"Not So Sure About You, Mama…"

Maryn turns one at the end of this week, and I can't quite comprehend that fact, much less write about it.  OOOOOH, so many emotions.

As I prepare her 12 month update, finalize her party plans, wallow in nostalgia and cry "where did my baby go?", I've been looking at lots of baby pictures.  (Probably should be printing pictures for her untouched baby book, but….)

These monthly progressions totally crack me up.  I do have lots of monthly photos where she is giggling and smiling, but each month contains at least one of these "???" faces.   It's a good thing I am a second-time Mama, because this look of suspicion on my daughter's face is pretty intimidating.  I promise, sweet girl, I do know what I'm doing.  (Sort of.)

Best Buds - JB and Mac

When we were in Atlanta this past week, JB got to spend a lot of time with his best buddy, Mac. He'd been talking about Mac all week, asking if were going to "Mac's lake house or Mac's house house?" Once they got to his "house house", the boys played, wrestled, chased, rode vehicles, watched Paw Patrol, watched Open Season, and ate wholesome food. (Just kidding, those boys barely slowed down to eat most of the weekend.)  I love watching their sweet friendship grow as they get older!

Sissy tried her best to keep up with the boys, and was highly entertained by all their crazy antics. She'll be right there with them in a year or so!  

Thanks for the hospitality, McLeod Family!  It's always a fun time with you three!

Birthdays Galore!

James' family had so many birthdays to celebrate over the past 30 days that we combined everything together into one big party.  And fortunately we got to attend!  Kids got to see their fam, receive lots of love and attention, plus make the Atlanta rounds to play in old stomping grounds.  A great weekend.

After a very large dinner spread (lasagna, salad and garlic bread), it was time for the cake.  We all know the Copeland sisters can make a good cake, but who knew they could rock a CARROT CAKE! So very good, it may be the type I request next birthday...

(In all their cake making they forgot to buy candles.  Tapestry candles from the hurricanes in the formal dining room for the win!)

My son can eat three bites of chicken and be "so full", but an entire slice of cake and ice cream have no trouble fitting in that teeny tiny belly of his.  

And I guess his sister is going to take after JB, loving the cake and ice cream that we have at all these parties!

Speaking of little sister, her new trick - funny faces.  I saw that nose wrinkle up every time I got out my camera!

The only person who did not enjoy the birthday (or cake and ice cream):  Nugget.  Maybe if he could stop trying to attack my kiddos... :)  (JUST KIDDING, Aunt Wyllene, I know he's trying to "play")

Since it was a late night and we had to drive back to our friend's house, the kiddos were promptly put into PJs after cake.  Then we attempted some family pictures.  After cake.  Not my brightest moment.

SOOOOOO much sugar.  But SOOOOO worth it to spend time with our family.  

Happy Birthday to You, Happy Birthday to You, Happy Birthday Dear Aunt Wyllene, Aunt Nicole, Uncle Chris, and Cousin Ro-ob, Happy Birthday to You!  

First Day of Pre-K for JB!

Finally!!!  We bought school supplies weeks ago, his new monogrammed backpack came in last week, his drawers are filled with new fire truck and tractor t-shirts (about all he'll wear right now). It's getting cooler outside (a brisk 96 degrees yesterday).  Back-to-School time is here!

JB is at the same Preschool again this year, although a new classroom (younger 2s/older 3s).  I worried about a move because he loooooooved Ms. Nee Nee so much.  He even tried to escape the pews to go see her during orientation last week, and wouldn't go to his new classroom until he hugged Ms Nee Nee in her classroom.  Fortunately his new teachers seem equally as sweet, and he came home from school talking all about "Ms. Sirly" (Shirley) and "Ms. 'Nanette" (Annette).  It also helped that most of his besties from last year moved up, too.

He humored me for a few pics at our house on the porch, but I couldn't get him to sit still or smile for more than a second.  He kept saying he wanted to go NOW (which sounds like "na-yul" with his new Southern twang.)  (Oh, and my camera fogged up. Ah, Middle Georgia.)

Once we arrived, he walked right in, got some pictures, beelined for the bin of trucks and tractors where his friend, John Gordon, played, and didn't even look up when we left.  SO PROUD OF HIM! A few kiddos were losing it, and I patted a parent on the back and said "been there!  it gets better!"

He came home at noon, a little tired and cranky. Signs of a successful, active morning.  :) We look forward to a great year in Preschool, and all the learning and growing that comes along with it.

Funny little JB

JB cracks me up every day - where in the world does he learn these phrases!  And he's quite animated with these new expressions.  Some of this I blame on Peppa Pig (she's quite a sassy influence, isn't she?)

I sometimes take the kids to the pool after work, especially when James travels and I need to escape the house. It's always empty at 5:30 and allows us to chill on the steps in relative peace.  He was on a roll the other day with the following funnies:

A little girl stepped into the pool and he said to her "what's your name, little girl?" 

He took a pool toy from the side and when I explained it wasn't his toy he proclaimed "Well, it's my toy now!!"

Sissy squeals a lot in the pool (she loves the water) and it apparently got on JB's nerves.  He sighed and said "quit talking all your loud baby talk, Sissy!"

I wrapped a towel around my waist when I got out of the pool and he yelled "Mama, what are you wearing?!?!?" as if my outfit choice was horrifying.

I brought Puffs in the pool bag and told JB he had to share with Maryn.  He told me, matter-of-factly "I will share with Sissy, but YOU don't let her eat them all"

Then, after he shared, he sweetly smiled and said "I shared with Sissy. Does that make you so happy?!"

There was a summer BBQ at the pool in June where they served food and dessert.  So of course on this trip he asked for a cookie.  When I told him they didn't have cookies he exclaimed "But they had cookies last year, Mama!" 

how we roll

Back at home he had a few zingers, too:

 

When it was time for us to read bedtime books, he said  "You read a book by yourself and I watch umizoomie/Peppa/Paw Patrol on your phone, okay?"

He's got a summer cold and a stopped up nose.  When I get out the Nose Frida he says "Don't suck out my nose, it makes me sooooo sad."  (The kid needs to learn to blow his nose, what is the developmental age for that important milestone?!)

This also totally cracks me up :  when I ask him to do something or eat something he doesn't want to do/eat, he says "no please" (instead of "no thank you")

And finally, COUNTING. He counts out everything these days.  He attended another summer camp with Ms. Amanda at The Learning Tree, and they focused on ABCs and numbers.  The teachers relayed a funny story:  someone gentled reprimanded a child who wouldn't listen with "(Child's Name), that's one.  that's two" and JB stood up and proudly finished "that's three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine and TEN!!!"  

Ms. Amanda

We love our sweet, funny little rascal!!

Maryn Elizabeth - 11 Months Old!

Oh this sweet, precious girl.  How is it my last monthly update before she turns ONE YEAR OLD? Next month I'll write about my toddler.  So let me share Maryn's last update as a baby.  

Physically there have been so many changes (will get to that in a bit), but personality-wise Maryn remains an easy-going, happy little gal.  I read an article the other day about "how to keep your child still during diaper changes" when it hit me - she has never fought us one time for a diaper or wardrobe change.  Never ever.  She lies there, looks up and smiles.  She loves her baths, tolerates hair washing, goes into her crib without a fuss, wakes up and plays in her crib without demanding attention, rides in the car fairly well (as long as we're not driving through a meal time).  The only time she really gets upsets is if her Mama leaves the room or someone is eating food in front of her. Those two things will send our little redhead over the edge. She also had a crying fit when her bottom two teeth (finally) broke through, at the same time, ugh.  Broke my heart, but I told her that teeth would allow her to eat more - that news made her so happy!

Maryn is still very happy on a hip, although she also loves to roam.  She crawls super fast, can cruise around walls and furniture with ease, and, last week, started walking unassisted!!  At only 10.75 months old!!  Now, she still prefers crawling and cruising, but as soon as she builds confidence in those chubby* legs she'll be unstoppable.  

(*Actually, with all the movement, Maryn is losing those precious leg rolls!  What will I pinch if she leans out!?)  

Sweet Maryn is also, well, super sweet. She has started to "give loves" (laying her head on you if you ask for a love), tries to feed you her bottle, beelines towards fuzzy blankets or animals and rubs them all over her face, and pats people on the head.  Mama weaned her on July 4th (10 months + 1 day), and she didn't punish me as I had feared (joking).  In fact, she's started to say "mamamamama" this month!

Giving the blanket "loves"

So here we go!  Maryn's eleven  month stats:

Maryn's Measurements -

• Weight: 19lbs 1 oz

Month 11 Milestones -

• Walked!
• First teeth (two bottoms) have just poked through!
• Says "mama" (sort of, but I'm calling it!)

At 11 Month Old,  Maryn...

…Eats 3 formula bottles and 1 frozen breastmilk bottle a day, but her liquid diet is on the decline.  She loves food - loooooooooooves to eat.  She hums and sings as she feeds herself (she doesn't want anyone to feed her - that's for babies!)  Favorites includes broccoli, pasta, avocado, cottage cheese, scrambled eggs, fruit, and cheerios.  She does not like corn or purees.

…Sleeps very well!  Still two solid naps a day, and does best when in bed by 7:30PM. Maryn's also sleeping in later in the mornings (thank you, doll!)  She wears herself out during the waking hours with all the moving and shaking.

…Wears mostly 12 month clothes, but moved into 18 month rompers and PJs (girlfriend is still so long waisted!)  

…Loves cruising; pulling things off the shelves and out of the drawers; bathtime; finding JB when we play hide-n-seek; unrolling toilet paper; crawling around with a little stuffed animal (or a Little People figure) in her mouth (I call her "mama cat")

…Does not like when we try and make her walk - she'll walk when she darn well pleases!

Month Eleven - our sweet baby girl is wrapping up her babyhood.  #allthefeels

Previous Updates on Maryn:

• Birth Story
• One Month
• Two Months
• Three Months
• Four Months
• Five Months
• Six Months
• Seven Months
• Eight Months
• Nine Months
• Ten Months

JB's Eleven Month Update  (How do they Compare?): JB - 11 Months Old