I'm Back....Hopefully!

It has been a really long time since I posted. I haven't decided yet if I am going to post Amelia's birthday post with her stats, her 15 month stats, Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas. Maybe I will. I do like having this to look back on. Life has been so busy and I've thought of coming here to update and then I don't. Not sure why.

I am loving being a Mom to Amelia. She is such a funny, spunky, full of life and personality kid. She is so smart and verbal. She talks all.the.time! I love watching her learn and grow daily. Jonathan is doing well. He just started his last semester at UMHB and will graduate in MAY! I am so proud of him and his hard work. Christmas through the eyes of my little one was amazing.

Hope to have more fun things to share this year and hope to be back soon!

9 Months

9 months!!! 3/4 of the way to 1 year. I know I have said it before, but I really, really need time to slow down. She is getting so big. 

Weight:17.16lbs (33%)
Height: 26 inches (6%)
Head:43.3cm (34%)
LOVES: pulling to stand and cruising, eating food, being tickled, sucking on her two middle fingers on her right hand (think I Love You sign), baths and swimming
HATES: being still, naps
SLEEPING: 11-12 hrs each night, 2 naps usually 1-2 hrs each
EATING: 3 meals a day, 4 oz of breast milk or nurses 5-6 times a day. Favorite foods- strawberries, french fries and green beans

She now has 6 teeth. She loves to eat, play patty-cake and peek-a-boo. She's really into the dogs now. She's still continues to be a little small for her and we are going back to the doctor in a few weeks for another weight/growth check. Otherwise she is right on target/a little ahead.

Here is her usual monthly picture in her chair with Grant Bear.

7 months

8 months

9 months

 

My Dad

My Dad passed away on April 16, 2014 at the age of 61. He was a great father and taught me many things growing up. He was always there for us, supporting us in our sports, school, and life. Every time he talked to me he told me how proud he was of me. He was one of my biggest fans. He loved Amelia and Jonathan. My best memories of him are from when we were kids growing up. He loved to take us fishing and hunting and to teach us to appreciate the outdoors. He coached me in basketball and helped me practice softball. He was always there to cheer us on. I'm sad that Amelia won't grow up knowing him but can't wait to teach her all of the things he taught me. We had his memorial service on April 21 (2 years to the day after Grant's, it was special to me that they were on the same day). It was a really nice service honoring a great dad. Amelia wore her Easter dress to my Dad's service.

My Dad and I at my wedding.

My beautiful mom and Amelia at my Dad's service

Some of the flowers from my Dad's service.

Easter 2014

Amelia's first Easter wasn't exactly what I had in mind but it still turned out great. My dad passed away a few days before Easter, a post about him is coming, so Easter was a little different this year. We traveled to Dallas to be with family, which was the original plan, and enjoyed spending time with those we love. On Saturday (April 19) evening we had a BBQ at my brother's house with all of my siblings, nieces and nephews. It was fun to sit back, relax and enjoy the time together. We also wrote my Dad's obituary while there (see, not a normal Easter) which was nice to be able to reflect on his life with my siblings and mom. Amelia enjoyed watching everyone and all of the attention she got. On Sunday Jonathan and I went to my brother-in-law's parents with my mom, sister and brother-in-law. We wanted to be able to spend as much time with my mom as possible. Amelia was doted on there too. She is such a ham and LOVED the attention. Thank you to the Johnson family for including us and for sprinkling Amelia's head with her first confetti egg!

Casey's House. "WHAT IS THIS THING"

First Easter Basket: bunny and book

Easter Sunday. Still trying to eat plastic eggs. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Easter Egg Hunts are exhausting!

First Wedding

We went to a wedding this past weekend, Amelia's first. It was an outdoor, western themed wedding and so much fun. We had a great time celebrating our friend's big day! Amelia is such a great traveler. She doesn't sleep well in hotel rooms but she is still such a happy baby. She had little cowboy boots to wear with her dress but by the time we took pictures the boots had come off (it was hot). I think she was pretty adorable anyways! I made her dress and headband out of a mens western shirt and some lace.

2 years...Happy Birthday Grant Oliver

2 years have passed since I've held you in my arms. I think of you every day and miss you always. We had a party to celebrate Grant this year and it was so much fun. So many of our friends came and my sister even drove down from Dallas to be here. I decided that we should make tiny hats to donate to local hospitals so that other families would know that their baby is special and loved. We made over 200 hats that day. Our small group at church got us a card and donated money to MEND in Grant's memory. So sweet. I loved being able to celebrate his life with everyone. I had to work on Grant's actual birthday. I was a little bummed about it. However, at work that day someone I work with came up to me and asked to talk to me later. When I was done seeing patients she came down and met me in my office and proceeded to tell me that she lost a baby earlier this year. They received one of the diapers we had donated to our local hospital and she said how much it meant to her. It was amazing hearing about this on Grant's birthday!

Happy 2nd Birthday in Heaven baby boy. I can't wait to see you again.

6 month Pictures

Here are some of her 6 month pictures taken a couple of different days. She didn't cooperate much the day of her "Valentines" pictures but we still managed to get a few cute ones. As always, I have a pretty amazing photographer in my sister :)