Happy Thanksgiving!

It already feels like Thanksgiving was so long ago! We have been so busy at our house lately. We enjoyed a quick trip to Temple to see the Williams' last Thursday. It was good to see Heather and Drew and to catch up with Troy and Mary. We stuffed ourselves and brought a few leftovers home. I have officially decided that it is time to get on a serious diet. I am saying this on here so that I will actually stick to it! I know the holidays are probably not the best time to try to lose weight, but my baby is six months old and the time is here!

This year I am so, so thankful for my sweet baby and husband. They both fill my life with so much joy and I don't know what I ever did without them.

A few pictures from our trip





Elle's Nana and Papaw came by to see us on Friday since we didn't get to spend Thanksgiving with them. It is always good to see them and we can't wait to see them at Christmas!



On Friday evening we went to Downtown McKinney where they hold their annual Dickens of a Christmas in the town square. We did a little shopping and saw Santa and took a few pictures in his sleigh.






On Saturday evening we put up our Christmas tree (our first real one in three years!) and decorated the house. Noah got the lights up on the house on Sunday. We got our firewood chopped and our candles lit and we are having a very Merry Christmas so far! We are thankful for the cold weather, but are having a hard time not taking our daily walks. Elle has had a runny nose for a week or so, so we decided that since it is getting much colder out now, that we better discontinue the walks for awhile. I am not sure what I am supposed to do to fill all of the time though! :) I will have to think of more creative ideas I guess!





I have been very busy trying to get all of our Christmas shopping done. I have completed most of it and realized yesterday that it was not even December yet! Once I get in the shopping mood I just want to knock it all out as quickly as I can.

I ordered our Christmas cards yesterday and they came in the mail today. I think they turned out really cute! My next project is to get all of them addressed. Yipee!

Happy December!

Playing Catch Up

I have been meaning to write a blog post since last week, but I have not had the time. Last week Sewell had their annual parts inventory, so it was pretty crazy around our house last week/weekend. Noah worked until 10:30 PM on Friday and then had to go in on Saturday from 7:00 AM to 11:30 PM. Elle and I went out to my parents house on Saturday and spent the night so that we wouldn't be lonely. Mimi and Pops took good care of us!





Last week I made a bunch of baby food for Elle. I got a great book at the library with some good recipes, so while Elle took her morning nap on Thursday, I was cooking up a storm in the kitchen. So far she has tried corn, peas, bananas, pineapple, and zucchini. She has spit out everything I have given her, except for the zucchini. Weird, I know! I kept with the banana and peas and she seemed to be getting used to those, so that was encouraging.





The bad news is, she was not wanting to drink her bottle. I tried spreading it out, where I would feed her food and then an hour later try to give her a bottle, but she refused. Then I decided I would make her drink a bottle first, and then I would give her food. Still, not much luck. I was starting to get concerned, so I called our pediatrician's office. I the told the nurse I had a 6 month old who we had started on rice cereal and some other solids about a week or so ago, and that now she wouldn't drink her formula. She started chuckling and said that they actually get that a lot. She said even at 6 months babies have a mind of their own! She said we need to cut back on the cereal/food for now and get her to take her bottle. The formula is essential and the food is just an added bonus. So starting yesterday afternoon and today she has only been drinking formula. She's grounded from food until she can learn her lesson and start acting like a big girl :)

The weather has been a bit chilly, but we have still been enjoying our daily walk. I got Elle's big stroller out and have been bundling her up and taking her in that. We really enjoy our walks!

Snug as a bug in a rug!



Elle had her 6 month check up last Wednesday. The doctor came in and said they had the H1N1 vaccine and also the seasonal flu vaccine. She said it was like Christmas! I wasn't quite as excited. Elle ended up getting her three "normal" shots, plus the other two flu shots. It was brutal. She is just now starting to get back to her normal self. Right before her shots I was thinking we had finally turned a corner in the sleeping area. She was doing so much better at night and was taking great naps as well. Then for three or four days after the shots she was really fussy and was not sleeping well at all. I am starting to think I am not going to have her vaccinated again until she is older. My mom and I were talking about it a lot on Saturday night and I am not sure I want to risk something happening to her with all of the vaccinations. It is definitely something Noah and I will be praying about. Please pray that we will know what the right decision is. I know it is a risk either way.

On a lighter note, Elle's new favorite place to play is in the laundry basket! She loves to sit in there and play with her toys. She is such a little cutie! She is sitting up really well now and is beginning to attempt to get her knees under her and crawl. I am thinking it would probably be best if she waits until after Christmas to crawl though!





Here is Elle's little Christmas tree!





Aunt B is coming in town tonight for Thanksgiving, so the whole family is getting together for dinner. We are very excited!

Gag Me!

So far Elle is loving her rice cereal, but is not a fan of peas or bananas. She gets really, really excited when I put her in her high chair and she just sits there with her mouth wide open until I bring the food over. She lets me shovel in the rice cereal, but then completely turns into a drama queen when I put anything new in her mouth. She gags and screams and spits it out! Do we have a picky eater on our hands or is this normal for a new eater?

She is so cute when she eats though. I always open my mouth and say "aw" and she does the same thing! It is the first sound that she has truly mimicked and I love it! I hope she starts saying more 'words' soon!

She has been super easy lately, which is nice! We had a rough week the week Noah and I were sick, so I am very glad to be feeling back to normal and to be back in our groove. She has been taking great naps (2 - 2.5 hrs) in her crib too, which makes me glad. She is doing a little better at night now, so that is good. Noah has been taking a turn with her at night so that I can catch up on some sleep, and I appreciate that more than he will ever know.

Funny picture of Daddy sleeping, ha ha!



All in all we are having a great week! We went to a thing called Baby Bounce at a small children's library at Northpark Mall yesterday with some friends. It was really fun! You just sing kids songs and they read kids books and it was just great! I have a feeling we will be going back.

I cleaned the entire house today since Elle was being so good. It is really nice to have it done! I had been putting it off for a long time, but finally I just had to give in and do it. I'm glad I did.

Elle helping Mommy with the laundry. Such a cute helper!



And yes, we are both still in our pj's. I told myself I wasn't going anywhere today and that it was okay if we never got dressed since I was planning to clean all day :)

Happy Half Birthday, Elle!

Elle is 6 months old today!

Elle, here is what you are up to these days.

You are quite the drama queen and love to squak and squeal until someone pays attention to you. Your new squeal is very, very high pitched and usually gets you noticed very quickly!

You started eating rice cereal last week, and so far you are doing great! The first couple of times you got more on your face/clothes than in your mouth, but since then you have become much better at it. I can't wait to give you some fruits and veggies and see which ones are your favorite!






You can sit up now and only topple over occasionally. You prefer to sit up and play with your toys now, and sometimes get frustrated when you are put on your stomach.



You still like to go on walks in your stroller and now you love to stop at the park and swing. The weather has been really nice this month, so we have been going to the park almost every day.



You are very social and you love your play group friends!



We thought you were going through a seperation anxiety phase a week or so ago, because you would start crying if anyone but Mommy was holding you, but we think it was just because you didn't feel well. You seem to be back to your normal self these days, and like to play with anyone.



You still don't have any teeth and I am not sure you're even teething. Which is fine with me! Who needs silly teeth anyway? Your toothless grin is just about the sweetest thing I have ever seen!



You have been sleeping in your own room for a couple of weeks now and do okay in there. You still don't sleep through the night and lately have been waking up twice at night, which is just about to make me cry! It has been a long six months in the sleep department, so if you could work on that one for me, it would be much appreciated!



You are afraid of your Uncle Justin - we think it is because of his deep voice! When he talks to you, you usually start crying immediately - even when he talks in a sweet baby voice. KiKi hopes you get over this soon! :)

You are still a little dainty girl and are in mostly 3-6 month clothes, but some of the 0-3 month still fit you. You weighed 14.6 lbs last week at the doctor. Your official 6 month check-up is on Wednesday, so we will get your other stats then.



Your hair is still falling out and is much, much lighter than it was when you were born. I am pretty sure by your first birthday that you will be a blonde headed baby! But lets not talk about your first birthday, because that will make me cry! You are growing up so fast.

You are still obsessed with your pacifier and usually want it when you sleep. I keep hearing that around 7 months most babies can pick up their paci's and put them back in their mouths, so I am hoping you are on track for that. Maybe then you will sleep through the night? Well, here's to hoping!



You are constantly reaching and grabbing for things, and of course, it all goes straight in your mouth. We have to keep a very close eye on you!



You are so beautiful and you melt my heart every day. I could kiss your sweet cheeks all day long and sometimes do! You little hands are one of my favorite things and I love to look at them while you sleep. You're such a sweet girl and your Daddy and I love you so much!

Happy 6 month Birthday, Miss E!

Would the real Stinkwagon please stand up?

Right after Noah and I got married, we got a Persian kitten that we named Stuart. Even though I was the one who desperately wanted a kitten, Noah is the one who got the chore of cleaning out his litter box. Noah, quickly gave him the name Stinkwagon, and rightfully so!



And then, almost 6 months ago, a new Stinkwagon showed up! And this one really sent us for a loop!



Yes, I did just post that awful picture on my blog! Oh, the horror!



First trip to the big bath tub. This was not a small job!



All is well (until she splashed some water up her nose that is).

The Box

What more could a girl ask for?






Look, I am getting pretty good at sitting up on my own!

Do you like my new moves?



I organized a picnic at the park with our play group today since the weather has been so nice this week. Several of the Mom's came with their little ones. I meant to take a group picture, but of course I forgot. I did get a couple of Elle playing with Ellie, one of the other little girls who is close to her own age. Elle was a little aggressive though and kept trying to grab Ellie's nose, ears, and put her dress in her mouth. He He! I hope she will settle down some, but hopefully it just means she is going to be a little social butterfly.