Kate is 16 months already? Recipe & Freebie Friday

I have been completely neglecting my blog lately, which probably disappoints me more than you. I have a terrible memory, so I am hoping this is a way to somewhat help me remember what went on in my early days of motherhood. It has only been 16 months since Kate came into our lives and it seriously seems like a blur. Can you believe it? She turned 16 months yesterday. I will have to say, this is a fun stage! She is so interactive, intuitive and eager to learn. Oh, yes, she is also eager to show her strong will and trys to stand up to her mommy.. which I have already started to work on breaking. (ok, that part is not so fun.) The rest is though. She is learning new words all the time and it amazes me what she can understand. She will actually take our trash to the trash can and throw it away. Justin and I both think that is awesome! (it doesn't take much for us)

Her biggest obsession is shoes. It is really funny/weird. She wakes up pointing to her shoes and saying, "shoes". She is constantly bringing us our shoes and wanting us to put them on. She even had a melt down the other day when I didn't put the shoes she wanted on her feet. (btw.. the shoes I picked out won).

She also loves to dance, play with her doll house and swing on her swing set.

A lady gave her a "dum dum" lolly pop the other day and she loved it. She smiled and giggled the whole time she ate it. I have never seen anything bring her such joy.

To make things even better.. she is just about the cutest thing ever! I don't think I have put these on my blog before, so here are some of my favorite pictures we had taken for her 1 year pics.

She loves to blow kisses.

Kate with her cousins Sara Beth and Luke.

Aren't those pictures amazing? My sister-in-law set up a photo shoot with her photographer and he is amazing!

I know that Labor Day is coming up and if are like me you will be attending one or two parties. We are going to friends of ours for lunch/cookout and that night we are having friends over for the FSU/Miami game. (GO NOLES!!)

I made this a couple weeks ago for some ladies I had over and it was delicious!! I love trifles. They are so easy and pretty. I have made quite a few and this one is by far my favorite. Perfect for entertaining. Here is the recipe. I of course found it on All Recipes, but I didn't have all the ingredients, so I did some substitutes and it was amazing! Here is a link to the original (Strawberry Tiramisu Trifle). Below is the trifle with my changes.

Strawberry Trifle

INGREDIENTS
2 quarts fresh strawberries
1 Jar Marshmallow Cream
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
4 tablespoons strong brewed coffee, room temperature
1 Container Cool Whip, thawed 2 Packages Pepperage Farms Milano Cookies 6 (1 ounce) squares Semi-Sweet chocolate, grated (I chopped up chocolate chips)

DIRECTIONS
Set aside three strawberries for garnish; slice the remaining strawberries. In a bowl, mix Marshmallow Cream and Cream Cheese together until smooth. Fold in whipped topping.
Dip cookies in coffee (if you don't like coffee dip in milk). Line the bottom of a 3-qt. trifle or glass serving bowl with half of the cookies. Top with half of the sliced berries, grated chocolate and cream cheese mixture; repeat layers. Cut reserved berries in half; place on trifle. Cover and refrigerate for 4 hours or overnight.

I know you are going to think this post is never-ending, but I wanted to let you know about our awesome giveaway this week over at our giveaways page. We are giving away an amazing pearl necklace from Nebo Beads a NY based jewelry designer. Check it out and enter at: Chic Giveaways.

Have an awesome weekend!!