Friday, August 31, 2012

12 Months with Our Cream



Yesterday my little girl went and turned one year old. I can't believe it. I really, really can't. But the pictures in this video prove that she has indeed been a huge part of our lives for the last 12 months. Love you, Cream!
**We also enjoyed looking back at Peachy's first year slide show. You can find it here.**

Thursday, August 30, 2012

Like a Kid in a Candy Store

When we get special treats like from parades and parties, we put them in a giant Ziplock bag and tuck it away.

 If Peachy asks for one at an appropriate time, she can have one, but no more than one a day. I figure it lets her have her candy, but limits the amount. And allows me to determine when she has some. (And also allows me to snitch as much as I want. :o)
And she has to think of it. It isn't just out in the open.
She is funny about her choices too, she makes sure to think through what piece she is going to choose. The other day she had the bag out and was pouring over her decision. She ended up with a sucker.
How do you handle special treats at your house?

Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Cream with Cheese!

When I went to snap a picture of Cream yesterday, she gave me this cheesey smile as soon as she saw the camera. I had no idea that she knew that trick yet.
Hope that brightens your day as much as it does mine!

Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Mission: Love Your Home

I have been on a mission the last few weeks. A mission to make our house a home that we love. Do you ever watch the shows on HGTV where they redesign someone's house so that they can sell it? Do you ever think to yourself, "Why didn't they do that sooner?" "That house looks amazing now!" My mission is to take our house and make it into the home that we need and love now, rather than when we are trying to sell it someday. This project is far from complete and I think to be truly successful it will always be a work in progress. However, I would like to share my progress as I make it. This will not only hold me accountable, but give me a place to record my accomplishments. I hope to inspire you as I go along to make your houses your homes as well. And so, without further ado, I announce the House your Home Project. Welcome!
Stay tuned in the coming weeks to see what I do to make our house our home!

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Belaying Baby

For the most part, our last week has been spent in "take it easy mode." Both girls have had colds of the eternal snotty nose variety. They both took turns having rough nights and now just seem to be taking their time in lessening the snot flow. (Sorry if that grosses you out. :o) Thankfully both slept through the night the last two nights. Ahhhhh! Colds and kids are no fun, but kids with summer colds are even worse. Oh well.
In other news, we have a climber. I was always so thankful that Peachy wasn't the climbing type. I would hear the horror stories from other parents of their kids that just couldn't help themselves from climbing anything and everything. And I would be so happy that our child wasn't one of them. Well, now it is my turn to have the climber. While she has yet to take an independent step, our Cream is a climber. If it is off the ground, it is meant to be climbed. She loves the stools in the bathroom.
She loves to climb the side table.
This weekend she climbed a small outside chair and was standing on it which she followed up by standing on top of a riding toy to try and climb a big chair. Yup, we have a climber.

Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Happy Mother's Day

Mr. Cherry and the girls got me flowers this year for Mother's Day. Want to see them?
They actually planted flower seeds in a little flower bed they made in the front of our house. We had been talking about adding a flower garden here for a couple of years, but it was one of those projects that just never got done. I happened to be busy most of the Saturday before Mother's Day and when I got home, this was the surprise that greeted me.
I love that this gift has only gotten better with time. Every time I drive up to the house I am reminded of my family's love for me. And Peachy is still very proud of the flowers she helped daddy plant for momma.

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

Just Playing Around

I have lots going on these days, but it all is revolving around our home and family. Two things that have been weighing on my heart as of late. We are making some changes for the better around here. Nothing big, just lots of littles that I am hoping will add up to make a big difference.  I will make sure and update you all when I have all of my ducks in a row.
For now, here are some pictures of the girls just playing around the last few weeks. 
Peachy is her usual artistic self. She had Mr. Cherry and I creating our own kites last night after Cream was in bed. She was loving having both of our complete attention. She has this great DIY monologue that she runs through with projects. It cracks me up.

And while I was working on a project outside, she created some art of her own. She started with sidewalk chalk and then added bubble solution to create a wet application. The girl is creative.

Now that our weather has been a bit cooler, we have been hitting up lots of the parks around here. We are so blessed to have many wonderful parks to choose from in our area. It is fun now that Cream can enjoy them a little bit as well. (Sometimes it isn't so much the toys as the mulch that is interesting though.)


While Mr. Cherry was grilling the other night, I plopped both girls into the sandbox. Peachy was excited to have Cream join her and Cream was in heaven feeling the sand. She may have even thrown a fit when I took her out for supper.

Sometimes it is important for me to remember that these are the days for just playing around. If nothing else gets accomplished, that is okay.

Wednesday, August 8, 2012

Baby Cream: 11 months Old

Amidst all of the wedding celebrating, Cream turned 11 months old. And quite the 11 month old she is! Cream is still on a mission to move. (As these month's pictures attest to.) When she isn't walking with our assistance, she is constantly pulling herself up and cruising the furniture. (Sometimes it seems as if she can't help herself. Baths are getting to be a big challenge. Every time I sit her down in the tub she pulls herself up on the side.) If there isn't a way for her to cruise to her destination she quickly drops to her knees and crawls there. Unfortunately all of this movement has its draw backs. She often tries stunts that are beyond what she can do. I am pretty sure that she will be the one to need stitches someday, not Peachy.
Cream's eating has really taken off in the last month as well. She now insists on eating what we are eating. I still sneak in some baby food when I think that she might need a little bit extra. She has also learned about sweets, specifically ice cream. Her first bite is always hilarious as she scrunches up her face in reaction to the cold. But she quickly gets over it and begs for more. Peachy always wants to share with her, which is sweet, but I have to be careful she doesn't give her something she shouldn't. I still am nursing three times a day and am not in a hurry to be done. It just seems so natural and convenient at this point. I weaned Peachy at 12 months, so we will see what the next month brings for Cream.
Language development, both verbal and nonverbal, is also significant right now. Cream loves to wave at anyone she sees and sometimes at no one at all. :o) She also loves to clap and sign more. We have been playing peek-a-boo and pat-a-cake, too. Her main words are still Momma and Dadda. I really do think that there are others in there as well like ball and baby and some other family members.
While Cream enjoys being on the go, she also loves being outside. She will calmly sit in a stroller even if it isn't moving as long as there is plenty to see. Mr. Cherry often takes her out in the garage with him and she sits contentedly watching him work. However, when she sees me, she often whines for me to come and hold her. (That is what I get for being the current favorite.) Overall, though, she is a content soon to be one year old.

Her hair is also coming in more and more and most people comment on the color. If only I had a quarter for every time I am out with the girls and asked about their dad's hair color.
Happy 11 months, our sweet little girl!

Tuesday, August 7, 2012

Camping July 2012

Camping plays a key role in the story of how Mr. Cherry and I started dating. I went to college with his brother and sister-in-law. Throughout our four years of college, we camped together several times. When we graduated and ended up living in the same area, we continued our camping adventures. One summer I suggested that we invite Mr. Cherry along. (I may have had ulterior motives.) Instead of his brother calling to invite him, they gave me his number. When I called, Mr. Cherry agreed to come along despite the fact that he never really liked camping. (He may have had ulterior motives.) Over the next few years, Mr. Cherry and I camped many more times and he grew to love it. So, in staying true to our roots, we continue to camp as a family. And while camping isn't quite as relaxing as it was in the days before kids, it is still a family activity that we all enjoy.







Every summer we try to go camping with our friends the Bs. Last month we met up at another state park. Between the two families we have 5 kids under 5, which always makes for an adventure. While it was hot and buggy, we both enjoyed ourselves. There were hiking excursions, shared meals, and night time campfires. This time we opted out of the tent and rented a camper cabin for our family. 

Monday, August 6, 2012

Update . . The Condensed Version

Well, it appears that it has been over three weeks since my last post. I can't believe it. I knew that it had been a while and the weeds here would be thick, but three weeks??? Life has been sailing at full-steam ahead and we have been having fun. Here is a quick run down. I will do my best to fill in the details in future posts.
*Camping: We try to go camping once a summer with some friends of ours who used to live here and have since moved away. This year the Bowl of Cherrys family opted out of the tent and instead rented a camper cabin. It was great!

*Baby Shower: While I was gone, my playgroup hosted a baby shower for one of our members. I did get in on the planning and a few projects. Judging by the pictures, the shower was adorable!!

*Vacation Bible School (VBS): The week following our camping adventure we had VBS at our church. This year Peachy attended and I ran the craft area.

* Miscellany: The week of VBS we were busy, busy, busy. We had a mini photo session for the girls, a bday party for some friends, and I was bust getting ready to leave for two weeks the next week.
*Vacation: The girls and I left for my parents' the Monday after VBS. The main reason for our trip was my little sister's wedding. However, we were able to cram lots of other fun activities in as well. Mr. Cherry joined us for the wedding and then the girls and I stayed the week following the wedding. During these two weeks we had an "un"birthday party with my immediate family, a wedding shower, a bachelorete day, the rehearsal  the wedding, and then lots of fun hanging out with my older sister who also stuck around the week after the wedding.
*Olympics: The Olympics are my sport. I love them and love watching them. So I have been cramming as much t.v. viewing as I can into the last week.
Needless to say, we have spent the weekend catching up on sleep and enjoying being home as a family again.