A Very Un-Birthday!

*So this was originally supposed to post yesterday! But our internet went out (I swear, it's more trouble than it's worth sometimes that dang internet!) So I'm posting today! Yesterday was Dakota's half birthday! Her daddy bought her a cute card and some adorable stickers. We took her for cupcakes and she loved every bit! I finished the day off with getting my tattoo for her. The appointment got moved up to yesterday, and even though he didn't get to finish I love it so much! It's MUCH bigger and quite a bit different than I went in expecting, but I'm so happy with the results. I'll go back in a few weeks to get color. I'm just excited to show Dakota! She's really good at point out faces, so I wonder if she'll recognize herself!

It's like all of a sudden, I am now parenting a little girl, not a baby. It's the greatest/most fun thing ever. I have always loved Dakota so much, but I'm loving her even more these days. It's so awesome that I can walk into her room and draw pictures with her, or have a tea party if we want. I can say "cook me some breakfast" and she will go to her play kitchen and get breakfast ready. It's amazing how quickly she changed from a baby being content playing with herself, to a little girl who thrives on and seeks out interaction with others. Although, if you get her in front of Gabba (Yo-Gabba Gabba) she would be completely content watching that all day. 

Sometimes I feel like this girl is a Sour Patch Kid. Most of the time, she is super sweet, but she has her moments where she is plain sour. She has developed a temper and will make sure anyone around knows shes unhappy. If you even say the word no in her direction, watch out. Water works come flying, and she does this weird thing where she likes to hit something, or lie down on the floor with her face down. She's actually recently upgraded from this tantrum to doing something I have no idea why she's doing....she will say "no no" and pop her own hand. She doesn't get popped at our house, so I don't know why she does this! The sweetest thing she does though, aside from the random hugs and smooches throughout the day is that when we are driving in the car, she will ask for your hand. She grabs it, brushes it against her face, and then gives you lots of sweet little kisses. Melts my heart each time!

This girl is hilarious! I feel like she is going to be the class clown throughout her school career! She does this thing where she walks around and talks to herself, or the things around her. I have no idea what she is saying, but she says the same thing everytime. So I know she knows what she's saying! She got this baby doll (above) for Christmas, and I have never seen her so excited about something. I really didn't think she would be interested in dolls, but boy was I wrong! My aunt gave this sweet little baby to her, and every single day since then she hasn't gone anywhere without her. Each morning she wakes up and says "baby" for me to grab her and the baby out of the crib. Same thing each night before bed. Lots of times throughout the day I will hear her calling baby. She feeds her the bah and is learning to be a great mama!

When we took her to the doctor for her check up she weighed 25 pounds and is 31 inches tall! She's a big girl! When he told me she should know as many as 30 words now, I was a bit worried. I didn't think she knew that many for some reason. But as soon as we came home I made a list, and I realized she knows many more than she is expected to know and I guess I just don't realize that she verbalizes almost everything now. She only knows one phrase/sentence: don't touch. This is used in all types of scenarios like "Dakota, don't touch the trash in the trash can, that's dirty." Or "Dakota, don't touch while I'm trying to change your diaper." It's actually to the point in diaper changing where she wants to help/do it herself. She's given us many sings and all she's waiting for is us to help guide her in potty training, but I am so clueless! It will be a learning experience for all of us.

She sleeps like a champ! (That's the only time this girl is at rest) She is very intuitive and smart. She loves adventure and is brave. She's nurturing and oh so sticky sweet. She even loves to brush her teeth. She's even better than I could have ever imagined before she was born. She's my favorite! 

Halloween; a few tricks and lots of treats!

Yesterday started off less than thrilling. It was a bad morning turned bad afternoon. I must have walked under a ladder or saw a black cat, knocked over some salt, something, because the odds were not in my favor. The horribleness ended with a window shattering in my hands. I'm telling you, I must have broken a mirror sometime within the last 7 years! That's sure what I felt like yesterday. No matter the amount of misfortunes I was having, I was bound and determined to have a great evening. I'd mark the evening as a success in my book!

*family photo last Halloween*

For the second year in a row, both families came to our house. (We are lucky enough to have our own built in candy passer outers! Thanks Ang + Judah!) Our street is where everyone comes for Halloween. They block off the roads and thousands of kids and families show up. It's kind of magical to watch. Last year Dakota was only barely 3 months old, so things were very different this year than last year. Different in a good way! After pushing her around in her car for all of 3 houses, and carrying her up to a few, she quickly got the hang of it herself. Picture a tiny baby running up to houses with a basket in one hand, the other hand open wide just anticipating getting her share of candy. It was extremely cute. I loved watching her get so excited.

Dakota dressed up as a "moo cow" according to almost everyone we encountered. A few thought she was a Dalmatian, mainly because she wouldn't keep her cow hat on. I dressed up as a bear, even though I got more "oh it's a cat" than I got bear. Nonetheless, the entire evening was great! It ended with some homemade Caramel Apple Cider and a few Goosebumps movies. Maybe even a piece, or two of Dakota's candy. Don't tell! :) Not so great morning turned into the best Halloween yet! ♥

xo, Meghan

Daddy, Daughter date night

I think that I mentioned last week that Bean surprised Dakota with a coupon for a daddy/daughter date night at Chickfila; her favoriteee place. Just imagine me on the verge of tears at this sweet gesture. From what I understand, they treated them super fancy, and even took them out for a limo ride! Picture this: tiny baby dancing in the middle of a limo to Lady Gaga. Hysterical.

I snapped a few photos of my two sweets dressed to the nines before they left:

*I think she offered to take her car*

xo, Meghan

Dakota Moon: 13 Months Old

Dear Dakota,

As I write this, you are asleep in the next room, and will be 13 months old tomorrow. It seems kind of silly that you're taking a nap at 6 in the evening and then you'll go to bed at 8:30 tonight, but that's what you've been doing lately. You are the sweetest little girl I know and I have been truly bless by how good of a baby, now girl, you are. You love sharing everything with anyone, and aren't jealous at all. You love to give kisses to me and daddy but usually only kiss others when they ask for one. (Gigi, grammie, etc). On top of sweet, you're such a silly little girl! Always trying to make someone laugh, which you always do.

You know lots of sign language. You're learning so you can talk to Papa Bryan. You can say: more please, all done, yummy in my tummy, thank you, sorry, no, yes, and please. You can thank Gigi for teaching you those, although we have bought a book to start teaching you  more. Anytime you want something you just walk up and do the please sign and I can't help but give whatever it is you're wanting to you. It melts my heart. It's really great that you know these things in sign since you can't say them yet. It helps us to understand your needs. But oh boy do you know some words: ball, out, no, boo, hi, mama, dada, bubba, and yeah just to name a few.  You have completely mastered the word out. You make sure you put the pft at the end of out. It's so incredibly cute.

Dakota Moon's Outfit Details: Sweater: Circo, Target. Shoes: Walmart. Headband: Tjmaxx. Romper: Thrifted

You love figuring things out. You love to take the nesting dolls off of the shelf and open them up, and put them all back together again, individually. You can take take lids off and unscrew things. We're more cautious than ever! Since before you were born, we have been a music lovin' family and you couldn't help but be born into the mix. Your daddy has a drum set and you love to play it. We don't even have to show you how anymore, you just know to grab sticks and bang. You know how to grab CD's off the shelf and take them over to the CD player and put it on top. You can open and close the CD player by pressing the open button, too! You love to dance, and boogie!

You're growing to be a funny, wonderful, sweet little girl and I'm so happy to be your mommy. I love you

xo Mama

B is for Ball

*half of the infamous collection*

Rubber, light up, plastic, bouncy, beach, and zoo-balls. You name it, this little girl has it. I'm not really sure where her obsession started, but it has taken over and doesn't seem like it will let up anytime soon. Before I realized it we had big balls, care bear balls, zoo-balls, numerous bouncy coin machine ones and the collection is still growing.

*one shoe wonder, with a softball*

Her first real word (aside from mama, dada, and uh-oh) was ball. How did she know what a ball was? And even if she knew the word, how could she associate it with the object? The only "ball" we talk about in this house is football, and baseball, both of which her daddy loves. So maybe it's something in the blood? The love for all things ball, and ball shaped.

Anytime we are in Babies 'R' Us or Target and she spots a ball you better believe she's not going to stop talking about it and pointing! Oh I wish you could hear the way she says it. Neither Bean nor myself particularly have a southern accent, but when Miss Dakota Moon says ball, you' d assume we were from the deep south! Picture your idea of the most southern thing you can think of, and even more southern than that! (I don't want to step on any toes by naming a "type" of southern) She says baaaaaaaaall. With the perfect southern drawl. I hope that she keeps that because it's extremely adorable!

*always finding the goodies*

Does anyone else have a kiddo that's borderline obsessed with a toy or object? And do they have a cute way of saying it? I hope I'm not the only parent with a slightly obsessed child!

xo Meghan