halfway to a big girl bed

Today was a sad day in this house….for me anyway.

We moved Presley into a (semi) big girl bed. I guess we were lucky to get 28 months of her being in a baby jail, I mean, crib!! On Tuesday, when she was getting up from a nap, I caught her on the monitor straddling the side of the crib. After I got over my mini heart attack, I told Jeremiah that our crib days were over. I still can’t believe it! :(

We just took the front of the crib off and put the guard rail on the mattress. It doesn’t fit perfectly. But I’m looking for a twin bed to transition her into. We don’t want to buy a toddler bed that she would only be in for a little bit and we want to keep the crib as a crib for a future nursery.  Actually, we are going to keep all of the nursery furniture together SO, what else do you do but buy all new furniture for little miss? ;)  I’ve been looking for a while and I think big kid furniture decisions are harder than nursery furniture ones were 3 years ago!

For nap today, it took her an hour to fall asleep. She kept getting up and knocking on the door and calling our names. I was surprised that she didn’t play much with the toys in there. Tonight she only got up once and then got right back in bed. I think it was only because she was so tired from not napping long enough earlier. Hopefully she won’t stop napping because of the bed switch!

“it makes me sad too”

Presley discovered that she can unzip things yesterday.

Unfortunately for us, it was the lap desk for the computer and not just her jacket. I’m guessing the bag (the white thing) inside that held the 50 billion styrofoam balls already had a hole in it. And then she just went to town shaking them out. In my defense, she was NOT quiet during this time and her little hands were hidden by the coffee table from my view in the kitchen. She just looked like she was sitting on the ground innocently playing with some toys. & those stupid balls were crazy static-y, so they stuck to everything, including the vacuum canister when trying to empty it. That was fun. So when I was frustrated later with cleaning it up, I told her that her getting into that made me really sad. She replied with, “it makes me sad too”! Oh, she’s too much sometimes!

Something free can ACTUALLY be amazing!

If you have a blog, you know how frustrating it can be to write a post and upload pics using blogger’s template. I personally hate blogging sometimes for that very reason. But thanks to the free Windows Live Writer, blogging is actually easy! I found this post by Centsational Girl and the Heavens opened up to Angels singing to me!!! Not really, but it left me wondering why in the world I was still blogging the old school way. I decided to give WLW a try and I LOVE it,  L. O. V. E.  it! Anyway, go read her great post and then jump on my bandwagon!

This picture is Presley’s first drawing of a smiley face! How is my kid able to draw this grown up drawing? It’s mind-boggling, this toddlerhood thing! I just wanted to add a picture so see how crazy easy it was to do it!

first day of "tool time"

Presley had a good first day of school! I had worked the night before, but I went to my mom's so I could get P ready and go with my mom to take her. I didn't want to miss her first morning! I took her picture with a sign stating what milestone it was. Because I love to do that...as evidenced by her first year of life! ;)

She was pretty excited to go and only whimpered when I had to put her down to sign her in. Then I went over to the toys and started showing her things and she got distracted. I just got up and went out the door. Then I thought "oh no I didn't tell her bye. She's going to think I abandoned her and I'm never coming back. She's going to be so distraught!" I wanted to go back in and hug her one more time and tell her bye. But my mom said that definitely wasn't a good idea, and she was right. Presley was fine! I kept peeking in the window and she was still playing. I think it also helped to be distracted by the three other little girls running around! [I totally shed a few tears at that moment. I kinda felt like a dork, but you know what I am her mom and I deserved to cry anytime I want!] Miss Tory said none of the girls ever got upset that day. Presley even said tonight that she wanted to go play at "tool time" again tomorrow, so hopefully it goes well again. I was pretty impressed that she did so good. It was her first time completely being away from our family!

Miss Tory also handed out this sweet poem to all of the mama's. Definitely didn't help with the tears! :) It was a really sweet gesture though!

The First Day
I gave you a little wink and smile
As you entered my room today.
For I know how hard it is to leave
And know your child must stay.
You've been with her
And have been a loving guide,
But now, alas, the time has come
To leave her at my side.
Just know that as you drive away
And tears down your cheeks may flow
I'll love her as I would my own
And help her learn and grow.
For as a parent, I too know
How quickly the years do pass
And that one day soon it will be my turn
To take my child to class.
So please put your mind at ease
And cry those tears no more
For I will love him and take her in
When you leave him at my door.

Open House

Presley is going to preschool this year. That's right, I just typed the craziest sentence. How can my baby be ready to go to preschool? I feel like I just brought her home! Well, she is the youngest kid in the class. All the others are 2 1/2 or almost 3, but we felt like she needed the social interaction since she doesn't hardly ever play with kiddos her own age. And she pretty much has her own personal teacher at home in my mom who teaches her loads of stuff! :) And for that, we are very grateful!

They had open house today and we went a played for a bit and met Presley's teacher, Miss Tory. She hasn't ever taught preschool before so this will be a learning experience for all of us! Ha! Presley will be going Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9am-1pm, and that class is all girls! The M,W,F group is all boys; how funny is that? She already likes going to "tool time"! But then again, we haven't left her by herself yet. Hopefully there will be few tears and lots of smiles in the future! Oh, I almost forgot, Jeremiah took off today so it was awesome that he was able to come too! Poor thing won't ever be actually taking her or picking her up because he'll always be working during those hours. :(

total random side note- You could definitely tell we at a Florida preschool...there were no smocked apple dresses or monogrammed clothes on today. In fact a mom/daughter duo had on swimsuits and cover-ups! Presley still represented her southern mama well in her Castles & Crowns and monogrammed lunch box! ;)


Afterward, Presley and I went with my Mom to check out the train museum where Jaden is having his birthday party next weekend. And of course we had to get some pics, because Presley LOVES trains! I know she is going to love his party!

26 and 1/4 of a month old

When do you stop doing the month updates on a toddler? Apparently at 2 years old if you're a slacker mommy blogger like me! Well, here we are at 26 months and 7 days old and you are getting a Presley month update. I think I'm going to only do them sporadically because it's hard to keep up with things every 4 weeks!

She is the bossiest little thing I've ever seen. She has started telling things (and people) to "hush"! If she wants to talk to someone that I'm talking to, she'll just look at me and say "Mommy hush, I talk to Daddy." Or she'll just randomly be walking through the house and say "hush baby" to one of her dolls. It's hard not to let her see that it's funny, because Lord knows I don't need her going in public telling some stranger to hush...that wouldn't be funny!

And the sweet side of her says "I wub we Mommy" (I love you!) and "thant chu Mommy" unprompted now. I just love it! It's like she such a little person now, well, I mean she always has been but it's more noticeable now that she can have a understandable conversation with you. We're still working on please though.

Presley LOVES my phone. In fact she calls it her phone and treats it like the precious ring from Lord of the Rings. Meaning you have to pretty much pry it from her hands 'cause she's got a death grip on it! However that being said, I totally understand why she loves it. Elmo and Gabba Gabba instantly stream on it, books read themselves to her on it, and she learns colors, shapes and animal noises in other languages on it. What's not to love? But the downside is that Presley deletes photos, people and apps from it. So I'm trying to rein in her usage!

It's getting harder to get her to branch out and eat different things. I feel like we are getting stuck in the toddler diet of pb&j and grilled cheese sandwiches for lunch. At least she is still eating veggies most days. And her favorite foods for dinner are tacos, spaghetti and chicken salad. She eats veggies in the funniest way. She will only eat them while she's running around playing. So that means that you have to take the vegetable into the living room and sit down and make it a fun game...whatever works I guess!

Presley is super into coloring and playing with baby dolls right now. I bought an easel at Ikea that has a dry erase board on one side and a chalkboard on the other...that is a huge hit! She is also loving dressing and undressing herself. I don't remember Kole being interested in that this early. But Presley will take the clothes from your hands and pull them up as far as she can or put them over her head as much as possible and then say "I need help" for you to finish it. :)

It seems like life is moving at warp speed and shows no sign of ever slowing down. It makes me sad that she seems to have grown up over night...and I know it's only going to get worse. Someone hold me!

no pictures, but still exciting stuff!

Presley has a big announcement.........





She pee peed in the potty last night for the first time!

-Sorry if you thought it was going to be a pregnancy announcement like my parents did! Ha ha!-

She has played around on her little potty before, but never actually did anything on it. After her bath, she wanted to "pee pee poddy". Within a few seconds she peed on the floor because she wasn't far enough back on the seat. So I scooted her back and then she peed in the potty! We clapped and cheered for her and then called all of the grandparents! =) I started the phone conversations with "Presley has something exciting to tell you guys!" In hind sight, probably did set them to think new baby, but peeing in the potty is all we got right now! ;)

Miscellany Monday

How's this for random: seafood, haircut, drinking out of a big girl cup and a change purse!

We went to Flounder's to eat tonight and it was delicious! I got the shrimp boat platter and it was HUGE! It could have probably fed everyone on a boat! I was crazy full when we left.

My sweet little watermelon at dinner! Have no fear, a few seconds after this picture, she was climbing all over us!

Jaden's new haircut! We all think it's adorable, but he doesn't like it! :( Poor thing! His hair has always grown fast, so it will be crazy curly again before we know it.

Presley is such big girl! I feel like I blink and she's doing something new, something more grown up. She can officially drink out of a big girl cup! Granted I wouldn't give her milk or juice in one yet, but water after brushing teeth works for now!

& lastly isn't this precious? Karri got it for me because we all know how obsessed I am with birds and owls! I love it! It fits my phone, debit card and keys....all that I need! :)

Oh no! It has begun!

WHY? WHY? WHY?

That's pretty much all I have heard this morning! Every time I say something to Presley, it's the response I get. I honestly was not prepared to hear this dreaded question this early....she's not even 2 yet! For the past few days she has said it off and on, but this morning, the Why has been full blown!

I don't think I'm ready for her to grow up!

Presley funnies

Presley is pretty much always a riot to be around with the things that she says and/or does. But I decided to jot down a few things that she's been doing lately for our own memories!

-she calls all older men, whether it be in books, on tv, or in real life, papaw.

-she holds your face in her hands and gets really close to you and then opens her eyes really big and raises her eyebrows and then just stares at you. It probably sounds really creepy, but I promise it's so adorable!

-when something is yucky, no matter what it is, she says "yuck, poo poo, yuck!" It's really embarrassing when out it public and she says this because 8 out of 10 times it's not poop she's referring too.

-and finally, she says NO now! Yay! ::insert thick sarcasm here!:: And Presley doesn't just say it, most of the time she screams it! She's been saying no and ow together. Like as in consecutively saying no, ow, no, ow, no, ow! That's also really fun to be given the side eye out in public as your daughter is screaming no and ow at you. I just smile and hope that they've been around a toddler before and know that I'm not beating my child when they're not looking!

& here is Presley's first REAL ponytail! =) Excuse the quality...it was taken with my cell phone because I had to snap it quickly while she was being occupied with a book. My baby's growing up!

toes and a tea party

Last night I went on a Mommy date with some friends. We got pedicures and had dinner at Macaroni Grill! It was a lot of fun! :) & Jeremiah and Presley went to his mom's house and had dinner and a play date with her. She got Presley a tea set and Presley LOVES it! She will pour some into the little cups and then she hands you one (always a gracious host and serves her guests first!) and then she sips some and immediately says "yum!" It's so cute!

Presley had to have her toenails painted as well today! It's the first time she's had them painted. They are incredibly cute, but they make her seem incredibly big! :( My baby's growing up!

& now a completely random and hilarious story~
Last week we had gone to Olive Garden and gotten some yummy Andes mints. I had some on my nightstand, you know in case of any emergency where I might need some chocolate! On Tuesday night, I was getting ready for work and Presley was running around as usual. She came into the bathroom very causally and I noticed that she had some brown stuff all around her mouth. I kind-of freaked out for a second thinking that we don't ever leave stuff out that she could get into. I was walking around trying to find the culprit, when I noticed that there was only one mint on my nightstand and there was a wrapper on the floor. I picked it up and said "Presley what happened to this?" she replied with "MMMM!!" Ha ha! I was pretty impressed that the wrapper was left intact! :)

big girl bath time

Recently we've moved on to some big girl things. Presley has had a "regular" toothbrush for a while now but I bought "regular" toothpaste the other day & she LOVES it! :) Don't worry it still doesn't have any fluoride in it. & unless her gums are sore, she loves to brush them by herself. If they are sore...I have to hold her down and do it myself. :(

Presley stands up on a stool now in front of the sink. She can almost reach the water to wash her hands. When she's brushing her teeth, she rinses off her toothbrush by herself! ha ha!

We just went from brushing her hair with the soft baby brush to combing it with a comb. & Presley now has tangles in her hair. TANGLES! Those things can't be in my baby's hair! ;) I told my mom I'm going to have to buy some detanglizer spray soon to help!

bowling baby

Yesterday we took Presley bowling for the first time. It went better than I had envisioned it. We only had a few major meltdowns and fell out of a chair once, but we didn't bust a lip or break anything....so I consider that a major success! :) We went with some buddies and had a great time. I think Jaden & Kole would have a great time, so we may be going back sooner rather than later!
They had this metal ramp thingy (that you obviously see in the pictures!) that let little ones bowl without hurting themselves! It was pretty cool! Presley got the hang of it really quick and would run to the ball return thingy and try to pick up a ball. I would help her carry it out to Jeremiah who was at the ramp thingy and then she would push it down all by herself. I realize what a big girl she is at moments like that and it makes me sad. :(

side note::::I have NO idea why this pictures are different sizes and it's driving me nuts! I uploaded them the same way! Ahhhhh! It's ok....I'm letting go now!::::end side note

She was so funny to watch! When the ball was rolling down the lane, she would clap and laugh and jump up and down. She just thought it was hilarious to push it and then watch it roll!

We didn't even get through the whole game. Our hour was up before we knew it! Oh well, I don't think a toddler could have lasted much longer anyway....I had started going for Presley the last few frames we played. Stinkin' Jeremiah won! I finished ahead of Presley, but only by like, a few points! She's a natural!

my funny little artist

Presley colored her first picture today. Well, not really. She has colored two before but I hung them up on the fridge where she could see them, and um, yeah, big mistake! She ripped them right off and then proceeded to rip them up! Lesson learned and now her beautiful picture is hanging up high on the fridge where she can still see it but not rip it up! :)

I wanted to post about some of the funny things that Presley has been doing lately before I forget about them. I was laying in her floor the other night playing with her and I had my eyes closed. She said "mama" once and when I didn't answer her the first time she said it again. Then instead of yelling it (which she does 15 million times a day, so this was odd!) she calmly came over and pulled my eyelid open and said mama again! It was so funny!

We go to church in Gulf Breeze which requires us to use the Garcon Point Bridge. We used to have to stop every Sunday and pay the toll. Now we have a Sunpass so we just drive on through the booth. Every time we go through it, Presley claps her hands and says "all done"! Ha ha! I guess she's glad we don't have to stop anymore?

In the middle of Presley's sickness last week, we found out that she knows how to blow her nose! Ha ha! I was wiping her nose and just instinctively said "blow" then thought for a split second she can't do that. Well, I was wrong! She now asks for a tissue and just goes to town blowing that nose!

18 months!

How is my BABY one and a half years old? Ahhh! I can't believe that I will be planning her second birthday party soon. Speaking of that, I probably really do need to start thinking of ideas because it will be here before I can turn around good!


So here is what Presley has been up to lately~
- says "ump" and raises her hands when she wants you to pick her up.
- can point to a ladybug, butterfly, fish, and sea horse when you ask her to find them in her animal book
- brushes her hair out of her face when she needs to see! it is hilarious to watch! I tell her that she wouldn't have to do that if she would just leave her clips or bows in her hair! ;)
- has seven teeth now! 4 on top and 3 on the bottom...more have to be coming in because she holds her mouth and cries out daily. It's really sad! :(
- LOVES the book I'm as Quick as a Cricket....seriously it gets read about 10 times a day now
- can say mama, dada, nana, pawpaw, meemaw, pappaw, & mammaw to the appropriate people. funny how the last 4 all sound similar! that's probably why she can say them all! HA!
- says "moorrah" and signs it when she wants more food.

Presley has become quite the little jokester! She has started this thing when in her highchair, she'll hid her napkin behind her head and raise her hands up like asking "where did it go?". Then she'll pull it out and say "ta da"!!! Ha ha! It's so cute! We videoed it the other day and I need to put it on here so y'all can see it first hand!

We celebrated Presley's month day today by giving her a PB&J sandwich for the first time! It was actually her first time ever having peanut butter! I thought she would just love it and devour it. But she only ate 1/2 of the sandwich. She normally eats all of a sandwich. Oh well, maybe it will be an acquired taste for her.

Presley.....Daddy & I love you so much! You are the light of our lives. We honestly can't remember our life before you! :) Even with all of your toddler tantrums, you are still the sweetest, most wonderful little thing.

ETA: at her 18 month checkup Presley weighed 22 pounds 4 ounces & was 32 1/4 inches long.