Busy Week

So this past week has been VERY busy in the Jefferies house. On Monday Savannah had her 15mo check up, she is doing great. She is 33 in long and 22.5 lbs, its amazing to see how big she has gotten since she was born time just flies. While at this appt her doctor nicely told me that she's going to start being a danger to herself just because she is so active and very curious. For those of you who interact with Savannah on a regular basis or get to hear me talk about her you know this to be true. It is very rare to find her sitting still she is always on the move and trying to push her limits. She wants to see everything and has no fear, she could care less if her mom or dad are with her she'll just go off and explore on her own and then try to find you when she's done. It can be quite exhausting to try and keep up with her. So after this appt she learned 4 new tricks which I don't quite like but are a sign that she's growing up and become more independent, something else I don't like. This past week Savannah learned how to climb onto our kitchen chairs and stand on the table. She learned how to pull out the drawer under the oven so now she can stand on the thin edge and get anything on the counter and in any top drawer. Also this puts her at a prime spot to get the front two burners on our oven. My favorite thing she learned to do this week was to climb out of her crib and onto her changing table! Now they are attached to each other but still, watching her do this makes me stop breathing because her head is hanging over the crib and she can fall face first onto the floor at any moment. Once she's on her changing table she reaches over the side and opens her pants drawer and then proceeds to pull out all her pants and skirts. You can see why this is my favorite. Then yesterday she learned another new trick. For naps I know put her in her pack-n-play since there is no way she can get out. This of course frustrates her to no end so her retaliation is now to undress herself. I went in to check on her and she's sleeping shirtless in her bed, then later on that evening she once again decided that there was no need to wear a shirt and decided it was best to walk around topless. Well there you have it, my little Savannah is growing up to be a naked circus performer and I'm just along for the ride. Also this week I have to clean my entire house for those who will be staying here and pack for 3 people for a 2 week trip to Maryland where they just got 2 feet of snow. Maybe we'll have a white Christmas after all. My only hope is that with all the new things Savannah is learning that 1 she won't get us kicked off the airplane and 2 her family in Maryland will still love her after our visit. She is cute enough thought that its almost impossible to stay mad at her...she takes after her dad.

Mini-Me

If you have ever questioned the idea of Savannah being my daughter here is more proof that she is totally a girly girl like her mom and that we are two peas in a pod. The other day Savannah got a hold of her hair jar, in it is all of the flowers I put in her hair almost on a daily basis. Well not all at once but one each day, you know what I mean. So after she handed me every single flower it was decided that we should put on a pretty dress too and then of course some sneakers because that totally finishes the look. Oh how I love my little girl and that she already plays dress up with me.

Thoughts from Me

So I've said it before but one of my favorite things is the Conference edition on the Ensign. Last time it came out in April I attempted to put in a quote a week and I failed. I didn't even make it half way through. So I don't think I'm going to commit to a quote a week but I did want to include some of my favorites that I've read so far. Hopefully they'll lift your spirits as they have mine.

"Spirituality yields two fruits. The fist is inspiration to know what to do. The second is power, or the capacity to do it." -Elder Richard G. Scott

"The challenge for each of us is in providing an environment where the Spirit can be felt daily in our homes and weekly at church. One reason we are encouraged to pray and read the scriptures every single day is that both of these activities incited the spirit into our homes and into the lives of our family members." -Vicki F. Mastumori

"No matter the burdens we face in life as a consequence of natural conditions, the misconduct of others, or our own mistakes and shortcomings, we are all children of a loving Heavenly Father, who sent us to earth as part of His eternal plan for our growth and progress. Our unique individual experiences can help us prepare to return to Him. The adversity and afflictions that are ours, however difficult to bear, last, from heaven's perspective, for "but a small moment;and then, if [we] endure it well, God shall exalt [us] on high." We must do everything we can to bear our burdens "well" for however long our "small moment" carrying them lasts." -Elder L.Whitney Clayton

"All parents and gospel teachers are messengers from God." -Russell T Osguthorpe
"We can begin to become more diligent and concerned at home by telling the people we love that we love them. Such expressions do not need to be flowery or lengthy. We simply should sincerely and frequently express love." -Elder David A. Bednar

"When we truly understand what it means to love as Jesus Christ loves us, the confusion clears and our priorities align. Our walk as disciples of Christ becomes more joyful. Our lives take on new meaning. Our relationship with our Heavenly Father becomes more profound. Obedience becomes a joy rather than a burden...if we truly learn to love our Heavenly Father and our fellowman with all our heart, soul, and mind-all else will fall into place." -President Dieter F. Uchtdorf

"If anyone thinks that godly or parental love for an individual grants the loved one license to disobey the law, he or she doesn't not understand either love or law." -Elder Dallin H. Oaks

"However, we much be careful not to constrain [the Spirits] influence. When we do not do what is right or when our outlook is dominated by skepticism, cynicism, criticism, and irreverence toward others and their beliefs, the Spirit cannot be with us. We then act in a way that the prophets describe as the natural man." -Elder Robert D. Hales

The Lord does not expect that we do what we cannot achieve. The command to become perfect, as He is, encourages us to achieve the best of ourselves, to discover and develop the talents and attributes with which we are blessed by a loving Eternal Father, who invites us to realize our potential as children of God. He knows us; He knows of our capacities and our limitations. The invitation and challenge to become perfect, to achieve eternal life is for all mankind." -Elder Jorge F. Zeballos

Mommy's Helper

Savannah is such a nut lately. She definitely has her own quirky personality and she is wanting to do so many new things. Her newest love is helping in the kitchen. She loves to "cook" and "taste" her concoctions. Also she now has to watch me make dinner every night from the comfort of one of our kitchen chairs. It is quite fun to see her using her imagination and having so much fun.

Lions and Tigers and Bears Oh My!

So this week we went on a new adventure with our good friends. Savannah went to the zoo for the first time! Might I add that she LOVED it! I mean totally loved it! The weather was pretty nice, don't let how bundled up Savannah was fool you. I'm partly paranoid that she's freezing half the time and her hat was just do dang cute I couldn't bear to take it off her because she actually left it on. She's actually quite proper already, she won't wear hats inside but as soon as your outside she won't touch it. I also love this about her. Anyway back to our outing...I wasn't quite sure how Savannah would do because I never know if she really knows what's going on. She was totally into it though, she loved following the animals and seeing what they would do. She was a perfect angel the whole trip and I can't wait to take her back in the Spring.

The Cutest Bug I've Ever Seen

Here is a preview of Miss Savannah's Halloween costume, mostly because these pictures my mom took are way cuter then any I'll take.

Girls Rule and Boys Drool

So, Wednesday thru Friday I watch one of my good friends daughter. This is perfect for many reasons...one of the biggest is that our daughters are only 4 months apart and they totally get along! So I have a schedule that we usually follow of what we do during the day and all that fun stuff because I thrive on having a schedule. So today I decided to spice it up a bit and while the girls were finishing up their naps I made them a surprise in the family room. That's right a giant tent! I am totally that awesome and the girls loved it, especially Savannah. It gave her a chance to harness her inner monkey. I don't think I've ever seen her climb so much and if the sheets weren't on the latter I think she could have climbed to the top. I think I had more fun making this wonder of a tent then the girls did playing in it but after all they are only 12 and16 months for goodness sakes.