Day One-Hundred and Eighty Four: Having a moment

I was just about to put her to bed, but desperately needed 

to pee. When I came back, I found them like this. 

Daddy was having a moment. 

He didn't need to tell me. 

He sat there holding her close for a long time. 

Just him and his baby girl. 

I know the feeling. You carry 

them to bed, then squeeze them 

a little tighter. 

Because they belong to you. Such a beautiful, 

perfect being is in your arms. You're unwilling

to let go until they understand just how much 

love them. Possibly, a tear here or there. 

I love having these moments, myself. I especially

feel privileged when I get to witness Daddy having one. 

Day One-Hundred and Eighty Three: Six Months Old!

Are we LOVING mushy baby food yet?

Heck no. 

Day One-Hundred and Eighty Two: Again, whoops.

Ya...this picture too. 

Day One-Hundred and Eighty One: Whoops!

Does this picture look familiar?

...well this is the ACUTAL day it was taken. A word for anyone thinking rebooting their computer anytime soon: keep all your photos in one place!

As I mentioned, we just got home from a date that we took the munchkin on due to her recent rebellion with sleep. We had fun.

Day One-Hundred and Eighty: When you have a small person...

...you feel the need to see what they can fit into. We found this Petunia Pickle Bottom Diaper bag at Target for 75% off. What a steal! 

Happy Birthday to me. 

It has been Jadyn-tested. And she approves. 

Day One-Hundred and Seventy-Six to Seventy-Nine: Just passing through

Ahh! I'm so sad I have not followed through with my goal of a picture a day. Guess what, it's hard.
Here are some lovely filler thoughts.

First of all:

I remember when I was in College and I spent every waking moment with these people.

All dressed up for our tea part. Miss them.

Second of all:

I remember spending every waking moment of College 

wishing he were home. I'm so glad I have him forever. 

Day One-Hundred and Seventy-Five: Fine Monson's Club

We have been making a solid effort to have a real family night activity on Monday nights. This usually means that I plan it, BUT that was not the case this time. Jace said he wanted to make a golf course in the backyard. Fun, creative, something other than watching a movie, I jumped on it! He goes to school on Mondays but usually gets home around 6 or 7. I was hoping he would get home earlier so we didn't have to worry about losing daylight. 

A bit much? Possibly. He got home too late anyways. Boo. 

.

Day One-Hundred and Seventy-Four: The Girls

I had been working on a challenge with the young women at church, which included taking their picture. So I get to show them off. Have I mentioned that I ADORE these girls and LOVE being their advisor?

First of all, they're beautiful. 

Second of all, hilarious. 

And there is just something about them that is so refreshing. So pure. They make me want to be better. 

This isn't all of them...just the ones that happened to be there that day, but I love them all! I hope my Jadyn will grow up to be just like them. 

Day One-Hundred and Seventy-Three: A few of her favorite things...

This video really captures a few of her very favorite things: grandpa, blowing raspberries, and attacking people's faces.

Day One-Hundred and Seventy-Two: Place Holders

Aaaand, holding this day too.

Day One-Hundred and Seventy-One: Place Holders

Still looking for pictures for these days. I'm just gonna stick em up to hold my place. Gotta keep moving!

Day One-Hundred and Seventy: The Runnies

We took our first trip to the doctor for a sick check. How neat. Nothing too crazy, just a very runny nose. 

...very, very runny. There's a reason Jace and his siblings are nicknamed the Snot Nosed Brats. It's a very literal reason. Jadyn certainly has some of her Daddy in her. Poor little thing. 

We put on a brave face and took lots of naps. 

Day One-Hundred and Sixty-Nine: Say what? I have to supervise?

She's chillin on the couch. Minding her own business. 

I just have to make sure I'm minding her business too. 

This girls does not sit still anymore!

Day One-Hundred and Sixty-Eight: Family Pictures take one

I made it to November! Can I hear a hallelujah?!! I will catch up. I will. I will. I think if I say it enough times it will come true. It will. It will. It will. Meh, still not working...

So there was a lovely pile of leaves in front of our house and I just could not contain the artistic, warm, happy family picture christmas cards that could come from this!

So I dragged Jace outside in spite of his complaints that the lighting was wrong and we would have nasty shadows. 

...I hate when he's right. 

Family pictures will just have to be saved for another day. 

Day One-Hundred and Sixty-Seven: The actual day

Halloween was on a Sunday this year...obviously. Jadyn is still a bit too young to go trick or treating (to my dismay) so we enjoyed a happy day at church and then a relaxing little party. It was probably one of the best Halloweens I've ever had, actually. We watched scary movies, made silly food, and gawked at the adorable little trick or treaters. 

 And we carved pumpkins. Can you guess which one is mine?

think simple.

Later that day....

It was a busy day to say the least. We also had our Ward Halloween Party that day, which I was unofficially on the party planning committee for.

The bean bags for the bean bag toss: all me. 

We were all in charge of a booth so we switched off watching 

Jadyn so we could all go through the infamous haunted house

 Jace and the young men have been working on for months. 

All I heard about since september was 

"the haunted house! the haunted house!the haunted house!"

Him and Daren (best friend/Young Men's President) were/are like little boys. 

It was a very fun night. And yes, the haunted house was AWESOME. 

They had live rats on the ground. Gross, but terrifying. 

I really wanted to use this girly army material I had stashed away for a rainy day.

 I thought it would be soooo cute for her to be G.I. Jadyn. Obviously, I was right. 

But I was not right about it being cute for Mommy and Daddy to be G.I's also. 

We basically just screamed White Trash. 

Better luck next year, eh?

Happy Halloween!

Day One-Hundred and Sixty-Six: Hallow's Eve--Wedding

The last of the Carly, Brianna and Tori trio got married!

...meaning Tori got married. They all found their soul mates 

and got married in the same year. Crazy huh? Really neat. 

Sadly, I did not take any pictures of the bride because I 

figured other people were getting paid to do that. But she

was absolutely STUNNING. Such a vision. 

It was a great day for everyone. 

Grandpa got to do baby duty. 

I got to spend time with my dear cousin, Carly. She is constantly

making me laugh. And she totally "gets" me. Which is an accomplishment.

 I also got to hang out with my cousin Brittany. Always a wit. 

One word to describe this amazing woman: 

Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious

We talked babies quite a bit. Surprising? It just happens when 

you get around other people that have kids. 

Jadyn just loves weddings. Third one this year!

Day One-Hundred and Sixty-Five: Daddy's Arms

I wonder how safe she feels when

 Jace scoops her up in his big arms. 

When he holds her really tight. 

This is what Daddy's were made for. 

She was so content in his arms she just snuggled right in. 

So sweet. 

Day One-Hundred and Sixty-Four: Balloon

We were at the dollar store buying things we probably didn't need, as is the custom of walking through a dollar store. Jadyn was a bit board, so I tied this balloon to the cart and wa-la! Happy baby. We had to take it home with us because it was just such a big hit. I may buy a balloon every time I go to the dollar store. Why not, it's only a dollar.

Day One-Hundred and Sixty-Three: A day in the life of Daddy

Daddy took the camera to class again. Another day in the city.

Day One-Hundred and Sixty-Two: Pumpkin Patch

This was a long time California tradition that I have missed ever since we moved to Colorado. Halloween just didn't feel like Halloween without a trip to the pumpkin patch and the Fiesta Days parade. The churros, the marching bands, the pony rides, bounce houses, and petting zoos have been missing in my Octobers. It's like not watching the Rose Parade in my PJ's on New Years Day (if you are not one of my California friends, this won't make much sense to you).

It surprises me how little people care about them here. Because I think they're wonderful. 

Anyways, I finally got my wish this year and we took Jadyn to one. 

Ok, so it was more like a shopping center, less like

a Halloween wonderland. But I didn't care! 

I may have even shed a tear of pure happiness.

Grandma came too. 

I got my pumpkin. 

I think even Jace, who really didn't understand what all the fuss was

about, enjoyed himself too. 

Jadyn...had a bit of a time limit on her enjoyment.