Hello November

Courtesy of James Wheeler

By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.  With each new month comes new tasks.  I always have the best of intentions to get ahead and start things before they HAVE to be done. But to be honest, it doesn't happen as I have planned. So, with that being said, here is a way for us to keep each other accountable! We can do it!

First of all, there are 54 days until Christmas! I love Christmas. I LOVE Christmas. Have I told you I loooooove Christmas? This is the time if you haven't already to get your shopping list together. I mean who, how much, and what kinda stuff. Budgeting isn't fun, but it is a great way to purpose your money. You will know how much you are going to spend and you wont have to freak out December 26th.

Since this is the month of Thanksgiving, you might be doing a lot of cooking. This is a good reminder to check your fire alarm batteries. Test your fire alarm and CO2 monitor! If you're not cooking, be thankful, and test your fire alarm and CO2 monitor!

Our lease renews every December, so I have gotten in the habit of wiping walls and baseboards twice a year. Once, now before the rental management company comes and takes a look at the house to make sure my munchkins haven't destroyed it. The second is six months from now. Magic Eraser gets the job done and done quickly!

Holiday Cards! I do not get my photos professionally done. I love photography, so this is a way I can use my creative streak. Nothing against professionals! Start thinking how, where, what time of day, outfits for the family, and when. You can use Shutterfly or tinyprints. This of course takes more time and effort, but the result is something that is original and ALL yours. You can't beat that with a stick. You just can't.

Happy November y'all!
Dannielle

Little Girl All Grown Up

Ava is now 19 months. She is getting to that point where she is transitioning from an infant to a young girl. With that being said, there are these cute pajamas that are in her size now! See, she's very petite. She is at the bottom of the normal growth chart. She could probably still wear clothes that are 12m but they wouldn't last as long. 

These button down pjs are absolutely precious! When I showed her her new pjs, she said, "Awwwe!" She was excited to put them on knowing that they were different. She ran to the mirror and twisted her torso back and forth staring at herself in the mirror. I had never seen her react that way to clothes. She's definitely all girl. 

In my family, for Christmas Eve, we open one gift. They are pajamas. We usually let the kids open a toy gift as well. I will have the Christmas pajama set for her to wear Christmas Eve. 

I got these at Target. I mean Target is my all-time go-to place for just about everything. If I can't find it there I go to Amazon. I literally don't have any shopping in my town. I have to drive forty-five minutes. Ugh! But... I love the country. 

These are super cute as well! There are other choices in the Target link that I posted up top, but these are my faves. 

Do y'all have any pajama's that y'all love for your little munchkins? 

Happy Halloween Eve!

Dannielle 

The Evolution of a Smile

Don't you just love that stage of a baby when they actually understand the concept of smiling for pictures? I sure do. 

When Aiden was Ava's age, I had to ask to see his teeth for him to smile at me. For about a year or see after that every time he smiled for pictures, he had this huge teethy grin! It's so cute to look back on now.  

Ava on the other hand has taken to picture-takin' quite well. It might be the fact that I've got a huge phone screen, because she loves to look at her picture after it was taken. Back in the good ol' days I used my phone for calling and my camera for taking pictures. 

This is her "I'm happy and it's bright outside," face. 

This is her, "Oh you're taking a picture... of ME," face. 

"Cheese!!!"

I hope y'all have a "cheesy" day!