Link Up!! SAHM to my crazy little tot!! :)

Today I am linking up with Becky (From Mrs. to Mama) - how does she do it all?!

 

I am an upper 20 something mama and I am so blessed to have an amazing husband that works his butt off so I can stay home with our daughter.

 

Our beautiful  daughter is now 17 months old, as of today at 9:57PM.

 

My story isn't to great - I started blogging a couple of years ago or um maybe 3?  The years run together it seems.  That was PRE baby and I honestly ran out of stuff to write about.

 

I would ask myself, is anyone reading this?  Am I wasting my time? Does this post really mean anything?

 

UNTIL the day I found out I was pregnant.  I always wants to be a mom, I was jealous of people who had kids, I envied their relationship with their kids.

 

I wanted to document everything, every little detail, every kick and movement.

 

THEN a funny thing happened, I realized pregnancy is not all rainbows and butterflies and woman who say that feel AMAZING and FANTASTIC have lied to your face.

 

My pregnancy was not too bad but I have to say if I felt like I needed a nap - I DID! So then again my blogging stopped.  After I had my daughter I wanted to capture every smile, burp, first, laugh and I am STILL kicking myself for not documenting as much I wanted to.

 

I worked full time until she turned one.  SO that meant driving 20 mins to daycare - 20 mins to work - 20 mins back to daycare - run errands - then home, eat, clean, bath, play, sing, rock and bed.

 

OH and she didn't sleep through the night until she was ONE, Ahem. 

I pretty much walked around as a zombie for a year.

 

Then, in November 2011 my husband was diagnosed with Thyroid Cancer, had surgery and radiation.  When my husband called to tell me he had cancer all I could do was cry.  I was so scared of losing him.  He is my #1, my rock, my everything.  He is back to 100% now but for a couple of months my goal was to take care of him and a baby girl.

 

So now that I am home with her I write monthly updates about my little lady and a post here and there.  I want to write more and I am hoping to connect with some great ladies through Becky! :) 

 

So basically, I am a SAHM that adores my daughter and loves to craft with her and teach her new things each day.  I love to cook, read and I am addicted to TV - pretty much reality TV (no shame)  I am always looking for new crafts and learning activities for her (via pinterst mostly).  Welcome to my world! :)

 

 

Chattanooga with my Mikey!!!

5 years ago, on October 20th, I married my best friend.

 

I became Mrs. Apple :)

 

On October 20, 2012 Mikey and I headed out to Chattanooga, just us two, for a small vacation.  Only 24 hours.  All I could handle for the first time being away from my little lady over night.

 

We had a great time!!  I had never been to a Winery so Mikey stopped at one on the way and I got to try some wines and he bought me a yummy Blackberry Wine.  Then we headed to Ruby Falls in Chattanooga. 

 

 

Ruby Falls is really beautiful!  It was amazing learning the history how it was found and named.  When you finally do make it to the falls you only get like 4 minutes but it was pretty cool to witness. It was also my first time in a cave so I kind of freaked out in the beginning but got use to it after a while.....I have to say though my hair did not like the 150% humidity.  Can we say POOF?!

 

 

Then we headed to our Bed & Breakfast (another first for me)!  We stayed at Bluffview Inn over the river and it was so pretty.  We just parked the car and walked around town and ate at Back Inn Cafe, which was sooo YUMMY but expensive.

 

View from our room at B&B

At Dinner :)

After dinner we went to meet up with my good friend Sushannah and see them for a few minutes!  It was weird Sushannah and I were in the same town, same weekend!
We also went to the movies and saw Pitch Perfect, which I would recommend, it was SOO good!  I loved it!  I would go see it again any time............if I had a babysitter..............that I trusted.

The next morning we had breakfast at our B & B.  I think I was most excited about that part, I love breakfast food.  Before we left we stopped at a little bakery/coffee shop and then headed home to see our baby, I didn't run to the door or anything.

It was short but sweet and glad I got my 1:1 time with my hubby!  Maybe next trip it will be a tad bit easier to leave my baby!!

 

16 Months Old!

Not much has changed since you were 15 months old.  You have added more sounds and more words but I honestly can't keep up with them anymore!!

You started using a spoon and fork - you actually prefer it that way. 

You walk backwards now and you think it is hilarious!!  AND you are getting more dance moves which is also hilarious.  We dance every single day.  In the car, in your room, anywhere music is playing we are dancing.  I am guessing you get that from mama because your daddy has no hope.

Our meal time is getting easier, you have started to try more things but marinara and beef are still a HUGE no go. You actually gag and I think you might throw up.  OH and you ate a rock at the park - HELLO - NEVER DO THAT AGAIN.  I feel like the worst mama ever.  Still haven't seen the rock by the way so I am kind of freaking out.  But seriously child - you have to stop putting things in your mouth that is not food.

Lets talk about how FAST you are.  You talk fast, walk fast, put things in your mouth fast, fall fast and jumping off couches fast.  Seriously, I could be sitting 2 inches from you and you bust your lip?!  I will be SOOO glad when we are past this stage because I only have about 1 million mini heart attacks a day.  If you are awake you have my full 150% if not you are into something you aren't suppose to be. 

On October 20 & 21 I(you were still 15 months) but Mama left you for the first time over night.  Can we talk about anxiety?  Your Auntie CC kept you and you hardly even cried for her.  She did a WONDERFUL job taking care of you and did everything the I would have and can I tell ya how much I appreciated that?! Made things a lot easier for me.  I had the brilliant idea of a skype date with my little lady and it was a disaster.  You cried, I cried, it was just pitiful.  Your poor daddy just hugged me.  I am so glad he understood and didn't mind all the Leighton talk and all the looking at pictures of you.

You have a lot of teeth now including some molars so you have been slobbering like a 6 month old.  You LOVE to brush your teeth, you laugh the whole time. 

This month we get to go trick or treating for the first time, you are going to be an adorable pink/black puppy dog!! :))

First time in a booster chair!!

 

Playing with water.....oh the simple things in life

 

The day you ate a rock, see the peebles behind you? yep - I guess you were hungry.

 

BEEP BEEP!!!

 

 

 

Hanging out with Daddy in the front yard....being silly! :)

 

Happy 16 Months baby girl!! Hard to believe you are soon to be a year 1/2 old.

Linking Up with Mrs. to Mama - How I met your Father

Today I am linking up with From Mrs. to Mama for How I met your Father!

This is my first link up so if it is wrong or incorrect, forgive me! :)

1. Tell us about how and when you met your love and what attracted you most to him.
I actually met my Mikey twice.  The first time was at the SAE house at Troy University.  I was with my college roommate and her boyfriend (at the time) who shall remain nameless.  HOWEVER, her boyfriend and my future baby daddy didn't get along that well on the playground and were having "words".  They kept saying the name APPLE and I am thinking "WHY does everyone keep calling this kid APPLE?!"  I finally got to see this kid named APPLE - at that point in time I was like umm yes I would like to date him then ended up we had to leave so I didn't even get to speak to him.  ONE week later I got a call saying I got the job at Zaxby's - the manager Al said "can you come in right now?"  Of courses I could, I was a broke college kid.  As soon as I walked in, I turned the corner and there he was, APPLE standing in the kitchen smiling.  I swear it this is cheesy but its like there was a light glowing around him.  Love at first sight.  After months of flirting we were finally official "boyfriend/girlfriend" status....we were only 18! :)

 

2. Show us the very first {or one of the first} pictures you guys ever took together. {Feel free to show us more than one}

 

3. Tell us some of your favorite memories that you two had together.
I love each minute we have together, which isn't much because your daddy works so hard for us BUT of course it is our wedding day and the day you were born.  BUT if we go further back in time some of my favorite memories with Mikey were when he played paintball and I followed him to get practice, game, tournament and I was his cheerleader.  I would yell, scream and come to his defense but that was so much fun watching him have fun - if that makes sense?  We also use to play golf a lot together and I really miss those days!

 

4. Tell us your favorite qualities about this man, what makes him "the one."
He makes me laugh every day.  Tells me (and you) that we are beautiful 15 times a day, even when I know I am a hot mess, still in my PJs.  Smartest person I know.  Would be an amazing lawyer. He is our protector and I feel safe in his arms.  Handsome.  Loving. 

 

5. Tell us what your "date nights" typically look like.

Haha, well before baby we would normally just go out to eat and then to a movie.  Play golf or go to the driving range.  After baby, it is renting movies & popcorn and falling asleep on the couch but I still love those dates!

Play Date!

Leighton and I FINALLY got to see some of our best friends on Saturday!!  We drove to Huntsville and met up with Lisa Marie and her little sweetie, Ella Grace!!   Of course, I forgot my camera so I only had my cellular device but Lisa has a fancy camera and she was able to take some great pictures of our little ladies!!  You can see them here:  http://www.ourbeautifuljourneyblog.com/2012/10/play-date-with-our-besties.html.

We had so much fun getting to see them and finally getting a chance to talk face to face instead of text message like we normally do! :)

Pumpkin Patch Fall 2012

I took Leighton to the Lucky Ladd Pumpkin Patch this last Tuesday. It was a little chilly but warmed up some, but since I LOVE the cold weather I was not complaining at all. We had a lot of fun!! You tried to pick up about 5 pumpkins and then realized they were heavier than you. Playing in the corn pit, got to bang a wooden spoon on metal pans, play on the slides, quack at the ducks and scream NOOO at the donkey. At the zoo you loved the petting zoo so this really surprised me so we got about 2 feet into the petting zoo and had to leave and then I had to proceed to carrying you ALL the WAY to the car, pushing the stroller on gravel with one and hand and holding a 26 pounder in the other. I was sweating by the time we got back to the car. Here are some pictures from our day, I hope we get to go back and your daddy can come with us!

15 Months!!!

Leighton Taylor, you are now 15 months old.  Each month goes by way too fast.  I think I say that every month but really you are turning into this tiny little adult.  15 months going on 5 years old and has the sass to prove it! :)

I can really tell now that you are a true toddler, I think at 13 and 14 months I was still holding onto "my baby" and not wanting to you grow up so fast.  Now if I ask you to sit down and put your shoes on, you do it.  If I say "Come this way with Mama" you do it.  You follow direction VERY well, especially when Mama repeats "TOOSHY DOWN!!" 

We really have to watch what we say around you.  I have a bad habit of saying the word crap.  I know, such a bad word but you have repeated it.  I say "I know, I know" a lot and now?  I ask you to to do something you say "I know, I know" like as in get out of my face mom you are annoying me.

On your 15th month you were in Alabama visiting family, we took our first LONG road trip together, 6 hours and you were a complete angel, 4 stops on the way there due to diaper duty!  BUT GIRLFRIEND you do not travel well.  BUT then again you stayed at your GG's then CC's then back to GG's so it was a lot on you but I was also wore out by the time we left.

You are such a mama's girl right now.  This month in particular you have become super mama clingy. I am not complaining really, I secretly enjoy it (is that so bad?). You would just go to anyone at anytime but not anymore you are VERY aware of your surrounds and who people are now. Including the donkey at the pumpkin patch, which scared you and you screamed NOOOOO and everyone looked. HOWEVER, it is getting pretty bad to the point where I can't leave the room so I might need to look into some mom's day out groups of something.

You still talk all day long.  You are starting to put words together with phrases.  You still sign for "more" but thats about all I get for the sign language these days.  You started asking "pease" and "biiitteee" for anything I am eating.  You walk up to the door (AND turn the knob) and say "owwssiiiieee" which means you want to go outside.  You have been sick with RSV and had 3 MD visits in ONE WEEK but I had 2 doctors say you have the vocab of a 2 year old!! PROUD MAMA MOMENT!! We work on flash cards daily and you tell me that A is for APPLE and B is for Ball.  We are working on C for "kiiiikiiiii" as you say for kitty.  And you make all the animal noises if asked (dog, cat, duck, cow, sheep, fish, bird) it is SOO cute!!

You are a PICKY little eater lately. You started hating things you liked 3 days ago so meal time is a constant struggle for me. You would live on grilled cheese if I let you. Gerber has been a life saver though, which I don't understand because some of that stuff smells like dog food but you will eat that?! My cooking is seriously not that bad kid.

Elmo is still #1 in our house, Minnie Mouse is starting to compete. Caillou was in the running but Mama cut that show out of your hour of TV a day because that kid is soooo whiney.  I couldn't handle him anymore and I really didn't want you to be that kid.  So now it is Seaseme St DVDs or the show, Mickey Mouse during breakfast, and Doc McStuffins sometimes. 

You are such a joy to be around everyday, you make me SOOO happy!! I am so blessed to be your mama and be able to spend each minute with you. I thought staying home with you would want to make me get away or leave you with a babysitter but it has done the opposite, I still want to spend every second with you. You are just an amazing little person!! Just like in the book we read everyday "not every day is sunshine, but everyday is fun because I love you little one" :)

 

 

Elmo Backpack Auntie CC bought you and you still LOVE it!

 

 

 

 

See?  Picky eater - put all the strawberry gummies away from your granola bar.

 

Oh you know, just relaxing eating my snack.

 

 

Loving this weather b/c it means you get to wear adorable PJS like this!!

 

Putting on your shoes!

14 Months Old!!

So here we are....14 months old.  Didn't you JUST turn one? 
Not much has changed besides the fact that you ARE FINALLY WALKING!!!!  You started walking last week about 8/23/12-8/24/12 on your own completely, without mama, without dada, on your own.  AND on other surfaces other than carpet.  For a while there you would walk but only on carpet.  My little frankin-baby.  It is so adorable.  You scare the ever living crap out of your daddy though.  He forgets sometimes that your falls have become more graceful. 

 

You amaze me every single day.  You are the sweetest child ever and did I mention smart?  You have added new words to your vocab:  hairbow, outside, yes, peeassee (please), car, beep beep, CHOOCHOOOOOO, baby.  I am sure there are more.

 

Your love for your babydolls has gone from about a 1 to 20 in the last week or so.  You love them, hug them, kiss them, rock them, and pick at their eyeballs.

 

You are finally finished with the night time bottle, at 13 months, thank you very much, WHOOP WHOOP.  We are only on sippy cups and cups with lids/straws and quickly moving to a cup, you are showing a lot of interest when mommy does it and we have tried a few times.  and?  you end up with water all down your shirt. (Go Mommy)  We are still working on using a spoon and fork. Your appetite has changed some, you don't want to eat as much or as many veggies, kind of becoming a picky eater.  You still hate spaghetti but LURV you some mac n' cheese or anything with cheese really.

 

You love to walk to dogs with mama.  You laugh and smile the whole time saying "woof woof".  You still like to show off mama's bellybutton, doesn't matter if we are in the middle of walmart, my shirt goes up.  Thanks Kid.

 

We play the "show me" game a lot.  So far we know eyes, ears, nose, bellybutton, toes/foot, AND now TEETH.



 

Speaking of teeth, you now have top teeth!! On the day you turned 14 months your top left tooth broke the gum and today?  at 4:00 AM your right tooth broke the skin.  Have I mentioned it has been a long couple of days?  That is ok though.  It breaks my heart to see you in pain but knowing that seeing your mama at 4:00am helps you melts my heart into ONE MILLION pieces.  So I will be happy to drink my coffee all.day.long.



On your 14th month, we have a lot of fun stuff planned, more play dates.  New adventures and I am so happy I am able to take each one with you (b/c you know I am that mom that follows you everywhere).  Your GanGan is coming to visit this weekend.  I know you are excited to see your "GG".  Love you to the moon and back baby girl.