The Winter Blues

Do you ever get the winter blues?

I usually get a bad case of them in January, when the holidays are over and it's just really cold. For some reason, I've been having some symptoms a little early this year. It's barely the second week of November and I'm freezing! I realize that compared to most of the US, our winters are pretty tame and some might not even call what we are experiencing "cold," but it's still been making me a little grumpy.

What happened to Fall? I want it to come back and stay a little bit longer.

I've been thinking about this all week and I've decided that I need to be proactive in fighting these Winter Blues before they take over and ruin the holiday season.

So,
I am going to get out of my comfort zone, ask other Moms to hang out and maybe join/start a playgroup
Get out of the house, even if it is just to walk through Target

Make some of these so that when I go out, I'll stay warm while looking cute

Create an upbeat play station on Pandora
Be thankful and remember that at this time last year, all I wanted to do on gloomy days was stay home in my PJ's. I could do that now, If I wanted to.

Shop for really good deals on cruises because by the time January gets here, I am going to be ready for this:

 Snuggle with Matt and Addy
Stay in the Word; scripture helps in the fight against even the worst kind of blues.
And I might even break the rules, go against everything I believe in and listen to Christmas music a couple of weeks early. Maybe.

What do you do to beat the winter blues? 

Addy is 8 Months Old

Miss Adelyne turned 8 months old today.

I guess I should say she is turning 8 months old today since she won't really be 8 months until 6:39 pm this evening. Anyways, tonight we might got out for ice cream to celebrate Addy's dad being employee of the month! Yeah dad!

Here are a few fun facts about our little 8 month old:

She's adventurous and wants to crawl/climb on everything

She gets tired of her toys, sounds ridiculous but when we introduce something new or a toy that hasn't been around for awhile, she gets really excited.

She's perfectly content to play with tubberware

Her hair is starting to grow over her ears

She's a snuggler, she goes and goes but when it's sleepy time, she loves to snuggle

If we'd let her, she would play with our phones all day, especially Grandpa's iPhone

She's a talker

She loves little kids

Instead of crying when I leave the room, she's figured out that she can follow me.
Currently, her two favorite toys are a rubber ducky and the laundry basket, when flipped over, it's the perfect size for her to stand up and play on.

HAPPY 8 MONTHS SWEETIE PIE!

Thoughts on Blogging

Last week was one of those weeks; one of those weeks when you go to Costco and find out your debit card is expired at the check out line. And then after going home to get the new card, you get your items home and find out you bought the wrong size of trash bags; 500 of them.

The three of us took turns being sick and after waking up on the wrong side of the bed one morning, Matt lovingly suggested that I take a break from things like blogging and Pinterest and get some rest. During my much needed break (husbands can be so wise), I ignored my to-do list and moved a little bit slower. Instead of running around trying to get things done in the mornings, I set with Addy and ate breakfast as she played. It's funny how I don't usually take time to just watch her play.

I also has a lot of time to think about this little blog and I've decided a few things.
WARNING: This list has sub points

1. I like blogging, because:

   A. It's a great creative outlet for someone who spends most of her day with a little girl who can't really hold a conversation

   B. It's easier and less expensive than scrapbooking. I love that I can easily document big(and little) moments in our life in minutes. 

   C. It's a fun way for family who don't live in the 505 to a be a part of Addy's life. (That's you Mom, Dad, Uncle Perry and Aunt Nic!)

2. I really like the great friends that God has placed in our lives. The great community we are a part of is a huge answer to prayer and I don't want to take them for grant it.

3. I really really like my little family, they make my heart happy.

4. Points 2 and 3 have led me to this conclusion: I need to spend less time online.

I've had this little blog for awhile and just recently, I've really tried to grow my readership by participating in link ups and button swaps, which are all great but time consuming. And really, let's face it, there is absolutely no monetary value coming from any of it and I am totally fine with that. I want this to be something I like, not a chore.

So, as we enter the holiday season, I am going to make a conscious effort to spend less time online and more time investing in the relationships I have here in the 505, whether that means more play dates or just more time spent praying for my family. But don't worry, this blog isn't going away, I like it way to much to say goodbye. (see point 1)

These photos were taken my sweet Sister-in-law, Morgan. I really like her. (see point 2) :)

Addy's First Halloween

Addy's first Halloween in photos:

 A little pre-party photo session in the park

 Addy and the Cow and Grandma

 Addy the Cow and Grandpa

 Addy the Cow and cousin Jamie

 This cow can move!

 Cousin Cater, the Pillsbury Dough Boy and I think that might be a Pink Octopus's finger

 A very cranky cow and her little buddies

 Sleeping Beauty tried to console her

 We had a farmer, an orange fish, a pink octopus, a frog prince, Sleeping Beauty, another Prince, a cow, THE Pillsbury Dough Boy and a duck!

The babies

 Addy and her buddy Sophia

Hope you all had a Happy Halloween!

Linking up with the Paper Mama for Wordlessish Wednesday!

Partied Like a Rock Star

I think this photo pretty much sums up how we're feeling around her today: tired.

Addy's first Halloween was a blast. (Pictures to come)

But today, we are feeling the aftermath of possibly partying a little too hard.

Addy woke up from a good nap yesterday at 2:30 and didn't go to sleep again until 10:30 last night. She was awake for 8 hours straight and that's like two days in baby time; way to long for this teething, stuffed up, almost 8 month old little girl. By the time I tried to put her down at 9:30 last night, she was spent; over tired and feeling the pain of that tooth. It took over an hour for her to fall asleep and she woke up several times throughout the night. Finally, at 5 O'clock this morning, I brought her to bed with me.

There's definitely a tooth in there!

Matt is at work with a cold and the lack of sleep has me feeling almost like I'm hung over which is kind of funny because after our little get together last night, my kitchen looked a lot like a frat house this morning.

Everyone has a touch of something here in the Danner household. Looks like we might have another low key couple of days ahead. Hopefully that tooth will come through soon and we can all get some sleep and kick these cold symptoms in the butt!