9 Months Old

Ansley,

Since we brought you home just nine months ago, you have changed in ways that I could have never imagined. I used to try to picture you at this age, wondering what you would be doing. I still try to imagine what you will look like with hair, what you will be like as a two year old, if you will like doing girly things and wearing dresses or if you will rather be in jeans and working with Daddy. Will you always be so sure of what you want? Will you always smile so much and be comfortable around people you don't know? Will you always follow me around and hate being by yourself? (I know the answer to this...but I'm trying not to look forward to those years)

Here's what you're up to these days:
-You went to the doctor yesterday and you weigh 9 lbs 9 oz. and are 29 1/2 inches long. You're no longer in the hundredth percentile, but are 75th for weight and 95th for height. The doctor said that's normal since you're moving so much now.
-You are nursing only for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and right before bed.
-You love feeding yourself food and are eating less baby food. You love diced peaches, toast, mashed potatoes and sweet potatoes. Really, there's nothing that you won't eat at this point.
-Speaking of eating, we have to keep the pacifier in your mouth because you try to eat everything. It amazes me how you can find the tiniest speck on the floor. I'm sweeping at least twice a day.
-You understand the word "no" and when you're doing something you're not supposed to, like trying to eat shoes, and I say your name, you quickly wheel around and crawl off at lightning speed.
-You've started hugging me and I love it! Sometimes you just want to sit hugging me for a while.
-You sometimes pull those big bows off your head, so you're wearing them less. Just wait until you have hair long enough for pig tails and I put TWO big bows up there!
-You're walking while holding onto the furniture and you fall a lot.
-Your daddy taught you to climb last weekend. You've even climbed on top of the hearth and behind the fireplace.
-If I walk out of the room, you follow me. All day, every day. You just can't stand being alone.

The doctor's visit yesterday was traumatic. Besides getting your flu shot, you also had to get your blood drawn to make sure you have enough iron. This is routine for nine month olds. I took you to the lab and they tied a little band around each arm and poked around with their fingers to find your tiny veins. Then, they told me that I would have to hold you tight and asked if I would be able to handle it because a lot of moms can't. I knew I wanted to be the one to hold you because they wouldn't be able to comfort you like I can. So, they stuck the needle in your arm and had to poke around to get the vein. You cried hard because it hurt so much, but when they were finished you were just fine. We came home and Daddy rocked you and you took a good nap.

Ansley, I'm so proud and blessed to be your mommy and your daddy feels the same way. You're such a sweet little girl and we love you!

Love,
Mommy

Trip to the Hill Country

We rang in the new year with our friends Nathaniel, Tara, and Avadelle in Concan and had such a great time. It was beautiful there and just really relaxing. The boys did a lot of hunting and the girls spent a lot of time in front of the fireplace. Here are a few pics from the trip...


Exploring a cave.




Just so you know, this is not really a cliff. It's only like a two foot drop and Nathaniel was ducking on the other side of Ansley. I would NEVER put her in a dangerous situation.

Photo catch up

I'm so late posting these photos of Ansley's Christmas. We've been all over the state of Texas for the past few weeks and things are finally beginning to slow down again. Now maybe I can find the time to make Ansley some clothes using my new machine.





Check out my cool new wagon.


I REALLY like it!

Baby dedication and more

I'm a little late posting about Ansley's baby dedication at church since in was last Sunday. But, it was such a sweet time and we were so happy to share it with our family and friends. We stood at the front of the church with the other families and listened as our pastor explained the importance of raising our children in a Christian manner...the whole while Ansley was fussing and putting on a show for the congregation. At one point Butch said something about strong willed children and Ansley took the opportunity to scream. Needless to say, everyone thought that was pretty funny.

I've also posted a photo of Ansley sleeping with her stuffed animals. She's gotten to where she wants to be holding onto at least one of them, but sometimes all of them. Jeff said the other night when he put her to bed she longed to her pile and collapsed on top of them. Unfortunately she hasn't really taken to her doll that I was so excited about giving her for Christmas. Someday she'll love it though. I'll make sure of that!



Ansley assuming her regular position when Grandpa is around.


Ansley and BFF Avadelle

Ansley's photos

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Ansley had her photos taken last week by Ryan Price. He did such an amazing job and we're so happy to have these pictures of our sweet baby girl at eight months old. We hope you enjoy them!

A girl loves her bath!

This may be no surprise...

...but I let Ansley open one of her Christmas presents a little early. We had someone from church come over tonight to photograph her and I really wanted her to have the doll I ordered in some of the shots. It's precious and is just as sweet as I hoped it would be when I ordered it. Anyway, the photo shoot didn't go as smoothly as I hoped it would. Ansley was difficult for most of it, but Ryan was confident that he got some good ones. I can't wait to see them...he does such an amazing job. I've decided that I'm not going to wrap the doll back up because there's no use. Ansley's been doing the sweetest thing lately...when she sleeps she holds the stuffed animal in her bed and she's been carrying around this little horse for two days. Since I've given her the doll she's been carrying it all over with her. Precious.

I also have to include this photo of the homemade yeast rolls that I made last night. You have no idea what trouble I've had with yeast rolls. They are the most finicky things ever. Well, I've finally gotten it and this photo is proof. They taste just as good as they look. Unfortunately. My mother-in-law will be proud. It's her recipe and she knows how much trouble Jeff and I have had. I may sound crazy blogging about yeast rolls, but I usually don't have so much trouble with things I cook. So I'm excited that I finally got it!


Can you believe that Christmas is only a couple of weeks away? How did THAT happen and where has the time gone? Shopping with an 8 month old is quite an experience, especially when it's cold outside. This morning at Kroger, I had a real mom moment. Ansley spit up and of course I didn't have her bag with me, so I had to go open a roll of paper towels to clean her up. And then she started having a meltdown and we didn't have her pacifier either, so I went to that aisle, opened one up, and popped it in her mouth. I laughed to myself because I saw three different moms walk to the granola bars and open some for their children. HA! I ended up running into a sweet friend from church who offered to take Ansley for a little bit while I finished my shopping. So, I'm not sure how I'm going to get the rest of my Christmas shopping done. I may be doing a lot of online shopping tonight.