Birthday Teaser

I just made my very first hairbow for Sara Beth! I had to have one that matched the birthday outfit that I made for her to wear to her first birthday party. Her outfit is adorable and this bow isn't too bad either! Here's a sneak peak of the birthday ensemble. Don't worry. There will be plenty of pictures to come after the party.

Bikes, Trikes, and One Sweet Friend

     Here's the back story on Tristen, in case you didn't know already. Tristen and Sara Beth were born two weeks apart in the same hospital room. We met his mom and dad, Diana and Justin, through Adam's racing. Since T and SB were born, Diana and I have become good friends and we get the babies together as much as we can. Tristen is a sweetheart and is very energetic! Sara Beth always learns new things from watching him on the move.
     Today we celebrated Tristen's first birthday with an outdoor party at his grandma's house. The theme was vintage bicycles and tricycles. It was so adorable! Diana did a great job pulling it all together! Sara Beth's favorite part was the ball pit. My favorite part was the personalized Jones soda bottle. Here are a few pictures from the party today.

Ball pit fun!

He's famous!

The beautiful cake table

Sara Beth trying out T's tricycle

My two favorite people in the world

Flattering, I know. But, look at those two new top teeth!

Time for cake

A wagon of ice is better than any toy

Real Food

Lately, I've been trying to offer Sara Beth some of the same foods that we are eating at the table. She's not a huge fan of eggs yet, but I know she'll come around one day. What she does LOVE is Indian food. I think I posted before about her eating curry for the first time recently. That first curry was a sweet curry (not spicy at all) with sweet potatoes, chickpeas, and kale. Tonight I made a curry that has had a special place in my collection of recipe "keepers" for several years now. It was a little bit spicy, but Sara Beth loved, loved, loved it! She thought basmati rice was awesome too! Here's the link to the recipe: Black-eyed Peas with Spinach and Coconut Curry.

In Times Like These. . .

     There seems to be a constant stream of bad news lately. There are people hurting all over the world. People we know are sick or dying. Just about every week we hear about someone having cancer or another terrible sickness. It can be depressing if you let it get to you, but God has promised good things for us. Here is one of His promises from 2 Corinthians 5:1-5.


New Bodies

1 For we know that when this earthly tent we live in is taken down (that is, when we die and leave this earthly body), we will have a house in heaven, an eternal body made for us by God himself and not by human hands. 2 We grow weary in our present bodies, and we long to put on our heavenly bodies like new clothing. 3 For we will put on heavenly bodies; we will not be spirits without bodies.[a] 4 While we live in these earthly bodies, we groan and sigh, but it’s not that we want to die and get rid of these bodies that clothe us. Rather, we want to put on our new bodies so that these dying bodies will be swallowed up by life. 5 God himself has prepared us for this, and as a guarantee he has given us his Holy Spirit.

11 Months of Sara Beth

Happy 11 Month Birthday, Sara Beth!

    
     Sara Beth is almost one! Really? Already? She gets more lovable every day! I've started planning her birthday party and I think it's going to be really cute. I'm getting excited! This month we've been playing outside a lot since the weather has been so nice lately. Every Tuesday we go to story time at library and then afterwards have a picnic at the park with our friends. Sara Beth loves to listen to the songs that they sing at story time! She and Tristen always enjoy themselves. Earlier this month, we took SB to Gymboree for a learn and play class. Her friend, Tristen, gave us a pass for a free class. I couldn't believe how much fun she had! I thought she would just watch the other kids play, but no way. She was leading the pack most of the time. With her birthday coming up, I see a few months of classes in her future. She is growing like a weed! Even some of her 12 month clothes are getting too small. Here are her monthly milestones for March:

• She got her first haircut. We just couldn't take it any longer. Her bangs were down to her nose. It looked cute if we pulled it to the side with a bow, but once she learned the word "bow" she started taking her bow out all the time. Adam got to do the honor of cutting her hair for the first time. Her new look took some getting used to, but it's nice to finally get her hair out of her face.
• She took her very first steps this month! We've seen her take 2 or 3 at a time so far. She'll be running before we know it!
• After 4 months of having only her bottom 2 teeth, she finally has some more coming in. Four teeth are coming in all at once on the top. She's been a little cranky lately, but nothing too bad. These new teeth will definitely help with the chewing.
• We've given her table food a few times now. She ate curry and stir fry with us. She's also been eating a lot of cottage cheese and yogurt. I've been having a hard time finding finger foods that are soft enough to eat with only 2 teeth. Her favorites right now are carrots and banana, although she will eat almost anything that you give her.
• She likes to pick up the remote or a cellphone and pretend that she is talking to someone. She usually says "Yeah" and "bye, bye" while it's up to her ear.
• She's expanding her vocabulary at a rapid pace. This month she's added "hi", "yeah", "car", "flower", "bird", "duck", and "quack, quack". She can also respond correctly when you ask her what a dog, duck, or elephant says. Smarty pants!
• She started trying to feed herself with a spoon, but it was short-lived. Now she just dumps it on the floor.
• She is like a little tornado in the kitchen! While I'm trying to cook or clean, she is opening every drawer and taking all of the contents out. For those of you that know me well, you know that this is stretching me to my limit. :)
  
  
  

  

  Sara Beth and Tristen being baby geniuses at the park (1+5)



Having a blast at Gymboree



Hanging out with her cousins, Maddy and Shelby



Sunday after church at Nonni and Opa's house