10 Months & into EVERYTHING!

Stella thought it was so fun to get into her toy bin!
I think we might be teething again.

Stella has also turned into our little helper. Dishes are a favorite right now!

Stella...WE CANNOT BELIEVE 10 MONTHS HAVE ALREADY COME AND GONE!

You continue to make us laugh every day and we're so thankful for you. Life is so rich with you lighting it up everyday.

What you've been up to...
1.walking with your walking toy
2.crawling at an extremely fast speed...and everywhere
3.love the bath, pool, etc
4.trying a lot of "real" people food, but I still think bananas are your favorite
5. you like to ride in the jogging stroller
6.you let us know (very loudly) if you need more attention
7.I think more teeth are starting to make their way...but right now you have 4.
8.You are wearing some 6-12 months and still some 9 months
9.You sleep with your doggie and bunny everynight
10.you are in size 3 diapers
11.lately you've been cuddling with me at night(but i think its the teething, but I will take what I can get)
12. you love to say dada and know who that is...you are trying other words like duck, quack, doggy, hi

We can't wait to see what the next month holds!

I forgot to post your stats from the 9 month checkup:
height=27.5 inches long
weight=18 pounds 15 ounces

overall: you are 50 percentile all around

WE LOVE YOU BABYGIRL!!!! THANK YOU FOR ENTERTAINING US EVERY MINUTE!

New Boss!!!!!

It's officials...I've decided to STAY home with Stella.

I don't know when my official last day will be, but I'm so excited to work for this sweet pea. I've struggled with the idea since she was born and decided I just couldn't do it anymore. I love this girl more than anything, so while the pay my be less...I consider it a promotion.

Who wouldn't want to be paid in dirty diapers and KISSES!

We're looking forward to this new journey! And for all you mommies looking for playdates for your little ones...let me know...Stella loves to be around other kids!

Busy, but FUN Weekend....lots of Food & Friends!

Last weekend was a whirlwind that included lots of fun with friends and FAMILY (from Montana). We started here...Stella is eating a little tortilla (a girl after her mommy's heart). It was TOO nice to eat inside that night.
Then we kicked off Saturday with a little "finger painting."

Stella saved room for her daddy's favorite place, Red Robin. We met a couple of our friends from Little Rock for lunch. It's always fun to catch up with old friends.
Thank Robin and Matt for fitting us in to your very busy wedding weekend!

Then if that wasn't enough...we loaded up the car and headed for a little get away in Eureka Springs. Tom and Stella were watching the little girls hoola hoop in the park. It was a nice break from "city" life. Ha!
BUT if you can't tell from this picture...the highlight of Stella's weekend was .....
Seeing her Aunt Booba. Booba's brother lives in Kansas City and she out to visit him before you has baby number two, so they drove over to see us. SOOOOOOOOOOOOO FUN!

Stella was loving the extra attention and while Booba and I chatted in the living room I kept telling her how normal it was to have her at my house, but also how WIERD! We love you Booba...come visit more often. Thanks for spending a day in Arkansas. We love you!

Grandma Time

Here are more pics from my mom's visit. My computer wont let me move them so they're at the top of the post.

What do you do when Grandma comes to visit...you stop by the farmer's market,
you get new toys,
you show off....AND
you try new foods, you stay up later, you get held a lot more, you get lots of kisses & hugs, you don't go to daycare, you send mommy and daddy on dates, you dance, you shop, you swim, you see fireworks, you dress your best, and you remind her every day that even though she doesn't live next door...."YOU ARE LOVED BY ME ALWAYS AND FOREVER!" I love you Grandma, Stella.

Note from Syd...
Last week my mom was here so she spent as much time with her as possible. I think she even spent sometime in Stella's room during her naps and bedtime. She couldn't get enough! And while I wish Stella could be near all of her family all the time I cherished watching my mom with her this past week. Talk about unconditional love. Not only for Stella, but me as well. To watch people love on your kids is so amazing it's almost indescribable, but to watch my mom (who has always believed in me and never spoken an ill word to me or put me down, but ONLY lifted me up to be my best) was so fun. I know my parents would give the world to have us closer, but know God has us where He wants us and I appreciate that from them.
Anyway, my mom went above and beyond while she was here...she did everything for Stella and of course fed Tom and I a couple great meals and even helped me do some more decorating around the house. I should note that I only rearrange/decorate when my mom is in town :)

Love you mom! Can't wait for the next visit.

Stella's First 4th of July

Excited to celebrate a birthday...Happy Birthday USA!
Keeping busy before the late night out on the town.
Mommy playing with the camera. I love to pull colors.
Don't you just want to kiss those cheeks.
The family at Arvest Ballpark. This is where the minor league baseball team plays that Tom emcee's for...but tonight he was off. No baseball, just family fun and fireworks.
Stella is SOOO excited to be with her Grammie and Grandma. This is her new favorite smile right now. Look at those teeth!
Daddy decided between the sweat and going through the "mist" toy it was time for Stella to sport a mohawk.

I didn't get any pics of the fireworks because we were too busy watching Stella take it all in. They were very loud and big, but she didn't flinch a bit. She loved them!
She was mesmerized and didn't take her eyes off for a second. Look---she's even pointing and showing us how cool it was. The fireworks show was incredible, but I just enjoyed spending time with my family.

YEEEE HAW!

Little Miss Rodeo waiting outside with mommy. She LOVED wearing her glasses...it still cracks me up.
Stella with her urban cowboy daddy. Isn't he good looking!?
The other night we met our friends, the Currys, at the 65th Rodeo of the Ozarks. It is a big deal in NWA Arkansas and we had a good time, but as you can tell from this picture Stella and Amelia (4months) were getting a little restless. So needless to say, we didn't stay the entire time, but we did have a great time with Sarah and Patrick and of course watching the muttin bustin, the kids dance off, the monkeys riding dogs and some of the "real" rodeo stuff too.

Stella did wave to the cowboys and their horses. It was very cute.

Look What We Found...

THE POTS AND PANS!!!!
If only I was this excited about using the pots and pans :)
Stella thinks it is so fun to play in the pots and pans while we're in the kitchen. Remind we why we buy toys when pots and pans and even tupperware entertain little one :)
As you can see, Miss Thang is into everything. She is crawling everywhere and pulling up on EVERYTHING. Walking might be a couple months away, but sometimes I wonder.
Stella is very proud of herself when she moves around her exersaucer. This is such a fun age!