Kelly's Kids

Jane was asked to model in the Spring/Summer catalog for Kelly's Kids. We are honored to be asked and have loved hearing from everyone that recognized her-it has been fun to see who receives the Kelly's Kids catalog. Thanks Kelly's Kids!

New Notes

I enjoy blogging and reading other's blogs. Today I found a fun, new-to-me blog (simplifiedbee.blogspot.com) via a friend's blog (havenandhome.blogspot.com). Today's post was about Minted an online store for beautiful paper goods. Designers compete for spots on the site, which is updated regularly. Although I loved many designs, I made myself pick just one note card. I chose the turquoise Talk Bubble. It is simple yet bold, playful, and the color is my favorite! Did I mention the rounded corners? Love it!

http://www.minted.com/customizer/sku/MIN-TAB-PST

talk bubble personalized stationery

A Few New Things

Before I forget:

As of February 23, 2011, a list of new things Jane is doing and saying...

new words:
rocks
up
Ma (Maggie) There are several variations but I know what she is talking about Maggie
two (and raises the both index fingers)
juice (only said a few times)
wer-she (Where is she? she covers her eyes with her hands)
mer (mermaid)
hop (when she thinks about her rabbit)
no (still her favorite word)
muh-wah (sound while kissing)
ball
Wa-wa (water)
2/22 Hyde and I both understood her to say "This is a ball"
moon
nan-na (banana)
ab-ble (apple)
big (Big Bird and now most birds are "big")
Po (panda bear in Kung Fu Panda)
bee
hair
muff (mouth)
noff (nose)
eye
A-the first letter but I can't get her to say A then B
others, that in the moment I know what she is saying, but not consistent yet

signing: 
eat (bring your fingers/fist to your mouth, also says it)
drink
more (a popular one, says mo with the sign)
she is trying to say "all done" with the sign
ma (bouncing your thumb forward off your chin)
baby (cradling your arms and swinging them back and forth, says it)

animal sounds: a _ says _
cow: moo
sheep: ba
ghost: boo
owl: hoo
duck: says duck and flaps arms
chicken: bok and flaps arms
horse: neigh
cat: meow (I love this one, it is real soft and sweet)
dog: ruff ruff and sometimes wow
fish: opens and closes her mouth making a light pop sound

favorite books these days:

-Moo Ba LaLaLa

-Goodnight Gorilla (pointing out the balloon, mouse and banana, moon)

-Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?

-When Pigs Fly

-Mr Brown Can Moo, Can You?

-But not the Hippopotamus

-Pajama Time

-Barnyard Dance

-Magic Castle

-Big Red Barn (Jane always finds the butterflies)

"moobies":

-Beauty and the Beast (referred to as "beast", even Belle)

-The Little Mermaid

-Princess and the Frog

-Kung Fu Panda

-Baby Signing Time

-Get Up and Dance (Big Bird)

-Nemo (said "MeMo")

-Mickey and the Beanstalk

-Lion King

others:
-loves applying lipstick (to me and herself) and swirls a brush in a powder compact (empty) then brushes it on her face (or mine)
-feeding others
-tickling Maggie's belly
-sitting on Maggie
-hitting Maggie is she is mad (not necessarily at Maggie)
-opinionated about her food and likes to look through the pantry or refrigerator
-if you say the word knock, she knocks
-loves the slide! and will go down by herself (now that I know she likes going down with my assistance, I will work on a video) she will also try to walk up the slide (with assistance) or will climb up the ladder (I stand behind her ready)
-practices her faces in the mirror
-now has a step so she can help mom wash her hands at the sink
-can officially get on the coffee table, couch and our bed (when she is ready to get on the couch she r-emoves Maggie's couch bed because she knows she isn't supposed to be on it then gets up)
-she takes the DVD out of the case, pushes the open button on the player, takes the disc off and the new one on then stands up smiling at the tv
-pat-a-cake: she claps then rolls her hands
-this little piggy: reaches for her foot and holds her toes
-still loves to dance
-she now prefers standing during diaper changing time
-she still drinks her milk from a bottle
-she has been listening when we read! she finishes sentences, points to objects we ask about, gestures at the right time, etc
-suckers. we love visiting the bank now and receiving a sucker. it is a mess but worth it to see that cute smile
-Jane loves a juice box. "Big" (Big Bird) is on the box. She wants to/and does put the straw in herself.
-Jane is sleeping though the night!!! She sleeps around 11 hours!!! She takes afternoon naps lasting from 2-3 hours and will play with toys in her crib when she wakes. YAY!!!
-she loves her babies. she has 2 and sometimes one joins us on our strolls
-she used to love a toothbrush and would carry it around with her, but now I struggle with brushing time.  Depends on her mood, but I can't get in there as much as I probably should.
-jumping. she loves jumping on the couch, crib and bed but now we are learning to jump on the ground and get both feet in the air. this also falls under the category of her new word "hop". appropriate timing with Easter around the corner.


That's all for now....

Bed Head and Banks

Nice Bed Head!

Biggest fan of visiting the bank!

Rocks Rocks Rocks!

More dirt please

Warmer weather

I just had to take a picture of how dirty Jane was at the grocery store. She was very good, mostly because I was bribing her with graham crackers. With a sucker beforehand, the crumbs hand a great place to stick!

We have really enjoyed the nice weather! Jane loves playing in the dirt and rocks.

More dirt please

Jane also loves the slide down the street. She would go down head first if I let her, but she has learned to sit and put her feet first. She has gone down a few times without me holding at least her hand. It ends with her rump on the ground, but no whining-she jumps up and wants to go again!

Rocks Rocks Rocks!

Nice Bed Head!

Biggest fan of the bank!

Our afternoon...Feb 17

This morning, Jane went to Aunt Gail's house to garden and play with Angel while I went to yoga and read for my yoga certification (which starts next weekend). After Jane's nap, we colored with our new Crayola Wonder markers. The markers are clear and color only appears on the magic paper. Yea Crayola! Jane may have had more fun arranging the markers than the actual coloring. And of course the first page we had to color was of the Beast!

Just checking her self out in the mirror before bath time.

PJs and Night Night!

Dad Made the Wall Street Journal

February 17: Cover of Section C http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703961104576148722014393308.html

Outlook for Food Prices: High

Corn to Cotton, Farmers Have Bevy of Planting Choices; Stockpiles Remain Thin

By LIAM PLEVEN

Steve Jones for The Wall Street Journal

Mike Sturdivant Jr., dividing his Glendora, Miss., farm between corn, soybeans and cotton, said 'we're locking in a reasonable chance of a profit.'

The seeds of a sustained increase in food prices are about to be sown in Mississippi, Nebraska and other farm-belt states across the U.S.

With prices for everything from corn to cotton and soybeans soaring, the overall mix of production is likely to be similar to last year, instead of a major turn toward one hot crop, a move that would likely drive down the price of that crop.As American farmers prepare to plant their next crops, they must decide how much, and what, to plant.

In past years there have been some big acreage swings, but analysts expect mostly minor changes when the U.S. Department of Agriculture releases a closely watched survey of farmers' intentions next month. Only a limited amount of idle land can be brought into production, further capping supply.

That could help extend the commodities rally, which has already seen corn futures jump 92% over the past year, soybeans rise 44%, wheat gain 69% and cotton soar 162%.

With worries rising about the world's food supply, planting decisions are critical. The U.S. provides more than half of global corn exports and over 40% of soybean exports.

Mike Sturdivant Jr. plans to divide his family's more than 10,000-acre farm in Glendora, Miss., between corn, soybeans and cotton, in almost exactly the same ratio as in 2010.

"We think that we're locking in a reasonable chance of a profit," said Mr. Sturdivant, who said he expects to start planting next month.

He already has sold much of his anticipated harvest, he said, benefiting from earlier price rises.

The actions of Mr. Sturdivant show how the commodity price rally is feeding on itself, and how it could keep stockpiles thin for months to come. It also means that refilling the world's larders to comfortable levels will depend on getting bumper harvests.

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Steve Jones for The Wall Street Journal

Mike Sturdivant Jr. has kept a similar mix in his crops. 'I don't want to get too far out of kilter,' he said.

"You would need very robust, if not record, yields to achieve that," said Alex Bos, an agriculture analyst with Macquarie Group Ltd.

As the broad agricultural rally gained steam in recent months, there were hopes for bountiful harvests in other major growing regions, such as South America or Australia, that might alleviate tight supplies of specific crops, driving U.S. farmers to increase production of others.

But crops in many countries have been hurt by bad weather, keeping prices high across the board.

Persistent demand also has helped erode global stockpiles, which are used to ensure a steady flow of food and protect against shocks.

Current corn stocks amount to about 5% of annual use, far below the average of 13.6% over the past 15 years, according to U.S. data.

In order to get back to average stockpiles, U.S. farmers would have to plant eight million to 10 million more acres of corn, estimates Joseph Glauber, the USDA's chief economist. Restoring soybean stocks would require another three million to four million acres.

"Obviously, this is more acreage than is likely to be planted to corn and soybeans this year," Mr. Glauber said in an email message.

In past years, U.S. farmers have shifted millions of acres from one crop to another. In 2007, they planted 15.2 million more acres with corn than in 2006, a 19% jump—at the expense of soybeans and cotton—amid strong demand for corn to make ethanol.

This year, expectations are more modest. Macquarie forecasts that U.S. farmers will plant 90.5 million acres of corn, up from 88.2 million last year.

The USDA, meanwhile, estimates U.S. farmers will plant 92 million acres of corn. The USDA forecasts 78 million acres of soybeans, virtually unchanged from last year's 77.7 million. Those statistical forecasts are distinct from the upcoming month's farmer survey.

Another obstacle to expanding supplies is the difficulty of putting new farmland into production. It takes years to clear and prepare large tracts outside the U.S., such as in the former Soviet Union and South America, said Mr. Bos of Macquarie.

In the U.S., there is some land available. Gerald Bange, who chairs the USDA's World Agricultural Outlook Board, noted recently that there were 10.7 million fewer acres in play for major crops last year than in 2008, including land idled under a federal conservation program.

But some think a smaller amount of acres will be pressed into service, in part because land in the conservation program is typically less productive.

A particularly abundant crop in the U.S. could alleviate some of the supply pressures, sending commodity prices lower. Strong harvests in Russia, China, and elsewhere could also ease concerns.

As well, persistently high prices—cotton is at an all-time high in nominal terms—could also entice farmers to make bigger changes in their planting as they make final decisions in the coming weeks.

Still, their flexibility to make changes is limited in many cases. Many farmers have presold some of their anticipated harvests to take advantage of high prices, as Mr. Sturdivant did.

Another reason to maintain the status quo: Farmers have the luxury of planting what they want, rather than needing to take risks with their crops—such as growing corn on the same land in two consecutive seasons.

"I think we'll see folks go back to more traditional rotation," said Jon Holzfaster, a farmer in Paxton, Neb. There is "nothing to penalize you economically," he said.

Still, Mr. Sturdivant is expanding U.S. crop production in at least one way. His one big departure from typical practice was planting more than 2,000 acres of winter wheat. He will harvest the wheat in June, then plant soybeans to squeeze in an extra crop.

Mr. Sturdivant also pondered cutting his cotton acres to boost soybean output. But when cotton prices kept rocketing skyward, he decided to revert to his usual mix.

"I don't want to get too far out of kilter," he said.

Happy Birthday Hyde!

to an amazing husband, best friend and dad,

Happy Birthday Hyde!

We love you!

more from around the house

Waiting for Maggie

Some from around the house

I realized I haven't been taking pictures lately, so I pulled the camera out of the bag had have had it out for random moments around the house. Here are a few fun ones....

Jane at Pearl Street Pasta

Get this girl some pasta!! Somebody was hungry!
We couldn't help but pull out ALL of our cameras and video Jane at dinner tonight. Here are some videos of Jane chowing down! (maybe watch the last one first)

Grayson's Birthday Party

Today we helped Grayson Gay celebrate his 3rd birthday. Jane ate ice cream and a cupcake, rode in Grayson's fleet of cars and slid down the big slide a couple of times, but Jane spent most of her time in the dragon jump castle. She absolutely loved it!! It was 100x better than jumping in her crib or on our bed. I was impressed with her balance and how long she could stay on her feet, especially with the older boys wrestling and chasing around her. I made several videos trying to catch her giggling. Here are some of them.

grrrrr with dad

Practicing her growl with dad after a bath

A New Cousin for Jane

Yep, that's right!

 Micajah and Grace are expecting!!! Baby Sturdivant is due August 27th! Is there a Micajah V on the way???? We are so excited for the two of them and pray for a safe and healthy pregnancy! Congratulations Micajah and Grace!!

Jane at 16 months

I am very behind on blogging! I just wanted to show a recent picture of Jane. I find myself staring at her wondering where the time has gone and how much she has grown! She looks like a big girl now. She will always be my baby, but she is certainly not a baby anymore!

Her vocabulary is expanding and she is learning more signs everyday. Nana (banana) is a new one, but No is the most popular. She signs: more, eat, drink, all done, more, mama. She definitely has a mind of her own and is very headstrong! She is always on the move-cooking at her kitchen, reading books, stacking blocks, or strolling her baby-she strips her socks off and starts running. Her bottle (ba-ba) is still her favorite thing and I'm not ready for the wrath that will come when I take it away (so it is still used for milk). She has discovered the pockets on some of her outfits and I find "treasures" in them at the end of the day.

She loves jumping on the bed and is days away from being able to climb onto the couch by herself. Yesterday she worked very hard, but conquered climbing on top of the coffee table. Little does she know that her chair that she normally stands in is right beside the coffee table and she could literally step up to the table...shhhh.

Eating is up and down. She normally is a good eater and will almost everything, but with this cold and her teething, she doesn't want to eat anything except her ba-ba. As for sleeping, we are on the up and up! Her favorite foods are probably cottege cheese, string cheese, pretzels, avacado,

Since the new year, there have been new sleeping habits. Jane is now sleeping all night in her crib only waking in the middle of the night occasionally, but putting herself back to sleep. Yea!! She has moved herself to one nap a day. She normally sleeps from 1-1:30 to 4. Sometines she will be in her crib for 3 hours and if she wakes up early, she plays with the toys I have put in her crib. This has been great for both of us. She wakes up in a fabulous mood (normally chatting and giggling while jumping up and down in her crib) and I have a food 3 hours to get things done. Everyone wins!

Jane is still a sweetheart. She will randomly come hug me and give me a "muh-wha" kiss. It may be from behind (around my legs if standing or across my back if I am sitting) or if I am at face level she will grab my cheeks with both of her hands and bringing me in for a smack on the lips. It melts my heart! She will blow a kiss too.

She has a lot of great new faces and she practices them in the mirror: 1) she dips her chin to her chest and tilts her head to the right and looks up at you acting shy 2) she scrunches her eyes and curls her lip into a smile 3) she looks surprised and makes an O shape with her mouth 4) and she is working on her growl face

She likes to help around the house. She helps me with the laundry. She moves clothes from one pile to the other (lights and darks) or back into the hamper and then helps put the clothes in the washer. When she wakes up from her nap, our first chore after diaper changing is feeding Maggie. Jane helps by bringing Maggie's bowl to the food bin where I fill it up, the she carefully walks out of the laundry room and places the bowl back for Maggie to eat. Maggie is very sweet and sits until the bowl has been placed and I give the go ahead. Sometimes Jane hovers and watches Maggie inhale her food and other times she is off to her next project.

She identifies Mama and Dada, says our name, then points to us. The first time she did this she looked at my picture on on the cover of the Natchez Magazine  (http://natchezmagazine.com/)  that was on the coffee table, pointed at me and said Mama, then looked up, pointed at me and said Mama again. I was amazed.  She has also done this to Aunt Grace. Grace had a 7 page spread in the  Northside Sun modeling wedding gowns for different stores around Jackson (still looking for the link). Most of the time we can ask where someone is and she will point to them, including Gran Jan, Papa Mike, Uncle Micajah, Totty, P, and Rose.

Her hair is very long and the ends will curl after naps and bathtime.. Hyde loves this! His hair did the same thing when he was her age. His was even curlier so maybe....She is wearing 18-24month clothes, wears a 5-5.5 shoe and weighs around 26 pounds. (Mama's back is starting to feel it too!) She cut her 4 one year molars too! Finally!! 

Diaper time: Jane hates to have her diapers changed! I think she has had too many terrible cases of diaper rash and now hates hates HATES to get a fresh diaper. For a while, picking out something off her special shelf to play with distracted her, then we sang songs with motions, but now those tricks don't work. Now, she will not fuss if I change her while she stands up on the changing table. This is a bit tricky! I have been doing it for about 2-3 weeks now and am improving my technique and speed, but it is still somewhat difficult. But, Jane does not kick and scream and we don't have tears at the end of diaper time. Call me a pushover, but it is so much less stressful! (Oh, and now she has figured out that while I am concentrating on the diaper, she can tickle me by sticking her little finger in my ear.)

She still loves bathtime, tea time, dancing, anything outdoors, and making a liar out of her parents. Anytime we want to show someone she can do or say something, she doesn't.

So that is 16 months in a nutshell. I'll be back soon I hope with more pictures.

One Year Molars

This morning I finally clued in to Jane's new teeth! Jane has been sick with a stuffy nose and congestion so I didn't notice her teething symptoms as much. (I have blamed her fussiness on teething for 2 months now waiting for these molars) Well, I finally caught a glimps of them and WOW! Her top two molars are huge and have apparently been cutting for a while, but her bottom two are just now cutting. I can barely get her to open enough for me to see them so there is no picture at this time. Sorry. We went from 8 teeth to 12 just like that! Go Jane!