Sunday, January 16, 2011

HEY!!!!


Gimme more sweet potatoes mama!

Cate's first solid foods! A couple weeks ago, we started with veggies and let me tell you, we've got an eater on our hands! (we kinda knew this already...=) So far she loves everything, including, sweet potatoes, carrots, sweet peas, green beans, applesauce, and prunes.  The whole wait 3 days thing between each food isn't too fun, but oh well. When we've tried a new food, she will open wide, hold it in her mouth, think about it, and then is ready for more. Textures don't really seem to bother her, and once she realizes that spoon has applesauce on it for dessert, she is SO happy! SO glad she is a great eater so far! (since mama's diet contains LOTS of fruits and veggies, she should love them for goodness sakes!!!) Keep it up sweet girl! 

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Cate's new ride!

So, I really didn't get to do/do/wanted to do a lot of research on strollers before I had Cate. I had a friend that loaned me her sungride, and snap and go, and I bought a lightweight stroller, and received a jogger that works great for strolls in the hood, but, now that she is in her big girl carseat, I realized she/I needed something a little more functional, so I started doing research for which one was going to be the best for us...man was that a project! Who knew there were SO many options out there. I knew I wanted something FUNCTIONAL, something that I could actually lift up into my tahoe, not necessarily a "jogger" but one that would be suitable to take off sidewalks and streets if needed, one that would push easily, one I could take out and about and have a large basket underneath, because those of you who have joggers know that they come with baskets you can mayyyyyybe put your wallet in?! Anyways, EVERY time I found a stroller I thought I liked and wanted to almost buy, I would find another one that was better. Looonng story short, I first fell in love with the Valco tri mode, because it has the option to add a toddler seat! Cool right? A stroller that can grow with your family! Then, I fell in love with the Phil and Teds because you can have 2 seats that are the same size, then was debating on which phil and teds because they went from like 2 models of strollers to 5! FIVE... REALLY?!?! Finally settled on the P&T new explorer model, but I wasn't in love with the fact that this newer model weighed 2 more pounds than the previous years model, yet loved all the options, but Matt didn't like the layout of the seats. I was BEYOND tired of stroller searching and was literally about to click the "buy now" for the P&T explorer...then I came across this one...


Pretty right? The baby jogger city select! This one was PERFECT!!! One stroller, 20 options, including the option to add a second seat of the same size! AND you can face the seats towards you or face out! (probably one of my favorite features!) AND you can take the seat off, or leave it on, when folding to put in your vehicle, and with a frame weight of only 22 lbs, seat weighing 6 lbs, but can hold 45 pounds. I knew this was it!!

Some of the other features include:
Patented Quick-Fold technology ~ yep it's quick! 
Telescoping adjustable handlebar for short to tall parents ~ perfect for us, and a must since I'm 5'2" and Matt is 6'3" 
Huge underseat storage basket ~ yep it's huge!
Front wheel suspension ~ SO easy to turn and guide, I can guide it with one hand and hold the leash my other hand to walk Berns! 
8" lightweight front quick-release wheels with sealed ball bearings ~ I was hesitant about how these front ones would be, but they are great, smooth, and glide oh so easily! 
12" forever-air rear tires feel like air-filled, but never go flat ~ YAY! no maintenance on tires! 
Rear parking brake is hand controlled - no scuffed shoes ~ LOVE the parking break, Matt thinks its awesome too!
90 lb. maximum weight capacity, 45 each seat ~ cool, if that's what we need someday!

And here are what the options look like!


And here's what Cate thinks of it...

Happiness found! Highly, HIGHLY recommend this stroller=)

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

My mornings begin with this...

most of the time...=)

I try to take a video in the morning when lil miss wakes up, and send to Daddy so he can be a part of my morning wake up call!
She is such a morning girl...just like her mama=)

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

My new year's "Outlook"

So, I usually don't make new years resolutions, I mean, who really holds themselves accountable for 12 months straight and makes sure they are actually sticking to them?!?!? If you have, bravo! and a big congrats from me, give yourself a pat on the back!=)

This year rather than a resolution, I'm calling it more of an "outlook" to always have, since I have just a little bit different view on life now.

I've always found myself being grateful for what I have. This includes many things I'm sure you can name and are on your list, God, my husband, family, friends, a roof over my head, car, clothes, food, etc. etc. I think many of these things people find themselves grateful for, but are you truly grateful for them? Do you really appreciate these things you have EVERY day? I feel since becoming a mother, I appreciate these things, and so many other simple things, SO much more. (especially since things have slowed down a little and the sleep deprivation is less..=) It's a totally different view and feeling of gratefulness and appreciation I can't even begin to describe.  When I look at my sweet, sweet girl every day, I think, WOW, am I am TRULY blessed. Especially here lately, I feel overcome with emotions just when I pick her up, hold her, squeeze her, kiss her, LOVE her. Matt (and I know I can speak for him on this) and I are just in awe of her.  The smiles, giggles (and other funny noises) she gives Matt and I are absolutely priceless! I am SO lucky to have my hubby, our precious baby girl, and our families, SO grateful for all of them, for our health, and each day we have together!

This precious face just melts my heart..
 This conversation...priceless

So with that said, (and believe me, I tried my best to sum up all of my motherly, scatter brained thoughts, and keep it short and to the point) my new year's outlook is that every day this year, I want to continue to truly be grateful more than any other thing in my life. Grateful for what I have, what I am blessed with, because I know there are others who are less fortunate.

Cate's first Christmas, part 4!

And last but not least, here are some pics from Christmas number 4, with my mom's side...

Cate and her great grandmother Nonie

Poor Cate sees double when we go to my parents house...

Another four generations pic=)
Cate and her camo gear with her two favorite guys!
So sweet, until next year!!! (well this year I guess..=)

Cate's first Christmas, part 3!

Christmas day was jammed packed! Here we are at Matt's parents, opening more presents!!
 She got a my first Dolly!
 And her first tea party set!
 Mama's turn to help!
 She loved opening the presents, and eating the paper!
 All tuckered out!
 I think Cate is wondering why there is a flying turkey on the wall...?
 LOVE this sweet baby!