First Birthday

As ya'll know, last Friday was Sara Kate's first birthday. I'll do a little recap of her actual birthday and then do a little recap of her party in a separate post. Friday I woke her up and we of course told her Happy Birthday! Other than that, it was like any other morning...get up, nurse, get ready, and go to school. Before taking her to school I took a few pictures of her in the driveway...

What? Did you say it's my birthday?

Wa-Hoo!!!

So excited to be 1!!!!

I bought this t-shirt for my niece, Hannah's, first birthday 2 years ago, and I thought it was so special that my daughter got to wear it too. Anyway, Sara Kate went to school and I went to work. After work, Chris picked her up and we met at the park! It was her first time to go 'play' at the park. She LOVED the swings, but was very unsure about the slide. She didn't cry or fuss, but she just wasn't super happy about it.

It was a beautiful day and after we played, we hung out in the grass and just enjoyed a little family time.
1 going on 16! Yikes! :-)
We finished up the day with a little dinner at Penguin Ed's BBQ (Sara Kate even ate some BBQ for the first time!) and a visit from Meme. I hope she had a great birthday. Not that she'll remember it, but it definitely will be a day I won't forget!

A Night of Baseball

Tonight Sara Kate went to her first baseball game! Actually, she went to a game when she was in my belly so this was her first game as an outside baby! :-) We have a minor league team in our town, the Northwest Arkansas Naturals. The junior high girls choir were singing during pregame and Chris was accompanying them. He was able to get a couple extra tickets for free so I was able to come along. And of course Sara Kate got in free. She was a hit! All the workers kept coming over to her and talking to her and saying how pretty she was and what pretty eyes. She was being a ham, too! I dressed her in her red and blue, but we had a front come through last night with some storms and the weather cooled off today. We had jackets and a blanket to wrap around her to stay warm. We didn't stay but a few innings, as it was dinner time for her and we ran out of snackies! Plus it was getting colder and it was super windy.

What Sara Kate did the whole time...snacked! :-) It was dollar hot dog night and she also helped herself to my hot dog bun!

The mascot for the Naturals is a Sasquatch...I think it's totally bizarre! As we were leaving, he was walking around greeting everyone and we took Sara Kate to him so see what she would do. She didn't do anything. So I motioned 'picture' to him, and when Chris took her close to him she let out a cry and nuzzled into Chris' neck. This picture is funny...she's looking back like what is that thing?! I'd be scared of him too if I was a baby!

We had a great family night at the ball park and will look forward to going again, maybe when it's a little warmer!

Cake Monster!

I still need to blog about Sara Kate's birthday and her party but I want to get this video posted for Chris' dad and other out of town family who couldn't make it for her party. She had a great birthday and the cake was a HUGE success!!! Thanks to my brother for shooting this video. It's long, 7 min. just so ya know, but it's totally worth it to watch the whole thing!!!!

12 Months

Sara Kate, you are 12 months old! What have you been up to?

(These pictures were the hardest month to take! You kept wanting to crawl off your chair!)

- You haven't moved classrooms yet and are still loving going to school! On days that I pick you up, I love to peak in and watch you playing with your friends. Daddy says that you like to hang out by the kids in the high chairs, probably waiting for one of them to drop something. When you see us at the end of the day, you get so excited! You smile and screech and crawl to us as fast as you can! You're school schedule is the same as last month: you get to school about 7:30, have breakfast between 8 and 9 (oatmeal mixed with fruit), nap time, you get a bottle of formula between 10:30 and 11, lunch is between 12 and 1 (lately it's been fruit and veggie or 2 veggies), nap time, you get a bottle of formula between 3 and 4, and then daddy usually comes to pick you up!
- You are a FAST crawler now! You see something and you go after it! You love to chase the cat...one day maybe you'll catch her. :-) You still do the thing where you put your feet down when crawling...so you have hands on ground, feet on ground, and your bottom in the air.
- You aren't pulling all the way up yet on your own. You pull to your knees, and you have great balance on your knees. If we give you a little push on your bottom you can go to your feet. We have learned that your personality is such that you like to study and figure things out before you just do it. It was like that with rolling, then crawling, and I'm sure you'll be the same way with walking.

- You love food and are trying more and more 'big people' food! I still make all your food, and we are letting you try more stuff off our plates. Here's what all you've had so far: butternut squash (love), sweet potatoes (love), zucchini (like...it purees really thin so I mix it with oatmeal and you really like it), green beans (don't like these all of a sudden), sweet peas (don't like homemade, like jarred), cauliflower (like), mashed potatoes (like), carrots (really like), apples (love), pears (love), banana (love), blueberries (love), peaches (love), mango (like), cherries (like), blackberries (like mixed with oatmeal), grapes (will cut them into little pieces so you can feed them to yourself and you love them), strawberries (like), pineapple (not sure) During the holidays you had cream corn (like) and dressing (like). Some big people food you've had includes grilled cheese sandwich (love), chicken salad sandwich (like), this chicken pie stuff your Gran made (like), rotisserie chicken from the store (cut into little pieces so you can feed yourself...like), BBQ chicken (like), BBQ pork (like), potato salad (like), boiled okra (like), Cool Whip (like), the edge of a pop tart (not the filling part or icing part, only the edge...love), some noodles (you couldn't quite figure out how to eat it), graham crackers (love), pancakes (love), and bread (love!!!). You've had apple puffs, strawberry puffs, banana puffs, and sweet potato puffs, along with biter biscuits...you are really good about feeding your self this stuff. We've switched from puffs to Cheerio's and you love those!! So far you aren't picky and will eat about anything!

- We made it a year nursing!!! I'm so proud of us, sweet pea! Right now, you nurse first thing in the morning and at bed time, and as of last week both your bottles at school are formula. In addition to those, you are drinking lots of water out of your sippy cup. We have let you try a little bit of orange juice too. At your 1 year well baby appointment next week, we'll find out about switching to cow's milk and then I'll probably wean you completely.
- I mentioned your schedule at school already, but here's your schedule for the day: I wake you up around 6:15 and you nurse, you go to school, breakfast (oatmeal mixed with fruit) between 8 and 9, nap time, you get a bottle of formula between 10:30 and 11 (around 4 oz), lunch between 12 and 1 (a fruit and a veggie or 2 veggies), nap time, you a bottle of formula between 3 and 4 (around 4 oz), come home, you have dinner when we do between 6:30 and 7 (usually 2 veggies and a handful of puffs or a biter biscuit), bedtime routine starts around 8:30, around 9 you nurse, and you are usually asleep in bed between 9:15-9:30.
- Nothing has changed on the bath front...you LOVE it! I just think you love water period! Your latest thing to going from your bottom, to your tummy, and back to your bottom, like you're 'swimming.' You also like to play with the water when it comes out of the spout when the tub is filling.
- You are an excellent sleeper, and I am so grateful for that. I think we've been really lucky when it comes to sleeping during your whole first year! You are moving all around during your sleep these days, and I laugh when I wake you up in the mornings just seeing what position you have moved yourself into.

- You are working on your top teeth, but nothing yet! We can feel the pocket on the top right (I think) so maybe soon.
- You clap, wave, imitate us, and you just started pointing at things. Daddy said you pointed to him earlier and said 'dada.' As you point to things, we be sure to tell you what they are! I can see your little brain learning and it's so interesting!

- You are really good about playing with toys by yourself. Sometimes you play in your pack n play, sometimes it's in your room, and sometimes we spread toys out on the living room floor. You love things that you can bang together or toys that fit inside other toys!
- You aren't speaking any new words but you do love to talk! Sometimes you get to babbling to yourself and it sounds like you are telling stories. 'Dada' and 'mama' are words you say, along with something that sounds like 'bye' and 'hi.'
- You weigh 19 lbs, 6 oz (that's your weight from going to the doctor last week).
- You are still in 6-9 month clothes (like Jumping Bean), 9-month clothes (like Carters), and 6-12 month clothes (Baby Gap and Old Navy). You're starting to wear some 12 month shirts, though. You are still wearing mostly 9 month sleepers.
- You are in size 2 shoes, but you can wear a size 3 if they velcro real tight (even though they are still big).
- You are in size 3 diapers.
- I cannot believe you are 1 year old. Your first year has passed so fast, yet it seems like only yesterday that we met you for the first time. I have loved watching you grow and change and learn over the last year. I know I am partial, but you are so beautiful with your blonde hair and piercing blue eyes. We are so lucky to have such a happy little girl, and we love you more than words can say. Happy 1st birthday, Sara Kate!

This Week

So my plans on getting tons of stuff done this week for Sara Kate's birthday got completely derailed. Why? Because I came down with the stinkin' flu! Sunday I woke up just feeling off. I was so tired and had the chills off and on all day. Sunday night I didn't sleep at all because of a pounding head, oscillating between hot and cold, and being so stopped up. I went to work Monday and talked to the guy who sits next to me...he was diagnosed with walking pneumonia on Friday. After comparing symptoms he said I probably need to get to the doctor. I felt horrible on Monday so I left work early and came home and slept pretty much the rest of the afternoon/night, minus putting Sara Kate to bed. Tuesday I went to work feeling a little better, left early to go to the doctor, found out I had the flu, and I then felt awful all night. The doctor said I was past the time period to start Tamiflu or something like that so she gave me a powerful antibiotic and cough medicine. I slept alright last night, but woke up this morning with my head pounding and feeling really groggy. On advice from the doctor, I didn't go to work today and stayed home and rested. I got up when Sara Kate woke up, fed her, and took her to school, then came home and slept from 9 this morning to 2 this afternoon. That helped a ton! I'm still stuffy and coughing but my head isn't pounding (right now) and I don't think I've had a fever today. I'm still kind of achy and am starting to feel tired again since I've been up doing things around the house for a couple hours. I have to head back to work tomorrow so I'm praying I wake up tomorrow feeling a little more clear headed! Unfortunately, I've gotten dehydrated this week and I don't know how much milk Sara Kate is getting from nursing. But the doctor said that since she is still nursing she's getting still getting antibodies that should help keep her well. Plus she's on antibiotics from her ear infection so I'm hoping that helps keep any germs at bay for her. This is a horrible week for any of us to be sick!! Last night I said to Chris that this couldn't have happened at a worse time for me. He said yes, I could have gotten sick Friday and Saturday and that would have been much worse. Very true. So I'm counting my blessings there! Here's hoping he doesn't come down with it!!

Here's a little sneak peak of the birthday girl's birthday outfit...Doesn't she look so big standing there?!?

My 'to-do' list includes...
- make food list and go to grocery store
- print pictures for photo book
- print monthly pictures for board
- clean house
- make food (Saturday)
- pick up cake (Saturday)
I guess that doesn't look that bad but it seems overwhelming in my head! I just don't want to be so busy on Friday getting things done that we don't get to enjoy Sara Kate's actual birthday. I want to do something fun with her and enjoy the day, minus having to go to work and stuff. But we'll definitely celebrate on Saturday so I'm sure it'll all work out.

What else have we been up to? Well here are a couple funnies for you to enjoy...

Obviously, Sara Kate thought I was done reading this People magazine!

Sara Kate has started doing this funny thing where she will imitate certain noises you make, like hmm, and that includes coughing. I cough, she fake coughs, Chris coughs, she fake coughs...it's funny. Excuse the way I sound and the shaky camera at times, I took this video last night.

She also has started doing this funny thing where you give her a bite of food and she squishes it through her teeth down her chin and she thinks it's hilarious. And she apparently only does this at home...Chris asked her teacher if she did it at school and they said no. Silly girl. It is making feeding time interesting and quite messy! :-)
Guess that's about all for now. Think I'll go do a little light cleaning and then lay back down. Hope ya'll are having a good week!

New Addition

Our new nephew is here!! On Thursday, March 31, a new addition was welcomed into the family. Hayden Paul was born at 11:16 am, weighing 8 lb 9 oz, and 19 inches long. He has a head full of dark hair and mama and baby are doing well! Jenny was induced Thursday morning and he was here before noon...not bad!

And for the record, the day Jenny told me she was pregnant and due on April 4, I guessed March 31!! :-) So Sara Kate is 11 months and 3 weeks older than her new cousin. Big sister Hannah is so proud...as we were leaving the hospital Thursday night we heard her say, 'I love you Hayden.' So cute. Jenny texted me the cutest picture of Hannah holding him last night (the 3rd one below). We can't wait to see him again!

We almost weren't able to make it over to meet the little guy. I got Sara Kate up Thursday morning to eat and she was blazing hot. Even her mouth was just burning hot when she was nursing. I put her in her pack n play like I do every morning after she eats so I can get dressed and she just layed her head down on her butterfly toy. I knew she didn't feel good. When Chris got up he took her temperature and it was 102.5. She was definitely not going to school, and unfortunately, it was too late for him to put in for a sub online. So I got her dressed and he took her to school with him to get sub plans made and to wait for one to arrive. She was so clingy and just wanted to cuddle...poor baby. Chris ended up getting her a doctor appointment and she has an ear infection in her left ear. I think the fever was part that and part teething (she's definitely working on the tops!). The doctor also gave her a prescription for something to help the congestion, which she has had off and on for a couple months now. She was acting a little better by the afternoon and hadn't had a fever since the morning so we still headed to Harrison to see the baby. When we got to the hospital, Sara Kate wanted nothing to do with anyone but me....not her daddy, not her Meme (who she's ALWAYS happy to see) or Poppa, not Aunt Jenny....just her mama! She did show some interest in Hannah, and she was happy with Chris holding her while she ate Cheerios. Everyone could tell she still didn't feel great since she wasn't her normal happy self. We stayed for a couple hours, let everyone ooh and ahh over Hayden, got something to eat with Chris' parents and Hannah, and headed home. Sara Kate slept the whole way home, and as soon as we got in I nursed her and put her back to bed. After getting a couple doses of antibiotics in her she is back to her normal self and hasn't had a fever since Thursday. She still holds her left ear on occasion but she's doing better. I'm shocked (in a good way) that she's almost 1 year old before she got her first ear infection! Hopefully she didn't inherit the crappy ears I had as a child! One more little funny I want to remember...when we were at the hospital with Hayden, Sara Kate let out a little cry and I said something about not getting into a crying competition with a newborn. At the time, he was getting a diaper change and he let out a cry. Sara Kate covered her ears. It was priceless! I wish a camera was handy to capture that! It's gonna be fun watching Sara Kate and her cousins grow up together!