Days With Leighton

Before baby girl number 2 arrives we have tried to spend as much one on one time with Leighton as we  possibly could. Last weekend wasn't too eventful but we did make a little day trip with her. This weekend I have been looking forward to for about a month now. All i wanted to do was watch Leighton at the Sheep Parade (yes, sheep parade) and take her trick or treating.

Last Sunday we went for a family drive out to the Parowan Gap. Of course i didn't actually take any pictures of the gap and we barely even explored it. The gap was actually kind of neat, just a small gap between two cliffs in the middle of no where with ancient indian writings all over it. We decided to let Leighton and Tiffany explore the dessert a little though and of course our cute girl went rock hunting. Yes, one of the 15 words Leighton can say is rock. She is in love with all rocks and we aren't quite sure why but we do have a little Leighton rock collection building all over the house.

Today was the Sheep Parade and Livestock Festival here in Cedar City. We have made it a little tradition to go to the small time parade every year. Leighton loves watching any parade. Seriously, she claps and waves and is all sorts of smiley. It didn't surprise us at all when she saw Grandpa Penn walking down the road in the parade and she chased after him waving goodbye to us. He said she smiled and cheesed it up for everyone the rest of the parade.

Can Leighton look any cuter for a livestock festival? It was such a beautiful day. Seriously its late October and she was able to wear a little dress, cardigan and the cutest boots ever!

After the parade we headed to the livestock festival to watch the tractor pull. Leighton loves her cousins so much and had so much fun spending the day with them. We wish we were able to see the girls more.  It always makes me laugh when she is around them she never seems to think she is any smaller than they are.

We ended the day with a trunk or treat and Leighton finally got to wear her halloween costume. Another word this crazy little girl can say... Lorax. She is in love with the movie and everything about it. Kaden and i fought over making her a pumpkin or the Lorax. Clearly Kaden won and its a good thing. She thought it was so neat and of course she was a natural at trick or treating. Luckily we are blessed with the sweetest 1 1/2 year old around because afterwards she divided all of her candy up between the family. 

I am so glad that we have had some time to really spend with our little girl before her world is turned upside down. I hope she is ready for a little sister in her life. She really will be such a sweet older sister but i know she will get upset about not having us to herself too. 

Dear Baby Girl

Dear Baby Girl,

Today you have been growing for 39 weeks in my belly and still seem very content on staying in there. I don't blame you, it is safe and quiet and you don't have to worry about being fed or about where you sleep or who you are with. This may be the only way you get me all to yourself for awhile. Leighton seems to think it is alright if you stay in there a little longer as well. She has became very clingy and wants me to hold her constantly. I am sure partly because she wants to be close to you too though. Even though your older sister doesn't quite understand what is coming her way she still asks for the baby and is fascinated with rather large belly. You two will love each other and hopefully be best little friends. Now that life is slowing down a little as we all wait for you to arrive your dad and I have been able to imagine together more about what you will be like. Will you be an easy sleeper or mild tempered, will you keep us on our toes and have red hair too? No matter what we know you will fit perfectly into our little family, we already love you so much. The past couple of days Leighton and I have ran the canyon trail again in hopes you'll want to join us. This time of year is so beautiful, the leaves are all changing colors, the air is crisp and just a little cold and it even smells good outside. The two nights that we have ran i can't help but think what a better time to come to earth, all seems right and almost perfect. We will see you when you are ready. There are many people here waiting for you who will love you and be there for you through out your life. I am sure there is a reason your sweet spirit is keeping all of us waiting. Until i have you in my arms i will just keep dreaming of you.

Love, 

Your Mom

Running and Hiking

Courtney and I have been running partners ever since it became warm enough to run this year. We even did two races together with the babies and have loved getting to be outside with our girls and getting a little adult interaction in at the same time. The poor girl has even put up with me being on a completely opposite running ability than her. She is post baby and well I obviously have been growing another one.

Our first race was the Main Street Mile. Some how we talked Teisha into doing it with us and we ended up running it in 7 minutes which is pretty good when you have stroller and have to make your way through a crowd of other runners.

Our second run together was very last minute and a cross country 5k. We both arrived literally as the race started and i was not prepared for it being cross country. We survived it though even at 32 weeks pregnant and pushing the stroller. Leighton was so happy when the race was over, she hopped out of the stroller sat in middle of the road and ate her grapes like it had been hard for her too. 

Once it wasn't too hot during the day we thought it would be fun to take a break from just running and start doing a few hikes. So far we have only made it to two new places but both were really great to do with the babies and fun for us.

Our first hike was at Red Cliffs which is the nicest little hike randomly off the freeway between Cedar and Saint George. It takes you back to a few little pools and when theres run off a waterfall, obviously no waterfall at the end of summer though. Leighton was amazing, she hiked all by herself until the very end when she made me carry her and she fell asleep. I love taking her outside and letting her explore. I honestly believe its one of the best ways for a child to learn and grow. I hope she will always love being active and will realize how lucky she is that she gets to experience so many beautiful places. I know i am glad i've been able to explore Southern Utah so much this year before we say goodbye.

I am sure this pictures look a little familiar. Leighton and I had already visited Zion National Park with my family back in July but now that the weather was perfect and the government was no longer shut down we just had to go back. I seriously wish i would have taken way more advantage of all the beautiful trails Zion has to offer in the past couple of years. We had so much fun visiting the other day that I hope we will go back before it gets too cold. So at 38 1/2 weeks pregnant i hiked my way around the park and this time Leighton would not hike on her own. Yes, i carried not only one but two babies the entire time. Luckily one of them made a good seat for the other. The leaves haven't changed yet in Zion but it sure felt like fall. The weather could not have been more perfect. We did the river walk hike that leads to the narrows and the weeping rock. Leighton was not thrilled when we almost got attacked by a squirrel on our first hike, but she absolutely loved getting to play in the water at weeping rock. She was so excited afterwards that she wanted to run down the trail almost giving me a heart attack. It was a good day for Courtney and I to get out and spend together before baby girl number 2 arrives. I am in need of getting all the adult interaction stored up as i can and the physical activity too. I am so nervous for the aftermath of birth when i will have to start completely over on getting into shape and feeling this good. Yes, now at 39 weeks i am still feeling great. Very pregnant, but great. Even though Leighton is so young, i hope one day she can see how much time i tried to spend with her and love her and play with her before her world was turned upside down. I kind of expect nothing to change and that all these things i do with Leighton i will just do with two now. I guess i will see how that goes but for now that is my plan. It really is crazy to think that this time next year our adventures won't be in Utah anymore we will be across the country and exploring completely new places. I am sooo excited but i know i will miss days like these as well.

Nashville

Sarah, Leighton and I packed up and flew out to visit the city we will soon call home. Camille and Alex were so nice and let us take over their cute little house the entire time and i am sure they are happy to have it back to themselves. We stayed crazy busy the entire time. Camille and I worked on setting up shop or what we could of it and Sarah got to chase Leighton around all kinds of fun places. 

Nashville is really a beautiful city and full of the nicest people i have ever met. It really seemed like everywhere we went people were wanting to talk and smiled and were just so sweet. 

We took the day off of working and spent the first day of fall drinking pumpkin chai lattes and picking pumpkins. Leighton was in love with the pumpkin patch. She was so braved and chased around the animals in the petting zoo, went on her first pony ride, played on a couple huge slides and picked out the cutest pumpkins. I can't wait to go again next year with both little girls. 

The wonderful designer Sarah Seven flew in for opening weekend. It was so much fun having her there. We had a great time with our first brides, shopping on our down time and going to a Vanderbilt football game.

After two weeks of being away from Kaden i was ready to get back to Cedar but i am so excited for us to finally make our big move to Tennessee. The store is going to be beautiful once it is completely finished and it will be a nice change for our little family to be in a bigger city with so much to do.