Sitting Pretty

Over the past couple of weeks, Baby K has really been wanting to sit up. Every time I lay her down on the floor, she pulls her head up as if she wants to sit instead. I happened to have my camera nearby (imagine that!) the first time she did it, so here are the pictures. Now, she loves to sit up and is working on holding her hands out in front of her to support her weight. Not too much longer and she'll be sitting all by herself!! Such a big baby girl :)

Fun Firsts in Phoenix

As mentioned previously, I am quite behind in my blogging. A few weeks ago, we went to Phoenix for the first time since Baby K was born. She did great on the plane rides - in fact, when we landed in Phoenix, the people around us commented that they did not even know we had a baby with us! That is exactly how I had hoped it would be. While there, we relaxed, went swimming, drove up to Sedona for the day, went to a baseball game, and just had fun! Both of my stepsisters have little ones, so that meant we did not have to take any baby gear with us! They had it all there and set up when we got there....it was great!!! We can't wait to go back to see everyone - it was so fun. The last night we were there, all the grandkids were over swimming. While it was chaotic, it was so fun! We swam and ate pizza and got to visit. Here are some pictures from our visit. Everytime I go out there it seems like I arrive and blink and it's time to leave!

Family pic at the Arizona Diamondbacks game

Baby K preparing for her first swim

Family pic in the pool for Baby K's first swim (she LOVED it!)

I loved how she was staring out the window at the red rocks as we drove into Sedona...she was trying to figure out what all that stuff was! It definitely looks different than the landscape in Tennessee...

Family pic in Sedona - we arrived shortly after a flash flood that flooded a low-lying arts district...thank goodness we weren't there for it!

I've Got Spirit, How 'Bout You!

I guess Baby K is one confused baby during football season! Here she is sporting all of her team gear. I went to Auburn, so she had to sport her Auburn gear for the first weekend of football season (also, Brad was at the UT game, so he didn't have a say as to what she wore)! The following Thursday, she supported the Miami Hurricanes - Papa went there and is a huge fan. Actually, the university sent a teddy bear and that onesie to her when she was born...it says "Class of 2031" because that will be her graduating year from college (isn't that a scary thought!). Pretty neat idea, I think! Last but not least, she cheered on the Vols last weekend when they played Florida. It was Brad's 30th birthday, so of course she had to support his team. For both Auburn and Tennessee, she has a onesie, bib, burp cloth, and hair clippy. She is quite the super-fan! Next weekend is the Auburn vs UT game...I wonder what she will be wearing...maybe she will support one team the first half and the other team the second half. She loves sitting in Brad's lap or in her papasan chair and watching football....that's our girl!

Tasty Toes

Sweet Pea has done...she has started gnawing on her little toes. She really found her feet when we were in Phoenix and this morning, she started sucking/chewing (ok, gumming) her toes! How ironic it is that I bought her first pair of shoes today - sure enough, when I put them on her, she chewed on them! I figured since it is officially fall, she needed some shoes to be able to wear.

In other news - holy moly...Baby K will be 5 months old next week...really?? I told her yesterday she can't keep growing at this rate. We will see if she listens :)

I have tons of pictures and posts to do, but I am currently prepping for a garage sale this weekend. After that, I will play catch up for sure. For now, this picture of Sweet Pea looking oh-so-bored in her swing will have to do :)

If Today Was Your Last Day

So I typically listen to music because the general sound of it is good or entertaining or fun. There are seldom songs that I actually listen to each word or that really make me think - a lot of time it is just background noise. But everytime I hear this song, it really makes me start to think, so I thought I would post the lyrics to Nickelback's "If Today Was Your Last Day"...

My best friend gave me the best advice
He said each day's a gift and not a given right
Leave no stone unturned, leave your fears behind
And try to take the path less traveled by
That first step you take is the longest stride

If today was your last day
And tomorrow was too late
Could you say goodbye to yesterday?
Would you live each moment like it's your last?
Leave old pictures in the past
Donate every dime you have?
If today was your last day

Against the grain should be a way of life
What's worth the prize is always worth the fight
Every second counts 'cause there's no second try
So live like you'll never live it twice
Don't take the free ride in your own life

If today was your last day
And tomorrow was too late
Could you say goodbye to yesterday?
Would you live each moment like your last?
Leave old pictures in the past
Donate every dime you have?
Reminisce old memories
Would you forgive your enemies?
Would you find that one you're dreamin' of?
Swear up and down to God above
That you'd finally fall in love
If today was your last day

If today was your last day
Would you make your mark by mending a broken heart?
You know it's never too late to shoot for the stars
Regardless of who you are
So do whatever it takes
'Cause you can't rewind a moment in this life
Let nothin' stand in your way
Cause the hands of time are never on your side

If today was your last day
and tomorrow was too late
Could you say goodbye to yesterday?
Would you live each moment like your last?
Leave old pictures in the past
Donate every dime you have?
Would you call old friends you never see?
Reminisce old memories
Would you forgive your enemies?
Would you find that one you're dreamin' of?
Swear up and down to God above
That you'd finally fall in love
If today was your last day

The Best Medicine...

We found out that Baby K thinks a quacking noise is hilarious...here's a video of her laughing at Brad making that quack noise. After watching this a few times, I am definitely convinced that laughter really is the best medicine...

Baby K's First Cereal

About a week ago we started feeding Baby K her cereal with a spoon...in a highchair...I can hardly believe it. Each day she does much better with it - she even opens her mouth for the spoon! This video is from her first time in her highchair (which she loves to sit in and play) and eating cereal. You will also notice that she is a ham in front of the camera....wonder where she gets that from!! :) Enjoy!

Exersaucer Fun

After playing in a friend's exersaucer, we decided Baby K would love to play in her own, so Brad put it together about a week and a half ago. She loved it!! There are so many exciting toys to play with that she couldn't decide what to focus on first. Some of the toys on there also require batteries (sidenote: we go through the batteries VERY fast now with the papasan chair, swing, playmat, and now this!...and I know it's just the beginning!) which means they play music and light up. I think her favorite toy on there is a play cell phone that has keys attached to chew on - since she is so short in there right now, it is easy for her to get to and fun to chew on! Thanks to Aunt Anne and Uncle Bubba for such a fun toy!! Here are some pictures of her first experience in the exersaucer...

5K Fun

Last weekend, my friend Kara, me, and our kiddos did a 5K! We decided that we were going to try to do one each month and possibly even try to do the half marathon (walking most of the way, of course) in April. We will see if that happens...13 miles is a long way! Anyway, we got up and met at the race site bright and early. And yay for us - we weren't last!! I must admit that I was sore...from walking/jogging DOWNhill...not uphill. Weird. The neighborhood where it was held is very hilly...whenever I've driven through, I always think to myself, "This would suck to walk or run"...yep, I did it! Here are a few pictures (of course) of our fun!

Me & Baby K...and the wonderful jogger!

Kara and her sweet boy

We made it! This was just after we crossed the finish line.

Trying to Get Caught Up

Well I finally uploaded pictures from my camera to my laptop - all 137 of them! Whoa! There were some big moments in there, and I have learned that in order to get the best picture, you have to take lots to increase the odds :) Anyways, over the next couple of days I will get caught up with my posts, but here are some cutie-patootie pictures of our sweet baby girl!!

More Firsts...

Well after we learned what we should be doing from Baby K's doctor, I tried to put it in action today...

1) We were instructed to begin giving her baby vitamins, so I did. They are quite possibly the worst smelling thing ever. Think of an adult vitamin and that "fragrance" they have. Then imagine it in liquid form. Sick. Baby K did pretty well with it - I could tell she wasn't a big fan, but I think she liked it better than I did. The nastiest part is the burp or spitup that comes after having the vitamins. Yuck.

2) Instead of putting cereal in a bottle, the doctor suggested we solely spoon-feed. That way she learns what muscles to use to eat that way, which is obviously much different than sucking (like from a bottle). She did well, all things considered. She definitely pushed a lot out, but I do think she was able to actually swallow some of it. We are to do that once a day until she seems to get the hang of it and then begin twice a day. Once she gets used to that, we are to double the amount she eats in one sitting (1 tbsp to 2 tbsp cereal mixed w/ breast milk). I took a video of part of the experience ... now I just need to figure out how to get it on here!

3) Because she was spoon-fed, it was also her first time to sit in a high chair. She looked like such a big girl sitting there! I am glad I got the kind that sits in our kitchen chairs. It is neat because it also has 3 positions, which means it can recline for the smaller babies. I had her in the 2nd position to eat and then when she was done, I let her recline in the 3rd position to let what she did swallow settle a little. And yes, I did take pictures which will come at a later time!! :)