Pardon Our Progress...

Please excuse the lack of postings and frequent changes around here, I'm busy working on updating our blog. Things should be back to normal shortly. Check back soon and be sure to let me know what you think of our new look.

Gillian Grace is 7 months old!

Dear Gillian Grace,

When I first held you minutes after your birth I thought to myself, it just doesn't get any better than this.

Then later when you smiled at me for the first time and I felt my heart melt I thought to myself, it just doesn't get any better than this.

Then days passed and you began holding my finger when I fed you, reaching for my face when I cradled you, cooing when I sang to you, babbling while I bathed you, patting my knee when I sat near you, and I thought to myself, it just doesn't get any better than this.

But it does get better.

Each day with you is supremely better than the day before and a tease for all that lies ahead.

Happy 7 month birthday, lil' Gillybean!

I love you,
Mom











At 7 months GG is:

• Eating rice cereal with fruit for breakfast
• Consuming between 16 and 24 oz. of formula each day along with a fruit and vegetables at lunch and soon to be dinner
  
• Drinking applejuice and water
• Crawling
• Blowing raspberries
• Scrunching up her nose and squinting her eyes
  
• Sleeping 10 to 12 hours at night
  
• Napping twice a day
• Cruising in her walker
• Grabbing at any and every thing
• Gnawing on teething biscuits
• Sitting up unassisted
• Standing in her crib
• Pulling up on furniture
• Grabbing for faces and hands
• Babbling non-sense words
• Wearing size 12 month clothing and size three diapers
• Laughing all the time
• Smiling at strangers
• Allowing others to hold her
• Fascinated by other babies and children
• Entertained by her own reflection
• Splashing and thrashing in the tub
• Rolling over on her changing table (yikes)
  

P.S. Thanks for the adorable heart dress Mrs. Gatewood! XOXO

Meeska Mouska

M-I-C, See you real soon...K-E-Y, Why because we love you...M-O-U-S-E!

Things may have changed a bit since I first watched the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse but one thing remains the same, kids love it! Gillian Grace has had a fascination with the big eared one since she was a little more than two months old. There isn't a lot on television that can captivate and maintain GG's attention, but just hearing the melody of the Clubhouse jingle is enough to trigger a joyful reaction.



What makes you smile?

Holy Suds, Batman!

Stupid is...

Thinking the warning "High Efficiency detergent only" label on my washer was just a suggestion.



Stupid does...

Using regular detergent anyway.






We all laughed because...

At the end of a long hard day it just felt better than crying or getting mad. We laughed because Gillian Grace came tearing around the corner in her walker covered in the remnants of a teething biscuit and tried to eat the bubbles oozing from our washer. And we laughed because in spite of all the mess and the day to day ups and downs, we have a great life.

Mardi Gras, Mystics, and Moonpies...Oh My!

In the event that you should ever find yourself on Jeopardy hearing Alex Trebek read this answer, "Mardi Gras began in this city in 1703 when it was a colony of French soldiers" you will know the question...

"What is Mobile, Alabama!"

Yes, it's true. Though the infamous Crescent City to our west often claims ownership of Mardi Gras, it actually began here in Mobile some hundreds of years ago. Due to a little tiff between us Southerners and our neighboring states to the North, Mobile took a brief hiatus from the revelry. It was during that time that New Orleans continued with the festivities of Mardi Gras. Despite Union occupation of Mobile, Joseph Stillwell Cain revived the traditions of Mardi Gras in 1866. Thus, every year on the Sunday before Fat Tuesday, Mobilians celebrate Joe Cain Day, in honor of the man that brought Mardi Gras back to our Port City.

Mardi Gras in Mobile isn't just another holiday, it's a way of life. It arrives on the heels of the New Year's baby and its pageantry and traditions continue until the final float in the Order of Myths parade rolls to a halt, nearly a month and a half later. Mardi Gras in Mobile is much more than parades and moonpies. Unless you have a blood line tracing back to the ol' General Lee himself or a trust fund large enough to make Donald Trump envious, there's no breaking into some of the older Mystical Societies. But, alas there is still plenty of good times to be had for the rest of us. With parades every weekend leading up to Fat Tuesday and Mardi Gras Galas to attend (upon invite of course), you are guaranteed to have your fill of all things mystic.

As is the way with all good things, Mardi Gras has come to an end...at least until next year. Tomorrow begins Lent and our city will return to normal, people will be back at work, and the humdrum of life in a Southern town will resume, just at a little slower pace.

L'assaie bon temps rouler, y'all!

Let the good times roll!

Taking it all in...

Enough with the mask, already!

Throw me something, Mister!

Baby likes moonpies, moonpies, moonpies. Baby likes moonpies!

A float of my very own!

Oh goody, feathers!

Another Mobile Mardi Gras tradition, decorating your home.

We were definitely in the Mardi Gras spirit!

Silly Gilly

A few weeks back Gillian Grace discovered a new talent, blowing raspberries. I've been told by other Moms as well as our doctor that once she learns a new trick, she'll likely repeat it...often! And GG has definitely proven that to be true---she practices all the time! She loves blowing raspberries in the bath, while playing in her exersaucer, even while napping! But her favorite time to practice her new skill has to be during meal time.

Of course.

Gillian Grace thinks it's a hoot to blow a raspberry just as soon as she's received a mouthful of food. She giggles and smiles as she watches Mommy and Daddy frantically race to cover her mouth in a futile attempt to contain the mess. At six months, "no" clearly has little meaning because seconds after hearing those words leave my mouth, I'm covered in splatter... AGAIN! Now I've been sneezed on before while feeding her and that too can be messy. But unlike a raspberry a sneeze has warning signs. A raspberry comes from out of no where and its duration is hard to gauge. It could be short or a marathoner, guaranteed send every last bit of food flying. Have you ever tried getting sweet potatoes out of your hair? Not fun!

As you'll see in the video once GG gets going, she's a raspberry blowing machine. Standing beside her while she practices is a bit like sitting in the Shamu splash zone at Sea World. You are guaranteed to get wet!

My Funny Valentine

One adorable baby girl + One camera + Endless patience

=

A Memorable First Valentine's

The process to get this month's picture for our blog header went a little something like this...

Can I eat the heart?

Is it a hat?

Maybe I'll give the heart a hug.

Wearing my heart on my sleeve.

Peek-a-boo

Getting close...

Perfection!

Wishing you and those you love a very Happy Valentine's Day!

Snow Day

Schools are closed.

Government offices are shut down.

People were told to stay off the roads.

They said it would snow...

And it did!

Here in the South we don't see much of the white stuff and when we do it's truly a momentous occasion. Local news channels have been tracking this "Winter Storm" for days and this morning all regularly scheduled broadcasts were preempted by the local crews on location reporting about the eminent snowfall. We watched as the snow began north of us and then slowly continued southward. Here in Mobile, the snow began to fall around ten this morning and it was a sight to behold. I'm sure people in the Northeast will disagree, but for this Southern girl, there's just something magical about snow. Just about the time Bret pulled in the driveway from work, Gillian Grace (sensing the excitement in the air, I'm sure) awoke early from her morning nap. As a family, we bundled up and ventured outside with the snow still falling.

God is good...

The snow is just beginning...

Daddy's little snow bunny!

Mommy's little snow angel!

Brothers (and former students) Harris and Noah have a snowball fight in our front yard.

Special Delivery

Yesterday morning as we were finishing up with Gillian Grace's bath, the doorbell rang. I quickly wrapped GG up in her froggie hooded towel and boogied downstairs. Waiting for us were two ladies from our friend's local florist shoppe, Beckham's. Loving fresh flowers as much as I do, I couldn't get the door opened fast enough. With baby in hand, I ushered the ladies in and watched as they put not one, but two, arrangements on our dining room table. Even after three years of dating and seven years of marriage, Bret's thoughtfulness never ceases to amaze me. Not only did I have a beautiful arrangement of roses, but Gillian Grace also had her first ever arrangement---a beautiful pink rose surrounded by baby's breath and card addressed to, my baby girl. Awwww!

He's a keeper...

For me?

All mine!