Santa's Village

Over the weekend we took M to Santa's village and she had so much fun.  This is one of those things I had dreamt of doing with my children since we first discovered it 5 years ago!  I love comparing the holidays as she grows.  She just wants to be a part of everything these days!

Although we did not meet Santa that night, M really thought the fact that she received a cookie from Mrs. Claus was pretty awesome!

Thanksgiving

Before I start to post about all of the wonderful Christmas festivities going on in our house, I want to back track and recap Thanksgiving.

This year was our first year to visit Brent's family in Little Rock for the holiday.  We had a wonderful time, and I have to admit Arkansas is a beautiful place to be during the fall.  The trees are beautiful! 

We have so much to be thankful for always and our life truly is a blessing.

Madison and Nama

Brent was gifted a new 4 wheeler from his grandfather.  To say he was excited is an understatement.
Apparently M really loves to 4 wheel as well!

Daddy and M testing out the new 4 wheeler.

"Rocky"

For the past 3 weeks M will not go to bed without me rocking her.  This is not the norm.  For the past year we would just give her kisses and hugs, tell her "night night" and lay her down.  I'm not sure why the sudden interest in rocking or "rocky" as she cries out in the night.  I think she knows that changes are on the horizon.  I had even planned on moving the rocker out of her room at Christmas to make room for her new kitchen.  Now I'm not sure that will happen.

At first I was kind of frustrated, but that feeling did not last long, as I remembered the last time she let me rock her to sleep.  She wasn't but 7 months old when she didn't want to rock anymore- it was a smooth and easy transition.  Last night, I didn't want to put her down.  The way I was holding her and the way her blanket was laid across her I kept having flashbacks of the day she was born.  Everyone says infancy goes by so fast, but what they don't say is how easy it is to forget what it was like.  It is hard to think back to what it was like when M was only a few days/weeks/months old.  Sure I remember the emotions, but it is all a bit blurry.  They say to live in the moment with your children, and I really believe I do, but last night as I sat there rocking her, even long after she had fallen asleep I couldn't help but wonder how much is enough to let it all soak in, was the 30 minutes I rocked her enough, did I need to rock an hour, or in reality can you never really take it all in.  I could have stayed with her all night, but eventually she started to stir and I knew it was time to lay her down in her crib.  I know that last night I truly lived in the moment as I took a deep breathe and let the time, her sweet smell and love wash over me.

 



October

October was a lil crazy in our house.  Each one of us was extremely sick for a week's time! I absolutely hate when M is sick because I just feel so bad for her.  She would get sick in the middle of the night so I would rush in to help her and she would look at me with these confused, sweet, sad eyes and I just wanted to cry with her- and I might have, a little...

Luckily it is November and Thanksgiving is just a few days away. But first, we will recall Halloween around our house.  Last year M was only 9 months old and didn't really understand what was going on, so this year she had more fun with it.  We still didn't do much of any "trick or treating", but we visited family and sweet neighbors.  We also visited a pumpkin patch for the very first time and M really enjoyed it! This will definitely be a yearly tradition!

Our first stop for Trick or Treating- Meme's house!! I kept telling M, "take your pumpkin to meme and she will give you a treat".

 

When she discovered that she received "om n oms" (M&Ms) for this she was delighted!!

 



Taking pictures of 20 month old is the most difficult thing ever.  She will not sit or

stand still for 2 seconds!!

M's 1st Razorback Game

A few weeks ago I took M to her very first Razorback game! Well, I wasn't brave enough to take her to the game, but only to tailgate.  She had a lot of fun and of course got so many compliments from the college girls on her adorable attire.  I felt so bad that the hubby did not get to be a part of the day, but with his job it unfortunately comes with the territory.  Our beloved Razorbacks do not appear to be doing their best this season, but we will continue to cheer them on!

Kristin and I had a blast taking the girls to the game! Although, it is much different tailgating with a kid than before it was still fun and eventful all the same.

It is always a great time when I get so see my brother and M loves her "bubba"!

 

I love that she had a blast and rocked her Razorback sticker all day!

The Words M Says

I want to take the time to write down everything M is saying, because her vocabulary is really growing.

• Moma
• Dada
• Bella
• Lala- for Aunt Laura
• Mimi
• BaPaw- we were aiming for PawPaw but M decided this is more appropriate
• Sissy- for Aunt Lizzy
• Ta- for Uncle Tom
• Bowl
• No, No, No
• Stop
• Om N Om- for M&M
• Up
• Down
• Outside
• Bye Bye

And most likely my favorite thing she is currently doing: When you say "I love you" to her, she blows you a kiss and says "Love You". 

Melts my heart every time!

I'm sure I'm leaving a couple off, but every word she says is just the sweetest sound ever.

A Fall Weekend

This is my absolute favorite time of the year.  The temperature has cooled and this weekend the rainy, cool days made the fall season official.  Friday night, the hubby had to scout a game so after M went down for the night I curled up with a glass of wine, a great book and a fall candle.  It was exactly what I was needing.  Saturday,we unfortunately watched our beloved Razorbacks suck it up against Alabama, but my lovely husband did take me out on a wonderful date night.  Taking the time for just the two of us is so important and although sometimes it is hard to make happen it makes me appreciate it that much more.

Without divulging to much unnecessary information M has gone to the potty twice and I'm pretty proud.  Although, I know she is still to young and we have quite a while until she is potty trained it makes me happy!

Friday night, I got a little alone time after M was asleep and the hubby was at work.

Saturday night date night!



M got to wear her new fall clothes.




M's loves a good dessert.




All the potty needs.



Friday Flashback

M after her 1st birthday party.

My Growing Girl

M is keeping us on our toes! She is such a kid and into everything!  The hubby is really loving this active stage, but to me it's a little bitter sweet.  I love how much she is growing, but the more she grows the further we get from her being a baby.

She loves this spot in the den and thinks it's really fun to climb up and down this step,

as well as pull all the DVDs off the shelf.

 She is one girly girl.  She loves necklaces and bracelets and will throw a fit until I put mine on her.

She just melts my heart and makes me a better person.

A Trip to Houston

Last weekend we headed off to Houston to visit the Nama and had a wonderful time.  We did a lot of swimming, napping, shopping and enjoying each others company.  It was a very relaxing weekend, but after this trip and our beach trip I'm officially wiped out.  We are house bound for awhile!

We do a lot of swimming in the summer at my mom's house, but we do not have a baby pool like this.  M loved being able to walk around in the water by herself and enjoyed all the fun waterfalls!

We did not get one photo of all of us or with Nama!

Friday Flashback

Oops meant for this to post on Friday... M at 5 months old...

Beach Part 2

I was way more relaxed this trip then I thought I would be.  I barely had my camera or phone on me and actually really enjoyed it.  We were able to live in the moment and really enjoy our time together.  This trip was the most time M and I have had consecutively together since my maternity leave, so I cherished every second.

Here is a view of the beach trip through my iphone.

As soon as we arrived to the house, Kristin and I headed off to the store.  Although we planned the menu I think we were still a little shocked at how much food it would take to feed all of us for a week.  And this is just my cart.

The first day or two looked a lot like this.  Except with much larger waves and crazy amounts of rain fall.



One day we took the ferry over to Gulf Shores to explore and eat lunch at one of my favorite places. 

M really enjoyed the ferry.

We all (8 of us) piled into our car to make the journey over so M ended up sitting in the "way back" and had to sit facing forward.  She thought she was such a big kid. 

 LuLu's in Orange Beach is one of my favorite restaurants and I've always wanted to take my family.  It is great for adults but beyond child friendly.  M thought this water buket was just for her.

M loves snack time...

and ice cream time.