Valentine's

On my 'What I'm Loving Wednesday' post last week, I talked about how much I love Valentine's Day because Patrick always makes it special.  I shouldn't have talked it up because our Valentine's Day consisted of work as usual & then a regular night at home with dinner being a frozen pizza, breadsticks & salad.

The weird thing is that's exactly what I wanted to do.  Yes, I am OLD.  & TIRED.

I told Patrick not to get me anything mainly because I didn't have him anything.  Either way, it was still a perfect night at home in my book.

Who wouldn't want this face as a Valentine?

Mallory had a little Valentine's Day party at preschool.  She was so cute sitting with all her friends!

She looks really happy, no?

'Mommm, stop taking pictures in front of my friends!'

It's funny how even Valentine's Day changes so much once you have a kid.  We wouldn't change it for anything in the world though!

Little star, little star

These awesome little star shades were in the favor bag from Jackson's birthday party last weekend.  I think it is safe to say that Mallory is thoroughly enjoying them ;)

She is also quite fond of the horn.  Although, she makes the noise of the horn instead of blowing it to make the noise.  Either way, it's cute.

Playing with Bella

She will wear any pair of sunglasses all day long, but won't keep a bow in her hair for 5 seconds.  Explain that.

Turn it up.

When we first started Mallory with a sippy cup, I had 4 or 5 different ones; because if you've ever looked on the sippy cup aisle at your local Walmart or Target, there is quite the selection.  I had no idea which one she would prefer {if any}, so I just picked out a variety & tried them all. 

She ended up taking to the cups with the straw in them like the one pictured below.  It was the easiest for her to drink out of as she didn't have to learn to put her head back and raise the cup.

So this is the type of cup she has used for the past {almost} year.  Obviously, she's a pro :)

Recently, I began thinking that she really needs to learn to drink out of a regular sippy cup.  The straw cups seem to be harder to find {also there are more parts to wash. A big dislike for mommy}.

After exactly one tantrum & refusing to touch the first sippy cup we tried, we now have a Minnie Mouse regular sippy cup, drinking toddler who can now turn.it.up.

GO BOO! GO!

Wednesday Loving.

Happy Wednesday! 

I am linking up with Jamie for her weekly:

I'M LOVING these wonderful little rice crispy treats:

Mallory & I have been sharing one of these every night for dessert & we both LOVE them!  I know it's all in my head, but the Valentine ones seem to taste better than the original Little Debbie Marshmallow Treats, ha!

I'M LOVING that Mallory had a good day at preschool!!  I got a good report when she was dropped off this morning & a good report when she was picked up.  HUGE improvement from Monday, thank goodness!!

I'M LOVING that Monday is Valentine's Day!  It has always been one of my favorite days of the year.  Patrick is great about always making it special for me & I am excited about helping doing Mallory's little Valentine's for all of her friends at preschool. 

I'M LOVING Photoshop Elements!  I don't know why it took me so long to decide to purchase it.  & honestly, I have no idea what I'm doing with it but I do know that I'm having lots of fun with the pictures I take.  {& hopefully learning a little something to!}

I'M LOVING this cute dress:

Mallory has her Easter dress so it is time for me to start looking for mine.  This is definitely a favorite so far! 

Sick again.

I swear, ever since before Christmas, Patrick or myself has been sick.  Patrick was sick all weekend with a really bad cold, headache & fever. 

Then yesterday after lunch, I came down with a stomach bug.  Nothing got accomplished in my office after 3pm.  I pretty much just sat at my desk, wishing the nausea away & watching the clock.  Finally, 5:00 arrived.  I picked Mallory up, stopped to the store & got a 7 Up & headed home. 

Unfortunately, I didn't make it.  Yep...had to pull over on the side of the road in the pouring rain, open the door & puke.  Ughh...sorry if that was TMI. 

I had to miss Bunco last night :(  Not a good Monday at all.  I couldn't keep anything down the rest of the day & through the night, stayed home from work today & have finally eat some lunch just now.  So far, so good...I hope it is gone. 

Mallory went to stay with her Granny today, as I didn't know how sick I would be.  I feel like I am out of the woods, & am ready to go get her.  It doesn't feel right being home & her not being here with me, I just hope she doesn't get sick too.  We have been so lucky with her not getting sick this year.  Somehow it has just been Patrick & I.  We are thankful that it is us that has to deal with it & not her.

Mallory is in her third week of preschool & things are not going well.  As of last Wednesday, she cries when she is left & cries most of the time there I think.  Granny picked her up yesterday & she had the snubbs.  I have only known her to cry so hard she was snubbing one or two times in her whole life, so I feel like she was extremely upset.  I don't really know what to do about that.  I hope she will come around quickly, because it is heartbreaking for me to know she is there wanting her mommy.  I'm praying that she comes around soon!  

Party in the USA

I love that song by Miley Cyrus for some reason. 

Anyway, this post isn't about Miley Cyrus, it's about the number of birthday parties that Mallory is invited to these days.  It seems like Mallory has been to more birthday parties in her short 18 months of life than I went to in my entire childhood.  Don't get me wrong, I think parents go way out these days for birthday parties {I'm guilty too} where as my parents & my childhood friend's parents didn't.  I remember only having two parties where I invited lots of friends.  Other than that, we just always had a family celebration {which was special too}. 

The past two Saturdays we have been to birthday parties.  Last weeks was our friend & neighbor, Miss Carter's party.  She had a Scooby Doo party for her third birthday. 

Carter's little brother, Charlie, & Mallory had fun playing together.

Such a little mama.

We dressed Mallory in a State outfit since they were playing Carolina last Saturday.  We were hoping for a win, but didn't happen :(

The birthday girl busted Scooby to get lots of candy.

It made Daddy really proud to see his little girl playing on a excavator!

Today, we headed to Wilson for my cousin Dan's little boy's birthday party.  Jackson turned 1!

There were lots of kids & toys.  Mallory had a blast.

 Yummy birthday cake

Jackson's big sister, Larken, was so sweet giving Mallory kisses!

Of course, once Mallory came across this carseat she was entertained by the buckles for a while, haha!

Birthday boy!

Mallory & Grandmother checking out her favor bag.

She toted her bag like a little old lady toting a purse.

Since it has rained nonstop all day, it was nice to get out & have something to do.  Mallory really seems to enjoy each & every birthday party we go to so I am thankful we are invited to so many & that she has so many friends already!

February what

I CAN'T believe today is February 2nd!  I don't even know where January went but I am happy that we are closer to spring.  Especially after such a beautiful warm day.  This weather is CRAZY, just heard Skip say that highs tomorrow are in the 40's :/ 

We have actually stayed home every night this week!  That is unheard of.  I am happy to say that Mallory is eating so much better.  I guess her pickiness was just a phase because now she will eat pretty much whatever we are eating.  That's one less thing for me to stress about.  The girl was living off of goldfish for a little while & I was feeling like a terrible mommy. 

On a not so positive note, Mallory has had a meltdown every morning this week.  For some reason, after I dress her she just loses it saying "No!, Off!, Ike it!" {which she means as - Don't like it} all the while crying & stomping.  She mostly pulls at her pants like she doesn't want them on.  The first day, we changed her pants three different times & it was the same thing every time.  Since then, I tell her she has to wear what I put on her.  I just can't get over such diva-like behavior at 18 months old???  I hope this isn't a sign that worse behavior is to come & I REALLY hope that us just ignoring it & making her wear the first outfit we put on her will nip this in the bud STAT. 

Mallory's Easter dress came in yesterday!  I ordered it online from a shop that does Facebook sales.  I have become quite addicted to commenting SOLD! on the cute little things that catch my eye & so far I have been very pleased with everything I have purchased.  When I saw this dress, it wasn't a very good picture.  It only showed the top of the dress, but I thought for $30 it was a great deal so I got it.  I know the picture below is really crappy (taken with my cell) & it needs ironing but y'all I LOVE it.  The material is so soft & it's so well made.  I'm sure I would have paid at least double if I had bought the same dress from a local store.  Yayy for a good deal!!     

   

I think Mallory has figured out the whole preschool thing because the drop-off this morning did not go so well.  She cried.  A lot.  I stood there looking at her teachers like what do I do??  They both motioned that I just needed to leave, so I did.  I called to check on her thirty minutes later & they said she was okay, she was playing.  Then after lunch, her babysitter {who picked her up} emailed me & said that she had asked "Mommy coming?" when leaving preschool.  Ahhh...heartbreaking. 

That's our last few days in a nutshell.  Happy Wednesday :)