Monday, January 31, 2011

Smile---It's Monday!

I often get comments and emails asking, well begging, for more videos of Sweet Bean! And since I'm such a people pleaser (insert a tinge of sarcasm here), I'm more than happy to oblige!

Shot yesterday evening just after she awoke from her nap, this is just a quick snippet of what life is like with Miss Priss---nonstop! No joke, from the time she wakes up until she falls asleep, Gillian Grace is on the go! Lately we're lucky if she slows down long enough to sit and eat! But above all else, our Bean loves to boogie!

{Song in video-Train: Save Me, San Francisco}


Can you see why we're both tired at the end of the day?

From morning until night, Sweet Bean is one bigger than life bundle of spunkiness! Now if I could only figure out a way to capture and market all this energy, we'd be set for life!

Hope your Monday is going well and that your week is off to a fantastic start!


{There's still time to enter to win the CSN gift certificate! Click here to find out more!}

Thursday, January 27, 2011

Sweet Bean is 18 months!

Dear Gillian Grace,

Last week you turned 18 months old, but your poor Momma is only now getting around to writing your update. There are many things in life I don't mind slapping together, but a milestone post is not one of them.


Fortunately for all of us, aside from a few colds, you've been the picture of perfect health. Just yesterday we took you to see Dr. Shearer for your 18 month check up. At this stage, I'm not sure which one of the three of us dislikes these visits worse, you or your daddy and me. Ever since your hospitalization last May, there's just something about a waiting room that sends you into orbit. And now it seems, you're no longer fond of your sweet doctor's voice, bound and determined to show off those great lungs of yours with screams and cries that I'm sure could be heard throughout the office. And as though you were auditioning for a spot in the World's Strongest Baby Competition, you gave the nurse a run for her money when it came time to administer your one shot for the month. If my heart hadn't have been breaking in a million pieces seeing you that unhappy, I might've found myself giggling uncontrollably as the nurse struggled as though she were wrestling an octopus as she tried to hold you down. You are stubborn and strong as an ox, and once your mind is set, for better or worse, it takes a lot to persuade you otherwise.


You continue to be the happy and content little girl you've always been. For the most part, your temper tantrums have subsided, though your independent streak seems to grow wider with each passing day. Often we find you just sitting in your playroom, thumbing through books, and jibber-jabbering to yourself in a language all your own.


We constantly marvel at just how much you seem to comprehend in the world around you. Dad and I find ourselves surprised day after day with the new words that seem to come out of nowhere and quickly become a part of your daily vocabulary. Your growing vocabulary has definitely made communicating with you a million times easier, though you've become quite the sponge, mimicking and spouting back everything you hear. Needless to say, we are all learning to watch what we say.


We still tune into Sesame Street daily and you can't get enough of reading book after book about your favorite furry red friend. Your obsession with Elmo has not wavered, and you remain Elmo's biggest little fan. Given your love for this adorable little guy, there will be little doubt as to the theme of your second birthday---"It's Sweet Bean's World", an Elmo themed bash!


We're not sure if Cirque du Soleil is in your future, but you are quite nimble and agile. This January we joined the Little Gym and there was little doubt after your first session that this class was made for you! With all the jumping, jiving, dancing, tumbling, and moving most kids would be tuckered out by the end of the hour, but not you, our little Energizer Bunny! You just keep going and never seem to slow down until your head hits the pillow during nap time or at night! I'm not sure how you keep up that pace, but it'd sure be nice if you shared some of your endless energy with your momma.



This past week we started your second semester of Kindermusik, a class you're loving more and more each time we go. You have grown accustomed to Mrs. G, your teacher, and just love singing and playing with all the fun instruments. It makes me so proud to watch as you learn to wait your turn and share with others. For being only 18 months old, you seem to be very considerate of those around you and still do not like to see peers in distress. Though you've learned not to cry, you show your concern with a scrunched up lip and furrowed brow.


You readily blow kisses, but I often find myself stealing real smooches from you since you're a little more stingy with those. I still love making you giggle, as it's so easy to do! You get tickled at the mere sound of certain words! Lately your newest trick is showing everyone how you can "pretend sleep." When you "pretend sleep", you lay your head down and make snoring sounds. It's a hoot and one of our favorite Gillybean tricks! You have a smile on your face most hours of the day and are such a joy to be around!


Sweet Bean, you’re growing up so fast! There is a part of me that wishes I could bottle up each new stage of your life, put it on a shelf, and savor it forever. But instead I'll watch, confidently knowing that each day as you grow and change, you're becoming more and more like the person God created you to be.

We love you bigger than the sky, wider than the ocean!
XOXO,
Momma

18 months

27 pounds 10 ounces

33 1/2 inches tall

Size 24 months and 2T

Size 4 Diaper (daytime)/ 5 Diaper (nighttime)

Size 5 (almost 6) Shoe

Vocabulary: Mom, Dad, bottle, bubble, bath, tee-tee, poop, juice, milk, car, book, Elmo (El-bow), plane, moon, kitty, pull, up, close, shoes, socks, boots, ice, "I sick!", go, sleep, night-night, Daddy, Momma, Pop, GG, pillow, taggie, baby, binky, eat, room, Ho! Ho!, cuckoo, frog, lemon, sheets, teeth, cheese, comb, dog---And I know there's more, but that's all I can think of now!



{There's still time enter the CSN Stores giveaway! Click here to find out more.}

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Home Tour Tuesday---Pantry Raid

Morning, y'all!

Hope everyone's week is off to a wonderful start! If you missed yesterday's post announcing my fabulous January giveaway courtesy of CSN Stores be sure to click here, or simply scroll down to enter.

With everyone feeling much better and all the icky sickies {hopefully} a thing of the past, I'm excited to be back at it and joining Daphne for another installment of Home Tour Tuesday.

So if you haven't already, snap a few pictures of your cupboard or pantry and join us this week. Whether big or small, cluttered or so organized Martha Stewart would be envious, we've all got a place to stash those munchies and canned goods. Go ahead and show us yours!

Home Tour Tuesday:
1/25: Pantry Raid---Show us your pantry and tell us about your favorite snack

{Our main pantry}

I'm very thankful for our nice size pantry with double doors, though my favorite feature has to be the sliding drawers that make organization a cinch!




{Pantry No. 2}

And as most of y'all can attest, there's just never enough storage. To help with the overflow, I have a smaller pantry that holds all my canned goods and baking essentials, as well as my pots and pans. Our kitchen may be on the smaller size, but thank Heavens for its ample storage!





{My favorite snack}

I could honestly eat chips and salsa every day and never grow tired of this tasty snack. I'm no salsa snob, as I've yet to met a salsa I didn't like. And though I'll eat almost any kind, my favorite salsa and chip combo definitely comes from the local Mexican joint. So yummy!



{Pantry Raider}

Now that Sweet Bean is tall enough to reach the door knobs, nothing is safe. Just the other day I heard a little commotion in the kitchen and entered to find that GG had broken into the pantry, gotten comfy, and decided to reward her efforts with a tortilla chip snack! Guess the love of Mexican food runs deep in our family!



Olé!






Monday, January 24, 2011

Finally---A January Giveaway (& more of Sweet Bean)

Though I'm not sure how it happened, here we are, the second to last Monday in January! If the rest of the year proves to be anything like this past month, we'll be celebrating Summer in no time, 2011 is whizzing by!

With Home Tour Tuesday tomorrow, the timing for this giveaway could not be any better. Since it's been well documented that I love any and all things for the home, from modern decor to garage storage bins...




I am excited to share with you my first-ever giveaway from CSN Stores!


For one lucky Webbisodes reader, the fabulous group at CSN Stores is allowing me to give away one $35 gift certificate to any of their over 200 online stores.

{The Giveaway Scoop}

Mandatory

one. Visit CSN Stores and leave a comment telling me how you'd spend your gift certificate should you win.

Extra Entries

two. This is a fun one---Leave a comment here guessing the number of teeth Sweet Bean now has!

three. Follow my blog, Webbisodes, or tell me if you already do.

four. Follow my design blog, Persnickety Pages {& More}, or tell me if you already do.

five. Tweet about this giveaway.

six. Blog about this giveaway.

seven. Post this giveaway badge on the sidebar of your blog.




With seven entries possible per person, you've got a great chance to win! Just remember to leave a separate comment for each entry and please include your email address in at least one of your entries/comments.

Don't think about it...



Just enter! 

Good luck to y'all!

{Giveaway will end, 1/31/11 at 11:59 pm CST. You must be a resident of the United States or Canada to qualify for this giveaway. A winner will be chosen by Random.org and announced on this blog sometime during the week of Feb. 1st. The winner's name will also be posted on the sidebar.}


Thursday, January 20, 2011

We're Here!

Hey, friends!

Yes, we're still here, and I'm proud to report that after a week battling the sickies, with the exception of poor Sweet Bean's new aversion to tissues, we're hardly any worse for the wear. With a week passing between posts, it seems that I've neglected my little blog and have several of y'all wondering if all is well. {Thanks for all the concerned texts and emails, y'all are very thoughtful to check in on us.}

Fortunately, things could not be better!

Juggling schedules, new obligations, and a restructuring of priorities for 2011, has us all running around the house so busy at times it's easy to forget whether we're coming or going. With a full plate, only so many hours in the day, and a very active toddler demanding, and so deserving of, my undivided attention, it's become increasingly obvious that something's gotta give.

Just as I would never have dreamed of blogging when I was working, with a classroom full of children waiting to learn, I cannot with good conscience spend any of Sweet Bean's waking hours on the computer when I should be teaching and modeling, making the most of our precious and fleeting time together. And, since I can't renege on commitments nor phone-in other responsibilities, I have little choice but to try and simplify my life in other ways.

That being said, blogging is just one of the ways that I have chosen to simplify. While the thought of going days without an update, at first, had me considering taking my blog private, I knew I'd miss the interaction and many friendships that blogging has brought my way.  So I will continue to blog with a new understanding, that for all the wonderful things blogging has brought into my life, it is still just a hobby. There will be weeks when I am able to find the time to blog regularly, and then weeks will most certainly pass with just a single post or perhaps none at all.

If God humors our plans, 2011 will be a momentous year for the Webb family full of changes both big and small.  I look forward to keeping y'all updated on the goings-on---the exciting and mundane, happy and frustrating, not to mention the random---whenever I can.

I'd love for y'all to stick around for the ride.

And since it has been quite a few days since my last post, I couldn't close without a few pictures of Sweet Bean.  These photos certainly go to show that even a cold, can't keep a good girl down!






Just remember, a smile a day will help the sickies go away!

Blessings, friends!

{Coming Soon: }

Valentine's Day Photo Contest (2.1.11)
&
January's Great Giveaway from CSN Stores

Thursday, January 13, 2011

My Funny Valentine---A Photo Contest

Sweet Joni from the blog Six Cherries on Top and I are teaming up to bring you, the first ever...


With the contest just a few short weeks away, it's never too early to start digging through your boxes of old photos to find your very best "cutest couple" photo.

Don't have an old photo you want to use? No problem. Grab your camera and snap away! Both old photos and new shots are welcome!

You can use any photo, from a picture from your high school prom, to a shot of you and your current sweetheart or special someone. You can use a photo of your parents, grandparents, or your little munchkin and their best friend. Even a photo of the fuzzy Mr. and Mrs.Duck from your daughter's favorite pond would work. Just get creative, and most importantly, have fun!

You don't have to be a professional photographer and your photo does not have to be taken by you, but please make sure you have permission to use it. (Your photo must be an original. Though it doesn't have to have been taken by you, please do not submit images from any photo sharing site, like We Heart It, Flickr, or Google Images. Thank you!)

Here are a few photos to get you inspired:

It's not easy being green, or is it?---Gillian Grace, 2011

Santa Smooches---GG, Christmas 2009

Daddy's Girl---Sweet Bean and Bret, July 2010

High School Sweethearts---My mom and dad, Summer 2008






Be sure to stop back by here ( Webbisodes) or over at Six Cherries on Top,  for a full description of the rules and to link up your best "cutest couple" photo on February 1st.

Photos will be voted on by all of y'all and 4 winners will be chosen.

Thanks to Joni, we have some amazing prizes available to the winners! And the best news of all, four winners will be selected.

Take a sneak peek at our fabulous sponsors!



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So, what will your Funny Valentine look like?