8 Months New

What a month it has been!  I can't believe you have been a part of our world for 8 months already.  You have changed so much this month.  I may miss something if I don't pay close enough attention.  I feel like I'm holding on to you a bit longer and squeezing you a bit harder.  I want to soak up every breath, every sound, every look, every single second spent with you.

Christmas with you was a blast.  It felt different and new, but familiar all at the same time.  My favorite purchase of the season was a small tree for your room that I could play Christmas music on, and the lights would twinkle with the music.  We decorated it with some of your Daddy's and my childhood ornaments.  We spent a lot of time together playing in your room, and your spirit was infectious.

 

You're favorite toy of the holiday was a reindeer that was my favorite when I was younger.

 

On the 22nd, we loaded up our car to the brim and traveled up to Nettie and Papa's house.  I can't help but hear "Over the river and through the woods..."  We spent time loving on our Smith Clan and prepared for the whirlwind that is our annual Christmas Party and your Uncle Gus' birthday on the 23rd.

At the party, you were lively and adorable as always.  You kept that bottom lip tucked in, and let friendly strangers pass you around.  Everyone enjoyed meeting you and said you were beautiful.  You met the big guy and loved his beard (I'm a beard girl, too).  You still seemed a bit skeptical, though.  I like how in this picture you look like you are saying, "Bring me that exersaucer, or else." 

 

On Christmas Eve, we went to church for the candlelight service.  For as long as I can remember, the candlelight service has been one of the most special things to me about Christmas.  There is something magical about the entire sanctuary being softly lit with candles while we sing "Silent Night."  It was even more magical this year with you in my arms.

We woke up on Christmas Day and found that Santa had, in fact, brought you your very own exersaucer and a swing for the yard.  You wore yourself out playing in your exersaucer and jumping in your jumper that Nettie and Papa gave you.  You fell asleep amidst all of the excitement of Christmas morning and snuggled into your Nettie.

 

After breakfast, we packed up and headed home so that we could celebrate with all of your family on your Daddy's side.  It was wild and crazy, but so much fun to be with everyone for Christmas.  You were wiped out and fell asleep before we could get home Christmas night.  You didn't even wake up when we took you out of your car seat.  

This month you are sitting up all by yourself.  You are laughing...a lot.  You talk and babble a lot, too.  You've started with "Mama," and everyday we work on "Dada."  You have also started waving and clapping.  You tend to love to clap when I am coming towards your face with a spoonful of deliciously pureed baby food.  We always keep a wet cloth handy while eating for this reason.

You are close to crawling.  You have mastered the baby plank (with beautiful form, I might add).  You will get on your knees and rock back and forth, and then do more of a lurch to get to a toy you want. I'm sure you will be crawling by the end of the month, but I'm not so sure that I am ready for it.

This month has been an exciting one for me, but emotional as well.  You are strictly a bottle-fed baby now.  For months, I've wanted someone to tell me it's okay to wean you from nursing.  Plenty of friends and family did, but it still didn't right and I didn't feel ready.  I cherished that time together.  Your sweet snuggles and your hand on my chest are moments that I never took for granted.  I was (am) really torn about this decision.  I never thought I would be.  It was hard work from the beginning and we came a long way together.  I honestly can't believe we made it this far. One day I will tell you all about it and you will probably say, "Gross, Mom."  But I hope that one day you will get it.  When you are snuggled in with your own sweet baby at night wrapped up in the silence with only the soft glow of a night light, I hope then you will get it.  And I hope you will love being with him or her, as much as I do with you.

Happy 8 months, my sweet.  You are perfect in every way.

8 Months

Our monthly shots with Flapjack, the bunny, have resorted to this.

Say what?!

Angel Baby

7 Months New

My perfect little package. I keep finding myself looking back at the pictures from the day you were born trying to imagine how small you were. My 5 lb bag of sugar. You are still so perfect to me, and I'm soaking up all the precious moments spent with you.

Your 7th month new has been a busy one and I'm beginning to think that's just how it's going to be from here on out...busy. Thanksgiving was a highlight, my little Tiger Lily.

You got so much loving from your cousins, I'm surprised you weren't rubbed raw from all of their smooches. Even Bobcat got in on the lovin.

We cheered on the Tigers to a win over the Gamecocks. And literally, it was just you and me (but you were napping) cheering them on in a house full of Gamecocks. You were really polite when you woke up and found out we won, even though you wanted to say "In yo' face!" to anyone dressed in black and garnet. You were the cutest Tiger fan ever. Yes, I said evvvvvver.

Your elf arrived after Thanksgiving with your cousins' elves. Fisbee and LoLo had to show Sugar the way. Sugar has been keeping an eye on you, and I'm sure she is telling Santa what a sweet girl you are.

This week we started decorating and getting ready for the Christmas season. You are enjoying kicking off ornaments from your bouncy seat and watching Christmas shows with me. It is going to be a busy month, little girl!

At 7 months, you are rolling over and squealing.  This week you have started clicking your tongue.  You have learned how to put your paci back in your mouth.  You are eating everything from mangos to peas.  You love to play.  You are so fun to watch as you are just figuring out this great big world around you.

You still melt my heart and make me smile. I love you, Sweet Girl. Happy 7 months. They have been my happiest. 

Thankfulness

As I sit here waiting for the sun to wake up with this sleeping baby (who has been up) in my arms, I'm reminded I have a lot to be thankful for. Really and truly I could sit here and type a list of my thanks for days. I'm thankful. I just don't always remember it. I sometimes lose sight of all things precious in my life and dwell on insignificant troubles.

I'm thankful for my little family and our big family. I'm thankful that we still come together, enjoy one another, and love on each other. I'm thankful for my husband who really tries to be a better husband and father every day - and who in turn makes me better, too. I'm thankful for the home we share and the amazing place in which we live. I'm thankful for our beautiful daughter and to be able to raise her with her daddy.  I'm thankful for her smiles (they are truly precious). I'm thankful for the memories we have and the ones we have yet to create. I'm thankful for the warm snuggles from our pets.  I'm thankful for our health.  I'm thankful for our freedom.  I'm thankful for the lessons of the rough storms and for those friends who have guided me through them. 

I'm thankful for my life and that God chose me to live it. Sometimes I need the reminder to be thankful and to soak it up- every last drop and every little snuggle. Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours.

6 Months New

6 months.  Does that mean I have to start saying you're old and not new?  Mama's not ready for that.  You still smell new.  And every day you are doing new things; and Lord knows, we are both learning new things.  You're still new.  6 months new. 

I swear this month has flown by.  I mean, really, where did October go?  It high tailed it and jammed- leaving November in its dust.  This month you have been busy.  We spent weekends in Chapin, spent time with family, celebrated Halloween, and kicked off the fall season.

You had your first sucker with your Papa, against my wishes. But you loved it (secretly, I loved watching you), and you were stinkin' cute. Now I imagine you'll be under his spell just like your cousin, The Bobcat. 

One of the weekends in Chapin, we woke up early and went to the Walk for Leo. Leo is, by far, the bravest little friend of yours. He is battling a really ugly disease called Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA); but he is ferocious, like a lion, and he has the biggest smile all of the time. He and his sweet family have been very inspirational to all of our family. The walk was such a fun way to start our morning. We were all there- complete with our lion whiskers for Leo's Pride. 

At 6 months, you are loving apples, pears, prunes, and sweet potatoes. (We continue to work on the avocado.) You're favorite trick is to take your paci out and hold it. (We are still working on putting it back in.) You still gurgle and drool like it's your job. You smile a lot, and you are starting to play more with toys.  Panda is still your best pal.

This past week, you rolled over for the first time all on your own; and you were so incredibly proud of yourself. But then you rolled back, and haven't made it back over since.  You get to your side and then it's like "SIKE! Just kidding! I'm gonna just lie on my back." You wiggle all around your rug in your room.

You love your daddy and turn every time you hear his voice.  You smile every time you see him. Sometimes, it really grinds my gears after you've been hollering at me or stone faced, and then your daddy walks in and you are all smiles and giggles.  But I get it.  I still love my daddy like that, too. 

You make me late almost every morning, but these extra morning snuggles are worth it.  I know there will come a day when they will be no more.  There will be a day when you are "too big" for me.  Oh, how I dread that miserable day.  So for now, I will be late.

  (Sometimes, even Cricket joins in on the snug fest.)

There are still so many moments I can't believe that you are mine. My beautifully made daughter. A perfect little bundle of 12 pounds and 8 ounces. You are the sweetest part of my day, and I'm so proud to be your mama. From our favorite book, How Do I Love You- "I love all that you will be and everything you are."  Happy 6 months, my sweet.

 

Halloween

As a kid, Halloween was for dressing up and candy. I loved it. That feeling of coming home after a long chilly night of running from house to house, and dumping out my pumpkin head full of candy in the middle of my bedroom floor. I'd spend time separating them into groups- fruity candy, chocolate, Milk Duds (yes, they get their own category), and then candy I'd give to Dad (i.e. those dreaded Whoppers...barf). I'd marvel in my earnings, and more than likely, do a candy angel or two in the pile of diabetes. Yes, I loved Halloween. 

In college, Halloween was for dressing up and drinking. I was really successful at Halloween in college. I spent Halloweens dressed up as a crayon, a penguin, a hunter/skeet shooter- just to name a few. The night was full of remaining in character and making each of those characters a true fan of whiskey. I was probably guilty of a few candy angels then too, but they were probably done in a front yard without any candy. Yep, I loved Halloween then too. 

But this year Halloween was more than just dressing up for me. In fact, I didn't dress up at all. This year it was about making your costume, going to the pumpkin patch, you wearing your adorable pumpkin hat and your pumpkin pjs as much as possible, carving our pumpkin, and getting pics with our family.

Dressing you up as Sophia Petrillo was hilarious. There is no other word for it. Thank you for wearing that wig and not starting to try to eat it until it was late. 

It was one of the all time best Halloweens!