Nap Time

I know. I know. I need to put you down in your crib in your room all alone and let you nap. I know. That's what they tell me. I'll hate myself later if I don't. I'll ruin you of being an independent sleeper who can self soothe herself to sleep. I know!

But I also know that one day you are going to be too big for me to hold in my lap and on my chest. And I know one day you are going to want to sleep all alone in your bed in your room. I know that one day you are going to grow up and you are going to leave me to live your life the way you should. And I know that those days are going to come faster than I could ever anticipate. 

So right now, I'm going to forget what they all say. Just for now I'm going to snuggle on down, soak you up, drink you in, and ruin you a little. 

9 Months New

I'm behind! You keep us so busy that I hardly want to stop to write, but I know one day I will be thankful for recording these memories of your first year.  Hey, you might be thankful, too. Who knows?  I have to document this month fast, because you are constantly changing. Each day you are doing something new. You are turning into your own little person, and I can hardly keep up. You are on the move, and it's hard to get a photo of you that is in focus. You are the true jewel of our days, and you are my heart. 

Mama's Mover and Groover! You hardly ever stop. Your crawl is about the cutest thing I've ever seen. It's a little bunny hop, and you are so proud of yourself.  I keep recording you "crawling", because I know that one day soon you are going to figure it all out. 

Your facial expressions are a hoot. Here is one of your favorites this week.  

These days you are rocking a runny nose, but, of course, it doesn't slow you down a bit. 

We (ahem...or your mother) have lowered your crib. You like to play in there. You'll pull all of your lovies through the slats. When I come to get you out in the mornings, you are anything but lonely. You have a whole pile of friends that you are talking to and loving on. If your pacis are missing, chances are you have thrown them overboard; and they are wedged between the wall and your crib. You still love Flapjack, and you flop him all around.  Poor guy has to take a quick spin through the wash often.

You are eat all sorts of crazy stuff now.  You are still toothless though, and they seem to be taking their sweet time poking through.  I just hope that when they finally decide to show up, that they are quick and painless as possible.  I absolutely hate to see you hurt.  I can't take it...like AT ALL.  Your daddy teases me about how weak I am.  I've accepted that you already have me whooped.

You have had a really big month. You met one of your great-grandmothers and celebrated her 90th birthday.  You also met many of your great-aunts, great-uncles, and cousins. You visited where your Nettie grew up and even dipped your feet in the chilly farm sand. 

This month has also provided time for us to spend with family and get snuggles. Your Bobcat cousin loves you and thinks that you are her own baby doll. I can only imagine the fun (and trouble) that you two are going to find one day. 

We have even had some beautiful weather to soak up this month. Can you believe it? It's been random and unexpected but much appreciated. We've been soaking up the sunshine and getting our vitamin D on.

Your daddy and I can't get enough of you. We've started the "This is my favorite age...No, wait, this is my favorite age..."  We love you so much. I can't believe in just 3 short months you are going to be a year old. I'm not ready. 

For now, happy 9 months, my sweet girl.  We love you more and more each day.

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.