18 months means.....

NURSERY!!!!
So in our church, when your child turns 18 months, they get to go to the nursery class! It's 2 hours of playtime, singing, learning about Jesus, and snacks. Sounds like my kind of class :)
We weren't really nervous about leaving her in a room full of other kids or missing us, since she is pretty independent and social. But we were more worried about her recent rage when other children take a toy that she sees in the opposite side of the room (yeah she gets mad even when it's not in her hands). Plus we didn't want to just drop her off and be "those" parents that assume their child is easy. So we stayed for a while and she didn't even know when we left. I kissed her goodbye and she acted like we didn't exist. (A very good thing.)
Then Adam and I got really excited when we realized that from here on out we will be "empty nesters" at church, it felt really good to just sit and enjoy the classes. So after the first hour we decided to go check on her. And as we approach the door I can hear her crying and assumed I would walk into a toy battle, but instead I found her in the arms of the sweet nursery teacher who said she just started crying. She said "this is usually the time when they start to freak out cause they realize they don't know who all these people are or where they are." So we came in at the perfect time. Then after a minute she was fine, and went back to playing. Adam said he would stay with her to make sure she did okay—he is so sweet.
So all in all we were very surprised that it went so well. No battles, only tears of confusion, and a very happy, but tired girl by the end of church. We were pretty excited it went so well, and we are excited to be able to fully enjoy church again!  And we still can't believe we have a child old enough to go to class. So crazy.

"I made a turkey in class, and Daddy named him Phil" 

(I still have no idea why Adams likes to name things)

"Can you see me?"

All she wants to do is play hiding games, and get surprised. Oh and climbing is a big one on her to do list. 

Happy Thanksgiving, and happy 18 months everyone!!!

Open for business!

I am elated to finally have my interior design blog public! Please welcome the newest member of our family:

But before you click the link above, I want to thank everyone who has helped me get to this point. I feel so grateful to finally be able to own my very own business! (Warning.....this may sound like I just won an Oscar.) This has been a long process, and I still can't believe we got it finished. And now it's time to get some clients and publish all my design secrets to the world..... :)

My friend Sarah did an incredible job designing my logo, and I had another great graphic designer, Jackie,  that designed my website. They knew my style and we worked so well together. Thanks ladies!

And of course, Adam had been my biggest support! Whenever I thought it was a waste of time, he was there giving me a pep talk about my dreams. And he was a big part if the designing process. I really couldn't have done it without him. (Now the music has started, that's my cue to end my speech)

I hope you all enjoy following my design blog, and please know that I'm always happy to help my friends and family. So email me design questions and I would love to assist you. Also if you have any topics you would like me to post about, please let me know.  I'm always happy to post some great information that will help with all your design needs.

I guess you could say I just cut the ribbon and opened my doors. Welcome!

Thanks for all your love and support. Happy reading!

October schmober

I actually forgot that Halloween was just last week. October flew by!!! We have been so busy that we can hardly keep with the date and our own schedule. Once I upload the pictures, I remember that we  actually did live through the month. But I honestly have no idea what we did the other days that I didn't take any photos. So here are two great days we remember.

Pumpkinville!

It's been fun exploring such a small town, like going to real pumpkin patches, where you wander into a field and find the perfect one. Solana thought it was a giant yard full of balls and picked them up and threw them. It took a lot of effort to teach her they were not for throwing. 

Yeah she has high hopes, I try not to discourage the impossible. :)

So I was soooo excited to take a hay ride with a tractor pulling us! How classic and country of us! But Solana held tight to me the whole time and wouldn't even crack a smile. I think that is the longest I have ever seen her hold still. She was so scared. Maybe it was the whole noisy, open vehicle thing.  Poor little pumpkin picker.

What a surprise, she was a giraffe!!!

Last year she was a lovable lion and this year Cecily the giraffe.(We love that book.) Yeah, we decided to make her be our favorite animals until she can decide for herself. Plus she LOVED the costume. Didn't want to take it off, and man it was funny to watch her run in this thing. 

Love this sweet giraffe girl

haaaahhhhaaa. I love it!

Yeah it was fun halloween. It was fun to watch her run up the doors and try to fill her trick her treat bag with lots of candy. She was NOT shy about wanting more. And she probably would have kept at it all night if we let her. It definitely got bumped to one of our favorite holidays after this year. 

Well I know it won't slow down this month, but if I want to remember it, I better take more pictures. 

Monkey see....

Monkey Do!  And monkey she does and then makes her own stuff up too.....lol.


Sundays have been the highlight of our week ever since we moved here. It's our one day together, so we try to get out and soak it up as a family. A couple of weeks ago we headed down to good ol' Colonial 'Burg to walk around. And Solana was the highlight of the party. She has become a copier, and a bad one too. Like you don't realize that you do something until you see her mimic you, then you think "Oh great what else has she seen?" I guess I should have known for awhile when she started to always pretend she was cooking in the kitchen and always follows me around when I clean the house. Hmmm...where did she come up with that?  Here is just a little afternoon where we realized what a monkey we have on our hands.

"Oh I want to do what daddy is doing?"

(I'm pretty sure back in the Colonial days, they didn't think the stocks were as cool as Solana does...)

 hahahahhhhhaaaaaa!! Solana loved sticking her head in the stocks.  She thought it was like a big jungle gym, and when she stuck her head through, there was a large group of Asian tourists who thought she was very funny.  Adam could barely pry her away.

Her new "Oh No!" face just cracks us up, not sure where she got it from......

Not sure why everything her height is a seat to her. Must be a sad world with no where to sit, lol.

(Adam was pretty proud of this picture, which took him quite a bit of effort to get.)