9 months old

Maggie turned 9 months on September 27th.  Months 8-9 were huge months for her.  She is still cutting her top two teeth plus the other top 2 so 4 total.  The pediatrician thinks they will break though any day.  She is on the move now....crawling everywhere, pulling up and even cruising some.  She will also take a few steps when you hold her hands.  It all happened in about a week.  She is also clapping her hands and does it at the right times like when she does something she is proud of.  Maggie also said her first word on September 11.  It was ma ma.  She also moved up to a big girl car seat because she weighed in over 20 lbs at her 9 month check up.  She has started eating more finger foods but still likes a lot of pureed foods.  She still naps twice a day and thankfully the afternoon nap has increased in time because I think she's exhausted after being on the move all day.  She still sleeps awesome at night.  She had her 7th ear infection so she got tubes this month.  So far so good with not getting another ear infection.  She is still very laid back but has an opinion about things and makes sure you know when she isn't happy.  She is also squealing out of delight and frustration.  The boys never did this so not sure if it's just a girl thing. =)

Things she loves:
-her brothers!!!
-her daddy and mommy
-her own voice
-faces
-smiles from others
-bath time
-being on the diaper changing table
-crawling

-pulling up

-getting into stuff she shouldn't get into-her teething toys
-exersaucer
-jumperoo
-her fingers
-food
-lovie
-naps
-hands
-feet

Things she doesn't love:
-when everyone leaves the room
-when no one is paying attention to her

-teething

She weighed 20.4 at the doctor the other day and was 29 inches in length.  75% in both.  

Some pictures of our sweet girl!

Here is Maggie at months 1-8.  

We ADORE you baby girl and truly can't imagine life without you in it!

Five for Friday

1.  We loved celebrating our biggest on Wednesday!  For some reason the fact that he holds up all 5 fingers when asked how old he is is rocking my world.  5 seems so old!  We had a great day though and truly enjoyed celebrating his precious life.


 2. These 2 and their amazing imaginations. On this particular day they were pretending to be rock climbers climbing up the tallest mountain to rock climb up the last part.  Mind you it was 80 degrees outside and they were dressed for winter.    
They pretend often that they are firefighters fighting fires.  Our sweet babysitter took this one.


3.  I did a little photo shoot with Maggie in her new Matilda Jane clothes.  I truly could just eat her up. 

4.  Sweet girl had to get tubes last Friday.  She has had 7 ear infections in 5 months so it was time to do something else.  She has done well since the surgery.  Hoping this really helps her ears.  (I think these 2 are smitten with each other.)

5. Watch the video to see how our lives are about to get a lot busier!

Happy Friday friends!

Birthday Survey

Name:  Austin

Age: 5

Favorite Stuffed Animal: Mimi the dog

Favorite Restaurant: Chic-fil-a

Favorite Movie: Cars 1

Favorite Toy: little Legos

Favorite Sport to watch: Football

Favorite Sport to play: Tee-ball

Favorite Animals: Whole zoo

Favorite shirt to wear to school: Christ Methodist shirt 

Favorite holiday: Halloween

Favorite Pizza topping: Pineapples  

Favorite Lunch: Peanut Butter and Honey

Favorite Jr-K Activity: Play little legos

Favorite Book:  Lego book

Favorite Colors: Orange, Green, White, Grey, Brown, and Black

Favorite Numbers: 1, 2, 3, 4

Favorite thing to do as a family: go get ice cream together

Favorite Breakfast: Oatmeal

Favorite thing to play with Miller: little legos

Favorite thing to play with mommy: little legos

Favorite thing to play with daddy: superheros

Favorite Pjs: truck ones

Favorite snack: oatmeal raisin bar

Favorite Show: Dinosaur Train

Favorite thing about Mrs. Patterson: work with her

Favorite Candy: M&M’s

Favorite Ice cream: chocolate, orange, and birthday cake

What do you want to be when you grow up: policeman

Age 4 survey. 

Happy 5th Birthday Austin

Happy 5th birthday to my precious Austin!

Oh how we delighted in you from the moment you were born.
You were such a gift to us after we had experienced such deep and profound grief.
It was as if your eyes could see straight into my heart and knew how very much I needed you in my life.

You were always on the go...standing by 8.5 months and walking by 9 months.
Your 1st birthday was such a proud moment for me. I had dreamed of celebrating a 1st birthday with Forrest and was heartbroken to know I would never experience any birthdays with him so I soaked up every part of your 1st birthday.

You have your serious moments but overall you love to laugh and always have.

We were thrilled to find out you would be a big brother and what a great big brother you have become.



Each moment and each birthday we have celebrated with you have been such a joy!



You are passionate about so many things and I can't wait to see what the future has in store for your life.

 I hope you always know how very loved you are and there is nothing you can do that would make us love you more or love you less.
Happy birthday sweet boy!  We love you to the moon and back...forever and always!

Zoo Trip

Mom and I took the kids to the zoo two Saturdays ago.  It was a beautiful morning to be at the zoo.  It wasn't overly crowded and the animals were all out.  We had to stop at the alligator first because we had been working on Austin's school alligator habitat.

We visited with the elephants.

And spent some time with the sea lions.

We found a T-rex.  The boys were in heaven.

They roared like a T-rex and then jumped off like they were going to attack me.
We then spent some time in the bees and birds exhibit.
Austin loved the bird exhibit and feeding them.  Miller didn't really like it.  
Maggie looks like she wasn't having much fun but she was usually smiling the whole morning.  
I am so thankful for the great zoo we have in Memphis!