Niner...

NINE months!!! HOLY COW! Saffryn has been in our lives (in utero and out) for 18 months! C


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Ok That was Saffryn "helping" me write out the blog. I decided to keep it because it will be fun to remember :) Anyway. I cannot believe how long she has been a part of our lives. Though it is true it feels SO much longer (in a really really good way). We really feel like we know her. We can guess what she will like, what she will dislike, what she needs and wants!

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Some of her most recent "accomplishments" are:

Another tooth! Her bottom left came up about a week after her first one. I really think she is teething as we speak (or type). Lots and lots of drool, runny nose, low grade fever and LOTS of biting. We shall see :)

She is starting to stand all by herself for several seconds! She loves to play this game I creatively call 123 (insert laugh). I help her stand count to 3 then let her hands go and she balances by herself for several seconds!!!!!

She has tried so many different foods! Chicken, avacado, potato, plums, peaches, green beans, peas and most recently freezy pops (which she LOVED)!!!!

She also "gives" hugs now! I start her on it and she will squeeze so tight. It might be my favorite thing!

She has started banging her hands on EVERYTHING! She loves to feel the texture of different things and make lots and lots of noise!

She is a grand explorer moving from one place to the next. She doesn't want to miss a thing!


She is also very interested in cell phones. When I am talking on one she will try to reach for it and wont stop until I put it on speaker phone. Then she will stare at it and smile at whoever is talking.


She really really really loves to read! She is slowly broadening her horizons and will sit and listen to several different books now!

She is still as thoughtful and serious as ever...and I love that about her! She is always trying to figure something out and is just taking it all in.

There is probably more that I am forgetting. But really she is just the cutest, sweetest baby and we could not possibily love her more!!!!

Rules

I have decided to implement new house rules...they are as follows:

1. There will be no more eating in our house. If there is food there will inevitably be a mess for me to clean up (dishes, highchair, oven, etc....)

2. There will be no more changing clothes...ever. That will create laundry for me to do. Hope you are happy in what you are currently wearing :)

3. There will be no more playing in our house. No more toys to step on, clean up or find bits of around (Crash).

4. You may not use the bathroom under ANY circumstance. No potty. No shower. No teeth brushing. In order to keep it clean just STAY AWAY!!!

5. Sleeping is prohibited also. That would require me to wash and dry sheets.

6. Lastly there will be no coming and going. That would track dirt, hair, leaves and any other unwanted substance on my freshly vaccuumed/mopped floors!

Sooo what can you do at my house. Its simple really. Just sit breathing quietly on my newly vaccuumed couch with your hands in your lap! If you feel the need to break any of the preceding rules you are free to leave. Reminder...once gone you are not welcome back...see rule 6. LOL!!!!

Obviously I was joking....but please tell me other mom's/wifes/people have felt this way too! I spend so much time cleaning during the day only to find I have to cook supper and make MORE dishes to clean. I do the laundry to turn around and have a new pile to wash. Don't get me wrong I have a very helpful husband and all...but just once I would love to clean my entire house without seeing it covered in dog hair, shoes, toys, dishes and clothes a few short hours later!

But the good news is a messy house means memories are being made, lives are being lived and when it is all said and done...its only wood, plaster and carpet. Who cares...a house is more than that. It is love, friendship and MESSES!!!!!

Family Vacation

Mom I'm SO hungry!!!!!

Dan and I have decided that once a year we will take a somewhat longer family vacation. This year we had a wedding to go to out in Hilton Head, South Carolina. We decided after the wedding to stay there a week and make it our family vacation! So glad we did. Dan's parents were with us for the whole week and one of his sisters were too! Such fun :)

This is Saffryn asleep on my knees while on the plane ride out there. She just could NOT get cuter!!!


Waving to the baby in the mirror with Gigi

Playing on the beach with Aunt Becky
Exploring the house! Look who I found...my Auntie!Reading with Gigi

Some of the highlights of the trip are:


WEDDING! It was such a beautiful wedding! Lots of great food, dancing, drinks and of course the beautiful bride and groom. It was also so much fun to see so many of Dan's family. Both of his sisters were there and our soon to be brother in law. His grandparents, great aunts and uncles, parents, aunt and uncle and cousins! Dan and I both think going to weddings now is so romantic and reminds us of our special day and why we decided to spend the rest of our lives with each other!!!!

TUBING! Dan loves to go tubing. He is such a crazo and loves going fast. So fast and hard that he actually ripped the lifejacket he was wearing going over some of the waves!!!!

SWIMMING! This was an activity the whole family can enjoy. Saffryn L-O-V-E-S the water. She splashes, kicks and moves all over in the pool. Sometimes s does it in a float other times she likes to do it while being held in our arms.

MOVIE/DATE NIGHT! Papa and Gigi were so kind to watch Saffryn for us twice! One time we went two movies in one night! I know we so awesome...LOL! Dan, Aunty Becky and I saw Inception and Eclipse! The other night Dan and I had a date night. It was so great we went to an Italian restaurant then played the hardest game of minigolf ever!

EXPLORING! This was a favorite for Saffryn. She was so busy exploring the whole house. She went all over and loved every adventerous second!!! She found bar stools, door stops, drawers, windows, coffee tables and magazines! What fun :)

FAMILY! This was great fo the whole family, too! Saffryn loved spending so much time with Papa and Gigi! They got to see her do so much that they might not get to see on a regular basis! They got to watch her eat, read, play, swim, explore. They got to go on walks together, pick her up when she wakes up, sing to her and give her lots and lots of kisses!


There were plenty of other things we did that was fun, too. Lets not forget the beach, watching movies and tv shows, relaxing, playing tennis and going out to eat a few times. Over all it was just a wonderful and busy week! CANNOT wait to go out again when Saffryn is older because she will have even more fun!

Thanks Papa and Gigi for a wondeful week!