Eleven Months Old?!?!

So I have not blogged in probably over a month....life has been CRAZY! I will not take a blog post to describe all that has happened in the last month but believe me when I say we have not had a free second around here, physically or emotionally! Ok moving on: I missed the blog about Saffryn turning 10 months...so here is her turning 11!!!!!

Well Saffryn is such a big girl now here is what she has been up to.....

1. She has top teeth! Right now it is only the side ones...she looks like a little vampire..LOL. But I see the two front ones coming down, so they should be here soon!

2. She is using baby signs!!! This has been HUGE for us. Frustration has gone down significantly, especially around eating. She uses: more, all done, bye bye, milk, dog and eat! More is really translated as want though. For example she will crawl up to me and sign "more"...which means I "want" you to pick me up. She picks up a book and signs more...which means I "want" you to read to me. She crawls to the crib and signs "more"...which means I "want" my special bunny! LOL. It is so so so cute, and very helpful! Glad we have started this :)

3. She can clap! She will clap along to songs and music. She will also clap when we clap and cheer her on. When we take her to the K-State games she claps...sometimes at unappropriate times (like when NU scored a few touchdowns)...but its still adorable!

4. She has started taking a few steps! She is still not completely comfortable to do that all the time, but her coordination is great and it wont be long before she is running!

5. She is still the most serious and thoughtful baby. It is nearly impossible for me to get her to smile for pictures. She is very suspicious of new people and is VERY reserved! Its hard to believe she is my child sometimes...but I wouldn't have her any other way :)

6. She has a new dance! She does the twist! I KNOW!!! ADORABLE! She shakes her head and her whole body. I LOVE IT I LOVE IT I LOVE IT!

7. She still loves to read. Especially books about animals. She has favorite animals that she will kiss! Most of them are cute the only one that creeps me out a little is this page with a bunch of mice on it and she LOVES it...lol...

8. She is wearing size 3 diapers and size 12 month clothes. We got her fall clothes out! Such fun :)

9. She still is completely crazy about Crash. She tries to give him hugs and kisses (when he sits still long enough for her to do it). He will sometimes recipricate the feelings. He loves it when he gives her sweet doggy kisses and she laughs! His whole body shakes and he just kisses her until it is too much and she pushes him away or cries.

10. She still prefers her mother over anyone else...(had to put this in here so I can remember

this someday when she wants nothing to do with me)!

11. She is eating so many solid foods! She eats almost anything we do for lunch and dinner...and let me tell you it is wonderful!

12. She can climb stairs and would do it all day if I let her! She is really fast at it, too!

13. She understands so much of what we tell her! I am still in shock about this. I actually have to be careful. One time I said something about going outside and then walked back to my room to get my shoes. She started crying SO hard because she wanted to go outside and thought we weren't going! I ask her to get toys and she will. Its amazing how quickly children learn! She is so smart...and I am not biased at all...hehe!

14. She plays peek-a-boo! She will do this with blankets or her hands. It is so funny!

15. Last thing I can think of for this month is....she got to hear her brother or sister's heartbeat ;) That's right...I'm pregnant! Due May 9, 2011!!!!

K-State football

So here we are again...a new season of Football!!!! I LOVE K-State football. The tailgating, the fall weather, funnel cakes, K-S-U Wildcat touchdowns. It is so fun! The atmosphere is wonderful. I remember last year when I was pregnant and I would see all these families with their children and I couldn't wait to bring ours! Well we finally got to!!!!

Our first KSU game

Cooling down with a cucumber

Daddy and baby


Saffryn went to her first football game last weekend September 4. It was agains UCLA and we won! Go CATS. She did really really well. It was such a hot day, and everything was so new for her. She people watched, clapped when everyone else clapped, ate snacks and explored the stadium. We only stayed in the stands for probably half the game. The other half Saffryn and I went by the concession stands where there was shade and she could crawl around and play! She didn't cry even one time! I was so sure there would be lots of fits and frustration but she was such a great sport! Guess we have a future wildcat on our hands!!! :)
Playing in the shade!

so cute!

We were all sprawled out

K.S.U Wildcats. K.S.U Wildcats. KKKKKK.SSSSSS.UUUUUU Wildcats!!!!!!

Ode to Crash

This is the face of the BEST dog on the planet (in my opinion)!!!!!!! I just had to dedicate a post to him because he is so sweet. I think he is the male, dog version of Mothera Theresa. Believe me....if you had to put up with us all the time you might get that award too! Not only does he not get the kind of attention he used to before Saffryn was born, he gets harrassed by her! She is always in his food and water bowls (much to my dismay). She wants to play with his toys...while he is playing with them of course. She tries to "pet" him...which means slapping him around and grabbing/pulling his fur and ears. Yet he still has love for all of us! How does he do it???? He is the most patient dog ever!

Last Friday I was trying to clean the house...going from room to room doing whatever. I had to go to the guest bathroom to put something away. I closed the door behind me so Saffryn couldn't get in and pull all of the toilet paper off the roll....yes she does that now!!! AT LEAST 30 minutes later...could have been longer I wasn't keeping track....I wanted to take Crash outside. I called him. He didn't come...hmmmmm. Thats werid. So I start searching for him thinking he didn't hear me or is upset or something. I went to his room (yes he has his own special room and bed in that room...I know, I know) and he wasn't there. I went to Saffryn's room, he wasn't there. I checked everywhere. Now i am starting to panic...where could he be?? Did I already let him out and I just don't rememeber. I check outside...nope. I run back into the house thinking maybe he saw something and got excited and pushed through the screen window becuase all the windows were open. Nope the window was still intact. Where is my dog????? Lastly out of desperation I open the bathroom door and there he was in the dark, small bathroom :( He must have followed me in while I was cleaning and I didn't even realize he had. He heard me calling him and was just stuck in there. It broke my heart. He was so happy to get out and be with us!!!! He is a SAINT! Crash boy we LOVE YOU! Thanks for being the best dog ever. There is no way we will ever find a dog like you again!!!!

Pesto and garlic

wow....i am so bad at updating this!!!!!!! so sorry.

So last week (maybe even the week before...I honestly can't remember) around dinner time I put Saffryn in her high chair. She had sweet potatoes and chicken...pureed baby food. She threw the most massive fit! She would not touch the stuff. Turned her head when we tried to feed her and screamed the rest of the time!!! I couldn't believe it! I got frustrated and took her out of the chair and let her play in the living room. Maybe she wasn't hungry. A little while later Dan and I needed to eat dinner so i put her back in the high chair. MORE SCREAMING!!!!! She kept reaching for my plate and my food. My patience was then completely shot. Fine I thought you really want to try garlic bread....lets just see what happens. Well of course she ended up L-O-V-I-N-G it. She ate the WHOLE piece!!!! She also tried some of our pesto chicken pasta...also gobbled it right up. LOL. I guess she was just telling me she was done eating the bland baby food. Since then I have tried giving her more flavors...gravy on mashed potatoes, gucamole with a little bit of cilantro, chicken noodle soup....all of which she loved!

Since we named her after the spice Saffron I guess I should have exected she would love spices..ha!

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!