Happy Half Birthday!

Well - this time 6 months ago I was exhausted and on cloud 9. That's right - Baby K was born just 6 months ago....and it seems like it was just yesterday. I remember it all so vividly. Now she is a whopping 16 pounds, 6 ounces (thank you formula and cereal!) and 25.25 inches in length. I am quite thankful she was nowhere near this weight or length when she was born :) She loves playing with her toes, smiles and giggles all the time, rolls both ways, tripod sits and is very close to independently sitting, and wants to hold her bottle. She is about to embark on the adventure that is baby food. She loves Elmo and her little cow toy. She has such a unique, precious personality. And she is so unbelievably loved.

We also need to locate a flu shot for Baby K, as well as H1N1 shots for all 3 of us. That is definitely moving to the top of my to-do list come Monday morning: call the local health department and ask how we can get these shots stat!! Stay tuned for up to date pictures...including Baby K dressed as the cutest bumble bee there ever was on Halloween :)

Gangsta Girl, Cooking, and Extra Smiles

Before going on a walk

I was breaking the ritz crackers for Poppyseed Chicken and she wanted to help

My sweet baby girl with a giant bow on

Oh So Girly

Since Baby K has lost most of her hair on top over the past couple of weeks, I've been trying different sized bows. I was able to use little hair clippies for a while, but she doesn't even have enough hair for those anymore!! Here are some examples of a smaller bow...and then a bigger bow! All of my friends I grew up with give me a hard time because my mom used to put bows on me that were as big as my head. Well, looks like I am passing it down to the next generation :) It is rather cute though!! And doesn't she look like a big girl sitting in the corners of chairs?? Wow...she needs to slow it down! I can hardly believe she is already 5 1/2 months old - my, how time flies!! I snuggle with her and hug her and kiss her as much as I can now because I know the time will come where she doesn't want to be held and definitely won't want to be hugged or kissed - in public at least :) She is so very loved and we are so very blessed!!

Fall Is In the Air

Well it is officially fall. Time to stop wearing flip flops. Time to get out the long-sleeved shirts and fleeces (which, by the way, I am so excited to be able to fit into all of my clothes this winter - no maternity clothes for me!). Last weekend we went to Gentry's Farm, a local farm where you can pick your own pumpkin and they have tons of activities (hay rides, petting zoo, etc) for the kiddos. Obviously Baby K is a bit young for those things, but I cannot wait for her to be able to do them (so I can too!). It was a bit chilly, so we had to hurry - naturally, I forgot Baby K's jacket at home...oops! She loved looking at and touching the pumpkins on the ground. We ended up getting a pre-picked pumpkin because all the ones still in the "patch" were rotted because of all the rain we have had this season. It was so great to go as a little family and get our pumpkin. I want to go there as a family every year to get our pumpkin - very affordable, supports the local economy, and so fun! And once Baby K gets old enough to really want to play around, I know she will love it too.

Attempt at a family picture - Baby K was too excited about all those things on the ground...

I wanted her to explore those big orange blobs - she thought it was so neat!

Isn't she just adorable?? :)

Fall wreath is on the front door

Our family pumpkin, Baby K's little baby pumpking, and a mum...definitely fall!

House Divided

Last Saturday was the football game that is the biggest deal in our house - UT vs Auburn....Brad graduated from Tennessee and I graduated from Auburn. We went to the game in Auburn last year. This year, we had tickets and a hotel room, but since it was a night game, we decided it wasn't the best idea since Baby K is still kinda young. I was going to "wear her" to the game - she was going to go in the Baby Bjorn! Instead, we stayed home and ordered pizza for the game. We were unsure as to how the game would go considering both teams have new coaches. Needless to say I was a happy girl at the end - Auburn won!!! :) We were both dressed in our respective teams' colors and Baby K was split - she wore orange and white and had an Auburn bib with a UT burp cloth. I wonder who she will actually root for once she can make her own wardrobe choices??

Showing off her team spirit yet again

Sitting up to watch the game!

Love that sweet smile

Mommy teaching Baby K to say "War Eagle!!"

I guess she wasn't as interested in the game as we were :)

Light the Night Walk

Last Thursday night we did the Light the Night Walk benefiting the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Brad's company creates a team (though including the 3 of us, there were a whopping 4 people...) and we had participated last year. Last year it was nasty and rainy and cold - I was pregnant and tired and hungry. Needless to say it could only be better. This year it was perfect. The temperature was ideal. The sky was clear. There was a great crowd. It was great. This also hits a personal note because Brad's dad had Lymphoma prior to him passing away. Though the cancer was more or less gone, it was the drugs involved in his treatment that led to his condition worsening and organs failing. We like to raise money for this cause and participate in the walk each year as a small token of remembrance. It was a great night involving many lit up balloons and walking 1.75 miles. Here are some pictures of our night...enjoy!

Probably my favorite picture of me and Baby K since the first time I held her

Such a happy girl

Daddy and Sweet Pea

Family self-portrait...not too shabby!

Nashville's skyline

5 Months Old!

Really? Five months, already? Last Tuesday, Baby K turned 5 months old. I can hardly believe it. She is doing new things on an almost daily basis. She is growing like a weed. I weighed her on the scale last Tuesday (not very official, but gives a ballpark estimate) and she weighs roughly 13 lbs, 12 oz - she gained 2.5 lbs in a month! I guess eating cereal will do that...as well as having introduced formula. She is now doing about half breastmilk and half formula. I was worried that she was too small after her 4 month appointment so I made the decision to go on and introduce formula. She was exclusively breastfed for 4 months...primarily breastfed up until 4.5 months...and now I'd say she is 1/3 breastfed, 2/3 formula.

Baby K is trying to sit up - she will hold herself up for about 30 seconds when sitting in her Boppy pillow and will try to "tripod sit" on the floor. Also, when you hold her on her feet, she stands on your lap! She has not rolled over from her back to her belly yet, but that will happen soon enough I feel certain. She gets on her side and wiggles around - most of the time when we put her on her playmat, she spins in a circle from all of her side-rolling and squirming around! She loves playing in her Exersaucer - there are so many exciting toys to keep her entertained! Everytime I set her in it it seems like she stands up taller...I think it is about time to move it up a notch! She also loves to sit in her papasan chair and try to pull the little bunny down. She used to fall asleep immediately; instead, she now gets so excited to battle the bunny! She is talking up a storm and loves to play with her pacifier. Gosh - it seems like she was just a tiny little baby that would sleep all the time. She is now more alert and just trying to soak it all in. She is still sleeping great (usually about 10 hrs at night with a couple 2 hr naps during the day). She just recently has really started watching Sadie walk around and reach out to pet (aka pull her hair) her. I think Sadie will take any kind of attention she can get though! I also love that Baby K still loves to snuggle. She will fall asleep curled up on our chest still. She has started getting squirmy in our arms sometimes but still likes us to hold her. I am really soaking that in because I know soon she will want to be on the floor and going, going, going. When we hold her she wants to be sitting up - no laying down for her! She has such a great personality - very inquisitive, sweet, and funny. We love her bright blue eyes and cute little nose. I love going in in the morning to find her smiling at me. We love her so much and have enjoyed watching her learn and grow!!

Snuggle Bug & Others

Baby K sure is getting big! I was looking back at pictures of her during her first week home and good grief. I can certainly tell she is the same baby, but she is so much bigger! And she is doing so many new things every week. Every time I go to pick her up, I can also tell she is getting bigger - especially when she is in her carrier. I understand they have to be sturdy and safe, but you'd think they would find a way to make them a little lighter...and not so awkward to carry! Anyways, these are some pictures of Baby K over the past couple of weeks. She is such a happy baby and so fun! I look forward to every minute I spend with her...

Her shirt says High Maintenance...hm...

Snuggling/sleeping on Mommy's shoulder - I love that!

The ultimate "cheerio face"

First time in her Johnny Jumper - she loved it!

Riding Sadie like a horse...I am sure this is not the last time this will happen...and I think Sadie loved it!

Daddy Time