11 Months!

Well, here we are, the last month you will be called a "baby" on my Babycenter updates. Don't worry, pretty girl, you are still very much my baby. Even though, this month, out of all others, you seem to have really grown up. Your chubby baby cheeks have thinned, and your beginning to loose a little of your babyish look. Ughhh...it's going by too fast. How in the world are you almost a year old?


Here is what you have been up to this month:

• You are an awesome eater, and pretty much have whatever we are eating. However, meat seems to be your preference. Turkey, chicken, and pork tenderloin are some of your favorites. You hate macaroni, which completely perplexes me. Who hates macaroni??
• You sign "more" consistently now and understand what it will get you. I love this!! You also say the word "more", but I'm not sure if you know what it means or if your just repeating me.
• Speaking of repeating, that is your new favorite thing. You try and say everything we are saying. Mommy and Daddy have really started to monitor the words that are coming out of our mouths.
• Your walking, and just yesterday, began to run...Oh, Lord.
• you climb on everything and spend  a good hour climbing in and out of your rocking chair and toy box.
• You blow kisses
• You also give kisses. First you lean in and pretty much eat our faces then make the "kiss" noise.
• Are loving/hugging on your dolls and toys. This melts my heart.
• Saying Momma, Dadda, puppa (puppy), bye-bye, hello and ni-ni (night-night) regularly, and understand what these words mean.
• You like to brush your own hair now
• Try to put your bows in your hair.
• you also take your own bows out. All the time...and your socks too, for that matter.
• When I pull your socks and shoes out of your drawer, you hold your feet out for me. However, you don't stay like this long enough for me to actually get them on without chasing you.
• you love to carry things on your arm. My purse weighs more than you, but you still manage to walk around with it.
• you have expanded your incredible dancing skills. You used to just bounce, but now you bounce and try to stand on your toes.
• have started biting. Ughh...I do NOT like this, and am not sure how to handle it. You don't do it out of anger. You just bite.
• and  will not stay still enough for me to change your diaper or clothes. You hate it, and let me know it. This also goes for putting you in the car.
• You love to talk on the phone! You pick up whatever object is near you and hold it to your ear and say "hello". 
• point at objects.
• are wearing 6-12 months and 9 months (but are slowely making your way to 12 months), and size 3 diapers and shoes.
• You have 3.5 teeth on top, and still just the 2 on the bottom.

Presley Elizabeth, I do not know how you have grown up so fast ?? However, each month just gets more and more fun. Just last night, you had daddy and I rolling on the floor laughing (which happens quite often). You have brought so much joy and laughter into our household, and even though I'm exhausted at the end of the day, I wouldn't have it any other way. We love you to the moon and back, baby girl.

As you can see, pictures are becoming increasingly difficult to take. You NEVER stop moving!

Wordless(ish) Wednesday: I Guessed Wrong

Congrats to my sister and brother in law on their sweet baby boy!!!

On the Road Again...

Presley and I are headed out to Georgia to see my sister in law, so I will be MIA for a bit. I was out of town last week too, but had enough time to pre-write/schedule my posts. We got back from Houston on Monday evening, and are flying out for trip #2 tomorrow afternoon. Holy cow!!!! I'm exhausted and haven't even begun my next trip! Packing/traveling is stressful enough, but adding a little one to the mix adds another level of CRAZY.

So why am I doing it you ask?? Well, do you remember this little announcement? My sister in law is due in April with baby #1, and she is having a gender reveal party. I know! I can't believe it's already that time either!?! Her pregnancy is flying by... at least for me anyway.

I have desperately tried to catch up with everyone's blogs, but am probably going to just get more behind. I can't wait to see what everyone has been up to while I'm gone. I'm sure my next post will be all about my sweet niece or nephew to be!!!

I personally feel like this little babe is a girl, just in case you were wondering.

Wordless Wednesday: Cousin Christmas Picture FAIL

You Squeak, I Squeak...

We all squeak for Wee Squeaks!

I totally should have added this to my Christmas/birthday post.  Now that it's getting colder and Presley is walking more and more,  I have been on the hunt for shoes. I've found it really hard to find a shoe that stays on Presley's foot, has enough flexibility that she can still use her tippy toes,  has a slip resistant sole, and aren't hard for her to walk in.  That's not too much to ask right? Well, recently I have hit the baby shoe lottery.

When I was at canton with my Mom, I found a couple of pairs of baby crocs and they're great (ha! I sound like Tony the Tiger). The wide sole makes it very easy for her to balance, and they clean up super easy. Then I was shopping with my mother in law and found the cutest shoes by Weesqueak, which is exactly what they do! Presley was having a blast when she figured out they made noise. Here is a little video of her walking in them.

And not only do they meet all my requirements, but they are pretty darn cute!

Then the very next day, I was out shopping with my MIL again (anyone see a theme here. I think I need to lay off the shopping) and we stumbled upon more squeaky shoes.

These are by I Frogee and slip on super easy. They make an adorable pair of camo ones for boys, by the way.

And yes....you CAN take the squeaky part out!

Video Post: She's on the move!

 She doesn't walk for very long in this one, but she is showing off her new skillz...a little clappin', a little walkin'

Wordless Wednesday: Finally going through my camera phone gallery

Stella & Dot

Hey ladies!!!

I'm now selling Stella and Dot! I'm a tad obsessed with the jewelry, so I figured why not sell what I love. Plus Maya Brenner is designing for them, and I big squishy heart her designs. Anyway, let me know if your in need of some fabulous jewelry, or would like to host a party. If you choose to be the hostess with the mostess, you can get some awesome deals on jewelry, including some for FREE!!!!

They also have a little girls line. Come on....how precious is this?!

Now for some eye candy. These are just a few items I'm dying over right now...

Go check out our entire line here.

My personal website is www.stelladot.com/ashlie

Let me know if you need anything. Only 48 days until Christmas....

All I want for Christmas....

Well, Presley already has her two front teeth, so now what do I get her???? I don't know why, but I am starting to kind of stress out about what I want her to have for Birthday and Christmas.

Selfishly, I don't want a whole lot of huge toys crowding my house. Mainly because Presley will play with a toy for a week and then she's over it. And there it sits, taking up space. Of course, I have to get her one BIG toy for Christmas morning.

We are also asking our family to spend a little less on toys and contribute to her college fund. Don't worry, this child will not be lacking for toys. We have a lot of family and between birthday and Christmas, P is going to get a lot.

With that being said, Any suggestions?? What is everyone going to get their little one's for Christmas/birthday?

Of course, it wouldn't be fair for me to ask for suggestions with out giving some. Here are some toys that Presley really loves:

I found it at Walmart and it was $49.99. She loves to ride in it and always hangs on to the steering wheel. So cute. She also enjoys pushing it around the house herself.

Another toy she loves and uses all the time is the V-Tech Sit to Stand Activity Walker. My neighbor let us borrow hers and it has been a hit. Here is some video of her using it.


My MIL  got Presley this Fisher Price stride to ride dinosaur. She loves to walk with it also. I believe this one is $39.99.

Also,  Presley and I travel a lot, and I want her to have a nice suitcase that rolls and is carry on size. Her clothes are so tiny that when I put them in a big suitcase they get all jumbled up. I'm a freak for anything Monogrammed,  so I'm thinking about this one from Pottery Barn kids.

 Does anyone know of any other suitcases that are good quality, and can be monogrammed? I want it to last for a really long time.

Ok, well, I feel much better after writing this all down. Can you believe there are only 49 days until Christmas??? Yikes!!!

Talking to the Animals

If you know me or my family, you know we always have the television on. Before Presley, I was actually able to watch some of it. I mainly just keep it on for noise during the day, and Presley has never really paid much attention. Until yesterday...

Animal planet was on and they were showing some pictures of rescued kittens and puppies. Presley just stopped what she was doing and stood still for the longest time. Standing still is rare (to say the least) for my child. Then she started making these sweet high pitched noises every time they showed an animal.

Later that day, I took Presley to the pet store in the mall. As soon as we saw the first puppy, she started with the sweet little noises. It was so precious, we almost walked out with a new puppy. However, reality kicked in. Miss Priss is hard enough to keep up with, there is no way I'm taking care of another "baby".

Here is a video of her watching animal planet. Unfortunately, I'm making really stupid animal noises in it, so that's embarrassing...



Did ya catch a glimpse of Presley's hair standing straight up on top of her head. I can NOT get it to go down. Sweet!

Presley's First Halloween!!!

Finally, my Halloween post!

I'm sure you were all waiting anxiously. Ha! I just feel like I need to document everything because God forbid I forget a single detail of Presley's life. Now on with the post...

Halloween morning, Mom and I decided that we were going to get creative in the kitchen. Luckily, P was a good little girl and took a nice long nap, so we could get everything done. We made ghost candy skewers, mini caramel apples, and Pumpkin soup. For some reason, we decided to pick the most difficult pumpkin soup in the entire world. After all our hard work, it ended tasting more like potato soup. You win some, you lose some. We'll find a better recipe next year.

We used a melon baller to make the candy apples, and my Mom did not want the left over apples go to waste. Instead, she made another Halloween centerpiece. She was extremely proud of her handiwork.

Because, Mom and I worked so hard in the kitchen. We rewarded ourselves with a little mani/pedi.

Halloween evening , we had Grammie, Poppa, Aunt Brooke, Uncle Shai, Aunt Kadee, Uncle Keith, Cousin Alexis, and Cousin Alyssa join us. We ate pizza, blew bubbles, and ....drum roll please.................Aunt Brooke gave Presley her first haircut.

I really wanted to wait until her 1st birthday, but homegirl was starting to rock a mullet. The hair on the side of her head is still really thin, but the back was getting lonk and thick. We took just a tiny bit off the back to thicken it up a little. Thank you, Aunt Brooke. We love it, and feel so lucky that you were able to be the one to give her her first haircut!

Finally, it was time to put the costumes on and hit the pavement for a little trick or treating.

Daddy and Presley

Alexis, Alyssa, and P, otherwise known as Mario, Andy (toy story) and butterfly.

Family picture, thus reaffirming my decision to take costume pics on Friday.

With Grammie and Mimi

We also met up with some friends in the neighborhood. We had high hopes the kangaroo and butterfly would fall in love, but they were more interested in climbing up and down the steps. Maybe next year...

And I had to get a shot of Presley at someone's door. I realize she had no idea why she was there, but she was having fun. So much fun, in fact, that she kept trying to go into the neighbors houses and hang out.

Presley's sweet ride

We ended the night pushing Presley around in her car, while she chewed on a skittles wrapper. Doesn't get much better than that?!?

Happy 1st Halloween, little one!

These feet are made for Walkin'...

And that's just what they'll do...
 

I can NOT believe I haven't posted a video of Miss Priss in the upright! Halloween completely took over. Thanks to B and sweet little Ava, I was reminded to post one on my blog. This isn't her best walking, but I can never seem to catch her on camera.

Scare on the square

Because this was Presley's first Halloween, I knew she would want to do as many Halloween related activities as possible. Okay, fine....so maybe having a little one is a really great excuse for me (and my Mom) to do all the fun Halloween activities (and not look like complete dorks).

Rockwall holds a little Halloween festival each year called "Scare on the Square". Everyone dresses up in costume and goes trick or treating at the shops around our downtown square. They also had free ice cream, a cookie decorating contest, face painting, hay rides, and a costume contest. P was a little too young for most things but we did get to go on the hay ride.

I know..she looked totally thrilled. Seriously, that hayride was way too long and P lost interest after the first 2 minutes. P also got to trick or treat for the first time.

She scored the best thing she has ever been given to date...a little red lollipop.

She liked it...

No, I mean she really really liked it...

She would not let go of it the whole time. Now, while this is probably not the best snack for my sweet P, I figured it was her first Halloween. Plus, how could I refuse her something that brought her this much joy!

( I still have yet to write the actual Halloween post. I'm getting to it though. P and I are sick, so we have been moving a little slower than normal).

Introducing Madame Butterfly.....

Happiness is a butterfly, which when pursued, is always just beyond your grasp, but which, if you will sit down quietly, may alight upon you.  ~Nathaniel Hawthorne

And nothing makes me happier than this little butterfly right here:

 Are you still there blog readers? Thank you to those who actually made it through my onslaught of pictures.  These were taken on Friday night, so I wouldn't feel pressured to get a great shot on Halloween. We had family and friends coming over, and I knew my social butterfly wouldn't want to take time out for photo's. My Mom and I dressed her up and released her into her natural habitat. I think she loved it!!!