9 month checkup… and other stuff

I am so sorry it has been so long since I updated this thing, but with the holidays and my severe head cold I haven’t had much of a chance to blog. So where should I start.

Last Monday 11/22 Sam had her 9 month checkup and as usual her doctor said she is perfect! She weighs 22lbs 9oz (93%) is 29 1/2 inches long (96%) and her head is 47cm (off the charts!). She had to get the second part of her flu shot, but no immunizations until her 1st birthday, and is doing great!!!

The only concern her pedi has, is that her head is a little above average in size, so she just wants to keep a check on it. Sam's head circ, follows a normal trend, so they aren't terribly worried about it, but sometimes babies that have a sudden growth can indicate tumors, but it is unlikely since Sam is doing so well developmentally. We will go back the week after Christmas just to have her head size rechecked, and hopefully everything is fine and she just has an extra large brain in there, but any thoughts and prayers would be appreciated anyway. :)

I cannot believe how fast she is growing, and how many new things she is doing. She is now sleeping through the night every single night from 8:30pm-7am, and is taking two naps a day in her crib by herself. I didn’t know when it would happen, but after that first nap on her 9 month birthday she has stuck with it. She is trying more and more foods and loves whole wheat ritz crackers and cheddar cheese. She pulls up on everything, and had her first bad head bump last week. It wasn’t really serious, but it did leave a little bruise on her face, which healed and was replaced by a new bruise shortly after when she fell on the baby gate. I’m not ready for a toddling, head bumping baby! She has also started waving, especially to herself in the mirror, and claps on cue. She is just getting so big!

Speaking of exciting things, Patrick and I decided to pay off our car this month. We had 3 years left on our loan, but realized that we could be saving the 5% interest and decided to dip into our savings to cover the loan, and we will just build our emergency fund back up with the money we were paying on the car. We feel so relieved to not have to deal with that bill each month, and now the only debt we have is our mortgage!!!

Sam’s first Thanksgiving was amazing! We had so much fun visiting with our families. Thanksgiving day we went to Mamo’s and had an amazing lunch that she and Linda had prepared, and we all spent a lot of time playing with Sam in the floor . Mamo hasn’t been feeling well, and is having some kidney problems, but is feeling much better and we hope that she will continue to do well. In the afternoon we went to Granddad’s and Grandma Rosie's and spent some time with them and all of the other aunts and uncles on that side of Patrick’s family, and loved getting to catch up with them. Uncle Will brought his dachshund Shadow, who recently had back surgery, and we were so happy to see that he was back to running around and wagging his tail like usual. Friday, I went black Friday shopping with my mom and sister Sarah, and instead of driving to a huge city like we usually do, we stuck around my house, and it was awesome! We got what we needed, no pushing or shoving, and no wait!!! We didn’t wait for more than 5 minutes in a single line, not even at Wal-Mart, where last year I spent over an hour in line, with a very pregnant very numb belly and sore back! lol. Mom did really well, considering she is still recovering from her shoulder surgery and is still wearing a sling until at least mid December. On Saturday we had Thanksgiving at the Parris farm. My mom and dad went all out as usual, and everything was amazing. Everyone came, and we all enjoyed ourselves. We had so much fun watching the kiddos play, and I am really looking forward to Christmas with all of them this year. We got a pretty decent Christmas picture for their card this year, Sam is the only one not looking at the camera, but that’s ok, she’ll get the hang of things eventually. Sunday we spent the day with Patrick’s dad’s sister and Grandmother and it was really nice to get to visit with them for both of their birthdays along with Thanksgiving. Needless to say, we were really really busy!

11/25 VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

11/27 VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

On Tuesday 11/30 Sam went to see Santa at our local mall. She had seen him in Gatlinburg in September, but as I’m sure you remember the pictures she didn’t like him. This time was a totally different story! She sat in his lap, and looked a little scared but didn’t cry. Then when he started talking to her, she looked up at him so intently like she was really listening to what he had to say. I love the picture we got, and am so glad we went. Patrick had taken off work so that I could go to the doctor for my severe head cold, so he got to go and see Sam get her picture taken, and we spent the day cuddling and Christmas shopping. Thankfully, Sam did really well for Patrick and napped most of the time I was at the doctor, and played while I picked up my prescriptions. I am feeling much better, and am so glad that Patrick and Sam haven’t gotten sick.

Today I went and spent some time with my friend Linsie. We haven’t seen each other in a few months, because we live so far away, but we were in need of a date. Linsie found out on 11/17 that she is having a baby boy (Jerry), and we are so incredibly grateful that she and her baby are doing so well and are so healthy! I will be throwing her baby shower in February shortly after Sam’s birthday, and couldn’t be happier for my dear friend who has experienced so much loss, and is finally getting her miracle baby!!! We had a nice lunch at Chick fil a, where the staff was amazing (as soon as we walked one of the ladies went and got us a high chair, and taped down a place mat at a table for us to sit at, complimented Sam several times, and kept coming by to ask if we needed refills. Definitely the best service I’ve ever had at a fast food restaurant. lol), and then went for a shopping trip to Buy Buy Baby. We shopped for a couple of hours, Linsie found some stuff for Jerry, and I found a few things to put up for Sam’s birthday. It was such a nice visit and I can’t wait to do it again.

We have so many things coming up, and I feel like I will never have time to write about them all, but I am so thankful for all of the blessings in our lives. Just in the next few weeks we are making some home improvements, going to my nephew Brady’s first band concert, celebrating some friends birthdays, and most exciting of all spending our first Christmas morning at home with our precious baby girl!!! I will try to keep you all updated as much as possible, and I hope you enjoy hearing about our lives!

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Dear God,

Thank you so much for everything you do for us. Thank you so much for our happy, healthy, smart, beautiful baby girl. She is such a miracle and every time I look at her, I know that she is a blessing from you. Thank you for my amazing husband, who works so hard, and is so driven to do well so that he can provide for our family. Please help him to do well in his work, and in this upcoming spring semester as he goes back to graduate school. Thank you so much for our families and for the time we got to spend with them all this week. We are so blessed to have so much family, and we love them so much. Thank you for watching over me and helping me to feel better, and for letting Patrick be such a great father and allowing him to watch Sam for me this week. Thank you so much for the healthy baby that my friend is carrying, and please continue to watch over her and her son for the rest of their long and happy lives. Thank you for the new pregnancies of other friends of mine (especially T & S), and please help their babies grow strong and healthy so that they will get the chance to be the wonderful parents I know that they will be. Please continue to bless our lives, and watch over us in all that we do.Please continue to remind us that the reason for this beautiful season is your love for us, your son who was born and died for our sins and gives us everlasting life. I am so grateful for everything you have given us, and for the plans that lay ahead.

AMEN

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9 months old!

Can you believe it?! Sam is 9 months old today! She is getting so big, and doing more new things every day! In just one week she started clapping, pulling up on things, at first to her knees now all the way to her feet, she is eating her snacks by herself, and drinking from a Sippy cup, and today she tried her first table food. Not to mention that today was the very first time that she put herself to sleep in her crib for a nap, and it lasted a whole hour!!! I was such a proud momma! :) Before too long she will be my little girl instead of my baby girl. Who am I kidding, she will always be my baby, but you know what I mean. Now with only 92 days until her 1st birthday I am starting to get all weepy and nostalgic about her getting older. I just keep telling myself that each new stage is always my new favorite, and I am going to LOVE not having to buy formula anymore in a few months. lol.

Oh, and a little update. My mom's surgery went well on Monday. She was going in for a repair on a small tear in her shoulder and a bone spur, but ended up having to have the whole rotator cuff repaired also. She has been doing good, but today was the first day that she was in pain. I just hope that it will pass soon, and that she will recover quickly. I know she will do everything she can to get back to holding Samantha as soon as possible.  Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers, I really appreciate them!

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Dear God,

Thank you for everything that you do for us. Thank you for our beautiful, healthy, sweet, amazing baby girl. Thank you for making our family whole with her. Thank you for this wonderful life that you have made us responsible for, we love her so much and can’t believe how incredibly lucky we are. Please be with the families who aren’t so lucky. Please give them comfort and strength when their children are dealing with various ailments, and let them trust in you to take care of them. Thank you so much for taking care of us and for our wonderful families. Thank you for taking care of my mother during her surgery and for helping her to slow down and take time for herself so that she can recover. Thank you for watching over my sister and nephews last week when their house caught fire, and even though there were no smoke alarms, they woke up and got out and are ok. Thank you so much for all of the amazing miracles you perform each and every day, and even for being with us when the answer to our prayers is no. Please be with my friends who are having a tough time right now, who need a little extra guidance. Thank you for everything that you do for us, and all of the many blessings you have bestowed upon us in our every day lives.

AMEN

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Happy Halloween!

Just had to post a picture of Sam’s first time trick or treating! I was so proud of Patrick for making his own costume, including adorable hat! :) Also, my nephews came up to go with us, so I had to post their pictures too!  Brady bought his costume on the way up to our house, and Brandon borrowed an apron and Patrick’s Moe mask. :) We had a blast, and Brandon even decided to spend the night with us so we could watch movies! :)

Wendy (Me), Tinkerbell (Sam), and Peter Pan (Patrick)

Mario (Brady) & Moe the Bartender from The Simpson’s (Brandon)

Nanana & Dadada

That is what Sam is calling us!!! She jabbers all of the time, and if you say "hey" she will say it back, but  all of the sudden today I walked away from the cart in Wal-Mart, Patrick still standing with her, and she started screaming nana nana, I rushed back because 1) she was so loud and  2) I could tell she was calling for me. We said "are you saying mama?" and she said it again! Then we said "can you say dada" and she rattled off dada dada!!! Now whenever one of us leaves the room she calls for us. It happened just that quick! Of course I didn't have my camera at Wal-Mart, but I did get some video of her tonight!

 

Also, she started liking solid snacks on Friday and even got one in her mouth, Saturday she was eating them one after the other, and today she had several cubes of banana and a few yogurt melts. So we are officially on our way to self feeding! I know it takes a while, but this is the first time she has shown a real interest in it. :)

Oh, and we got Sam her very first tooth brush for her two little teeth, and she loved chewing on the bristles. lol.

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Dear God,

Thank you so much for everything you do for us. Thank you for our amazing and precious daughter who gives us so much joy each and every day.We can never thank you enough for the blessings you have given us!

AMEN

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Costumes for a cause:

Our Sunday school class held an event to help with a mission for an orphanage in Ghana. The Jesse Brooks Foundation was the specific one we are working with.  A girl in our class is a professional photographer and donated her time, and only requested a $20 donation per child for pictures of your little one in their Halloween costume. The event was a huge success and we raised enough money to support 2 orphans for an entire year! Not only that, but I got these great photos! Hope you enjoy them. :)

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Dear God,

Thank you so much for everything you do for us. Thank you for this great opportunity for us to contribute to a good cause. Please watch over all of the children in the world, and give us more opportunities to help those in need. Thank you for giving us the means to take care of our healthy, beautiful, amazing daughter, and please help us to help others and to teach her to help others as well.

AMEN

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8 months old!

Samantha turned 8 months old today, she is getting so big!!! It is amazing how much things have changed. We love her so much, and that love just grows more and more each day. She smiles and laughs at us so much, and hates when you take away a toy she is playing with. She is eating her puree’s and shows no interest in regular solids whatsoever. She now weighs 21lbs and is 29 inches long! We will find out more, including her percentiles, at next months checkup. Thankfully she does not have to have one this month which means no shots, except for the flu shot we will take her to get next week. We are spending more time playing and reading and singing with her than we ever got to before, because we have a great routine down, and she loves her routine. My baby is growing up so fast!

She has officially outgrown the sink bathtub and we are only using it for the purpose of taking her monthly pictures now. lol

 

 

 

 

She crawled two whole steps yesterday, and now today she is going after whatever she wants, specifically mail. lol. I just know she is going to be really crawling within the next month or so!

Sammie army crawling to get mail

Also, today we figured out that she loves to watch her daddy try to "juggle" her blocks. :)

Samantha laughing at Patrick while he attempts to juggle

We have also been taking her to the park pretty often and walking around the neighborhood everyday so that she can enjoy the weather while it is still nice.

Sam swinging at the park

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Dear God,

Thank you for everything that you do for us! You have blessed us so much, and we are so grateful. Thank you for giving us a beautiful HEALTHY daughter, who we love more and more each day. Thank you for giving us each other, and for the love that Patrick and I share. Thank you for our wonderful families and for the unconditional love that they give us. Thank you for watching over us, and reassuring us that things will work out they way they should, however that might be. Thank you so much for all that you do in our daily lives, and for loving us.

AMEN

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Our First Family Vacation!!!

I just want to start off by saying that we had a really great time. It was definitely a learning experience, but we enjoyed ourselves, and it was so exciting for us that Samantha got to see and do so many new things this week!

This picture was taken right before we left. 

Day One: September 22 (Our 3rd Wedding Anniversary) The Chattanooga Aquarium

Around 6:30 I got up and got a shower thinking that Samantha would be up any minute. When I got out and got ready I was expecting to have to run and get her and put everything on hold. Well, it didn’t happen. Lol. I got dressed, got most of the car packed, and had her bottle and cereal made and waited on her to wake up. Around 7:30 I heard a squeal from her bedroom and finally got our day started. The drive to Chattanooga is only a couple of hours from our house, so it really wasn’t bad at all, and Sam slept most of the way. We got to the Aquarium, Patrick bought tickets while I fed Sam in the car and we were ready to go. We really enjoyed the river side. Sam especially liked the leafy sea dragons, long neck turtles, and big silver fish in the tank with the sea turtle and sharks (mainly because they moved so fast). When we got done with the river side we walked down the street to a BBQ place we like to eat at called Sticky Fingers, had lunch, and went back to the Aquarium for the Ocean side. We had a small hiccup when we got to this part, but it all worked out. We stayed in the butterfly garden for a little while and enjoyed all of the gorgeous butterflies, I don’t know what Sam thought about them, but she seemed happy. Her favorite part of this side was definitely the penguin exhibit. They were barking and swimming and jumping in the water. She was captivated! We just had to buy her a penguin (his name is Perry) and a new penguin book. By the time we got down to the jellyfish, she was ready for a nap, and because it is so nice and dark down there, she fell asleep in the baby bjorn. We moved her to the stroller and walked through the caverns enjoying some “alone” time on our Anniversary. Afterward we went and got ice cream and ended up meeting the nicest couple along with their 7 month old baby girl Sophie, and got to compare some stats. It was really great to talk to another couple with a baby the same age and around the same size as Samantha.

 

Happy 3 year Wedding Anniversary!

Samantha with the Penguins!

After the Aquarium and ice cream, we went and checked into our hotel, and let Sam roll around on the king size bed for a little while. We had just decided that we were going to go get some pizza when I got a text from my friend Amanda, letting me know that Similac had just issued a recall on their formula. We had decided not to bring our laptop on vacation with us, because we didn’t want the distraction (I have a slight nesting addiction). So Patrick called his mom hoping that she would still be at work so that she could look up the lot number from our box of formula, but she was already leaving. She tried looking it up using her IPod, but unfortunately the website kept crashing because of all of the people trying to get on. She did find us a phone number though, so I called it. We figured that we would go ahead and go to dinner and I called the number and waited on hold. I thought that surely they would get to me before we got all the way back downtown and walked over to eat. NOPE. I waited on hold for 30 minutes. It could have been worse, but still. I sat on the phone on hold, worried about what I had been feeding Samantha all day and possibly all week. What a way to spend the first part of our Anniversary dinner. It turns out that both of the cans I had just purchased were part of the recall, and the lady from Similac told me that they would mail me two FedEx boxes so that I could send them the formula, or what was left of it, and they will send me a check for the inconvenience. I was really upset; the recall was issued because of possible beetle parts being in the formula after one of their plants had a bug infestation. EWWWWWW! I really hope that this is more of an err on the side of caution thing, and that I haven’t been feeding Sam bug parts. This was the first time since I stopped breastfeeding that I felt guilty about not doing it for longer. We ended up driving up the road and finding a Walgreens and I bought Sam a new canister of Enfamil formula. We had tried her on it before, but switched to Similac because it was so much cheaper. Now that we are back in town we will try the Target brand Up&Up and see how she does on that. I’m not sure that we will switch back to Similac after this. I know it could have happened to anyone, but I’m leery to use a product that it took a week for them to take off of the shelves.

Sam with her new best friend Perry the Penguin

After a long and crazy day, we decided to let Sam sleep with us. Unfortunately I didn’t get much sleep, because little roly poly and her daddy took up most of the bed, but at least they were comfy and slept well. It was almost exactly how I wanted to spend our Anniversary, and as long as I was with my two favorite people I was happy! Happy Anniversary Patrick!:)

Day 2: 9/23 The Chattanooga Zoo

Samantha was up pretty early, which is good because it gave us a chance to get up, get ready, go eat our complimentary breakfast (I love Hampton Inns!) and pack up the car all a couple of hours before checkout time. We drove over to the Chattanooga Zoo, which we almost missed because from the road it doesn’t look like a zoo at all. I am used to the Birmingham Zoo, which is pretty large and takes several hours to get around and see all of the exhibits. We went in, used our membership cards for the Bham zoo and got in for half price, and of course Sam was free. :) Walking in, I was prepared to be disappointed, it seemed really small. However, I was pleasantly surprised. As we walked back we saw the Chimpanzee exhibit. Oh my goodness!!! I had never seen animals at the zoo this close, with the exception of the giraffes and a camel. Sam loved seeing the chimps and we stayed and watched them clean each other for a while. Then we got over to the Jaguar exhibit. Again I hadn’t seen many animals this close. It was amazing. The cats kept pacing back and forth, and one even got in the water and laid down. It was so neat! The rest of the zoo was very nice, and we felt like we had gotten our money’s worth just with those two amazing exhibits, and even though it just took an hour to go through the whole zoo it was nice to be able to go do something fun before we had to get back on the road to head to Gatlinburg.

 Sam and the Chimpanzees

Me and Sam sitting next to the Jaguar

When we got to Gatlinburg we went and checked into our hotel, we had never stayed there before but really enjoyed the location, the view, and the rooms were pretty nice too. We unpacked and let Samantha roll around on the bed for a bit, and then headed out to get some dinner at Bubba Gumps and picked up a couple of donuts from the best donut shop in “The Village” for breakfast the next morning. We looked around a little bit, but decided it would be best to go back to the room for the night. Samantha actually slept in the pack n play all night, and gave me the sleep I needed to be refreshed for the next day.

Day 3: 9/24 Gatlinburg & visiting with friends

We got up early with Samantha, but just relaxed and enjoyed our morning. We went and shopped on the main street for a bit, then went back to the hotel to let Sam take a good nap with me. Our friend Sara lives about an hour away from where we were staying so she came and visited with her girls. Her daughter Madison is almost 4, and her daughter Tabitha (who I hadn’t met) just turned a year old. We haven’t seen each other in a couple of years so it was great to get to visit, and let our daughters have a little play date. We went out to lunch, and then walked around outside for a bit, and then went back to the hotel for a while to continue to let the girls play. After they left, we went back out to the Village and shopped a little more, and went to dinner in Pigeon Forge at the Apple Barn. It was a good but hot and tiring day.

 

   Me & Sara and our girls

  Family picture!

Day 4: The Christmas place and heading home

Saturday morning we got up when Sam did, as usual around 7. We all got ready and got packed up, and headed to Pigeon Forge to do some outlet shopping. We got a few things for Sam, and some shoes for Patrick and headed to the Christmas Place. I love this place! It just screams happiness with lights. :) We got 5 Christmas ornaments for ourselves, and some presents for a few other people. The best thing is that they had a Santa Claus so we let Sam go sit with him. She was doing great, until she realized that I was taking pictures instead of holding her, and lost it! The pictures were cute, but I felt so bad. I am hoping that with this trial run that when it comes time to go visit Santa at Christmas time in a pretty little Christmas dress, that she will be her happy little self, and we will get some good pictures. Afterward, it was time for some lunch and the long drive home.

Sam with Santa

The first two and a half hours of our trip home, Sam slept so hard that she snored. When she woke up, she was pretty happy. I sat in the back seat the entire way home so that if she started getting fussy I could try to entertain her to keep her calm. It worked for a little while, but she needed a break, so we got out and grabbed a bite to eat, gave her a bottle and some veggies and a chance to move around freely. We only took about a thirty minute break because we didn’t want to get home too late, but in retrospect, we probably should have given her a little more time to not be in the car seat. Another hour on the road and she was unhappy, but not screaming or crying. I kept singing every nursery rhyme, church hymn, and Christmas song I could, along with lots and lots of clapping. About 45 minutes away from home, she became inconsolable! L We pulled over to get some gas, change her diaper, and just let her move around for a few minutes. I held her and bounced her and played, but we had to get back on the road. It was awful, she screamed, and cried, and scratched, and kicked for the next 30 minutes. She was fighting sleep, and even though her eyes were shut the whole time, she wouldn’t give in. My poor baby! When we got home, I pulled her out of the car, Patrick went and changed her, I got her a bottle and she was OUT for the night. I put her down in her crib, and it was official, we had survived our first family vacation, even though just barely for the last half hour.

Entertaining Sam with her glow worm

Overall, we had an absolutely amazing time. We enjoyed our time together as a family, and Samantha got to do see and do so many things for the very first time! We were so thankful to get to take this time together, and are looking forward to our next vacation, and are hoping that next time we won’t have as many hiccups. However, if we do, as long as we are together, nothing else matters. :)

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Dear God,

Thank you so much for everything that you do for us. Thank you for letting us celebrate so many amazing things this week. Thank you for letting us go to my old church’s 50^th anniversary celebration last weekend, and for letting so many of my old church family finally meet our precious daughter. Thank you for allowing my old pastor bless Samantha at communion. It meant so much to me, that one of the most spiritually influential people I know was there and was able to bless her for you. Thank you for giving Patrick and I such a wonderful relationship and marriage, and for letting us celebrate our 10 year dating anniversary and our 3 year wedding anniversary this week. Thank you so much for reminding us that because of your love, and ours, we have our daughter who we care for more than we ever thought possible. Thank you for allowing us to take this vacation and for giving us 5 wonderful days together to do what we wanted to, and helping us to escape from the craziness that can envelop us in our everyday lives sometimes. Thank you so much for our amazing families and friends, and for their love and support. Thank you!

AMEN

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TEETH!

As some of you may know, Sam has been a very cranky little girl the last couple of days. Well all of that crankiness was due to cutting her first tooth, well teeth actually. She had two break through today! My baby is growing up!!!! Ofcourse she isn't done yet, they still have to come all the way through, and she has a whole mouth to fill up with these little pearly whites, but I was such a proud momma today! :)
This is the best picture we could get, I had to hold her lip with one hand and hold her tongue back with the other, while Patrick snapped the picture. lol

ABC's of me

I saw this on a blog that I follow and thought I would enjoy filling it out. :)

A is for AGE - 26
B is for BED SIZE - Queen
C is for CHORE YOU HATE - cleaning the bathroom
D is for DOG'S NAME - Don't have one, but the last one I had was Princess
E is for ESSENTIAL "START YOUR DAY" ITEM - Sammie, she is my little alarm clock
F is for FAVORITE COLOR(S) - Pink and green
G is for GOLD OR SILVER - Silver
H is for HEIGHT - 5'7"
I is for INSTRUMENTS YOU PLAY - I played flute and piccolo in middle and high school
J is for JOB TITLE - Stay at home Mom
K is for KIDS - Samantha Noel
L is for LIVING ARRANGEMENTS - Bought our first house in September of 2009
M is for MOTHER'S NAME - Sheila
N is for NICKNAMES - Stef, Stetnie, Nie
O is for OVERNIGHT HOSPITAL STAYS OTHER THAN BIRTH - Just to give birth to Sam
P is for PET PEEVES - Liars, I absolutely hate being lied to.
Q is for QUOTE FROM A MOVIE - "It's a girl dragon" Shrek
R is for RIGHT HANDED OR LEFT HANDED - Right
S is for SECRET CRUSH - John Krasinski (Jim from the office, I love geeky funny guys)
T is for TIME YOU WAKE UP - Whenever Sam does, typically around 6
U is for UNDERWEAR - Lane Bryant
V is for VEGETABLES YOU DISLIKE - Brussel sprouts & turnip greens
W is for WORKOUT STYLE - Ugh, gotta get back to this, just started back on my diet
X is for X-RAYS YOU'VE HAD - Sinus (sinus infections suck), ankle (just twisted), back (threw it out)
Y is for YESTERDAY'S BEST MOMENT - Spending time with my family, giving Sam her first bath in the big tub
Z is for ZOO FAVORITE - Giraffes & Sea Lions

Now, if you read this, you have to do it on your blog!

Tag, you're it!

I've been tagged with a survey by my friend Stacey @ You+Me=Three

So, here it goes....

1. What's your favorite dessert? (Feel free to provide the receipe!)I love chocolate chip cookies. I make them from the recipe on the Nestle bag, and use my stand mixer. I haven't made any since I got pregnant with Sam, but plan on doing so for the holidays when I have Patrick home to watch her. :)

2. Coffee or tea? Sweet tea

3. What's your favorite movie? I have so many, but I have to watch The Wedding Singer every time it comes on tv.

4. What did you want to be when you grew up? Or, what do you want to be when you grow up? I wanted to be a mommy, I know it sounds lame, and I don't really have any "career goals" right now, but I really am doing what I have always wanted to do. As for a career, we will see what God has in store for me after my kids get in school. :)

5. Do you have any special holiday traditions? Not really, my mom still puts up her Christmas tree in October. :)

6. If you had the time to plan the menu for the last meal of your life, what would it be? It would be a tie between Thanksgiving dinner made by my mother, or a steak salad and baked potato at a hole in the wall restaurant called Romas in Jacksonville, I craved it the entire time I was pg but haven't had it in a couple of years.

7. What's your favorite book? The Oak Inside the Acorn, it's a children's book that my mom gave me when I got married. I get choked up every time I read it with Samantha. It is all about God's purpose for your life, and being the best you can be.

8. Do you have a hidden talent? I can tie a cherry stem in a knot with my tongue.

Stacey's other Questions:

1. If you could travel to anywhere in the world, where would you go? I would love to visit Ireland some day.

2. Which do you like better, cooking or baking? Baking, definitely baking.

3. What type of music do you listen to? All kinds, but my favorite is alternative rock

4. What's your favorite holiday? Christmas of course

5. Are you an introvert or an extrovert? introvert, in social situations I smile a lot, because that's what I do when I get nervous. lol

6. Are you excited for fall? If so, what do you love most about the season? I can't wait! I am so excited for mine and Patrick's anniversaries (10 years together, 3 years married), I love the leaves and smells of fall, I'm looking forward to Sam's first Halloween, pumpkin patch, and Thanksgiving too! :)

7. What websites do you frequent most often? Gmail, googlecalendar, facebook, gp & gpmoms on the nest, blogger, and our financial institutions for budgeting.

8. What is your favorite childhood memory? I remember going to my grandmothers house and I used to play school with my cousin. We even had some english text books and teachers editions so we would grade each others papers. lol. I love you Brandi!

Have fun!

7 months old

I can hardly believe my precious angel is 7 months old! She is so happy, sweet, and beautiful, and we are so grateful that she is so healthy and personable! We love her so much, and love seeing her grow. This month she has mastered rolling over from her belly to her back and back over to her belly again, she has moved on from stage one foods to stage two foods, is taking baths in the regular tub (now that she can sit up very well unassisted), and is now feeding 5 times a day, sleeping through the night from 7:30-6, and taking 3 naps during the day. It is amazing how much she has grown up, and how much things have changed in just the last few months. I am officially done breastfeeding, I could no longer keep up with my little peanut's appetite, and she is doing really well on formula, so I am trying not to be too upset about it. I made it past my 6 month goal, and am happy about that, and know that I have done the best I could have done for as long as I could.

We have been visiting a lot with family and friends lately, and I haven't had much time for blogging, but hope that I will get better at keeping this updated, at least once a week is my goal. We are planning our 3 year wedding anniversary/1st family vacation soon, and I will definitely have to post pictures and update you on that when we get back. Well I guess that is all for now.






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Dear God,
Thank you so much for everything that you do for us. Thank you so much for our healthy, amazing, precious baby girl and for all that you allow us to do with her. Thank you for helping her to grow into a special child, and for letting us love her so unconditionally. Thank you for allowing me to stay at home with her, and for giving Patrick an amazing job that helps us afford this life for ourselves and especially for our daughter. Please help us to share these gifts with others, not just our friends and family. Please continue to help us grow as a family, and grow in our faith. Thank you for the birth of our friends twin daughters, and thank you for their good health even thought they were born so early. We are so grateful for all of the children that you have created and hope that they all have the love that you have given us. Please continue to bless our other friend with the good news that her baby is continuing to grow so that she may feel our joy in just a matter of months. Please watch over my nephews, especially Jakob. I know that you are with him always, and I have faith that you are taking care of him, even when no one else is. Please help my sister to find you in her heart and realize that she is loved, and always has been, and I hope that one day she will turn her life around when she realizes that she has you, and that because you love her she has everything. Thank you again for all that you do for us, and all that you have blessed our lives with. Please continue to show your love through our lives and to help those around us.
AMEN
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