Help

My baby is five months old now and it is apparent to me that our sleeping/napping arrangements are not working for my family.  Well, let me rephrase. Ben is fine. Blair and I are not sleeping well, day or night.  I am sending this out into the void - "calling all mothers/nannies/whoever(!)" - tell me your favorite baby sleep books.  And tell me why.  Feel free to elaborate.

I'm currently reading "The No-Cry Sleep Solution".  It sheds a ghastly light on the emotional state of babies who are left to cry it out. I think it's probably an exaggeration but for a first-time mom it scared the mess out of me. The method proscribed will take time and patience.  We'll see if I can make it.

Happy Baby

I couldn't resist taking this picture of Blair today.  She had just finished making a huge mess with her rice cereal lunch... having more success spitting out the food than ingesting it.  Ug. Next time I'll wise up and realize that tiny cotton bibs don't hold much in the way of all-out rice cereal drool.  Plus, the way she sits in the bumbo pretty much guarantees that anything that comes from her mouth ends up all over her tummy, arms, hands, feet and thighs.

Blair got this Bumbo for Christmas from Grandma Kathy and Grandpa Jed - and it has been such a wonderful and useful gift! People had been telling me to try one for her but I was convinced she wasn't big enough.  I was wrong.  The minute I put her in it she becomes very curious.  I love the way she has a new perspective on everything while sitting in the Bumbo.  We also love the play-tray that came with it.  Now I need someone to invent a large bag with an over-the-shoulder strap that houses the thing... to add to my winter 'leave-the-house' checklist : large coat, heavy carseat, overstuffed diaper bag, bumbo & tray, diet coke, and the singular "phone/wallet/keys".  Oh, and Blair.

Pre-Christmas Holiday

Blair and I hitched a ride with Dean up to Montana on his way home from BYU for his semester break.  He is a fun road-trip buddy.  I wish I captured on video Dean mixing a bottle for Blair in the backseat - priceless.  We were thankful for the chance to see my parents and Lindsey and Mike (up from San Diego) and to finally meet baby Olivia Lindsey.  Otherwise I'm not sure when I would've met her.

(taking a nap on the long ride up north, snuggled up with her Dottie)

Baby Olivia is so precious! At five weeks old, she is just a little peanut.  It's funny how everyone says Blair is so small (she only hangs out with older babies)... putting Blair next to Olivia makes her look like a giant sumo baby! They were so glad to have some playtime - mostly consisting of Blair trying to poke Olivia's eyes out - we're still working on our hand/eye coordination.  Mommacat wasted no time in coming up with matching outfits for the girls, and Christmas ones to boot! :) So much fun. So many photo-ops!

 Dean is a great uncle - he is always willing to help out with the babies - walking/rocking them,  entertaining them with his antics.  I bet he'd even change a diaper if I asked. 

 visiting Grandpa at work

I love Santa pj's??  Too cute!  You should see what was behind the camera - all five of us were snapping pictures and video, "Blair, Olivia, look over here..."   That explains Blair's quizzical face.

We had a nice long stay - baking, Christmas decorating, napping (yes, Blair napped there, on her own, a miracle!), visiting by the fire, last-minute shopping, and all sorts of fun things.  Blair and I even had an advantageous flight cancellation that extended our stay another 12 hours... we stayed a week and still didn't want to leave.  I think Ben was worried we wouldn't make it home for Christmas. 

This makes me merry

Kate Spade Ad

Studio 5 : Cozy Holiday

Today I did a segment on creating a cozy winter home.  We did a pre-tape to show a 'before and after' implementing my five tips.  It's nice to have an opportunity to get outside the studio - gives me a chance to do some more realistic work.   Here is the segment - or click here to redirect to KSL's site.

There was a really great energy in the studio today.... which I would attribute to Stephanie's "Best Board Games of 2011" segment and some great baking segments by the girls from Our Best Bites.  They did a great segment on S'more hot chocolate -  yum! and also a part II on hosting your own Hot Chocolate party.  How fun does that sound?? Here's their segment.  You can follow them on ourbestbites.com - I know I will be.

Introducing : Olivia Lindsey

So I have a new niece. She's a month old now but who could resist posting these darling pictures from baby's first photoshoot?! Lindsey & Mike welcomed sweet Olivia on November 12th and by Mommacat's report she had lots of dark hair (enough to pig-tail) and was immediately a very alert baby. She came in at 7 lbs. 9 oz. and about 20 inches long.  Both Blair and Reese had the same stats at birth - how amazing is that? I think her very first pictures were SO Lindsey but in these 4-week shots I'm not so sure. But one thing I know - she is an angel straight from heaven and such a pristine & beautiful little baby. I can't wait to meet her, Blair tells me she is a real hoot.

The story behind her name?  Lindsey got to choose the first name and Mike chose the middle name.  How sweet that he wanted to give Olivia her mother's name. I love that.

Brilliant Invention

It is now cold enough outside for me to be a worried mother.  Worried about my daughter staying as warm as possible.  Sometimes her hands and feet feel cold while we're inside!!  How was I going to bundle up my three month-old for the sub-freezing temperatures?

Enter: Zutano booties.  I found these by browsing at shopstyle.com (if you have hours upon hours to waste, browse the site, or even better, the app).  Where normal baby socks don't stay on babies for ten minutes and shoes can be tricky too... these are the best of both worlds.  They have a fleece style that's lined with cotton so as not to be sweaty. They have snaps to secure themselves around baby's ankle.  They are darling and much less cumbersome than winter boots for a baby so small they would be a workout.

I ordered two pairs for Blair from Shima Boutique online.  They run a bit small in my opinion but I'm already loving them after only one day of wear. I hope they'll wash well because Blair is even wearing them with her pajamas.

My other favorite invention/'must' for winter babies... J.J.Cole Bundle Me.  This is the one I opted for although there are different fabric/weights you can choose from based on the climate where you live.  It fits carseats and strollers (I have a graco frame that I pop the carseat into for now) and is so wonderful.  Like a baby-sized sleeping bag - what could be cozier?

Studio 5 : Mantle Makeover

Today was my first time back to KSL post-baby.  We went out for a live 'ambush' makeover that was pre-taped for a package during our segment.  How fun!  It was in true HGTV fashion and I loved every second!

The live segment was on mantles as well.  With a relatively small amount of space and a mini-mantle-eque display, I brought some pieces from our showroom to make personalized mantles also beautiful mantles.  Here is the segment and below is my write-up.  Click here to re-direct to the segment on KSL's site.

Scale
The single most important thing to consider when addressing the space above your fireplace is the scale and proportion. Do you have a small fireplace with a minimal ledge for display or does your fireplace command the most attention for the entire room? Taking a step back to look at the scale of your fireplace will help you determine the art and accessories you’ll need to make the unit look well-dressed and complete. Consider using multiple pieces of art instead of one gigantic piece if you have a large space to fill.

Interest
Because the fireplace/mantle tends to be the focal point in any room, it is important to give that feature the interest it deserves. You want to have it goin’on ‘upstairs’ as well as ‘downstairs’ as they say. If you feel your furniture is fairly neutral, pick a piece of art that has bold color or a beautiful eye-catching design. If you have a well-loved piece of art or family portrait in need of an update, consider having it re-framed in an interesting way by choosing a rich frame and silk-lined covered mat or fillet.

Accessories
Mantles aren’t just for artwork to be hung on the wall. Consider layering your mantle with decorative accessories for more texture and richness of design. Candlesticks, urns, and greenery are some of my favorite things to use. These kind of accessories add lots of interest and can help employ balance, symmetry and visual weight at the same time. Search for seasonal items like fresh garland, tasteful and size-appropriate figurines and even lit objects.



Tip: Do your homework first! Many people find art or accessories they love while out shopping, and then expect them to work simply because they like the piece. Most common errors in design revolve around the improper use of beautiful things. Have you ever said to yourself, “I love that painting, but I hate the way it looks right there!” Take a picture of your fireplace to keep with you on your shopping trips, and better yet, keep useful dimensions written down in your planner for reference when considering that piece of art for your mantle.

Before shopping, use your existing art and accessories on the mantle to see what works in terms of size and scale. You’ll find certain things will disappear when placed on the mantle while the size of other pieces will suit your vision.

Four Years

Today is our anniversary. Four years ago we were married on a crisp and beautiful sunny fall day.  I love the fall because it reminds me of that day and all the wonderful days leading up to it.  Seems like we have done a lot in four years... lived under different roofs, made career changes, gone back to school and finished again, and now have ventured into the 'family way'.  So much behind us it seems and yet so much more ahead.  How lucky I am to have the love of my life also be my best friend. 

Baby's First Halloween

We had a great Halloween week this year... didn't actually trick or treat considering I don't think we could fool those giving out candy that the goodies were actually for our daughter... she's just too little this year. That and the no teeth thing. Next year we're going to fill that pillowcase!

Ben's mom threw her annual Halloween party last Monday and all the grandkids came dressed in their costumes. It is always a very entertaining night, complete with a pinata, donuts on a string, and oodles of goodies. Here are some pictures from the party.

Amberly's seven layer dip - can you believe it?  It was enough for 40 people I swear. 

Our little zebra princess. I originally ordered an elephant costume, but when it fell through, I decided this hoodie from Gymboree would be perfect.  It is complete with a mane and the hood is pointed too. I love this daddy daughter shot.

Blair cooperated so well for the family shot. Can you spot her on Gabe's lap?  Little mush!

Here is Corry, Matt and McCall's little one -  isn't she to die for?

Saturday (Utah's Halloween) we went to dinner with Lacey and Ashton.  We dressed Blair up again, of course and she was the talk of the wait staff at Iggy's :)  The pink zebra getup is just too cute to pass up.  Can't wait for next year to have even more fun with Blair.

Blair's Blessing Day

Today was Blair's blessing and afterward we celebrated the day with a brunch at our home. So many dear friends and family came from far and wide to share this occasion with us. I knew it would be a special day, but it turned out to be more meaningful and memorable than I anticipated. Blair is our little angel and of course as her parents we love her, but how nice for others to feel the same! It was a wonderful day that I'll always remember. Ben's blessing was so sincere and a great expression of love from a father to his daughter. The rest of the mushy stuff I'll leave to my journal... now to the party!

As Mom and I were getting Blair dressed we talked her through the whole day... and gave her the play-by-play on what was to come.  My mom made this dress out of extra fabric from my wedding gown - a very special gesture considering she doesn't sew often - I know she put a lot of effort and thought into the dress and all the details.  It turned out so beautifully and was so me and so perfect for Blair at the same time. The gown has now become a prized possession of ours - let's hope there will be future daughters who can wear it also.

 Now to the brunch menu:  I had some serious help from my mother - a seasoned pro in the prep:cook:entertain department.  The menu consisted of various brunch items, my favorite being the sticky buns... yum!  Luckily we had plenty of food for everyone and got so many compliments on the grits and the mini fruit pizzas. Maybe I'll post the recipes coming up.

Taryn's friend Whitney so kindly offered to make some labels for the food items and also the little dipped pretzel 'happies' we made for the kids.  Is she talented or WHAT?  I thought this touch was the icing on the cake and it was all her doing - all via email from me to DC.  She had great creative ideas and away she went!  I would refer her a million times over.

And now for the guests - get ready! Lots of pictures coming up. 

Four generations here - I love Granny for making the trek up for the day.

A few of my dearest college friends - Abby, Heidi (and kiddos came all the way from Minnesota) and Lacey

Audrey and the cutest little Gia and family came all the way from Park City (missed getting a picture with Brandon and Michelle, darn)

Ben's parents and mine

Uncle Deano-baby took a time-out from freshman fun @ BYU to join us... Blair loves him!

Lacey and Ashton - GQ couple or what?

cousin Breitlyn was singing to Blair during her wardrobe change

(s-i-l) Sara and McCall w/ little Corry - it was chaotic and I missed getting the rest of the 30 Oviatts for the family shot...

Blair @ Two Months

Over conference weekend I took the opportunity to snap a few pictures of Blair now that she is almost two months.  She is now smiling at us and cooing and it is so fun to interact with her.  Boy does she love her dad.  I spend 23 1/2 hours with her every day, then Ben comes home from work and she 'talks' non-stop and gives him giant smiles I've never seen before.  It's fine.  I get it - she's one smart cookie.  Ben said she has him completely wrapped.  I think it's true what they say about dads and their daughters.   Here are a few of my favorites from the day.  (ps can someone teach me photoshop - and also how to use a slr camera!??! I tried my best)

Ben was my trusty assistant for the day - I tried lots of different poses, headbands, blankets, etc. and Ben was a sport considering I was snapping pictures for about five hours...every time the baby was awake, happy and fed.  I think it is hard to capture the baby as you see them, especially at such a young age.  They have so many different 'looks'. I took probably 200 pictures and ended up with a handful of keepers. Thank heaven for the digital format.