Speed Blogging: January-Present

My point and shoot was bursting, so I decided to finally blog it.

Who knew a cardboard box could entertain us all weekend?


This is my life saver! You better believe I wiped this down for approximately 1 hour, before she got in.

Kate and her buddy playing in the closet!
And my brillant, (if I do say so myself,) idea so they don't slam the doors on their fingers.

Friday afternoon, and Saturdays we have been going to Jump N Shout. Kate gets scared, but secretly likes it.

We love our new Cafe Rio. Just discovered the deliciousness that is sweet pork.
Kate has a fun Papa.

Kate pushing her Lunchable around in her doll stroller.
Love her. Love her.
Warm weather, come back. It was fun.
Kate helps unload the dishwasher. We start 'em young in the Taylor home.
Breakfast in bed. I have the best husband ever.
She loves her sleep.
This is all of Kate's loot. She wants to bring all of it out her crib, every morning, and after nap. It includes, "Deer", "BoBo", Binky, big pink blanket, and small pink blanket.
So proud of this face she created! Ugliest thing I have ever seen!
One day she went through the cupboard, and found this Beef Barley Soup. She was so obsessed with, she had to take it with us everywhere that day. I thought it was funny, so I let her. Why the heck not? Life is too short to leave the beef barely at home.
Dinner and Game night with friends! We love our friends! And Kate loves Chad and Carly SO MUCH. She did not move from her spot next to them the whole night.
Saturday morning donuts, she just likes the icing and sprinkles...
First real hair cut...not such a fan.
Love my Naners.
How cute is Kate's outfit from Grandma Pam? (Who Kate keeps calling "LaLa"! I like it!)
Those those chubby rosy cheeks.
Date Night
Stroller, baby, diaper bag, sunglasses.
Christmas Present. Scary.
Cleaning up Christmas decorations and mess! Like mother, like daughter.

Phew...

Note to Self: Don't forget...

Kate and I went to Disneyland today.
Just her and I. Me and my little person.
And fun, we had!
Life has seemed busy lately, and I was wanting some fun one on one time with my baby. When we pulled up, I looked in my review mirror, and she almost burst with excitement when she realized where we were. She yelled, "Yay!" and threw her arms up in the air.

I love how she kept saying, "Mickey, Pluto, Goofy". I love how close she sat next to me on the monorail. I love how tightly she held my hands in Snow White. I love how little and warm and chubby those hands felt in mine. I love how she says, "castle" when she sees any tall building. I loved the look in her eye when she saw a real "castle" today. I love that she isn't bugging me for cotton candy or curros yet, but wants more raisins. I loved our lunch of PB&J sitting on a bench in front of the castle. I love how excited she got when she saw the ducks. I love how nervous she gets when we get too close to any of the Disney characters. I love her diapered buns in leggings.

I love my little girl. I really want to cherish this time that I have with her. I know in the future, when there are more little kids around, we can't fly by the seat of our pants as much.
I love that we can decide to go to Disneyland, and we are in the car minutes later. She is my little buddy, and always up for anything.
I love my Kate.

ps. And no photos, because I just wanted to take in the day, and decided to leave it at home.

Dear Spring,

Will you ever come?
I really miss you.
XO,
Me

p.s. I secretly miss your friend Summer the most.

scenes from a sunday morning in february

lazy

hyper
bonding

comfortable

Milestone

This little sassy girl said her first full sentence tonight.
We were in my parents front yard tonight. She had her back to us and was looking up into the sky and I was looking at her thinking how babyish she looked with her pig tails, and cute diapered buns.
Then she said, "I see the moon!" And then began to jump and tried with all her tiny might to grab the moon.
She is not such a baby anymore. I am so proud of my big girl!

ps. (This photo was Friday around 5pm when I realized I didn't have anything for dinner, so I threw her in the car, as is, and went to Trader Joes, she definitely got a lot of attention!)

Update on the Mr. and Mrs.

This blog use to me all about Matt and I.
It is much more cute and interesting since Kate entered our lives. However, I want to remember what Matt and I were up to in 2010, when we are old and wrinkled.

...........................
Ani:

I am enjoying decorating our first home. A lot of my time is spent scouring design magazines, and blogs, and chasing down some good deals. I am currently serving in the nursery at church, which is fun since Kate is in there. Kate and I spent a lot of time at the park, (at least 4 days a week). I am part of a really fun work out group that meets three days a week at a park as well. Having fun with my new Cricut and sewing machine. Still making bows. And still snapping away with my camera and studying photography. Just purchased my first film analog camera. I watch a little boy (Kate's age) all day Tuesdays, and for a few hours on Wednesdays...saving up for a new camera! Just went back to Weight Watchers, so my frequent baking is going to stop! I feel really blessed, to have a warm cozy home, a healthy and happy daughter, and a sweet husband that provides for us.
...........................
Matt:

Matt has been very busy at work. He works for an internet marketing company and recently was promoted, and is now an account executive. He leaves at 7:30ish, and comes home around 6. He is playing church basketball, and is on a softball team. He is the Emergency Preparedness Leader in our new ward. He tries to fit in surfing when he can, which is not very often. We are stingy with our time with him. Weekends are usually spend going back and forth to Lowe's and completing home projects. We call him "Handy Manny" around here. And he just said, "And I am spending time with you girls, doing fun things!"
.......................

That sounds a bit like those awesome "brag letters" you get around Christmas time right? It's my blog, and I'll brag if I want to, brag if I want to...

My best friend calls me Mama.

This is my best friend.

She is chubby.

She talks a ton.
She loves "trees". (Broccoli)
She goes everywhere with me.
She has cute buns.
She is short.
She has a really funny laugh.
She loves her stuffed "deer".
She really enjoys nap time.
She is beautiful.

She has some awesome dance moves.
She sings, "Lalalalalala".
Likes to color.
She wears her hair in pigtails.

She loves to "read" books.
She loves rasins and veggie straws.
She likes to cook at her kitchen.
She is obsessed with suckers.
She knows what she wants, and how to get it.
She likes to push her dolls around in a stroller.
She still holds my hand a lot.
She is 21 months.
She calls me Mama.
I am proud to have that title.

Out of the mouth of my babe...

Kate loves her cartoons. Handy Manny use to be a favorite. Yesterday while it was on she handed me the remote, shook her head no, and said, "no like Manny!"

Sitting in her car seat, she randomly said, "Awesome! Chooo Chooo!"

Without fail, every time she toots, she looks at me, smiles, and says, "Tooter!"

Most mornings, the first thing out of her mouth is, "Canny! Suckers! Chocate!" (Candy, suckers, chocolate) She gets it from her sweet-toothed father, and her chocolate loving mother.

She is learning her colors, and loves yelling them out when she sees like at Target. "Lellow, bluuuue, red, ornch."

She is very polite, and when given something she says, "Tank you, Welcome!"

We are dog sitting my mom's dog, and she got on Kate's lap in the car, and Kate got nervous, and said, "Sadie! It hurtin! Mama, hurtin'!" So I told her to hold on, so I could stop, and she relied, "Hurtin'! Hold onnn!"

Whenever she wants to leave where we are she says, "Purse!!!" or lately, "My home!"


Today at Jump and Shout, we were climbing up the blow up slide, and Kate looked over my shoulder and yelled, "Come on, my Dada!" And then blew him kisses. Yesterday when we were there, she took a little fall, and told me "Purse, my home, scared!"

My Funny Girl

9:45 am today, when she finally woke up.
I got her up at midnight to snuggle and could not stop kissing those cheeks!

Honestly? She had no idea the Cherrio was on her face. This makes me laugh so hard! 10 minutes later she discovered it and ate it!She thinks she is funny trying to touch my lens. Not funny!
Watching the rain, with a snack, and a blanket. Her life is sweet.
Kate and her buddy Wyatt having a little mud party.
She loves sitting at her table, coloring in her Tinkerbell coloring book, with a little snack.
She is one busy lady!

I am sitting here with smeared mascara and puffy eyes, yet again.

Accidents have always happened, and always will. But, unless it is someone you know personally, you do not usually follow the pain and the suffering and the details of the heartache. That was, until people started blogging.

I want to read, I want to know, and I want to think about and pray for these poor families, but is it making me into a crazy person? Is it better not to know? I was telling my mom about a terrible story just yesterday I read on a blog, and she said, "Oh, you girls need to stop reading those blogs!"

But, I honestly think that I appreciate how much my husband loves me, how full of life my daughter is, and how much joy I truly have in my simple life; because I have read over and over again, how things can change in a matter of seconds. I think I am more careful. I think I am more paranoid. And I think that is why a lot of these heartbroken mothers post their hearts for us to see. I will never leave my car unlocked while parked. I will never leave the bathroom while Kate is in the bath. I will always hold her hand in the parking lot. I always thought, "that could never happen to me", but, these mommy bloggers are me.

After I was finished reading and crying this afternoon, I got onto Facebook, and saw some update about Lost. And how amazing it was. Or how lame it was. The point is, why do I care what someone I haven't seen in 10 years thinks about a TV show?! Trivial. I don't want to be distracted from important moments, and people in my life. These mother's blogs have brought perspective into my life. For that, I am grateful.

I can't not read. I can't not listen, when they need to tell. I can't not take heed to their warnings. And, I can't not pray and ask for miracles to happen. Because they can happen, and do happen.

FHE

We have been trying our best to do Family Night every Monday with Kate. It is sometimes, (mostly) a struggle to get her to sit for our 1 minute lesson, but she is getting better.

Lesson:
Last night we taught her that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ love her. I went through the whole family saying, "Kate, Mama, and Dada love you. And Grammy and Papa, and Grandma Pam, and Grandpa Nigel. Shel, and Danielle, and Mike, and Joel, Tyler, Jake, Addie, Carter...." And she got super close to my face and just sat so still listening to all the people that love her. And then we told her that Heavenly Father, and Jesus love her just as much, and even more. She was so quiet, and then folded her arms, and closed her eyes. Is was very cute. So, we ended right there with a quick prayer.

Activity:
Dance Party, fun for us, fun for her, and burns off the last bit of energy before bed.
The Dance Party playlist: (Not very spiritual)

You Make my Dreams - Hall & Oates
That's Not My Name- Ting Tings
I Gotta Feeeling- Black Eyed Peas
Meet Me Halfway-Black Eyed Peas
Jungle Drum- Emiliana Torrini

Treat: Cookies baked while we danced in the kitchen. Warm cookies and ice cream are perfect together.

Such a fun night!

Kate and Jenna

We are really loving our new ward. I feel like we have already made some really good friends! My cute friend Robyn offered to watch Kate for a few hours for us. We brought Kate over in PJs, and her friend Jenna was wearing the same ones. Too cute!

Kate loves Jenna, and asks for her almost everyday! We are so thankful for our new friends!

How to make a bird feeder (with a one year old).

Go outside and search find ONE pine cone. Kate is an over achiever. (Rinse outside first. Lots of little bugs hiding in those pine cones!) Tie a long string around the fat end of the pine cone to later hang the bird feeder with.

Put cereal, oatmeal, raisins, crasins, etc., into a baggie and shake. Kate prefers to shake things with her mouth. Using a large spoon, smash up contents of baggie. If you are doing this with your one year old, I would suggest not getting too close.
Cover pine cone with peanut butter. One year olds looove peanut butter. Cover pine cone with mixture! Kate was not too interested in sharing with the birds.
Then hang your feeder!

Forever Changing

Kate, jan.1.2010

It seems like yesterday she was a tiny newborn in my arms. Instead of nursing, and rocking, and checking her a million times a night, I am chasing her, wiping her nose, dancing with her, and asking for her help to unload the dishwasher.
I feel like yesterday I was just teaching her to roll over, to eat rice cereal, to crawl, and to drink from a sippy. Now, I teacher her manners, to share and so say "please" and "thank you". I teach her colors, and numbers and ABC's. To brush her teeth and and wash her hands, and how to close her eyes and fold her arms to pray.

Dear Time, where have you gone?
Will you always be this greedy?
If so, how do I dare take my eyes off my child for a second, for fear that I might
miss
something?

I see how fast my daughter is changing before my eyes, and realize this time is precious. I value each and every waking moment with her. (And sometimes enjoy sneaking in her room to watch her sleep, and hold her like a "baby" since she won't let me do that anymore.)
I love this life. I love being a mother.
I love my Kate.