Happy Memorial Day

"And I'm proud to be an American, where at least I know I'm free. And I won't forget the men who died, who gave that right to me!"

HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY!!

Park

Grandparents

Grandparents make the world...a little softer, a little kinder, a little warmer.

Grandparents, like heroes, are as necessary to a child's growth as vitamins.

Grandparents are similar to a piece of string - handy to have around and easily wrapped around the fingers of their grandchildren.

Nobody can do for little children what grandparents do. Grandparents sort of sprinkle stardust over the lives of little children.

Some of the world's best educators are grandparents.

The simplest toy, one which even the youngest child can operate, is called a grandparent.

Mid-Month Update

Wow! I can't believe how fast Anna Riley is already changing this month!!  Here is a little update on what we have been up to recently:

* She had begun to sleep through the night.  (notice I said HAD)

*She is in the early stages of teething.  (I dont know if this is why she decided to start waking up again or she just thought she would change things back again.  But she only wakes up once and its usually around 2:30 so still not too bad...maybe by next month we will be back to sleeping through the night when we start cereal)

*Just last week she really became so interested in her spinning toy I put on her Bumbo tray.  Before she never really even noticed it now she is constantly spinning it.

*Does NOT like for you to hold her like a baby much anymore! :(  I mean she will pull herself up until she is in a sitting position.  I know it will be a good while before she is sitting up on her own but she is a strong little booger!

* I just started strolling her face forward and she loves it.  She likes to look at everything going on!

*Went swinging for the first time at the park and loved it. 

My baby is growing so fast! Its bittersweet!  I love each and every stage that she goes through and of course I miss her being small and being a baby but I also look forward to all the fun things to come!

Best Friends

Anna Riley is 3 months and Zoe Jane is 6 months and they "played" so good together.  It was cute how they would touch each other.  Its funny how they are almost the same size! 

Pool Day #2

Saturday we went back to the pool and it was a little better.  We actually stayed for a really long time.  Anna Riley played in the pool for a while longer this time before getting sleepy.  I think she just gets really overstimulated with it right now.  Because all she associates with water (i.e. bathtime) is bedtime.  But it was great because she took a great nap out there and it gave me time to relax too!  On the other hand, Zoe Jane loved it!! I cant wait for the next few months.  I think Anna Riley will like it a lot more.  She will be in the pool a lot his summer so she will get used to it!

1st Pool Day

The Grand Hotel is just down the road from us so we headed to the pool on Thursday.  Anna Riley didnt really know what to think about it. She didnt really dislike it though so that is good.  I think she will really enjoy it in a few months. She didnt really get her nap out before we left so she was still pretty sleepy.  So we were in the pool for maybe 15 minutes before she was falling asleep! 

Fairhope and Good Company

Wednesday night we headed down to Fairhope for a long weekend with Becca, Zach and Zoe Jane.  What a relaxing weekend!  We had so much fun lounging around, eating, playing with the babies, eating, playing at the pool and did I mention eating?? Zoe Jane and Anna Riley hit it off and we just know they are going to be best friends!! haha  We went downtown Friday night for Art Night.  They have it the first Friday of every month. There are people playing on different streets and everyone is just walking around enjoying the night.  Several of the stores stay open and some have wine and food samples.  It is just a fun, relaxing atmosphere. I look forward to our families vacationing together every year!

I took so many pictures that I am going to have to break it up over a few posts...

Well my computer decided to stop working while we were in Fairhope over the weekend so I am just getting it back.  I have lots to post about but it will take some time!  I did have a great 1st Mothers Day and I hope all of you did as well...there would have been a post telling you all Happy Mothers day had I had a computer! haha...more on that and everything else later!

3 months

Wow I cant believe it has already been 3 months!  And boy has she changed so much!

Here is what Anna Riley has been up to this month:

• According to my scales, she weighs a little over 14 lbs.
• She is wearing 3-6 and some 6-9 clothes.
• She is in size 1-2 diapers
• She eats around 5-6 oz. every 3-4 hours during the day and here lately only wakes up once at some point in the night to eat.
• She sleeps late (for now).  She gets up anywhere from 8:00-9:45!  I know this wont last much longer!

• She has turned into a cat napper.  Her naps are rarely over an hour long.  Then shes up for about an hour or so before she gets sleepy again. Any suggestions on how to get her to take longer naps? 
• She is mesmerized by the TV!  I let her watch Mickey Mouse Club or Sesame Street in the mornings while I make the bed, change, etc.  When I turn it on, she kicks and coos and just gets so excited!  She really loves all the colors and songs! ( I personally like these 2 shows as well!) haha

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  Her floor mat is one of her favorite things to play with.  She can play on it for a while without getting fussy.  She is loves grabbing the toys and checking herself out in the mirror (true girl already).
• She is not as interested in the swing anymore.  It usually just puts her to sleep.
• Bath time is a favorite now.  She loves to kick and splash and cries when I get her out!
• Her hands are constantly in her mouth or in front of her face.  She likes to see her fingers move.  And she is constantly tucking her thumb under her index finger or holding her fingers like she has a pencil in her hand. 
• She has rolled from tummy to back 2 times but hasnt done it since.
• She has great control of her head and is constantly looking around at everything. 
• She loves to stand in your lap.
• She is laughing, cooing and squealing all the time.  She will have little "conversations" with you.  Her smiles still just melt my heart!
• She has this yellow duck that Granna gave her that is on her carseat.  Sometimes she will not take her eyes off of it.  And sometimes even has a conversation with it.
• She loves to go grocery shopping with me.  She likes all the bright lights and of course we get stopped a few times and she just loves the attention!
• She likes to cuddle.  I will definitely miss this!
• She is so good during church.  We still havent taken her to the nursery. 
• She likes to hide her eyes when she is trying to sleep...whether its in my arm pit, with her hands, or her bunny.

• She loves taking naps with her bunny.  She cuddles with it.  I dont put it in there at night yet because sometimes she likes to put it on her face.
• She blows lots and lots of bubbles!
• She is a really good, calm baby!

• She is starting to look more like me but still has a lot of her Daddy's features. 
• Her hair has lightened up so much and has a little bit of a red tent.  Her eyes are brown like her Daddy.  Her skin color lightened up a little.