Tell 'em what she won...

So, a few days ago I blogged about a giveaway The Design Girl was hosting for a free blog template. I never win these things and really only enter for fun. BUT...I WON! I can't believe I actually won a giveaway, thanks Design Girl. Can't wait to see my new blog design!!

I also wanted to let all you mommy's know about another giveaway also from The Design Girl. She is doing a whole month of giveaways, so lots of chances to win some cool stuff. This one is for adorable tote bags from an Etsy shop called icandie. I love these designs and the store has really cute stuff. Go over and check it out! You never know, you might just win. =)

That's a new one

Paxtin is really getting into the independent playing these days. I love to sit and watch her use her imagination and discover new things she can get into. Even if those things are teeny tiny little toy bins.

I saw her tossing all the toys out of this box and was curious what she was up to. She definitely had a plan. As you can see, she was determined to get herself into the box.


And after some struggling and little help from mommy, she made it. And the look on her face was just priceless. She was so pleases with herself!


The things that make them happy. You just can't help but smile.

Want a free blog makeover??

Well, so do I! I have entered into a giveaway to win a fabulous blog giveaway from The Design Girl.

She has the cutest blog templates and packages and I would love to snatch one up for the Fall season. Go check her out!

Show Us Your Life-Wedding Dress

Kelly's Korner is a blog that has a weekly thing where everyone posts pictures of a different theme. This week is it wedding dresses. I haven't ever done anything like this, but I thought it would be fun to play along.

So, to make a long story short, I had one of those big poufy wedding dresses that every daddy dreams of his daughter wearing one day, an elaborate Fall wedding planned, and it just wasn't me. I am just not a 'put on a show' kind of girl and weddings are no exception. At the last minute, I opted for a private ceremony in Nassau, Bahamas with just me and my husband. It was the best decision I have ever made. (Besides to have my sweet Lambie...; )

I had to put the ex nay on the frou frou dress and get something more beach. This was actually a bridesmaid dress that they had made for me in white. Which was perfect for a hot, summer day in the Bahamas.










This post is actually perfect since Cody & I will be celebrating 4 amazing married years together August 4th. We have actually been together 8 in all, and hopefully for next year for the 5 year anniversary we will get to go back to the Bahamas to celebrate!!

Pedicures & Pools

So, I suppose the number one rule of summer is to have pretty toes before you don your flops and sandals. Pax was perhaps a tad behind, but I finally distracted her long enough to paint those sweet baby piggies. = )


We are still beating the heat just about any way we can and splashing around seems to be the favorite for P. I got her a different pool that has taller sides that I thought would contain her more. The other might be more for when she is running and can utilize the sprinklers. I think she enjoyed her new one just fine!




Well...for awhile anyways. HAHHA.


Her buddy Bean was apparently thirsty.


I think this pool was a great investment for the deck and fun for a quick swim after dinner. I have been trying to keep her as happy as possible this week, we are cutting a MAJAH molar and I can't even begin to describe how swollen her poor little gums are. Unfortunately, she has to cut 3 more, and I hope they are speedy little teeth. My Lambie just isn't her smiling self. =(

One lump or two?

Pax got the cutest little table and chair for her birthday that I have been meaning to get out for her for some time now. The table was a breeze to assemble, it just popped right open. The chair? Not so much. It came in 500 pieces with an equal number of screws, bolts, and several unidentifiable pieces. Needless to say, daddy will be assembling the chair whenever he gets time. For now, we will have our tea standing up. =)




And right before we finished playing tea, Pax grabbed both the cups and stood up on her own without holding on to anything. She is so close to walking and gains more balance each day. I can tell that she is very interested these days in the whole walking adventure. She is willing to try it more and more each day.


I just love indoor play days. Fun times with just me and my Lambie.

Wordless Wednesday : Faces Edition

The Sweetest Things...

are usually the simplest things. Just some sweet shots of my Lambie.




And I think this one is her 'Poker Face'...NA NA NA NA.

This was also taken after I discovered her 'playing' in my make-up bag. She was COVERED in gray, sparkly eyeshadow. Awesome. I should have gotten a picture of her in her mess, but I was spazzing about her rubbing it in her eyes. She doesn't look guilty at all in that picture.

We have been relatively plan free this past week. 'Poppy (my dad) had surgery Monday, so we have been on cheer-up duty all week. He seems to be doing much better and we have enjoyed visiting with him each day.

Paxtin i s also attempting to stand alone. It may only be for a minute or two, but she is sticking her neck out there and trying. It is far past time to walk...or I am going to have to invest in a Jazzy for the two of us.

13 Months Old

I had a hard time choosing which picture I wanted to post, so you get both. =)

Paxtin at 13 months:

I don’t have an official height since the last time we went to the doctor in the past month, but I do know that she weighs 22 lbs. 4 oz. She seems to gain a pound a day, I swear. I know this because I am still lugging her around everywhere. No, she still isn't walking on her own. She loves to walk all over creation as long as someone is holding her hands. Other than that, she just isn't interested. All in good time, I guess. She is into reaching for things that are up on a table or in her crib. I catch her standing on her tippy toes quite often trying to grab at something. Makes my life quite interesting to say the least.

She is on a wonderful schedule right now. She wakes up between 7:30 and 8 am. She eats breakfast. We play or go for walks or run errands until around 10:30 or so. Between 11:30 and 12 we have lunch and then play for another hour or so. She goes down for her nap at 1 pm. She wakes up around 3 pm and has a snack. We play some more until Daddy gets home between 5 and 6 pm. We eat dinner around 5:30 or 6. More playing until bedtime. The bedtime routine starts between 7 and 7:30 depending on her mood.

Speaking of food, Pax is well on her way to championship eating level. She eats anything. Mostly, she eats what we have for dinner, but she also still enjoys her Graduates meals at lunch or dinners out. She got to try ketchup for the first time the other day with some fish sticks and tater tots. It was instant love. I have never had to worry about her eating something and not liking it. I hope this continues her entire life. She is drinking her milk so well from her sippies still and I added in some juice for the summer, to stay hydrated.

She has also really started to mock me quite well these days. She has learned several new 'tricks', as we like to call them. Blowing a kiss, holding her heart when we say 'Love You', making kissy noises, etc. Anything I work with her on, she picks up really quick. She adores music and has started dancing in the car, when commercials come on, or while watching her cartoons. She is communicating a little better and sometimes I feel like we are maybe having brief conversations. Where she actually responds back to me. Still working on it though. Her vocabulary is picking up, too. She says MaMa, DaDa, Bah (bottle/sippy), Uh Oh, Yeah, and Awwww. I am trying to teach her to tell me how old she is...not that she has any clue what it means. Strictly for the cute factor there.

Its so amazing to see her learn new things every day and to see what an amazing little person she is becoming!

Love You

Paxi has really started to get into her stuffed animals these days. In particular, one special little bunny: Bun. Bun travels with us wherever we go and I try not to let her take it places around town, just so she doesn't lose it or drop it everywhere. She stays in Paxi's bed most of the time.

Here lately I have noticed that Pax has started to 'love' her babies. I always hold her and pat her back and say...'oooooh, Love you' before she goes down to nap. She does the same to her babies! Oh it just melts my heart.

Pax & Bun




'Loving on Bun'


I will try and get a good video of this. It is just too sweet to not share.

Pax, Say Cheese

I've been working with Paxtin on giving a smile when the camera is out or when someone says cheese. I think she's getting there...


=)

Little Firecracker

We spent the 4th in Siloam with Cody's family again this year. We thought that things might get canceled because of some rain in the area, but it turned out to be a beautiful afternoon and evening. HOT, but nice.

Pax had quite the busy little day. We first had a brief stop to make in OK at a family reunion (where it WAS raining) so we didn't get to stay long. She only got about a 45 minute nap in the car after the reunion, so I was just sure we were in for a rough night. BUT-she surprised us all! She stayed up until almost 11:00 without a peep or a tear. I am not sure that she was a HUGE fan of the fireworks, but she wasn't scared. I think she was just more tired than anything.

Here she is going out on the golf cart with daddy.


I could see her when they went by clapping her hands and saying "YEAH!" She wasn't too happy that I made them stop for a picture.


At the BBQ, Pax got to go for her first swim in an 'official' pool. I couldn't let that cute red, white, and blue bikini go unused. ; )



In the pool with all her cousins.



With her daddy.


And a shot of her watching the fireworks. It wasn't long after this that we had to go inside and find some ice cream. It was a fair trade I think.


Pax & Al

With her buddy Dale

I can't wait to see how she does next year. She will be walking and into more, but I hope that she enjoys the holiday as much as Cody & I do. It is always fun to be with our family!

We finally got to meet baby Tripp, who was born at the beginning of June. He is just the sweetest thing and also lives close to us. Hopefully, we will get to plan a play date with him and Pax soon.

Tripp and Donnita





Tripp and Grandpa

Free as a Bird

These were just too funny not to share. We were headed for the tub and Pax thought she would 'run' from me and try to scale her crib. These are just the pics every mommy needs in her arsenal...when that first boyfriend shows up. ; )






Cutest booty ever.