Toddler Time.

So.... my sweet little baby is now ONE. One. as is a whole year gone by. And in this year, I have grown as a person, as a mommy. Grown in my attitude, grown in my love, and grown in my faith. I have worried, cried, laughed, and worried more, but overall... this has been the best year of my life. How in the world did I live my boring life without Lucy?

We celebrated her first birthday with a cupcake themed party here at our house. She got way to many presents and is already so blessed in the friendship department. I love all my mommy friends and I love all my regular friends. They each bring something so great to Lucy's life... and mine!

Lucy and I on her birthday. We celebrated at a local mexican restaurant. Yum! They came and sang to her... which she hated! She loves to hug her babies. She says "aww" and pats them on the back. I love this! I so wanted her to have babies and love them! Libby is the new baby she got from her daddy and I with a new baby stroller.
Lucy's birthday party. So, the kid freaked out when we all started singing and then would not eat her smash cake her Nana made her. She finally got to enjoy it when the party was over! All of Lucy's friends. We are so lucky to have these children in our lives! I used to babysit the two oldest children on the left back. I kept them since they were babies. Makes me sad to see them so grown up!
My table decorations. Lucy's Nana (my MIL) made all the cupcakes. She used to own a bakery and all her cakes are amazing. So glad she could make them for us!

As for Lucy being one year now, here are some of her highlights!

• You weigh 21 pounds.
• You are 31 inches long.
• You are almost completely off the bottle. She takes a night bottle, but lately, she doesn't want it so it's really almost a waste!
• You love stuffed animals and babies!
• Gammy and Papa (my parents) bought you a kitchen center that you love. You play and cook all day!
• They also bought you a picnic table. You eat breakfast and lunch there. You look sooooo cute when you sit there!
• You can say mama, dada, bye, yeah, no, star, what's that, and you know four animal sounds. My personal favorite is the lion. You roar so loud! You know a cat, dog, lion and a cow. We are working on a pig and a duck!
• You run. No walking. Full on go. You strut. You swing one arm out when you walk. so funny! You also do a beauty pageant wave when you walk by people.
• You are wearing a 12 month clothing.
• You dance. Omg, it is so funny. You get to going and I can't stop laughing!
• You push anything when you walk. Chairs, tables, anything that can move does.
• You love to swim and take a bath.
• You give the best kisses.
• When I dress you in the morning I hold you up to the mirror and tell you how pretty you are. You pat your chest and say "awww." So cute!
• You will hold my hand when we walk. love it.
• You sleep from 8:30 till 8. Now that school started you are getting up earlier.
• You take 2 naps a day, morning and afternoon.
• You can put away some food!
• You love your daddy. When he comes home, you like to "show off" and instead of running to him, you take things to show him, like you are so proud of your stuff.
• I made a great decision to not send you to daycare. I just couldn't do it. Gammy Camp is back in full swing! You love going to my parents house. You act like you own the place (and you pretty much do!) You love Maize. You love Sisterbeth. Gosh, you love her. You hugged her for the longest time tonight.
  She is such a special aunt and she loves you so much. You adore Papa, and you LOVE spending time farming with Gammy. She takes such good care of you and teaches you so much while Mommy is at work. It makes my day so much easier knowing you are taken care of by my mom!
• Your godmomma b and auntie c bought you a little blue box for your birthday. It was the sweetest "L" charm. Made me mad because I want a Tiffany box!
• You are growing much too fast. Slow down little one!
• I LOVE YOU!
  

Lord,

You

have abundant love.

are mighty. everlasting. true.

created my child and know each part of her. inside and out.

made her in Your image.

know her thoughts.

know the plans before her.

created her with a purpose.

created her with a love for You.

show your workmanship. Your handiwork.

will use her life to Your glory.

have covered her in Your precious blood.

I

will praise you daily, moment by moment.

will be forever eternal to You.

can imagine how Your mother felt about You.

look at her life as a testament to Your love and grace.

know what You give is a joy to others.

will thank you constantly.

look at human life differently.

love you.

Emotional me, writing my prayer to the Lord, knowing I don't have to write this for Him to know my thoughts and feelings, but knowing that He is all deserving of just a small token of His love. I have been blessed beyond to have Lucy in my life for this past year. I can only imagine the next many years to come.

Glory be to God, the Father Almighty, Creator of Heaven and Earth!

11 months and Father's Day!

Lucy Clare--- You are now eleven months old. This brings a tear to my eye because this time next month, you will be known as "years" and not months! What happened to my little bitty baby?

What are you into these days? You are so funny, and have a shining personality! You are truly your mother's child!

• You are walking! Yes, you are walking. You took your first steps last week while we were on our cruise! You got your walking legs at sea! When you fall down, we all clap and yell "yeah!" and you clap and get so excited! I am so proud of you!


• You are eating "grown" people food exclusively. You have a variety of things you like to eat, particularly mac-n-cheese, grilled cheese (you love cheese like your momma!) chicken, all vegetables, pears, mandarin oranges, strawberries and bananas. When you are done, you will either push the plate away, or start throwing the food down on the floor.


• You are still in a size 3 diaper.

• You wear 12 month clothing and a size 3 shoe.
  
  
• You are down to 2 bottles (maybe 3 a day)



• You sleep from 8:30 to 8:30... wonderful!
  
  
• You hug and kiss your babies!



• You will carry your stuffed animals in your mouth when you crawl. I think you got this from Maize, mom's chihuahua! It is so funny!



• You say "momma" "da-da" "yeah" and "oh" sometimes I swear I hear you say "mon" as in "c'mon" because I know I say that to you all the time when you follow me all over the house.



• You definitely know what NO means and shake your head no when you are not supposed to do something!



• You hand me things you know you cannot have, or when we ask you to give us something you will hand it over.



• You don't watch a lot of tv, but when it is on you and you see something you like, you will say "oh" over and over.



• You smile and laugh all the time.



• You wave good-bye and hello.
  
  
• You point at things constantly.



• You went on your first 7 day cruise! and did WONDERFUL!



• You are starting to get stranger anxiety and away from mommy anxiety.



• No body can make you smile like your Aunt Heather!



• You tried an Icee the other day and about let the entire Wal-mart know when I took it away!



• You cry on command. Like when I tell you no, you will wait a few seconds, bring some tears up and then fake cry.



• You love to swim!


• You are so independent. You free play by yourself all the time, and are just so content playing with all your toys.


• You love to read!
  

You are growing so fast before my eyes! Mommy and Daddy love you very much! You are so blessed to have so many people in your life that love you so much!

I want to also take this time to say happy Father's day to my two favorite men in my life. Scott is an amazing father and husband and takes such good care of Lucy and me. My dad is an amazing dad, but I have seen things in him with Lucy that are so wonderful as a grandfather.It makes me so proud.She is his little girl, and will always get what she wants from him! He is so overprotective of her and truly loves her so much.

For Scott's first father's day, Lucy bought him a tree so they could plant it together and watch it grow. Scott calls LC "sugar plum" and has since the day she came into this world, so we bought him a plum tree to plant in our yard. We had to give it to him on Saturday because he will be working and gone for Father's day. He loved it! I was so glad to give him something that they both can cherish for years to come!

Someone was trying to walk off the porch, so hence why she is so blurry! I had to hurry and take the picture!
My next post will be all about a fabulous cruise we all took.... cruising with a then-10 month old was the most interesting cruise we have taken! Fun, fun, fun, but way different that the old days of cruising!

A ten month trip

Lucy Clare--You are now ten months and you are busier than ever! You are talking, moving, laughing, and all around having a ball. I love this age right now. You are funny. You are so independent! You are growing so fast! You've done a lot lately, so here is a trip in pictures!

10 months photo shoot. This is THE ONLY picture I got of you sitting in your spot. You would not sit still this month!

You have learned to give a "high five." It is so cute!

Not sure what you are doing in that above picture, but that's how I find you most mornings when I go to wake you up! And you have learned to laugh and smile when something is really funny to you! Ha!


You have learned to love the grass!

You have really liked this ride along/push thing Gammy bought you! Look at you go! (and major props to Godmomma B for your super cute shoes!)

What else is going on?

• you have 6 teeth and are working on 2 more.
• you are almost totally on solid food. You like mac/cheese, strawberries, watermelon, grapes, chicken.... ok, you really pretty much like anything I put down in front of you! :)
• You sleep from 9 to 6:30 every night. I love this!
• You are such a good baby, and everyone says so. I can take you anywhere!
• You are a daddy's girl. You melt his heart every day!
• You are going on your first cruise next month! Wow! I am so excited!
• You can "cruise" holding on to furniture. You are still a little scared when you let go as to what to do!
• I love you!

I am so ready to spend the summer with you! 5 more days till it is summer vacation! Tons of swimming, sleeping, and cuddling.. along with some great trips!

Love you!

Support

I mentioned in my last post that I had become a ZUMBA instructor last month. I haven't taught many classes (ok, just two) but I totally enjoyed making my friends sweat! Ha! Some of you may know that I was once our church's Youth Minister and I still help out when I can and the new YM and I are pretty good friends. Every summer our youth kids go on a mission trip called "Catholic Heart Work Camp" and it is an awesome experience for them. They help fix houses, help around different communities, and share their faith, all within the United States (which is a big deal to me.) This year 30 kids will be heading down to South Florida to help for a week. 30 kids is a great number, but with that comes the cost of sending all those kids on a mission trip. We have been thinking of different things we could do to help defer the cost for the kids and I decided I would have a ZUMBA fundraiser. I will have a hour long class and give all the money right over to the church so they can help send the kids!

I am super excited and I hope we really get a good turn-out. So for those of you in my area, please join us! Feel free to email me for exact times and location!

I have a number in my head that I am going to pray that God will fulfill for us. I pray that the church community will rally around us and burn a few calories while raising money! For those of you who don't live near us, please pray that God will bless us as we try to raise the money and especially pray for our teens as they travel to spread God's Word!

And finally, just cuz I think this little one is so dang adorable... her is a picture of Ms. LC doing what she likes to do.. Stand! Isn't she just so beautiful?! ♥

9 months and a workout

Hello! It has been awhile since I have posted, mainly because I have been busy, but really I have just been procrastinating and too busy reading other people's blogs! I thought I would catch up so Lucy will have her baby book one day! Lucy turned 9 months on the 16th. I can't believe she is thisclose to being a year old! Her personality has just broken loose lately. She is babbling, crawling, trying to walk, and into everything!

What else are you up to these days, sweet one?

I like this picture because your eyelashes are so fabulous, but I love the little bit of sweet potatoe on the tip of your nose!

• You are wearing a size 3 diaper.
  
• You eat solid foods for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. You have tried lots of new foods lately!




• You drink 6 to 8 ounces of formula at each bottle feeding
• You are crawling everywhere, and will follow me into every room I will walk into.
  
• You have become "clingy" to me when we are out, until you become familiar with people.
  
• Da-da is your word of choice, even though you still say "yeah!"




• You do this break-dance spin on the floor. You will move around in circles on your butt. It is the cutest thing!




• You love to play on the floor with your toys. You especially like cooking utensils!
  
• You throw a "fit" when you don't get your way!
  
• You are back to sleeping through the night, and putting yourself to sleep!




• You have three teeth that have come through. Two bottom and one on top. The others are not far behind!
  
• You like to dance holding on to the tv table. You bounce up and down to the music and kick one leg up!




• You are wearing a size 9-12 month clothing.
  
• You sleep on your tummy with your hiney in the air!




• You love watching other children.




• You love your daddy! You reach out to him when he gets home from work and clap!
  
• I love you. Really. I love you. I can't say it enough!
  

Now, this little priss actually sat still for her 9 month pictures! Praise God! I took these pictures the night before I left for a ZUMBA training workshop. I am officially a ZUMBA teacher! It was 9 hours of pure hell but worth every minute! I decided a few months ago to give ZUMBA a shot and I loved it. If you haven't tried this amazing workout, you are missing out! It is an hour of fun Latin dancing where you burn some major calories. I have lost about 10 pounds and a ton of inches just doing ZUMBA. I love it and it totally does not feel like I am working out. I went and got trained and plan on teaching my own classes this summer!

I am also excited that school is coming to a close this year. My summer will be full of hanging out with this amazing kid. This will be a new kind of summer for me as a mom. We have a cruise planned and beach trips with friends and tons of swimming on the agenda. While I love my school kids, I am ready for a break and the whole summer to spend with my sweetie!

Ya'll have a good week!

teaching... it's a gift.

I teach. I am good at it. I love it. I teach first grade at a low income school in my city. I have always taught children like this. It is very hard. It is very challenging, but I love the outcome in the end and what difference I make in the life of a child each day.

Now, Kelly over at Kelly's Korner is having a Show us Your Life.This week is Teacher Gifts. She has these a lot, but this one was the first one to catch my eye. I KNOW about this topic! In my fantasy world, I would love to get gift cards to get a massage, a really good book, a dinner gift card, or a really cute snack basket I could keep at school. You know, something that has things they don't carry in the snack machine.

In my real world, I get used batteries. Half empty bottles of perfume. A school picture from kindergarten. An old necklace. A coffee cup from the dollar store.

I wouldn't trade this.

I make a huge.. read... HUGE deal when a child brings me a present. It just doesn't happen. My kid's parents don't have the money to even think about their child's teacher. I squeal, laugh, and downright almost cry when a child gets a gift and it is all wrapped or in a present bag. This past

Christmas I actually had two little girls get an outfit for my baby! I was beyond the moon.

I love my kids. I love the thought that my child put into my gift. "Man, Mrs. B likes coffee. I bet she would like this coffee filter!" My favorite thing is a sweet note that a child has really put effort into making. I get one weekly from a little girl that says "i love mrs. b. i love her husband. i love lucy clare. i love mrs. b mommy. Truly, i love them."

and this is why I teach.

So, for those of you who can afford a gift for your child's teacher, do it. I know that sometimes it would be nice to get a gift like I will give my child's teacher. (oh, to have a massage!)

The biggest gift I can ask for all teachers is prayer. We take home 18+ little peoples problems every night. I wonder what my kids eat when they get home. I wonder if anyone is even there with them. I wonder what they see in their neighborhoods. Please pray for them!

Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.

Proverbs 22:6