Monday, May 26, 2014

Lots of Growing Up

We are serious about green beans.
Susannah had the pleasure of experiencing the most magical place in the entire world last weekend: Auburn, AL.  So very many notables took place in Auburn for both Pete and me, and I am so glad Susannah got to romp around town for a few days with us as we met up with old friends, recalled old memories, and got all gussied up to celebrate the marriage of two wonderful friends.  We were able to stay with the Northcutt family -- my favorite family in Auburn -- which made accommodations for Susannah much easier, seeing as they are grandparents and, thus, already had a pack-n-play, a bumbo, tons of toys, and most any other baby necessity.  They were even kind enough to babysit her while Pete and I attended the wedding, and apparently Susannah was happy as a lark the whole time we were gone!  This was a HUGE accomplishment, seeing as we most definitely have a mama's girl on our hands.  Susannah fell in love with Miss Melissa and Mr. Van within minutes of our stay.

While we were there, Susannah's first tooth came in!  And surprise, surprise, her second one came in on this past Saturday.  She now has two little white specks poking through her bottom-middle gums.  

Susannah has also slept without a swaddle during all of her naps since we got back in town!  She has done really well with the freedom and is almost ready to lose the swaddle for nighttimes, too.  Of course, after writing the previous sentence, she woke up way early and SO ANGRY from her nap, but I think that may have been more due to throbbing gums than too much freedom.

And now, two weeks in pictures:

Auburn

Toy wars with Bryce, 11-month-old son of Pete's old coworker Chad

Kacy drove from Birmingham for the day to meet Susannah!

Ashley and Crawford came down from Selma to meet Susannah, too!

Daddy snuggle time

Playing with my sweet friend Tiffany and her daughter Anderson

First golf cart experience with Van and Melissa Northcutt (and dog, Chip)!

Occasionally we have a reason to dress up.  

 Back Home

She looks so big!!

Flying with Daddy

Pete and Mini-Pete

Almost able to sit up on her own

Swinging after church yesterday
Gnawing on anything and everything, such as a head of lettuce.

No-swaddle sleeping = some interesting positions!
Next weekend our nieces Charis and Hannah are coming to visit!  They are so excited to be our little helpers with Susannah, and we are excited about being wild and crazy with them.  There will most definitely be picture documentation of all the mischief we get into!

Tuesday, May 13, 2014

Growing Girl


At our 6-month checkup last week, Susannah had some amazing stats:

48th percentile weight: 16 lbs
76th percentile length: 26 in
96th percentile head circumference: 44.5 cm  (whoa)

Those brains - wow!  Seriously, though, our Baby is smart.  For instance, now when she's trying to get our attention, she'll fake cry real loud, stop, and look at us to see if we're reacting.  She is also just about capable of removing her own diaper, as she quickly pulls off the tapes the second we get them in place on the changing table.  Oh, and she cries every time Obama comes on the television.  Smart girl.  

We had a great Mother's Day!  Pete, Susannah, and I headed to Richmond for the day on Saturday so that Brae and I could go out for lunch and a pedicure while Pete and Mike watched all the kids.  It was a really nice, relaxing afternoon.  Brae and I got home just after naptime (Pete and Mike had it so easy!) and spent the rest of the evening with the kids playing silly games, singing silly songs, and making silly faces.  Right before we were about to head back to Franklin, I stepped into the other room to gather up our things and this is what I heard: two babbling baby voices and 3 different hymns being sung simultaneously, each trying to be louder than the other two.  I couldn't help but take a second to listen as each of Mike and Brae's girls belted their respective song about Jesus while, of course, Uncle Petey tried to teach them how to turn breastpump parts into musical instruments (true story).  I love putting Susannah in the midst of that beautiful craziness!  Those girls love shouting praises to our God and desperately want whoever is near to notice their song and sing along.  Please, Lord, let our little girl choose to sing along one day. 

Lots of pics from this week!


Our stoic girl in her new shades.
 
She is such a movie star.

Watching Praise Baby with her legs crossed while I get dinner ready.  Those sneaky fingers are reaching for the iPad...
These girls LOVE Susannah!

Sus does not mind one bit being the center of attention.

Trying to get some giggles.

Baby holding baby

I finally got to snuggle with Nathanael!  

Susannah finds serious faces hilarious now.  So disciplining her later in life might be interesting.

This is why it's important to buckle your baby into her bouncer...

Just a little morning reading
She is officially a toe-sucker.

Further proof.
And some videos:







Oh, one more notable: one of our roosters, Pirate, is now in the refrigerator.  And I'll leave it at that...

Monday, May 5, 2014

Happy Half Birthday!


Susannah turned SIX MONTHS old yesterday!  Time sure is flying.  Lately, Susannah has figured out how to roll all the way around.  There for a while, she had finally learned how to roll from back to tummy but forgot how to roll tummy to back; which was unfortunate for her because she doesn't particularly love tummy time and would find herself stuck there.  Thankfully we've got it all worked out now.

ROOSTER UPDATE:  We indeed have 2 roosters.  The second one we had suspicions of sure enough crowed the day after I posted last week.  Pete found us a couple more hens -- who are already laying, so yes, we know they are girls for SURE -- before we cook (or sell...we'll see if they're lucky enough) the boys.  I will let all 6 of you readers out there know their fate as we continue on in this gender-reveal drama.

This week in pictures...


Wearing a shirt that belonged to me when I was her size

Someone is quite the Houdini... Pete captured this pic while I was out one afternoon and texted it to me -- hilarious!

Watching Sports Center with Daddy -- she's finally starting to chill out a little and will actually sit with you for a while!

Pete and Susannah got to spend some time with the Gilberts while I went to see Wicked with Figgy!

This is what we call the "Poop Position."  If Baby needs to have a movement, this will do the trick.

Two new things: her travel chair and lima beans!  She loves the limas; not so much love for the chair.

And some adorable giggles just for you in the video below.  Unfortunately, the camera angle doesn't get her face, but the sound is too cute for words.  If you listen closely at about 30 seconds, you'll hear another little noise that is a typical side-effect of Baby's giggling...