11 months

Time is still flying.  Baby girl is still sweet as sugar. :)  The monthly photo is increasingly difficult to shoot since the winning combination of looking+smiling+bow in hair+sign in correct position+not falling of the couch is few and far between.

At eleven months, our girl is cutting all four of her front, top teeth.  She signs variations of more, please and all done.  She gives open mouth, slobbery sugars on command. She waves hi and bye bye.  Throws her arms up when told to do so or to call the Hogs. She jabbers and chatters and loves when her big bro jabbers and chatters back.  Then they both break out into giggles.  I'm convinced they are really having a conversation, knowing exactly what the other is saying, conspiring against me.  ;)

Apt 62

We made many memories in this apartment 62...

It's where we moved as a family of three and, after living for too long with only one bedroom, felt we had soooo much space.

It's where our firstborn took his first steps.

Where we learned of the blessing of baby #2...then learned that babe would bring all things PINK.

Where the big bro discovered he could exit his crib whenever he pleased and, ever since, we have been climbing an up-hill parenting battle that God has used to reveal much sin in our hearts and his grace that is greater than all our sin.

Where we experienced rich Indian culture and hospitality from our neighbors...and toys galore.

And greeted Mr. Bill to chat about the sunset that God made for us that evening.

Where we enjoyed many hot air balloons from our balcony.

It's where a big green tractor brought great joy and entertainment.

Where my boy and I spent many pool side mid mornings while baby girl was being knit together, we would play in the water then dry off with a snack.  Sweet boy was a perfect pool buddy and enjoyed him some snacks.

Where we brought home the sweetest baby girl, our family become a party of four, and after a few months once again found ourselves maxed out on space.

Moving can probably almost always be described as bitter-sweet; sadness about parting ways with the people and things (pool and tennis courts!), excitement about what lies ahead...(four bedrooms and a backyard!).  Maybe I'm too sentimental.  But, goodness, God has been kind to us.

Farewell, apartment 62 and, thanks for the memories!

10 months

There was a day when snapping this picture was quite easy...the only difficulty was keeping baby sis from falling over.  Now, well...

We have a bit more activity and I still cannot decide which picture to post. ;)

Baby girl is cruising, babbles bubba and dada, and is starting to climb.  There is a good chance that she thinks her name is sugar, sweet thing, baby sis, baby girl, or maybe Emz. 

7/31/13

Today was one of those days that I could just taste the goodness.  

I find myself saying almost one and almost three about my children's ages, then realizing how old that sounds, I immediately want to take it back and say 9 months and 2.  We ran some errands and went to lunch.  And, by we I mean the three of us...my two small kids and me.  I like to walk on the wild side.  This was noted by the nice man who walked by commenting about his son who is 14 and the mom sitting next to us with her son on what appeared to be a heading off to college last hurrah.   As we sat there enjoying our food and the really loud music, my too sweet for words baby girl started bobbing her head jamming out to the music.  Before I really knew what was happening we all three were having our own private dance party as if no one else were around.  No screaming.  No meltdowns.  Nothing broken.  Just smiles and laughter.   

There wasn't much special about this day...except eating Chipotle with free summer reading coupons oh and our fantastic realtor is on her way to our apartment with our very first house keys...

Onesie @ 9 months

So, originally, I was going to take Emma's monthly pictures in the same set of onesies ( long sleeves-white, pink, gray, brown) we have them in 3 mos and 9 mos so I thought it would work out nicely to record her growth.  Well, I sort of stuck with the onesie but it wasn't always the same style.  So far, we have done pretty well to get a pic on or near her b-day.  I think I've even gotten a monthly onesie pic...just maybe a few days or weeks late.  Silly, I know.  This may be the one reason I'm ready for the big one year birthday...the monthly pic pressure will be off. ;)

Here she is at 9 months...maybe a little closer to 10 haha.  (couldn't get a good pic or decide which was best.)

9

Sweet girl is nine months old!  

17 lbs 9.3 oz

28.3 inches

She is almost constantly in motion, seems to be on the fast track to walking, still adores her big bro, has the best laugh, chatters and squeals all day long, shows her temper when she does not approve of being removed from a toy or having it taken a way, and is made of pure sugar.  A new trick is crawling around driving trucks.

Going night-night.

Enjoying a cracker for the first time.

Posing, matching kiddos.

These two play so well together, most of the time, and have a mutual love of hiding under the table.

Driving her trucks.

Play.

Sweet eater.

Dragons

Thanks to the story of St. George and the Dragon, we have a couple of dragons who have taken up residence in our home.  A green one and a blue one.  Daddy and lil man have had many dragon slaying excursions and we are commonly warned that, "there is a terrible green dragon in your room."  At first, the green dragon was scary.  The blue dragon is a nice dragon.  One night when I went to tuck my boy in he said, "Hey blue dragon, my Mama is here, I'm gonna talk to you later."  Both dragons drive pick up trucks that are the same color as they are.  Tonight, I was told, "Mama, there is a green dragon in your room, but don't worry because he is my friend now, he will'nt hurt you."  There also seems to now be a blue snake, a green snake, and a frog.

Here's hoping we never actually have to have any of these critters as pets.