Pumpkins and more pumpkins

 

 We and our parents took Wren to a pumpkin patch this weekend.  I can't say that she was in awe about it but I think she enjoyed it.  The baby animals were the highlight for her.

 

 She didn't know what to think of him!

 

She thought this pony needed her bow more than she did.  He did have pretty great hair, natural blonde too.

 

She loved these baby goats

 

Come back!

 How was I the only one looking into the camera!

 Smiley happy...

 Going "shopping" in the cornfield with her favorite purse.

Lately.....

She has been doing "touch down"!! 

 She loves riding the bike with her Nanny

 We have been doing a lot of picnicking in the sun room.  She likes to 

carry around her basket and other bags in the crook of her arm. She looks so 

grown up toddling around "shopping" throughout our house.  

 These are from her 1 year appointment.  She is still in the 90's for her height and weight.  She is as healthy as a horse...or a miniature pony I guess. 

 Right before the 4 shots! Cool and calm but not for long!

Herrin Tiger Football!!

 

Last weekend we went to Lauren's first football game.  It started to rain so we lasted all of 30 minutes.  She loved the band and kept dancing throughout the night.  I whipped up a little Herrin Tiger pillowcase dress for her which I need to get monogrammed.  She loved the game and I think her daddy was proud  that he might have a football fan on his hands.   

Little Wren Riding Hood's 1st Birthday

On Saturday we celebrated Lauren's 1st birthday with our family and close friends. I just received pictures from Katie who took the most beautiful pictures.  I will post again to talk about the party and all the special touches that my family made, to make her birthday so memorable.  Thank you Katie for capturing the day because I didn't get a single photo myself!

My birthday and the days past...........

The past weekend has been a typical crazy one.   Last week was my 31st birthday.  We went to Ryan's parents house for dinner and watched everyone swim.  We had a big party for Ryan's brother who finished grad school this summer. All of his family was in and it was a great weekend spent with all of them and enjoying the amazing meals that they prepare! Lauren is nearing the 12 month mark.  She and I are battling Fall allergies right now so there is a lot of wiping runny noses and saying "God bless you", after her 100th sneeze of the day.  All in all, it was a fantastic crazy week! Posting seems like the last thing that is ever on my list and I hate that!  Once I pick my camera up from the shop this week, I hope that will persuade me to post more!

 Lauren swimming with her dad and grandpa

 Doing tricks in the water with grandpa

Giveaway Time!

Liz from My Memories contacted me and wanted to know if I would like to give away one of their digital scrap booking kits for free!  They are rated #1 by Amazon and Top Ten Reviews.  Truthfully,  I was a bit hesitant because I don't scrapbook, nor do I have the time.  I also always hated to cut up my pictures to paste them in the book! Well....I'm glad I tried it out.  It is super quick, no cutting necessary, and you aren't limited to the typical scrapbook pages that you are used to seeing. You can even do movies with this program in addition to photo books, cards, party favors labels, baby announcements, birthday party invites, and the list goes on and on. Hello!! It's an amazing tool to have! I have tons and tons of recipes that junk up my pantry shelf and this program will be able to showcase family recipes that have been passed down from each side.  I am going to upload them (super simple to convert to a jpeg doc.) and order a family recipe book for myself.  Wouldn't that be an amazing Christmas idea?     

Here is a sample of a page from the book that I made of Wren from all of the "month" pictures I have taken.  I have one more to take, month 12, tear.....and then I will send it off to be printed. It seriously took less than an hour to do 11 months. 

 

Here is the recipe page I made with an actually family recipe card. Isn't that neat?

So here is the deal Lucille ...I am giving this digital scrapbooking software away to one lucky reader!  Here are the ways to enter: 3 entries per person limit

The drawing will close on September 6th at 9 pm. 

1. Go to My Memories and choose your favorite digital paper pack or layout, then come back here and leave me a comment telling which one you love!
2.  Like MyMemories Suite on Facebook  for another entry! Leave me a comment letting me know you "Liked" them.
3.  Become a follower on Martha Stewart Reject for another entry! If you are already a follower, just let me know that you are!

The second way you can get this software is by purchasing it using the exclusive coupon code for my followers!  Use the code STMMMS75495 to get a $10 discount off your purchase of My Memories Suite Scrapbook software and a $10 coupon for you to use in the MyMemories.com store!!  This coupon code doesn't expire so even if you don't win, come and use it and then share it with your friends and family!!

Hooray! It's a Giveaway!

This Friday I will be hosting a wonderful GIVEAWAY!!!!! Check back Friday morning for all of the details!!

Life at Wrap Speed..........

I've been telling everyone that this semester is kicking my butt! I am gone most days from 8 am to 9 pm and I don't get a moment in between to breath.  I don't get to spend anytime with my family with the exception on the weekends.  BUT, big but, I remember that going to grad school is a privilege and truly, I don't know that "real problems" are.  Real problems are not having enough food to feed your family or having a child or spouse terminally ill.  My whining will stop here

On a much more thankful note, we had an important event happen this week.  Lauren went to home daycare 2 times this week. Up to this point, my wonderful mother has kept Lauren 5 days a week since she was 11 weeks old. My mom needs a break!  Lauren also loves being around other children and rarely gets to, so we decided to put her in home daycare 2 days a week.  The first day she cried most of the day.  In fact, when Ryan came to pick her up, a little boy said, "Your baby sure does cry loud".  I was fully expecting a phone call saying she couldn't come back.  Much to my surprise, the second day she was tearless. Mrs. Kathy reported that she ate more than any other child she has ever kept and she is learning new signs (all involving food of course).  If anyone is still following this BORING blog, here are a few pictures from this week!

 Right before her first day of daycare.

 Getting her jewelry on for Mrs. Kathy's. 

 Trying out the new red wagon her Great Grandpa Al rebuilt for her. Her cousin happily pulling her along.

 Swingin Swingin

 Second day of Mrs. Kathy's. Very happy!

Although my life is hectic, I appreciate each and every nutso moment of it.  Thank God that I have wonderful people around me that understand the source of my craziness!

11 months......

My sweet Wren turned 11 months on the 13th of August.  Last month was full of new things and the endings of old things. She started walking at 10.5 months.  It's so fun to see her coming down the hall tip toeing along.  My mother, myself, and Wren began walking on tip toes.  I continued into adulthood and will still do it occasionally.  She is signing "eat" and "more".  When asked what a cat and dog says she replies with the meow meow or panting noise.  She has developed an "awful cold", where she will fake sneeze and cough on cue.  She is in 12-18 month clothes & size 3 diaper. She is still sleeping through the night (thank you GOD!) and will go down at 7 p.m. and will be up at 6:14 a.m. on the dot.  She will play in her bed for about 15 minutes until she tries to get our attention. She takes 3-4 naps a day.  She is quite the water bug and loves to "splash splash".  She weaned herself from breastfeeding during month 10 and refuses any form of formula.  She is doing 3 bottles of coconut milk ( not doing cow's milk and nope it doesn't taste at all like coconuts) under the advice of our pediatrician.  She eats most table food and will go to the ends of the earth for her NANAs!!! She could eat 10 bananas a day if we let her.  Most of all, my baby is becoming a little toddler.  This transformation is breaking my heart and also makes me realize just how short time really is with our children.  Ask me again if this time flying by deal is breaking my heart when she is 16. Oh and by the way, these crib shots are getting harder and harder by the month.  I believe that next month will be our last..... 

 

Chheeeeessseee

 Reflecting on the month she has had. 

 

Walking around her bed after she threw the sign out of her crib in protest.  

I'm back, well sort of.

After a brief blog hiatus due to a sick camera (still in the shop getting the barrel replaced!) and my internet constantly coming and going, thanks Frontier, I am back to blogging. I have had a WONDERFUL week off from grad school and my grad assistant-ship.  Wren and I played a lot, organized, cleaned, and those other things your supposed to do during those late summer days.  Wren started walking 2 weeks ago.  She is mobile and is all over the house.  She has gained a new independence which allows me to get away for a few moments here and there.  Here's a brief overview of the past couple of weeks from my borrowed camera!

Wren's first dinner date with our buddy Luke.  She kept wanting to grab him and kiss him.  

He wasn't fond of her for the most part. 

 Lots of swimming and drinking pool water. 

 Wren and mommy time

 Lots of brushing of her 6 teeth and yanking out hair bows which equate to the poor pitiful child look. 

 I know all you bloggers have seen the ever popular "rose cake" that's going around.  Yeah.....it doesn't fair well with fluff icing.  Although ugly, it was still edible and tasted quite good!

 Lots of walking.  Sometimes it's easier to walk without pants.

 Most importantly, taking the time to stop and smell the flowers.  

This is something Wren LOVES to do.  This is of Wren and her Great Grandpa.

Friday nights

Blankey, paci-bunny, and a basket full of warm clean towels make for a good Friday night.

Spiral Pie

Just a quick post to show you the new pie I made.  Yesterday  I tried my first attempt at the spiral top pie.  At first it was ridiculously hard until I got a system going.  I had a bunch of white peaches and I wanted to use some before freezing the rest.  I think it turned out pretty well with the exception of a few mess ups. 

Broke Camera

This is why I haven't posted lately.  My camera is in the shop. No, this isn't my actual camera.  My shutter wouldn't open and close properly and left a shadow on all photos.  It's at the camera hospital for now and will hopefully be released soon. Ugh.......