Is this normal? I am molting. I pull this much hair out of my head each time I wash it. I have heard to people losing hair postpartum, but this could be donated to locks of love. GROSS

Perhaps I could give some of my hair to my darling bald baby (who is thrilled to have her photo taken again)

It's that time again....our baking day!

I am still in shock that the holidays are here..not to mention WAY behind. If it wasn't for a coupon I had for our holiday cards that expired before Thanksgiving,  I am pretty sure they still wouldn't be ordered.

I love the holiday season for many reasons, and this year I am trying to remember what matters most: the true meaning of the season. God is good and has touched our lives in many ways. I am trying to use this time to reflect and get grounded back home. This time last year was when our Christmas miracle (AKA: Paige) blossomed and it is has been invigorating to re-live that this year. I find myself saying 'this time last year...' everyday. 

Another thing I love about the Christmas season:

my annual baking day with Gretchen!

I will admit that this year posed some challanges so we didn't get as much done as usual, but it was still so nice to spend the day catching up (working part time now, I never feel like I see her like I did!).

This has become a tradition that I think is cool, because we started it on our own. I look forward to watching this tradition evolve over the next years!

Some of my favorite people in my kitchen :)

Its a good thing she is cute, because she is lousy help with the spatula.

About half of what we normally do, but still worth it!

4th year in a row and going strong!

O Tannenbaum

Last weekend Kel and I went and cut down our Christmas Tree, like we have been doing since before we were married. It is a wonderful tradition that, though it is more work and money, adds a bit more richness to our holiday season. As many of you remember, 4 years ago we had a spider nest hatch in our tree the morning of us hosting a Christmas party with 20 people coming over. I can finally laugh about it NOW. Well yesterday I was holding Paige up to the tree for her to look at the lights, and I found something....something that was spongy and looked like a tiny cotton ball. FOR REAL?!  I immediately lit it on fire on our deck. Though the torching was somewhat therapeutic, I still felt guilty for that momma spider. But anyway, now I am constantly looking in the tree with a flashlight wondering if there are any more in there. Only we would have a spider tree, yet again!

SO very Thankful

Long time no see! My bad. Things have been a happenin' over here at the Heavin residence. As Thanksgiving begins the craziness of the holiday season, I step back and look at where we were this time last year. Man do we have much to be thankful for this year. We are so blessed and life couldn't be more perfect! Here are some of the Heavin Happenings:

*I went back to work part-time last Saturday. And I/we all survived. I'll admit that I cried the entire week leading up to it, but the thought of being separated from Paige that long still gives me sad feelings. We work long days- about 13hr from when I leave and come home, and if you think about it, her and I haven't been physically separated for about year including pregnancy. Any mom knows that kind of bond and it is so hard to prepare to let it happen. I am well aware it is what is best for us, but still. I physically ached for her come the 2nd day. But, knowing it is only 2 days a week is totally do-able. I know that Kellen and my mom were eager to get me out of the house so they could have her all to themselves ;) It feels good to have that under my belt, knowing we can survive just fine, and the fear of the unknown is gone. It was nice to see my hommies at work too.

*We traveled to Memphis for Thanksgiving to visit Kellen's extended family. The 8.5 hour drive with a 12week old went about as well as anyone can imagine. Poor Paige is such a trooper! It was fun to see Kellen show her off to his family.
They have the funniest sense of humor! Last time Kel and I made the trip, he accidently 'got lost' on our way home and we ended up in St. Louis. It is funny now, but not at the time. His family still won't let it go and they made the St. Louis arch over their driveway with signs. Everyone enjoyed the laughs at his expense. He is such a good sport!
 

 

 
        Our little turkey dressed for her first Thanksgiving!

 

 
 I took about 30 shots and this was the only decent one of all the 2nd cousins

 

 Our first family photo since the hospital

 

 

 Paige had her first trip to the zoo! Mallory worked at the Memphis zoo over the summer, so we went with her so she could show us around and see her friends (including Albert, the guinea hog in the background). 

*Paige had her 3 month birthday! I am not sure how much she weighs, but I am guessing around 11.5 or 12lbs. Her 3mo clothes are still huge on her and her NB are just starting to be a bit snug. She is still eating great and sleeping through the night, however lately she has been waking up around 4ish for a sneak feed. I think she is hitting her little 3mo growth spurt. She is such a nosey josey! She holds her head up on her own and sits assisted. She LOVES anything sparkly, like her momma ;) She also flirts like there is no tomorrow: she will bat her big eyes, turn her head slightly, hint a smile and give a little coo. It melts our hearts. She is the happiest baby I have ever met. She also goes nuts with her little legs- she points her toes and kicks, she looks like she is tapping or dancing. Kellen calls it the 'Paige Jig.'

I am currently catching up from our trip and decorating the house for Christmas. Next weekend we plan to get our tree and host a baby shower on Sunday for my friend Jess. The craziness just keeps on coming and we love it!

Jib Jabber

I sent this to our parents and we got such a good response I thought I'd share it with everyone else ;)

I'm afraid are going to have a talker on our hands!

I hope everyone had a fun Halloween! The weather was perfect, wasn't it?!

Here are a few highlights of our busy weekend.

My Aunt Janice turned 50 and my family threw a surprise party for her. Everyone dressed up in geriatric costumes! She was such a good sport.

This is the same aunt that hosted my family baby shower, and made the most adorable diaper cake for me, so I thought I would make one for her.,..only for adults ;)

My crazy family is back at it! 

Kellen (without mask), Dad (with mask), Cameron

Dad kept drinking out of this UNUSED urinal my mom got from work...

it grossing me out

Shelly and Mom

I found yet another use for the Boppy! I put it around my waist backwards to give me a little extra badonkadonk, old maid style

Kellen got waaaay too into it!

 

 Janice had to sit in a wheelchair while opening presents.

She was such a good sport! Happy birthday!

In other news, our little miss turned 2 months, CRAZY!

 Paige weighed a whopping 10lbs 8.5oz (50th percentile) and was 23in long (75th percentile) at her apt.

Dr. Riddel said she looks great and is doing perfect! She was a champ with her shots, too. I had her breastfeed while she got them and it went super easy and quick. Bottles are getting better, she is taking around 1 a night from Kellen to let them have some love time and for her to get ready for my return to work. THAT is a sore subject and I prefer to remain in denial about it.

 For trick or treating, she was the cutest little bug I know ;)

Trick or Treat!

Happy Halloween!

Just Married....5 years ago!

Happy Anniversary to my darling Kellen! I can't believe I have been your wife for 5 years now. This has been an amazing journey and looking forward to what the next 5 years (times infinity!) brings us. You are still the man of my dreams...and you doing all of the night diaper changes brings on a whole new meaning to this ;) I love you, sweetie! xoxo

Big Day Out

We are nearing November during football season, with a newborn...thus were presented with a sad possibility: this could be the first time in (cringe) 10 years that Kellen and myself weren't at Purdue for a football game tailgate. OH MY!

The delima: a frost advisory and not wanting to bug anyone last minute to babysit Paige.

The solution:  after asking several of my good friends for advice, like 20 times, and changing my mind about as much, I bit the bullet and decided to go. I am sooo glad we did- Paige did great and it felt so nice to get back up there. It is such a part of Kellen and my's relationship, and between the craziness of the last few months and our 5 year anniversary that is this week, it was just what we needed.

Poor Paige, she had on so many layers it was like Christmas Story in 5 layers and her bunny suit.

'I can't put my arms down'

We made it!

It was as if were indoors, outdoors! We had all of the sides up on the tent and Jason brought his propane heater. We had quite the set up.

The annual Thorne/Heavin tailgate photo

Her bunting (burrowed from her friend Tessa) had feet ;)

Paige's first visit on campus

And the day didn't stop there!

That evening Kellen's dad had is annual family Halloween party

Auntie Mallory the jailbird

Happy little skeleton

Gourd-jeous!
Poor thing! But we just had to do it.

I am pretty sure this look is saying, 'you guys are jerks'

I don't know who was more worn out after this day, me or Paige. It was good practice for the holidays that are quickly approaching, for both of us!