Shoes and Kisses

As Anna brings me my shoes now and proceeds to place them on my feet, I am amazed at this little person that blooms in front of me every day! She does and understands so much more than we give her credit for. She is such a sweet baby. She's very into giving kisses. She even tries to give Jack kisses. She's figured out the full pucker, kissing sound, and to lay it right on the lips! She bent down to Jack's (our cat) level yesterday and tried as hard as she could to kiss him right on his lips. Terrifying experience for a cat, I know. She'll walk up to me now and kiss me anywhere she can reach....an arm, leg, knee, shoulder, back, face, etc. She is just such a lover! She loves to smile and wave at people in the store, reach out for anyone to hold her so she can say hello. She gives full wraped arms around the neck hugs now and she can certainly melt her daddy's heart. I am in awe today of our sweet baby girl and what a blessing she is to us daily!

A Blogger Slacker....and a Random Post

So, the last few months have been insane, what can I say? I haven't had much time to blog recently thanks to a very busy 13 month old who is into EVERYTHING! So, a quick update on what's new since the last post. I believe I left off at we were house hunting.....well.....we found the cutest house in the whole entire world and are absolutely blessed beyond measure to call it ours. It is the cutest little white house with an amazing red front door in just the right shade. It has all the original hardwood floors and old Chico charm, and is just a minute away from work. It couldn't have been a better find. We were able to save quite a bit for a larger down payment than we were even shooting for with the graciousness of my in-laws letting us crowd their house for 4 months while we shopped and saved. We moved in February 25th this year and have done some changes so far. Painted, moved the washer and dryer down into the basement, and sprused up the yard a bit. I'm not big on the yard taking care of and if my thumb was a color it would be brown, certainly not green. But, I am trying. After a long discussion with the nice lady at Osh, I learned that my azelea's, camelias and hydrangeas need a certain type of food. Who knew? So, I fed them with this special food and after much hymming and hawing, my azelea is still not blooming. I had my dad, an agricultural genious look at it and he assured me it will bloom and to just be patient.

Patient is just one thing I am not. If there is one thing that I can continually work on it's patience. So, I am praying for patience daily in life with being tired, stressed, over worked, a cranky toddler at times, and for non-blooming plants that should be blooming. As I have been busy doing all this, I have been meaning to catch up on this blog but am just now finding the time.

On to the toddler, Anna is quite the lady these days. She is running everywhere, finding things in nooks and crannies, loving whole milk, crackers, rice cakes, and broccoli. She is also in a stage where she is very picky about meal times. She eats a huge breakfast of usually 2 eggs, a whole piece of whole wheat toast, and usually a type of fruit (1/2 a banana, blueberries, strawberries, blackberries, a mandarin). Then for lunch, she is just a grazer and I am lucky if she eats! Dinner is becoming the same story. I guess she'll just eat when she's hungry but as a first time mommy....do I just let her eat when she's hungry? She is just too into playing to sit down long enough to eat. Although, she is a solid 21 lbs and is certainly not wasting away. Today, for lunch I made her whole wheat Annie's macaroni and cheese and she wanted nothing to do with it! She spit it out. I mean what kid doesn't like mac and cheese? So, she wouldn't touch the mac and cheese but ate about a 1/2 a cup of broccoli. At least she loves her veggies.

Anna is loving small wooden puzzles and is very intrigued by how things work and go together. Mia K. (Peter's mom) says she's just like Peter was when he was little. She loves going up and down stairs, and has figured out how to back down stairs and steps. She's pretty smart our little one. She's also starting to get some words. Currently she consistenly says Mama, Dada, Jack, Duck, "nigh nigh" (for night night when she's tired) shoes, hat, Papa, bye bye and "ju" for juice. Not to mention her amazing ability to fit in with the farm animals by mooing when she sees a cow. She also says Meow and Woof when asked what a doggy and kitty say. She is so fun right now! Exhausting but fun. It's amazing seeing her put things together and beginning to understand. I can also ask her to find her shoes and she'll get them and bring them to me turn around and sit down in my lap and put her feet out. It's just too precious! She is also turning into quite the lover. She blows kisses, gives real hugs down and loves to cuddle when she's tired. She is quite the fish in water. We've started swimming lessons, hense the picture above with her sporting her new suit and is loving each week! It's been fun to go do something together as mommy and daugther finally.

It's been fun to watch her and Peter and their relationship grow. He is so into her these days. He loves taking her outside into the yard to play and explore, he loves taking her to feed the ducks and to the park. He is loving this stage more and more as I long to hold my little newborn that was so cuddly and just a ball of warmth. The time flies so quickly but with each stage there is something just magical to watch and see. Not to mention learn in the meantime. More updates to come!

No Fear

Anna has been cruising around now for about a week or so. She will take about 6-8steps now with reckless abandon. I was expecting a cautious nature from her but the word cautious and Anna just don't mix. She definately has her Dada's personality which just makes him adore her all the more! She will let go of the coffee table, couch, cabinet, chair etc and just go for the steps until she falls or crashes and begins crawling again until she can pull up on something. It's so fun to see her be so adventurous but it makes me nervous at the same time for what is to come. She's always ready to go! She is such a joy, she's started belly laughing when we tickle her under her chin and it's so fun to get her to laugh and grab her belly. Just about the cuteset thing I've ever seen for sure! She got one more tooth on the bottom so one more needs to come in and we can go see the dentist for the first time (: On another note, planning will be underway here shortley for her first birthday so we'll keep you all posted on that process!

We are finally in escrow on a cute little house on 11th. We should close sometime next week and are ready and anxious to move in. It's exactly what we were looking for and Peter is already planning out all the things he wants to do to make little improvements. The list includes painting, plumbing the washer and dryer into the basement, expanding the garage, and putting in a bedroom upstairs. So, we'll see! I am just hoping and praying between working full time and sleeping and being a mommy, I can get the house to a semi-decent party atmosphere by March 1st (Anna's birthday). So, the race is on.

Peter starts today at Butte College teaching a part-time CAD drafting class which he is super excited about. The Lord is so good and so faithful! Peter has found a job at least for now, we're moving in to an amazingly cute house with neighbors we'll know, we have a beautiful healthy baby girl, we are both healthy, we have friends whom we love, and a family who is just amazing at loving us. We are so thankful to be back in Chico!

A Step....

Moving Day in Truckee....



An Anna update: I am just not ready for this little lady to start walking! Yesterday she was holding on to the coffee table and I had a toy in my hand and I put my hands out for her to grab them and she took two steps toward me to get the toy! I was shocked! She has been happily cruising around the coffee table, along walls, and the couch for about a month now, loves walking with her new push toy (thanks to Mia K.) but still seems unsteady on her feet. She'll stand on her own occasionally but only for about 20 seconds so I figured walking would wait for a little while longer! But, the steps have begun. She did it about 4 times yesterday too, not just a one time thing.....Crazy!

For Peter and I: We continue to loose houses daily. It seems we find the perfect one, and there is always another offer that beats ours down by a small amount. Our offers are always soooo close to what the bank accepts! It's getting frustrating and a little discouraging. So, we continue to pray that the Lord would provide the perfect house, not just any old house, and hold on to the truth that he is good and loves to bless us! Still no job on the Peter front, he continues to seek employment but the economy is just not the place to provide manufacturing jobs at the moment. I am still LOVING my job at Enloe, I had forgotten that the ER is truly the place for me.....I love the people I work with, the doctors, the patients, and mostly just being in Chico near our friends and family. Being back full time is trying, I feel exhausted most of the time but I wouldn't trade any of it for the world. Anna is flourishing being home with her Daddy and I am loving working and being home with the two of them 4 days a week!

A little behind.....

Sorry for the lack of updates, lack of posts etc. We've been soooo busy! Especially me, I didn't realize going back to work full-time was going to take up so much time since it's still only 3 days a week but it's exhausting! Trying to keep up with a husband, baby, laundry, dishes, cleaning etc. Yikes! Not to mention catching up on sleep which I am currently at 2 hours sleep in the past 30 hours now. I'm a bit sleepy. On top of it all, trying to buy a house, searching for the perfect one and build into relationships that have fallen by the way side.....

This month we have gone to LA and San Diego to a quick family visit and a trip to the zoo. I have worked a ton, slept a little in between, and fallen more and more in love with Anna everyday. She is now cruising from coffee table to couch and back again, intentionally says mama and dada, points to things she wants or is interested in, loves playing with the kitty, babbles constantly to her toys, laughs, claps, walks with a push-toy, pulls up on everything, loves to pull everything out of the cupboards, crawl to where ever mama is and is just beginning stranger anxiety. And, not to mention yet another miserable cold has struck her just in time for Christmas!

Anyway, the month of December has been simply amazing! I fall more and more in love with my job at Enloe in the ER and loving every night as hard as some can be. They make me appreciate and love my family and friends so much more. I am constantly reminded of the Lord's goodness to me compared to others I see and care for in the ER. I am so richly blessed by his love, faithfulness, and commitment to me. The Lord is just amazing! As we celebrate him today, I am filled with a new joy which nothing else can touch. Happy Birthday Jesus!

updated pictures to come......

Processing.....

Life is quite a journey, especially these days. Moving back to Chico has been truly amazing. It's so fun to be back, loving my job, loving working at Enloe, walking through the park, walking around downtown, walking down to Buddy and Gail's when ever we feel like it, all the pretty Chico trees.....I feel like there are just so many things to process with being back, and feeling a little overwhelmed through it all. It's been a journey that is for sure. Figuring out what relationships look like, how they've changed over a year and a half, what church body we want to be a part of, how I truly feel about being our family's "provider" financially. Still just taking a deep breath and trying to take it all in. Praying through what the Lord wants for our family now that we are back in Chico and what it's all supposed to look like.......in relationships, a house, a job for Peter, and raising a precious gift of a baby in the midst of it all.

Chico is my Hometown....

Today I soaked in the goodness of being back in Chico. Anna and I took a trip to Safeway to buy some yummy organic produce and enjoy their amazing customer service, we took a walk in the park with Megan and Andrew, took naps, made some soup, and made some yummy homemade whole wheat bread. I decided that from now on, I'm going to make all our bread. It's so easy! And, then I know exactly what is going in it. It turned out amazing. The best recipe I've found so far! I'll post it at the end of this post.

In news of the LeDuc's. I haven't posted in a while so there is a lot to catch up on......we are officially moved to Truckee. I am completely done working in Reno and my last day in Truckee at the hospital was Nov 1st. I will terribly miss that hospital. Talk about a cush job! They bring the nurses dinner at night, let us take naps, and not to mention the pay was out of this world! The patients were so nice, and really, not even remotely close to how sick of patient's I'm used to taking care of in Reno. So, my job was cush, plush, easy and just simply amazing. And, the staff was so nice to work with! Enough said, I will miss it!

In other news, I am back full time in the ER at Enloe as a RN. I'm super excited to get back into the ER. I'm used to working in an ER three times Enloe's size so I'm sure it'll be busy but not as crazy as I am used to. I love the variety of it, all age ranges. I love working closely with the Dr.'s and let's just be honest, the ER could always use a nurse that actually cares to work in it. So, I am the one for the job. I was nervous about getting my job at first because the nurse manager said she was overwhelmed with the number of applicants for the position. So, I wasn't banking on getting the job. Mid interview, she hired me on the spot after hearing I worked in the ER in Reno and have my trauma certification. I was elated! I'm nervous about going back to full time since I haven't worked full time since Anna came around but it'll be good for the time being. It is only 3 days a week after all.

Peter is still on the hunt for a job. He's applied to Aero Union and some farming company that manufactures farm equipment. The job market is beyond crappy, especially in Chico so we'll see what doors the Lord opens in that area. At least for now, he'll have some quality bonding time with Anna. Over our move, I had a birthday which was just simply amazing. We walked around downtown, got smoothies, did some birthday shopping, and had family dinner. We also attempted a trip to the pumpkin patch but they were closed. We did get some good pictures though, Anna was sooooo happy all day! A true birthday blessing.

Anna is such a happy baby! She loves to feed herself Cheerios, army crawl, take baths, follow the kitty around the house and so much more! We are offically out of the baby food stage which is so nice! She loves feeding herself anything she can eat. She's eating yogurt, chicken, all veggies, most fruits, cheerios, cheese, beans, and pasta.....Blueberries are currently a favorite along with peas and cheerios. She's getting really good at sitting up but would still prefer to crawl everywhere. She's also starting to pull up on things. It makes me nervous! It's definately baby proofing season and just when you do, it seems they find something that you forgot to baby proof. Amazing little things babies are! Oh yeah, she was a lamb for halloween and hated the hat. She kept pulling on the ears!

We are currently settled at Peter's parents house for now. Yes, how cool are we, living with parents again. It's a temporary thing to save some major money in the next couple months to use as a down on another house. At least that is the goal. Now is the time to buy. We already own one home and have rentors in it for the time being through July. So, come summer we have the option of moving back into our house. Right now we're thinking of fixing up a total dump and making it super cute or buying a foreclosure and moving into our next home and keeping our current house as a rental. So many options it's a little overwhelming. If we can't figure it out by Jan 1st. We'll go rent an apartment somewhere until we figure it all out. The beauty of it is that we have the time and so many options! We're just in the midst of praying for some clarity in which direction to go.

So, that is the update for now! I'll keep you all posted on what unfolds. Through it all, we are so blessed to be back with family and friends who love us. We are thankful we escaped the Truckee snow, and I know I am so thankful to have an amazing job, family, and in-laws that love us enough to let us live with them for the time being! So much to be thankful for! Yay Chico, it truly is my hometown!

Oh, I'll post some pictures later and....Here's the bread recipe!

Whole Wheat Bread

3 1/2 cups Whole Wheat Flour
4 T. vital wheat gluten
1/8 cup flax meal
1/2 cup applesauce
1 T. oil
2 T. honey
2 T. molasses
1 cup water plus 7/8 of a cup (3/4+1/8)
1 tsp salt
2 1/2 tsp instant yeast

Select the 2 lb. setting on the breadmaker and the whole wheat setting. I chose a medium crust but next time I will chose a light crust. Because my loaf rose so much, it was a little doughy after baking in the machine so I just pulled it out of the bread maker pan and put it in the oven at 350 for 10 mintues and it came out perfect!