Old MacDonald Had A Farm

On the way home today from visiting Grandpa and Daddy at work and having lunch, Sarah Ann got a little fussy in the car. Whenever she gets fussy in the car, we just sing “Old MacDonald” and it keeps her happy. There have been a few times, including today, when I have ran out of animals and sounds. Here are the list of animals we currently sing in the car…

• Cow–Moo
• Sheep–Baa
• Pig–Oink
• Horse–Nay
• Mouse–Squeak
• Bird–Chirp
• Chicken–Cluck
• Rooster–Cockadoodledoo
• Dog–Ruff
• Cat–Meow

As you can see, we have lots of verses, but sometimes it’s not quite enough to get us all the way home. So, I need your help! What other verses can I add to this very exciting song?

Ready for the beach!

Nanny and Mommy love the beach—we just love being out in the sun! Ever since Jeffrey and I moved to Columbia, my Mom and I have pretty consistently taken day trips to the Isle of Palms during the summer. Jeffrey thought we were crazy to wake up and drive down there for a few hours on the beach, but to us it was the best way to spend a hot summer day! We knew that this summer would be different taking Sarah Ann along to the beach, but we were ready and excited for it! Sarah Ann is so flexible, and it makes the day go so smoothly! I have learned that it takes a lot more planning, but it is so worth it–for those few hours of soaking up sun, playing on the beach, swimming in the ocean, and seeing the excitement on Sarah Ann’s face as she experiences it all!

We have taken two day trips now, and it has gone very great! Here is what the day looks like for us…

• 7:30–wake up, get ready, and finish packing up the car
• 8:00–feed Sarah Ann
• 8:30–hit the road!
• 9:30–Sarah Ann falls asleep sometime around here
• 10:30–arrive at the beach, I get everything into the cart, Nanny gets Sarah Ann ready for the beach
• 10:45–on the beach!! Sarah Ann stays awake the whole time–she loves to play in the water, she eats her lunch, we take walks on the beach–so fun!
• 2:45–get packed up and cleaned up!
• 3:00–head back home–Sarah Ann is usually asleep before we leave the parking lot and she sleeps the whole way home!
• 5:00–get back home!

Nanny bought a seasons pass to the Isle of Palms County Park, so we are planning for many more Tuesday trips down to the beach! We are very excited about being able to take trips during the later summer too, once everyone is back at school and it won’t be so crowded–Sarah Ann will be all over the place by then! Next week will be a new experience too–it will be our first whole week at the beach with Sarah Ann–we are looking forward to a lot of fun and making a lot of memories!

Silly girl :)

Our silly girl has lots of toys…she loves to play! Sarah Ann always has something in her hand or in her mouth. But even though she has all of those toys, she is more interested in all of the stuff she’s not necessarily suppose to play with! 

This afternoon she was very intrigued by Daddy’s belt…

And then she helped Mommy make dinner…

She is also very interested in glasses, car keys, water bottles, cell phones and remotes! I am sure one day we will have to stop her from playing with some of this stuff…but for right now it definitely keeps our silly little girl happy!

Fun with the Big Girls :)

 

Sarah Ann is loving all of the attention that she is getting from my cheerleaders so far this year! She just loves to be passed around between the girls and the parents–she just smiles and laughs and tries to grab any jewelry that any of them are wearing!

A couple of weeks ago, the team took an outing to the beach at Lake Murray after practice. Sarah Ann really liked playing in the water and on the beach with all of the big girls! 

 

Very excited about going swimming!!

 

Her first stunt...I am sure there will be many more times like this!!

We are so looking forward to lots more fun this summer and fall! The girls are so great with Sarah Ann, and it so much fun to see her interact with them! She has a lot of great girls to look up to! Not to mention, it’s also nice to have lots of babysitters….

Fabulous First Father’s Day!

We had a great time celebrating Father’s Day on Sunday! Aunt Rachel and Granny and Papa (Jeffrey’s sister and grandparents) were in town this past weekend, so we had a lot of fun out at the lake with them and Grandpa and Ning! We were so blessed to be able to spend time with family, and it was so neat to see 4 generations of Broadwell’s all together! Sarah Ann is one lucky little girl to have so many people head over heels in love with her!

Here are a few pictures from our day…

Cuddling with Daddy

Sarah Ann loves to cuddle, especially during nap time. Last week Jeffrey and Sarah Ann enjoyed a nice little nap on the couch. So precious!

Happy Father’s Day!

Dear Daddy,

I hope that you had a wonderful first Father’s Day! I am so glad that you are my Daddy—you are definitely the best one in the world! Thank you for always playing with me, giving me baths, taking me for walks, singing to me, giving me lots of kisses, feeding me my yummy food during dinner, changing my diapers, and just loving me always!

Love your little girl,

Sarah Ann

Dear Jeffrey,

Thank you for being such a wonderful husband to me and an amazing Daddy to Sarah Ann! We are so blessed! We are so grateful for all of the love and care that you show us each and everyday! Thank you for always being willing to help, even after you’ve been at work all day. Thank you for being so involved in the life of our little girl—I hope that she grows up to be just like you! I love you very much! Happy Father’s Day!

Love,

Cortney

“…I have been changed for good”

This past Thursday, Sarah Ann and I attended a funeral back at home for a dear friend of mine, Jacob Edfeldt. I know that Sarah Ann will never remember meeting Jacob or attending his funeral, but I will definitely make sure that she knows what an inspiration he was to me and how I was so blessed to call him my friend. He, and his family, have taught me to much about faith, trust, love, and the sovereignty of God. One of his favorite musicals was Wicked, and they played one of the songs from it during a slide show at his memorial service. I have definitely been changed for good by knowing Jacob Edfeldt, and I know that Sarah Ann will be too from all of the memories I can share with her!

I’ve heard it said
That people come into our lives for a reason
Bringing something we must learn
And we are led
To those who help us most to grow
If we let them
And we help them in return
Well, I don’t know if I believe that’s true
But I know I’m who I am today
Because I knew you

Like a comet pulled from orbit
As it passes a sun
Like a stream that meets a boulder
Halfway through the wood
Who can say if I’ve been changed for the better?
But because I knew you
I have been changed for good

It well may be
That we will never meet again
In this lifetime
So let me say before we part
So much of me 
Is made of what I learned from you
You’ll be with me
Like a handprint on my heart
And now whatever way our stories end
I know you have re-written mine
By being my friend…

Like a ship blown from its mooring 
By a wind off the sea
Like a seed dropped by a skybird
In a distant wood
Who can say if I’ve been changed for the better?
But because I knew you

Because I knew you

I have been changed for good

 

 

 

 

Happy birthday, Uncle Jeremy!

I am glad that I got to see you on your birthday! I hope that you had a good day! Thank you for playing with me! I love you!
Love, Sarah Ann

Mommy Survey :)

My friend and roommate from college, Cindy, posted this on her blog, so I thought I would too. If I have learned anything over the past 7 and 1/2 months, I have learned that you can get all kinds of advice and read all kinds of books and let people tell you all sorts of things, but in the end, you know your baby better than anyone else, and you have to do what’s for you and your family However, I do think it is fun, helpful and interesting to see what other people do and use—so here I go….

1. favorite diapers? Pampers, definitely!
2. favorite wipes? We haven’t been as picky about wipes, but usually Pampers, Huggies, or Target
3. wipe warmer, no wipe warmer? No wipe warmer
4. sleep in gowns or footsies? Footsies–but now she is trying to figure out how to get her feet when they are in her footsies!
5. schedule, don’t schedule? Schedule–but it’s not too strict, we have  a routine, but Sarah Ann is a very flexible baby too!

6. current favorite toys? Dora Doll, Baby Pool, Toy Purse, Stand-Up Activity Table–and anything she can get her mouth into!
7. three things you couldn’t live with out the first few months? Pack ‘n’ play, Baby Bjorn/Sling, Onesies

8. something you can’t have too many of? Burp cloths and bibs
9. three things you couldn’t live with out once the baby is moving? I’m not sure yet, but we better get ready b/c it looks like she could start moving anytime

10. favorite new baby invention? Bumbo chair
11. favorite nursing pads? Gerber Reusable
12. favorite bottle? Playtex Drop-Ins
13. favorite car toys? Any of her toys that make music or noise
14. favorite teether? Gel teethers that you can put in the freezer–and Mommy’s finger
15. changing table, no changing table? Changing table–she is beginning to get very squirmy on it though!

16. breast milk or formula? Breastmilk

17. make baby food, buy baby food? So far we have bought her food, especially since she loves to eat so much–now that I am staying at home, maybe I will try making some

18. first food after cereal? Applesauce!

19. did you use your baby carrier? Yes, she has always really liked the Baby Bjorn–she loves to be able to see and watch what is going on!

20. how old when slept in own crib (not bassinet)? 7 months–we moved her to her crib once I got done with school…she is doing a great job

21. do you use a sleep positioner? We did, and she really liked it–I think it made her feel cuddled and secure…then she grew out of it! She is growing up too fast!

22. back sleeper or tummy sleeper? Back sleeper–or sometimes she rolls to her side

23. favorite part about being a mom? Seeing her smile and being able to see her experience new things everyday! Another definite favorite part is seeing her with her Daddy!

24. hardest part about being a mom? Seeing them grow up way too quickly!!

25. favorite mommy accessories? 31 Diaper Bag and my I-Phone so that I can always take pictures!

 

One more thing….Cindy, Stephen and Natalie Jane—-we can’t wait until you all are in Columbia! We can’t wait to play!