Practicing Obedience

Just a normal toddler conversation.

I just say she is practicing obeying her mother...over and over and over again...

Life with a Toddler

I've said it before and I'll say it again - my baby is gone.

A full blown toddler has replaced her. Don't get me wrong - I love the toddler just as much as the former baby...it's just different! Everyone tells you how different it will be when they are into everything, but there's nothing you can do to prepare for it when it finally hits.

We are more than just surviving this new phase - we are enjoying it!  There are down sides and plus sides...just like any stage of life, but we are making the most of this one that we are in.

Here are some of the plus sides:

• She is much more portable (doesn't need as much stuff, can be entertained fairly easily)
• She is more mobile and independent (it's great to be able to set her down to open a door and not worry about her falling off a ledge or something)
• She gets cuter by the minute (so cute it hurts)
• She can communicate a little better (it is very clear when she wants more, or if she wants something different)
• She can entertain herself for small intervals of time (can't wait to work on extending this!)

Here are some of the down sides:

• Now that she can communicate, she has an opinion about many things (She is vocal about this and it sometimes includes screeching)
• More mobility means she wants independence in things she can actually do yet (she loves stairs, but has no idea how to go down them without potentially breaking her arm)
• She gets into mischief (my bedroom lamp is plugged into the powerstrip. She learned how to turn the powerstrip off. While I was putting away laundry tonight she turned off the lamp 6-10 times.)

With all that being shared, I love everything about her - even the challenging toddler parts. And I am well aware that we haven't even hit 2 yet. Mostly we roll with the punches. I let her roam and get into trouble and sometimes I let her learn the lesson the hard way and don't protect her from it. Even if it means some extra cries or some extra clean up along the way. We improvise when we need to. I have definitely needed to buy a spare paci at target (and opened it immediately) because someone wanted to roam the aisles in target independently (can you blame her?) and became very agitated when I forced her to stay in the stroller.

I am shocked with how much she gets more and more like a little kid. More hair, more personality, more teeth - you name it! She is a joy to all she meets and even more so to us!

Picture Friday...A hot week in pictures!

I'm not sure how much longer "Picture Friday" will exist. I'm still finding my rhythm with my new life schedule and I'm not ready to commit on weekly photo sessions at the moment. However, I am always posting a few photos here and there on instagram and facebook, so be sure to check there if you find you have the shakes from Noelle withdrawals :)

That being said - here's to another picture friday. Just a few fun shots from our week!

That drool sheen means it has been another teething week. Working on another top tooth!

Ready for church on Sunday

Cute exhaustion after church on Sunday. Thanks KidsQuest!!

Clean and happy

I couldn't resist.

Noelle loves her wimbledon towel that Grandpa got her last year!

She loves it almost as much as she loves watching herself in the camera!

Pretty Things & Kisses

Noelle is learning new things everyday it seems like. She will try to repeat different words that we say a lot. It feels like there is always a new sound or word she is mastering. We have also tried very hard to teach her how to blow kisses. Some days it goes well and some days she looks at us like we are crazy. One thing that has stuck is that if she is giving a kiss she will very often say "mah" when she does it. When she adds her hand to the mix and "blows a kiss" it is sheer cuteness.

Another thing she has learned with the help from her Daddy is the joy of making funny faces at the camera. She loves taking pictures and I actually "play cheese" with her sometimes. She says cheese and stares at the camera and has a blast.

Noelle has also learned that jewelry is fun. For my birthday I got a beautiful watch from my parents. I really like it. It is certainly more of a fashion piece and I don't use the watch to tell time. I use my phone and haven't worn a watch for years now. Someone else likes my watch too. Actually she likes everything shiny and pretty. My earrings, my rings, my necklaces...all of it. She is 100% girl, and apparently she has good taste!

Take a look for yourself at these new learnings... (pardon the nudity - it was the end of the day and sometimes that little belly is too cute to hide with a shirt!)

A New Chapter

Alright, I kind of skipped over an important milestone last week.

July 7 was my birthday, and it was the big 3-0.

I honestly didn't skip it on the blog on purpose - I was just busy and didn't get a chance to say anything :). And let's face it - this blog is mostly about Noelle. She is far more exciting than I am!

I will say that it was a truly fantastic birthday. Maybe my best birthday as an adult.

My mom and dad came up to celebrate their baby getting old. And somehow we realized that it had been a full 11 years since they had been with me on actual birthday. So I had extra help on my whole birthday week! That meant getting to be lazy in the mornings, not having to stay up alone when Noelle had sleeping issues, free lawn mowing, free babysitting, and lots of delicious homemade meals that I didn't have to cook. It's like a little vacation without having to go anywhere when Mom and Dad come to town! And Noelle...well Noelle gets undivided attention and gets to have WAY more fun than usual because someone is always there to make sure she is happy and laughing.

Then my fabulous husband went way out of his way to make me feel celebrated and loved for my birthday. He threw a sweet gathering at our home and lots of people I know and love came to celebrate me. He overdid it and had everyone chip in to get me a massage and an ipad mini - an item I had been wanting and avoiding getting all at the same time!

A brief rundown of my big day(s):
-Wimbledon in the morning (even though I didn't watch all of it) where an Englishman finally won after 77 years
-A phenomenal church service taught by the fabulous Helen Musick
-My favorite panera lunch with a few great friends
-A quiet afternoon with the family
-A fun dinner out at Shakespeare and company with the family
-Monday afternoon, I got a little naptime after work
-Monday evening was my party :)

I felt wonderfully celebrated - top to bottom. But the best part was, I didn't need any of it. I have found over the years that my July birthday friends have some sort of odd complex. It's like a birthday complex. When your birthday is smack dab in the middle of summer, you tend not to have huge birthday parties. Most of your friends might not even remember your birthday because they aren't seeing you regularly. This was before facebook so lovingly reminded you of all your friends birthdays. All that to say - there was always a struggle in my heart to feel recognized or celebrated on my birthday. And sometimes there would be an expectation I would put on the day, which sometimes led to disappointment.

This birthday was different though. I was freed up to just enjoy the day, whatever it brought. I had no expectations. It was like Jesus finally convinced me that I am whole and complete and need nothing else to add to that. I knew that for every other day of the year, but somehow it didn't seem true on my birthday. A little backwards, I know. It was probably the best birthday gift I got. It really was a turning of the page, a new chapter.

The past 30 years have been remarkable. I can't believe the life that I have been given to live...I am unbelievably blessed and privileged to live this life. I am so excited for the next chapter too...I think that the 30's and beyond will be amazing.

So thanks for celebrating my birthday - whether it was a text message, facebook post, card, or lavish gift. I am grateful for each and every single friend and family member and for all the love that has been poured into me these past 30 years.

A Glimpse into the Future

Today I went for it!

I bought those teeny tiny rubber bands and pretended that Noelle had enough hair to make pigtails.

She might have a tender head like I had, because she was slightly annoyed with me...but the end result is pure cuteness!!

I don't have a good front shot because frankly, the little piggy tails are too small to see from the front!  It was very exciting to see her with a real hair do - and before I know it I will have to do this every day, instead of doing it for a little rainy afternoon activity.

I asked Noelle when she thought I would be able to do real pig tails on her. 18 months? 2 years old?

Her response:

How should I know? This is my first time growing hair Mama!!

The Nap Battle

Noelle has never been a good napper. She prefers to be where the action is. Even when she was small she didn't want to nap on her own, she wanted to be snuggled up with one of us.

Well I don't know what has happened recently but we have been having full on nap battles at the Watkins household. We thought it was teething. But that second top tooth has come through now. Then we thought, maybe she only needs one nap. After just one hour and 15 minute nap in the middle of the day we had one cranky toddler in the evening who thought that at 10:30pm it was time to play again. 

Noelle is clearly winning the battles but I know Mama is going to win the war eventually. I dream of 3 hour naps in the middle of the day - and I will continue to pray for them. Until then - we will battle on!!

Below are photos from a successful 3 hour nap we had randomly a few weeks ago. Look at that glorious nap hair!