Where Has March Gone?!

While at church Sunday, I was writing the date and realized it was already the 25th... really?!  This month has totally flown by and I know a lot of that has to do with having been out of town 3 out of the 4 weekends so far.  The first two were just to visit and enjoy Lovey and Grand Daddy.  Unfortunately, this past weekend we went back to visit but b/c my grandmother, Nana, had passed away.  We will miss her greatly and I'm so thankful that AR got to meet her and always lifted Nana's spirits when we visited.

Last week I packed up the bottles which is bittersweet.  Sad that my little girl is growing so quickly, but nice that she can use her sippy cup on her own.  We are also down to just 2 nursing sessions and I plan to drop the one that corresponds with lunch by the end of this week, leaving just the morning feeding.  I think if I thought AR was my last child I would be a bit sad about this, but I'm not.  Today we ran errands in the afternoon as a time we usually don't get out b/c I was able to take a sippy cup and snack with us and that was nice!

Last night, William hung up AR's first (and early) birthday present from Lovey and Grand Daddy - a swing!  With this weather she'd (I'd) been wanting one for a while now.  We waited on daddy to get home from work for the first go in the swing.  She absolutely loves it!

Getting ready to swing!

"Mama, are you sure Daddy knows what he's doing?!"

Happy girl!

Pure enjoyment (good view of those top teeth!)

Yes, that is exactly what you think it is.  I'm sure all our neighbors think it's odd we have a toilet on our back deck.  Actually, I think it's rather odd myself.  We are redoing our bathroom, but why my husband leaves this toilet here is beyond me.  And I'm not about to touch it, so I guess that's where it'll stay for now. 

 A few more recent pics:

On the way to Lovey's.  I ride in the back with her on long rides since she doesn't travel as well as she used to.

Knocked out... just in time to arrive!

Talking on the phone!

Loving her Aunt Katie

 This girl loves some peek-a-boo.  It's so cute when she starts it on her own!

11 Months

Yesterday was AR's 11 month birthday!  We all know that means the next monthly update will be the big one year!!  I feel like I just got accustomed to the fact that we actually have a baby... now a one year old?!  C.R.A.Z.Y - but so exciting!

This was by far the hardest monthly picture for me to get... this girl is quick when it comes to rolling over and getting away now.  I tried giving her various items hoping she'd lay there for a minute, but a couple seconds were all I could get.  Her next, and last, picture should be interesting as well.

This picture shows how long she is.

"Mama, I don't have time for this... there are shelves to clear off!"

She loves to play and chew on "real" spoons... whatever works, right?!

At  11 Months AR:

-has eight teeth!  4 on top and 4 on the bottom

-talks all the time and is quit loud... her favorite sound to make sounds like "a-sha"

-sleeps from 8-6:45/7ish

-was nursing 4 times, but we plan to switch the evening one to a sippy cup tonight as she has a hard time focusing on it now

-still loves to eat, especially loves strawberries and shredded cheese

-takes a morning nap and evening nap

-is very interested in other babies and children

-squeals all.the.time

-loves her walker and gets very excited when she's using it

-cruising like a pro... has moved from furniture to using walls now

-wearing all 12M clothes so it's a good thing it's been warm since most of her clothes are for summer

-knows what "dance" means and does it!

-can "find mama's nose" when asked

We're getting ready for Easter around here!

She's cute and I think she knows it!

"See ya later!"

Reading "Pat the Bunny".  She loves the hole that you are suppose to put your finger in.

Who would have thought we'd think that was a lot of hair?!  Well, we do!

We also want to wish a very special "Happy Birthday" to Donna today!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Today AR celebrated by wearing her shirt from Lovey!  We took advantage of a day mostly at home to play around with the new camera... so enjoy!!

There is a little window in the top of the stroller that AR discovered a week or two ago and she loves looking up at whoever is pushing her.

Check out those teeth!  We are up to eight now.

Ready for our evening stroll... Daddy got to come tonight!

Absolutely loving the new camera!

Where We've Been

I apologize for my lack of blogging these last two weeks.  AR and I have been very busy with two trips to Lovey and Grand Daddy's the past two weekends and she even got a little trip in to Mimi and Papa's as well.  When I'm gone over the weekend, it just seems to take me forever to get caught up on things that I need to get done and therefore the blog gets pushed to the back burner.

Don't fear however... I plan to have many, many new pics to post as we purchased a new camera today!  I'm sooo excited and can't wait to start using it and to learn all about it! 

I will try to catch up on the past couple weeks the best that I can!

AR has decided she loooves pulling books off the shelf in the office.  Sometimes she will pull a book off one at a time, flip through it, then pull another one, and so on.  I haven't decided if it's a battle worth fighting quite yet.

Got to love when you child reads her own child rearing books... takes a load off me!

Next, the New Testament.

Two weekends ago, AR and I got in a nice long weekend with Lovey and Grand Daddy.  We got to see some other family as well as Aunt Heather!!  It was a fun time and nice break for me!

Tell me how my child knows how to operate this telephone when she's never seen a phone on a cord before?!  Just super smart I guess!

 There is never a dull moment around here anymore!  AR is on the go all the time.  She is always getting into something new and somehow manages to find things to try and put in her mouth no matter how much you sweep, mop, and vacuum! 

She loves remotes and knows exactly what devices they work.  She'll hold this remote and look at the tv.  (I promise my child is not sitting in front of the tv all day!)

She loves the banana popsicles that I make for her... though they are quite messy.

Bananas everywhere!

 This past weekend, we headed back to my hometown b/c my great aunt was recieving an award at her church and we wanted to be there to support and celebrate with her.  She is a fine Christian lady and I look up to her very much.  We are very blessed to have her in our lives.

JJ receiving the award.  She was very surprised!

My mom, my aunt, Carole, JJ, Katie, AR, and me at the luncheon.

 We are back at home now and will be for a few weeks.  Hopefully we can get lots done around here and knock out my March goals!  That is, the best that I can and keeping up with this cute chick!

"Mama, I don't do bows"... yes, yes you will... one day

She really loves her books, especially hard books that have either touchy pages, cut outs, and/or mirrors.

I introduced her to the snack cup this past week and she has really taken up with it.  She carries it around and eats her cheerios out of it.  Some end up on the floor, but she usually gets those for me at some point! ;)

 Now, time for a few videos!  I know, I know so much in one post you can hardly contain yourself!  Sorry, I will try to do better at spreading it out!

AR just loves her cousins!  We have been looking at this picture and discussing who is who.

Speaking of cousins, she won't be outdone by cousin Caroline! Here she is on her walker... this is about a week old and she's already better at it, though we had quite the fall yesterday!

Here she is again pulling books off the shelf... as you can see, she does speed read them... backwards.  But I'm pretty sure that counts.

Please excuse the mess on her bed... I haven't quite finished unpacking :/.  Here she has escaped from her sleep sack and is playing around in her crib.  You can really see her hair thickening up in this video!

Whew... I think I'm done.  Now off to play with the new camera!!