Where did January go?

It seems every time I blink another month is gone. Earlier in the month we celebrated Savvy's first birthday and of course, due to popular demand, continued the tradition of birthday week. The night before I did an emergency run to Target ISO a gift, as I had been fruitless in my half-hearted searches in earlier weeks. For Christmas I really wanted to find her a phone. Now, I realize there are lots of phones out there, and what half-sane parent wants to gift their child a noise-making, plastic machine? I did. I wanted one that lit up and made noise. I know there are a lot of pretend phones out there, but their sounds are annoying. I wanted a realistic one because, let's face it, kids aren't dumb. They know when you are giving them your out-of-date and battery-less cell phone. I wanted one that would trick Savannah into thinking she had the real thing. Well, I had been fruitless and finally decided it was time to make a trip down the toy isle to see if something would catch my eye. I started down the clearance isle and was pleasantly surprised at the selection of baby dolls and the like. Great prices, fun toys. And then I saw it. It was pink. It was plastic. It lit up. It made noise. Even better, it had an answering machine.

The 29.99 toy was marked down to a mere 7.04. I could not pass up this beautiful girlish contraption. It came with a CD-Rom that would allow you to personalize the messages that Barbie left on the answering machine, so Savannah would be called by her very own name! Victory on the toy isle! I came home full of energy and bursting with excitement. I almost woke Cade up to show him the toy. Let's face it. He would probably have more fun with the phone than Savannah--- until of course, she figured it out.

I decided to let Cade sleep and decorated the kitchen birthday-style instead. I wrapped presents and set them out....anxious for the unveiling of her gifts. Morning came and we had hot chocolate and Savannah opened gifts, thanks to her eager assistant, Cade. She was spoiled with girly outfits, a talking and singing dog, and a port-a-crib. That night we took the kids swimming at "Daddy's Gym" and ate at our new favorite restaurant, Sweet Tomatoes. Cade and Savvy ate all the ice cream their hearts desired. It was a good day. Birthday Week continued with gifts from Gramma & Grampa Berry: a dolly baby! and Jake & Rebecca: an outfit only a picture could do it's cuteness justice....