crap. she's not a baby anymore.

i feel like life has been so busy since we got home from our christmas vacation. i hear that january is over and it is now february. stop it. what?!  i decided that is mighty fine with me because january has never been at the top of my list of  favorite months. i'm probably going to get punched for saying this, but....it has been so sunny and nice out and i'm desperately craving some gloomy/semi-rainy days. and by semi-rainy i mean i want it to rain after i'm home from getting in a dry run. doesn't it work like that? ha. i had surgery about two weeks ago and was stuck inside for the first week after. that was hard for me. i'm not good at just sitting and doing nothing. i actually really suck at it and i blame it on genetics. if you knew my mom, you would understand. actually, my mom and my dad are that way so i was screwed from the get-go. however, i must say that having friends bring dinner and treats over does not suck. it's hard not having family close but i can honestly say i have such good friends that have become my family. anyway, i'm glad that is over with and that i can get back to being active,  running and getting ready for some exciting stuff that we're going to be doing this year.

and for sutton blue, the little girl that is growing too fast.  everyday i tell her to slow down and stop growing up so fast but she doesn't listen to me. speaking of not listening, she is usually very good at listening to me and doing what i ask her. (unless it's iphone related) yesterday she took my phone off of the charger because it's one of her favorite things to do and well, because she can. i can't turn my back on her for a second without her trying to steal my phone (or the remotes). then she went and stood in her "corner" (the spot between my nightstand and the wall) because she thinks i can't  see her there.  she just kicked back and fired up pandora because she needed something to listen  to while she did some serious scrolling through my pictures, mainly to watch videos of herself over and over again. can you say narcissist? when i swiped it away from her you would have thought the world was coming to an end. i don't want her to have my phone all the time. iPhone privileges are reserved for emergencies only. (like grocery shopping or a doctor appointment) lately when i really need her attention and want her to look at me when i have something to tell her, all i have to do is get down to her eye level and ask her to look at me. and she does. except for yesterday...she looked at me for a split second and then stared over my shoulder without blinking or moving...an inch. she was being so defiant and was not about to give in. oh the stubbornness!!! i even called john in because he HAD to witness what was going down. he lasted 29 seconds before he went into the closet and probably peed his pants from laughing so hard. i wanted to laugh, too! but i had to be the stern one and not show signs of weakness. i had to make her earn my respect. ha. i'm only being semi-serious, this is not gang initiation. i wish i would have taken a picture of her face. she was killing me! it took every ounce of self control to not lose it and start laughing hysterically. 

one of her newest obsessions is picking up the "poo" when take the dogs for a walk. i love that she loves to "pick up" the poop. (and no, i don't let her really pick it up. not yet, anyways...)and she always has to put the bag on her hand all by herself. see.

she loves "checking" the mail. over and over again. once about fifteen minutes of this obsessive/compulsive behavior has passed, i have to (gently) drag her cute butt home.

 and then this happens... 

we take a pit stop outside the front door to watch for planes/people/dogs. in that order. 

and then she tries to trick me into letting her stay outside even longer.... 

someday, blue will look back and wonder what she did all day long when she was a toddler 

(good thing she has an awesome mom who blogs about once every 6 months) so it's my goal to take about 654 pictures of her per week. i'm not joking. here are some of her favorite things to do as a 21 month old lady.

she watches RHOA (don't judge) and no, she isn't usually allowed to watch tv 4" away from the screen. it was just an intense scene so i made an exception.

she makes blankets/stuffed animals into a body pillow while she sleeps. every day, every night.

she rummages through the fridge, steals random items and hides them in her shopping cart. don't let those pigtails fool you. she is a villain.

she goes to the park with her cool parents. her daddy is just a little kid trapped the body of a balding man which makes him extra fun to hang with. i'm just the unpaid photographer.

 she loves looking out the window. at anything. anytime. 

she loves to cut the fruit aunt connie sent her for christmas 

she loves to try and leave sacrament meeting early so she can get to the nursery first

she loves to give random things "showers"

and....unwrap all of mama's tampons 

she loves to not listen when i tell her it's time to go inside

she loved going to watch frozen in the theatre. she got to sit in a big girl chair with big girl popcorn and big girl soda. she was mesmerized and sat still the entire time. 

sutton blue is becoming more independent every day.  she can now walk up the stairs like a real human. it scares the crap out of me but i know i have to let her learn for herself. plus, i don't want her to be an adult who climbs up the stairs like a monkey because her mama held her back when she was little. that would be weird. when she was an itty bitty she would give affection to her dogs and inanimate objects freely. to us, her loving parents who feed, shelter and nurture her...nothing. nada. zip. zero. i'm very happy to share that things have changed. she is a little lover face who gives the best kisses and hugs. we always do a "family hug" before bed and she smooches us and tells us "secrets" before we lay her down. it's the cutest thing. eva. 

immensely enjoying every second we spend together as a family and cherish my alone time with blue. don't worry, i share.... john still takes fridays off so he can watch her while i work at the salon. i'm so thankful that he can do that because they have such a sweet bond that melts my heart. i love my family.