And then there went March...

So my attempt to get back into blogging was seriously not happening during March. Of course it may have had something to do with the fact that the stomach virus went through the house not once, but TWICE during this month. Between that and going out of town a lot on the weekends, we have been run ragged this month!!!

This month SK did hit the 18 month mark, and I heard that was when a lot of learning and vocalizing really starts to take off. Man has that been the case with her! Every week she seems to be learning a new word and she is really starting to be able to put things together to know shoes go with foot, let's go bye-bye means give me my bag and let's head to the door, time for bed means go upstairs and take a bath, let's let our doggy out means open the back door, and on and on. She is still LOVING school! She is so excited to go in the mornings and every day when I pick her up she is having fun with her buddies or her teacher. Her "curriculum" this past month was on light and dark. They would turn the lights on and off to talk about that and they also drew pictures of light and dark. Apparently part of this was a version of flashlight tag where they would turn the lights off and turn the music on so that if the flashlight pointed to you, it was your turn to boogie! Needless to say, my music and dance loving child thinks this game is awesome! :)


Here are some pic's from various things over the past month.

Some of you may have already seen this on my friend's page (who is better at blogging in a timely manner), but Sarah Katherine spent the night with her friend Daniley earlier this month and her mommy took the most precious picture of them being sweet and playing outside. That weekend Sarah Katherine also got to ride a 4-wheeler for the first time, she always has fun adventures each visit. :)


SK got her hair "did" at school one day! Here is proof my child does have SOME hair. :)


We went to a park over one weekend and yes, we have become fans of the child leash. Before I had a toddler I totally judged parents that used them, and I would like to officially repent and apologize! I am 100% on board now that I am living it.



My friend since the 6th grade, Leigh, is getting married in April so this month was shower month for her - so fun! SK and I drove up to Huntsville for a bridal tea for her. I was very concerned to take an 18 month old to a "tea", but we had a chat about etiquette and she was actually an angel! While Leigh opened her presents Sarah Katherine just stared in awe at the fun stuff she got. I hope she stays such a little lady, or at least while we are in public.

Along with the verbal fun of the 18 month old is the "independence" of the 18 month old. The other night I was feeling yucky (the 2nd round of the plague was going on), and Sarah Katherine decided she wanted to pick out what she wanted for dinner and HAD to feed it to herself, without help. So, since I felt bad anyway she got no argument from me. Well, she had applesauce (which she fed herself with a spoon) and when that was empty she had a chicken finger that she would only eat if I put it in the applesauce container so that it got "dipped" in the remnants of the applesause - hey whatever works!

February in Review...

So I have been so busy lately that I have not been the best blogger in the world. I have also been a not great mommy and have not been the best at taking pictures either (I know - big no, no). I am now all stocked up with batteries and a hard drive to store the pic's so I have zero excuses!

We went to the circus the beginning of the month and SK had a great time! We saw clowns, acrobats, tigers, etc, etc. She wasn't crazy about the clowns up close, but when the music came on and everyone was dancing the girl got in the groove! She almost flew out of my lap with all the shimming she was doing to the beat of the toons. When I was pregnant I did specifically pray that she would love music, and it definitely looks like God answered that prayer.

Next came Valentine's Day and some unexpected snow days! Sarah Katherine's class got out early the day of their big V'day party, so they were all hopped up on sugar and then came home to crash. Here is a picture of her in her special Valentine's Day dress coming home from school. She's such a big girl these days that mommy is no longer allowed to carry her to and from the car, she is miss independent. :)

Next up on our fun February was our good friend Emma's birthday. Her theme was the zoo, and it was so cute! Her mom had decked out their neighborhood's clubhouse with fun game for the kiddos to play, yummy "zoo" food, and even jungle juice to drink! SK had a lot of fun playing with the other kiddos. It is so cool seeing her with her little friends and seeing how all of their personalities come out in their interaction. My child is definitely still the charmer. She schmoozes all the grown ups into thinking she's the most perfect angel, she will actually share with other kids (I'm sure this will come to an end shortly, but I'm going to brag while I can), and she is quite a little princess. Any way she can be sassy she does it! Who in the world does she get that from?!

Emma even had a photo op right when we got to the party! So fun!!!

In honor of the zoo - theme, SK was the zebra. :)

I just thought this was too cute I had to have a picture, the bowls had the food the animals ate (the lion - animal crackers, the panda - goldfish, the giraffe - "trees" (green sprinkled marshmallows on pretzels)).

Pickles?! - Must be David's Child :)

So, Sarah Katherine had a spend the night party with her buddy Daniley a few weekends ago, and apparently Daniley's mommy introduced SK to the wide world of pickles. For those of you who don't know - I am 100% anti-pickle. If David gets even one on a sandwich at lunch and then kisses me at night - I know it and I make him was his face and brush his teeth! It's like Sarah Katherine knew that because she is making some pretty michevious faces in these pic's. Thanks so much to Danica for recording the blow by blow of the nastiness!!!

Couponing...

So, a new passion of mine has become couponing (thanks to my money saving mentor - Danica!). I just had to brag on my purchases at CVS this week (I am new to CVS'ing, but there is huge opportunity for mega money savings). Here is a picture of what all I got - notice all name brands...

The regular cost of all this stuff would be about $38, and I got it all for just under $10! Almost 75% savings!!! And I am totally new to this, opportunity is out there for even more - check out www. southernsavers.com for rocking info on how to keep as much money in your pocket as possible and still be able to put food on your table and leave in conditioner in your hair!

Visiting Gram

Last weekend David was out of town (actually left us alone for a week for him to go train some people in Washington DC), so SK and I took off to visit with her great-grandmother (aka - Gram). We LOVE going to see Gram and are so thankful to have time to spend together. Not many kids these days are able to get to know their great-grandparents, and I am so excited to be making these memories for Sarah Katherine!

We got to take Gram her Christmas present, take her on a "date" for lunch, and Gram even chased Sarah Katherine around the house with her giggling all the way. I have to say, my Gram is mighty spry for an 80 - something! I hope I can lift 26 lbs and run around the house when I am that age, let's hope it's in the genes. :)

B'day Parties and Visits with Family

During January we stayed busy with visiting friends and family. We were able to go to a birthday party for my friend from college's baby Marissa. It was so much fun hanging out with my college buds, and so very strange to be wiping snot and holding a sippy cup during the process!

Here are all the kiddos fighting over who gets to open presents. They haven't quite learned that just because there is a present doesn't necessarily mean it is always yours.

One of the party favors were these HILARIOUS glasses! It was windy and cold that day anyway, so SK was bundled up - it looks like she's running from the paparazi. :)

We still have a "WAR EAGLE" left - even if the girls were about to pass out!

The next weekend we got to see some family in my dad's hometown of Andalusia. We were especially happy to finally meet in person my cousin's baby Tyler, who shared the same due date as Sarah Katherine. His mom - April - and I went through preggy time together and swapped emails of - should this be happening?!?! They live up in South Carolina, so we don't get to see each other much, so we were really glad for the overdue time together.

Here is SK and Tyler playing at the restuarant - what is up with that trouble maker over there, is what Tyler is wondering.

Here are all the gal cousins - love you ladies!

The "Rest" of Christmas - Yes I know it's amost February!

Well, these days blogging has takend a back seat to some very crazy days both at work and at home! So, I am finally getting around to posting the rest of Christmas. This is Sarah Katherine's VERY favorite thing she got for Christmas - her first car. My parents got her a Princess Cozy Coupe from Little Tykes and she is completely infatuated with getting in and out of that car. She doesn't even so much care if you drive her around in it, she just wants to be able to open and close the door and climb in and out. So, my living room has officially been taken over with kid's toys (although I do have a closet to shove it all in should my house be required to look like grown ups do live there!).

Another super cute thing my mom found is a book about the "Tickle Monster" that came with Tickle Monster gloves!!! So we of course chase little bit around with our monster hands for a while, and she decided she needed to return the favor - here is SK as the tickle monster... be afraid, very afraid!