Spontaneous Beach Trip

Poor Matt has been so busy all summer with tobacco that he hasn't got to go on any of the trip with Norah Kate and I.  He mentioned a couple weeks ago that he may try to take off at lunch on a Saturday for us to go on a quick trip out of town.  I had been contemplating different places to go, thinking about Macon, or Atlanta to the Georgia Aquarium, or to close beach.

He started texting me at work last Friday wanting to leave Friday night!  Well, for anyone that knows me knows that I am not a spontaneous person... I have to have things planned out, but I thought "what the heck?"  So when I got off work at 7, came home, showered, packed, and loaded up and we pulled out of the drive way at 10:30pm.  We had no reservations and really no idea which direction we were headed... We decided to go to St. Augustine.  We got to St Augustine at about 2 am and started calling places.  Dumb me thought we could find a place no problem... well, after 5 call and "No Vacancies" I started to panic.  I really thought we were going to sleep in the car.  Not to mention NK woke up about this time and was ILL.  So crying baby, sleepy mama and daddy, and no place to stay = no beuno!

Needless to say we found a place at the Holiday Isle.  It was pool front with a king size bed, the lady at the desk said it would be a loud room, but I didn't care, it was a place to sleep.  We got unloaded and Norah Kate was wide awake and we didn't fall asleep until about 4:30... I can't remember the last time I stayed up that late!

We woke up the next morning and went to a breakfast buffet and then to the beach.  It was actually cloudy and a little cool (cool on the beach in August?  I know, right?) but seriously, the water was FREEZING!  Norah Kate LOVED the waves, she would run and chase them and giggle when they splashed her... but after about 30 minutes she wanted to go to the pool.  We spent about an hour in the pool then went in to get showers and go for lunch.

 

We ate lunch at Antonio's New York Style Pizza and it was delish!  Probably the best pizza I have ever had!  Then we went for ice cream of course and took a two hour nap.  Yep, basically all we did this weekend was eat, sleep, and lazy around, but it was awesome.





We went for supper at the Sunset Grille and it was yummy too, but NK was being WILD.  I felt like "that parent" at the restaurant that everyone is staring at.  My child was screaming, banging the A1 bottle on the table, throwing stuff on the floor... she was out of control, but we made it through without any injury to self, others, or property :)

The next morning we slept in again, and watched TV until check out.  It felt so good not to have a schedule or anything to do.  We are probably the only people I know that go on vacation and spend most of our time in the room, but Matt really needed that.  We packed up, checked out, and went to the outlet malls.  It was tax free weekend and everything was having awesome sales so I did some shopping!  I got NK some clothes for fall and for next summer for really cheap!  Matt also racked up at the Polo outlet.

It was a short, sweet, spontaneous trip, but it was great and we had a blast!

*18 months*

It is insane to think that my baby is now a toddler and is 18 months old!!  Kleenex, anyone?  She is so so so smart.  I know I shouldn't brag, but it's alright when it's  your kid, right?





She is running, jumping, and climbing on everything.  This has caused me to have several mini heart attacks.  Jumping off the couch, falling down the steps, almost falling off the bed, climbing on the dining room table (you've got to be kidding me <--- thoughts that went through my mind).  Luckily, no major injuries, just bumps and bruises.  She is just SO rough!

In the last month we have gone to St. George Island to the beach and to Steinhatchee.  She has gone on her first boat ride, went swimming in the ocean, had her first viral rash, and has started to pee pee and poop in the potty (not consistently yet, but we are working on it).



I think her eyes might be turning green.

She weighs 25 pounds and I am buying her 24 month or 2T clothes.  Big girl.

Norah Kate still has her sassy (paci).  I almost had it taken away, except naps and bedtime... but then she got sick and it was the only thing that would keep her calm/happy.  Now we are back a square one with weaning her from it.

She has gotten to where she will put her hand down  my shirt in public and/or pull my shirt down and say "Boobie!"  This is not so cute, especially when she is making me accidentally flash people.  The joys of motherhood!

I have kept her on the go a lot this summer, mainly because I think she gets stir crazy at home... but sometimes she thinks we are supposed to always be going somewhere which isn't really easy when I am  full time student.

She is going through another clingy phase also.  She has to be right on top or under me, but I don't mind.  I have learned how to type papers and do research all while she is in my lap.

She is saying everything!  She will tell Hoss to "Sit!" and "Good Boy!"  When we were at Steinhatchee, she asked the waitress for "snack" and "fries" and "Thank you!"  Haha, she is most definitely an independent one.  She can pretty much repeat anything (thank goodness I don't have a foul mouth!) and once she learns a word she is really good a remembering what it means.  We are working on colors and she can count to five.  She missed numbers occasionally but it is so cute because she always adds a "Yay!" on the end.  She is starting to sing the words to songs... she was singing Rock a bye to her baby the other day, "Rock a bye in the top"  it was so precious!  When we say her prayers at night she says "Amen." 

My house stays a wreck half the time because she drags out quicker than I can clean up.  She is in to everything!  Her personality is in full bloom, all of the sweetness and diva-ness, and pure rotten  all together.  She is more sweet than anything though, but very strong willed... but I have said that from day one.  I think we are venturing into the "Terrible 2's."  Lord, help.  Oh well, with each phase there has definitely been more good than bad and I wouldn't trade it for anything!

 



I love that little girl more than anything!



Jacksonville Zoo

On Thursday, June 13, my mama, sister, NK and I packed up and went for a day trip to Jacksonville.  I had two things on my to do list for Norah Kate this summer: a trip to the zoo and a trip to the beach.  We wanted to do everything before it got too hot, well, we almost waited to long.

We left at about 9:00 for Jacksonville.  When we got there it was right around lunch time so we decided to go eat first.  We ate at the Cheesecake Factory, and it may seem common sense but the best part of their menu was their cheesecake.  Some of you may say, "well duh!"  But honestly, I have heard everyone rave about it so much that I thought their food would be good too, but it wasn't that great to me, and I am not a picky eater.  Norah Kate was WILD in the restaurant and was wanting to "saush" (salt) everything- which is weird because I rarely salt food at home.  She is getting a little more difficult in restaurants because she hates being confined... I learned to not even ask for a high chair and get a booth instead, and ask if they can bring her food our first.  One thing we did learn though is that she likes raw tuna.  She tore up my sister's tuna!



Anyways, after lunch Mama needed to get something from Pottery Barn so we walked what seemed like 3 miles in the blaring heat to the Pottery Barn.  My sister pulled up the weather to see what the high temp was going to be it I think it was something like 96 degrees with 10% chance of rain.  Not a cloud in the sky.

We got to the zoo around 2 and Norah Kate kept saying "It's hot."  I was like, "Yeah baby, I know."  I put her in my stroller, pulled mine and her hair up, and away we went.

You can tell it was hot and humid because we all had a little "shine" to our face.

 

The first place we went to was the lions den.  I don't think she could see them really well, it was so hot that were laying out in the shade on a rock.  Next we went to the giraffes.  She LOVED them!  That was her favorite part I think.  She would pat the rail and say "'Mere boy! C'mon!"  She would giggle and squeal.  While looking at the giraffes the bottom literally fell our of the sky, it started pouring!  At first I was disappointed but then it really cooled us off and ended up being a blessing.

 

We made our way around the zoo, and Norah Kate walked most of the way.  She couldn't really see what was going on when in the stroller.  I kept thinking she would get tired and want to be held, but no.  She liked the monkeys, the birds, and the otters.  She also liked the "Rogs" (frogs).  We never saw the elephants, so I was disappointed about that, but they were about to close up and I think had put them up for feeding.

 

 

 

After trekking 3 miles at the mall, then probably 3-5 miles at the zoo, we were tired, hot, and sticky, not to mention hungry.  I learned a long time ago to pack snacks, so I gave her a fruit cup and some water and she fell asleep I think before we even pulled out of the parking lot.

She had a blast and really did good!  She is an excellent car rider, and can tolerate her car seat for 3+ hours at a time.  I was one tired mama though when we got home!

Happy Mother's Day!!

Happy Mother's Day to all those mamas out there!!  I hope you all have a GREAT day!

It is still hard to believe that I am considered in this holiday now.  Technically this is my third Mother's Day. 

My first Mother's day was 2 years ago and I was 7 weeks pregnant.  I had a virus/morning sickness/first trimester yuckiness that day and it definitely didn't go as planned.  I started running fever that night which terrified me because I knew that "fever" wasn't a sign of pregnancy and I was unsure what I could take for it... Luckily it stayed low grade, but then I started throwing up and was EXHAUSTED.  We had planned on announcing our good news that day to my husband's family but I ended up staying in bed all day.  Later that night, when I could at least put my feet on the floor, we called his mama and daddy to come over and told them then.  Not the big announcement I had in mind, but oh well :)  We still got priceless reactions!

Last year was my first technical Mother's Day, and I was working weekend nights then, so again I slept away most of the day....

This year, other than working on a 12-page (yes, 12-page!!!!!) paper for school that is due tonight at midnight... I am going to ENJOY my Mother's Day.

Let me just say that I am one lucky girl, because I surrounded by great mothers.  I have two extraordinary grandmothers who are sooo very special.  I am fortunate to have close relationships with both of them, and they both played very special roles in my childhood.

I have a wonderful mother-in-law who treats me like one of her own.  There has never ever been any weird, judgmental "you're-not-good-enough-for-my-son" mentality EVER.  Everyone I meet, when they find out who my in-laws are, they always tell me how fortunate I am... and they are right.  My mother-in-law works hard, and is the true matriarch of her family... she is their rock, who keeps everyone in line, and has a heart of gold.  She will drop any and everything to be there for her family.  Her children, grandchildren, and children-in-laws, should consider themselves lucky :) (and we do!!!)

My mama is my best friend.  We have always had a close relationship when I was growing up, but the last few years, she is the one I call on for everything.  My mama has always worked so hard to provide for us.  She is a Christian woman with an amazing love for the Lord.  I really don't think I know of anyone more genuine than my mama.  I hope that I can be half as good to Norah Kate and my future children as what she has been to us.  One thing I admire most about my mama is that she can find an answer in the Bible for almost any of our problems.  She has raised us to be honest, hardworking, and look to the Lord for anything of our concerns.  My mama prays for us and with us on a daily basis.  She is really a great woman!  She is also a great grandmother (Granna, Nina, Nona, Mamie, Mimi, Nana, Ma etc.).  She loves Norah Kate so much and is so proud of her.



Me and my Mama

 

I am also super blessed to be surrounded by great friends that are wonderful mothers.  With all these great examples around me, I am taught something about motherhood everyday and am learning as I go.  If a mess this "being a mommy" thing up, it is most definitely not related to the women in my lives, because I am surrounded by some model-mamas!

 

Becoming a mother myself has taught me countless things, and truly changed a little bit of who I am.  When you become a mother, and look into the eyes of that new baby, your world is rocked and your heart changes.  It is the best, most incredible feeling.  My heart still smiles a little bit every time I wake up in the mornings to Norah Kate calling "Mama" from her crib!

 

Motherhood is near to divinity. It is the highest, holiest service to be assumed by mankind.”
― Howard W. Hunter





This Girl Keeps Me Laughing

This is the result of 2 Krispy Kreme donuts:

 

 

Terrified of beach sand, but will play in mud puddles:

 

 

"Dancing Queen"

 

 

Chatty Kathy

So, my worries for NK having any type of speech delay or issues are now a thing of the past... That little girl is a mocking bird for sure!  I counted the other day about 25-30 words that she says consistently and knows the meaning of.  She has repeated probably 50+ words on command though!

Here are some words (including names) she is saying all the time:
-Mama, mommy
-Daddy
-Papa
-Nana
-Nannie
-Dee
-Tydur (Tyler)
-KyKy
-Mamie, mammy, mimi, nanniemama (these are my mom, who was supposed to be "Granna") We can ask Norah Kate to say Granna and she tells us "No."  She could say it if she wanted to, but she wants to call her something else, so ok.
-Hots (Hoss)
-No
-Stop
-More
-Eyes, mouth, nose, teeth, toes
-Tea
-Flower
-Woof-woof (dog)
-Cow
-Thank you
-Baby
-Bubbles
-Diaper
-Stinky
-Water
-Ball
-She can repeat almost anything within reason and is picking up new words on a daily basis!

 





Mama's smart girl :)

 

She has truly grown from a baby to a toddler and for some reason this is extremely depressing to me.

She is already VERY independent.  She won't let me fed her anymore and we have a daily battle over the toothbrush becaue she wants to do it but don't do it good enough so I have to take over.  There is usually some screaming and tears involved.  She has her mama's temper for sure... Oh boy.

NK is the best little mama.  Yesterday she was rocking and "shushing" her baby.  We can't leave the house without a purse, bracelet, and baby doll.

We have to paint her toenails about 3 times a day on the days I am off... little Diva.

She has also wanted to start wearing my lotion.  When I am putting it on after the shower, she has to have some too.

She has started to hit and this is not so cute.  We are working on it.  She is also a Mine-o-saur, as Matt says.  We are working on this also.

When she gets excited she does this little foot stomp and open and closes her hands very fast while making this super excited face.... I wish I could get a picture or video, it is just too cute.

She goes to bed about 9 and wakes up at about 8 or 9.

She still has a paci at naps, car rides, and bedtime....I am trying to get rid of it.

I asked her what her name was the other day and she said "me."  Haha!

Norah Kate has been throwing things in the toilet.  She threw a candle in the toilet the other day and it got stuck...I thought I was going to have to call the plumber, it took me 3 days to get it out. We have also lost a baby doll to the toilet water :(

She "reads" and I think it is adorable.  She also says "1-2-3" but I don't think she knows what they mean, but it is a start.  She knows them in that order though!





Maybe it is just me, because she is my baby girl, but I think she is extremely smart.

Pig Scramble

Do you ever have one of those weekends where you think, "wow, that was really a great weekend?"

Well, I had one last weekend.  I was off work, yay! I had finished my homework for school, yay!  So my schedule was pretty much open.

Saturday morning, I woke up quickly straightened up the house (I had already made up my mind that I wasn't cleaning all day Saturday) and got ready for a fun-filled day.  It was a beautiful day.  The sun was shining and the temperature was PERFECT!

I went to a friends house that morning at about 10:30 for a Shrimp and Grits kids clothes party.  I could have spent hundreds of dollars on all their cute clothes, but I didn't.  I just bought Norah Kate two outfits.  I am can not wait for them to come in the mail!  I am obsessed with bubbles for her this year for summer.  I made a mental note the other day not to buy her another bubble, but so far I am not following this rule very good.  I have bought 4 more since I told myself that.  It is kinda sad though because I know this will be the last summer that she can wear little outfits like that.  Probably by next summer she will be wearing toddler clothes and that stuff will be too "baby."

 

Then we went to Adel and ate at Hot Diggity Dogs.  I was craving a good, juicy hamburger and a Coke.  I got Norah Kate a "durger" which is ground hamburger meat on a hotdog bun.  I am not usually a big fan of her eating "fast food," but she got a treat Saturday! It was yummmmyy!

 

We got out lunch to go and went to my mama's for a little while.  We played out in the front yard in the sunshine and gave my brother's dog lots of loving.  NK smelt to high heavens when we were done, but the dog loved it and it wasn't anything a bath wouldn't fix.

 

Norah Kate layed down for nap and when she woke up we took her to the Pig Scramble.  The Pig Scramble takes place before the county livestock show.  It was a blast!  I really doesn't get much more country than this!  I didn't know how she would react to the pigs, but she LOVED them.

 

We took her to the pens where they were keeping them prior to the scramble and she wanted in the pen with them. She would pet them and talk to them.

 

 

 

I was going to "register" her for the pig scramble but she was too little.  She had a fit when they started.  She was climbing up the fence and squealing.  She was loving all the excitement.  Luckily, we knew several of the people that were managing the event and they took her into the pen.  She couldn't catch the pigs but she sure did try.  It was so much fun to watch her get excited about touching them!

 

 

After the pig scramble we went and saw Matt's mama.  We visiting with her for a while and then she watched Norah Kate so that I could go for a run.  I ran for about an hour and over 6 miles with my friend Amanda.

 

It really was a perfect day.  It is not very often that I feel like I get everything accomplished that I had planned for the day!  It was wonderful!

 

Sunday was just as great.  We went to church, then out to eat, and Matt stayed home with us that afternoon. I got to take a nap, and we watched a movie.  We rode around in his truck and checked fields.

 

We don't have to go anywhere special, or do anything spectacular, just good quality family time and watching my little girl grow up means the most to me!