A New Year

I can hardly believe that we are a little bit more than 24 hours to a new year. 2010 has been a year of blessings, heartache, new adventures and a lot of laughs. This year I have been learning to be a mom, I feel that everyday I learn more but this past year has been an adventure to say the least on learning how to be a mom and what type of mom I desire to be. I am blessed with such a darling, hilarious and laid back daughter. Sidney Kate and I have been able to share a lot of laughs together this year and even some tears when she was challenging my nerves. I cant thank God enough for allowing me to be able to stay home with Sidney Kate and I continue to learn juggling being a mom, keeping up with the house and being a wife. I pray that in 2011 that God will continue to challenging me to rely on him to get through my days and learn more about his never dying love for us. This year I was faced with heartache, that I have never felt before, my best friend lost her son in May who was four days younger than Sidney Kate. I have never been faced with the type of hurt, confusion and loss that I felt through this but I will say that God really showed me so much about himself through this, I am sad to say this but I have never clung on to him and earned for his affection and comfort more in my life and I am thankful for now that the earning is a daily feeling I have for him. I crave to learn more about him and to live my life to glorify him in all that he does for us. Through all the heartache I have learned more that I can ever put in words and I am thankful for that. Isaiah will forever be missed and thought of but I love how every day that I think of him it brings a big smile to my face because through his 11 months of life he has taught me so much.

I am so excited about 2011 and what it will bring! Reilly and I are thrilled that we are going to a be growing family in 2011. I hope that I can continue to dig deeper in God's word and learn more about the person he desires us to be, I hope to be a more patience mom and wife, cook more meals for Reilly and make as many fun memories as possible.

Learning to balance life.

Okay, I can't believe it has taken me this long to get back to blogging. I am telling you, it has been such an adjustment for me to learn how to balance everything and obviously blogging got left off the list. Sidney Kate started MDO and loves it and so does her mama, it is so nice to be able to get things done while she is at school and she can't get enough of her time there, she loves to play with other kids. My sister in law and I's business, Sunless Bliss is starting to get busier and that get's me super excited, I am looking forward to see where God takes our business. Below are some picture of Sidney Kate on her first day to go to Mother's Day Out.

Happy Birthday

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SIDNEY KATE!!! I can not believe you are 1 today! You are the most precious thing in your daddy and I's life and I can not even imagine my life without waking up to your sweet voice everyday. You are talking more everyday but there are only few words that I understand. You say, hi, bye, baby, daddy, mommy, puppy, gabby, nanny and alot of other darling words that I can't understand at all, but your daddy and I love how you babble on coversations like we know exactly what you are talking about. You are no longer taking formula daily and are almost done with the bottle! Right now you have 1-2 bottles a day with whole milk but hopefully in the next week you will be only using sippy cups. You are a table eater now and enjoy almost everything your daddy and I like but I can not get you to eat green beans, but I will keep trying. You are not a big eater but you are trying more things daily and I see your intake increasing. You are finally drinking very good out of your sippy and love your water and juice. You are wearing 12 month clothes and are wearing size 3 sometimes 4 diapers.

11 months!

Today you are 11 months and more fun than ever! You are such a good walker and we are amazed daily that you have been walking since 9 months but just recently you started to get a little fast walk going when you are chasing one of us. You are still in a size 3 diaper and are wearing 9-12 month clothing. Most of your daily meals are table food but for breakfast you still have oatmeal and a fruit. I am still giving you a bottle 4 times a day but you barely ever finish the full 6 ounces but I will keep trying so you get all the nutrients possible. You are starting to get the hang of your sippy and you especially like it when I put juice in it. Speaking of sippy cups, I am having the hardest time finding one that does not leak, any suggestions? Your favorite word is hi and you will say it over and over but recently you have started saying baby, and it is such a precious sound. I love your little voice and it melts my heart every time you start talking your own little language. You are turning into a daddy's girl when he is home, you follow him everywhere he goes and love to play with him. We are spending more time outside since the weather is getting nice and you love it! You especially love to get in the flower beds and play in the mud. I can not believe in a month you are going to be 1, I have been that crazy mom and planning your birthday for the past 3 months. Your daddy and I love you so much and thank the Lord daily for blessing us with you!

No Naps

Sidney Kate decided that she was such a big girl today that she did not need any naps. Are you kidding me, how am I suppose to get things done when she is not taking naps? Luckily she does not get cranky when she doesn't nap, she actually does not even slow down. She has been just strolling around the house with toys in her hands and putting everything over her head. I do not know what her obsession is but she puts everything over her head and it can be scary when we are dealing with a cord to the vacuum. She must think it is so funny because she immediately starts laughing as soon as she put an object over her head. Today while getting ready she was playing in my bathroom and I look at her and she has a one of my t-shirts over her entire head and she is walking around and running into things because she has her eyes covered. She seriously is the funnest kid ever.

Also did I mention, this girl is in to everything but it is so hard to get mad at her because she is such a cutie!

Busy Busy

Sidney Kate is sleeping and I am just reflecting on how blessed Reilly and I are to have such a healthy full of life little girl. The past few days she has had a blooming personality coming through and it has just filled my heart with joy. She has become such a funny little girl and I love watching her, especially while she is playing because she entertains herself so well and totally entertains me with all her different facial expressions. I would give anything to know what is going on in that little girls mind. I am hoping she is laid back and funny like her dad, I am not sure if I could handle both of them under on roof but Reilly sure does make me laugh daily and I am so thankful for the fun he brings into our family.

I am busy planning a baby shower for my good friend Traci which has been so much fun and it has really motivated me to get things done around my house. I am in the middle of making my first very own curtains which I will post when I am finished. I am also having so much fun planning Sidney Kate's 1st birthday!! Can you believe in 2 months she will be 1! I can not believe it but am so excited for her party. The next few months are going to be busy months for us but we are so blessed because all the busy is fun busy, with parties, vacations, lake time, pool time, cookouts, parks and of course the zoo. I am so excited about this summer with Sidney Kate and Reilly and all the lifelong memories we are going to make as a family.

10 Months Old

On Sunday, you were 10 months old, I can't believe in 2 months we will be having your first birthday party! You are walking all over the place and even starting to get a little bit of fast walking going on. You are still into everything but are starting to learn the word no and trying to decide if you would like to obey or do your own thing. Baby food is not your most favorite thing anymore, you would rather have what mommy and daddy are eating. You have become a big eater and now I am just trying to get you to learn to drink out of your sippy cup. You are about 19 pounds and are wearing 6-9 months clothes and still in a size 3 diaper. Over the past couple weeks the weather has been nice and you have loved being outside so we have made it a point to get outside whether it is to walk around in the grass or take a walk through the neighborhood. You are still taking two naps a day, some are better than others, but over the past week your two naps have been about 1 1/2 each and mommy is loving all that she can get done in that time. One of my many favorite things to do is go in your room after you have just woken up, you are standing in your crib with the biggest smile on your face and it melts my heart every time.

We have a walker!!!

On the 11th Sidney Kate turned 9 months and then 4 days later, she started walking everywhere! She has been taking steps since she was about 8 1/2 months but now she is a full time walker. It is so funny to watch her walk because she is so tiny but believe it or not, her balance is great. (she must get that from her daddy)

We had our 9 month appointment last week and she is growing right on track. She is 18 pounds and 27 inches long. She is eating 3 meals a day and really starting to enjoy more real food than baby food. She is still having her bottle 4 times a day but does not skip a meal with real food. She is playing paddy cake, starting to wave and as always into everything. Sidney Kate is wearing 6-9 months clothes and a size 3 in diapers. We are loving life with her and enjoy all the adventures that each day brings us with her.

Fun with Cousin's

We had such a fun Saturday, first off Sidney Kate took a wonderful morning nap! She usually sleeps for about 40 minutes but on Saturday it was an hour and a half, I was able to get so much done. After she woke up we headed up to Edmond to go watch Gabby play in her last basketball game of the season. Sidney Kate loved watching Gabby play basketball, she just sat on my lap or my sister's lap and watched all the movement.

After the game we headed over to my sisters house so Jack and Gabby could play with SK. She had such a fun afternoon with them that she fell asleep buried in my sister's pillows.

We went over to Duncan and Misty's that evening so that they could see SK and also so that she could play with her cousin Karter. We had such a fun day! SK was so sleepy and didn't even make it out of the neighborhood before she fell asleep.

Isn't this a precious picture of Karter reading a book to Sidney Kate. Family is so precious and so much fun!

I'm back

It has been forever! I have had some computer problems and have been getting my computer fixed but thankfully I am back up and running.

Was today not a beautiful day! I am so thankful for the weather the past few days and the sunshine. Sidney Kate and I ran errands today and then after her afternoon nap we went on and walked and she talked the whole time. She is doing new things everyday, it is so fun! She is taking steps daily but the most she has taken at once is 3. I am waiting for the day that she is going to take of walking. She pushes her walker around the house and the smile on her face is priceless because she is so proud of herself. SK is starting the eat some table food and so far is really enjoying turkey, avocado's (just like her mama) and noodles, the girl loves Macaroni and Cheese. Here are some pictures from the past few weeks.

Play Time

Today has been such a fun day for Sidney Kate and I! Lee Anne came over and let us watch Isaiah for a few hours so that her and Lonie could do a little shopping and eat some lunch. I was so excited to spend some time with Isaiah and I know Sidney Kate loves having others around to play with.

I am so sad but something is wrong with my computer and I am not able to download the pictures from today. I will post them soon!

Hope everyone has a great weekend!

8 months old

Sidney Kate, today you are 8 months old! Your such a blessing to your daddy and I and we are so thankful that God gave you to us. You are about 17 1/2 pounds, wearing 6-9 months clothes. You love all your baby food and are getting very interested in what mommy and daddy are eating. We have started letting you try things off our plates every now and then as long as it's soft enough for you to eat. You have 1 tooth on the bottom that has finally broken through and are working on a few more. You aren't doing as well as mommy and daddy would like you do at night, you were sleeping through the night but the past 4 days you have been waking up crying in the middle of the night and mommy has such a hard time letting you cry it out. I think that teething and your runny nose have messed up your sleeping schedule. We are hoping that once you get over your little cold and break through a few more teeth, you will be back on track for your night sleeping. You take 2 good naps during the day and love little cat naps in the car. You are a very social and busy girl and are constantly on the move. You are crawling every where and love to stand by yourself in the middle of the room. We are starting to wonder if you are about to start walking.

I can not believe how much you have changed in the past month!

Bunch of nothing

I have so failed on updating my blog daily or every other day, it is just life that is getting in the way. Sidney Kate has been busy crawling around the house and working on getting some more teeth. Bless her little heart, we are headed to the doctor this afternoon because she barely has any voice and has snot all over the place. I am not sure if this is because of teething or if she has a virus or something else. It is so sad to hear her little horse cry, she can barley even get it out. She has been a little bit more sluggish today but is still busy crawling around the house and figuring out that there is not just the living room, kitchen and her room in the house, she is now in almost every room of the house, just exploring and hiding from us.

The sun is shining today which makes me so happy but it is beyond freezing outside, I am trying so hard to not be negative and be thankful that the Lord let the beautiful sun shine today. I have had such a hard time not having the sun for over a week, but thankfully it is out today. I can hardly wait for warmer weather to get here because there are so many things I am wanting to do with Sidney Kate, like going to the park, taking walks, the zoo. pool etc. Thank you Lord for my precious little girl and for all the memories our little family will be making this summer and have already made.

Play Date

Tuesday afternoon we went over to Traci's house and had a play date with adorable Mylee and Ashlyn. It is so fun to be able to get together with friends and let the kids play while we have some adult conversation. It is such a relief to be able to have adult time through out the week and to let the kids play together. I love that these girls are going to be able to grow up together and make so many memories. Sadly when leaving Traci's I backed right into her mailbox and did some damage to the Tahoe. I was so upset, it was my first wreck and how embarrassing that is was with an object that does not move. I have no idea how it happened, I wasn't going fast, I have a back up camera in my Tahoe and I still didn't see it. I am convinced that it moved on its own.

On another note, Sidney Kate's tooth finally popped through but not all the way, just a little bit has come through the gum. She has been a little fussy and I feel terrible for her because I know that it has to hurt. It is so funny to watch her move her tongue in and out of her mouth because she can feel her tooth. Kinda a sad moment that she wont have her gummy smile anymore. I can't believe how fast the time is going by, she will be 8 months next week.

Cabin Fever

Can you believe the winter we have had here in Oklahoma? It has been beautiful but I am no so over it and ready for the sunshine and warmth. I don't know about ya'll but we are so ready to get out of this house! It is always nice to be home for an entire day but after that day I just can't handle being stuck inside and I know Sidney Kate like to get out also. I love this picture because it is like she is looking at me and asking can we please go outside mommy.

Finally Reilly was home from the station and we were determined to get out, even if it was just running a few errands. While I was finishing getting ready, Reilly thought it would be fun to get a picture with SK riding on Murphy, can't you see the excitement in Murphy's eyes. She does well with Sidney Kate but I feel she would like it much better if she was the only baby in the house like the old days before our precious SK.

Although I am so tired of this weather it still looks so beautiful outside. I had to get a picture of our house before it all started to melt. I think we have only lost one tree and it is on the side of the house and really, I don't even think I liked the tree in the first place so it's okay.

Last night was a very long night for us, SK decided she wanted to be awake more than half the night and usually she is a good sleeper. She is teething so I am hoping that is why she is not sleeping as well and it will pass soon. Luckily her GiGi came down today and played with her so that mommy could get a little of rest. It is so nice to have such a loving and helpful family.

I'm hoping she stays this peaceful through the night in her crib. Tomorrow Reilly and I start our low carb adventure, wish us luck! I made sure to have a piece of chocolate, french fries and a Dr. Pepper tonight.

Sleepy Girl

Today we have been stuck inside all day due to the lovely Oklahoma weather, I don't know about yall but I am so ready for Spring! I am not excited about tomorrow being another stuck in the house day. Hopefully I will at least get something productive done because today has been nothing but laying around and being lazy. Sidney Kate has had a fun day with her mommy and daddy being home all day giving her all the attention. I had to post the above picture because her smile these days cracks me up!

She played so hard with us that she took a record afternoon nap for this afternoon for 3 hours! I kept checking on her because she has never slept for that long, she usually takes two naps a day for about an hour each. She must of known that mommy and daddy were wanting a little time this afternoon to do nothing and lay on the couch a watch TV.

Catching Up

I can't believe how behind I am on blogging! These past few days Sidney Kate has been crawling super fast, like to the point she immediately leaves the room I left her in so most the day I am am chasing after her and watching what is in her mouth because anything she finds on the floor automatically goes in her mouth. I can't even imagine what it is going to be like when she starts walking, I think I am in for it. Here are some pictures from the past few days. Also I am now challenging myself to blog at least every other day if not everyday. SK is learning so many new things at this point and I want to be able to share everything with yall. She is now standing up all the time on her own in the middle of the room and it is so fun because she starts waving her arms in the air because she is so proud of herself and of course I start clapping and screaming every time she does it.

More to come on this but as of Monday I am going to start doing low carbs and working out. Summer will be here before we know it and Reilly and I want SK to be a water baby and hope to go to the lake a lot this summer so that means I will have to get in a bathing suit. Eek!!



She loves to sit with her daddy and watch TV!

Seriously, is there anything cuter!! I know, I am so biased but I just can't get enough of this darling girl. Also below, on Friday it was so pretty outside so I took her to the part and put her in the swing for the first time and she loved it! She was laughing and smiling when I would start pushing her. I think she looks hilarious with her little legs just hanging there. I can't wait for the weather to warm out and be able to outside activities with her.

Daddys and their little girls

All I have to say is this picture melts my heart but not as much as watching Sidney Kate's big, gummy smile on her face every time her daddy walks in the house. She is blessed with such a wonderful man as a daddy and I know that he will forever be there for her and always protect her. There is something about daddy's and their little girls and I believe Sidney Kate has the best daddy ever! Sidney and I are both so blessed with such a wonderful man in our life!

Bootcamp Successful

So the bootcamp was successful but I will say it was not easy for mama. It's so hard to hear your baby cry and not be able go and pick her up but I know doing this is not only good for Reilly and I, it is also good for her. The first night she was up from about 3-5:30 but Reilly just kept me calm and every night after has been better, last night she only woke up once! I just pray that she continues to love her bed and learn how to put herself back to sleep when she wakes in the middle of the night.

This weekend Sidney Kate decided she would show us a knew cheesy smile and it is so funny. She grins so hard it makes her nose squish up and her eyes almost shut, really is there anything cuter. Yes, I might be a little partial but I could just eat her up! It amazes me how big she is getting, I am loving her little personality that is coming out, it is indescribable how happy she makes us and how Reilly and I don't have a day that we don't laugh at her together. Her smile melts my heart every time I see it. She blew us away this weekend and stood in the middle of the living room for about 6-7 seconds and has continued to stand at least once a day since. Again, I wonder if we are going to have an early walker?

Burke Sleep Bootcamp

So today is a big day at our house, we are starting Sidney Kate in Burke Sleep Bootcamp. We have been having issues with her during the night for the past two weeks and have decided it is now time to handle it. I am so sad that we are having to do this but tonight I will not be going to get her when she wakes and is crying. SK is so used to falling asleep in someone else's arms so that when she wakes in the middle of the night, she is not sure how to fall back asleep on her own. She will wake and start crying in her crib, she will cry until you go and get her and then she is immediately fine and falls back to sleep within seconds. I have been reading books and Reilly and I have decided on a plan. We are going to let her cry for a few minutes then go in there and let her know we are here and she will be okay then turn around and walk out, then wait for 15 minutes of crying and go back in to let her know once again we are here and not leaving her. This is a continued cycle until she finally gives up and falls asleep. I know this is going to be so hard on Reilly and I and my heart hurts thinking about it but I know this is the best for all of us. Please have us in your prayers for the next week or so that this transition goes as smoothly as can be and that our hearts don't break having to hear our precious little girl cry.

On a lighter note, there is something about little girls and big hair bows! As soon as I put a bow in her hair and pull out the camera, Sidney Kate started haming it up!

Reilly put Sidney Kate in his house shoes today and she got so excited and started clapping her hands. Can you believe she is standing up against the couch all by hereslf. Does this mean we are going to have an early walker on our hands? This could be very scary!!

Pulling up on everything.

Today was a pretty low key day, we basically just spent time around the house. Sidney Kate is amazing Reilly and I because she is pulling up on everything and anything. We are now accepting the fact that she is very mobile and is non-stop all the time. She spends most of her days crawling to a piece of furniture, our leg, a toy, basically anything she can find and pulls herself up.

Reilly put together SK's little bike that also turns into a walker and Sidney Kate helped her dad every step of the way. After it was all put together, Reilly pushed her around for a little bit and she was loving it!