Lora Kathryn You are 2!!!

Lora Kathryn,
You are TWO!!! You are precious! You have the brightest blue eyes I have ever laid my eyes on! You have these beautiful blond curls that I can run my fingers through for days at a time! You are beautiful! You are funny! You are my little cuddle bug! You are fun and full of life! You bring so much joy into my life every single day! You are a child of God! You are my daughter and I could not be more proud!
Your birthday party is today at the farm. Your uncle John is dressing up like Cat In The Hat. When I decided to go with this theme you were crazy about the Cat In The Hat movie. That phase has since died down some but I think you will still enjoy the party. We are going to have a bouncy jumper and Andy is going to have a hayride for all of your friends. You LOVE cake so I can’t wait to see what you do with your birthday cake this year.
You love to play peek a boo and you say “See you Mama!” You love to put on my sunglasses and put them on your head. You put them on and say “See You Mama!” It makes me laugh every time! You love to empty my make up bag, and DeeDee’s, piece by piece. With each piece you take out you do something with it. You use the blush brush on your cheeks. You got out deodorant last week and rubbed it under your arms. It just leaves me amazed at all the little things you catch on to that I don’t even realize. YOU ARE A PRISS!!!!! I blame your Nani and Aunt Dee Dee for this one but it’s okay! J
You are very tall for your age. You are taller than most everyone in your class. I know there will be days down the road when you will hate being so tall (just as I did). However I PROMISE one day you will be so glad you are tall!
You are a very loving child. You love to hold hands and you enjoy showering those close to you with hugs and kisses. Sometimes you will just look at me and say, “Mommy hand” or “Mommy kiss”. Last week you got out of the car at daycare and I hugged you and kissed you. You started to walk away with your teacher and you stopped, turned around and ran back to me and said “Mommy more hug and kiss.” It was the sweetest thing. There is not a single day that passes that you do not do something that just melts my heart! Your innocence is priceless! You lay on my chest at night and we rock. We have done this since you were born and I consider this our special little down time in the evenings before you go to bed, but after we have read books.
You absolutely LOVE to read books. They say that makes for a smart child and I think that is true. I’m bragging on you, yes but I do believe you are smart. You are counting to ten and you know your colors though sometimes you get them confused. We are well on our way to potty training and you have done so well. Your favorite books are
“No, David, No” – You just laugh and laugh when we read this book.
“Llama Llama Red Pajama” – You can recite the words to this book. We have to read it EVERY night!
“Barnyard book” or “Goosie” as you call it – You love to beat me to the next page and scream out the words. You think that is so funny.
When we get home in the afternoons you would rather go sit in your room and sit on the floor and read books than play with your toys. You can sit and read for a very long time, unless you get hungry and you are always hungry after school. You come to me when you are ready to eat and say, “Eat Mama Eat.” If I fix something you do not like you will NOT eat it. There have been nights when I have fixed 4-5 different things trying to get you to eat something. Luckily you are now able to tell me what you want if I give you choices.
Bathtime is so much fun for you. You LOVED the water and swimming this past summer. Megan “Mimi”, your baby sitter took you to the Country Club almost daily. You are quite the little fish. One day a few weeks ago I picked you up from school and you ran to greet me. Upon hugging me you pulled back and said, “Mama I ana showr.” It was so funny. You enjoy taking showers in our big shower with me and sometimes you prefer that over the bath. You love the bath but only if you have bubbles. Bathtime is silly time and you just laugh, splash and cut up. It relaxes you for bedtime so well though! J
You enjoy being barefooted. You love shoes and get excited when we buy a new pair. However at the end of the day you want those shoes and socks “OFF” as you tell me! I must say I am the same way!
You enjoy going for walks with me. Sometimes you ride in your stroller while I jog and you talk to yourself and wave at every single person that drives by. It’s precious! Other days we will walk and I let you push your baby in her stroller. You can push that baby all over town if I let you. You are quite the Miss Priss as your “DeeDee” and I refer to you.
Your Aunt “DeeDee” absolutely adores you and spoils you rotten. You absolutely adore her as well. You two will be very close in the years to come I do suspect. You look very much like her and she is so sweet to you.
Your Nani and Andy love you to pieces. They can’t go more than 2-3 days without seeing you and that is pushing it. You love to spend the night with them and you love to play in “Andy’s” truck. When you see the color green you say, “Andy Truck”. We are both very lucky to have such a wonderful, loving, caring family that helps us and loves us both so much. I’m so thankful you have such wonderful grandparents and Aunt/Uncle and family that love us so much and that you are so very close to!
You have been sleeping in a ‘big girl bed’ for close to a year now. Your crib has not been used in almost a year. You are such a ‘big girl.’ You love to sleep with Minnie Mouse and you still suck your 2 fingers on your right hand.
You love the song “Party in the USA” by Miley Cyrus and when it comes on you tell me Dance Mama Dance so we dance together and you roll your shoulders. It cracks me up every time, as it does everyone that passes us in the road!
You love to have your toenails painted at ALL times! You love sleeping in bed with Mommy and I love you there but I have to really limit that to mornings only. I look forward to that though bec/ it is our little cuddle time before our day gets started.
You say “V” for TV and tell me exactly what you want to watch. If I put in the wrong DVD you are VERY QUICK to tell me “NO”
Sometimes you can whine just a little more than necessary and can it can make my patience wear thin. We are working on this!
One of your favorite things to say is “O-Tay!” It’s precious the way you say this and you picked it up from the movie “Little Rascals” in which you love the ballerinas and want to be a fairy pwincess! J
You are my girl Lora Kathryn. I can’t imagine my life without you – it’s hard to remember my life before you. You have completed me in ways I never knew possible. I love you with all my heart and soul!! There is nothing to describe the love that sweeps over me for you! Happy Birthday Angel!

Almost...Not Quite but Almost...2!

Lora Kathryn will be "2" two weeks from Saturday! I'm excited and in major party planning mode. I hope the weather will be good because we are having her birthday at our farm in Social Circle. I think the kids will enjoy the animals and being outdooors!

She's such a mess! We went on Saturday and had her 2 year old portraits made. I made the portraits in her Halloween costume and in a dress that I love. Needless to say by the time we put the dress on it was difficult to get many good ones because she was tired and she'd had enough. The attention span of a two year old can be short lived! Overall though she did a great job and I really like the pictures!

Saturday night I had a tailgate party at my house for several families. It was LOADS of fun and got pretty crazy. We had a great time though!! Thanks to those of you that attended!!

I'm still loving my job and find myself having more time with Lora Kate! It's all so wonderful I can't even describe how lucky I feel each and every day!

Lora Kate's favorite movie is either Cat In The Hat, Little Rascals or Care Bears or ANYTHING Mickey/Minnie Mouse. So in Little Rascals they say "Ooooo TAY." Well this is what LK says now and it's precious. She talks and talks and talks. A few weeks ago she counted to "7" and I was floored. Last week she counted to "10." I love her daycare and I'm so impressed with everything they do with Lora Kate and the children. It's funny to go in and hear all the little voices say, "Bye Bye Lora Kate." We sit down when we get home and go over all her papers and 'art' work. Interesting to say the least but it gives me time to praise her and talk to her about it and I really enjoy that bonding time. Some days I'll pick her up and have a surprise waiting for her in the car. I say, "Lora Kate guess what? I have a surprise in the car for you." Her little face lights up and she goes, "Mama I ant prize, I ant prize" and trots/runs her little run to the car.

We have our meltdowns occasionally and she wants to do everything herself. EVERYTHING! I let her do as much as I can but some things like climbing UP the slide unassisted I can't handle...not yet at least. As the days pass she grows into more and more of a little girl and not a baby anymore. I can't get over how fast it all happens and how fast she develops.

We continue to slowly work on the potty training and she does good. Some days more than others but I figure it'll all come eventually as long as we are consistent. She wakes up in the middle of the night most nights now and calls for me. She says, "Mama...I wet I wet." So I go in and we go potty and then I put on a diaper and she goes back to bed. It's not fun getting up at 2 or 3 am but I figure it's well worth the preparation for middle of the night pottying.

One of my good friends and old college roommates, Mandy, is getting married this Saturday. I'm looking forward to her wedding!! I know she's going to be such a pretty bride!!!

I hope you all are loving the Fall weather and enjoying football season!! GO DAWGS!

Loving Fall - LK is 23 months today!

Life here is grand!! I'm busy and absolutley LOVING my new job and my new found freedom and opportunity to make my own schedule. It is giving me SO much more time with Lora Kate! Have I mentioned how much I LOVE it?!?! I've waited so long for this and sometimes I have to stop and slap myself and go, 'Is this for real or I am dreaming?'

Lora Kate counted to '7' last week and now she's counting to '10.' We play outside every day after I pick her up. She has the best laugh I have ever heard. It becomes more and more little girl like everyday. She is talking up a storm and she says full blown sentences sometimes, which just amazes me. She will be 2 October 3rd and the birthday party planning has begun. I'm so excited because I think the weather will be great and I think we are going to have a lot of fun.

Lora Kate is in the process of potty training. She is really picking it up quickly. She wakes in the morning and screams, "Mama come - I'm wet Mama." So I change her diaper and before she goes to school she will usually tell me she has to potty. She is pottying sometimes at school. I think she's doing a great job though. I'm not pushing her because she's not even 2 yet but I'm just letting her go at her own speed. She will get it completely when it's time - or at least that's what I've heard and read.

The weather has been SO gorgeous here. I have a home office in my sunroom so when I work from home I just love sitting and looking out my glass windows that surround me. This weekend we are headed to the downtown Monroe concert on Friday night. It's Swingin Medallions so I know it'll be good. I'm excited because I know it'll be a nice evening and I love watching LK get up there and dance like nobody's business. She could care less about the 100s of people watching her. Saturday Mike and I talked about taking LK to the Laser Show but I'm not sure about that yet. It'll be a nice, relaxing LONG weekend and I am really looking forward to it!

The picture is of Lora Kate last week before we went to school!

So Long...

It's been a while since I blogged so here's a little update on us...

I started my new job on August 1st and worked 2 jobs for a week. I LOVE what I'm doing. I couldn't be happier with the corporation, my territory manager and all the patients I'm teaching everyday! It's really great to be busy and feel so good about what I'm doing!
I went to Miami last week and was there for a week. I'll post a picture eventually. It was a great trip and it was very educational. Miami is a different world. I saw the rapper Lil Wayne - that was interesting. We had beautiful weather. One night it POURED rain and I just went outside on my balcony that overlooked the beach and sat in the pouring rain. It was unlike me but very exhilerating and I loved it.
I missed Lora Kate terribly. While I was gone she has started referring to herself as a princess and that she is. She is so pretty in my eyes. She has become just so so so loving and sweet. She loves to give kisses and give and receive hugs AND kisses. She will be 2 in about 5 weeks and I can't believe it. I know I should take more pictures and take more videos but time just slips by. I'm going to try and do better! :-)
I hope to post pictures soon! That is a brief update on us. We are doing well - looking forward to fall and the GA football season!! GO DAWGS!!

22 Months Old

Lora Kate turned 22 months old on Monday! She's a WILD WOMAN these days. We literally just sit around and laugh at her. She is the joy in my day every single morning, every single afternoon and every single evening! She wouldn't let me take a picture this morning with my camera so I shot one in the car with my phone on the way to school!

Sowwy Mommy...

Over the weekend Lora Kate has started saying "Sowwy" (Sorry). It is HILARIOUS. It absolutely makes me heart melt. She went back to day care on Thursday. On Friday she had a cough and runny nose. She hasn't eaten much all weekend and was very fussy on Saturday. We were in the mountains all weekend and had a blast. She was wonderful the entire time but Saturday was quite the handful. Anyways, at one point I was trying to move around her and couldn't so I said, "Watch out honey" and she goes, "Sowwy Mama." It was so sweet.
Last night she and I were rocking before bedtime and after storytime. She kept pulling at her ears and I'm thinking 'oh no...here we go.' So she looked up and me and goes, "Mama hut..ear hut" so I called into work and called the Dr. She woke up at 7 saying "mama, mama, mama." We had a busy weekend and I was SO tired this morning. I got up and walked into her room. She took one look at me and goes, "Sowwy Mommy." It was so dang funny!!! I burst into laughter and then she started laughing and then we crawled back into my bed until I could get an appt. Did get an appt and she has an ear infection but it's beginning stages so should be able to be resolved pretty quickly. It sure is easier when she can tell me what is hurting!!!

It's my last week at my current job. It's bittersweet bec/ I'm really excited about my new job but sad to be leaving my awesome co-workers. I really work with one of the best teams and I'm so glad to was able to be involved here. I have learned so much but I'm ready to launch into another world of medicine!

Bragging Rights?

I have to be honest - I'm going to brag on my child so if you don't want to hear or it or are already thinking spare me then just move on to another site because yes, I am going to brag...

Megan, my sitter, went back to school on Thursday. It was a sad day Wednesday when I paid her and knew LK was headed back to daycare. So Thursday morning we got up and Lora Kate went to daycare. She was not very happy and started crying when we got there. I really think that times like that are hard for her but they really are harder for me. I am sure that she was fine and I called to check on her twice. I, however, was not fine yesterday and was itching to get out to go and pick her up. When I got there to pick her up around 3:30, I walked into her usual room and she wasn't there. The teacher said, "Oh Lora Lee we moved her up to the 2 year old room." Well Lora Kate is not two until October but I thought hey that's great. So I ventured down to the 2 year old classroom and there she is - all smiles, arms open wide running to me. She was as happy to see me as I was her. SO...bragging rights begin....apparently Lora Kate was moved up to the 2 year old room because the teacher's felt she was advanced and beyond the other kids her age. There are several other children that were still in the 'old room' that have birthdays 1-2 wks before and after Lora Kate. So I was happy to hear that she's 'advanced beyond her age.' I'm a proud Mommy!!!