Josie is So BIG

Josie is just growing up too fast...(sigh). It literally feels like yesterday when she arrived and ever since that moment time has been flying by. She is walking everywhere and has been for a while. However, the NOT SO FUN part is how she is starting to test her limits. Oh My Goodness that girl can HOLLA! Of course her Daddy lets her get away with more than I do. Isn't that always the case with a "Daddy's Girl"?
This morning Josie decided to help me the morning cleaning routine. Who needs a fake "Dirt Devil" when she can use the real thing and really help Mommy out. You rock Josie!





She is also getting some more teeth in. I feel so bad for her having to go through the pains of teething. She is getting two more in on the bottom and FOUR in at the top at the same time. Like I said....PAIN!
Since she is getting more teeth in now I decided it was time to develop the teeth brushing skills. She did so well! I love her cheesy grin! I wonder who she gets her cheeziness from????? hmmmmm......

Books Books Books

This is the third book by Jen Lancaster and it was just as good as the first two. I just love her humor, sassy attitude, sarcastic humor, and the way she is brutally honest. This is how I feel about Jen's books in a nutshell:

"What I like best is a book that's at least funny once in a while...
.......What really knocks me out is a book that,
when you're all done reading it,
you wish the author that wrote it was a terrific friend of yours
and you could call him up on the phone whenever you felt like it."
~ J. D. Salinger ~

Friends

"Say Hello to my LITTLE FRIEND!!!!"

Books Books Books

Great easy read.... The book was a bit predictable but I would definitely recommend it to someone who is looking for a bit of mindless reading.

Books Books Books

I just finished reading "Empire Falls" by Richard Russo. This isn't a book I would normally pick up and read. However, it was a selection brought to book club. So while shopping at my second favorite bookstore (my first being Barnes and Noble)-I spotted it for a whopping $1.50. I figured, why not, if I hate it...it only cost me one large, easy ice, diet cranberry limeade from Sonic. I can handle that. Plus, it's a Pulitzer Prize Award Winner (2002) and an HBO series; therefore, it must be worth something.
When I started reading the book, I have to admit, I very quickly began to wonder what all the fuss was about. It took me a while to get into the groove of how Richard Russo writes.
However, while reading "Empire Falls", I found myself wondering about the characters, what was happening in the small town of EF, and what was going to happen next, while I was away. I began to really like some of the characters and despise others. (I enjoyed Max's sense of humor and Miles's kind heart.)
Something that did help me connect with the book-was Googling the actors who portrayed Russo's characters-in the HBO series. It was nice having a face to fit the characters. (Ed Harris, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Helen Hunt, Paul Newman, Robin Wright Penn, Aidan Quinn and Joanne Woodward)
Would I recommend this book to a friend? Yes, but I would tell them to stick with it, be patient, because in the end-it's all worth it.

Mommy's Helper

Josie decided she was going to help me unload the dishwasher. What's funny is that when she stood up on the dishwasher door, she looked at me and said, "Nooooooo". Ha ha... It was so cute because a split second later I was saying, "Noooo Josie, you are going to fall." They learn the word "no" so fast. Ahhhh...I love my little helper.

Tree House Fun

It's been raining for the past few days here in Nashvegas. So Jeremy and I decided to head out to Cool Springs Mall. We let Josie play in the little indoor playground area. It has insects to crawl on/around, tunnels, a play raft, a slide, and one of those silly mirrors that you find at fairs, among other things-but you get the picture. The floor is squishy supposedly to soften the kids falls.I just hope they don't mind rug burns.

I think one of her favorite activities were the tunnels.


However, I wasn't worried about the falling so much as I was worried about ALL those GERMS. I know I know, Josie has to start building up her immunity. But you can be sure I lathered all 3 of us with Purell after the fact.

Josie loved climbing up the stairs and going down the slide, even though her eyes were closed the whole time she was sliding down.

PEEK-A-BOO DADDY! WE SEE YOU!

Radio Flyer

Josie got this red Radio Flyer wagon for her birthday and we just can't keep her out of it. She just loves to ride...and ride fast! She gets in there with her little monkey and just giggles away. This wagon is a far cry from the wagons we had growing up. I remember riding in our old rusting wagon with holes in the base. My siblings and I would push each other around for hours and pretend we were driving a car. We would "drive" to the grocery store and pick up pecans at my grandparents house. I know my grandad enjoyed our "grocery shopping excursions" because that meant a few less pecans he would have to pick up. Then we'd drive to the nearest gas station (tree) and fill 'er up.
Now, the wagon Josie has is like the Cadillac of wagons. It has double seats with backs, safety belts (ours definitely DID NOT have those), and cup holders too! She could ride around in her wagon for hours. Good choice for a 1st birthday even if I do say so myself.

Build-a-Bear

One of Josie's gifts was a Build-a-Bear gift certificate. I, yes "I", was so excited! I have always wanted a reason a good reason to visit Build a Bear. And buying clothes for Rocco, my 5 pound Yorkie-Pom, doesn't count. So, now I have Josie! Our Build a Bear "Queen", I mean helper,...Sean, was so patient with Josie.



Josie's bear getting stuffed full of love, aka...cotton.



Making a wish and saying "I love you!"...and placing the heart in the bear.



Josie giving her bear an air bath.



"Mommy look at all of these cool clothes."



"I like these pants. They taste good."

Jeremy loving on his little princess.

Printing the birth certificate...It's a BOY!!! 8 lbs. 5 oz...named Chandler.

Why Chandler? The sweater vest.
Such a cute bear...and it's even holding a Happy Birthday Cupcake!
Thank you Brenda!

Josie First Birthday!

Our front door looked like this a whole week before her birthday. Can you tell I wanted the whole neighborhood to know that my baby was turning ONE!



Happy Birthday JOSIE!!!! 1, 2, 3...Make a Wish...and BLOW!!!



Josie and her first birthday cake. We did a cupcake theme: cupcakes, cupcake shaped cakes, cupcake balloons, cupcake decorations, cupcake dress, cupcake shoes, cupcake bow...well....you get the picture. All of her cute cupcake attire was thanks her Aunt Adriana's creativity.



The cutest rocker EVER...from mommy and daddy.



Josie loves the wagon we got her. She literally wants to ride in it all the time. It's so cute because she just grins the whole time she is riding!



Her Aunty Pae Pae gave her this shirt for her birthday. "Birthday Princess Josie"

Mommy Help ME!!!

Since Josie has been walking for about a month now; her courageousness has skyrocketed. She is INVISIBLE. The other day she climbed up on the couch and was jumping up and down. She knows no danger...she will learn one bump and thud at a time. Anyways, she decided she was going to crawl under the dining room chairs and she got stuck. She started squealing and saying, "momma...momma..." But unfortunately she has a mom who is a picture taking freak...so of course I had to go and get the camera first, take pictures, giggle, THEN HELP MY DAUGHTER out of her bind. I know I know, I am a bad mommy. But it was just so funny.


As you can see by the photo below...Josie was NOT harmed in the taking of these pictures.

First Steps

Last night we were at the neighbors house visiting, watching TV, and having some snacks. When something very exciting happened....JOSIE TOOK HER FIRST STEPS ALL BY HERSELF!!!! Yeah JOSIE!!! It was so funny because the first time she did it she really didn't even know what she did. She took two tiny steps from my knee over to the wall. Then she looked back and me and smiled. Of course, I shouted, "Did you see that? Did you see? She just took two steps all by herself!" Jeremy and my friend Annie did see. So then I brought Josie back over to me and had her do it again. (just to make sure it wasn't an accident) I faced her towards Jeremy and said, "Walk to Daddy..." And sure enough she did-she even walked back to me!! Oh, it was so neat to see her huge drooly grin spread across her face. When she would fall down and "go boom" after a few steps she would just smile and clap her hands. I could hear her in my mind saying, "Momma, Dada....did you see me?" It was a night I will never forget. Again, she reminded me of how grateful I am to have her in my life.

The Host

This was last months pick for the July book club. When I picked up this book and read the jacket...it didn't really seem like something I would enjoy reading. I have read the Twilight series and I am a HUGE fan!!! I can't wait for the 4th and final installment to be released. But back to this book, The Host. It took a good while to really get into this book. I would say after the first 100 pgs. did it finally become somewhat interesting. I definitely think that it could have been sized down about 200 pgs. But, I wasn't her editor. I probably will never reread this book. Am I glad I read it? Yes. I will say that if this were the first Stephenie Meyer book I'd ever read, I would have never read the Twilight series.

Diva in Training

Just looking at this picture makes me smile. I love her so much. I love that when I'm having a bad day I can hold her in my arms, watch her play, hear her laugh, or hear her say mommy and....all my troubles melt away. Because I know nothing else in this world matters more. I love my family and I love love love my best friend Jeremy.



This is what happens when the pigtails are removed. TOOOOOO FUNNY!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It's the little things in life that make the best memories.

Food Fun

Josie VS Spaghetti...Biter Biscuit...and Bananas

I think the Winner is OBVIOUS!!!!!

(such a funny picture...one can't help but chuckle)

Pigtails

This is the first time Josie has had her hair in pigtails. She really didn't mind me messing with her hair as long as I worked quickly. I think they are the cutest things. When we walked out of the bedroom Jeremy said, "oh no....Josie...what did mommmy do to your hair?" Josie then just smiled her big cheezy two tooth grin. It took him a while to warm up the pigtail idea but now he loves them. Every little girl has a pigtail phase. Unfortunately, there are some adults who still think pigtails look cute on them.

Princess Josie

Here is one of the cute outfits that Aunt Adriana bought Josie. Can you tell she is already a poser at only 10 months. Oh what to do....what to do? She is now the new princess. Where does that leave me?....Goddess....

Fourth of July Fun

This week was spent mostly at the Lipscomb campus and Aunt Adriana's house. We attended the Summer Series which was full of classes, singing, and food. Josie got to spend some time with Aunt Adriana while mommy got to play a grown up all by herself. It was nice not having to worry about Josie's well being. Bc we all know how much Adriana LOVES Josie. I swear my child will want for nothing as long as she is around. I have to buy all of the boring stuff like diapers, formula, butt cream, boring oatmeal cereal, and way overpriced Gerber products. But Adriana on the other hand, loves shopping for Josie. Its her way of using retail therapy - without having to deal with buyers remorse. See, the best of both worlds. For the 4th we spent the evening with the group Acappella, catching up with old friends, while enjoying ice cream. In fact Josie really really really enjoyed the ice cream. As seen above.....

It was so funny to watch Josie just take that ice cream cone by the horns. It was her first ice cream cone experience. She would have eaten the whole bit if I'd'uve let her. But I didn't want to come home and have to clean up baby ice cream puke all night. Yes, one can have too much of a good thing. When Jeremy took the cone away from her....Oh My Gosh!!!...you should have seen the look of devastation on her face....(first screams, next....alligator tears, then....along came the quivering bottom 'bubba gump' lip - which she gets from her daddy) ha ha!!! It was too funny. I just told Jeremy "Eat it! Eat it! Quick!...out of sight out of mind. Thank goodness it worked.

Then the fireworks began...I wasn't really sure how Josie would deal with fireworks but she loved them. She would just clap her hands, squeal, and look at me wide eyed, as if she were saying, "Momma do you see those big bwright lwight thingies over dere." Too cute, I tell ya... So other than the few, eye blinking spasms, from the loud booms, she did very well.

Current Read

Driving Sideways by Jess Riley

I enjoyed reading this book bc it was a simple read. It was a book I could put down and easily come back to and not feel like I was lost. The characters in this book were witty and very funny at times. I do feel the book could have been a little bit shorter.

Books Books Books

Secrets of a Shoe Addict by Beth Harbison. This is the second book written by Beth and I have to say I enjoyed this one just as much as her first. It was just as funny and a good recommendation for those who enjoy a bit of chick-lit every now and then.