13 months

You are 13 months old! I can't believe how fast you are growing up and changing. Here is what you are up to this month.

You wear a size 3 diaper.

You wear 18 month clothes.

You have three pairs of shoes and you love to put them on now. You know when you put on shoes it means you get to walk outside or when we are out somewhere. You LOVE to walk anywhere and everywhere.

You are officially walking! We went outside to blow bubbles and let you play in the yard and Daddy put you down and let go and you walked all the way across the yard without falling down! I still remember how excited Daddy and I were when you rolled over for the first time!

You have such a little personality. You are very independent and know exactly what you want. You will cry and even scream if or when you don't get what you want, even if it is just to stop and play with the entertainment center.

You still fight sleep like crazy. But I love the way you fight it. You will talk and talk. You also will grab my face and pull it to yours and crack up. You will wiggle and kick your feet. I love it though because you don't cry.

When I am rocking you to sleep you will squeeze your eyes closed so tight. I love you so much!

When we go to take you into our bathroom to take a bath in the evenings Mommy goes in first and gets all of your bath stuff ready and you and Daddy stop and play on our bed with Taylor. You love to sit, crawl and just be on our bed. You also love when any dog is on there with you.

Daddy still gets in the tub with you and you love that. You love to play with the cat and fish that squirt water, the penguin, starfish & fish and the stacking cups. You love bath time, but when you are ready to be done you let us know in the cutest way! You will climb up on Daddy's leg, then swing your leg up on the edge of the tub. You will sit on the edge of the tub and wait for me to get you out. You also love to hold the lotion bottle while I am getting you ready.

I love our little night time routine. You know exactly what to expect and I think you love it too.

You love for Mommy to brush your hair and then brush your teeth. We even sing a little song while we brush your teeth. We sing it to the tune of "London Bridge is Falling Down" and this is how it goes:

Brush the teefies on the top, on the top, on the top

Brush the teefies on the top, don't forget the bottom!

Brush the teefies on the bottom, on the bottom, on the bottom

Brush the teefies on the bottom, don't forget the tongue!

(Then I make silly sounds with my tongue and you smile really big while I brush yours)

While you are nursing Daddy prays. You will pull away and talk while he is praying. I can't help but think that you are learning to pray and that you are talking to God too. It's so very precious! We then sing Jesus Loves Me and you smile really big. We have added something to our night time routine that Mommy used to do with her Mommy and Daddy. We give kisses, nosies (Eskimo kisses) and hugs. You LOVE when Daddy gives you nosies. You think it is the funniest thing ever and you crack up laughing.

Mommy can make you laugh, but man, Daddy can get you giggling like crazy. You love your Daddy so very much!

You are a climber! You love to climb on the gate and you will climb on your toys to try and see the tv from your playroom. But the other day you took it to another level... you climbed your shelf! You put your hands on the top, put your knee on the first shelf and pulled yourself up, you then put your feet on the shelf and stood up! (Of course I was right behind you with my hands on your sides)

You help me dress you now! You will put your arm out to put them in your sleeves and you do the same with your feet! You also will help me undress you. If I am not pulling your shirt off fast enough you will pull it off yourself!

You talk so much now, mostly jibber jabber, but you talk non stop. You have the sweetest little voice and I love our conversations. You have a few favorite sounds, "buh" and "ah" and "oh". So sweet!

Your favorite movie right now is Toy Story. You will watch it multiple times throughout the day. You will watch it in awe and not much will take your attention away. This is nice for Mommy and Daddy when we have to get ready at the same time, like on Sunday mornings. We will put you in your jumparoo and put it on. You love it!

You are eating all kinds of yummy organic foods and snacks now. We found a brand at Target called "Annie's" and you love any and everything that we have given you from that brand.. other than the macaroni and cheese! You do NOT like pasta! I am sure that this will change, but for now you vote no to any and every kind of pasta! You love the bunny snacks and snack mix. For breakfast you like to eat Cheerios, Earth's Best blueberry waffles and Earth's Best French Toast sticks. Oh and you want to tear and bite things on your own now. You do not like for Mommy to tear it for you anymore! The other morning I tried to give you waffles. I tore it up, just like I always have and you wouldn't eat it! I handed you the whole waffle and you picked it right up and ate it all by yourself! You are SUCH a big girl! You also love the Gerber Organic fruit strips. 

You love to drink Organic 2% milk and water. You couldn't care less about juice. You like water the best and I am happy about that. 

We bought you your first Betta fish. We named him "uh uh". We put him on the top of the shelf in your playroom and you LOVE him. You will climb your shelf to see him and stare at him.

There are a few words you will say. You say "Momma", "uh-oh" and "hi". I love to hear you talk!

We love you so much and can't believe how much you are learning and changing!

ONE!!

My sweet baby girl, how are you already one? I can still remember the day you were born and holding you for the first time. I have enjoyed watching you grow and change into the beautiful toddler you are becoming. Here is what you are up to this month:
You wear a size 3 diaper.
You wear some 12 months, but mostly 18 months.
You are in 18 month pajamas now.
You wear a size 4 1/2 wide in shoes.
You are sleeping so much better now! You sleep anywhere from 11-13 hours a night without waking. We are so very thankful for the full nights sleep and you nap so much better during the day!
You wake up between 7-8 and nurse, then you play in your playroom. You love to help me open all of the blinds. You will pull the cord and we will say, "good morning!" You smile so big and can't wait to get to the next window. Around 9:00 you are ready for breakfast and you eat Gerber Organic cinnamon apple oatmeal. While eating you like to watch Jake and the Neverland Pirates on Disney. You like the never night star, Peter's musical pipes and Peter Pan returns.
After you eat we go play. We just bought a small book shelf to go in your playroom for your books and some of your toys. Your most favorite thing to do is stand in front of it and pull every toy off one by one. Sometimes you play with them but most of the time you pull them off and then go on to something else. I try to pick them up quickly and quietly so you don't trip and fall, but the minute you know I am picking them up your crawl super fast over and pull them all back off again!
You can walk by yourself! Daddy and I are so proud of you. You will take 2 steps, 5 steps and sometimes you will RUN across the room! However you love to hold my finger and walk. That takes up most of your day! You will walk and walk and walk. If my hand is on the ground or in my lap you will pick it up and grab my finger and start walking.
You will take your first nap around 10-10:30. We go in to your room and I rock you to sleep. I love rocking you. You snuggle in to me and I just love it.
When you wake up from your nap you don't cry. You stand up hit your hand on the front of your crib, throw your paci and say, "uh-oh!" Daddy and I will sometimes race in to see who can get to you first. We love it when you wake up. You typically only sleep 15-45 minutes, so we are racing around to get things done in that short period of time! Ha!
You are eating so many new things now and when it comes to lunch I am trying to get creative. You like deli turkey, string cheese and goldfish. You love hotdogs too! You will also eat anything that is on my plate. In fact if it is on my plate you will stare it down until I cut you some and put it on your tray. It's adorable! You will try anything!
Bath time is one of your most favorite times of day. You get so excited when me, you and Daddy go into the bathroom. Daddy still puts on his bathing suit and gets in with you. You love it! You don't cry or put up much of a fight to get out either. You will lay on the towel and let me lotion you and put on your jammies. You are such a sweetheart!
After I dress you when we stand up to brush your teeth and comb your hair you will snuggle in and give me a hug. I just squeeze you until you pick your head up off my shoulder. I love, love, love when you hug me. I pray that you will always hug me like that. You are such a little cutie pie. You will stay so still and let me comb your hair, then you will pull your paci out of your mouth and let me brush your top teeth, bottom teeth and even your tongue! You are the best baby!
At night and nap time, but mostly at night time you want to play and laugh before you snuggle up to go to sleep. I will tickle your neck and the palms of your hands and you just cackle. I love your deep belly laugh, when you can't control it and you just die laughing.
You love it when Daddy prays. You will stop nursing, turn your head and look at him. When we sing Jesus Loves Me you look at Daddy and you like to touch his face while we sing. I love the way he loves you and you love him.
We have gotten to where when you wake up after your nap you will walk from your room to your playroom . You always at least attempt to make a pit stop at the tv stand to play with the cabinets. You are so cute though because you don't really care about what's inside or pull anything out, you just love to open and close the doors.
You think the dogs are hilarious. Heaven forbid one of them scratch or run by you, you will die laughing! When they walk by or come up to you you love it. Your favorite dog has to be Taylor. You love to touch and pet her. She is the best with you. She will let you pet her, even if you aren't as gentle as she would like. But you absolutely love all of our dogs and we are so grateful you do.
When we are out shopping you love to walk. You will ride in the buggy if there is one available, but if we let you out of the buggy we are not getting you back in! You will walk, no matter how tired you are.
When we are in the car you couldn't care less about holding a toy. You want your paci pod. You will have one clipped to your bib, one in your mouth, one in your hand and your other hand in the paci pod. It's so cute!
You love to run or walk really fast and if you are holding our finger and if we do not walk or run as fast as you you will fall over sideways because you are depending on us to hold you up.
Sometimes when you are standing, mostly in the tub, if my hands or Daddy's are on your waist you will push them off. You are so very independent!
You are so funny because you know how to manipulate all of your toys, however you will take balls and or other parts and put them in toys where they don't belong. You have a Noah's Ark. Noah never stays on the Ark! He always ends up in your ball pit or in the elephant that spits out balls. It's hilarious!
At nap time when I lay you down you roll onto your left side. You either stay there or roll onto your belly to sleep. However at night when I lay you down you lay on your back with your arms straight above your head.
You like the intro or advertisement to Chuggington and you love the dancing Robot on Disney!
At both nap time and bed time you fall asleep faster if I am talking. I think my voice is soothing to you.
Daddy and I have so many nick names that we call you. From day one you were my puddin' pop. I don't know why or where it came from, but that is what I have always called you. Daddy calls you boogie. There are many derivations to the names we originally created. We are very good at coming up with nick names. We call you little lady, love button, angel cakes, cakes, boogs, punkin', cutie patootie & popper. We just love you so much it is easy to come up with sweet names for you!
Happy first birthday my sweetness!

11 months!

Allie you are 11 months old today! I cannot believe how much you are growing and changing every day. You never cease to amaze us and we fall more in love with you each day. Here is what you are up to this month!

You wear a size 3 diaper, we buy Cruisers only now. We just finished up your pack of Pampers Swaddlers.

You wear 12 months clothes, 18 months are still a little big on you.

You have been waking up around 6:45 lately. You nurse, then want to play. You then eat breakfast. You eat Gerber organic apple cinnamon oatmeal.

You typically take two naps a day. One around 9:30-10 and the other around 2 or 3. I just wait to see when you start to get sleepy and then I lay you down.

You have seven teeth now! Three on the bottom and four on top and we know you are cutting another one. 

You love to be rocked to sleep now! You will not let me bounce you anymore. I love it! Makes me remember when you were so small and you would nap in my arms all day.

You are so cute! When I am rocking you to sleep you want to play for a few more minutes so I tickle you and we laugh and laugh, then you cuddle in to me and you fall asleep. It is one of my favorite times of day. You do it at nap time and bed time. Love! 

You are trying new things daily. You can put away some Panera! We went for Daddy's birthday and the entire time we ate so did you! You love broccoli cheddar soup, French bread and the grilled chicken off of my sandwich! You also drink out of a straw now. You are a pro and you love water. You have tried spaghetti. You liked the meat and sauce, but weren't too sure about the noodles. You LOVE yo baby yogurt. You have tried blueberry, banana and vanilla. You have eaten a grilled nugget, green beans and animal crackers from Chick-fil-A. You love ice cream, especially Cold Stone. You are not a fan of Chick-fil-A's ice dream, although I am sure that will change! 

You want to walk so bad! You will stand up and lean forward trying to figure out how to pick up your feet. It's so cute!

You love to clap. You do it all the time and look around waiting for everyone else to clap and say, "yay!" You clap when you stand, when you fall on your bottom, when you pick up a toy. You just love it!

One of your most favorite times of day is still bath time. You love to stand in the tub. Playing with the knob and faucet is your most favorite. You love to chew on the foam letters and numbers, pull the turtles around and suck water out of the wash cloth. You also enjoy standing and dropping things out of the tub, Mommy says, "uh oh!" and you lean way over to see them. I pick them up and you do it again. You like for me to get your lady bug toy holder off the wall and put the toys in and take them out again. You also love when Daddy holds you up so you can see out of the window. You make the silliest face!

You love to stand. Because your playroom is in the dining room and the couch blocks the tv you will stand on your tippy toes to see it. It's precious. You will come up to me or Daddy and crawl in our lap. We used to think you were coming to love on us, but soon realized you were using us to see the tv. You love to watch Jake and the Neverland Pirates. It is by far your favorite show. Your favorite episode is Peter Pan Returns. You would watch it over and over if we would let you! You love to watch the intro to Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, but get bored afterwards. You are not much of a fan of Special Agent Oso anymore either.  

You love any and all technology, iPhones, laptops, Grammie's iPad, doesn't matter! If it's out, you want it!

You love to play with your diapers. You will carry two of them around for hours. You also love when I am changing your diaper to close and open your wipes warmer.

You love to have multiple pacifiers all at once. One in your mouth and one in each hand. This makes you so happy.

You love your chair that Uncle Tony & Aunt Cathy gave you. We have taken it out of your playroom because you love to stand in it and bounce. We are afraid you're going to fall.

You love to look out the window. Daddy has been out in the yard lately and he will play peek-a-boo with you in the window. You love it. You wait for him to jump out and say, "boo" and you crack up laughing.

You are so incredibly ticklish. Your feet, belly, neck, knees and palms are so ticklish. Your belly laugh is the best sound in the whole world!

You are riding in your big girl car seat now. I can't believe how big you are! You love it.

You like to ride in the buggy now too! You go grocery shopping with Mommy and I love it when you do. You just sit in the buggy like a big girl and watch me put things in.

You love to go on walks in the evenings. You sit back in your stroller and relax as we walk. If any of the dogs are with us you like to be able to see them.

You are so very curious of your surroundings. We were in Lowes the other day and someone walked by pushing a cart and you heard it, stopped what you were doing, found it and followed it until you could no longer see it. This creates some difficulty when we go to take pictures with Anna. You follow the cars, animals and anyone that is around.

You have a bit of a diva attitude at times and can fake cry at the drop of a hat. I think you know Momma doesn't want you upset so you cry to get your way. You are just so very precious, and we do tell you no, but when you cry I just want to make it all better.

You absolutely hate to get out of the tub and you let us know it. You will scream until you are dry and sitting up. I can't decide if you just don't want to get out or if you don't like laying down. I do know you do not like the hooded towel. Something about having it on your head makes you unhappy.

You have the sweetest expressions. You scrunch your eyes, nose and mouth and make the cutest faces.

You love to play in your ball pit. You will sit in it, pick up the balls and throw them all around waving your arms through them.

Your favorite thing to do is read. Mommy always stacks up your books and you pull them down one by one to get to your favorite ones. Your favorites now are: Ten Perfect Puppies, Twinkle Twinkle You're My Star, Inside Noah's Ark & Baby Einstein's Baby Animals. You will sit and just pull out books looking through them, turning the pages. You are so very smart. You know how to turn the pages and you study the pictures now.

You can now easily navigate all of your toys. You know how to move and push your walking toy to be able to get behind it to push it. You place the balls in your gumball machine and push the lever to get them out again. You place the balls in your dinosaur, watch them come out, pick them up and put them back in. You open and close the stove on your refrigerator with ease, pulling out the milk, carrots and apple jelly. You pull off all of the rings on both of your stacking toys. You will crawl to your toy bin and you seem so very focused like you know exactly what toy you are looking for and you pull them out one by one until you find the one you are looking for. 

You love to put anything and everything in your dinosaur to see if it will bounce.

You love puffs, Happy Munchies & yogurt melts.

You also love blueberries. I have found that anything you can pick up with your fingers you will try.

You have incredible fine motor skills. Most things you pick up (food wise) are with your thumb and finger.

We went and had your foot measured and bought you your first pair of walking shoes. You are a size 4.5 wide! I love those chubby feet!

There isn't anything we don't like about you baby girl. You are our whole world!

10 months

Allie you are 10 months old today! I cannot believe in two short months you will be a year old. You are growing and changing so fast. You pick things up so very quickly. Here's what you are up to this month.

You wear size 3 diapers and we recently tried Cruisers, which work really well with you crawling.

You are wearing 12 months clothes, although I think you will be in 18 months very soon. You have already worn a few onesies that are 18 months. 

You kind of have a schedule now. You take an average of 3 naps a day. They vary from 30 minutes to an hour each.

 

You generally are ready to start your night time routine around 5:30. You eat Gerber organic apple cinnamon oatmeal, take a bath, nurse, we pray, sing Jesus loves me and then we bounce you to sleep.

When we lay you down for a nap or at night we lay you on your back. You will stay like this if you are really tired and asleep. Sometimes you roll to your side, but the cutest way you sleep is on your belly with your legs up under you and your little bottom in the air. It is so cute!

I love the first time you wake up to eat after you are asleep for the night. You are asleep once you start eating. I lay you back down and you stretch your arms straight above your head and leave them there. You look so relaxed and full.

You are so full of personality. You smile all the time and are easily amused. You love when Daddy does... anything! You love it when he acts like a goober. 

You are crawling all over the place and are pulling up on everything, but recently you have become a climber! You will climb onto your riding toy then over the arm of your chair. You will then attempt to stand on the arm of the chair to see out the window!

You love to sit in your reading corner and pull out every single book, especially if I put them back in the basket and stack them. You have to undo what I do!

You do your very best to escape from your play room, so Daddy rearranged your toys and lined up your basket and your ball pit to block you in. You will climb into your basket to try and get to the foyer! (We have ordered a gate and can't wait for it to come!)

You still love bath time. I think it is one of your most favorite times of day. Daddy gets in the tub with you because you are all over the place! You love to play with the water as it comes out of the faucet. You also love to line up all of your shampoo and body wash bottles on the edge and knock them into the floor.

You are still not a fan of getting out of the tub. You are way more interested in standing and opening the cabinets. I have mastered lotioning and dressing you while you do this. :)

When Daddy comes home you love to open the door to the garage and welcome him home. I will turn the knob and crack the door and you grab it and swing it open as hard as you can. Then you get the biggest grin on your face. You love your daddy so much.

You love to climb in your ball pit, sit down and then push all the balls around by waving your hands back and forth. You get so excited when you do this.

Your favorite books to read right now are: Mirror Me, Baby Animals (you open the flaps all by your self!), Twinkle Twinkle, The Precious Planet books and Inside Noah's Ark.

We have not left you in the nursery at church yet. I can't stand the thought of leaving you or the possibility of you getting sick. You are just too young. 

We did leave you with Grammie and G-Da on the 10th. They bought Daddy tickets to see George Strait and Martina McBride. I cried when we left. It was the hardest thing I have ever done. I do not plan on leaving you again any time soon. G-Da face timed with me so Daddy and I could pray and sing to you while you drank your bottle. You cried the minute you saw me and heard my voice. Broke my heart!

You eat Organic Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal for breakfast and supper. Your favorite foods to eat at lunch are: apples, pears, apple turkey cranberry, pumpkin apple and sweet potato cinnamon. You do not like any greens. You LOVE the organic puffs Daddy found. You like all the ones you have tried: apple, greens and I recently bought you banana, which I am sure you will love. I also bought you some organic yogurt melts. They are mixed berry and you love them too. Mine and Daddy's goal is to feed you as much organically as we can. 

When you wake up from naps Daddy and I will go into your room together and say, "good morning!" or "good afternoon!". You smile and love when we come get you together!

You are still nursing. You wake up 2-3 times during the night to eat. I treasure our time together, because I know it will come to an end all too soon. 

I read a book, "The No-Cry Sleep Solution". It gives all these different ideas and things to try to get you to sleep longer and better. We have used some of them. One of the things is to get you to be able to fall asleep on your own. Mommy struggles with trying this because I always said that when I had a baby I would rock them to sleep every time I laid them down until they wouldn't let me anymore. And you love it. You only want Mommy at night. I love that. I love our snuggle time together!

You rarely sleep in the bed with us anymore because you think it is playtime when you are with us! But the other morning you woke up to eat (it was about 6am) and you fell asleep in my arms. I was so tired I just put you between us. You woke up before we did and I woke up to you laying your hand on my forehead and leaning over me with the sweetest, most precious grin on your face. I will never forget that! I have decided that eventually you will sleep on your own and you will sleep through the night. I just want to enjoy every second with you, so if that means I get to snuggle and rock you in the middle of the night I will. That is why I am a stay at home Mommy, to be here for you whenever you may need me. 

You have finally grasped the concept of a sippy cup. You mainly just want to chew on the spout, however you will suck! I am so proud of you!

You have favorite shows and you will do whatever you can to see the tv if someone is blocking it and you hear the intro music! You love Little Einsteins, Special Agent Oso and Jake & the Neverland Pirates. You love the intro to Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, but quickly loose interest.

You love to sit with Daddy in front of the computer and watch Sharky and Bones sing all of the Jake & the Neverland Pirates songs. 

You still love mine and Daddy's iPhone's. We even have Fisher Price apps on them for you to play. You love to play them, but also love to send text messages and occasionally try to call people.

You have 6 teeth now! Four on top and two on the bottom.

You love to make choices! So Daddy and I have started letting you pick out your own pajamas, towel and wash cloth for the night. We will give you two choices of each and you pick one. You love to do this, and just like your Momma if there is a choice of anything pink, you choose that one!

You still love your paci and need it to fall asleep and for most of the day. We have not made a plan of when we are going to wean you. I pray you will wean yourself. Grammie says Mommy did, so I hope you follow in my footsteps.

You have started throwing things. You love to throw things down and have us pick them up. You love your balls in your ball pit, as well as the ones in your gum ball machine and dinosaur.

You are a pro at dispensing the balls from your gum ball machine. Daddy and I cannot reload them fast enough!

You love to play the game, well you think it is a game, where when we are rocking you to sleep you will take your paci out of your mouth and throw it at the floor as hard as you can. Sometimes we will go through 3-4 paci's at nap or bedtime! 

You love to be outside! Going for a walk is one of your favorite things to do. Whenever we go shopping your favorite part is being outside. Your favorite store to shop in is Target. I think you like the wide aisles and that there is so much to see.

With it being so cold outside I always take a blanket to wrap around your legs when we are out and you are in your stroller. You think it is so funny when I tuck the blanket under your legs.

You are still very, very ticklish. Your neck, belly, legs, arms and especially your hands are ticklish.

You love to play the game where you are holding a toy and I will take it and say, "give me that!" and then I will give it back to you. You love for me to do this over and over.

You love to hold and sometimes pull on my necklaces and earrings. You also like to turn my head so you can see what earrings I am wearing. You think it is funny to turn my head and for me to turn it back quickly. You crack up!

You love the dogs and are obsessed with their collars. You love the loop where their leash hooks. Taylor is still by far the best with you. She will just sit there while you pull up on her. Or lay there while you push on her or attempt to crawl over her. Bella wants to lick you in the face and takes her chance when she gets it. Bentley just wants to sniff your face, like he does to everyone else. Zoe is kind of oblivious that you are even in the room and Chesney... well Chesney isn't too fond of you, but I will explain to you when you are older why. We are working on all the dogs being like Taylor.

  
Your hair never fell out, and is getting so long! It is so pretty and soft. Your bangs go all the way to the tip of your nose! We have to pull back your hair so you can see. We use a bobby pin (which works really well!) or a bow of course.  

I am so proud of the sweet little girl you are becoming. I can't wait to see what this next month will hold! I love you Puddin' Pop! 

Panera and Coldstone

We took Allie to a new pediatrician on Friday. We haven't been impressed with her current one. He never talked to us about anything (when she could drink milk, drink juice, eat yogurt, start table food, etc.) so we were filled with all kinds of information at her 9 month well exam! He told us we could start table food, anything she could easily eat, now. We were kind of overwhelmed. We chose not to start baby food until 6 months, because we saw it best to solely nurse her until then. So she hasn't been eating baby food very long. I worry about her choking, as well as not knowing how to chew. Well today she showed me! We got up on time, got ready, missed the first service so we ran to Target... big mistake, we then were way too late to make it to the second so we decided to go shopping. We drove up to North Point, which is my favorite place to shop. We went and ate at Panera. One thing the pediatrician told us was that eating was a social thing and so she should eat when we do. So while Nick was eating I fed her some apple turkey cranberry, which she loves. She finished and so did Nick. He held her while I ate. She was watching me eat, so I pulled open my baguette and pulled off a tiny bit and gave it to her. She chewed! It was the cutest thing as she opened her mouth really wide and chomped down. She was so precious and ate a good bit of bread. She even got a little upset when I didn't immediately give her another bite.

We went into Marshalls and got Allie and book and some really cute Valentine's jammies and a few other things. We then went over to the mall and walked around. We went into the new department store Von Maur. Might be my new favorite place to shop! They have some of the cutest kids things! I found Allie's Easter dress there. I can't wait to go back and get it! The sales associates were a little overbearing, but I really liked the store a lot.
I have had a Coldstone gift card for over two years now that a student gave me. We don't have one around here so I haven't used it. I saw one when we were on our way to the mall and told Nick we had to stop there on the way back. Ooh it was SO good! I got Berry Berry Berry good. It was delicious! It was sweet cream ice cream with blueberries, strawberries & raspberries. Nick got cotton candy ice cream with sprinkles... I am married to a five year old! Ha! I love him and I tasted it and it was delicious as well. Before I took a bite of mine there was some ice cream that didn't have any berries in it, so I gave Allie a bite. Her first bite she didn't know what to think. She made a funny face and looked like, "Momma! That's cold!" But opened her mouth for another. I gave her a few more bites while Nick was paying. I grabbed the cup and started walking out. Allie got very upset thinking she wasn't getting anymore. We got in the car and Nick took these pics. She was loving it!

independent reading

I can honestly say I have loved every stage and age that I have experienced with Allie since she was, well before, she was born. Every one has it's own special qualities and things that I just treasure and adore. I cannot believe how much she has changed and grown in the nine short months she has been in my life. I love watching her experience new things!

I have been reading to her since before she was born. I love kids books and thoroughly enjoy sharing them with her. She has loved reading since she was old enough to sit in my lap and look at the pages. I remember the first time she ever reached out to touch the pages, then the day she learned to turn them. That is still one of her most favorite things to do. Although up until recently you had to read very fast because the most exciting part of reading to her, was turning the pages. 

Now she looks and studies each one before deciding when to turn the page. It is the cutest thing! I read with her every day and look forward to this time. Whenever she crawls over to her book baskets and starts pulling books out we read. 

On Saturday she started getting books out all by herself, sat in the floor and "read" them! She will hold the book, stare at the page (whether it be upside down or not!) turn the page or flip the book over. It is the most adorable thing! She will do it for long lengths of time now and I just love to watch her. She even reads while Mommy changes her diaper!

She also watches my mouth when I read the books to her. I know she is studying trying to figure out how to talk. I love to hear her babble and say mama and dada. Melts my heart!

We have all of our Valentine's Day decorations out now. I figured since we were waaaaaaay late at taking down our Christmas decorations I'd be early for Valentine's! (That reminds me... Nick needs to take the Christmas lights off the house!!) Allie has enjoyed playing with all of my stuffed animals from past Valentine's gifts Nick has given me. Also today she starting smiling at the camera when you take her picture. You can't fake her out though, Nick tried! You have to actually take the picture, where the flash goes off. But I got some of the cutest little smiles today!

I love this little girl more than words can describe. I just hope she knows how very much her Mommy loves her. I can't wait to get up tomorrow and play and love on my sweet girl!

lazy Saturday

Today was a nice, relaxing day. We stayed in since it was rainy and dreary outside. We stayed in our pajamas all day and just played in Allie's playroom! I love days like these. We had no where to go, no place to be. It was so nice! Allie has done so many new things this week. On Wednesday Nick was with her in her playroom and he said, "she's walking all by herself with her walking toy." She crawled over to it all by herself, pulled up and pushed it without any help! 

I told Nick after that she would be running at her birthday party! She is so independent and I love that. She loves to go and can't wait to walk around. That same night she crawled up into her chair and stood up, all by herself. She is such a mess! I love watching her learn and explore. I say it all the time, but it is so true, she learns something new every day. 

Today I was in the kitchen and Nick was playing with her and said she was reading all by herself. 

She loves to read. She loves for you to read to her and then she turns the pages. She's so cute. 

I look over and she is sitting in the floor with a book turning the pages and looking at each one. It was so adorable. Of course I took way too many pictures of her reading, but it was just so sweet! 

She also found one of the teddy bears Nick had given me for Valentine's a few years back and she was holding him and reading. It was just precious!

I am reminded every day of just how lucky and blessed I am that my husband trusted God when he was led to quit his job and start his own business. Also that he allows me to stay at home with Allie. I love it that he works from home and is here for everything. My parents came over on Thursday for supper. Nick ran to the store to grab some white chocolate chips that I had forgotten at the store and Allie was walking behind her walking toy. My mom reached out her hand and Allie grabbed it. She let go of her toy and then my mom started to let go of her. I told her she wasn't going to walk and if she did I'd knock her down (the look on my mom's face was priceless, until I finished my sentence. Then her and my dad laughed!) because Nick was NOT going to miss her first steps. Please know I would never knock down my daughter if she did take her first steps without her Daddy being there. I'd grab the video camera, get her walking then grab her and cover her sweet cheeks with kisses. But I would hate it if he were to miss something like that! 

I love that I am here with her every day and that I get to see and experience every time she learns or does something new. I love being a stay at home Mommy! Thank you sweetheart for giving me the best job in the whole world!