Christmas, Walking, and Waiting

Here in my cave, I have limited access to Internet which has pushed me behind in my blogging. When I get the chance to hit the web, I am so busy reading up on all the faithful bloggers out there that mine begins to suffer! We are still in our little rental, waiting to break ground on the new house. I am learning oh so much about patience, and I am so ready for the lesson to be over! Patience lessons always stink and this one is no different. Here we had the perfect winter for building and didn't even get to take advantage of it. The good news is I see a light at the end of the tunnel, our short plat is a week or so away from being approved and hopefully things go quickly from there. I would love to be in my new house sometime this summer, and definitely before next winter. I won't miss stoking the fire like Laura Ingalls. For now, the waiting game continues and I work hard on keeping my sanity. Mark would argue I haven't been patient at all, but he really has no idea. I would like to see him clean our current place and feel accomplished. It is impossible! I have finally waved my flag of surrender and I embrace the lady bugs, wood shavings, dust, chips, and all other types of wood form, and webs. I will say I have worked through my spider phobia and have been known to kill them, with a Kleenex...IN MY FINGERS, it is a pretty big deal.

Now for catch up, this year was Paige's second Christmas, but let's be honest, it was about as exciting to her as her first. Mark and I had a lot more fun shopping for her and thinking she would care about opening presents. I loved her little Christmas dress! It was nice to have church in the morning, and to open presents later in the day. It seemed to make the excitement of Christmas last that much longer. Paige made off pretty good with a Fisher Price Zoo, a pillow pet, a shopping cart, a special ornament, a new cowboy hat (I pushed for a horse to go with it, but Dad says maybe later), and a few other little things to fill in the gaps. For a while, Paige was going through a bit of a sensitive stage and would bow her head in silence if she was receiving unwanted attention.  Christmas morning proved to be too much to handle and she had a moment of quiet breakdown. She would not look up from my mom's shoulder.  When she finally did, she exposed a tear stained face. What a silent little sufferer. Christmas is rough stuff apparently. Hopefully Christmas will be less overwhelming for her next year. It was fun to spend the holidays with family and we are so grateful to have a little one to share it with!

Thinking the ornament was pretty cool

So cute! She doesn't leave it on yet though.

Such sadness

Paige found a binky in her toy chest and decided she had to have it. She went through a phase where she constantly wanted it in her mouth. If she can't see it, she doesn't miss it, but if she spots one she must  have it, even if it isn't hers. We tried for months to get her to take one as a newborn and she refused. About the time you would take it away, she decides it's cool--go figure!

At Paige's 1 year appointment, she weighed a whopping 16 lbs 6 oz., which means I still have a little lightweight. She is growing taller though and finding pants long and skinny enough is quite the challenge, especially since I am picky as to how they fit.  At 13 months, Paige started to walk like a mad woman. Most of the time she prefers to run, but it doesn't last long before she crashes. Her favorite thing to do is to visit the library and walk where she wishes. She likes the mall too, but it is much harder to keep her out of oncoming traffic. Walking did not come easy.  Paige is never one to want help; Miss Independent thinks she can do it all on her own. She wasn't a huge fan of the walking while holding the fingers bit and only did it sporadically before she decided she could stand up and walk all by herself. She went from nothing to full on walking in a week. With that came a time where she looked a little abused. I thought we might need to invest in a helmet. She managed to hit her forehead in the exact same spot every few days. She had quite the bruise and honestly quite the dent. A month later, and we are still trying to recover!

This was after the first, but before the second head crash.

Paige is seriously a little person and is more fun each and every day. She loves stories and does actions to most books. She shakes her finger at the monkey's jumping on the bed, she meows and whoofs at the kitties and puppies, and she sticks her feet on the page's of the Foot book. Paige loves to visit Grandma and Grandpa and knows that if she says "mmmmm" she will get a treat, if she retrieves a book she will be read to, knows where to find the golf balls, and knows to find the "babies" asleep in the pack n play. Paige is obsessed with stuffed animals and dolls and gives them snuggles any chance she gets. Grandma found her her own Baby Bear Alice after much searching and gave it to her for Valentines. Paige was pumped and has given much loves since. My parents have a post it note holder that Paige loves to play with. She pulls the notes out and sticks them on her forehead. It is a learned behavior for sure, but Paige thinks it is the funniest thing ever. Her favorite game is chase which can be fun, but has had negative consequences since now every time I try to grab her, she runs the other direction in delight. She giggles in fits if she thinks someone is chasing her and loves it if someone else is around to provide "cover". Most games are accompanied by growling. I don't know why my little girl is obsessed with growling, but it is kinda funny.

Reading to herself.

Just getting so big and cute and cruising all over the place!

Not great lighting, but I love her shoes and I can't believe how long her hair is getting and how much she looks like a toddler, not my baby anymore.

Paige continues to show more affection and will now give kisses and high fives. She is quite stingy with the kisses and has to be in the right mood. Mark hopes the stinginess will be a lasting trait. Paige loves to cheer and "fake" screams for herself when she gives high fives, does something good herself, or is impressed with something someone else does. It is the most hilarious sound. It is like this inside voice excited sound with hands raised high. Last night at the ward talent show, she cheered on the flash mob, and after trying to ruin my violin solo, gave me quite the ovation. She was proud of the performance and it was too darn cute for words. She was a pretty good distraction from the usual nerves.I have been on Accutane and my lips are horrible. Paige has grown up thinking chap stick is a necessity of life and loves to carry a tube around all day. I guess it can be counted as one of her tools. Once she has a good tool, she will refuse to put it down for anything. Most tools get chewed on constantly. We are going on month three of constant teething. She has two molars on bottom and two poking through on top. She is half shark and should be getting her wisdom teeth any day at this rate! We were able to spend the weekend with Paige's birth mom and had a blast. I love knowing that many people love and care for Paige. . What a lucky little lady she is! Paige's birth mom is growing into a lovely woman and we were glad we could be with her on her birthday. It is always fun to visit with the birth mom and family.

Besides waiting for things to go on the house, not much else is happening. I am anxious for spring and the chance to get outside with Paige. I think we are both feeling cooped up. Roxy can't wait for us to take walks and go on adventures. I can't wait to get the jogging stroller out and enjoy some outdoor runs and ditch the treadmill. Since it decided to dump a few inches of snow today, my dreams will have to wait. Mark is busy working and has started to play basketball again after a long exercise hiatus. I am grateful he is finally healthy enough to do things like that again. We are enjoying day to day life and the simple joys it brings. It really is nice to find happiness in the journey--some days are better than others, but that's life. I can't wait to be in our own home again and  feel as if we are making it ours. Renting is the pits and I constantly feel so unsettled. However, we love being close to good family and friends and we feel so blessed overall. I really can't complain--life is pretty good!