Christmas 2009 (dada-mama-baba)

This Christmas was a whirlwind! My brother, sis-in-law, & nephews were in town from CO.  I took the week off & we had lots of fun hanging out.  We also got to hang w/ the whole big blended family which was quite entertaining. We went to the World of Coke w/ Tommy/Nickie/boys on Wednesday - it was fun.  Aislynn got to show the boys all the cool stuff since it was her 3rd trip there.  In the tasting zone, there's a drink called "Beverly" from Italy.  It's the most disgusting thing I've ever tasted (only once, and never again)... of all people, Kaden, my 4 yr old nephew, drank it - and liked it! It was funny to watch.  Nickie describes it as tasting like "ear wax" :)

Christmas Eve the crew came to the church service (awesome) and then we all gathered @ my dad's for his famous pasta dinner with other friends from church.  I swear all I did was eat (or "graze") the last week.

Christmas morning, we woke up, opened stockings and our presents.  Aislynn was so cute - of course she wanted to put all the wrapping paper and tissue paper in her mouth!  She loved all of her stuff though.  I made creamed corn & then we went to my dads.

After the whole crew came over, we had a turkey dinner, ornament exchange, and then presents.  There are 11 grandkids (from 8 months to 15 yrs old) not to mention the adults... everyone opened presents at the same time (paper was flying everywhere).  After a long Christmas Day, I crraaasshed - I'm still not caught up on sleep or cleaning!!!

Saturday, all the "gals" went to Sips N Strokes for some fun, and fun it WAS! We painted angel pictures, had some food & wine...

Sunday, had lunch @ dad's w/ the whole crew again, then took a family picture (all 20+ of us) Except Michael. He totally got sick Sat eve, then was wiped out completely Sunday... I thought it was swine - but there was no fever.  He's on the mend now, but has had a rough few days.  Then, Aislynn got a fever & has been fussy the last few days. I think it's an ear infection creeping in (round 10 of teething) she's been teething for 5 months, no teeth - and probably 1 month to go.  So she's been getting some antibiotics, and her fever went away this morning. 

(can you tell where Michael is supposed to go?)

After being off this past week - I enjoyed my time with her so much - I miss her when I'm at work.  Every week she does something new... the last couple weeks, she does this fake/funny laugh thing, it's like a forced "ha.... ha.... ha... ha..." with spaces in between. 

OH, HOW COULD I FORGET?  She also said "DADA" on Monday, 12/21.  The next day, she was saying "dadada dadadadada dadada dada dada" aaalllll day!  It's so funny to hear her talking different.  THEN... on Saturday or Sunday, she said "Mama" and sometimes says "mama mamamama mama"  She's also thrown a few "baba's" and "gaga's" in there.  She defintely likes her "a" vowel and is experimenting with volume levels (whispering 'dada' and using her tongue a lot more to form words).  She'll turn her tongue sideways to feel around in her mouth & kinda chew on it.  She's SO CUTE! :)

Another thing she's doing more, when she's hungry for baby food - she closes her mouth real tight (like she's sucking in her lips) and goes "mmmmm mmmm mmmmm" in this chanting tone. 

I need to start keeping better track of her new weekly tricks.  Oh, the week before last it was the hand clasp thing where she just kinda opens & closes her hand real fast like she's grabbing air.  We are teaching her sign language & it kinda looks like the sign for milk, but I know she's not signing back to us yet.

So - New Years is around the corner.  I'm not ready to say goodbye to 2009!  What a year....

Jan: our precious Rosie girl passed away - the saddest saddest day of my life!!!!

Feb: my first baby shower & 6 year anniv!

Mar: my 2nd baby shower & finished getting baby's room ready

April:  4/8 - best day of my life!  My sweet girl arrives (lots of other April bdays, including my 31st!)

May: my first Mother's day - baby starts smiling

June: Trip to CO to visit family - they got to see Aislynn for the first time

July: Return to work :( :( :(

Aug: our 6 yr wedding anniv (Aislynn starts laughing) - baby gets dedicated

Sept: trip to Canada for Aislynn to meet Canadian family 1st time

Oct: Peter/Travis visit - trip to Tampa for Misty's wedding - baby says "mama" - Michael's bday

Nov: baby's first Thanksgiving

Dec: baby starts to crawl - Tommy & fam visit - baby's first Christmas & starts to say dada & mama all the time. - we say goodbye to our awesome pastor & family :(

I'll post more pics & video later...

It's the MOST wonderful time of the year!

I LOVE Christmas time.  I love everything about the holiday, especially the meaning.  But I like all the other traditions too (stockings, santa, christmas trees, decorations, family, food, friends, cookies, parties, white elephant gifts!)  We haven't decorated like we normally do - but this year has just been so busy!  We did take Aislynn to see Santa for the first time - she did GREAT!  It's such a joy to watch her experience new things.  She's the best gift I could ask for - no others gifts required this year :)

My brother & his family will be flying into town next Monday, I can't wait to see them.  The entire GA blended-family-clan will be home for Christmas, so it will definitely be entertaining... man I still have so much shopping to do!
Christmas cards have been ordered - going in the mail soon... and for convenience, we created an electronic Christmas Card:

Make a Smilebox greeting

This last weekend, we heard the sad news that our WONDERFUL Pastor, Chuck Angel, and family will be moving to lead another church in TX.  Sunday, he shared from his heart, the unexpected calling God put in front of him - something that he is saying "YES" to.  I will miss him & his family terribly, but know it's all for the glory of God.  I can only imagine the amazing things that are in store for the church in TX.  So, this Christmas, will be especially hard to say goodbye (for now) to such a special family.  9 days till Christmas!!!

Aislynn: 8 months & creepin-crawlin!

Aislynn is 8 months today! I wish time would sloooooww down! Last Thursday, 12/3 I took the day off to get caught up on some housework (I know, pretty sad I had to use a vacation day for that), but it was so worth it. I loved playing with baby all day. For the past month, she's been rocking (really, since she was about 6 months) I got to watch her scoootch herself across the floor in her official first "crawl". I was so proud of her, but also a little sad b/c she's just growing so fast. So there she was on her blanket. I had some toys in front of her... She'd get up on her hands/knees and rock, rock, rock... then she'd push herself forward w/ her knees and use her elbows to pull herself, then she's pop up and she'd be a little further then she was. She kept doing this till she reached her toy. During the last few days, she's gotten even better - kind of inch-worm, army crawling. Just wait till she realizes she can really take off!
She's just so much more sturdy in general - when she sits, she balances really well - she's just starting to lower herself from a sitting to laying position. Other updates & new characteristics:
*6 mo was the birdy chirping (high pitch) & rocking...
*7 months + she started screetching & yelling again (playfully) just these high pitch squeeling noises, her voice got the loudest it ever has... to the point that it rattles.
*Full on hair pulling to the extreme :) and MAJOR signs of teething w/ pink cheeks & all
*She started wanting to hold her bottle more by herself
*She really gets to batting on things (like she's playing drums)
*She started sitting in her tub now, she doesn't like to recline as much
*We introduced "meats" into her menu... she doesn't mind them too bad (still doesn't like peas) but she eats her veggies a little better
*Tried the little fruit "puffs" and she gums them up like she's chewing
*Weight at 7 1/2 mo was about 16 lbs (I need to take her other measurements
*Still wears size 2 diapers, still wears a few 3-6 months onesies/dresses, 6mo, 6-9month for other clothing.
*moved to taking 4 bottles a day and eating solids 3 times a day at 7 1/2 months (she drinks about 6-6.5 oz of milk
*Even though at 6 mo she said "Baba" and "Mama", she stopped - and now is starting to make "bwah,buh" type repetitive sounds. She LOVES to talk and babbles constantly.
*She gets a kick out of dogs
*We started limiting the amount of TV she watches. Now usually just 15-30 mins a day broken up
*She spins herself in a circle by getting on knees and moving one hand over the other in side-ways motions
*Likes to bite (I mean attack) faces especially if she can bite on chins
*Still sucking fingers, still sleepin on tummy or side, still holding blanky over face
*Oh, and now she is all over the crib and likes to play or "roll" a little red spinny thing on her fisher-price sound & lights aquarium (attached to the crib)
*Won't stay put on the changing table, instantly flips as soon as it's time to switch out the diaper.
*Getting rosy cheeks from either dry skin or just from teething
*Hair is growing longer - still not enough to clip a bow in.
*First Crawl: 12/3/09 - almost 8 mo old! (still no teeth)
I do have video of the crawling that I'll post later. I can't believe Christmas is 17 days away! (It was just Thanksgiving!?) I need to get Christmas cards out the DOh'. I wanted to take Aislynn to get pictures with Santa too - How fun it's going to be! We still have to put up some decorations and get our stockings out. I wish I had more time to be creative b/c there are so many things I wanted to do this year (like make our Christmas cards, make us all matching stockings... not to mention the gifts I actually have to make!) ugh!

Anyway, it's weird b/c last year, this time, I was pregnant - 1/2 way there. I remember identifying with Mary b/c I thought "how could she go through this pregnancy, knowing the baby she would birth would be the son of God, ultimately giving his life for others?" This year, I identify with her in a new way b/c now I truly FEEL the amazing love you have as a mother, watching my child grow - wondering what's in store for her, wanting to be a good mom & raise her right. I think about what Mary felt knowing she was raising the SON OF GOD! a Prince! I know God loves my Aislynn as much as He loved Jesus and I feel an overwhelming responsibility to raise her like I was raising Jesus. I think about the scene from "The Passion" - where Mary is watching Jesus carry the cross... and how he stumbles... she's reminded of a time from when he was a little boy running, and stumbling... Every night, I thank God for my precious baby. Aside from God sacrificing his own son for me - Aislynn is the most amazing gift. Instead of being sad that she's growing so fast, I want just want to rejoice that my baby is on her way to becoming something amazing - someone that will bring light to others, and glory to God!
So, my busy week began with a productive day of cleaning on Sunday. Lots to do still in preparation for Christmas (as mentioned above). Friday we have a Christmas party for our church worship team (fun!) then this weekend I have to get our package ready for Canada. We're already behind schedule! I wish I could take the rest of the month off! We did hire a deck-contractor and HOPEFULLY he'll hurry up and start/finish by this weekend (although it's unlikely w/ this rainy weather).

Will post more pics/video soon! One thing I HAVE to remember is to take her hat off while traveling in the car... This weekend on the way home, she fell asleep and AGAIN her hat slipped down - lights out... so cute!

Aislynn 7 days old & 7 1/2 months old

Out like a light...

I forgot to post this funny picture.  A couple weeks ago, Michael and I ran out to Walmart.  We suspected that Aislynn fell asleep on the way, b/c her chatter stopped half-way there.  When we went to get her out of the backseat - this is what we saw. 

Right before we took the pictures, her fingers slipped out of her mouth... she was out like a light!!! (Or maybe she thought the lights were out?)   I felt so bad - her poor hat slipped down over her eyes - who knows for how long. But, given the fact that she always sleeps with something in front of her face - I think this is what made her fall asleep :)

New Look

I got tired of looking at the same blog template for the past year, so I'm playing around with some new "looks" - bare with me as I fumble through this.  On a side note, I can't believe Thanksgiving is NEXT weekend! I haven't even thought about Christmas shopping.  It's going to be a Charlie Brown Christmas with the new deck, termites (yes, we found termites last week), and trying to get other repairs on the house finished. 

My dear friend (and fellow preggo-new-mommy) Kaci helped me snap some cute pictures of Aislynn this weekend (coming soon).  Meanwhile, here she is on the way to church Sunday :)

This little piggy...

Happy Birthday to my sweet hubby & Aislynn's daddy!!! (10/30). Ais & Michael came to visit me for lunch Friday (Ais looking cute in her costume) Unfortunatly, I was sick, so Friday night consisted of us going grocery shoppin, then coming home & being lazay. We did try out Aislynn's new cart-mat (if that's what you call it) she had fun (the baby carrier is getting SO heavy).

Saturday, Aislynn dressed up as Piglet (or should I say, we dressed Aislynn up as Piglet) for her first Halloween (so stinkin cute)! We actually celebrated Michael's bday w/ the family that night. We had Papa Tom's famous potroast & noodles (yum!), the kids went trick-or-treating (Aislynn stayed in), and then we had cake and pie. Aislynn made daddy a painting of her hand, butt & foot prints for his birthday :)

It was nice finally getting an extra hour of sleep (since mommy & Aislynn were battling colds). Sunday, we stayed home - We all stayed in our jammies till the afternoon. After "breakfast" I changed the baby's diaper, cleared her nose, and put some chest rub on her. Right after, I couldn't find the cap to the chest rub? I looked everywhere, under the changing mat, on the floor - but then gave up thinking it fell & I'd just find it later. Later came - and Aislynn was playing in her exersaucer (which she LOVES). I was going to take a picture of her in it, and noticed something peculiar about her ankle. (see below) I laughed when I realized where the cap went!

Overall, it was a good weekend! AND, in 1 week, my precious bean will be 7 months old!!! I feel like I say that every time she turns a month older, but I just can't believe it. I put some of her 3m clothes away tonight (and even a few 3-6m) makes me sad every time. Pretty soon, she'll be crawling and then talking - Pretty soon, her little personality will blossom - she'll have her own talents and dislikes, she'll learn right from wrong, we'll have conversations.... and the little precious sweeeeet baby that I hold and cuddle in my arms today will be gone (or "grown"). Being a mom is so rewarding, and so hard. Sometimes I still can't believe she's mine. My prayer for her is always that she'll know how much I love her, how special she is - that she'll be compassionate, and be a light to others. I love you sweet bean.

boinky-boinky-boinky-chirp!

A couple recent videos - one from last week where Aislynn had fun "dancing" in her johnny-jump-up... the other is her starting to chirp when she turned 6 mo... I love my little dancing bird.

Many October Adventures!

October has been a busy month! The fam drove to Tampa a couple weeks ago. It was a combo business/personal trip. I had to go down 10/13-10/16 for training & 2 health fairs, then my step-sister Misty's wedding was that following weekend 10/18. It was Aislynn's first "road-trip" and she did great (thanks to a friend letting us borrow her portable car dvd player!). The 7 hour drive turned out to be a 9 hour drive with extra stops.

(Aislynn chillin w/ her stylish shades)

The work-week was fine (I was a tired mommy!) and then OF COURSE the weather had to get cold during the weekend, when we planned on going to the pool and beach! I was excited for Aislynn to wear the last of her summer dresses - but we ended up having to bundle her. We did get to visit an old co-worker of mine and her baby girl (born a week after Aislynn). It was fun to go through pregnancy together & then get a chance for the babies to meet. Aislynn liked her new friend, Naya (who has great hair and cute little bracelets). We also got to hang out w/ grandma & grandpa (which was a nice treat), and went to IHOP 3 mornings in a row (yum!). Misty's wedding was a nice end to the trip. We drove back Monday morning (right when the weather got warm again in Tampa)

(mommy, Aislynn, Naya & Pinal)

(hanging w/ the fam)

(Aislynn & Grandma - it had been 4 months since she saw her last)

(At Misty's Wedding)

We were SO glad to be back in ATL... the very next day, Peter & Travis flew in from Canada. Wednesday, we all went to World of Coke. Aislynn had her first trip there when she was 2 weeks old, and now returning at 6 1/2 months! We got lots of fun pics (Aislynn got to pick the Coke Polar Bear's nose) :) - we finished the afternoon at Stevie B's (mac n cheese pizza, yum!)

(@ World of Coke)

(My lil' Punkin' head)

Then the guys went to the Stryper concert & got to hang out w/ the band :) Thurs night, they went to the Thrashers game. We had breakfast at Cracker Barrell the next morning and then the guys flew back to Canada. This last weekend, was all about relaxing and trying to eat healthy again (although I'm not complaining about the IHOP, Stevie B's or Cracker Barrel).

(Michael & Peter w/ Michael Sweet from Stryper)

Michael's birthday is coming up 10/30 - no plans yet... Can't wait till this weekend when we get to dress Aislynn up as "Piglet" for Halloween. I can't believe Thanksgiving & Christmas are right around the corner - WHERE HAS THIS YEAR GONE? If I were smart, I'd start my Christmas shopping now and be done by Thanksgiving (but we all know I'm the queen of procrastination)

Baby updates: This month, Aislynn started rocking on her hands & knees - she also started kicking her left leg repeatedly (like an Irish river dancer) - She said "baba" and "mama", she sits up consistently now, she threw up for the first time (all over mommy - thanks to sipping on some bathwater) and I think we've established, she doesn't like peas! Oh, and she doesn't just put things in her mouth & bite them.. she ATTACKS things and gnaws on them - if she wasn't teething before, she DEFINITELY is now :) Her little bit of hair on top is getting longer (yay), she was called a "boy" twice while in Tampa (boo), she loves her johnny jump-up, and she's really entertained by Zeus! Can't wait to see what's in store for November! Videos to come soon

(bye for now!)

Homemade baby food!

I've been wanting to make my own babyfood and finally stopped by Whole Foods & got some organic apples, sweet potatoes, pears, avacado, & carrots. Sat night, I baked the sweet potatoes & apples, pureed them, mixed in a little rice cereal and voila! homemade organic babyfood! A little goes a long way too! I was proud of my ice-cube trays of food.

Today our church had a MASSIVE tailgate party... all the different small groups cooked out - Aislynn & I enjoyed the nice weather & all the yummy food. I gave Aislynn some of my homemade apples and it passed the test :) I love our church...

Now, for a couple of busy weeks back to back... I have training offsite, Mon & Tues, and then Wed morning (7:30 am) I have to take the test "QUANTITATIVE METHODS" NOT fun! Then, immediately after my test, I have to go straight to work for our Heatlh Fair.. ugh. THEN, the following week, we're driving down to Tampa (work, training & 2 health fairs) then we're staying for my step-sis' wedding. It'll be nice to see 'grandma' Hein and fam. So, it's gonna be a couple of busy weeks!

Aislynn will be 6 months next week!!! I'm in denial. My precious baby girl - I still miss her being all curled up inside of me, kicking & moving... life really is a vapor.

tummy time & sweet potatoes

Aislynn playing last weekend & then her first bit of sweet potatoes (she's getting the hang of the spoon thing)

Hello Fall! so nice to see you

Atlanta had some CRAZY rain last week - it flooded all over town, luckily we were okay except for a leak in our roof (one more thing to fix!) But, we count our blessings! Today, it finally felt like Fall - cooler - breezier - less humid! I've seen a few trees even starting to turn red. I love fall here!

Since Aislynn is 5 1/2 months, we wanted to "test" her on rice cereal once a week. She did great, her natural reaction was to "suck" the cereal off the spoon, but she enjoyed it. This week, we'll try 2 times a day - most of the food is actually staying in her mouth - so we're getting there. Tonight I mixed a little sweet potatoes in w/ her cereal... it was cute to see her figure out a new 'flavor' - but I will say most of the sweet potatoes ran down her face or ended up on her tray. Soon we'll try peas & carrots, apples, pears, bananas... yum

My little baby bean is getting BIG! She's weighing in at 14 lbs... some other tid-bits: wearing size 2 diapers - wears size 3-6 month with a couple size 3mo items still lingering - she flip flops & rolls all over the place - she constantly has both feet in her mouth - she "sings" and "talks" in a broader range (with a little voice cracking in between), she's pushing up on her hands all the way & popping up on her knees - she stands for longer periods and tries to sit up from a reclined position all the time. She can't quite sit up on her own - she still tilts to the side or front. She recently dropped her 6th feeding & eats about 4 -5 oz, 5 times a day. She still does her "raspberries" and blows bubbles a lot. Still sucking fingers & normally always rolls onto her tummy to sleep. She laughs & smiles at Zeus all the time - she smiles at people from church & is just a sweet happy baby. 6 months is approaching way too fast! 6 months! I remember thinking @ 3 months she was getting old.

Stealing the remote from daddy

bouncin' in her johnny-jump-up