13 months

Even though February is a short month, I really felt like it dragged on. But then when I realized that Emmy is 13 months old today, I felt like I was just writing her 12 month post!

Emmy is such a sweet girl and we love her to pieces. She is such a little mama and loves her babies. She carries a baby around most of the day and anytime she sees a real baby or a picture of a baby, she says baby.

 

She is able to stand up unassisted and she is taking 10-15 steps at a time!

She is drinking milk out of a cup throughout the day and has a bottle before bed. We're almost at the end of our last thing of formula so we're going to try putting her to bed without a bottle in the next few days.

 

I thought she was giving up her morning nap because she was only sleeping about 30 minutes, but some days she surprises me and sleeps 2 hours. She is always up before Bryce in the afternoons and she can't wait for me to give her the go ahead to wake him up. He loves it. If I woke him up he'd be cranky the rest if the day!

She has 6 teeth and I can't tell if she's working on more. She is wearing a size 3 diaper and 12/12-18 month clothes and a size 4 shoe.

She's started to give kisses more when you ask for them or even if you don't ask. My favorite thing is when you tell her to love on you she lays her head on you and snuggles. She loves on her babies too.

She's saying a few more words (baby, ball, book, night night).  When you see a picture of a dog you say "woof woof".  You also know the sound for a sheep, cow, and elephant.  You touch your head when I ask "where's your head?"  We're working on nose and mouth!

 

We love you sweet girl.

sunday and monday

During youth group on Sunday night, Jason and I took our middle school kids to perform a random act of kindness.  First we tried to give quarters to families at the laundromat, but everyone was finishing up when we got there and no one accepted our money.  Then we headed to Walmart where we were able to give two different families a little money toward their groceries.  It was a great experience for us all and it's something that I hope to do more regularly when I'm out.

 

While grocery shopping yesterday, an employee came up to me with three bouquets of flowers and asked me to choose one for myself.  After choosing my flowers, he scratched through the barcode and told me to enjoy!  How's that for a random act of kindness?!? I must have looked like I could use them as I navigated the big racecar cart through the store while holding onto Emmy's shirt tale so she wouldn't fall out of the cart since she refuses to sit in the seat!
 

 

Bryce got sea monkeys for his birthday.  We started the process last Tuesday night and by Saturday morning they had started hatching.  Bryce is enjoying watching them swim around.

 



 

Emmy is obsessed with the bathroom.  I try to keep her out, but she's always following Bryce in there and torturing him.  Last night I put her in the sink to keep her out of Bryce's way!

 

One of Bryce's friends from school came over to play yesterday.  He and Thomas had a great time playing and they got along so well.  Bryce is already asking when he can come over again!

 

 

Monster Jam

Bryce LOVES monster trucks.  He added about five more trucks to his collection after his birthday.  We pulled out all of his trucks the other night to do a little inventory.  He wanted to see which trucks he had that would be at Monster Jam.  Even with all of these trucks, he still only had 4 of the 6 trucks that would be here.  At any rate, I think this boy needs an intervention!  

 

Bryce really enjoyed Monster Jam last year so he and Jason decided to go again this year.  Jason loves it just as much as Bryce, if not more!  I think when he gets a little older, Jason will take him to a bigger arena so he can see the trucks do more tricks.  But for now, this a fun little treat with his friends.

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A trip to the Coliseum wouldn't be complete without cotton candy.  While I don't have a picture of the cotton candy (Jason doesn't photo document how I would), I do have a picture of Bryce and the souvenir Monster Mutt hat that came with the cotton candy.

 

welcome march

I had fun celebrating Bryce and Emmy's birthdays and Valentine's day in February, but I'm so glad March is here.  I'm looking forward to longer days and hopefully more sunshine!  March got off to a good start tonight with a much needed girl's night!  Some friends from my small group went to Carrabba's for dinner tonight.  I'm not sure I've ever been, but it was good.  We agreed to shorten our wait for a table by choosing to sit on the "heated" patio.  Big.Mistake.  We sat directly under a heater, but it was still cold.  We were a little frozen when we left, but also refreshed after a dinner with friends that didn't consist of entertaining children!

 

I'm in the market for a new car.  We bought my car new in 2005 and Jason told me I would have to drive it until the wheels fell off.  That sounded fine at the time, but now I want something with a third row in order to accommodate more people.  I have my eye on a Honda Pilot (we're going used this time).  The only problem is that I need to get my 4 wheel drive fixed (that the dealership broke) so it will be worth selling.  Only problem is the warranty will only cover part of the problem and I don't want to spend money to fix it just to turn around and sell it.  Guess I'll keep dreaming for a while.

 

I just saw a commercial for the Shamrock shake.  I had one of these last year, but I don't remember if I liked it.  Guess I need to try it again and see!

 

Do you ever go through phases where you want new stuff?  Expensive stuff?  Like new cars, ha!  I guess since I never buy anything anymore, I dream of lots of stuff.  This next thing is more of a need as opposed to a want.  Our computer is on the fritz and may die at any moment.  I want to switch to a macbook but Jason does too many things for work on the computer that are much easier on windows.  Guess he'll win this battle!  

 

Emmy is having her 2nd sleepover and Bryce and Jason are at Monster Jam.  I'm enjoying my night on a heating pad under a blanket watching "brideday" on TLC....still trying to warm up from dinner.

 

birthday boy

Bryce and I spent the morning together to celebrate his special day.  Jason had to work so I got my mom to keep Emmy this morning so I could give Bryce my undivided attention!  Bryce has been wanting to go to the Children's Museum so we finally went today.  Nana and Pap bought us a membership so hopefully he'll get to go more often now!

 

 

4 year stats

 

Height: 38 1/2 inches (10-25th percentile)

Weight: 33 lbs (25th percentile)

Vision: 20/20

They took his blood pressure and it was 90/46.  Jason thinks kid's blood pressures are so funny!

 

Does his puppet look like him?!?  With the purchase of a membership to the museum, he got a $20 gift certificate to spend at the gift shop.  He chose these two stuffed snakes and a teething toy for Emmy (sweet brother).  We went to the candy store near the museum when we were done.  He chose a gummy snake and I just couldn't get over how long it was!

 

This afternoon we made cupcakes in ice cream cones for him to take to school tomorrow.  I've never made these and probably never will again.  I had fun trying to figure out how to transport them!

 

I was too lazy to get the camera cord so I didn't add any pictures from our family celebration tonight, but we had a great time and Bryce loved all of his gifts!  Thanks to everyone who made Bryce's 4th birthday so special.

bowling birthday party

Bryce decided quite a while ago that he wanted to have a bowling party this year.  He has been looking forward to today for months, but he couldn't understand why he wouldn't be 4 today, ha!  We had a really great time and the bowling alley staff took care of everything!  The party package included bowling and shoes for the kids, pizza and drinks, paper products, invitations, goodie bags (I filled them), and thank you cards (all with a bowling theme).  All I had to do was bring a cake!  It was definitely a low stress party!

 

 

Bryce bowled two rounds and scored a 101 and a 102.  He just liked telling everyone he got 6 spares.  He was even more excited when Jason told him he had gotten the highest scores!

 

Getting a high five from his cousin Chase.

 

Emmy got in on the action and helped Taylor bowl.

 

She ended up getting a spare!  Everyone clapped at her accomplishment so she joined in!

 

Have I ever mentioned that Jason's family owns a bakery?  I texted a picture of Bryce's birthday shirt to Jason's cousin and she made this fun cake for him. 

 

I did a pretty good job getting a picture of all his friends at the party.  These cute girls are in his class at school.

 

More friends and classmates.  One of the twins is hiding here.

 

These boys were clearly too cool to be taking pictures.

 

These sweet girls enjoyed bowling together.

 

I just have to get the group shot each year.  Two kids were missing and not many were looking at the camera, but that's what makes it so fun, ha!  Bryce got a real bowling pin to take home and all his friends signed it.

 

I just love this boy to pieces.  We had a great day celebrating him!

 

Happy "almost" birthday, Bryce-man!

a new look

This poor old blog has needed a face lift for the past year.  I have had every intention of updating the blog header and layout to incorporate Emmy and make it a more gender neutral design.  I contacted the designer about switching out a few of the pictures in the header and changing a few of the words in the title, but what I really thought would be simple and cheap changes were going to cost me $50 (more than I spent on my original blog design).  I can't believe how much a blog design costs these days.  I got brave and worked with the free designs to hold me over until I can find something that I like and am willing to spend the money on.  Anyone have suggestions for affordable blog designers?

the sun is shining, but it's still SO cold

For someone who has so little hair, it sure is out of control in the mornings!



 

Last week I blogged about my strides in weight loss and my accomplishments of sticking to my "no Diet Coke" New Year's resolution.  I guess in celebration, I decided to indulge in some not so diet friendly treats since then.  Today it was Starbucks!  I'm not a coffee drinker, but I sure do love their peppermint hot chocolate.  It was a nice treat on this cold day and I had a gift card!

 

If breaking the diet wasn't bad enough, I broke the New Year's resolution too!  This Sunday when we went to lunch after church I broke down and had a diet Dr. Pepper.  I just needed one.  And then Jason brought me a diet Coke on Tuesday.  And then we went to Sonic yesterday.  So I guess I blew that!  Oh well.  There is always next  month!

 

 

Since becoming a stay at home mom, I have cut costs and spending in ALL areas of my/our life (like going to Sonic).  I'm accepting the fact that "less is more", but sometimes a girl just needs a little retail therapy.  These days I really only shop if I have gift cards or birthday/Christmas money.  However, yesterday I splurged and bought Emmy some TOMS.  I had been looking at the knock off version at Payless, but they were $20 (which isn't much cheaper than the name brand).  So when Zulily had TOMS on special yesterday (for slightly less than the Payless version), I snagged a pair!  I wanted a patterned pair, but they were sold out of her size by the time I was shopping.  I'm pretty happy with the pink ones! 

 

I'm not sure I could pull off TOMS on myself, but when they're this size, they're just so stinkin' cute.  I resisted the urge to buy this fun pair they were offering today.

 

 

My mom found these Red Velvet Pop Tarts and they sound delicious.  I didn't try them (I've got to stick to this diet), but if they're anything like the pumpkin pie or sugar cookie versions, they must be delicious. 

 

Hope the rest of you are having better luck at sticking to your resolutions this week! 

 

just some random things

I've been in a funk, thus the lack of blogging.  I don't know about you, but I am ready for longer days, warmer weather, and a more colorful view out my window.  These cold, dreary, winter days have me down and I'm ready to move on!  Luckily the kids don't mind the weather/seasons and they're carrying on life just the same! 

 

 

Emmy and her friend Maggie enjoying some snack in the nursery at church on Sunday.

 

Clifford the Big Red Dog had a birthday recently and Bryce got to celebrate at school.  Speaking of birthdays, this boy is going to be FOUR on Monday!  Maybe that has me a little down, too!  I just can't believe he will be 4.  We have a fun friend party planned for Saturday and a family get together on Monday night.  Bryce is excited!

 

My kids may turn into donuts by the end of the week!  Jason's parents didn't have school on Monday so they took the kids to Krispy Kreme for breakfast.  My mom was taking donuts to her former co-workers this morning so we tagged along for more donuts!  Emmy likes the donuts, but not like Bryce did at her age!

 

Bryce spent some time with his cousins today and I got some cleaning done.  I hate doing it, but it always makes me feel so accomplished, ha!  Our small group is starting back up tonight and I couldn't be more thrilled to have some adult time! 

 

Happy Wednesday, y'all. 

valentine's day

We had a fun day celebrating Valentine's with our little loves today!

We started the morning with a few goodies.  Bryce was excited about his Ninja Turtle shirt and hooded Angry Bird towel.  Emmy was thrilled to shake the candy they got (way better than any other gift), but Bryce was plenty excited about Emmy's new princesses for her castle!

We headed out early (in their pajamas) to get donuts for breakfast.  Jason even went into work late so we could go as a family!  Bryce surprised me when he opted for his usual chocolate sprinkle donut and not a pink heart shaped sprinkle donut.  I guess he's all boy even down to the food he eats!  Emmy was pretty excited about her donut holes.

I headed to Bryce's school later in the morning for his Valentine party.

 He enjoyed checking out all of his goodies when he got home!

My sweet Valentine's

Bryce and Emmy were spoiled by all of their grandparents too.  They say a big THANK YOU!