done nursing, there is no point in offering more. She gets mad. When she wants you out of her face she makes it clear. And when she is happy to talk with you, she will look you straight in the eye and smile. There is no guessing how she feels in the moment, but you never know how she will feel in the next. She keeps us on our toes. Speaking of toes, hers are so cute. She really is a beautiful little lady and I kiss her all day long. I adore her and thank God she is ours.

Capturing December: holiday movie

I don't really have a favorite holiday movie. Unlike my in-laws who watched A Christmas Carol every year without fail, we didn't have a movie tradition. Although we did watch A Christmas Story a lot. That explains so much of the family differences in our two households. ;)

As an adult, I really enjoy watching It's a Wonderful Life and Elf. But my favorite has to be Mr. Kruger's Christmas starring Jimmy Stewart. He tells Jesus how much he loves him, and we should all take time this month to both tell and show the Christ child that we love him too.
There is a very pixelated version here or you can buy it for $4.50 here. I love it! I also recommend this one, and this one is free!

Thanksgiving 2012 in pictures

As if I didn't mention it enough, but my in-laws are BEAUTIFUL people!

Capturing December: my view

I've decided to accept the challenge to capture December with a photo a day. Like usual, I missed my cue and am already a day behind. Here is the invitation and the daily categories. 

"My view yesterday"

Happy Birthday to EVERYONE!

You don't get more lame than this. I know I have missed so many birthdays the last 2 months. Please forgive me and know that I still love you. I just had a baby who has had the two most difficult months of life. More on that later. So, here are my late birthday wishes. :)

Happy birthday Dad O! Dad, I love you because you gave life to the most amazing husband on the earth (my husband) but I also appreciate you aside from him. Thank you for being quirky, self-accepting, and unique. It gives me permission to me quirky, self-accepting and unique when we are together. I know you love and accept people wherever they may be on their life-long journey. And in your somber moments you have amazing capacity to teach truth and exemplify powerful Priesthood leadership. Thank you. I love you.

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Happy birthday Adrienne! I want to grow up and be just like you. You are one of the best moms I have had the privilege to personally watch and witness. I admire your fire for life, learning, and loving. You live like today is your last and you better fill it to the brim. You learn like everything is going to be your expertise and it often turns out to be true. You love like our Savior would. Kindly, tenderly, fully, and without excuses. You are amazing! Happy late birthday. I love you!

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Happy birthday Camila! What a wretched friend I have been to this loyal and forgiving woman in my life. We have known each other since middle school and she has always been there in the milestone moments of my life. Camila, you flew out to see me in UT after I moved. Not once, but TWICE! Thank you. You wrote to me faithfully. When we were in middle school you came over after school to hang out, and I fell asleep! Blame it on those teen years of growth and idiocy, but I actually slept while you sat in my room waiting for my coma to come to an end! What a patient and forgiving gal. I was the only person outside your family at your small and personal wedding. You showed up at my wedding even though it was a very difficult time in your life. Your family welcomed me to their Thanksgiving feast one year when I was homeless. You have given my son so many outstanding gifts because you know what kids like. Thank you for being a loyal, loving friend despite my sporadic returns of friendship. Happy late birthday. I love you!

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Happy birthday Benny! Benny is such a beautiful person. I wish more people in my life knew him. He's a revolutionary thinker, a doer, a seeker of Truth, a hard worker, a lover of all peoples, and a wonderful brother-in-law. Benny, thank you for loving the Lord, my sister, your son, and our whole family. I love you and happy late birthday!

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Happy late birthday, Sara! Please don't feel ripped off. I still love you very much. Sara is quite the character. She loves helping people and has dedicated her career to serving as an oncology nurse. She is a champion for her patients, and even shaves her head each year as part of St. Baldwick's Foundation (I think...) fundraising. A.MAZ.ING. She loves puzzles, games, traveling adventures, history, learning, quilting, pumpkin crunch and goofing off. Laughing comes easily to Sara, and I admire that. Sara, thank you for being brave about the many ups and downs in life. We all have them and I see that you try to learn and make the best of them. Even if it takes time. Thank you for the recent journey you have been through to become better and happier. It takes courage, determination and faith to do what you have chosen to do and I admire your unwavering strength. When Sara makes a decision to do something, she will do it. You go, girl! Sara, that trait could take you on the most transforming adventure of all time, depending on what you set your sights on. "See that ye look to God and live." You are strong, courageous, and very silly at times, and I am so grateful you are my sister-in-law. I love you and happy late birthday.

My sisters-in law are Gorgeous!

12 "And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall."
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Happy birthday, Nate! Last but not least for this GIANT birthday post: Nathan. Nate, thanks for being in our lives and for taking the time to visit our family as often and you Megan have. Thank you for popping in on your way to the airport, to the various conferences and temple trips, and for forgiving us for never coming to you. Thanks for marrying Megan. I adore her. Thanks for giving us another Ondricek grand baby so our kids will have cousins. Cousins rock. Thanks for being so proactively service-oriented. You served my family so much when you were here. Thanks for seeing a need and filling it. Thanks for listening, for talking, and for laughing. Happy birthday, brother-o-mine! I love you!

I know Nate is not the only one in this picture, but I just had to share it. Isn't it such a beautiful family!!?

October at our house