The 16th Month....

Sarah turns 16 months old today. Where did the time go?? Somehow, my tiny, petite little baby turned into a full throttle toddler! Her "speech" is getting better and we are STARTING to understand a few words, like OUTSIDE, SWING, ALL GONE, SISSY, DADA, MAMA, NIGHT NIGHT, BYE BYE, HI, BAILEY, BABY, ME, NO (yep - the dreaded "N" word was said for the first time yesterday!), GO, MO (more), and much to Dandaddy's delight, I do think she is starting to say DANDADDY! She is getting into that "gets frustrated easily" stage, which I remember to be quite a doozer of a phase which brought on the first "real" temper tantrums. Sarah can throw down with the best of them, but I don't believe we've seen all that she has in her quite yet. I expect to see THOSE fits arise in these next 2-3 months. I KNOW it all arises because she is frustrated that we don't know what she wants or means all the time....so I will try harder with #2 to TRY to understand her better! Hum....what else...she doesn't share very well, but then again, what 16 month old does? She beats up her 4-year old sister - yep - gives her royal beatings! Okay, not really, but she is prone to pinching and hair pulling to get her toy back! Wicked little thing! But really, overall, they do get along and play well together...most of the time.

She LOVES to read and has her favorite books...like the Golden Book of Dogs. Yep - we've all read it 5-10- maybe 25 times. She loves the flap books and Peek-a-boo books. She LOVES her Baby Tad Leapfrog and her newest toy fascinations are dress-up necklaces and bracelets. She LOVES those necklaces and its not unusual for her to be flipping around the house wearing 3-4 or 5 strands of her sisters dress-up beads. She also loves to play babydolls. She rocks them, pats them, puts them in and out of the doll highchair and bed, carries them around and just generally "loves them. " I figured Sarah would be my "tomboy" but so far, she is favoring the girly toys MUCH MORE than Beth ever did. I'm not sure Beth EVER played with a babydoll!

Sarah knows where her (or my) eyes, ears, nose and mouth are...and can SAY eyes and ears. We're still working on nose and mouth. We do it every night before bedtime, but you've gotta watch - or she'll poke you right in the eyeball...and be so proud of herself for doing it, too!

Sarah has also learned to give kisses. Could there be a sweeter thing?? She makes her rounds each night before bedtime telling everyone "night night" and gives kisses. Makes my heart melt.

I know that this next 12 months will bring SOO many changes. I remember the BIGGEST changes coming from about 19 months till about 25-26 months old...how their language skills mature and the personalities really come out. Heck, this time next year, I'll probably be potty-training her! So much to come...yet, I want to keep it all status quo for now! Can't I keep her little longer???

Are we being punished?

Seriously? What did the Midwest and the South do to tick off God? We are melting. We are molting. We are just down right gross and sweaty! Yesterday was the hottest day in 55 years and the second hottest day on record in this area since weather records have been kept - it was - are you ready for this - 106 degrees!! IN THE SHADE!! Miserable. Down right miserable. It was the 6th straight day of temps 100+ and the 13th straight day of temps 95+. BUT GOOD NEWS - we get a break this weekend! Its only suppose to be 96!! WOO HOO! Then back up to 98-100 for all of next week - AGAIN!?!?! I honestly cannot remember or recall such a HOT time. I know its typical for us to have a few 3-4 day HOT spells in August - but we're on day 13 now - only to continue, it looks, for another whole week!

Because the air has been so hot and dry, sinus infections and running rampart around here. I took Sarah in yesterday for a Sinus infection...and three prespriptions later, we left. Poor thing. She is kinda grumpy, too...I think on top of the funk, she's cutting a molar or an eye tooth, not sure which, but I know from experience with Beth that BOTH hurt. Beth also has the funk, but it doesn't appear to have progressed to "infection" yet - so far the Claritan is working okay. I think Beth is a little dehydrated though- we've been fighting leg cramps at night, so I've had her eating bananas and drinking Gatorade A LOT!

Everyone is just down right miserable. Wasn't this a nice uplifting blog entry? Ugh.....

Got Shoes?

Love a good deal??
I've become a big fan of ording things on-line, especially things that aren't readily available where I live. I found a website about a year ago called www.shoebuy.com and I've been in love ever since. I've NEVER paid full price for ANY pair of their shoes. Typically I have some sort of $10 off code or 20% off, or whatever, plus, since I'm "registered" at their site, I get an ADDITIONAL 10% off my order at the very end. I ordered Sarah her first pair of New Balance shoes, since her foot has decided to grow one full size in the last month!

Aren't they so stinkin' CUTE!? I think I paid $23 by the time I checked out. Oh- did I mention FREE SHIPPING AND FREE RETURNS if they don't fit! Gotta LOVE that! I get emails all the time with $5 off offers, $10 off offers, 20% off offers, sale offers, etc. Its great! I've yet been brave enough to buy MYSELF shoes from shoebuy.com, mainly cause my foot is so doggone hard to fit! But, the last 4 or so pairs of Beth's shoes have been from here and ALL of Sarah's shoes have been! They have Stride Rite, New Balance, Crocs, Keds, Reebok, Sketchers and more...and those are just SOME of their brands! I don't think I've paid more than $18 for any of the Crocs...including the absolutely adorable Disney ones I got Beth last year!

Wanna try them out?? Do me a favor and go through this link! It'll get you $10 off! And don't forget to Register for an ADDITIONAL 10% off!!
http://friends.shoebuy.com/r/aac852249c95102aa2c9

If that doesn't work - try this:
"To get your $10 off at Shoebuy, enter this coupon code at checkout: RM02023500756454 "

HAPPY SHOPPING! :-)

HOT! HOT! HOT!

Seriously, its hot. I mean, can't breathe - can't step outside without immediately breaking out in a sweat - can't turn on the oven - HOT! The 5-day weather forecast looks like this - high of 100, low of 80 for 5 days straight! No rain, no clouds- full on sun and HOT! Oh - and did I mention that this is week #2 for these ridulous temperatures? I know half of the country is suffering along with us, so I'm not alone. Beth and Sarah are sick and tired of staying inside because in all honesty, its too DANGEROUS to be outside very long with the heat indexes at 105-108, unless its at 8 a.m.! All of the middle and highschools CANCELLED all sports practices last week and this week (inside and outside practices) because its too hot. Going to the lake is no help - the water is so stagnant and warm that it isn't refreshing (not to mention, several local lake "beaches" have been closed due to high levels of e-coli in the water because of NO RAIN this summer! GROSS!).

I TRIED to entertain the girls yesterday - we fingerpainted (which lasted all of 10 minutes), made tents out of blankets and such in the den, played ball and watched movies. I'm so sick of watching movies! I mean, honestly, how many times can you watch Peter Pan or Monsters, Inc., in one week?!?

I can't cook because if I turn on the oven, it puts out so much heat that our thermostat goes up to 80 and it doesn't cook off till 11 p.m.! Anyone have any "cold dinner" suggestions??? We're sick of take-out and pizza!!

I'll try to get some pictures of the girls this week - I still haven't cleared off my camera from the Colorado trip, so I'll do that this week and take a few pic's of the girls.....inside.....sweating....miserable! Its HOT!

Recipe time - Crockpot Chicken Enchiladas

I think its about time to post another yummy recipe! I made this one tonight (using step #2) after cooking it in the crockpot. I started it about 1:00, just as I was leaving the house after eating lunch at home, and we had dinner about 5:45 - perfect timing! Seriously - give it a go - you won't be sorry! It was easy, it didn't have many ingredients and it was fast - just my type of recipe!!!

CROCKPOT CHICKEN ENCHILADAS

1 - 1 ½ lbs of boneless/skinless chicken breast or breast tenders
1 can Rotel Tomatoes (flavor of your choice, but recommend Mexican style)
1-2 Tbsp taco seasoning
1 8oz brick cream cheese (I use low fat)
Flour Tortillas

Put chicken breasts into crockpot and sprinkle with taco seasoning and top with Rotel. Cook on high for 3-3 ½ hours, until tender. Shred chicken and drain some of the juice off. Add cream cheese, cut into chunks. Cook on low for 30 more minutes until cream cheese is melted and stir it all together.

Now, do one of these two things (HIGHLY recommend #2)–
#1) Fill tortillas and serve immediately, or

#2) Fill 8 tortillas with equal amounts of chicken mixture, roll up and place in greased 9x13 pan and top with:

1 cup sour cream (I use Fat Free)
1 Liptons cream of chicken soup mix (in box)
1 cup hot water

**I see no reason why you couldn't sub 3/4 of a can of Cream of Chicken soup here, instead of the soup mix and hot water, but I don't know for sure.

Whisk together and pour over top of enchiladas in pan.
Sprinkle with shredded cheese (cheddar or Mexican style).
Cook for 30 minutes on 350.

They grow...and grow...and grow...

We've had several "family" events lately and it seems that everywhere we go, people look at Sarah and comment on how much she has grown up! And then they look at Beth and say the same thing...yep, I know...they are growing up.

With Beth, I was totally unprepared for this phenomenon. I didn't realize how QUICKLY she would go from tiny infant, to crawling baby, to walking toddler, to full-blown BIG GIRL! It overwhelmed me and I didn't really cherish each and every moment she was little and each and every phase because I just had no idea how fast time would go. Then Sarah came along....and thing about second children is that you learn from your mistakes with #1, so with the second, you are somewhat prepared for everything! I knew time would fly and she would be big before I could blink. I cherished every cuddle she would allow me to have (Sarah is NOT a cuddler!) and I LOVED it when she just SAT (and didn't move). And now...she's everywhere...all the time...into everything! She is 15 1/2 months old now...and I still wonder...where did the time go?

Beth (and me) - Before and Now (I'm using Beach pictures to compare)

2003

2004 (I'm not entirely thrilled with this picture, but oh well -its for comparison purposes only!)

2005

2006

2007

And Since Sarah has only been to Destin twice, I only have two pictures to use in comparison of her growth over the last 9 months:

October 2006:

And here you can actually she HER better:

And just 4 weeks ago - Destin 2007:

And again - to actually SEE Sarah:

I'm going to blink and they're both going to be in highschool! (Oh my gosh - eeeek - two teenage girls in highschool at the same time - what in the world was I thinking!!!?))

Lookie! Lookie!

Yesterday, I went to a Tag Sale and found this....and bought it for $50!!

Its a solid oak roll top desk! (but our computer monitor is too tall, so if we ever chose to close it, we'll have to lay down the monitor....hum....oh well!) I liked it and it is SOLID WOOD so $50 was a steal! It was originally $200, but I waited it out till the sale went 75% off and BOOM - swooped in and got it! Of course, it didn't hurt that I knew the lady running the sale, so I told her that if it hadn't sold by noon (when they went 75% off), to put a sold sticker on it and I'd be back! I also managed to grab a octagon shaped beveled mirrow in a pretty cherry frame for $10, a silver plated serving tray for $6.25 and a small pyrex dish that fits into a pretty silver "holder" or whatever- not sure what to call it - but I only paid $2.50! I was so excited! OH - we had to take all the drawers out to move the desk, and when we stuck our heads around the corner to check on Sarah...well....her own personal playground!

Gotta love her!