Let's Get This Party Started...

My infant girl turned into a toddler on Monday. I know. I know. All mom's say, "I can't believe how big she is" or "where did the time go" or "she's growing so fast!"  Its true though. I was looking through old pictures, and all I could think was how much Taelyn has grown. My baby isn't a baby anymore. She's an honest to God little girl now with her own little

Gingerbread House Fun...

When I was in college and living in my own apartment, I started the tradition of making a gingerbread house every Christmas. I'd get the hot chocolate all warmed up, turn on Beauty and the Beast, and start my masterpiece. I'm not so sure how much of a masterpiece it was, but it made me feel good non the less. Over the years, I grew up and life passed by, and I quit my gingerbread house tradition. Then, a few weeks ago I was walking in the grocery store and there it was….a gingerbread house kit. I knew I had to get it immediately so that Taelyn and I could start the tradition all over again. I'm so glad I did because we had such a good time. Even Seth got into it and helped do some decorating. It was great fun!

I thought since Taelyn was only two that I would be doing most of the work, and she would kind of slop things around. Boy, was I wrong. She was a pro from the get go. The only challenging part was keeping her from eating the candy! Then once we got her to not eat the candy, she realized the icing was

Pumpkins, Ladybugs, and Candy...

I just couldn't wait until Halloween this year. One of the reasons Seth and I moved back to the States was because we missed the holidays and children's activities so much. Halloween is no exception. There is just so much fun you can have around this holiday, and I had to force myself

Wordless Wednesday...

The Makings of a Bedroom...

I had been wanting to remake Taelyn's room for awhile now, but just didn't have the time or resources in Mexico. Then one night, I just got a little Pinterest happy, and my brain went into remake mode. I was determined to redo Taelyn's room in a fun, girly style that wouldn't break my $150 budget. I'd just like to put on the record, I think I did a pretty good job and easily made it under my budget. Yeah, me!

The room before was very drabby. Because we live in a fully furnished apartment, its made to be very basic so that its not gender or age specific. Well, it was driving me nuts. Its just not what I had imagined for my daughter, and I knew that I had to make it into something a little bit lively to match mine and Taelyn's personalities. But, everything had to be done in stages because I knew most of it would have to be done in the States where there are hobby stores in

One Tired Woman...

Seth returns today from a 10 day stay in the US for business. Lucky him, he's been staying with my family being pampered all over. Me? I've been here in Mexico taking care of a 14 month old rugrat all by my lonesome. All I have to say is hats off to all you single moms out there. I have

First Day at the Beach...

Maybe Seth and I were just a pinch over protective of Taelyn when it came to taking her to the beach. I don't know why? We aren't that way with anything else. She's climbing on something? Well I guess when she falls she'll learn. She's eating dirt? She'll  realize it taste awful and stop. She put her hand in the door and closed it? Well I suppose she'll figure out that hurts. But when it came to the ocean, we became these over protective, fearful parents that wanted to wait until she was 40 or something.

One of my friends told me that her twins were going to the beach since they were 6 months. "So what if they eat sand. Everything comes out in the end ok, so it must be alright." We see Mexicans take their newborns to the beach all the time. Newborns! Its water, sand, and sun. All good healthy things

Guess Who Got a New Bike Seat?...

We've had our bikes for almost a year now, but we rarely use them. We had my mother-in-law bring a baby trailer when she was visiting in May. But, alas, one of the wheels was broken, and we had to wait until we went back to the US for to get the replacement part. By the time we got the replacement part, Seth got busy with work, and it never got fixed. So we have a brand spankin' new bike trailer sitting in the guest room. Oh bother!

My property manager came across an awesome bike seat at one of the sports stores on sale. Don't you know I went right up and bought it because bike seats are darn expensive here! It doesn't matter if your a local or expat, you're still paying a pretty penny for one. Most of them are cheap grey plastic with no cushion. This one

Golf Course Fun...

After we got back from the freezing cold US, Seth and I decided to spend some time outside with Taelyn. The community we live in, Playacar, circles a beautiful golf course with beautiful grass (of course). Although, it has lots of sidewalks, the one thing it lacks is just plain 'ol grass for

Oklahoma Birthday...

Would you believe that I only have 2 pictures from Taelyn's birthday party in Oklahoma? I'm a bad mother, huh? Remember that whole separation anxiety thing she was going through? Well, the first time we tried to celebrate, she cried constantly. I decided that it just wasn't worth

Its Her Party and She'll Cry if She Wants To...

Taelyn celebrated the big numeral uno on December 23rd in Atlanta. So of course, we had a little birthday party for her. Since she was going through some serious separation anxiety and

Happy Birthday Baby Girl...

So my baby girl, Taelyn, is the big 1 year old today! I know everyone says this but I just can't believe how quickly the time has passed! Its been a fantastic year with our new addition, and I can't wait to see what year two brings us. This year, we celebrate two birthdays for Taelyn. One in Atlanta and one in Oklahoma. I don't think we'll hear any protest over 2 birthday cakes, huh?

Here's some of my favorite photos of Taelyn throughout the year.

Happy Baby...Happy Mommy...

As I said previously, Taelyn is happy, happy, happy all the time now. Seth and I reflect back on her first 4 months (the colic months), and what seemed a nightmare at the time, is a distant memory. Its amazing how quickly you forget the crying and sleepless nights when you have a baby that is just happy all the time. Good times...Good times!

Seth made a little fort for Taelyn to play. She loved crawling under and around like a little house. We had a blast! These may be my favorite pictures of Taelyn because it shows how she is just laughing all the time. Seth says

Blink! and She's in College...

 

My daughter, Taelyn, turned 6 months old today. Whew! 6 months! I was looking back at all her cuzillion pictures, and I can't believe how much she has grown. I know all parents say these things, but now I can relate to them so much more. I was never a baby person before. I was

#*%@...¿Cuánto es!?!...

Wanna know what its like to have a colic baby? Well, I can tell you first hand, its not fun. We are now on our 6th, yes 6th formula with Taelyn. Every one of them starts out great, and we thank our lucky stars that we finally found "the one." And like clock work, within two weeks she is back to her gassy, fussy, crying wonderfulness. So this time, the doctor swears this is "the one." If we can just get her to drink this for one full month without having gas issues then we get to start her on real honest to God, baby food! Yippy for Mommy! So you ask, what's the big deal? Why did this deserve its very own blog post? Well, my friends, this tiny, and I do mean tiny little can of