Shopping Therapy...

I had to go shopping today! Yes, HAD to go! I need more springy shirts - that actually fit my post-pregnancy body (please don't mention that my baby is over a year old). I did get some things that made me feel happy and taken care of (yes, shopping makes me happy - I'll say it)! But I almost had to make myself shop for myself -which is weird - and a definite sign of how being a mom has changed me. Why is it so easy to get Allikaye something every time I go somewhere?! I just naturally get pulled to the adorable varieties of clothes that she "just has to have!" Well, I am justifying the shopping a little lately - because we are going to Riviera Maya, Mexico in April (woohoo woohoo woohoo). So..of course...she needs "beach wear!" Well, I think I may be getting a little nervous energy out by simply buying her cute summer clothes - because we have yet to take a vacation with our cute, precious, only-sleeps-in-her-own-crib, 13 month old - and I am a little nervous! I am really wanting advice on vacationing with a babe! But, I'm sure I will be going crazy asking for advice once the day comes closer...it is...39 days away! But who's counting? Here are some cute beach clothes that I picked up today!
I just may be living through Allie with these shorts!

I had to include this headband from Children's Place, because it looks SUPER cute on Miss Allikaye! I just love her in these - where can I get more????

I hope you dance

Allikaye will dance to anything - anywhere! We may not even hear a beat or tune - but she does! There will be background music in a commercial or in a restaraunt or even an elevator- and sure enough - here goes the hip-bending-groovy-one year old...excuse me...13 month old... jamming! And I mean jamming - with all she's got! It started with a simple excitement for clapping - then came the bending of the knees (with the beat of course) - and now she will even throw in an arm-raised spin! Especially with worship music. It's amazing and hilarious to watch! How do babies pick up things that aren't even explicitly taught? We never showed her how to dance - she just naturally dances! Psalm 150 says "let everything that has breath praise the Lord" and I see this girl of God praising him with her dance skills! She will raise her hand up in the air when we say "Praise the Lord, Allie!" And she LOVES it! I just know God is smiling down and laughing with us watching one of His princesses dancing for Him! He put it in her heart and soul to groove for the Lord - and I think that is so cool!

Stephen Curtis Chapman has a new song called "Cinderella."
Here's the first verse:

She spins and she sways
To whatever song plays
Without a care in the world
And I’m sitting here wearing
The weight of the world on my shoulders

It’s been a long day
And there’s still work to do
She’s pulling at me saying, “Dad I need you
There’s a ball at the castle and I’ve been invited
And I need to practice my dancing
Oh please, Daddy please”

So I will dance with Cinderella
While she is here in my arms
‘Cause I know something the prince never knew
Oh, I will dance with Cinderella
I don’t want to miss even one song
‘Cause all too soon the clock will strike midnight
And she’ll be gone …"

Oh! I did cry...yes I did...because it reminded me of Allikaye's simple joy the comes from seemingly small things. And the awesome reminder to strive for the childlike faith and trust! Stop worrying, mama, and just dance!! Who knew that a 13 month old could be such an amazing witness! You work it, Allikaye!

Lovin' the park!

The weather was finally a little warmer - so we took the opportunity to go to the park! Oh, my, there were tears when we had to leave! Even though Allie's nose was red and runny - she loved it! I am so excited for the spring to come so we can spend more time exploring!

She loved the slides! And then would try to climb up them - so daddy helped her, which made her so happy!

She would cruise for awhile and eventually make her way back to the slides - notice this is a different one than the other picture - yet she wanted to do the same process, with daddy's help.

Daddy and Allikaye!

Mama and Allikaye!

I love this picture because, 1) She looks like such a big girl walking by herself at the park, and 2) She is actually running away from us because it is time to leave!

I had a dream last night about my signs, and t-shirts. Weird? Well, I must say that I am a little bit obsessed with "sayings" - like that you find on novelty shirts and on cute signs. In my dream I was searching for a new sign for my house and couldn't find the right one! It may be because one of my favorite little shops is closing in March (Gatherings), and I am feeling like I won't ever be able to buy another cute sign again! Drama! After telling Matt about this, he said - in a most sarcastic way - that I have plenty of sayings throughout our house! So here is where the pictures come in - I am sharing with you my endearing signs that I "have plenty of." And I will admit that I still love them - and will, yes, probably buy more! I find it so hard to not buy one - when the saying makes my heart jump for joy - like those are the words that I would write on a sign myself - if only I were so talented! I got this sign for Christmas -and I am keeping it up! That is one of my favorite words!

I bought this sign on ebay! I just love that saying - because I love my Matt!

I had to put this one on the floor to take the picture, because my mantle is filled with Guitar Hero props (Matt) - and not very cute right now!

Yes, I even buy the cute little sign! Oh - aren't they perfect??

This is my newest purchased sign! I have to say "amen" to that one every time I walk past!

My mama gave me this one - and I love it! Barlow Girl (a Christian girl band) just came out with a new song that says just that!!! Love Barlow Girl!

I got this sign for my wedding shower (5 year ago)! How sweet!

I have even started to fill Allikaye's room with cute signs...

I am always on the look out for the perfect sign. The one that calls out to me - hits me in the heart! If you find one - let me know - but don't tell Matt! I will have to share about t-shirts saying at a later date!! hehehehe!

Bilingual Baby!

I was awaiting the day when I would be able to truthfully say "my baby is bilingual!" Spanish? German? Sign language!! Allikaye has known how to communicate with us so amazing by learning baby signs. She has now mastered over 25 of them! We laughed to ourselves at the doctor when she said that Allie may be getting frustrated with trying to let us know what she wants -because she won't be able to voice her thoughts to us. But she can tell us most everything that she needs, just by signing! I am so thankful that we came across Baby Signing Time. Not only has it been so great for us - but Allie LOVES the videos!! And we have so many priceless memories watching her learn her first words. Matt and I have a new set of songs that get in our head too - much different than our lives "pre-baby"!! "Do the Dance, Do the Diaper Dance!" 

So now Miss Allikaye is saying her first set of "out loud" words! It is hilarious and amazing to hear her announce certain words. So while I am thinking about all her words - I decided to jot them all down! Here goes:

Allikaye's Signs:

Eat, mom, dad, cracker, hat, shoes, cereal, grandma, grandpa, car, milk (one of her top signs), train, banana, more, book, juice, bird, sleep (so precious when she's tired), "All Done", fish, ball, dog, cat, brush teeth, frog, baby, please, thank you, wash hands, blows kisses...

Allikaye's "Out Louds":

Hi

Mom

Dad

Ball 

Baby

I am so excited to keep adding to this list! Man, we love that girl!!

Allikaye's 1st Birthday!!!

Hooray for our one year old!! What a fun time she had being the center of attention (what's new) with all the birthday guests over at our small townhouse for her first big shindig! She showed everyone her dance moves -when we sang "Happy Birthday". When you ask her how old she is... she holds up a one and says "onnnnn"! Yes, that is incredibly advanced! HA! She absolutely LOVED the new chair she got! As you can see in the pictures, she was super into it! At first she sat, then stood, then started jumping and clapping..while everyone cheered, laughed and clapped along! Even now, we walk downstairs in the morning, and it is like opening her chair all over again - she loves it!! Some other favorite gifts, were books, of course, some new babies (stuffed animals), and some cute clothes! Speaking of her babies - she gets a high pitch voice and kisses them and rocks them! It's C-U-T-E!! Happy Birthday, onnnnnnn year old!!!

The chair of dreams!

Cute girl Sleeping!

I love sneaking in on Allie sleeping! She always looks so comfortable -
and she is always in her corner!!