McKenzie | 18 Months |

Again, a little late, but better late than never!
So little McKenzie...You're a 1 and a half!  How in the world did that happen?!  Weren't we just planning your first birthday party?!  This past month has been so much fun with you!
What's Happening:
The Start of Potty Training
You've shown interest and I'm cautiously optimistic! I know it is probably still a little way off, but you've told Jen at daycare and us when you need to go!

PreschoolI can't even believe that I just typed that.  How did we get here!?  I've been researching local preschools for the past month or two.  First, most are way more expensive than I realized that they would be.  Second, most are charging a lot of money for only 2 hours, 2 days a week.  I was shocked!  After researching a little more, we found a local preschool that we love!  I can't even wait for you to start there in September!  You are going to learn so much and have so much fun!
VocabularyI'm not even sure how many words you know now.  You talk all day long!  What I love about your learning words is that you are finally able to communicate with us!  A few nights ago, you were so exhausted.  We gave you your bath and I sat down with you, just as I do each night, to hold you for a few minutes before you climb in to bed.  You lost your mind.   I wasn't even sure why!  I assumed it was because you were overly tired.  As I listened closer,  I finally caught on to what you were saying as you were crying! Book! You were upset that we didn't read!  My little creature of habit! I let you pick out a book, we read it, you curled right up in my arms and went to sleep without a fight.  I love that you can tell us things now!
Your newest phrase that you say each night as we end a story, is "The End!"  You are listening and learning and I love it!
Leading up to Halloween, we taught you Boo, since you were going to be a ghost.  Anytime we asked you what a ghost said, you would yell, "Boo!"
We've moved on and skipped over Thanksgiving, since "Gobble Gobble" is a little harder to say.  We've started working on Christmas.  If we ask you what Santa says, you reply, "Ho ho!" and if we ask whose birthday it is on Christmas you say, "Baby Cheezus".  It makes me giggle every time.  There is some slight confusion though because any time you want a Cheez It cracker, you will say Cheezus.  We've got some clarification to do!
Favorite ThingSinging the ABC's.  It's your favorite song.  As we sing it, you join in with a random E, G, I, or Z.  You bob your head as we say each letter.  After we're done singing, you will sing it on your own.  You have the rhythm of the song down, but mumble through most of the letters until you hit your favorites - E, G, I and Z.
EatingYou eat a lot, but are still kind of picky.  You hate any form of meat.  Veggies and fruits...you've got it.  Put a chicken, ham, turkey, or meat loaf in front of you and you remove them from your plate.  It's so bizarre.  We've been working on finding new forms of protein that you will actually eat, but haven't been too successful.

You have also become finicky with how your food is presented.  Some days you want things cut, so we cut them up.  Then the next meal, you refuse to eat because you wanted it whole.  Then the next meal you want things cut up.  We can't keep up!
Sleep Habits
Your sleep habits have been less than stellar ever since daylight savings time.  I think we also had a touch of sleep regression going on at the same time, which means we haven't been getting the greatest sleep!  For about 2 weeks, you would wake up at 2 in the morning, open your door and stand at the gate.  You would call for me and I would come get you.  As soon as you saw me, you would run back to your bed, grab your blanket, and motion to be picked up.  We'd sit in your chair and rock and you'd fall back to sleep quickly.  You would sleep until about 5:15.  Then you were up again for good!    We've been a little tired, but it has gotten better.  The past few nights, you've slept through the night again and have only been getting up a little earlier than normal!
Outings
We've been busy this past month!
You had you're second Halloween.  Such a cute little ghost!

You went to your first show - Disney on Ice. We went with your friend Ella and you loved it!

You thought you were home, because you insisted on taking your shoes off!

Date Day with Dad - Daycare was closed, so Dad stayed home with you.  You went to a bounce house with inflatable moon bounces with your friend, Adelyn, and then out to lunch!  You had so much fun!

This month has been one of the best!  You are for sure your own little person, with an ever emerging personality.  It's so fun watching you grow and I'm so thankful that I'm your Mom!
I love you through and through.  Yesterday, today and tomorrow too.
Love,
Mom

Little Ghosts and Goblins Halloween Pajama Party Link-Up

I'm joining Darci from The Good Life Blog and Meredith from The Tichenor Family for a Halloween Pajama Party!
Last year, we were still getting the hang of the parenting thing and were preoccupied with getting prepared for Super Storm Sandy to have any fun around Halloween.  Halloween was actually postponed and rescheduled in our town.   This year, it's a different story!  I'm loving that McKenzie now Oooooh's and Ahhhhh's at the Halloween decorations.  It's going to get better each year from here!  Her Halloween pajama's just make me giggle.  These glow in the dark!
Don't mind the shoes in the next series.  We're still in the phase of loving shoes.  She had just taken a bath before we put on these adorable pajamas and she insisted on wearing her shoes.  Again, they were removed after she was fast asleep!

Pajamas from Carters

Here's your chance to join in the fun!  Can't wait to see how cute all of the little ones are!

Weekend Recap

This weekend was a whirlwind of fun, but I feel as though I need a day to recover!
Saturday started with a The American Heart Association's Heart Walk, bright and early in the morning!  It was for a great cause and lots of fun.  Thank you to all of those who donated to support the walk.

After the Heart Walk, we decided to take McKenzie to a Pumpkin Patch.  Our weekends have been jam-packed with fun recently, so this is the first moment that we had a chance to go!  We knew if we didn't do it then, that by next weekend, there wouldn't be any decent pumpkins left.
We changed it up this year and went to a small little farm.  It was equally as fun and perfect for McKenzie at this age.  She played on a swing set and we took some pictures while waiting for the hay ride out to the pumpkin patch.  She loved the hayride, but was less than thrilled about walking in the pumpkin patch.  She will run all day long around our house, but put her on the ground that has a terrain that's less than flat or firm, and she's lost!  She walks slowly and cautiously and really just wants to be carried!
We found three perfect pumpkins that we plan on decorating this week.  We ended up getting McKenzie a white pumpkin and are going to decorate it as a ghost - since that's what she's going to be for Halloween this year!
It's hard to believe that this was our little baby last year!  So many changes!

We ended the day with a dinner out at one of our favorite restaurants, Border Cafe.  Fajitas for two please!    We got home, put McKenzie in bed and made another bonfire!  It was so relaxing, until out of no-where it started to rain.  And by rain, I mean monsoon!

Sunday, Brian and McKenzie stayed home, while I went to a Bridal shower in new Jersey for one of the sweetest girls I know, Alysha.  She looked absolutely beautiful and was so surprised!
Feeling ready for the week ahead!
Hope everyone had a great weekend!  Here's to a great week!

McKenzie | 17 Months |

Although a little late...I'm still posting!  Enjoy!
17 months old!  Where has the time gone?  It's hard for this Mama to even imagine. You change each day! There's always something new you're doing to keep us on our toes. Here's a little re-cap for us to look back on and remember!
What's Happening:
CousinYou officially have a cousin!  Aunt Erin and Uncle Brian delivered a healthy baby boy and we are over the moon excited for them!  You got to meet Nathan last Saturday and loved him. You gave lots of kisses and kept saying. "Baby!".  You will be a great big sister one day!

So Sweet. P.S. You were playing dress up, so you had a tutu on! Nice outfit choice!

Vocabulary Explosion!Your vocabulary has taken off!  I can't even keep up with all of the words that you say because you mimic everything we say.  Words that you use on your own on a regular basis and that are clear now include: baby, apple, juice, apple juice, Ouch, more, ball, book, Ellie (for your favorite stuffed elephant), shoes, truck, cat, Stop!, Yeah, and No...along with all of the originals - like Mama, Dada, and dog.  It's so much fun to see what word you come up with next!
MimickingSpeaking of mimicking, you copy everything we do.  In the past month, Dad and I have become even more aware of not only what we say, but what we do around you!  You are watching us and learning, even when we don't realize it!   The video below is just one of the moments that Dad and I caught of you copying us.  You were being grumpy in the back seat on a drive home, so we gave you the I-Pod with you favorite Fisher Price learning games on it.  Dad and I continued with our conversation, but could hear you talking in the back seat.  When we stopped talking and turned around to look at you, this is what we saw... My favorite part is where you hold the I-pod out in front of you as if you are wondering why no one is talking back!

Hi... from Heartbeats and Little Feet on Vimeo.

 Favorite ThingThis month marked your first time on a moon bounce.  It was at a birthday party we were attending.  You weren't sure of what to make of it at first, but soon learned how fun they can be!  We went inside for cake and gifts and you were not happy about it!  You were determined to lead us by our hands back out to the moon bounce.  so cute!

EatingYou are still a picky eater.  We normally get one great meal out of you each day.  Other than that, you just snack and nibble throughout.  You seem to always be eating something though, just not always at the specified meal times.  I'm hoping this will get better with age!
Climbing
You are a climbing machine!  You will use anything and anyone to climb up on the sofa! You've pulled toys over, your Pottery Barn Chair, used Dad's legs quite a few times and even the dogs (although we stop you from that!)  A few times, you've even gotten up there by yourself...I think you are hooking your foot in the cushion.  Hilarious!
Bed Time RoutineYou're bedtime routine has changed a bit.  You no longer let me hold you while we say our good night prayers.  You happily climb into bed on your own, point to the blanket and request to be covered up.  Then we hold hands and say prayers while I kneel next to your bed.  It's our favorite time of the day!  I'm sure Dad's excited too!  You would only ever let me be in the room when we put you to bed, but you've started allowing him to join in as well.  It's one of my favorite times of the day now.  Thanking God for everything we have, for our families and friends, and asking him to watch over all of us. Love it!
MoviesLast Friday night was a cold and rainy night.  Dad was working, so it was just you and me. I decided that we would watch Cinderella!  I put the DVD in and you instantly squealed when you saw the Disney castle on the opening credits.  You sat in your Pottery Barn chair, covered up with your blanket and stuffed animal, Ellie!  You watched the movie for a little, but then moved on to playing, while watching.  The whole time, you loved it though!  You would point out Lucifer, the cat, and laughed from your toes when I called you Gus Gus!  I look forward to more cuddly evenings with you!

McKenzie, life just keeps getting better.  There are still days that are far from fun, but even on those days - I am thankful for a healthy little girl who is able to throw such fits!  From working in a hospital, I know that not everyone is as lucky!
Continue to grow, but not so fast!
I love you through and through.  Yesterday, today and tomorrow too.
Love,
Mom

5 on Friday - September Edition Week 1

One.I'm currently working on a new logo and design for the website.  I know I just started this blog, so why change it already, but I'm not 100% sure it's what I want.  I'm hopeful that my new logo and design will make me love it even more!
Two.If you don't know about The Skimm, you're missing out!  The Skimm is a daily newsletter that simplifies the headlines for the educated professional who knows enough to know she needs more. They do the reading for you and explain it with fresh editorial content, breaking down what you need to know to start the conversation.  I learned about this through a fellow blogger and have greatly enjoyed reading my daily email from The Skimm.  It gives a summary of the latest current events, so even as a busy Mom who rarely has time to watch the news, you can remain up-to-date on current events!  Check them out!

Three.We're taking McKenzie to a local circus that is in town this weekend.  It's not going to be the big show and spectacle of Ringling Brother's, but I'm excited to go nonetheless.  It will give us an opportunity to get out of the house with her and do something fun!  Pictures to follow!

Four.

I love planning parties!  I especially love the small details of a party.  Even the smallest of parties can feel large scale, just by adding a few personalized touches.  If I had an opportunity to have my dream job, I would start my own event planning business.  I had such a blast planning McKenzie's first birthday!  Her theme was Pink Lemonade!  I will be doing a whole post to detail it soon, but here's a sneak peek of how cute it turned out!    People laughed at me because I put some much time and effort in to something that she won't remember.  I will always remember it though and she will always have the pictures.  The day couldn't have been any more perfect!

I'm so excited that a friend of mine asked me for ideas for her twin's 1st Birthday Party!  We have been plotting for the past few days!  I can't wait to see how cute this party turns out!
Five.Work = crazy.  I work at a hospital who received MAGNET designation. Our MAGNET re-certification is next week and the Joint Commission visits the following.  I have been in over-drive trying to get things ready!

Enjoy your weekend!

5 on Friday

One.
I miss my husband!  He's been out-of-town for the week and I am going crazy!  Not because I can't handle McKenzie, but because I miss him.  I miss us.  The house feels empty without him.  It's just not the same.  I absolutely can't wait for him to get home!

Two.

I am stronger than I realize! McKenzie and I spend lots of time together with just the two of us, due to Brian's schedule.  I never doubted that I could handle this week, but yet I did.  When I've done it in the past, Brian has only been a phone call away.  I always had a safety  net.  This week made me nervous because I don't have him nearby.  He's not even in a nearby state!  I managed though. Seriously though, how could you not love this kid?!

Three.
I am so looking forward to the long weekend!  It's going to be fabulous, even if the weather isn't going to be the greatest!  It's time to spend doing fun things with my loves!

Four.
It's been an emotional week with lots of ups and downs on all fronts. Thought this was appropriate! Well said, sir.  Well said.

Five.I had my very first Pumpkin Spice Latte from Starbucks yesterday.  I'm now officially ready for the Fall.  Although normally not available until September, to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Pumpkin Spice Latte, if you give the code PSL 10, you can have one now!  You're welcome!

That's it for this Friday!  Have a great weekend!