The best recipe for happiness? Copycat.

I'm not exactly sure what I would call the noise they're making in this video and if I did know, I'm not sure I'd know how to spell it. How about, "phubbbbbphubbbbbphubbbbb"? You'll just have to see for yourself:

It feels like I say this for every stage, and maybe I do, but this stage is probably my favorite so far. She's such a little person! She's pulling herself up on everything and she'll chase dad all over the house. She has sweet little baby curls (that's right, curls!) and the bluest eyes I've ever seen. Oh, and she says, "Da Da Da" all day long :(

Basically, she's the best and we want a million more just like her!

The best recipe for happiness? Family adventure to Green Lake.

Every Saturday our little family does a big family adventure. The main goal is to get us outside for a couple of hours :) Saturday we went to this awesome park in Seattle called Green Lake. We've been wanting to go out on the water for a long time but most places won't let children under one on a boat or they don't have a life jacket small enough. Although renting a water toy can be a little expensive, they have plenty to choose from. They even have these cool paddleboat type things that look like wave runners. Our boat of choice was a small yet cozy two person paddleboat. Just the right size for our little family. Below are some pictures from the day via my smart phone... just before it died :( 

^My little crawler :) ^

^Tessa was mesmerized by the water.^

^The beautiful lake.^

^Too bright!^

^Our little sailor ready to embark on her main voyage.^

I love Saturday family adventures!

The best recipe for happiness? Discovery Park.

Be sure to make the video "full screen." Much better than the little "fun size" box that blogger posts.  :)

The best recipe for happiness? Memorial Day weekend.

Happy Memorial Day! This time last year Brady and I were on our way to Chile. I can't believe a year has already gone by since that miracle of a trip. This year we're just lounging around and enjoying the extra day we get to have Brady all to ourselves. On Saturday we went to Alki Beach for our family adventure (more on that little ditty later). Brady snapped the cutest shot of Tessa. I know I say that a lot and I know I have some really great shots of that little girl but this one takes the cake:

Let's get a closer look, shall we?

^Just look at that double chin and those plump little cheeks! Irresistible.^ 

What are you doing this Memorial Day?

The best recipe for happiness? A little bit of fresh air.

Over the weekend Brady surprised Tessa and I by taking us on a family hike. I loved hiking in Utah but hiking in Washington makes Utah seem like a barren wasteland (just kidding...almost). This was Tessa's very first hiking trip and I think she did pretty well! We did have to carry her in our arms half of the way but as soon as we took her out of her carrier she was smiling non stop and talking up a storm. Seriously, people were beginning to stare. Funny little chatterbox. Tessa is a beam of light. Everyone that crosses her path can feel that light and they can't help but smile at her, or talk to her, or touch her. It's intoxicating. I'm lucky enough to drink in her sweet spirit every single day and I forget what joy she brings to other people. The lush green was exactly what my soul needed. Sometimes I get so caught up in this mothering gig that I give myself little opportunity to just stop and look in awe at the splendor around me. I live in such a beautiful place and I don't want to waste any of the time our family gets to spend here. We've decided to make Saturdays our "Family Adventure" day and I can't wait to see what we end up doing next!

^If anyone has a carrier that they are just raving about, please share. This one is no bueno.^

^The bridge felt like it was a hundred feet in the air. Heights make me nervous but heights with your kids is unbearable!^

^Everything is just covered in a thick coat of moss. So GREEN!^

^This picture doesn't even do it justice and Brady is one of the best at taking pictures. It was so cool.^

When you come to visit, which I hope you do, I'd love to take you on this hike. It does the body good :)

The best recipe for happiness? Getting your hands dirty!

A month or so ago Brady had to change the oil and Tessa thought it was the coolest thing! First we put on Brady's hat and then we thought "why stop there?" and put her in the oil pan (brand new, never used). Here are her mommy's-little-mechanic-daddy's-little-helper-oh-my-gosh-I'll-just-die-from-how-cute-she-looks pictures. I couldn't decide which ones I liked more so I'm adding them all! You're welcome grandparents!

 ^If Tessa were a deer, this would be her "deer in the headlights" look.^

 ^I just love those eyes!^

 ^I love this picture and I bet I can guess what she's doing.^

Happy Tuesday!

The best recipe for happiness? Napping with someone you love.

You know it's the end of a busy week when you walk into the bedroom and find this:

It has been such a joy watching Brady transform into the "world's best daddy". And take our word for it, Tessa is the BEST napping partner there is. Since I couldn't decide which picture I liked more, I posted them both. You can do that sort of thing when its your blog, you know :) 

The best recipe for happiness? An epic weekend.

Our weekend consisted of:

^Eating so much our tummies hurt.^

^Kneeling to say family prayers.^

^Baby Einstein videos while holding "hands" with a new friend.^ 

^Naps at the park.^

^Eating daddy's face.^

And finally, getting to wake up to this sweet face every morning!

The best recipe for happiness? Becoming like a little child.

^Over the weekend we went to Green Lake for a walk. Have you ever seen a pair of rosier cheeks and nose?^

Today, I looked in the mirror at the dark circles under my eyes and my make up-less face. I sighed, I've had better looking days. Tessa put my face between her hands and pressed her cheek against my own. To her, my face is flawless.

Today, I spent a little too much time working on an email I really wanted to get done and not enough time comforting my distressed daughter. I sighed and apologized to her for the umpteenth time that day. She snuggled up close to my chest as if it never happened. To Tessa, there couldn't be a better mother. 

Today, my house was messier than usual and didn't get picked up until late that afternoon. I sighed, wishing I had it more together. Tessa played with me on the floor, hardly noticing the mess. To Tessa, there couldn't be a more comfortable, safe place to be. 

Today, Tessa told me I was beautiful, she frankly forgave me, and she reminded me that even the best homes don't always have the cleanest kitchens.  Maybe that is one of the things Christ meant when he asked us to become more like a little child: to understand that people make mistakes and love them regardless. To see the beauty and goodness in others and remind them of that goodness and beauty when they forget. 

Someday, I'd like to be more like Tessa. 

The best recipe for happiness? Big, blue eyes.

This picture is currently our desktop background. On Saturday afternoon our little family took a trip to the park. The weather was fabulous. Brady snapped some shots of the landscape while I introduced Tessa to things like waves and ducks. Can you imagine being where she is right now? Where everything is new, just waiting to be explored. It seems so thrilling. I'm really grateful for cameras that can capture moments like this.

Today while fishing through Tessa's drawer to find her something to wear, I found the pants from this post. When she was born they were too big for her and now, even if I tried, I couldn't get them past her knees. I walked to the bathroom to watch her and Brady playing during her bath. I'll admit I got misty eyed. My baby is growing so fast. I asked time to slow down and then I blinked twice and whoosh! in a couple of days my little girl is going to be four months old. This mothering business is SO bittersweet. I love when she hits her milestones but I miss my little newborn in her bundle of blankets.

She loves to jump. She's on the verge of rolling from her tummy to her back and from her back to her tummy. We'll see which comes first. She loves to rub her hands against her daddy's beard. She'll look you right in the eyes and talk to you. She smiles when we practice our ABC's (especially D for Da Da and M for Ma Ma). She has to have her thumb and her baby lamb for nap times. If it were up to her she'd already be walking everywhere. So much personality and so much love. And the best part? Those big, blue eyes.

The best recipe for happiness? Bad weather. Who knew!

Today the weather is absolutely terrible. The wind is just howling outside and it's supposed to rain two inches but things in this house couldn't feel more cozy. After Tessa's morning nap we laid out on the floor in the living room and read books while doing tummy time. We had to take breaks often for some much needed thumb sucking but we both loved it. We read about butterflies and feet, about oddly colored animals and sang our ABC's. She held my hand and I rubbed her tummy. We giggled. 

Tessa eventually fell asleep on our living room floor sucking her thumb and snuggling her baby lamb. She's never slept anywhere but her crib and never by her own choice. I love the days where things outside are roaring but things inside are quiet and calm. I love that she felt safe and cozy enough to fall asleep right where she was. Days like these just make our house feel like a home. The only thing missing is Tessa's daddy. Luckily, it's date night and the weekend so we get him all to ourselves. I'm about to go snuggle my sleeping baby and make some lasagna soup. Today, bad weather is definitely the best recipe for this moms happiness. 

Have a fabulous weekend! And don't forget to snuggle!

The best recipe for happiness? Brady's younger sister and brother, Tessa's aunt and uncle, and two of my most favorite people.

I mentioned in this post that Melissa and Curtis were coming up for the weekend. Gosh, I sure love them. I don't have little siblings of my own but these two sure come close. We thought it would be fun to show them around the university's campus. We visited the library from this post and walked around the campus grounds. And of course we had to take them to Pikes Place Market because we ALWAYS take everyone who visits to Pikes (see our Pike adventures here and here). The weather was a little nippy but definitely better than Utah.

^Oh Tessa just loves that coat! More about that here.^

Brady (but I really mean me) wanted to take pictures of everything.We stopped to snap some shots on a bench which would have been really easy/fast if it wasn't for the pesky person in the middle.

^Brady: Kate you didn't smile (meaning you didn't smile right, lol).

Kate: I was smiling... with my whole body.^

^Brady: (looks at picture) Kate! Take a normal picture!

Kate: (sigh) Fine...^

^Much better.^

^Here is our very patient and did I mention awesome photographer.^

Hopefully it's not too long before those two come visit us again. Brady and I will have to go out a little more before they do because we're running out of places to take our family when they visit!