The London Lowdown: 15 Months

Since it's bloody cold outside...
I decided it would be fun to do a stylized photoshoot based around one of my
all time favorite TV series...
Once Upon a Time.
If you haven't watched it. do so. please. It will improve your health.
I saw a photo shoot similar to this on pinterest that I got my inspiration from. 
I took that idea, & put my own fun twist to it. 
Enjoy London at 15 months.

Each picture is edited to depict each fairytale.
So, the story begins.

 Cinderella.

Little Red Riding Hood.
Dot played the Big Bad Wolf.

Sleeping Beauty.
I never would have gotten her to sleep..
So, here is awake/wild/crazy sleeping beauty.

 Alice in Wonderland.
Alice herself hasn't actually made an appearance in the show...
But, the Mad Hatter & the Queen of Hearts has.
I'm hoping Alice makes an appearance soon.  

 Snow White.

Pinocchio.
I tried to tie strings around her feet & hands like a puppet...
But, it didn't go over too well with a 15 month old.
So, here is cute string-less Pinocchio.

 And, of course Harry Potter isn't in Once Upon A Time..
But one can wish... Right?
I couldn't possibly leave out Harry Potters fairy tales...
Tales of Beetle the Bard.

 The End.

Crazy, wild, loveable, independent, beautiful, miss personality...

the list could go on & on.

Needless to say, at 15 months... London is FUN.

P.S. I'll be taking over the London Lowdown for this point forward.. We will give L Rose a break.

Crazy how time flies huh?

I can't believe my BABY is 15 months.

She's a toddler now... Not only in personality..

But, when did my BABY start looking like a toddler?

Ok, enough of my sob story.

Here are a few (it may be more than a few) updates/stats/achievements on my little L Rose.

• She weighs 20.8 lbs.
• London has 12 teeth.
• Little Miss went through a serious tongue sticking out phase... At all times.. 
• She can climb off my bed... still makes me nervous.  Speaking of climbing, she can climb on/off couches, chairs, pretty much any elevated surface.
• Crazy, perfect, wobbly walker.  She started walking around the first of December.  She walks the very best when she's holding some type of toy, dishware, etc.  Pretty much if she's holding anything.
• London can say dad, dot, mom, meeska mooska (mickey mouse), ut oh, & what's that (wu-tha).  Her words came in that order as well.
• She LOVES to feed mom, dad, & dot.  I'm pretty sure Dot LOVES it as well.
• She does this silly thing called 'lazy sunday'... Dad named it that.  We just say, "Lazy Sunday," and she will lay on her back & think it's the funniest thing ever.  Silly girl.  She especially loves doing 'lazy sunday' in the bathtub.  
• Miss London is a HUGE showoff.
• London gives kisses for those who ask.
• She loves her baby doll.  She gives kisses & loves to her baby doll all day long. Sweet little thing.
• One of Londons most frustrating things (for mommy) that she's doing at the moment is throwing everything off her highchair & everything out of the bathtub.  Annoying & frustrating for me.  Funny & fun for her.  I guess we have to disagree somewhere.  We are working on it.  
• London has recently learned how to scrub her feet.  

• She is OBSESSED with her blanket.  Like literatly.  I'm trying to think of a stronger word than obsessed even.  She HAS to have her blanket in her hand at ALL times.  Eating, sleeping, playing, relaxing...needless to say, we go through lots of blankies in the wash.  
• London loves to drape things around her neck... I promise, I watch her carefully.  Cords, blankets, necklaces, strings, clothes, swimsuits, etc.
• She's also quite into putting everything on her head.  Shoes, toys, anything that resembles a hat, clothes, blankets, etc.
• London is a great shopping buddy.  Rarely, does she get grumpy when we are out on the town.
• She is MUCH better in her car seat.  I still have not switched it foreword yet, but I'm sure once i do, she'll even like her car seat better.   
• Some of her favorite toys right now are her shape sorter, stuffed giraffe , her mickey train, & her mickey mouse people.
• Speaking of Mickey Mouse....She is obsessed with Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.  She walks around with the remote & says Meeska Mooska.  Little stinker.

• London is still my little reader.  She adores books.  I adore that she adores books.  Everytime we open a book, she says, "ooooooooooow."
• She is my little tidy soul.  She likes things to be orderly.  If a lid is off, she has to put it on.  If her toys are not together, she puts them together.
• L Rose knows where her eyes are.  She knows where Dots & mommy's eyes are.  Loves to poke all our eyes out.
• London's favorite foods are pomegranates, cheese, pineapple, ham, & raspberries.
• She is known as Mogley around my family.  My daddio has officially nicknamed her Mogley.  She used to crawl by using her hands and feet...not knees... hence Mogley.
• London has been a little cuddle bug lately.  Likes to cuddle before naptime & bedtime.
• We have had some serious bad luck with sickness.  First it was a bad..BAD butt rash, then a bad cold, then vomiting, then fevers, now cough & sore throat.  We can't seem to get the sickness out of our house.  Please get out of town sickness, so I can get my little girl back.

• London has to do everything herself.  Eating & drinking among the common.  Let's just say we are both frustrated.  Throws a fit if I try.  We are working on it.  
• Recently, she got to go to her first Jazz game.  Dad had to buy her Jazz jammies & everything.

• A lot of fun activities have been going on around here.  I put together a bunch of texture, art, experiment, & coordination packets together for her.  Needless to say, she has loved our activity time each day.  You can stop teaching.... but, never stop being a teacher.

Painting with water.

Painting with water.

Playing with pipe cleaners.  Putting them in the holes is still a little too advanced...But, she tries all the same.

Pulling Tape of off a cookie sheet.

Putting puff balls in a small hole.  LOVES it.

Putting puff balls in a small hole. LOVES it. 

Until 18 Months.

Risk-Taker in the making...

This girl didn't want to stop.

Even after continuously getting snow powder in the face.

Only wanted to do it herself.

Big Hills!

Daredevil, I tell you.

I'm thinking she's taking after her mommy in the personality thing.

Dad's got the looks.

Her independence is something I embrace.

SOAR baby.

Showoff, 

hardcore, 

my kind of girl.

Never let anyone reign you in.

The Summer Adventures Continue....

Ok, drum roll please....

The destination this summer.... wait for it.

LOUISIANA.  

I am thrilled. Overjoyed.  Elated.

I have ALWAYS wanted to go to Louisiana.

All of these words are just swimming in my brain:

duck dynasty, jambalaya, crawfish, New Orleans, gumbo, mardigras, bayous...

The list goes on & on...

I'm already dreaming of the adventures that await.

When Daddy Babysits....

So, when daddy babysits...

Lots of cuddling, treat eating, pajama wearing, & destroying happens.

She would take him over me anyday.

This girl L O V E S her daddy.

Always playing.  A L W A Y S 

Perfection to my eyes.

My Own.

My own family.

We were in desperate need of new family pictures.

Christmas Eve seemed to be the only time we could ALL get together.

10 sibling's + spouses + 21 kids + 2 parents = chaos.

Christmas Eve seemed the perfect day until we woke up to a white out/blizzard.

But, it literatly was the only day we could get EVERYONE together....

So, we had to do it in the blizzard.  

I think they turned out fabulous, despite the white out.

The biggest obstacle was the big group....

I got everyone in order,

then got my camera up on my tripod,

and RAN in.

3 kids not looking = a fairly successful tripod run in.

Enjoy my family.  

We've got a BIG one.

 The two hotties in charge of us all.

 Thankfully, my sister Jamie is pretty handy with the camera & snapped one of us. 

 All my neices/nephews & my parents grandkids... minus 3.  Two who wouldn't cooperate + a newborn that couldn't be out in the cold.   

As you must know, 

London has a blast playing with all these hooligans.

Sexy Teeth Journey

Goodbye Vampire Fang.
Goodbye bottom crooked teeth.
Goodbye social life.
I finally got the courage to do it.
Braces 2013.
One of my New Years resolutions was to get straight teeth.
I did it.
18 months of pure humiliation...
I'll take it.
I'll take it because I am going to have some serious sexy teeth.
I'll be showing off my new teeth at every opportunity.
Self confidence will soar.
Here's to my sexy teeth journey!!

Last picture of my 'old smile'

Brace Face.

New Beginnings

New Years Day is magical.
It's a day of making a 'new you' emerge.
Our new Years day consisted of drinking our Pumpkin Juice from hp land,
eating our bertie botts every flavor bean from hp land, getting an hp iphone case,
making some serious resolutions,
'spud nut' (donut) making at Blake's gma's house, games, & family time.

I thought I would share my New Year's resolutions.

That way, I'm held accountable.

This year, Blakeboy & I decided to make ourselves better in 10 different categories.

Here are my goals.

Spiritual Goals:

• Read the scriptures/pray daily.
• Read President Hinckley's biography.

Physical Goals:

• Run a half marathon.
• Run a marathon.

Family Goals:

• Pay $15,000 off of our house this year.
• Family Prayer nightly, & teach London how to pray.

Parenting Goals:

• Spend 45 min(completely distraction free) playing with London each day.
• Teach London how to count to 10 & colors. 
• Get rid of London's Binky.

Healthy Lifestyle Goals:

• Only eat snacks/treats/candy twice a week.
• Get a juicer. Eat a green smoothie daily.

Intellectual Goals:

•  Read hobbit/Lord of the Rings Trilogy.
• Be politically aware.

Marriage Goals:

• Go on 3 dates a month without London.
• Go out of my way to do something nice for Blake daily.

Work Goals:

• Photograph a live birth.
• Work on keeping my teaching license up to date.
• Finish my children's book & work on getting it published.

Fun Goals:

• Take an art class.
• Go on a multi-day hiking trip.
• Release a sky lantern.. like on tangled.

Optional/Random Other Goals:

• Get straight teeth.
• Take a picture a day... depicting something about me.

2013, I have a good feeling about you.

I'm pretty sure you will be the best year yet.

Can't wait to start the journey.

New Years Eve 2012

New Years Eve has always been one of my favorite days of the year.
It's a day of reflection.
Thinking of all the good that has happened in 2012.
Knowing that a 'new you' can start to emerge tomorrow.
Like I said, Reflection.
I thought I would share some of my favorite things that happened in 2012.
It's been a good year for us.

• Blakeboy
• London Rose
• Magical Weekend in Salt Lake City with Blakeboy & London Rose.
• Arkansas Zoo. Read about it here.
• Florida/Harry Potter Land trip.
• London turning one.
• Christmas Weekend @ my Parents.
• Park City weekend with Blakeboy & London Rose.

We celebrated the year end with sledding at my parents,
our traditional white elephant/bingo game at Blake's parents,
games, candy, family,
& perfectness.

This Guy.

Mogley.

Is what he calls her.

At his heel the minute we walk in.

I'm pretty sure she likes him more than Blake & I.

I've never seen a love greater.

Melts my heart.

Grandpa.

Is what she calls him.

Piggies & Rashes

So, 

We've had a rough go with Crazy Pants bum.

Almost 3 months of BUTT RASH.

No bueno.

It all started when Blake & I left for Florida.

On/Off On/Off.  It would go away for a bit, then be right back.

Just didn't want to leave town.

We tried EVERYTHING.

Anit-fungal cream, mylanta, every butt cream made, cornstarch, baked flour, baking soda, lavender/coconut/maleuleca essential oils, lots of air drying.... 

like hanging out in the bathroom 24-7 naked & letting her sleep nakey.

I know I probably shouldn't insert this next little bit...

London ate her poo.

Yep, I put her to nap naked, & came back in when she woke up

and SURPRISE.

Now, I'm not entirely sure how much she ate...

But, there was a ring of unmentionables around her mouth.

I wanted to die in that instant.

Needless to say, 

London & the crib got a thorough scrub down.

Long story short,

Heidi had this expired prescription exzema cream,

and we thought why not.

Miracle.  Cleared it up in a day. 

Here is our crazy naked time in the bathroom.

With all our spare time, we found out that Londons hair can be put in PIGGIES.

Happy DANCE.  

 It's been a long couple of weeks.

Butt rash & 4 teeth coming through.

Yikes.

Mickey Mouse Clubhouse was about the only thing to cheer this lady up.