Yes, we are here ... it's just been one of those kinds of long and busy couple of months.

Sarah is now one! She had a wonderful birthday party. Friends and family galore. She loved every moment of the attention and excitement. She didn't care much for cake, but enjoyed rubbing it into herself, her clothes and everything around her.

She has 11 teeth now, and is busy awaiting two more molars on the bottom. She runs around and plays from the moment she wakes up. Anyone who sees hers says she wears them out just watching.

She is well behaved when we go out, and enjoys just hanging out. Now that she can walk, she has learned that she can also walk around when we're out, and encourages you to follow her around.

My favorite moments with her are in the evening watching her eat dinner with gusto, getting everything all over, then spending ten minutes cleaning her and then kitchen down, playing on the floor, spending more time cleaning up ;), and then dressing her in her fleece footed PJs, and snuggling into bed.

She has so much personality and loves to play act everything you do. She calls on the cell phone, and even texts, with one of daddy's old phones. She plays tea party and takes out her purse, both gifts for her birthday.

Daddy still is splitting his days working and watching over his little girl. I am so thankful that we have that option. And that he does it so willingly, even when I am going nuts, and driving him crazy.

We have had a very blessed year. I can only hope that we remain as lucky and blessed this year. I have a wonderful husband who, like others, puts up with a crazy woman and still loves me unconditionally.

Christmas is finally in the air here. This time of the year goes so fast. It is insane. I love every moment. So I am trying to slow down and just soak in the moments.

Hope this finds you doing some soaking in too!

What the summer will do for you...

My little girl is growing so fast, too fast if I have anything to say about it.

Yes, I spent the summer with her day in and night too... but where did the little girl go and the toddler come from.

Here's what happened over our summer...

She crawled, she sat up, she ate tons of purees and then solids. We played, and learned to crawl all over the house. Even up the stairs, and off the bed.

She got 7 teeth. Yes, 7 in 2 months. The last three all coming in the first week and a half of school.

Then on the 27th of August, she walked! 9 and 1/2 months a good month before I did. No not like across the room, but two steps from me to the jumperoo, as if to say... haha mom showed you!

This week, she is standing and walking at least 4 steps on her own. (Note: I am now nailing everything down, cause she likes to grab off tables)

She grew from 25 inches at 6 months to 28.5 inches at 9 months. I think that's off by a half inch or so, but man oh man... that explains it all.

I am so blessed that I was there to see every one of those first, first hand, not after ( or at least my hubby led me to believe she had never done it - which is a blessing too).

I love, LOVE being a mom. Not ready to share it to the point of planning another, but I can't get enough of this first year... and the change and the growth and how nothing... I mean NOTHING is as important as making our family the center focus.

FAMILY IS EVERYTHING!

Missing...

I just want to put out here in blog land that there is an important person missing in the chaotic life of the beginning of a new year... I don't know how often she gets a chance to stop by. See she changed places, and titles... she's busy because really people don't make keys on Sundays. :) I know she misses the "old" ways but I want her to know how great she will be at the "new" ways. She is missed by everyone, but man I miss being able to walk into her room and un-load, and commiserate. She probably doesn't know how much she helped me be the teacher I am... and for that I'm grateful beyond words. So Mrs. "Cardinal" (names changed to protect the innocent :) ) just know you make a difference, and you are AMAZING!

PS... to all the Gators near and far... we miss you!

Here & Now...

Okay who cannot love this stinking adorable face. Man I could just eat her up. It drives me crazy!

The summer is swiftly moving on its way, and sadly school is beginning. It was wonderful spending the time at home with her. She changed so much but it was so amazing to be able to see her do it.

Some things she did were... crawl, sit up, learn to stand, start to cruise, stand unassisted, pull up on everything, and gain... count them, 5 teeth. 2 on the top and 3 on the bottom. She loves to read books (and shhh... (check for Nonna) chew on them a bit). She loves carebears, blocks, pounding and rubbing things on the tile. Duke is her number one buddy!

PS... despite fabulous behavior out... we have some serious 'tude at home.

Playdates and Fun!

Today was an amazing adventure of moms, kids, food, & excitement. Sadly we didn't do this sooner this summer.

It was nice to watch the girls play on the floor, and hear the boys "living it up" in the front room.

But the best part was talking to other moms.

We come from all different backgrounds, and have one common denominator ~ we are gators. I won't say were, 'cause "once a gator always a gator." And if you don't know what a gator is, well, that's just too bad.

So to my fellow ladies... thank you, thank you, thank you.

It's good to hear that my life as a mom and wife is not too far from any of yours. And that the struggles, that I have thought were only mine, turn out to be yours too.

So again thank you, for the food, the space, the friendship and the sharing. We need to do it again soon!

Cherrios, Sesame Street & Summer

It really is the world's greatest food. It can keep an 8 month old busy endlessly. Man she loves theses things. At least I know that they are good for her, and that it has plenty of positives. First she will have no cholestrol, lol. Two, she is practicing that pincher finger skill. Three, she's learning self-motivation. It's tough working on getting those sometimes slippery suckers into her moving mouth. :) Four, she loves them!

I can't believe that it's been forty years for these guys! I loved Sesame Street when I was growing up. Cookie, the Count, Kermit, Grover, Big Bird, Gordon, Luis, Maria and everyone else like Slimey, Snuffy, and Barkley. I have many a found memory watching it in the morning, and even as I was in college I'd catch an episode (though they weren't the same).


We were watching a Capitol Fourth on the 4th, waiting for the fireworks to start. Big Bird appeared on screen, and began singing... his friends Elmo, Oscar, Cookie, Rosita, and Abbicadabbi were all there too. Sarah was entranced. She giggled, and laughed, and scooted ever closer with each song and conversation. It was a hit!


We always miss Sesame Street in the morning, 'cause we would much rather sleep in, but the great thing is On Demand. We can watch old episodes there, whenever we have time. Online we can do this too. But the best part of the website is we can watch the episodes and clips from when I was little... and that is AWESOME.


It is so amazing to know something that I grew up with that was wonderful, and educational and safe, is still going strong some 30 years later. It makes me happy to be able to go back to the neighborhood, and feel as if I never left. Even better I get to take my kiddo with me this time!

Isn't this the whole point of summer... enough said!

Toothfairy

I have always believed in the Toothfairy. What isn't to love about her? She brings you surprises, and makes things like loosing teeth, fun. But I always wondered what happened to the teeth she took away in exchange for all those shiny coins?

Years after I lost my baby teeth, I finally found out what happened to them. She takes them, polishes them up and gives them to little babies, 'cause babies need to have baby teeth. Duh?! Right?





Well that's what we believe in this house.




And the Toothfairy in all her glory has come to pay a visit to little ol' Sarah.

I am so excited to see her with that little tooth. For those wondering its her right center bottom. She didn't have it last night, so it cut through today. The Toothfairy must have blessed her with it at nap this afternoon.

With a few tears and a bit of aggravation I have still not caught a great picture of this new little addition, but I rest assured that we will see it soon enough in all it's glory.

Since mommy spent the better part of twenty minutes trying to coax it out for a picture, Sarah is now insisting on having the cold teething ring in her mouth indefinitely.

Ahhh, the things I do for a picture.

Well one down and 19 to go, not that they need to all come in a week or anything... (just a note to the Toothfairy).