Happy Birthday!

 Even though I'm three days late, happy birthday my sweet Korbyn Ruthie! 

This year has been amazing watching her grow up from a baby into a toddler.  She can potty, she can communicate, she helps around the house, and she loves learning new things.

The church secretary gave her these play dress up clothes for her birthday.  It came with a tiara, a wand, a skirt, and wings.  I don't think she's ever gotten fully dressed up like this but she loved it and just wore it around the house for the longest time.  I was trying to teach her how to say "abracadabra" with the wand, she gets close but it's so cute how she draws out all the "a's."  Yesterday morning we were getting ready and she laughed and said "mommy I pooted!" I said "you did?  well what do we say?" she replied "aaabaaacaaadaabaaa!"  I laughed so hard.

 She is SO into babies right now.  About two weeks ago Colton and I were watching her play with her babies and I very jokingly (seriously, VERY jokingly) said "Korbyn, do you want a baby brother?" and she didn't even hesitate, she just said "noooo, sister!"  Colton looked at me and he said "you've been teaching her to say that haven't you?"  After I stopped laughing I promised that I have never even asked her that question before, let alone teach her how to respond!  So we have no idea where she got that from.  I don't even know if she understands what "brother" or "sister" mean.  A while back ago I was naming all of the people she knew and then saying if they were a boy or a girl so she would start to grasp that concept, but I've never gone over brother or sister with her...very strange, but I guess she knows what she wants :)  But to this day we'll joke around with her and just ask her out of nowhere and she gives the same response every time!

 This past weekend we went to San Saba for opening weekend with my grandparents and my dad.  It was nice to get away and not have to worry about anything other than just relaxing.  Saturday morning my grandpa shot a deer so Colton was helping him clean it, Korbyn enjoyed watching for a little bit then got bored.

 My grandparents really enjoyed spending so much time with her.  She definitely kept us entertained all weekend!

 For her birthday we went into town to Harry's, which is a really huge boot shop.  We bought her her very first pair of boots.  In the store I was joking around and said "ooo Korbyn, those are some nice stompers."  So now she doesn't even call them boots, they're stompers.

 She got a little make up kit for her birthday and daddy enjoyed putting it on her.  That thing kept her busy for quite some time, even though she got lipstick all across her face, she had a blast!

 After dinner I was washing the dishes and cleaning up the kitchen when Korbyn walked by and said "I help, dishes!"  So I pulled a chair up for her and wouldn't you know she actually was a big help?!  She rinsed all the dishes and put them in the drainer all by herself!  If I was taking too long washing something she would grab a cup from the drainer and just rinse it over and over again.

Happy birthday my love!  I look forward to another year of watching you grow :)

Party/Halloween

 

Since our little Ruthie was born on opening weekend, we celebrate her birthday a week before and throw a costume party for her.   It's a lot of work and would not be possible if it weren't for the help of both memaw's and papaw's.  We really are lucky to have grandparents that love her so much and are willing to always help us out in any way.

My friend Yvonne just started making cakes.  I sent her a picture of what I'd like her to do and she was able to make it identical to the one picture!  It looked AMAZING!  I told her anytime she wants to go in the cake making business you just give me a call ;) 

 We decided to go as the Flintstone family this year.  I'm surprised Colton was so willing to wear his costume this time, which was nothing more than a thin dress!  I actually had to get Korbyn's made through Etsy.  Everything as Pebbles through party stores and costume shops looked nothing like the actual Pebbles, and this lady was the only one who made it to look like the real deal.  Surprisingly, I got way too many compliments on my red wig.  Even my grandpa told me that I looked good as a red head and it made me look younger...how old do I look?!?!

 

 Of course that Monday after her party she got some virus where she was running a low fever and just felt super cruddy.  I guess she partied too hard :)

 At school they had a little Halloween party, which also happened to be her last day in the 18-24 month room. 

 Colton was more excited about trick or treating this year, he was actually looking forward to it because she was older and could walk by herself and hold her bucket...so we thought.  I promised Sam that we would come to her house and then we figured we would just hit the loop in the neighborhood that her house is in.  We stopped at maybe two other houses then were ready to go.  She got scared of a lot of the costumes this time and so she wanted to be held and she was getting so sleepy already. 

 We got ready at memaw and papaw doug's and then stopped at my parents before we headed home.  Thankfully we didn't score much candy this year, because we all know who would have ended up eating it!

Smarty pants

 I'm sure I'm a little bias when it comes to the intelligence of my one and only child, but this girl seriously amazes me at how fast she is learning things.  We were over at my mom's one evening with some of my nieces and nephews and they were playing shape bingo.  Colton was actually the one playing but he said every time he would ask her where the color and the shape was she would point to it with no problem!

I have a game on my kindle and it gives four shapes on the screen, some of them repeated but a different color.  Then it will ask aloud something like "find the blue diamond" and although there may be a purple diamond along with a blue diamond, she'll get it right every time.   I know there are tons of kids out there that can properly play a shapes game, but it seems like just a few weeks ago she couldn't recognize them and now she's a pro and not even two yet!

She is even putting several words together to form sentences.  Just a few minutes ago I asked her where her baby was and she "I don't know where baby is?!"  It took me by surprise at how clear she said it.  We can basically ask her anything and know that we'll get an answer from her...it has made life SO much easier when we can communicate!

 And then of course she just loves being a good ol' kid and playing in the dirt.  We were out at Fedor and I gave her a piece of broken pipe (in the picture) and that kept her busy for almost half an hour!

 She definitely keeps us on our toes and keeps us laughing!

The Dentist

 Last Wednesday Korbyn had her very first dentist appointment.  I was extremely nervous because I just knew she was going to flip out.  My niece came with us that day because she wasn't feeling well so her mom asked if she could hang out with us that day.  It turned out great because she was such a big helper with Korbyn all day long and was our photographer!

 This is the most amazing dentist office by the way.  Everyone was so friendly, nice, and patient and I know that played a huge role in the success of her appointment.  They even have a magnet board in the waiting room where they put the "new tadpoles."

 We went into the room and the hygienist pulled out a stool and told Korbyn to come sit down so she could take her picture.  I was thinking to myself "ya right lady, good luck with that, my daughter doesn't do pictures."  Wouldn't you know this little ham sat there so well and let her snap away all while smiling, looking at the camera, AND saying "cheese!"

 As soon as the dentist came into the room she got very shy, which I completely expected.  But her laying back and not saying a word while he brushed her teeth and looked in her mouth for several minutes I was not expecting.  She got freaked out just for a few seconds about half way through, but then calmed down and let him finish the exam no problem!

 Then she got to pick out stickers which was her favorite part!

 Her appointment was over around 10 a.m. and I had my appointment at noon.  We were right next to Petco and Lowe's so we decided to kill some time before we grabbed lunch.  We went to Petco first and Korbyn had so much fun looking at all the different pets.  We then headed over Lowe's where we got a shop vac that Colton had been asking for.  When we get out to the car I'm looking for my keys and panic when they're not in the same pocket that they're always in inside my purse.  I look into the window and sure enough they're still in the ignition with the doors locked!  I google locksmith and just call the first one that comes up.  There goes $60 to open my car...grrrr!

 So after having to wait around for the locksmith we are now at 11:30 a.m. and I'm starting to get a little nervous because number one, I hate being late.  Number two, I know that my appointment is all the way across town.  Number three, I know that if I don't stop and get them something to eat before we go to my appointment Korbyn will be extremely cranky.  Thankfully there's a Carl's Jr next to Lowe's and I swing through there to grab them some lunch and I figure they can eat it while we're driving across town (through construction) to get to my dentist. 

According to my gps on my phone and in my car I'm supposed to be right where I need to be, yet I see no dentist office.  At this point I've already turned around once looking for the place.  I get on the phone and call them asking for directions and during my phone call Korbyn starts kicking and saying "tee tee!"  The receptionist proceeds to tell me "oh we're right next to Carl's Jr. in the shopping center with Lowe's."  I could have screamed and thrown my gps out the window.  I pull over as soon as I can so Korbyn can pee and when I get her out the poor thing had an accident in her car seat.  Thankfully I came prepared with an extra set of clothes and I pulled the bottom lining of her car seat off and laid a towel down for her to sit on.  Not only do I walk into the dentist office late, I'm also already getting looks from all the receptionists and hygienists for having kids with me.  I know, I know, I'm the moron mom who brought two kids to a dentist appointment but the reason it irritates me so bad is that I called two days before my appointment and asked if I could bring Korbyn with me AND offered to reschedule my appointment.  The receptionist on the phone was so nice and said that it won't be a problem at all...well she must have been off the day of my appointment! 

I've never felt more uncomfortable in my life.  They were so rude!  Not a single person smiled at her or made her feel welcome, so of course she started crying when I had to go into a room to do my x-rays.  I figured someone would hold or comfort her besides my 10 year old niece.  When I was in the chair I just about pulled that little blue bib off and threw it in their faces and stormed out when one of the receptionists came barging in with Korbyn on her hip, her face smeared with tears, and said "see!  there she is now you need to be quiet!"  It took everything I had not to get up and just leave and if I wasn't in dire need of an exam I would have.  I held her for a little bit and then she held my hand when the dentist was examining my mouth.  She did just fine after that.  She was probably terrified of all the rude people...kids can SO sense that kind of stuff.

 We then had to go grocery shopping...talk about a long day.  We get into the store and she sees the carousel and says "I ride it?"  So I dug up some change and asked her which pony she wanted to ride and she said "bue!"  I was cracking up the entire time because she never once moved from that pose that she's in and just kept going round and round.  Korbyn had an excellent experience at her first dentist appointment, I just hope she continues to act that way each time.  Mommy's appointment...not so much!

Busy body

 This girl never stops moving!  We went to Cutter's house a few weekends ago and they are both non-stop.  But it makes it nice because they're starting to play with each other more and keep each other occupied.

 And her new favorite thing to do is "cimb" (climb).  Anytime she sees anything that she thinks she'll be able to climb on, she'll go up next to it and try to pull herself up saying "cimb!"  My mom was watching her and she said she actually climbed to the top of the slide on my old swing set, with a little help of course.

This picture is one to keep around just to embarrass her later on.  She rides in her car seat like this ALL the time!  I don't know if it's just more comfortable for her or what, but 90% of the time she's in her seat this is how she sits.

The circus

 The circus came to Giddings last week and while we were there I realized that this was Korbyn's first circus!  We met up with some friends and memaw and papaw Doug.  All the pictures are very blurry, I really need to start using my actual camera for stuff like this.

 Of course papaw just couldn't resist the pony rides!  We all sat down in our seats and while we were waiting for the show to start they had elephant and pony rides and some other fun stuff for the kids.  Papaw leaned over and asked if he could take her down there for a ride.  I was hesitant only because I figured she would chicken out the minute she actually sat on it.  Even when they were on their way down there Colton leaned over and said "I bet she doesn't do it."  Well did she prove us wrong!  Papaw put her up on that pony and she was ready to go.  They had to sit there for a little bit to wait and see if anyone else wanted to come ride, and then I was thinking if they sit there too long she's going to want to get off.  Nope!  She sat and waited so patiently and the smile on her face when they started moving was SO precious.  They only got to go around like two times though which was pretty stingy to me!

One of our friends that we met up with told us about a video clip that's on YouTube about elephants that go crazy at circuses.  Colton and I pulled it up right then and there and watched it and have forever decided that she will NEVER ride an elephant!!!  Watching that movie was extremely scary, it was almost surreal seeing an elephant with kids on its back running around like crazy and knocking everything down in its path.  So, sorry Korbyn, but that will be something that you'll never be able to experience as long as you're living with mommy and daddy.

 She really surprised Colton and I both because she sat and watched the entire show which lasted almost two hours! 

We really didn't have to spend that much money because memaw and papaw sure know how to spoil :)   As soon as we walked in the gate she saw a blow up Dora and Boots and just had to have them.  It was really nice getting to spend time with them and I know Korbyn enjoyed them being there with her and of course to buy her all of her goodies!

Big helper

Any time Korbyn gets to go over to memaw and papaw's she knows she's in for some work!  But she eats it up big time since she loves to do everything by herself now.  She gets to help papaw go get hay for the cows, then they get to feed them.  She also gets to help memaw look for eggs that the chickens laid and gives them food and water.

 She can get pretty silly with the water hose though.  You better watch out because she'll start to chase you with it!

 She has now learned the words goose and heifers...and many other "farm" words!  We picked her up the other day and my dad was telling me that she scared him for a second.

They had gone and got hay on the "mule" (like a gator) and they pulled up back to the house.  My dad said he put her on the ground and he turned around to put a tool back on his truck and when he turned back around she was gone!  He said he started hollering her name and he couldn't find her so he went inside and yelled at my mom to see if she had gone in there.  Well of course this scared my mom because she knew she hadn't come into the house.  About that time Korbyn came running and laughing behind my dad!  The little rascal was hiding from him.  I hope this doesn't become a habit of hers!