Bethesda

Today was such a FUN day! My best friend Melissa and I took the girls to Bethesda, MD. It as about 40 miles away from us. (Patrick is gone for the entire month, so I am trying to keep busy!!) We went to a playseum, which the girls loved. I didn't get many pictures, but they have a sand table room, cupcake decorating, storytime, grocery store, beauty parlor, grandmas room with old things, pet shop with live animals, and SO much more! The weather was beautiful, so we loaded the girls on my BOB and strolled down the street to Jimmy Johns, not too glamorous, but hey we DID have 2 toddlers with us! We had so much fun because our town is SO not like that. It was nice to be somewhere with sidewalk shops and cafes plus the weather just so happened to be perfect! We definately have to do that again.

This was right before we left, she had pigtails and they were so cute. Unfortunately they didn't survive the car ride...

Lillie and BFF Lily in the fire truck at the playseum...

18 mos

On Feb 25th, Lillie will be 18 mos old! Whoa...She is Hilarious. Here are a few pics of what we've been up to....

She wouldn't go up to bed without her purse and this huge wad of play-do...too funny! She handed it over eventually;)






She is the snuggliest girl. Still loves to pull on my hair and lay with me.

This is her and her best friend Lily...They were going crazy with these packaging peanuts. Lily calls my Lillie.. "B". It's confusing for them to have a friend named the same... My Lillie calls the other one "Illy".

Oh sweet Lillie, she is 17 mos old and awesome! We[ all 3 of us] laugh everyday...
she talks so so much...
-she knows all the words in her books
-grabs your hand to play "ring" or ring around the rosey
-loves chi-os (cheerios) and then asks for "meelk" or milk to put in her bowl of cheerios
-she says "peas' when I turn the bath water off so you will turn it back on
-she calls the ABC's - AB
-when we put her in her car seat she immediately asks for the Elmo cd
-she is bad sometimes, at dinner the other night she threw he peas on the floor and then when patrick was on the ground picking them up, she dropped peas on his head!!! uh oh- we have behavior problems:/

Oh and my favorite right now...at night I sing " He's got the whole world..." when I start the song she says "Papa" bc she wants me to sing his name in there, so sweet:)

Oh and today when Patrick got home she waited for him to get out of his car and then said " Hi Dada" like she was 5 yrs old, it made my eyes tear up..precious

counting down...

Oh January, where have you gone? Not gonna lie, I am counting down the days til May, I absolutely hate Virginia! Patrick got orders to Camp Pendleton in San Diego- so thrilled for beaches and a tan! It is cold and there is not much to do here, once you have seen DC. My sis Jen and the boys came to visit in September and that was about the highlight of the time here! Patrick is going out of town for 2 weeks at a time at the end of February and then at the end of March...so he will be gone for Easter and my Birthday...looks like it will just be Lillie and I! Patrick's parents have been just an hour away but a couple weekends ago, they moved to Texas! we sure miss them, we saw them every weekend just about. :( I know I am being a baby...speaking of....
At the end of November we found out we are expecting baby 2! yep, Lillie is going to be a big sista;) They will be 23 months apart exactly( due July 24th)...Thankfully Lillie LOVES babies and i am hoping she will adjust well to a sibling, I am a bit nervous about sharing the love! seems impossible to love another as much as we adore Lillie, but every mom does it!

breakfast with papa

December to remember

St. Nick came to our house on Dec. 6th! Lillie loved it, she got some gummy fruitsnacks, a santa book, some crayons, and puppy, m&ms, and of course some fruit! Anyone else do St. Nick growing up??

Lillie had horrible stomach problems all day Friday. This was her 2nd time being sick, but her first time looking and feeling sick! It was awful...she woke up the next day after not eating and having diarreha the day before and was so pathetic. She drank a whole bottle of water and when I went to make her some toast , she grabbed a few more pieces of bread- she couldn't wait for the toast I guess:/ Then she wanted to go back to sleep, so she grabbed by hands to bring me upstairs and said "Ny Ny" (night night)....poor girl

This pic was from the morning, she just kept slumping down on the couch...

If you take your shirt off you weigh less..FYI

ABCs of Thanks

The ABCs of what I am thankful for..here goes....I may miss a few, but I will try and get back to them eventually

A-alone time, I get a chance to blog, sit, exercise, bathe, stalk people on facebook....

B-Blankenship family- made me feel right at home

C-crossfit, my most favorite type of exercise and a place to make great friends

D-Diet Dr. Pepper, in a can. One of those guilty pleasures that make you happy for the moment

E-Elmo, He sure makes my little girl so happy!

F-forgiveness...the fact that God forgives us for our sins, big and small:)

G-grandmas, Mimi and Nana -Lil has 2 of the best! They would not let her go without anything!

H-Hi-lights- I love being blonde! ha

I-

J-Jen, such a great role model! Always fun to chat with and always thoughtful of others. Such a great mom to look up to:)

K- kale, my new favorite veggie! It's so delicious

L-Liz, the best sister a gal could ask for. So humble and gracious...love her friendship and sistership(?)

M-my mom, she taught me how to love my own baby just like she loved her kids:)

N-nephews- I have 5 and 1 on the way! All of them are special and unique...N for niece Lexie too! She brings so much joy to our family and such a happy girl and she brings great clothes to Lillie too:)

O-Online shopping! I might never buy presents for anyone without it....

P-Patrick, Patrick, Patrick....The most hardworking, thoughtful, and loving husband there is..Always wanting to keep Lil and I happy without thinking of himself;) sigh.....

Q-Qi...it is a scrabble word and sometimes it guarentees a win for me! you can even add an s to it

R-rain, what a great excuse to stay inside and not have to get dressed for the day!

S-stay at home mom. I love all the laughing I get to do with Lil all day, something is always funny or sweet. She wont't be little forever...

T- Texas..makes you appreciate kind, friendly people, and makes me want to spread it all over to others

U-Uncles..Lil has some great ones- my bros and Patrick's.

V-Virginia, believe it or not.....It has helped me grow as a person. I got out of my comfort zone and for that I am better:)

W-winter...Loooove snow

X-
Y-
Z-zzzzs I love to sleep! I am thankful for those times that I get a nap or get to bed early

#1 Mum

This Halloween was So much fun! I suppose it has something to do with having a 1 yr old to celebrate with...Even though she didn't quite understand, it was such a fun day. Last year she was just a sitting pumpkin, literally! The night before Halloween, i felt the urge to make her costume. I love the sense of pride you get when you can actually say, "yes, I made it."! I chopped up Patrick's old tshirts and just starting hot glueing them on her tshirt and a pair of leggings. It took about 1 hour to make. I could not sleep that night because I was so excited to put her in it!!!
We went to story time on the base and met up with a friend. They had a parade with all the costumes and some trick or treating. When Lillie took a nap, I made candy corn rice Krispies and Mummy hot dogs for the evening. We spent the evening with The Hornacky's in their precious historic neighborhood. It really was just the most perfect day! Oh and to top it off, my mom and dad sent Lillie some Halloween balloons to our house! so fun!

she really was wondering if they had any puppies she could see...

Dada and Lil

she had no clue why we were going to doors...This house had a huge cat and she kept yelling "Cat!" and pointing, it was sweet

before we went out....

sweeties...with the jacket on, she looks like she may just have a head injury....I think some people hated to ask! ha

cutest lil Mummy I've ever seen! and a trooper for keeping the hat on!