Charis and Hannah came this weekend, and we had oh-so much fun with them! Pops was able to get away for the weekend, too; he picked the girls up in Richmond to bring them to us and stayed for Friday and Saturday. We were so glad to have all three of them! Susannah LOVES those girls so much; she watched Charis in awe in everything that she did and laughed hysterically each time Hannah even looked her direction. I will let this weekend's pictures (there are a lot) tell about all the fun that was had, but first here are our favorite quotes from the weekend:
"Aunt Sally, you and Uncle Petey boss us around more than Pop." -Charis
After Pete praised Hannah for finishing her dinner: "Uncle Petey, have I ever steered you wrong?"
"I don't want the fan...I don't want anything! I just want Hannah!" -Charis, after Hannah decided she wanted to take a nap in a different room
"Wow, it's been a long time since Uncle Petey mowed the grass..." -Charis
Charis: "Uncle Petey, I just want you, Aunt Sally, Mommy, and Daddy." Pete: "What do you mean, Charis?" Charis: "Well, to live together!"
"When a chicken is laying in her nest to lay her egg, she needs some privacy." -Hannah
(whispering) "I love sugar so much. Sometimes at home, I sneak downstairs, and find the sugar bowl, and just eat a big ole scoop of it! But Mommy doesn't know that..." -Charis (sorry, secret's out...)
The girls "camped out" in the tent in our sunroom both nights and got to watch a movie in there the first night.
Looking for eggs!
Our Saturday morning tea party:
All dressed up! Our friend Ainsley came over for the party, too.
Part of the spread. I sure am glad the girls didn't mind drinking tea from mugs, seeing as I don't have a tea set. And the girls and I picked the flowers on our walk that morning!
Sweets and munchies BEFORE lunch?! Yes, please!
The party moved outside for bubble-blowing (and chasing).
One day Charis will ask me why she chose this outfit...
The little fairy princess
Susannah slept through the big girl party, but had her own little tea party when she woke up! (Pictured with Miss Angie who joined us for the tea party)
I've decided she should wear pearls everyday.
River Fun:
Susannah looks just like Pete; Pete looks just like Pops; and whadya know, Susannah looks just like Pops.
Silly girl!
Susannah helping Pops choose the right lure
Her first fish interaction
Giving each other's feet mud baths
Winding down after a wild time at the river. Susannah was scratching Hannah's leg, and Hannah thought it was the coolest thing.
Last bit of fun:
Sunday selfie!
Mustaches after church! These were anticlimactic. We were all SO excited about them, but for some reason once they were on, no one loved them. Hannie was the only one who would smile for the camea...haha
The weekend was topped off with a Sunday afternoon picnic and a Sunday afternoon nap that we all enjoyed:
Pete then met Mike halfway to return the little girlies and life slowed back down a little bit. But today, I'm discovering I rather liked the pace we had going this weekend and am so looking forward to what the future holds as our family continues to grow (no, not yet...don't you go assuming things.).
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!
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...
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...
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