Wordless Wednesday- Birthday Suit (No, not that kind!)

Bento Box- Mini Dogs

Mini Hot Dogs, Mandarin Orange and Blueberries, Chocolate Letter Cookies and Capri Sun SuperV

At Katy's request, today's lunch does not include dairy. According to Lil' Miss, the cheese wheels that I keep including (and she keeps eating) in her lunches make her tummy hurt. Now, I know for sure that she isn't allergic to dairy (heaven knows that we've been down that road, before!). I might consider a lactose intolerance (being Asian, and all), if it weren't for the fact that I saw the girl down a whole glass of milk and bowl of ice cream, yesterday...

Sentence of the Day- Old Timer

Mom and I took Katy to Romp n Roll on Friday. It was a rainy day and not too many kids were playing at open gym. Katy was the oldest child there. I made the comment to her, "Look, Katy! You are the big kid here!" She responded, "Yep. and Grandma is the oldest!"

From the mouth of babes, from the mouth of babes... I couldn't make this stuff up if I tried!

'Stra-ba-ba-ba-berry Shortcake!" (Birthday Celebration with Playgroup)

"Straw-ba-ba-ba-berry, Straw-ba-ba-ba-berry, Straw-ba-ba-ba-berry Shortcake. I know a girl And there is no one sweeter..."

"Best friend in the world And when you get to meet her You'll love her berry much..."

"She's cool She's fun!"

'That girl's so sweet Just like her name Straw-ba-ba-ba-berry, Strawberry Shortcake.

"She's so ve-ve-very extraordi-di-nary She's Strawberry Shortcake That girl's so sweet Just like her name Straw-ba-ba-berry, Strawberry Shortcake."

Sentence of the Day- Pop Shorty

Yesterday, Katy got measured at her three-year old well visit. This was the first time where she had to stand up to the tape measure on the wall (opposed to her lying down on the exam table and the nurse marking her length on the paper). When she told Ted that she got measured at the doctor's office, he asked her, "How tall are you, Katy?"

Katy excitedly replied, "Short, like Mommy!!"

Oh, the things kids say....!

Three Year Old Birthday Interview

I'd like to start a new tradition by "interviewing" Katy each year on her birthday. I thought it might be fun to see how her interests change/stay the same through the years. Here is this year's interview about her current likes, interests, etc.

Favorite Color? Pink
Favorite Books? Berenstain Bears, Fancy Nancy, Tea for Ruby
Favorite T.V. Show? Super Why, Strawberry Shortcake, My Little Pony
Favorite Food? Steak
Favorite Restaunt? Chick-Fil-A
Favorite Drink? Milk, Sweet Tea
Best Friend? Connor
Favorite Toy? Barbies
Favorite Movie? Finding Nemo or anything Disney Princess
Favorite Place to Go? Sweet Frog

Three Year Old Well Visit

Today was Katy's three year old well visit with Dr. Guerriero at Suburban Pediatrics. It's been a whole year since the last well visit- seems like a long time!

Besides a meltdown getting into the car to go to the doctor's office, Katy was a doll at the doctor's office. She even managed to stand on the scale and be weighed and stand and get measured all by herself. Up until this point, she has been really resistant to standing on the scale by herself (to the point that we almost took out a nurse one sick visit because Katy was flailing and wailing and resisting standing on the scale by herself. Fun times). This is also the first visit where the nurse took Katy's blood pressure using a cuff.

Katy's three year old stats are as follows:

Weight: 30 pounds
Height: 36 1/2"

This puts her in the 40th/45th percentile, respectively, for her age. Nice and average, symmetrical and right on track, according to the doctor.

Our wait time was very minimal and we were chatting with Dr. Greg shortly after our scheduled appointment. Dr. Greg did a great job of talking TO Katy and telling her things in a way that she would understand and respond. Typically, Katy gets really shy around non-family member adults. It takes her awhile to warm up to adults- especially men. In the past, Katy has started crying as soon as Dr. Greg walked in the exam room. However, this time, she actually talked to him, answered his questions and chatted with him. She told him about our Disney Cruise back in December (she was wearing her Cinderella dress to school/doctor's office, today, because they celebrated her birthday at preschool). Dr. Greg ended the visit by telling her that, "She's not allowed to date until she is thirty." To which, Katy proceeded to tell him about her friend, Connor. Hahaha!

At the end of the visit, Katy took part in an eye test. She got to try on some cool glasses (that covered one eye and then the other) while looking at the screen and identifying several black and white pictures. At first, I had my reservations and didn't think Katy would actually verbalize her answers and participate (even though I knew she would know what she was looking at and I don't have any current concerns about her sight). However, she proved me wrong and passed with flying colors! She even identified one of the objects before I did (and I had my glasses!).

Sentence of the Day- Three Year Old Bedtime Battles

Last night, the night AFTER Katy's third birthday, we told her that, "Now that you are a big girl, you get to sleep in your big girl room all by yourself!"

Katy responded, "NO! I'm not a big kid anymore- I'm still two."

Hahahaha- nice try, Lil' Miss... doesn't quite work like that! Wouldn't it be nice if, for her third birthday, Katy would learn to sleep through the night, on a regular basis?! Mommy and Daddy would sure appreciate that!

Wordless Wednesdays- Babies at Play

Make a Wish!

Katy is THREE!

Light the candle and make a wish!

Blow out the candle!

Happy 3rd birthday, Katy Grace! Mommy and Daddy love you!

Moving Day

With the upcoming end of our current lease at the end of February, I had been stalking several key neighborhoods in the area for rental homes. It's funny how your needs change once you have a child... we wanted something with more room, better schools, a pool to use in the summer, good commute for Ted, etc., etc. We finally found one that we liked and signed on the dotted line back in January. February 16th was moving day!

Ted and I took the beginning of February to move boxes into the new house. I was able to establish the kitchen and we had all of Katy's toys in the new house before moving day. Ted even got the television and his Xbox set up, too.

Last Saturday (Moving Day!) dawned cold, rainy and snowy. Up until the Thursday before moving day, the weatherman was forcasting 10% chance rain on Sat. Then, all of a sudden, it was 60% chance snow! WHAT?!?!?!?!

And that, dear readers, set the tone for the day....

The night before the move, Katy was up all night with a fever. No other symptoms. Just a fever- enough to keep us both up and not well-rested for our busy day ahead.... Katy was clingy during the day of the move and of course, she only had eyes for Mommy... One of our friends ended up chipping his tooth while moving our washing machine... There were bumps! There were bruises! There was mud!

While Ted and our "moving crew" (aka friends and family gracious enough to help us undertake this moving endeavor in inclement weather- thank you, thank you, THANK YOU Dad J., Dan OD, Daniel C. Justin K. and Howard H.!!!) loaded up the UHAUL at the old house, Katy, Ted's Mom, and I went to the new house to get things ready and prepped for the incoming furniture. It took the guys two and half hours to load the truck in the snowy, wet weather.

When our weary "moving crew" got to the new house, they got things into the house in about an hour and a half. Just in time because shortly after the last item was in the house, it really began to snow! (By night's end, we probably ended up with an inch or so of snow- that's a lot, here in the South!) After everything got moved in, we all enjoyed a pizza lunch and donuts in front of our new fireplace! We were wiped out and tired!

Now, we are in the midst of settling into our new home. Thanks to Ted's parents, we are MUCH further along in that process than we had originally hoped (THANK YOU!). The walls may be bare and void of pictures and we may be sleeping next to piles of unfolded laundry and boxes, but, it's beginning to look like home... :-)

So, the moral of this story is, we don't plan on moving any time soon, but when we do, we're hiring professional movers (we'd like to keep our friends! :-)! Whew!

Nuby Mommy Blogger- Bottle & Nipple Brush with Sponge Tip

Nuby Bottle & Nipple Brush with Sponge Tip

Our latest product to try for the Nuby Mommy Blogger was the Bottle & Nipple Brush with Sponge Tip.  

Here is what the Nuby website has to say about the product, "The new Easy Grip Bottle Brush by Nûby™ features a soft, textured handle, which ensures that you maintain a secure and comfortable grip when brush is in use. An added Nipple Brush conveniently stores inside the handle when not in use. The looped handle on top provides for easy hanging. Both brushes have soft, durable nylon bristles to sweep away residue easily. There is even a sponge tip to clean hard-to-reach areas!"

We are well past the bottle stage but I wanted to try the Nuby Bottle & Nipple Brush with Sponge Tip because we use reusable water bottles on a regular basis and sometimes, they are hard to clean. Hubby is the dishwasher in our family, so I asked for his input on the product. Here's what he had to say:

-Soft brush tip gets into the bottom of water bottles and makes it easy to clean.

-The detachable nipple brush is good for washing out the sippy cup valves in the many cups Lil' Miss has acquired.

“I did not receive any compensation for this post, although as part of this program I may receive items to sample or review.”

Bento Box- "Here Fishy, fishy..."

Turkey pinwheels, Pretzel Goldfish, Princess Fruit Snacks Grape Tomatoes and Cheese Wheels

(Not pictured, Juice and Squeezy Yogurt)

We did something a little different for Katy's Lunch Bunch lunch, today. We did a bento instead of using her pink NUK lunch container (which, I love!). Apparently,  the lunch didn't have enough "cute" factor because Lil' Miss kept telling her teachers that she, "wanted to go home." I guess she was having an off day.... ;-/

Happy 3rd Birthday, Katy Grace!

Chocolate-rimmed glass of milk with sprinkles- yum!

Ice cream for birthday breakfast- a new Jones family tradition!

Happy Birthday, Lil' Miss! It is hard to imagine that just three short years ago, Katy Grace Jones entered our lives. We cannot imagine life without her! Her mischievous grin, her advanced vocabulary, her girly/princessy ways- life is sweeter with our beautiful, smart, sassy, head-strong, funny Katy Grace!

Wordless Wednesdays- "A Little Bit Country..."

Bento Box- Ham Sandwich

Ham and Cheese Sandwich, Cheez-Its, Capri Sun SuperV and Strawberries.

We had some leftover dinner rolls that made the perfect-sized sandwich for Lil' Miss. Add some fruit, crackers and a drink and she's set for Lunch Bunch, this week.

Nuby Mommy Blogger- Feeding Snack Keeper

Nuby Feeding Snack Keeper

We're elbow-deep in boxes, newsprint and life is in a bit of a disarray as we take the month of February to move from one house to another (in the area). So long lazy Saturdays and hello, packing, unpacking, cleaning and MOVING! 

Today, we took a load of things over to the new house. I made sure to take along the new Nuby Feeding Snack Keeper, filled with some snacks to keep Lil' Miss occupied (at least for a short while!). It was a hit (either that, or she just liked the snacks with in ;-P)!

Here is what the Nuby USA website says about the product, "No more messy snacks! Our unique Snack Keeper™ cup keeps kid-sized snacks inside the container instead of on the floor or car seat. The soft silicone flaps make it easy to grab snacks without spilling. Nûby™ feeding accessories are made to withstand the challenges of daily use and retain their bright color."

This product does exactly what it claims- keeps snacks contained with out a mess. It may not be new and different from the competition (we have several snack keepers from various brands), but I have to admit, this one is the cutest! Of course, our little girly-girl loved it!

“I did not receive any compensation for this post, although as part of this program I may receive items to sample or review.”

Why? Why Not!

I can honestly say that I cannot remember a time when Katy DIDN'T speak (or, at the very least, make long babbling noises that at least sounded like "talking" to my mother ears). Even as an infant, she was a noisy, inquisitive baby!

Nowadays- a little over a week away from turning THREE (where did the time go??!)- Katy's newest routine goes something like this:

Me, "Katy, it's time to clean up before dinner."
Katy, "Why?"
Me, "Because it's time to eat dinner and you need to put away your toys."
Katy, "Why?"
(frustrated) Me, "Katy! Please, just put away your toys!"
Katy, "Why?"

Me, "Katy, please put on your coat so we can leave for preschool."
Katy, "Why?"
Me, "It's preschool day- remember? We need to leave- please put on your coat."
Katy, "Why?"
Me, "Come on, Katy- we're going to be late! Please put on your coat!"
Katy, "Why?"
Me, "Because.I.Said.So!"

This is developmental, right? It shows that she is curious and wondering about time and schedules and routine, right? I sure hope this is a fast phase because I gotta admit, it's not a very fun "game" to play!

Wordless Wednesday- Surrounded by Boxes

Bento Box- Ham Rolls

Ham, Crackers, Grapes, Capri Sun SuperV and Cheese Wheels! I rounded out the meal with a squeezy yogurt (not pictured).

Here's another Lunch Bunch lunch for Lil' Miss! 

Nuby Mommy Blogger- Medical Kit

Nuby Medical Kit

In our most recent box of goodies from the Nuby Mommy Blogger program, we received the Nuby Medical Kit. 

Here's what the Nuby website had to say about the product, "Nuby's™ Medical Kit helps you take care of you child's medical needs. From medicating to nasal and ear care, this kit makes it easier to care of your baby. This kit includes: Sure-Dose™ Medicine dropper, Medi- Nurser, Nasal Aspirator with Ear Syringe and Medicine Dispenser."

I mostly wanted to try this kit out for the Medi-Nurser. Even thought Katy is well beyond the bottle stage, getting her to take medicine is more often than not, a challenge. I thought the Medi-Nurser might help with administering liquid medicines. The other night I finally had a chance to give her some benedryl using the Medi-Nurser. It was one of those middle-of-the-night administrations and a) the Medi-Nurser couldn't be easier to fill and b) Katy took the medicine like a champ. Easy peasy!

Mostly, though, Katy likes to use the pieces included in the Nuby Medical Kit to play "doctor" with her dolls. ;-P

“I did not receive any compensation for this post, although as part of this program I may receive items to sample or review.”