Thanksgiving Weekend

This past weekend has been an absolute blast, hanging out with hubs and Kathryn, as well as my baby sisters Natalie and Emily.  On Wednesday, James, Mini and I went to lunch then went shopping.  We got her some cute clothes at the Gap and then came home and put up some of the Christmas decorations.  James made chili, and it was delish!  We got to spend Thanksgiving with both our families, starting at James' Aunt Cissy's and ending at my mom's house.  Kathryn looked so cute in her puffy jacket, walking around the house.  It was like a new toy for her!

 Thanksgiving morning Mini woke up to see some of the Christmas decorations I had put up.

 At Cissy's house, Mini had a great time playing with her cousins, and walking around with her cell phone and drink (just like her momma :)).

 Check out my little turkey on turkey day!  Gosh I love her!

 I absolutely love this picture.  The only cousin we are missing is Hiram, he was sleeping. :)

 She had her squeaker shoes on.  I'm sad to say she is starting to outgrow them....(although I'm sure some people are happy lol).

 Look at those beautiful baby blues...she was starting to get really tired then.  Can you tell?

 Now she's reallly tired.

 Sleeping on the way to Grandmas.

 James and I at my parent's house, full after our second Thanksgiving meal.

 I had to fix her bow, and she was giving me a hard time.  James gave her the look, and she gave him one back.  :)

 Hooray for smiles all the way around!

 Aunt Em feeding Minis her feast.

 Always has to have her spices in her hands at Grandmas.

 James playing Angry Birds...as usual.

 Grandma K and her Mini K...her clone!

That night, James and I set up the Christmas tree.  It was so exciting the next morning to show Minis the tree all lit up.  She got so excited and said in her cute little voice, "was tha?"

On Saturday, Kathryn developed a diaper rash along with some other fun stuff that we have been working on healing the last couple of days.  It has been very painful for the both of us, and to top it off her teeth are coming in pretty strong.  That's the life of a growing baby I guess, at least she won't remember it when she's older!  Saturday night we stayed up late (10:30!!) watching Princess and the Frog.  I love snuggle time but hate it when she's hurting.

This long weekend was absolutely fabulous.  I cannot wait until Christmas time when we can do it all over again!

Storyboard

When I first got pregnant with Kathryn, I knew I wanted to have maternity pictures done with Julie Birdseye, a wonderful photographer and family member of James'.  I bought a package from her that included 4 sessions of our choice (we chose maternity, newborn, 7 months, and 1 year).  It included a certain number of prints and a final album at the end of her one year session.  For her 7 month and 1 year sessions, we decided to buy a CD of the prints which was an extra "package".  It included the digital images, a storyboard (I'll explain later), additional albums, etc.  Well, we wanted to include pictures from all the sessions for the storyboard, so they are finally complete!  Julie ordered them today and I am sooo excited!  One will go on my desk at work, and the other in our home.  It is like Christmas has come early for me! :)

My storyboard for the office

The family storyboard

A storyboard is basically a board with the images of your choice that tell a little "story," and can be propped up with an plate easel.  It's amazing to look at these and see how much she has grown over the last year.  She is such a big girl now!

Changes are a Comin'....

After having a little chat with a friend/co-worker, I have come to the conclusion that Mini should probably not be drinking out of a bottle.  She is 14 months old, perfectly capable of drinking milk out of a sippy cup, but a part of me has had a hard time accepting this.  We have a wonderful nighttime routine.  Dinner at 5:30, playtime, bath at 6:15, and bottle at 6:45.  The sweet chunk and I then cuddle on the couch, watching either a movie, Dora, or Dinosaur Train, until about 7:15 or 7:30.  It is perfect, and I look forward to it every day.  If I get rid of the bottle, I no longer am needed...she can just feed herself!  Sounds silly, I know.  So last night I made her some warm milk in a sippy cup and we sat on the couch with The Princess and the Frog on the TV.  Like no big deal, she drank her milk from the cup.  Granted, her first couple of sips she was a little perplexed (the only thing I have ever put in her sippy cup is water), but after that she chugged away, all by herself.  My little baby is getting so BIG! 

About a month ago James and I considered putting Mini in daycare for 2 days a week, so that she could become more socialized with kids her age.  We visited one daycare (or I guess I should call it a school, because that's what it really is), and the babies her age were drinking out of cups and eating food off of a plate.  Crazy.  My child drinks out of sippy cups and I still feed her baby food!  They were also eating saltine and graham crackers, which I have never given Mini (I have a severe fear of choking).  I was literally in awe of this.  So the next day, James and I gave her a saltine, and low and behold she ate it with ease.  I guess what I am getting at is, I really don't want her to grow up. 

Today while I was at work, hubs sent me a video of Mini eating eggs on a plate.  Not a big deal to most, but I thought it was the coolest/saddest/funniest thing ever!  Half way through the video, she looks at her dad, then looks down at her plate and starts lifting it like she is going to flip it over.  Obviously her dad gave her a look, because she stopped.  Such a sass queen.  :)

Mini, I need you to STOP GROWING!  Regardless, you will forever be Mommy's baby.

The Working Mom

I honestly can't believe I'm writing this.  But this is my blog and a place where I can write and no one can say anything about it, right?

Lately I have seen a lot of posts on social networks from stay at home moms who go on and on about how wonderful they have it and how lucky they are to stay at home with their children, and how they can't imagine having to work and put their kids in daycare.  This is so annoying frustrating for me, being the working mom that I am, to read that kind of crap stuff.  Every mom, working or staying at home, is doing the best for her family.  I am an example of that.

My parents paid for my undergraduate AND graduate school.  You're damn straight I am going to use that education and make a career for myself (which I am doing)!  I would be lying if I said that when I was younger I thought about staying at home and raising kids like my mom did.  Well, reality set in, I grew up, and I found that I liked working.  I cannot sit at home and do nothing cook and clean.  I got married, had my sweet baby girl, and prepared myself to put her in daycare.  My wonderful parents decided 6 weeks into her life that that just wasn't going to happen, and my mom would help out and watch her.  So here I am, able to go back to work, and Mini doesn't have to go to daycare.  OUTSTANDING.  I know how lucky/blessed I am, and I have never had a second thought about the safety and well-being of my child while I am gone.

There is something about having a life outside of Mini that is healthy and just seems right.  I love getting up, putting on nice clothes and doing my makeup, and being around grown ups.  During my pregnancy leave I think I wore sweats 95% of the time.  Eww. Don't get me wrong, I look forward to the weekends or getting off work early every now and then, but I am very happy going to work.  On top of that, Mini has a very close relationship with her dad and grandma. You can't beat that.  It just irks me so bad when people judge working women, like they aren't doing the best for their children.  I chose to work, because our family income is over doubled, I can pay for my daughter's college education, I can shop, go out to dinner, and just do things that we want to do.  You always want to provide more for your kids than you were given.  Well, my life was pretty damn perfect, thanks to the most amazing parents ever.  They worked their butts off to give my sisters and I a perfect childhood.  Kathryn may not grow up in Southlake, but she will most definitely grow up healthy, happy, loved, and provided for.  She's going to start violin lessons when she's 3, take dance class, play sports, and anything else her little heart desires.  Eventually, but the time she is 3, we will put her in a pre-school to prepare her for Kindergarten.  She is going to be ready to take on the world, all while I work.   Shocking, huh?  A working woman who is happy.

I am sorry if I have offended anyone in this post.  Maybe no one will read this and it doesn't matter.  I just had to get this off my chest.  I never thought blogging could be so therapeutic... :)

One Year Pictures!

These pictures were taken back in October when Minis first started walking in the beautiflul batanical gardens in Grapevine, TX.  Photography done by Julie Birdseye.

We couldn't be happier with these beautiful pictures.  We will treasure them forever!

Happy Veteran's Day!

Today is Veteran's Day!  Since I had to work, James took Mini to the Veteran's Day Parade in Fort Worth.  

Jared, Jared's dad, Jack, and Owen went along with them.  

Minis had so much fun watching the parade with her dad.  It was a little bright outside, so Minis wore her shades the whole time.  :)

Here come the Marines!

 There's Jack!  Hopefully James didn't terrorize him too much. :)

 Cute Owen being good in the stroller.

General Patton waving at the spectators.

Now that's a yellow firetruck! 

I'm so glad Mini was able to spend time with her Combat Vet dad on Veteran's Day.  I know she will grow up with a great respect for all the soldiers that fought and died for our country.  Minis and I are so proud of daddy and all the sacrifices he made serving.  We love you!

Da Da!!!

You think someone wants Dad to come home from work? ;)

Wonderful Weekend

This weekend was busy, fun-filled, and relaxed (is that possible?).  Friday, James and I did a un-named thing (you're dying to know aren't ya :)) which took most of the evening.  Saturday Kathryn and I headed off to a birthday party for a friend of a friend (and my facebook friend) which was held at a park.  Minis had lots of fun running around, swinging, and saying hi to practically everyone at the party.

Thank goodness this happened after the party!

Afterwards we met Grandma at Hobby Lobby for some Christmas decoration shopping and dinner.  Sunday was spent hanging out with dad and cleaning up the house.  Exciting, right?  Well it was a wonderful weekend that went by way too fast.  Oh and did I mention, Dixie, my miniature schnauzer, decided to eat 2 (YES 2) pumpkins.

Pumpkin 1 

Pumpkin 2

Sick.  And she basically got sick all over the house. Oh and did I mention this happened on two different days?  Ugh, those dogs are going to be the death of me!

On a lighter note, my absolute favorite Mini TV show is Dinosaur Train.  Those that follow me on Facebook and Twitter probably already know this.   And that I'm obsessed with dinosaurs.  So, I am going to leave you with the reason why I love Dinosaur Train...Buddy, the adorable T-Rex, and his T-Rex song (I know I'm weird)!

Loves....

Dora PJs

Grandma bought Mini Dora PJs a few weeks ago, and it was finally cold enough to wear!

Her belly even hung out like Dora's does.....LOL!

There's nothing better than a beautiful baby in jammies :)

She Wears her Sunglasses at Night

Trick-or-Treat!

This past weekend James, Kathryn and I were supposed to make a trip up to Norman, Ok to visit Aunt Nanny for OU Parents Weekend.  I had the whole family packed and ready to go Friday night, only to wake up to the worst sickness I can remember.  People call it the stomach flu, or better yet a good ole' stomach virus.  It was awful, and kept me from eating and drinking all day Saturday and Sunday.  Let's just say we didn't make it up to Oklahoma. :(  Thankfully, James only had a slight version of what I did, and Kathryn didn't get it at all.  After speaking with her nurse, it was a miracle because this nasty bug has been going around and usually affects the entire family.  James was wonderful enough to take care of Mini for me while I was feeling under the weather, even though he wasn't feeling so good himself.  This is what I woke up to on Saturday evening.  :)
  

By Sunday afternoon, I was feeling up to taking Mini trick-or-treating.  We headed over to the Cockerham's neighborhood and got her all dressed up. 

 Mini was very excited to go trick-or-treating.  Look at that smile!

 About to head out with the group.

 Mini getting trick-or-treat pointers from her buddy Jack.

A train drove by the house and the kiddos were mesmerized!

Mini getting her first piece of candy.  Yay!

Proudly walking off with her orange sucker.

Taking a trip up with dad for some more.

She loved getting two pieces of candy, one for each little hand!

I think daddy had more fun than Mini... :)

This house had a dancing skeleton.  So fun!

Taking a rest break with Mommy.

Time for my antennas dad!

This man came to us with candy!

Minis and I made a visit to see Grandma and PaPa.  They were so happy to see us!

Even though I was sick this weekend, it couldn't have ended better.  Minis had a wonderful time trick-or-treating for the first time and I will never forget it!  Now to finish off all her candy.... :)