Happy St Patrick's Day

 Last Friday, I received a package in the mail from my Grandma in NY. I don't ever get packages from her, so this was a huge surprise. Inside the package was a wrapped gift box with a card. The card said that she made this for Michael to wear on St. Patrick's Day! I opened up the box, and inside was this beautiful hand knit sweater. What a Wonderful Surprise! It is the cutest little sweater with little sheep on the pockets.

One day this week, I took Michael outside to get some pictures of him wearing the sweater, so I could send them to my Grandma with the Thank You Card.

Too bad it has been in the 80's all week. I really wish it would get cold again, just so he could wear the sweater. It is a little big on him, so hopefully it will still fit him next year.

Fun with Daddy!

After Michael's Haircut, we had about 30 minutes before we had to be anywhere, so we went somewhere so Michael could run around. It was a beautiful day out, and the boys had a lot of fun!

I'm not sure who had more fun, Michael or Andrew! They love each other so much, and I love watching them play together.

Michael's First Haircut

We took Michael to get his first haircut yesterday. We went to a cute little shop in Greenville called Jelly Beans. It is only 1 cent for a Baby's First Haircut! They also give you a certificate with a lock of their hair on it.

Anyway, Michael did great during the whole thing. They put him in a little car to sit in, and put the cape around him, and he really didn't care. He was happy to just be sitting in a car.

First she brushed out his hair, so it made a little baby afro.

Then she got the trimmers, and started. Every once in a while, Michael would move his head or put his hand up, but never once did he get mad, or cry. He was such a big boy!

 She was even able to shape around his ears, and along his neck line.

After it was all done, he got to pick a prize from the treasure box (he picked a sticker), then he got to pay for his hair cut by feeding the pig his penny. He also got a balloon with a bag of jelly beans attached.  I think the balloon was his favorite thing from the whole experience.

This hair cut makes him look so much older now.

It was a fun little experience, and I'm so glad that Michael did so well. While we were there, 2 other children, about Michael's age, were also there, and they screamed the whole time. I'm so glad that Michael wasn't one of those children.

19 Months

Michael is now closer to two, than one! Where did my baby boy go??
Here is what he has been up this past month:
- It seems like he is saying new words everyday. He is up to saying 58 words!
- He has grown another 1/2 inch this month. He is 33 inches tall now.
- He is wearing size 24 month pants but they are too big around the waist. All of his 18 month pants were getting too short. He is still wearing 18 month tops.

- He loves to read books! His favorite book currently is the ABC Book that I made for him. He loves looking through it, and pointing out everything that is familiar.
- Every night after dinner he says, "Play??" I think that is the highlight of his day, playing with his Daddy after dinner.
- He loves to be outside. He mostly just wanders around the yard, picking up sticks. But he loves it, so we spend a good portion of the afternoon, walking around the yard, looking for a good stick.

- We have also started letting Michael watch "movies". I usually put on a baby Einstein, or sesame street while I am in the shower in the morning. He sits so still, and watches the entire thing. But when it's over, it's over, and he doesn't ask to watch more, or cry that it's over.
- He keeps me smiling and laughing all day long, and I feel so blessed to be able to spend all day with him. I love being his mother, and feel so blessed to be able to call him my SON!

Michael's 18 Month Pictures

Yesterday afternoon, my sister came over to take Michael's 18 month pictures. It was beautiful outside yesterday, and perfect weather for an outside photo session. Here are just a few pictures that she posted on Facebook.

Andrew came home from work early, and we were able to do a quick family photo too!

If you live in the area, Sarah Hawkins Photography does a great job!! Check out her website HERE and her facebook page HERE!

Thrift Store Friday

Here are my great finds this week:

- A Pair of E-Land plaid shorts - $1

- Carters Swim Trunks - $1

- Sonoma Pants - $1

- Levi's Jeans - $1

- Old Navy Jeans (Brand New) - $1

- Arizona Polo Shirt - $1

- Carter's Plaid Shirt - $1

2 Wonder Kids Bible Stories & Songs DVD's (Brand New) - $2 / each

Picture Post

Just because I haven't posted pictures of my little guy in a while...

I love the way Michael is looking at his Daddy!

Michael loves his new slide!

Michael and Coleman showing us where their heads are

Michael doing a little reading after dinner

Watching his Daddy cut the grass.
He stood there like that for about 20 minutes!

Toby is hoping Michael will drop some of his snack on the floor.

Thrift Store Friday

I'm back with another edition of Thrift Store Friday!! I haven't posted in a while because I really haven't found any great deals lately. Well I racked up this week! Check it out!

- 4 new board books for Michael - $.25 each

- A paid or Polo Ralph Lauren shorts for Michael - $1

- A pair of Children's Place Linen Pants - $1 (I don't thing these have ever been worn)

- 2 Pairs of  Circo Pants - $1 each

- A Swim School Floating suit thing for Michael - $3.50

A Tori Richard Hawaiian Shirt for my Dad - $4.50 (It was actually made in Hawaii)

Total: $13.00

Don't forgot to check out Miracle Hill's Facebook Page, HERE!

Something I never wanted to do...

I had to do something today that I was hoping I would NEVER have to do. I had to give my child the Heimlich Maneuver!

I was feeding Michael some fruit this morning and I notice him start to make a strange face, and get a very worried look. I talked to him, and kept watching him, and realized that he could not breath! I stayed very calm through the whole ordeal, which I am surprised that I was able to do so. All of my CPR training came back to me, and I quickly pulled him out of his high chair, and turned him over and started hitting his back. I did it several times, and turned him over. He was still choking. I turned him back over, and hit him a few more times. At that point, he started caughing and up came the piece of pear that had been stuck. The whole thing happened so quickly, that after it was over with, I was able to catch my breath, and realize what had happened. Michael was fine, and went right back to eating, like nothing happened, but Mama was a little more cautious about what fruit he ate.

I'm not sure how many people read this blog, or if any of you have children. Please take the time to learn how to perform the Heimlich Maneuver / CPR on infants and children. Especially if you have children, or are around children. Knowing how to do this just may save a life.

There are several youtube videos showing what to do.  Here is a link to an article with step by step directions of what to do.

Hopefully I will never had to do that again, but if I do, I know that I can handle the situation, and that I will stay calm.

Michael's ABC Book

I have been wanting to make Michael his own ABC book for a while, and I finally sat down this weekend and did it. I used my Creative Memories Storybook Creator program to layout the pages, and then uploaded them to Picaboo, and had it made into a book. I have bought a LivingSocial deal a few weeks ago. I got a 20 page 11 x 8.5 hard cover story book from picaboo for $10 (regular price, $40)! You can still get that deal, just click the link above.

Anyway, I'm really excited about how it turned out. I searched on pinterest, and google looking for inspiration and ideas to go with each letter. Some letters were a lot harder than others and some I had a ton of ideas for. Like the letter "M", I could use Michael, Mommy, Molly, Mimi, Mickey Mouse etc... In the end, I chose Mickey Mouse, since we have such good pictures from the cruise with Mickey Mouse.

Here are just a few of the pages.

Now I just have to wait the 10-14 days for my book to be printed, and then another 4-6 for shipping!! I really hope Michael likes it. He loves his other alphabet book and his book with pictures in it, so this is like a combination of both of them.

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