Happy Birthday Katelyn!!

I cannot believe that today has come! A year ago today, my little Kater-tot came into this world, and changed my life forever! Time sure does fly when you're having fun!!
I have had a very full past 2 months, with a vacation to the beach, Jeremy's 29th birthday, a concert to see Jeremy and I's favorite "country" artist, Kenny Chesney, and a special "date night" that involved Jeremy and I getting tattoos!! I apologize for my lapse in commitment to blogging...sometimes when I would think, "I should blog about this",when I found the time to actually sit down, I chose to do something else....most of the time that being having an adult beverage ouside with my neighbors. Hey now, don't judge...a girl has got to have some grownup interaction and fun once her baby has gone to bed!
Anyway, I promise to post pictures very soon of Jeremy and I's tats....that was definitely an experience I will never forget, it didn't really hurt at all if you're wondering...and it was a different type of bonding experience for me and the hubby! I already told Katelyn that she can get a tattoo when she is 18, but she has to tell me about it (beforehand) and she can't get it while on some crazy girl trip somewhere trashy like Daytona, Fl! I don't say any of that from personal experience....trust me, I am soooo not fun like that!
Another thing that has been keeping me busy the past 2 months has been the planning of Katelyn's 1st Birthday party! I never knew how stressful a birthday party could be...maybe it's just my personality to make everything more difficult than it has to be, who knows... all I know is it took me 6 weeks to find an invitation I thought was cute and worthy enough to be Katelyn's 1st Birthday invite, pathetic huh? When I first began the preparations I thought this process would be so easy, I nailed down a theme fast-Cupcakes. Check. When to have the party-Saturday after her birthday, June 6th. Check. What time to have the party-2:30 so I don't have to do lots of food. Check. Then came the first snag in the web in which I was weaving...who to invite-just immediate family, all family with a few friends, all family with all of our friends...after 7 weeks of stressing out about what to do, and changing my mind atleast 4 different times, I went with all family and a few friends. We'll see how that decision pans out.
Now with it being Katelyn's actual birthday and the party only being 2 days away....am I stressing? No...not yet anyway...I'll leave that for Saturday morning. What I am doing is reflecting over the past year, trying to take it all in that my baby is slowly turning into a big girl, and if I thought this year went fast, I better buckle my seat belt b/c every year after this will go even faster!I want to remember all of Katelyn's favorite things right now, so I thought I would list them here:
*Bluberries, she would be blue if she had the choice b/c she would NEVER stop eating them!
*"Holey" Blankets (my name for the crocheted blankets she sleeps with), she puts her fingers through the holes and then sucks on the edge of the blanket to go to sleep...seriously the CUTEST thing I have ever seen!
*Music, she can't sleep without it, I can't talk on my cell for more than a few minutes in the car b/c she will let me know that the radio needs to be turned up, she has some pretty mean dance moves that she likes to do to make her daddy laugh, and once he is giggling uncontrollably, she comes up with a new move that takes the laughter to a completely new level!
*Her 4 doggies, she laughs when they play together and loves to give them kisses...she also loves to "pet" them, but daddy and I are trying to teach her that she has to be a little more gentle. She lights up int the morning when all 5 of us go in to get her out of her crib and always waves and says hello to them...also, she loves to share her food with them, which makes mommy's cleanup job a bit easier!
*Water, she has liked the water ever since the first time she went to the pool when she was 6 weeks old. Bathtime is mommy's favorite time of day b/c she is the most cooperative and now when we go to the pool she "walks" around the edge of the kiddie pool nonstop!
*Outdoors, whenever she gets a "booboo" we walk outside and the crying immediately stops! She loves to "play" with all the big kids on our street and show off her new skills, whatever it may be to all the neighbors. She loves the grass, I don't know how much she's eaten, but it's a lot and walks in the jogging stroller with Dollie is usually her favorite of the day!
I could keep going, this child just loves life and is so happy really everything could be called a fave, but I won't b/c that would take away from the things I did list...all of the above things really are her most favorite! I didn't list mommy and daddy b/c that's just a given!!

Katelyn: as I look back over the past year, I cannot tell you how wonderful it has been to be your mommy. You are such a joy! I will cherish all of the big moments, like when you first sat up, crawled, waved, clapped and said "hi". I will cherish all of the small moments like when we're eating lunch and you lean over to feed me some of your food and once I've taken a bite of whatever you feed me you clap and say yay...just like I do when you eat something new for the first time. You always know how to make mommy smile and let me know that I'm doing a good job. I cannot get over how beautiful God made you and only hope that you know not only how much mommy and daddy love you, but how much Jesus loves you. I pray that I will teach you about God's love everyday and that you will embrace His truth in your own life as you continue to grow. I am so proud of you and cannot wait to see all you will do in this next year! I promise not to hold you too tight, as to keep you from going where you need to go, but just know that you will always be my baby no matter how old you are, and as your mommy I will always struggle with you growing up...b/c if I had it my way, you would stay young and close to me forever!! I love you my little Kater-tot!

Psalm 118 ~ This is the day

I absolutely love Easter!!I think it may be my favorite holiday. For many reasons like, beautiful weather(well~not this year), new pastel clothes, and the fabulous candy(especially Cadbury Eggs and Reese's Peanut Butter Eggs). Most importantly, the ONLY reason we celebrate Easter...His name is Jesus! I Love the Lord so much! He is such a BIG part of my life, and Jeremy's life. I can't wait until I can teach Katelyn all about what Easter means to us! So, since she's too small to really understand what I'm saying to her I thought I would say it to all of you instead!
Throughout the year, I will blast music throughout my home...especially if I'm really cleaning...it pushes me to a place I usually don't get to. This is another thing I LOVE~music! If you know me, then you already know this about me...you also know I LOVE to sing~especially when it is to the Lord. This week I have many songs I will be blasting throughout the walls in my house, but my song for today is Shane Barnard and Shane Everett's Psalm 118-This is the day. I absolutely cannot explain in words how excited I get when I hear one of this duo's songs! I have loved their music since I was fortunate to see them in college. What I enjoy the most about their music is how scriptural it is, there is absolutely no way you can not be filled with emotion, when listening to their lyrics! I had an idea...this week I'm going to share a different song each day with you...maybe you'll have the same wellspring of emotion that I do, and perhaps it will help to prepare your heart for the Sunday that is fast approaching! Please avoid the fact that I have yet to learn how to post the video on my blog and ENJOY by clicking here!! I would encourage you to take a moment and close your eyes so the ugly youtube site will not be distracting.

Wordless Wednesday

Good Morning...I'm just chillin' with my bottle!



After my breakfast, I like to play with my doggies...more like I enjoy stealing their toys while they sleep and eating them, even though Mommy says NO!



After tormenting my doggies, I like to sing for my Mommy...my favorite song is "Ahh, Ahh, Ah!"...translation, " I like to wiggle" from my Fisher Price Singin' Stage!!


(I think I'm still hungry!)


I love my dada...he is funny~he doesn't know I'm about to o.d. on tylenol!! (Mommy is laughing!)


Mommy puts me down for a nap, but I'm not tired...so I'll show her...I fall asleep playing with Cookie Monster and My teddy...this is how Mommy found me, aw shucks! I'll have to stay awake tomorrow!!

A lesson learned

I have been a wellspring of emotion recently...and not the kind of emotion most would expect from me. Instead of tears, I have been so easily offended and angered by a wide range of things....the biggest thing being not feeling as if I'm good enough to be friends with certain people.
I have been very lucky in my life, I was raised to know my self worth in Christ alone and never really dealt with any big self esteem issues. I am 26 years old and am feeling like I'm back in middle school. Now, I don't want to be too candid, b/c I don't want to call out the people that have brought these feelings to the surface, that's not fair, since this really is a personal issue I need to work out myself...but I did want to release some of the things that have welled up inside of me for the past week or so.
It amazes me how satan works...he sneaks into the most hidden places and rears his nasty head at just the right moment...but even more amazingly is how God works...He wraps Himself up in all of you, so that even in the most hurtful and emotional of times, you are comforted....b/c He fills you with the truth. Whether it be from His word, or family member or a friend...He delivers a perfect peace at just the right moment! I have been in prayer over my recent attitude and the Lord directed me to Colossians 4:6~"Let your conversation be always full of GRACE, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer to everyone." I love the simple way the Message says it: "Be gracious in your speech. The goal is to bring out the best in others in a conversation, not put them down, or cut them out."
At first when I read over the verse and began studying it, I was a little confused as to why God had pointed me here b/c Paul, the writer of Colossians is speaking to the church at Colosse and Laodicea and he is instructing them on how one should speak to a non-christian. As I studied deeper, I realized that the Lord was showing me how I am to treat others,regardless of whether or not they proclaim Him as their Savior, so that I would be treated the same way. Even though it was originally intended for a non believer, as a follower of God we should always be an authentic representation of His message. Jesus is all about love, acceptance, trust, etc....in my mind that is also what a true friend is all about, I mean, isn't Christ supposed to be or BEST friend?! So I am going to try my hardest to really live this verse. I may have had my feelings hurt, but instead of pouting about it any longer I am going to love that much more. I hope this made some sort of sense....and helps refocus your heart and mind as it did mine....I love the Lord, He is so good!!

Drumroll Please......

With the beautiful new layout, I decided I would start something new....every Wednesday will be Wordless Wednesday from now on. What does this mean you ask...it means that on Wednesdays you will be able to visit our blog and see a photo (or photos) of what the day held. I'm excited b/c I've felt like the pictures have been lacking, and also Katelyn is so stinkin' cute I feel like I need to share her face with all of you more often!! I hope you are as excited about this as I am...so, check back on Wednesday to see what picture(s) I post!!

TA DA!!!!

Here it is...the beautiful new layout I was telling you all about a few weeks ago!! Isn't it simply fabulous?! It would have been finished A Lot sooner if I wasn't such a procrastinator! I want to remind you all of my talented friend Becca that designed this for me....she is very talented, check her blog out here. Becca is a mommy to Jayci, an adorable six month old that I hope Katelyn becomes good friends with! I am so thankful for all the work Becca did for me on this, I hope all of you enjoy it as much as I do!!
Well, Katelyn has a little bit of a cruddy nose and gross cough that came out of nowhere, so we are heading to the doctor today....hopefully it's nothing!! I will update later! Have a blessed day!

The First Weekend of Spring!

This weekend was fabulous and not just b/c of the weather and fun activities that took place...Katelyn started waving hello and goodbye on Saturday and today she started crawling!! I still cannot believe it!
On Saturday the wonderful neighborhood we live in had a spring sidewalk sale and little carnival for all the residents. Jeremy and I walked down to the clubhouse with Katelyn, Dollie and Brodie, not anticipating the exciting events that would take place! As we walked around the sidewalk sale checking out "the goods" we ended up stopping to talk to one of the families that had a table set up with books and videos for children. They were complimenting Jeremy and I on how cute Katelyn is and were asking us questions about her when the man began to wave at Katelyn and say hi to her...all of a sudden Katelyn raised her arm and slowly began moving it up and down....I could not believe my eyes, she was waving!! To make sure it wasn't a fluke, I began to wave to her and she waved right back...I was so excited, I found all of our neighbors and made them wave to Katelyn so they could all see how amazing she was! She definitely knows what she is doing and it is so fun to be able to interact with her like that!
Now, I did not think that the weekend could get any better after the exciting milestone that took place yesterday, but today after I took Katelyn and Dollie on our daily walk we were in the basement talking with daddy as he was doing some trim work when all of a sudden Katelyn starts crawling across the room! Jeremy and I began laughing b/c it came out of nowhere! I mean for about a month now, she has been pulling up on furniture and even taking a few steps holding onto whatever piece of furniture she is standing next to....she has even been able to get on all fours for at least 3 weeks, but it was like she didn't want to crawl. She has been scooting on her behind ever since she was 6 months old and is very good at it. I thought maybe she just wouldn't crawl and the pediatrician had told me the same thing, since she was so mobile already. As a mom, even though I knew not all children crawl, I still wanted Katelyn to do it, I wanted to be able to check that milestone off the list and be proud of my daughter for being an over achiever and learning multiple ways of moving around!
Now that she has accomplished so much in one weekend, I find myself being a little bit sad that she is growing up so fast. It hasn't even been 10 months since she was born and already she is more of a "big girl" than she is a baby! I knew that time would fly by, but I never anticipated it going as fast as it has! I'm definitely going to be kissing Katelyn and holding her a lot more than usual this week as I try to hold onto my baby as long as she'll let me!!