Turner - 18 months

I can't believe Turner is already 1.5 years old....18 months...___ days old (i don't know how many days old)

Lil' man is growing and learning so much every day. I want to remember this stage so here I am to document it all!

We had his 18 month ped. appointment yesterday.
Weight: 27.6lbs
Height: 2'9"
He's in 70+% for both.

He goes to bed everyday around 7:30 and is up during the week @ 7:15, 8 on the weekends.
Just transitioned him to one nap a day. He took only one nap at daycare the last 3+ months, but would still take 2 for us on weekends...but he has since transitioned.

Turner eats GREAT and is not too picky. He has off days with food like any human and there are days when we can't feed him enough. His favorite is anything with pasta.

Turner has grown so much in the last 6 months and I want to remember this age and everything he is learning on a daily basis...

• Turner can say 7  animal sounds - dog, monkey, cow, lion, kitten, horse, sheep
• He can also tell us what the sound a train makes
• Turner can point to his nose, tummy eyes, ears, head, mouth, and toes
• He will do what you ask of him. If we ask to sit in chair so we can put on his shoes, he does. Ask him to drink his milk, he does. Feed the dog, he does...goes on and on.
• Dances to Ellen every week day
• Loves to Facetime family on the iPad
• Points to objects in book that we ask him to, banana, apple, ball, baby
• Says 'HOT' when we sees steam and says 'BRRR' when he feels cold
• Gives high fives and knuckles
• Plays peekaboo
• Climbs up and down from couch on his own
• Will lay down and assume the position when I ask to change his diaper
• LOVE LOVE LOVES to read books and will grab one and sit in your lap for you to read to him. He also will read them on his own with his gibberish talk...cutest thing.
• Throws balls
• Knows how to freak me out
• Blows kisses...especially when we Facetime family
• Says 'uh-oh' whenever he drops something or something falls over
• Throws tantrums if you say no or won't give him something
• Vacuuming is a favorite hobby :)
• Says please all the time...it's the cutest thing!
• Taken his first swimming lessons
• Brushes his teeth
• Picks up all his toys and puts them away if we ask.
• Goes up and down stairs at a speed that is too fast for me ;)
• Puts lids on tupperware or his toy containers
• Stacks blocks...6 high
• Put all the correct shapes in the proper holes on at toy he has
• Has 2 wooden puzzles - one of shapes and the other animals. Can put all puzzle pieces in correct spot at a rapid speed
• We bought a potty for him to become familiar with and HE LOVES IT. We have him sit on it before bath time and he will do it the second we say, potty. He has yet to actually go to the bathroom in it, but to him, sitting on it is fun
• Still has no interest in TV...will not sit longer than 30 seconds watching something...and we are OK with that.
• Has gone camping twice since turning one...went horrible first time and spectacular the second time.

swimming lessons with Dada

puzzles...one of his favorite things

I am totally OK with this obsession :)

Loves helping feed his puppy

Bedtime stories with Uncle Nick

Camping trip over Labor Day Weekend

Thankful

To say I am thankful for the life I have been blessed with is an understatement! I don't know what I did to deserve this...but you better believe I thank God every single day for it! I try so hard each and every day to not take it for granted because I know that it could all change in an instance.

Some things I am so thankful for...

Tate...where do I even begin. This man has the most patience of anyone I know. He gets me like no on else does and he truly is my very best friend. I love living life with him and love every challenge or bump we encounter because we grow as a couple during it! Life with him in it is so good!

Turner...so so so lucky to be his mama! A love I never knew existed! Being his mom is my greatest accomplishment! Every day I try to be a better person for him. I want to make him so proud to call me his mama! He makes me smile and laugh every single day! Life with him is so much better!!

Our home...another thing I thank God every night that I have. I thank him for this roof over my head that I get to call home. A warm and dry place to eat dinner, sleep and love my family in each and every day is something to truly be thankful for! Tate and I work very hard to have this and know that God blessed us with it.

Family and friends...I love everything about all these people. Each and every person is special to me. I'm so thankful I have them to laugh with, cry with and to share this life with.

Health...my health, my families health and my friends health! Cancer is word that is far too common these days. Sure, I have had skin cancer, but what I went through is NOTHING compared to the people that fight for their lives each and every day that are living with this horrible disease. I so thankful that I am healthy and so is all my loved ones. I pray every day though that they find a cure. I also pray for those that are fighting this disease.

I hope you all have a wonderful and blessed Thanksgiving!

Ed's Engagement Weekend

What a weekend.

We knew this weekend was going to happen since August and to have it finally be here and now over with...is so surreal.

Tate's best friend shared with us back in August he wanted to propose to his girlfriend...and he wanted it to be in MN with all of us there (he lives in Milwaukee)!! I didn't believe the  news @ first because I honestly thought it would take Ed forever to find 'the one'! Well...he found his one and true love and she said YES!!!

Ed had Tate help him plan the evening along with Ed's good friend that lives in MN, Amy. He rented a private room @ The Prohibition. He asked Jennessa's best friends (4 of them) to come to MN for the event. They all did which was awesome. 1 from LA, 1 from Texas, 1 from Chicago and the other from Milwaukee. All of Ed's good friends came to town for the proposal also...South Dakota, Illinois and then the rest of us already lived in MN.

Jennessa (in red) and her best friends

Ed and his boys!

Ed and Jennessa flew in Friday afternoon and had a fun night catching up with friends. Saturday afternoon they came to our house to hang out with us and Turner. In Jennessa's mind this was the only time she was going to see us until the Vikings vs Packers game on Sunday. They left and it was time for Tate and I to get ready. My mom was here to watch Turner so we decided to have ourselves a little date night before the celebration! 

We enjoyed sushi at Crave before the party. We got to The Prohibition and enjoyed seeing everyone before the couple arrived. Ed and Jennessa went to dinner before and Ed kept texting Tate that he couldn't eat or drink because he was so nervous.

The couple finally arrived. We had her best friends standing right @ the entrance of the private room so that she would see them right away, hug them and that would give Ed a chance to get down on one knee. She was so excited to see her friends and Ed nervously got down on one knee. He was shaking, it was adorable.

She was SO SURPRISED. She was not expecting this at all...which it makes it so much better. We celebrated the night away. So much fun!!!

The happy and super adorable couple!

We partied the night away. Stayed out longer than I have in a really long time! Didn't get to bed until past 2 am and I knew we had to wake early in the morning not only because of our lil' guy....but also because we were planning on going to the Vikings vs Packers football game.

We met up in the morning for some good breakfast and bloody's. Then cheered on the Vikings (Tate, Ed & Jennessa cheered on the Packers) on the beautiful day. So perfect for an outdoor football game. 

Even though I was disappointed that the Vikings lost, it was a good game that really came down to the end. 

It was such a fun weekend and now we can't wait for the wedding! So so so happy for Ed that God brought Jennessa into his life! These 2 are perfect for each other and I am so happy for them! 

After the game...we went back to our house where every one was a bit tuckered out (including Mya)! Turner just wanted to play play play. Ed and Jennessa actually fell asleep and I caught Turner trying to wake them up to play. It was so cute!!!!

I hope you all had a good weekend also! Cheers to a short work week and a few days of celebrating with family and friends!

MN Family Weekend

This weekend was a FUN one. I threw my sister a bridal shower with all her friends and we celebrated Thanksgiving with my Dad's side of the family tree. I love spending time with family and Turner sure loves all the attention!

My sisters wedding shower was 'Jamaica' theme since she's getting married there in February. I had fun planning this with her best friend and it went off with a bang! 

We enjoyed mimosas, brunch and one fun game of 'How well do you know the Bride...'

Hannah got many great gifts and many ladies had great suggestions for the 'date night jar' I made for her. 

Then on Sunday, my Grandma hosted Thanksgiving for my Dad's side of the family since most of us were busy this weekend coming up. (She alternates having holidays on the actually holiday day every other year). We will be attending the Viking vs Packer game this weekend and will be in WI on Thanksgiving celebrating with our WI family.

My brother reading Turner his bedtime story...so adorable!

I love everything about spending time with family and counting my blessings. I am so grateful for my family and Turner to have such special people to love on him. He was one tired boy Sunday evening...practically asking to have his bath so he could go to bed. 

I long for the weekends but never wish away time. I cherish each and every minute of every day...each day is a blessing and I will always be thankful that I get to live this life that God blessed me with!

God is so good!!!

This makes me cry every time I watch it!!! 

God is amazing and is so good!

The power of prayer...it can do miracles! Miracles happen every day...always BELIEVE!!!

Stories // David William from Church Project on Vimeo.

Halloween 2014

Another favorite holiday of mine as come and gone. Another one where I did not dress up (super sad face) and I borrowed Turner's costume! I'll do anything to save money...and I will while Turner can't tell me what he wants to be for Halloween ;)

We also had something else in mind for our costumes this year but when the whether got super cold...it called for a costume change.

Turner has a Halloween party @ daycare on Friday. He was a dinosaur this year.

Look how cute they all look!!! Also...the pic on the top right, cracks me up!!

We had fun that evening. We started by taking Turner to a few houses on our block of the neighbors we knew.

This picture...it melts my heart!!!

Turner and a few of the neighbor kids!!!

Another successful Halloween holiday in the books. So excited for next year!!!

October Fall Fun - part 2

Seriously...this month is the BEST month ever and I will do everything in my power to fit as much 'fun' stuff in as I can. It's been a busy month but I wouldn't have it any other way...when it's busy, it's joyous!!!

Another beautiful weekend in October, we hit up the Apple Orchard right by our house for some fun with my sister and mom.

Turner was scared of the lil' tractor ride. We were seated right behind the tractor so I think that's why. He did smile big and screech with excitement when a couple walked by with a dog...he wanted to climb out to get the dog. He sure does love puppies!

We also explored the barn where all the apple items were. My sister ordered cider and an apple turnover and Turner & I shared ice cream with caramel on it!!!

On another weekend...we were still having beautiful fall weather so we raked leaves and Turner loved playing in them.

Turner loved almost everything about playing in the leaves....he hated when we put him in the leaves!

Next on the fall fun agenda was pumpkin painting. I love carving pumpkins but don't have the patience for it. Tate also hates how long it takes and the mess it makes. So next best thing for us is painting...which equally makes a big mess with a toddler!

Had to remove the pants since he started painting them...

It's more fun painting myself mom!!!

Finished products! We are certainly not Picasso. I of course had a better vision in my head of what I wanted to do...but with limited time...this is what came about and it was fun! Turner loved it and memories were made!

I still can't believe October is already over. It came and went in a flash. I'll miss it and look forward to next October!!!

October Fall Fun - part 1

I can't believe this month is almost over...I hate seeing October end since it is my FAVORITE month!!!

We've had a lot of fun this month...so it's going in a 2 part post!

The first weekend of the month, Tate's family visited. There was also a clinic grand opening right by our house that we decided to go to. They had food, music, games, tours and FREE PUMPKINS!! It was fun and I am so glad we went!

Turner had his first apple and LOVED IT!!! I could not pry it away from his hands...I only got it when he dropped it and then he cried when I wouldn't give it back #toddlerproblems #itwasfullofdirt

(is it cool to hash tag while blogging...if not, who cares...my blog, my rules) ;)

Turner loved spending time with his Wisconsin family since he doesn't see them as often as we would all like. 

Coloring with his Grandma T.

The following weekend, we hit up the local farm...Country Sun Farm in Lake Elmo. We went there last year and had so much fun (even though Turner was only a few months old). I hope to make it a yearly tradition to go there. So much fun and so much for the little kiddos to do.

Turner had fun feeding the animals. His favorite were the goats.

Turner loved running around to all the different painted boards they had and seeing all the pumpkins. 

4 months and 16 months

I'm thinking if we go every year...I should make sure to get this photo!

I love him more and more every single day!!!!

Turner was obsessed with this scarecrow! We put in the 50 cents to make it dance and he loved it!!! He even danced along with it for a few seconds!

Making these amazing memories with Turner is so fun! My hear explodes with joy when I am with him and it smiles endlessly when I see Turner and Tate having the best relationship a father and son could have. I only pray that every day going forward is this good #nevergrowup ;)

No Place I'd Rather Be

I'm currently sitting here and the song 'Rather Be' comes on by Clean Bandit. I've never listened to the words of the song (or any song hence the reason I always get them wrong when I try to sing the song)...but this phrase stuck to me...'No Place I'd Rather Be'.

It's true...there is no other place I would rather be in my life than where I am today.

As of today and each day forward...

I'm a Believer.

I'm a Wife to this incredible man with the most patience of anyone I know.

I'm a Mother to the funniest, loving lil' man in the world.

I'm a Daughter!

I'm a Sister!

I'm a Friend!

I'm a CPA!

I'm weird, crazy, hard working, frugal, funny, etc.

There are many words that can define me buy so many different people. 

On this day 3 years ago...a new chapter in life began and it's the chapter that I never want to end. Having Tate by my side for all these memories, blessing and life moments is truly a gift. 

There really is no place I'd rather be!

Happy 3 years babe...cheers to many many more!

XOXO,

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