Monthly Milestones

1. New Words: Ssshhhh, church, hug, tickle-tickle, read, beach, lake, pops, car, truck, ring,

2. New Foods: popcicle, strawberries, manderin oranges, apples, grapes, raisins
3. She understands Shhhh....and how to use it. Here is a short video of her demonstrating.







4. This was Annabelle first ponytail on June 7th! The sides don't stay up very well but she sure looked cute with her little curly q ponytail!

Here is a view from the front! She just loves my wallet! In this pic she thought I was going to take it away from her....look that little mischievous smile! 5. She is showing a great long term memory. If we make a promise to her, she doesn't forget it until we fulfill it.

6. She knows what "Wait" means and how to use it. She was ripping a book, and I told her to hand me the book. She was not obeying immediately, so I said, "Annabelle obey" and she turned to me and said "WAIT"! The entire room was cracking up laughing, even though in this instance it was turning into a obedience training time! At least I know she knows what the words means!

Toddler Time

Sara is and has been one of my dearest friends for 12 years. We met our Senior year of High School and even gave our graduation speech together, but it wasn't until we were college roommates that we really hit it off. We don't get to see eachother as often as we'd like, but we've managed to see eachother at least once a year since we got married. When we were married, yet childless we use to spend New Years Eve with Sara and Greg. Then when we both got pregnant, well as all you know, I had Annabelle on New Years Eve, so that was the first one we hadn't spent with Sara and Greg. Then Taylor Grace was born 5 weeks later.

It was so nice catching up with Sara and just see what another mom of a toddler is going through. We laughed because if one wasn't acting up the other one was, but through all the discipline training we still managed to get caught up on life!

Sara, thank you for such a blessed time. You are a fabulous Mom and I can't wait until #2 gets here in December! Taylor will be a great older sister!

Here are some videos and photos of the girls playing!

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Turning Thirty

To see pics of my 30th birthday click on the link below
30th Birthday Album

I got asked a lot in the past month how I felt about turning thirty. As a result, I've never thought so much about turning an age as I have about thirty. I guess because it is a big round even number that it seems like a big deal. I am truly thankful to be thirty. As I look back on my life I wouldn't go back to any age in life. I think God has really taught me to enjoy every stage of life. Each year I have learned and grown so much as a child of God. I've appreciated the hardships, trials, triumphs and joys He has allowed in my life. I don't look at thirty as being old, I really look at it as I've gained so much wisdom. I know I have so much more to learn, but so much of what I have learned I am building upon. I just thank the Lord for being patient with me as it has taken me years to learn particular lessons. I pray in the upcoming year I can continue to grow and enjoy becoming one year older!

It was such a pleasure and joy to spend my birthday with my family. My sister, Karen, headed up the party planning. She made one of my favorite meals and created a scrapbook in which everyone signed. I was blessed by my family with such kind words of encouragement and thoughtful gifts. It was truly one of my most memorable birthdays!

Outer Banks of North Carolina

We are back from the Kovlak Family vacation to OBX. We have been going there for about 7 years now and are so grateful that my parents make this trip possible. It is the only time throughout the year that you know everyone will be there. All 17 of us stay in a house together and it is family, family, family all the time. This year we had fun going to the beach, swimming at the pool, playing the Wii (even if the Wii fit made us VERY old in age), and eating together as a family. Thanks for the memories and in Grandpa Kovlak fashion, "Thanks for being my relatives!"

The Kovlak, Peters, Locker and Wilson Families

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Three Thankful Years

It was three years ago today that I married my best friend. So many of you know our love story and how long it took us to get married. We truly were friends for years. Friends that had interest in each other, but friends. It was the great makings for a fabulous marriage. From the time we went to college until the time we got married 9 years had past. But as I look back now, those years seem such a short time to wait for the perfect man God had for me.

Josh has helped me grow so much as a person and this year so much as a mother. He sets such a positive example for me spiritually as he sits in his office each morning to spend time with God. I know he is wholeheartedly devoted to God and us! I am truly blessed and it was worth the WAIT! I love you , babe!

Beginning our journey together....
Here are our faithful friends and family who stood by us for so

many years and encouraged us all along the way. We are still so

grateful for your friendship in our lives.

Williamsburg Wish

I have 3 regrets in college. One is that I never went on the Dr. Carter trip to Williamsburg. My roommate and Josh went and when they came back I realized I missed a big deal! Since then I have always wanted to go. So for my 30th Birthday and our 3 year Anniversary Josh set up a trip for us to Colonial Williamsburg.

We went to all the restaurants that Dr. Carter took them to and toured as many places as we could in one days time. My favorite of all the restaurants was the King's Arm Tavern. We had peanut soup, a fabulous appetizer tray with samples of colonial foods and a colonial style entree!

Here we are at dinner at Chownings!

One of my favorite meals, Welsh Rarebit!
It looks gross, but tastes GREAT!

This maze is in the Governor's Palace Garden.
It was a lot of fun to go through.

The people dressed act like they are in the 18th century all the time.

When you go to Williamsburg you have to take this picture!
There was literally a line almost all of the time to get this picture.

Dinner for Daddy

We celebrated Father's Day a bit early.

Here is Annabelle working on her card for Daddy. She actually got the idea of how to draw with the crayons. I was pretty impressed with her skills even though it was a lot of lines! Plus, she really enjoyed making them and picking the different colors. I made Josh a meal we call the Olive Garden meal, compliments of Sara Bledsoe. It is one of Josh's favorites that I make. Here is the proud Daddy with his daughter.
Here Josh is with his gifts. Annabelle got him Mario Galaxy for the Wii. If you look real close you can see Annabelle artistically drawn lines on her card. Josh was so excited when he saw that she had done this by herself. I wish I would have had it on video. Annabelle felt very proud!

Swimming Slump

I got her this turtle pool/sandbox/play area last summer when she couldn't even sit up! I actually got it for a great deal, $4.99! I watched it all summer long come down in price, until finally they were running out to them. We've had it up in our room just filled with the balls for her to go in and play with, but when I filled it up with water today she wasn't so sure about this!

(If you click on the pictures it will enlarge them) Not sure what to do, she eventually picked up the balls from the pool and just kept throwing them back in. I kept asking her if she wanted to go in or get her feet wet, and would adamantly say, "NO". She did NOT want to go in.
In fact she did want to go in somewhere, but it was not the pool! Hopefully, we'll do better next time! I should mention she is in her new swimsuit Grandma, Grandpa, and Aunty Em got her! Thanks, it fits and looks great on her!

Pouting to Partying

Well, I know this is what 3 posts in 3 days....can you tell I am on Summer vacation officially! I know you grandparents and aunts will be happy! :-)

The Pouting -watch the video to find out why

The Party-We went to Jenna's Graduation party tonight. Here Annabelle is all dressed up in an outfit Aunt Shannon bought her.

Ga, Ga, Granny

Everytime we talk to Granny on the phone she sings, "I'm going to the Mansion" to Annabelle. Annabelle loves it and participates by saying, "YES" in the song. Today we got it on video. Granny wants people to know that she is sick and that is why her voice sounds funny.

Then when I asked Annabelle to say, Granny she kept signing it, so I thought I would try to get that on video, but when I was video taping she actually said, "Ga ga!"

Caring Cindy

Today was Annabelle's last day of daycare until August. Miss Cindy has been outstanding in her care for Annabelle. We are so greatful for her and feel so at ease knowing Annabelle is in such loving arms. We had many days when Annabelle didn't want to leave all of the kids and so I know she will miss that interaction this summer. I plan on joining our local playgroup so we can meet and play with new kids. Thanks Miss Cindy for a great year!

This is Annabelle on her first day of daycare back in SeptemberHere she is today 9 months later!

Mommy Massage

Well, as I said in the Montly Milestone post, Annabelle has been giving back rather than just taking. Just like she now likes to chase Dad, Annabelle is now giving me massages! I have always given Annabelle little baby massages, and lately she has wanted to give them to me. It is so cute! She has such a hard time actually squeezing out the lotion, but once I help her she will rub it away with her hands!

Weekend with the Wilsons

We visited Grandma, Grandpa, and Aunty Em this past weekend. We were there only one full day, but we took complete advantage of it. We spent most of the day outside. We had lunch outside, played Big Golf and croquet, walked around, and relaxed in the HOT sun. At night we went putt-putt golfing and had a nice dinner at home.

Grandma and Annabelle on their walk together Josh and Annabelle playing

Grandpa and Annabelle Playing

(no doubt where Josh gets it from)
Aunty Em and Annabelle sun bathing
Here is a Smilebox with more pictures and some videos.

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Make a Smilebox scrapbook