Life Lately

Long time not blog! So, here's a peek at what we've been doing....

Playing in our doorway jumper and trying to figure out how it works

Putting any and everything in her mouth (except food that is, still not interested in anything thicker than milk)

Getting Krista ready for baby Shands to arrive (next week!)

Hannah Cate is perfecting her hair pulling tactics! I was clipping her toenails the other day and accidentally let my ponytail dangle in her face, she was glad to remind me that she likes to grab onto anything!

We went to Nashville with Jami and Michael to visit Katherine, Brett and baby Hayes. What a cutie!On our way to Nashville we stayed in Birmingham and got to visit with Aunt Janet and Granddaddy! Hannah Cate loves to stand up (assisted of course). I would also like to add that everyone always says that Hannah Cate looks like her Daddy (which is fine with me) but in this picture she looks very much like me (and a touch like her Aunt Emily) when I was a baby!

She's learning what to do with these teething toys! I bought them because it seems that she might have a tooth coming in on the bottom.

We went to Fairhope's annual tree lighting downtown
Hannah Cate was fascinated by all the lights and was wide eyed all night!

We celebrated our nephew Charles' 10th Birthday. He was so sweet with Hannah Cate and she loved him!

Hannah Cate hanging out with Pops

Hannah Cate lounging with Uncle Lee, Charles and B

The whole fam! Happy Birthday Charles!

Hopefully I won't go so long between posts next time....but I won't promise!

5 Months!

Dearest Hannah Cate,

You are five months old today and it's so hard to believe. Part of me wonders where the time has gone and then another part can hardly remember our lives without you. My heart overflows with the love that you have brought into our family. Your Daddy and I often just sit back and stare at you in awe that you are really ours. I wish I could bottle you up so that I will never forget the noises you make, the way you smell, the way you feel in my arms and all the little things you do.

You've started to laugh this month and I can't think of a sweeter sound! You grab at anything and everything within your reach. You still love your paci. Your hair is falling out on the left side of your head because that's your favorite side to sleep on. You know the sight of a bottle coming and immediately open your mouth and kick your legs. We often taunt you with it just to get your reactions. We're still nursing, but it's become increasingly difficult because of your constant curiosity of your surroundings. You like to know what is going on at all times! You have taken to your lovies, especially your pig that Daddy named Theodore for you. You are not really into any food yet. We've tried rice cereal several times without much luck. Applesauce made you shiver and gag. Bananas were okay but most of it ended up on your shirt. Sweet potatoes not so great either. So, we've given up for awhile. You'll eat when you are ready. You roll over at will now, front to back and back to front. You are spitting up a storm, pursing your lips and spitting....it makes us laugh so hard, but I'm really afraid that there might be a tooth coming to blame! You are sleeping a consistent nine hours at night and taking 3 good naps during the day. You really are such a good baby. So content with life and with such a sweet disposition.

Just this month I can tell that you know who we are and each time you glace at me and smile, simply at the sight of me, it melts my heart. I've never felt such unconditional love. I've known it exists between me and the Father, but never felt it in such a tangible way. You point me to Him in so many ways.

I've been searching for a verse that I can claim for you. That I can memorize just for you and share with you often. I found it last week and now that it's in my head I'll be saying it to you for as long as I live. My prayer is that you will come to know this truth in your life, that you will cling to it all the days of your life.

Zephaniah 3:17 "The Lord your God is with you; He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing."

I love you precious baby girl!
Mama
Click here for pictures from our entire month

A Sweet Baby Boy

I'm an Aunt! My sister's baby, Aiden James Hokanson, was born on October 30th in Eugene, OR at 9 lbs 1 oz and 22 inches. A precious miracle that we are so thankful for. I can't wait to get my hands on him when we go for a visit in December! Welcome to the world A.J. We already love you so much!

1st Halloween

We started the night as a flower......


And ended as a pumpkin.....

Along the way we saw a shark, a cowboy, a lion and a pirate....

We even ran into Obama and Sarah Palin!

Hannah Cate enjoyed her first Halloween. I suppose next year she'll expect to have some candy instead of a bottle!

**A special thanks to Martha Anne & Lucy for the flower costume and B & Pops for the pumpkin jammies!

Breaking the Habit

This post is specifically for my Mom (Mimi). I happened to mention in conversation the other day that we are working on breaking Hannah Cate from the swaddle blanket for sleeping. I literally heard her take a deep breath and if I were in the room with her would have seen a weight lifted from her! She said it made her day (along with the fact that she also found out my sister would be delivering her baby the next day, but that's another post coming soon because he's still not here yet!). She has been worrying about that sweet baby rolling over in her sleep and not being able get back over because her arms are pinned to her side......but the kicker is that she had not breathed a word of her worry to me, fearful that she would push her opinion on me or "get into my business". She makes me laugh because I crave her opinions and wisdom, but at the same time I appreciate her desire to not be over the top.

There's a balance, Mom, and you have always been good at finding it! So, just for you, here's documented proof that we are making progress! Look at those sweet arms all spread out!



And for all you other grandparents out there that might have been worried, take a deep breath!

Cold Snap

It seems that we've skipped Fall here in Fairhope and gone straight to Winter. I think it's just for a couple of days, but you never know, I'm not one to necessarily trust the weatherman! The 40 degree temperatures didn't keep us from going on our evening stroll around the neighborhood, though it was a little more tricky with Hannah Cate in tow. She made it just fine.....her real problem was that she was probably sweating by the time we got home!

Her First Meal and a Tribute

Well, I wouldn't really call it a meal. She wasn't too thrilled and didn't get past the first bite! We thought she might be ready based on signals our pediatrician told us to watch for, but I guess not. So, we'll hold off and try again later. It sure was fun trying though and we got some good laughs!

And this was her "Okay, that's enough of that" face!

My Mom sent us a sweet little silver spoon for Hannah Cate's first meal that was part of my Grandmama's silver pattern. It's the perfect little spoon for a baby and I feel so grateful and thankful to have it. I loved her so, so much and find myself missing her often these days as I watch Hannah Cate with her grandmothers. She was so kind and loving. The epitome of a Southern Lady. She loved her family, especially all six of her grandchildren. She would do anything for us and loved taking us to the park, shopping, to Baskin Robbins and to get a sucker at the bank where she used to work. Her house was a home and had the most wonderful smell that was so "her". She always had gingerale and saltines waiting for me when I got to her house because I almost always got car sick on the way to her house through the winding roads of Mountain Brook. She had a bubble gum machine at her house and a little basket of dimes so that we could get a piece when we arrived. We always had a Christmas Eve dinner and celebration and an Easter egg hunt at her house every year. She was my friend and such a special lady. I have the fondest memories of her that I will always treasure and look forward to sharing with Hannah Cate someday.

The note Mom sent says: As you enjoy your first real meal, just remember, you were not born with a silver spoon in your mouth, but you inherited one from your Great-Grandmother. She would have loved you so! Almost as much as Mimi does!

I don't have access to all the family albums down here in Fairhope, so these are two of the best pictures I could come up with of my Grandmama. Of course, she's loving on two of her grandbabies (me in the first and my cousin Betsy in the second). These are really so typical of her though, always taking care of someone else, never really concerned for herself. I'm certainly better for having known her and having been loved by her!