Hallie and Santa

Ready for Church

Six Months of Life!

Sweet HK,
You are HALF of a year old! Wow! I love your sweet personality. You have become quite the Momma's girl, and I can't say I mind. I actually love it. I don't want you to become so dependant that you can't enjoy spending time without me, but I was worried since I don't get to spend all day every day with you that you wouldn't prefer me over others. We are still working on sleeping through the night, but I think it will come with time. I don't mind, but it does make Mommy pretty tired some days. You stay with Nonna and Daddy Boy a couple nights a week. I hate you being gone, but it makes it easier for Nonna if she doesn't have to drive to Trussville at 8 AM, and I get to sleep a couple times a week without interuption. You weigh 15.5 lbs and are 26 1/4 inches long. You will drink about 16 ounces of milk a day and about 10-12 ounces of baby foot each day. You definitely prefer the food but still want 2 ounces of milk about an hour after you eat your food. You wear 6, 9, or 12 month sleepers because of the length, but still wear 0-3 month sweaters. We get comments ALL the time on how happy you are. You say Momma, Dadda, Nonna, Mickey, and Hey. We think we've heard a couple of other words (bye and Tipin) but not regularly. You LOVE Mickey Mouse. Everything you can get your hands on goes in your mouth. You said your first sentence the other day even if it was a fluke we were excited! Daddy was driving and I was in the back with you. Daddy said, "Hey Hallie!" You repsonded with "Hey Daddy!" It was very clear but I don't think you knew what you were saying. However, we were so excited. You started eating baby food 'meat'. It is a hit! Sweet girl, Mommy loves you so much! I don't remember life without you and don't really want too! I cover you in kisses on a regular basis and usually you don't even mind! Daddy Boy is retiring Dec 1 to stay home with you and Nonna, and I think he is quite excited even if he didn't intend on retiring so soon. Hallie, I hope you grow up to love God and your family. I hope you you are happy no matter what you choose in life. I hope you find a man that will treat you like a princess but you want to treat like a king. I hope you have nothing but a lifetime of happiness and fun. No matter what, baby girl, Mommy is proud to be just that... your Mommy! Love always, Mommy

Trick or Treat

A day in the life...

7:20 I heard your cooing on the monitor.  I fixed 6 ounces and heated it.  You were asleep after 3.5 ounces. 

8:30 You were back awake with all thanks to a dirty diaper.  We read a book, ate an ounce of milk, changed you into a sleeper from your sleep sack, and just cuddled.

9:10 I stuck you in your swing because you were eyeing it.  I hand you a doll and blankie to keep you from tearing up the mobile on your swing since you can reach it now.  The blankie and doll distract you from ripping the poor sheep off of their ribbons. yiu

9:20 I notice a yawn so I turn out the lights and listen to you babble.

9:25 You are sound asleep. 9:50 You woke up and enjoyed your swing until Daddy rescued you about 10. You hung out in the living room and laughed at Daddy and Tippin while Mommy got ready for us to go eat lunch with the Noodles, Hayes, and Moons. 11:20 I fix a bottle, grab your food, and head out for lunch. We are planning on spending the day out and about so I grab a couple extra items just in case. 11:30 We get to lunch, change your diaper cause you make a nice package in the 3 mile trip to lunch, and feed you your pears. 11:45 We are finally settled and spend some time visiting with friends. 1:00. We run back by the house on our way to look for some yard sales. 1:15 You are sound asleep and Mommy finds a yard sale. We head to the Buy Buy Baby in Hoover. 2:00 Your awake and we are at the baby store. Mommy decides she'd rather carry you than you ride in the stroller. I love hugging on you. :) 2:40 We head to the Galleria across the road. We pull out your stroller and you are sound asleep with 20 mins. 3:45 I change your diaper on a couch in the middle of the mall. This is poopie #4. Fun fun. 4:30 We head to Babies R Us and McCalisters Deli. 5:00 We eat dinner and feed you a bottle. 6:10 We drive over to Babies R Us. We mosey around for a little while. Then, we notice a ton of car seats and strollers being marked down. We compare prices and quality for what seems like forever. 7:20 You've had all you can take and pass out in my arms. You sleep for a good 30 mins. 8:00 We chose a car seat like the one we already have. Its marked down about 40%. 8:40 We get home and Daddy plays with you. I tried to put the car seat in. No luck until you can face forward. 9:30 You take about 3 ounces of a bottle. Then, you decide you won't tolerate any more milk. You want your food. So, you win. 10:30 You play with Tipin, and Mommy pretends to sneeze. You think it is hysterical. How can I make you go to bed when we are having this much fun? 11:00 We put you down and you are out in about 3 mins :)
You got up at 7 the next morning for a bottle. Then, slept till 10:45!

4 Months Old

Hallie Kate,
You are four months old! I cannot believe it! We are settling into a routine with Mommy working full time since school started last month. Sometimes you tease Mommy by sleeping through the night, but we usually get up once to give you a bottle somewhere near 3:30. I'd rather get up once with you than be up for the day at 6 AM. So, Mommy really doesn't mind. You got your 4 month shots and did great! Your teeth bother you sometimes, but they still haven't made their grand appearance! Boy, do you have a strong grip when you chew on my finger. It already hurts; I can't imagine what it will be like when little teeth are involved! You cry when we take the bottle away and try to burp you. During bath time you love for Mommy to pour the water on your hands. I always loved it also! You still sleep in your bassinette. MOmmy felt so bad last month because it started growing mold and I didn't realize it. We bought a new one and are happily enjoying it! I kiss your poor little cheeks about 1000 times a day and sometimes you cry and sometimes you smile so big. You do not like to be messed with when you are groggy! We are doign better with the car seat but still get irritated after about an hour in it. I don't blame you though, so it's ok! You enjoy your johnny jump up but are still figuring out what is all about! You drink about 5 3/4 ounces at each feeding. Your feedings are gettign closer together instead of longer between them. So, I think we will be starting baby food soon! You weigh 14.2 lbs (49%) and are 25 3/4 inches long (higher than 90% - docs exact words). She is happy with your growth, but you still don't care anything about turning over. You've done it before but just periodically. You care more about standing up than rolling or sitting. I also think that because you are so easy going you don't really mind just eating your hands rather than a toy. We quit swaddling you right at 4 months, and you seem to like it better. I love to watch you sleep now that you can curl up with your hands in your face. I tell Daddy every night, she's so cute cause she's sleeping like... I then continue by showing him exactly how your snuggled up. You are still wearing size 1 diapers. Weight wise you could go to a 2 but you are so stinkin' skinny that they are still too big! I should have bought more size 1 on sale. But, little did I know. You love to smile and laugh at Veggie Tales and enjoy Fridays at home with Daddy. I love you, Booger! We are so proud to call you our lil' stinker!

Love always,
Mommy

Five Min Friday

I am doing a quick blog post! I worked today, and Daniel stayed home with Lil Bit. Here is the picture I got about 2nd period today. The highlights of my day: having 11 visitors during my prep period and having to go to the bathroom for 2 mins of quiet time, shopping with Mom for about an hour this afternoon, McDonald's sweet tea on my way to work it actually made me 10 mins late.. oh well...- their sweet tea is my latest addiction, and a three day weekend lurking in the near future! I love life and am thankful I can continue to work without worrying about my sweet angel at home!

We had a very enjoyable FAMILY weekend! I loved every minute of it!

Daniel had HK at home on Friday during the day, and I joined them around 3:30. We had a photo session at the Botanical Gardens with Anna Lamb at 5. I ran by American Eagle to grab a shirt to wear (I didn't have anything to match Daniel and Halile's outfit.) I lucked up and found a cute shirt for $10! I had ordered these bloomers from etsy and found this headband at the Auburn store. I haven't seen any pictures of her in them yet, but I am so excited to see them

After our photos we went and picked up our handprint art plates from Painted By U in Hoover. They turned out so cute! Here is mine :) We painted thse the week before on Friday night! We grabbed a quick bite to eat at Dave's Deli on Hwy 31. We came home and crashed. I think we all slept well Friday night! Hallie didn't even wake up for her early feeding. She slept straight till 5:30.

Saturday we didn't even leave the house! We ate left overs and cooked a Buffalo Chicken Pizza. I slept most of the day because I had been sick with a bad cold, but I did get some snuggle time in on the couch :)

Sunday we all got up and went to church of the second tiem together! The only other time Hallie was about a month old and spit up all over the place during class and Daniel was preaching. So, I had her by myself in worship and class. It was a bit stressful, so it has been a long time since we all went on Sunday morning. Plus, there are A LOT of people there on Sunday mornings. She loved her class and the singing! I will look forward to this each week!

This is HK and her friend, Lucas Wilson.

Three Months Old

Hallie,
I cannot believe it has been three months since I met you! I have had so much fun getting to know you. I cannot stand to be away from you, but you are so adaptable. No matter where you are, you just enjoy the scenary. Wednesday night we went in the nursery class during Bible class. You LOVED the singing! I cannot wait to take you to Mommy and Me class soon! When I put you to bed at night you quit crying if I sing to you. You eat about 5-6 oz every 4-5 hours. You go to bed about 8 or 9 and and sleep till 6 or 7. Mommy started back to work this week, and your schedule has gotten all messed up, but I hope that it will work itself out soon. You drool all the time and still chew on your fists like crazy. The other day you gagged yourself five or six times in a row because you were trying to suck your thumb but it was so long it gagged you. Daddy and I would pull your hand out of your mouth, and you would just look at us and cry. I think it broke your heart. You have started playing with the toys on your car seat and play mat all the time! You can turn from your back to your side but haven't rolled all the way over yet. It won't be long though! When we feed you and then try to burp you, you scream through the first burp without fail. You wear some 0-3 month clothes and some 3-6 month clothes. You still wear size 1 diapers and are 25 inches long. I'm not sure how much you weigh, but I think it is about 13 or 14 lbs.z If you outgrow clothes it is because you are SO tall or your feet are so long. Your napping schedule is pretty good in the morning and crazy in the afternoon. In the morning you sleep until about 9 and are back asleep by 11. You will sleep until about 12 or 12:30 usually. You take another nap about 2 or 3 and sleep for an hour after this it varys from day to day. About 7 PM you get cranky, sometimes you go on to bed for the night and sometimes you nap for an hour. Baby girl, you are so loved!! I can't wait to spend many more years with you!

Love, Mommy

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Two Months Old...

Two Months Old!

Met your Great Great Aunt Eunice

Started smiling!

Went on your first trip to the beach

Slept on DaddyBoy.. whole lots

Went on your first youth trip.. Campaign to Hattiesburg, MS

Celebrated Daddy's first Father's Day

Met Mary Emily Ridinger-Davis

Snuggled with Mommy

Hallie Bug,

You turned 2 months old while we were gone to NYC; you stayed with Nonna and Poppy for ten whole days! They fell in love with you all over again, and I missed you so much! You have done a lot in your short life! You sleep really well, wear size 1 diapers, and 0-3 month clothes. You weigh 11 lbs 9 ounces and are 23.75 inches long! You are in the 90% for length and head circumference and 50% for weight! You are tall and skinny just like your Mommy! Here is some of what you have done this month...

Double digits!

Hallie Bug,

Tomorrow you will be ten weeks old! I cannot believe how you have grown. You will breastfeed now, but you still take mostly formula. You enjoy apple juice so much! We give you apple juice to regulate you going potty. You started eating 5.5 ounces at each feeding today and eat about every 3-4 hours. You are still in size 1 diapers! You go to bed about 9, sleep till about 5 or 6, eat, sleep until about 9, eat again, and sleep until about 10:30. I don't think Mommy really realizes how good of a baby you are! You aren't a big napper, and I'm lucky to get 2 one hour naps out of you. I think it is because how much you sleep at night. You spent 10 days with Nonna and Poppy while we went to NYC. You were so good and had a blast. Daddy has been really busy with this crazy summer schedule, but he will be home more now. You love hanging out with him! He isn't very good at swaddling you though. I have about 3 weeks until school starts back, and I am so sad about leaving you everyday. I know you will be in good hands though. I will treasure the 13 weeks we had together for the rest of my life! Thank you for letting me be your Mommy!

Wordless Wednesday...

Almost Wordless.. this picture is from the Pennington Family Reunion on Sunday. I miss her so much and keep looking at this picture. She seems like she has grown up so much in a few short days of not seeing her. She looks like my Dad so much in this picture. It's a moment in time that I just want to freeze- at least temporarily. So, I posted it on my blog! :)

NYC-Picnik Version

4th of July

Happy 4th of July! We started our day out with lunch at our favorite 'locals' restaurant, 'Goodburger.' Then, we did the Uptown tour on the double decker Grayline bus! We came back to the room for a little down time before heading out to the NYC firework display! It was a great way to celebrate our country and spend time with each other!

Headed out to lunch at Goodburger

The awesome bus we got to ride on!

A 'sweet' note we found after lunch that was left by our cleaning ladies. The chocolate was awesome!

The fireworks were amazing! There were so many people in such a small area!

Us during the fireworks!

More Beach Fun...

Meeting your Great Great Aunt Eunice for the first time

Mommy and Hallie :)

Nona and Hallie

The wildfire from the shoreline

From earlier in the week, but I thought I'd share it anyways...

Mommy, Hallie and DaddyBoy right before going swimming!