9 months

Dear Emanuel,

Oh my sweet baby boy, you turned 9 months old on February 17th! What have you been up to this month?

• You weigh 19 lbs 3 oz, which is around the 26th percentile. You are 27.5 long, which is about the 24th percentile. But your head? You must be one smart cookie Bubs, because your noggin has an 18 inch circumference, which is around the 63rd percentile. 

• You have 8 little teefers that are SO precious! I just love your toothy grin, though it makes you look way to grown up for my liking.

• You are wearing size 3 diapers and mostly 6-9 month clothes.

• You know those teeth of yours we talked about? Well you love to grind them. Drives.me.crazy!! I don't know why you do this - I hear it's normal? But I'm ready for you to stop. The sound gives me goosebumps! You also like to make this little clicking sound, just like your Mimi. That sound is precious...it's so fun to see your little quirks and habits emerge!

• Believe it or not, you really don't have any new nicknames this month. Well, not that stuck. We called you Magellan for a few days because this month you really started exploring! You used to just crawl around wherever we were, but now you like to take off and explore uncharted territory. And since I typed that, I have to mention this. I've always said "unchartered" territory. However, when I wrote that just now it was trying to autocorrect it. A quick google search informed me that "unchartered" is commonly misused when the correct term is "uncharted". So there you have it, Bubs...it is true you learn something every day! Even your wise old mama is still learning stuff. :)

• You are cruising like crazy. You love to hang on to the edge of the couch or ottoman and just stroll in circles. We let you play with your walker on your 9 month birthday and you loved it!

• On February 5th, you stood by yourself (unassisted) for the first time! You were playing with your Leap Frog table and then decided to just let go. It only lasted about 5 seconds but you're getting better and better at it each day. A couple days after that you tried to take a step on your own after letting go of the ottoman but quickly face-planted. Let's not rush into this walking business, Bubbers.

• It is beyond difficult to photograph you now! You are far too busy to sit still for momma to take your picture. In the picture above, Daddy kept laying you down next to your monkey and you'd crawl off...you thought it was so funny.

• You also started dancing a little this month! When the music comes on your Leap Frog table, you start bouncing along. It's so cute! I'm sorry Bubs but I think you got your Daddy's dancing (in)abilities.

• It seems your favorite place to go hide & play is the powder room. If I set you down, you immediately take off for the powder room. Not sure why you love it so, but I started closing the door to it because you like to pull up on the toilet, and that's just gross, Bubs. So now you don't go back there as often, but sometimes you go and bang on the door. Mommy ruins all the fun, huh?

• On January 31st, I learned you can crawl the stairs! I set you down in the dining room and you made a mad dash for the stairs, and proceeded to crawl all the way to the top! I stayed behind you to make sure you didn't fall. I couldn't believe how fast you went for it!

• Your favorite song this month is probably Itsy Bitsy Spider. You try to do the spider motion too and it's so cute!

• The tissue paper was yet again your favorite part of your monthly birthday gift from my friends in Waco. The new sippy cups they gave you are perfect and you love using them!

I can't believe we are getting so close to your 1st birthday! It seems each month goes by faster than the last. It's so fun watching you grow and learn...I wish I could know what goes on in your head because you're just so entertaining. You certainly fill my days with joy! I love you baby boy. XOXO.

Love,
Mommy

Lunch with Friends

My friend Ashley is here visiting this week, and yesterday we went to NWA for the day. While we were there, we were able to meet up with some blog friends for lunch.

We had so much fun talking with Jennifer and Melissa, and even Jennifer's sister Jill came by for a little bit. They are all such sweet girls, and the kids were so cute playing together!

Manny and Grayson are birthday buddies - born only 6 minutes apart! Grayson is so cute and has the prettiest eyes! In true Manny fashion, he gave him a good stare down.

I am so sad this picture is blurry, but I thought it was too cute not to include. You can see how excited they both are and it's so sweet.

This is Jennifer's sweet daughter Jillian...isn't she beautiful?! I just love her little eyes and cute expressions.

Brody & Ava stayed busy playing the whole time and I didn't get any pictures of them, so I borrowed this one from Jennifer's blog. They are both so adorable!

 

When we were eating lunch, I got so carried away talking that I failed to notice that Manny grabbed his jar of food and was playing in it...real nice. He made a huge mess and was covered in food...I can't believe I didn't notice. Guess I was enjoying my girl talk a little too much - ha! Needless to say, of course I didn't have a change of clothes for him. Well, actually I did have a change of clothes...in size 3 months. Guess I need to get better about updating the ol' diaper bag! :)

I have to include one last picture. We couldn't find Ashley's phone & thought Ava had taken it into the playground area, so I climbed up there to look for it. It wasn't up there, but I had fun trying to maneuver through those tiny spaces. Or at least everyone had fun watching me - haha! Thanks for meeting us girls...we had so much fun!

Project 365: Week 7

February 12 - Manny got a new sippy cup! But not just any sippy - it's one with a straw. We were having lunch with my friend Rebekah the day before, and Manny kept reaching for my cup of Diet Dr. Pepper. I finally just let him have it because he likes to chew on the straw. As I was starting to let him chew on it, I said to Rebekah, "Just so you know, he can't drink out of a straw. I don't want you to think I'm one of those mom's that gives her baby soda." And literally AS I'm saying that, we look down and he is starting to slurp up some Diet Dr. Pepper! Nice Sarah, real nice. Needless to say, I decided to pick him up a sippy with a straw. He loves it. Such a big shot, that kid is! 
February 13 - We went and ate Mexican after church. My niece Laci was loving on Manny...she is SO sweet with him!
February 14 - As I already mentioned, we went on our first date since Manny was born. Momentousness occasion, my friends. Good times. Must do that again soon.
February 15 - Manny has started pushing everything around. In this picture, he was using his Leap Frog table as a walker so he could cruise around the living room.
February 16 - I made some flower pom-poms to clip onto my shoes...details coming soon! They are SO easy to make and I just love them.
February 17 - Bubba Bear turned 9 months old today!! We celebrated by letting him push his walker around the living room. We haven't let him play with it yet because he'd try to take off real fast and couldn't quite keep up to walk behind it, so would fall and hurt himself. Not any more! He loves to stroll around behind it. And now he knows how to drop to his knees if it's getting too far away from him. He looks so big doing it! :( I included a couple of videos below. He's still getting the hang of it in these but I love it! And yes, Patrick and I are over the top cheesy...shocker. :) Oh, and the end of the first video shows how he likes to start throwing fits now. When he wants something, he grunts like that...SO dramatic. :)
February 18 - It was an absolutely beautiful day so we spent some time outside. Manny is normally so happy outside, but he was just not himself today and seemed sad. By the end of the day his fussiness had gotten much worse so I took him up to see Patrick so he could take a look at him. Turns out the poor guy has an ear infection. :( I guess that explains his mood the past couple of days. Hope he feels better soon!

9 Month Pictures by Jessica Meinardus Photography

As I mentioned, we had Manny's 9 month pictures yesterday. And he was not feeling it. He pretty much whined and arched his back the majority of the time. But the good news? We have an awesome photographer and Jessica still managed to get some adorable shots!

I know I've said this every time, but I'm SO glad we did the Baby's First Year package with Jessica. It is so fun to have this record of his growth! At each session she takes his picture in the turquoise drawer...today all he wanted to do was crawl out of it. :) In case you missed it, here are his newborn pictures, 3 month pictures, and 6 month pictures. I can't believe our next session will be his 1 year photos...time seriously needs to slow down! :)

Thursday Tidbits

1. Manny made the top 10 for the Valentine's Photo Contest! It's official - I'm that mom and going to ask you to go vote for him. :) It's only 3 clicks and takes just a few seconds. All you have to do is click here, then scroll down to the bottom of the page and click next to #1 Monkey Love, then click Vote and you're done. Thanks friends!

2. I've had a lot of people mention they'd like me to do a tutorial on how I make my digital cards. I have said for awhile that I would do one, but then I can't decide what program I should do it in so that the most people would benefit from it. So, how about a little poll? Depending on the results, we'll see what I can do. :)

3. What are your thoughts on burlap Tom's? Are they considered "beach wear" or can I wear them whenever? Clearly I have no fashion sense. Or at least a husband who makes me second guess it. :)

4. Manny is 9 months old today!! We have his 9 month photo shoot with Jessica Meinardus this afternoon...hoping the weather cooperates.

Happy Thursday, friends! :)

Valentine's Day 2011

Thanks for all of the sweet comments on Manny'2011/02/valentines-monkey-love.html">Valentine's monkey. :) For those that asked, I got that monkey from Wal-Mart for only $3! It was in the Valentine's stuff so maybe you can grab one on sale if you hurry.

I also wanted to share Manny's first Valentine's card. I didn't get them mailed out until Monday because of the snow, but hopefully they've made it to the people we sent them to already. I wasn't sure if I was going to do Valentine's for him this year, but when I took the picture in his scrubs I knew I had to do it. Plus my friend April had just told me about a new place to get cards printed and I wanted to try it out, so I designed something really quickly and just ordered a few to send to family.

We don't make a huge deal out of Valentine's Day, but we did manage to go on our very first date since Manny was born! The timing of it just kind of worked out as far as Patrick's work schedule and us being able to get a baby-sitter.

We just kept it low key...actually ate dinner at a coffee shop so we could also go see a movie. We saw the Jennifer Anniston/Adam Sandler movie Just Go With It...super cute and a good laugh! And after the movie? Wait for it...wait for it...we went grocery shopping! :) I've heard other parents say they did that on date night and I never fully understood it...but now I absolutely do. We had such a great evening just keeping things simple and having the chance to talk and hang out...my husband is amazing and I'm so thankful that he makes me feel special all year round! :)

Project 365: Week 6

February 5 - Since the weather left us stuck at home for the weekend, we had a lazy day. Patrick loves to tickle Manny with his beard, and Manny just laughs and laughs. :)
February 6 - We went to our friend's house to watch the Super Bowl. I put Manny in green to support the Packers...much to his daddy's disapproval.
February 7 - Patrick had to work this night, so we went to our friend's house to hang out since her husband was also working with Patrick. Manny just loves their kids! He loved watching Aiden play with his Leapster.
February 8 - As you might have realized by now, Patrick loves to tease and play with Manny. In this picture Patrick is acting like he's going to blow on Manny's face, and Manny is wincing...but Patrick isn't even blowing on him. It's just the way Manny reacts when he sees Patrick do this...love it. :)
February 9 - We got more snow!! I stepped out on the back veranda to take a few pictures and when I turned around, Manny's face was pressed up against the glass watching me...he's such a mess!
February 10 - His facial expression is SO how we felt...major cabin fever!! Fortunately Daddy came home that afternoon so we were able to get out for a bit. We are SO ready for spring!!
February 11 - My precious niece Laci turned 6 years old! She had a Hello Kitty party and it was so fun.

Valentine's {Monkey} Love

Manny would like to wish each of you a very Happy Valentine's Day! We love the blogging community and sharing our lives with each of you, and hope you have a very special day with the ones you love. Manny adores his new sock monkey (because he needed another one?!) we gave him for his first Valentine's Day, and I nearly melted when he started giving it kisses.

I snapped these pictures of him this morning and when I saw the first photo, I decided to go ahead and enter it in the Valentine's Photo Contest hosted by Webbisodes and Six Cherries on Top.


The contest is for the cutest couple, and I happen to think him kissing on his monkey makes a pretty cute couple...but I suppose I am a little biased. :)

Happy Valentine's Day! 

Birthday Countdown Printable

Since the Christmas Countdown Printable I made seemed to be such a hit, I thought it'd be fun to make a Birthday Countdown Printable, too! Here are a few different designs I've come up with. I'm still working on a few more that are a different layout and customizable (with name), and I hope to share those next week. Let me know if there are any particular colors or themes you'd like and I'll see what I can do...no promises though :)

All you have to do is download the file, print it out at home or Wal-Mart, Walgreens, etc. Then put it in a picture frame. Use a dry erase marker to write directly on the glass and countdown the days until someone's special day! The dry erase marker will wipe right off the glass so you can easily change your countdown from day to day.

(images are linked to file download site)

 

Thanks to HayNay Designs for allowing me to use her papers as a background!

Enjoy! :)