Mother of the Year

Just wanted to let everyone know- I am OFFICIALLY Mother-of-the-Year.

When Annistyn got sick last month, she started feeling bad one Thursday night. She ran fever on/off all day that Friday, but by Saturday- she was wanting to play at the park. She was fine that Sunday, but the fever returned on Monday. I called the doctor- they said to give her something for allergies. She still felt bad on Tuesday, so I took her in. She had Type A Flu. I felt AWFUL because I had not taken her earlier.

So last Friday night, she started feeling warm and we took her temp. It was 103.7!!!! We gave her Motrin and put her to bed. Saturday, I kept her home from her birthday parties because I was afraid she might have something. Still no other symptoms. She played outside, ran around screaming, ate normal... Sunday she acted fine and didn't have a fever. We had been planning a little girl's beach trip and if she said, "I want to go to the beeeaccch" one time, she said it a million times.

We packed her up and went on our trip. She had a blast (more about that in a minute) but on Monday, she didn't act like herself. She was very whiny and cried a lot. She started getting a rash, so Michael took her to the doctor Tuesday. She has strep throat. Great mother, huh?

In my defense- her well baby check up was Thursday afternoon and her ears and throat were fine. In fact- everything was fine. I'll bet you she GOT the strep from the doctor's office.

In other news- the weather has been BEAUTIFUL! We have been wearing all of our new Spring clothes!!!

A SMALL portion of the ones that I have already gotten in....




I am getting 1-2 a day and a bigger order will be here next week. So excited! I love when seasons change and you get to start a new wardrobe!

I took this one before church a couple of weeks ago...




She totally looks like her Daddy in these!!!

Here are a couple more...




We got the Barbie Jeep in. It was the other part of her birthday gift. She likes her "Bobbie Jeep".





She hasn't really enjoyed driving it yet. She wants Michael to push the peddle while she steers. I can't say I blame her. I had rather be driven around as well. :)

I mentioned our beach trip earlier. We went down on Sunday after church. I explained that we had to go on a trip to get there and ride in the car. She was SO excited. We pulled up at Rite Aid before we left and she said, "Yay! We're at the beach!"

When we finally did get to the beach, she could see it out the window. So then she said, "I wanna get out and go see beach!!!!" 150 times until we got to the hotel and changed clothes.

She wasted no time! As soon as we put our stuff down, she started playing in the sand. She had SO much fun. We stayed for a couple of hours. She mostly played in the sand. We dipped her in the water, but she was a little too skiddish to play in the waves by herself.











We went to eat at The Crab Trap (one of my favorites) and she wore her cute new whale outfit...



Just a fun fact... I had time to do this post because I am stuck in bed with... guess what?!? Strep throat!!!

Sick baby = Sick Mommy.

Annistyn is feeling much better! Screaming, eating, playing. I, however, had to leave work yesterday with a fever over 100 and even with Advil- I never got it under 100 yesterday. It was 102 (with Advil) last night.

I have been on Antibiotics for 3 days now and even though my throat is still sore- my fever is down today. I hopefully will be back at work tomorrow. I can't stand being stuck in bed at home. :(

There's a Mouse in the House!

So- I know it has been a while and this will be a very long post.

February seemed to FLY by!



We had Valentine's Day...




And, unfortunately, the FLU came to visit our house!
I had a SICK baby for almost a week. It was terrible and the worst part is- Michael was out of town most of that week. I was one TIRED Mommy by the time he came home.


We had Shelley's birthday (Feb. 23).


Cookies With Characters (Feb. 26)...




(there are A LOT more of these pitures on Facebook)


And THEN I had to start planning for ANOTHER birthday!

I CANNOT believe it, but my sweet little angel turned TWO on March 10.

This is the picture I ended up with for the birthday invitations....



She has been talking about her "birfday" for months. Her first celebration was the Tuesday before her birthday. We had our small family party at Nana's. Annistyn was bouncing off the walls. She was SOOOOOOO excited....





It was "Dora" themed.



And she got the "pink cake" that she has been asking Nana for. When asked what she wanted for her birthday- that is what she said. Ha!






We gave her the gifts from us on the morning of her birthday- March 10.




She has one more present that she will get in a couple of days due to a mix-up at Walmart.

She had been wanting to go to the zoo- so we decided to go. We didn't know, however, that it was going to turn off cold. It was windy and very chilly, so we had fun, but it was a short trip.

We stopped to eat pizza before the zoo and Annistyn enjoyed a big cupcake we brought for her...



She thinks you HAVE to sing before you eat birthday cake, so I was quietly singing Happy Birthday. Michael wasn't singing (because we were in the restaurant) and she said, "Daddy sing."
So, we laughed and started over. He was singing, but very quietly and she couldn't hear him. She YELLED, "DADDY SING!!!!!!!!!!!!" So everyone in Mellow Mushroom knew he wasn't singing. She is SO bossy.

Annistyn had to stay bundled up at the zoo.






Her favorite part was riding the "too too train".



Her birthday party was yesterday- March 12. Originally, I thought I was doing something simple by renting Guardian Angel's indoor gym. But since it was Minnie Mouse themed- Mickey and Minnie just HAD to come. And eventually it turned into this huge thing and I probably could have thrown a small wedding for all the work I had in it!!!

It turned out GREAT though. We had over 50 people there- almost EVERYONE we invited was there.

There are about 80 pictures on Facebook, but here are just a few...

One of the centerpieces I made for the tables...



Cake and snack table...



Beautiful cake that my wonderful sister made.....



We also had DELICIOUS cupcakes made by Mesilla Jenkins- who does great work!!!! I originally planned for a cake, but decided on cupcakes. Shelley has just started decorating cakes and she really wanted to make one for Annistyn- so I told her to have at it! I thought she did great!!!!

Favor buckets- all personalized. I stayed up well past midnight finishing these the night before. Everyone got a Mickey or Minnie bucket, waterbottle or cup, notebook, and a container of bubbles. I had decorated each item with Mickey or Minnie and the guest's name. I know it sounds silly.... but I just love making fun favors! :)



Banner I made...



Another of the cake table...



Annistyn not cooperating for a picture... and eating a chip instead...



Drink bucket....




Annistyn yelling, "It's my birfday poppy!!!!!"



(My mom made this adorable outfit- by the way)

Mickey pizza...



Family pictures...




One of the many pictures with Mickey and Minnie!



And here's last year's and this year's party pictures side by side...




She has grown up SOOOOOO fast! Where does the time go?!!??!

I wish I had time to upload all the party pictures- but Facebook uploads sooo much quicker.

Annistyn had a BLAST and is still talking about the party. So I guess in the end, it was all worth it!!!!

I had a small surgery a week before the party (Don't worry- I'm okay!) It was laproscopic, but the recovery was worse than labor- for me, anyway. I barely got out of bed for 4 days. If it weren't for my family- I totally could not have pulled off the party! I had people painting, cooking, stuffing favor buckets, picking up food, sewing... you name it!

I am SO blessed to have such a great family and a healthy little girl!

I will try to be more punctual with updates as I am sure I will have plenty to share. Annistyn keeps us on our toes!!!!

Now I'm off to bed- I wasn't ready to Spring Forward today!!!! :)