Oceans 11 (months)

Our baby is 11 months old today!! Where has the time gone? We love going in and getting her in the mornings. Although she's usually awake by 6:30, she waits patiently in her crib until we get her 15-30 minutes later. We can hear her squealing and practicing her babbling, which is so adorable. When we do come in and get her, she immediately pops her head up and gives us a great big grin. Allison also delights us by smacking her lips and making a kissing sound--she's giving us kisses! She's a great eater and loves feeding herself. Her favorite foods are pancakes, applesauce, goldfish crackers, lima beans, and strawberries. Lately she has been doing more "army" crawling and is quite fast at moving toward toys or other things that interest her. When asked, she can clap, reach, shake, and kiss, although she doesn't often do it on command. Having quite the fiery personality, she definitely lets us know what she doesn't like! She is strong-willed for sure, yet so sensitive too. Every night before we go to bed, we sneak into her room to check on her. It is the most amazing feeling to watch your baby sleeping peacefully. We didn't think we could love her any more than when we first met her, but each day we find our hearts are filled with even more love than the day before. Happy 11 months, precious "Boogies". You are such an incredible gift and we are blessed beyond measure to be your parents.

Happy Mother's Day!

Happy mother's day!

To my own mom - thanks for not messing me up... so much.
To my mother in law - thanks for feeding me so much.
To my wife - thanks for loving me (ie, putting up with me) so much!

Motivational Wednesday

Sleepy Beauty

Allison is back on a sleeping-through-the-night streak, that is, until she cuts some more teeth. We feel another top one coming in, which makes the count up to SEVEN teeth! The other morning when we came to pick her up, her arms and feet were cold, so we bundled her in a blanket while she drank her bottle. She looked so cute we had to take a picture. We also finally got a pic of her sleeping on her side. She no longer stays in the same position when she sleeps but rolls around in her crib during the night.

Childhood memories last forever....unfortunately

Dad's directoral debut!

Bluebonnets!

It's spring in Texas, which means, bluebonnets! Whenever I'm driving on the highway and catch my first sight of those fields of blue, my heart leaps in excitement. I have been waiting a long time to take my baby's first "bluebonnet pictures".

new "do"

We haven't updated the blog in a while, and there is SO much that Allison has been doing in the last two weeks! The most amazing to us is that she has finally decided she will roll onto her stomach. Many times after her nap, we have found her in her crib on her belly, pushing up to get a view of us over the rail. She's become such a proficient roller that this is now her mode of travel. Phil discovered this a couple days ago when he left her in the living room sitting up, and when he came back a few minutes later, she was no where to be seen. He thought she was gone! Turns out, she had rolled across the room to play with something interesting.

Allison is also perfecting her pincer grasp and can pick up Cheerios one at a time and put them in her mouth. She is babbling more sounds; some of her favorites include: neng neng, ba, ssssss, ta, dee, ya ya, and finally (to my delight), "ma ma." She loves to squeal and scream--loudly--and she can clap her hands!

She has a new "look", too. To keep some of her long hair out of her face, I put her hair up in pigtails. She gets just as many comments on her new 'do as she does on the decorations I put on her DOC-band. Here is our little girl, growing up faster than we ever thought possible!

Easter Egg Hunt

After church and a nap, Allison went on her first Easter egg hunt with Dad. The eggs were hidden in the places where she likes to play!

He is Risen!

I (Esther) had to go to church early to assist at the early service, so Phil got Allison dressed in her Easter dress. My parents came to worship and afterwards, we met my sister and brother-in-law for brunch.

Allison likes to bang things together!

Family pic

Easter Morning

Allie has adapted surprisingly well to her DOC-band, to our amazement. But the first couple of nights of sleep were rough, to say the least. Mom and Dad got to wake up early with her on Easter morning. I think she was excited to get her first Easter basket. Here are some pics of her checking out both the eggs AND herself in the mirror with her new "hat."

Dye Stains

Wanted to put these pictures up, but will come back to write more details...

Spring Blossom

It's officially spring! Allison is wearing an outfit that Phil's mom got for her when she was three weeks old (Thanks, Harmony!). It's been hanging in her closet until now. Isn't she adorable?

Our spring beauty!