8 Months {1.16.14}

Little one you are 8 months old!!! The time is flying by. It seems like every moment during the day your doing something that makes me smile or laugh. Your two front teeth are so cute when you smile. You are always a smiling, happy baby!

Weight: 20 pounds (the same as last month or maybe a little more)

Height:  28 inches (the same as last month or maybe a little more)

EKG: We had a follow up appointment from your EKG and Echo appointment you had when you were 1 month old. They said that you still have an innocent mumor but everything sounded good. They also said we don’t need to worry about your hands and feet sometimes turning a purple/blue color. They said it is common for babies to have that, as long as your face and stomach never turns blue we should not be concerned.

Festival of Lights: A. Carrie and U. Mike had free tickets so we went to the festival of lights with them J We were there around when you usually go to bed so you had your “serious” face for most of the time but you did great being pushed in your stroller. You smiled more right before we were getting ready to leave J

Tis the Season: We have been to lots of parties, shopped a lot, and seen family/friends we do not usually see that often. It is always a busy time but I really enjoy spending time with everyone. You are so great when we go places! You barely fuss and are usually all smiles J

Feliz Navidad: Little one you celebrated your first Christmas! We went to Mamaw and Papaw Crofford’s for Christmas Eve and Mamaw and Papaw Jackson’s for Christmas breakfast and dinner. You had fun opening presents with your cousins and even tore the paper a little bit on the presents. We also got to open presents on Christmas morning. We may not always get to open presents on Christmas day due to daddy having to work but I’m glad we were able to do it for your first Christmas J

Cousin Love: We were able to take some pictures for Christmas with your cousins. One of the photos was Pinterest inspired. We thought we might have some melt downs trying to get a picture with three kids but it turned out great :) 

Happy New Year: Little girl we are no longer in your birth year, say hello to 2014! 2013 brought us one of the best blessings when we had you! We cannot wait to see what 2014 holds for our family and how much you will grow and change this next year.

Baby it’s Cold Outside: It has been really cold a few days this month. With the wind chill a few days after New Year’s felt like -30! I don’t ever remember it being this cold. When it is really cold outside we try not to take you out and I also dread being outside when it’s that cold. We have also had lots of snow days. We have not gotten more than 3 inches at a time but anything over 1” makes people crazy drivers, so we try to avoid going anywhere when it snows.

New Beginning: Daddy started his full time fire job! As Daddy put it he “officially started” his life now that he has a full time fire job. Don’t take offense little one, what daddy really means to say is that he is officially starting his career he just does not word it that way. You are a very important part of his life he just meant that he finally got a full time job.

Spitting: Daddy has taught you something that seems to be your new habit. You make a spitting noise with your lips and usually get mommy’s face a little wet when you’re doing it. You think it is so funny and love doing it at random times.

Soon-to-be-mover: You love it when we walk around with you holding your hands. You’re not ready to walk on your own but you will get there soon enough. You are also getting yourself up on all fours but you have not moved yet. You usually rock in place but have never decided to move when you’re on all fours.

Eating: You’re still taking 6 oz every 2-3 hours during the day. We have also tried some new fruits and vegetables but everything is pureed or smashed so you can eat it. You have not tried anything that you don’t like. You don’t love your puffs but will usually eat a couple when we give them to you.

Other moments:

* Mommy and Daddy both went into your room after you just woke up. Daddy was bouncy in tennis ball in your room and you lowered your eyebrows and gave him a very serious face. You obviously were annoyed by the bouncing of the tennis ball. It was so funny to see you do it. I’m sure when you get older we will see a lot of these looks but right now it is so funny to see you making different facial expressions.

*Game Night: Went to Tiffany and Jared Leazer’s for game night. You had fun meeting Brody (who is 1 month older than you). You played with different toys but eventually we put you to bed since you were so tired.

*Friendsgiving: “Friendsgiving-The One in December” was such a great time. All of our friends that we don’t get to see that often were in town. You did such a great with new people holding you and were smiley all night.

*Bowling: You went bowling for the first time. I was not sure if the loud noises at the bowling alley would frighten you but you did great! You slept through most of the first game (Mommy won) but had fun watching us play the second game {Daddy won because he couldn’t let mommy beat his twice J}. 

7 Months {12.16.13}

Little girl you are growing up so fast! I remember when you were born how excited I was to celebrate the holidays with you and I cannot believe it is here. Here is what you have been up to during your 7 months of life.

 Height: 28 inches

Weight: 20 pounds

 ZzzzZzzz: You’re still sleeping great! You get about 11-12 hours a night depending on when you go to bed. You usually take your last bottle between 6:30-7:30 and don’t usually cry very much when we put you to bed. There were a couple nights where you cried a lot when I put you down. I let you play in your bouncer for half an hour and that was just enough activity to get you tired and ready for bed. We are so thankful that you sleep great other places and you sleep through the night.

Happy Thanksgiving: You had your first thanksgiving little one. Though you didn’t get to try any of the delicious food Grandma made you still enjoyed your first thanksgiving. Next year you will be able to feast and enjoy Daddy’s favorite holiday J

Over the river and through the Woods: Ava you experienced your first tree cutting experience. It is one of Daddy’s favorite traditions to cut down a real Christmas tree so we travel about an hour away to cut it down. The weather was great for cutting down the tree, I actually got warm carrying you around. We had to walk pretty far to get our tree but you never once fussed about being carried for so long. You got hungry towards the end so I gave you a bottle and the snow suit you were in wouldn’t let you bend your arms. It was so sad/funny to see you trying to bend your arms to hold the bottle. I actually enjoyed holding the bottle for you since I rarely get to do it anymore.

  

Tree Decorating: You “helped” us decorate our Christmas tree after we cut it down. You stayed up long enough for us to get some cute picture of you and then you were ready for bed. Next year you might be able to “help” more J

Teeth: You have two teeth now! One night you were really fussy and we think that is when your teeth came through. You look so cute with two little teeth on the bottom.

Starting Traditions: We now started the tradition where we go somewhere with Mamaw and Papaw Jackson around Christmas. We had a great time at the Duke Train Display at the museum center.

Bouncer: You LOVE your bouncer. Your face lights up when you’re in it and you bounce like a crazy when you are in it. Sometimes you bounce so high and so much that I think you could just bounce right out of it ;)

Eating: You are still taking 6 ounces every 2-3 hours during the day. You have tried a few new foods like carrots, green beans, bananas, and puffs. You are starting to like the spoon more now. You usually give a funny face when we feed you but you seem to try everything so far. You still like to feed yourself a bottle are starting to learn how to put puffs in your mouth.

Ava every day you are changing and becoming a beautiful little girl inside and out. Your laid back personality and go with the flow attitude has been great with all the traveling from house to house we do this time of year. Mommy and Daddy love you more than we could ever describe!