You can't put a size on pretty.

Well Bells,

I'd like to say that having a conversation about your size would be this heart-to-heart, mother-daughter break through. I would tell you, you are beautiful the way you are. Don't let a number define you. I totally agree with all of this. I hope you are never defined by your size. 

The reality of our life is, you are a 4 month old that wears 12 month clothes. I hope you will forgive me when I tell you it's down right hilarious. You have rolls on your legs, a chubby double chin and cheeks that look as if they are stuffed with something. I couldn't love your chubbiness more. You make it easy to snuggle and kiss all over your cheeks. 

You don't make it easy to shop for though. Poor Hon has picked out some cute outfits, only for you to out grow them. She bought a cute Halloween outfit. We got you in it, but there would be no room for activities. 

Last time we were at Hon and GPa's late we had the bright idea that we would put you in your pjs before we left. That way we didn't have to wake you to change once we got home. Hon only had one set of pjs. Your size 9 month Christmas pjs. Those aren't really fitting right now. 

You're a chunk. I love it. I hope you don't mind. 

Christmas in September. 

Number 4

Dear ABJ,

The number 4 was my softball number and it was also in my basketball number (14). I had about a bazillion passwords including 4. If asked to pick any number 1-5 or 1-10 or 1-20, I pick 4. 

If asked to pick my favorite month with you thus far, 4. The 4th month, the number 4 has been pretty fantastic. You are just a hoot. You love to hear your voice. You will give a screech and follow it up with a giggle. You love to play a game with Daddy of "give me kisses". He gives you a high pitch "give me kisses", you screech, open your mouth and slobber all over. I love to play head bump. When I pick you up from school, I lean my forehead into yours and you grab as tight as you can to whatever you get your hands on. Usually it's my hair. (BTW nothing used to make me more angry than a hair pull. You my little girl, I just laugh.) 

This month you have mastered giggling, grabbing anything and everything with your hands, rolling from tummy to back, back to tummy, started rice cereal and gained a bigger interest in books. Your little legs are getting pretty froggy and you like to jump when I hold you. You also love to stand. You prefer this position.

 Your favorite toys are are attached to your play gym. You love to bat the animals hanging down then you roll all over until you are almost not on the mat. Then you love to stare at yourself in the mirror. You think that baby is pretty funny. 

Oh baby girl you are just too cute, too funny, and too silly. You've had your bouts of sickness in which you and I are a complete hot mess. You sleep pretty well, when you are healthy it's a 12 hour night no wake-ups. When you aren't well, you suck at sleeping. This makes me exhausted. So, I may or may not call in reserves. Nana-Great does some good rockin while I nap. 

You grew pretty quickly this month. 

Height- 26" 98%

Weight- 18.4 lbs 98%

HC- 43.3 cm 100% 

We like to say you are completely in proportion!

As always here's what Daddy thinks about you....

1) What's your favorite thing to do with AnnaBella? Put you in you chair and play the guitar. I especially like when she sings along. 

2) What's your favorite memory from this month? When we stayed by ourselves for two nights. 

3) What big thing did AnnaBella accomplish this month?

She wears 12 month clothes. She outgrew her Christmas pjs and Halloween costume.

4) What are you looking forward to next month? Maybe she will crawl. 

This is what I said....

1) What's your favorite thing to do with AnnaBella? Read to her. In the mornings after her bottle I like to read one regular book and one bible story before we get ready. I also like to read a couple books when I get home from work. Sometimes we get a bedtime book in. 

2) What's your favorite memory from this month? Laying her on the couch, tickling her and listening to her giggle. Can't get enough of it. 

3) What big thing did AnnaBella accomplish this month?

She takes her paci in and out of her mouth. 

4) What are you looking forward to next month? Celebrating my birthday with ABJ! 

We love you pretty girl. We love you to the moon and back. Keep growing and giggling and yelling and smiling and rolling and learning and becoming you. 

Absence makes the heart grow fonder

So this week marked a few firsts.

1) the first time Hibdon and I stayed away from Bells.

2) the first time I stayed away from Bells on my own.

3) Bells' first ear infection

Rough week, huh?

Well, it's not all bad, but I did repeat a few sayings to myself on more than 19 occasions. "God won't bring me to something he can't get me through" "God didn't give me a spirit of fear, but of strength".

This weekend Hibdon and I took a day all to ourselves to enjoy each others company. We kind of missed an anniversary celebration due to work schedules. So my ABJ stayed with Hon and GPa while we drove to OKC. We started out with plans, but nixed them all when we stumbled upon a beautiful Oklahoma vineyard. We spent our morning there and then just enjoyed things around our hotel. This would be instance #1 of staying away from my baby. I'd say I did ok and tried my best not to drive GPa & Hon crazy with the check ins. Hon of course had a photo shoot. They claim AnnaBella is the best baby and slept really well. 

Gorgeous Greenfield Vineyard, we sipped wine, soaked up the view and listened to football.

Our little football babe on her pic session

Showing off her cute shoes Hon bought her.

So, the weekend went pretty great and then Monday hit with a bang...ear infection.  Poor Bells, she wasn't fussy, just not herself. Then I get a text from her teacher saying she was starting to have green mucus. Yucko! Thankfully Dr. C was readily available in the office. He worked her right in and we started the antibiotics. We were determined to kill those nasty infectious bugs. 

Well, Tuesday hit and I was feeling pretty crappy. I also had to leave my sweeties for Houston. No bueno. I will say Hibdon handled it like a pro. I openly admit I was a little worried he would get overwhelmed. Nope, not my guy. He didn't really solicit help. Just GPa picking her up one day that Hibdon couldn't get to school on time. He did good, very good. 

I held it together the best I could. I missed them both pretty bad, shed a few tears and used as much FaceTime as possible. When I flew home Thursday I went to see Dr. C. I had my first adult ear infection, a sinus infection and a fever. I must say, that did not help my broken heart either. I had my turn on the antibiotics. I did start feeling better fast, mainly because I could get some baby TLC. 

We spent the weekend recooporating and loving on each other. We survived. 

Beat the cold

After 7 full days, 1 bottle of Vicks, 1 bottle of saline solution, 1 nose sucker, 2 humidifiers, and one rock & play we have beat our first cold.

That nasty, mean, rotten, good for nothing cold entered into the Hibdon house. It rocked my baby girls world, broke this Mommas heart and wore her Daddy down. 

We ate as upright as possible, walked MILES in our house, paced the same track over and over, took several warm bathes a day, bounced and walked, sang and walked, swayed and walked, hummed and walked, we used the paci, we threw the paci, we rubbed our little eyes until they were red, we were as pitiful as they come. 

We survived though. AB still has a little congestion, but she is back to being my sweet little princess. She's giggling again, she's playing all the time & she doesn't need to be held/walked all over the house every second of the day. 

Things I am ready for now:

1) I want her to be able to tell me what's wrong.

2) I want her to be old enough for a decongestant.

3) I want her to be old enough for mass amounts of vitamin C

And for the love I want her to be able to blow her nose.

Hopefully we are out of the woods with this cold and we are building that little immunity day by day. 

Remember whens

What's the greatest chapter in your book? Mine would be you. 

I'm living the moments that I will look back on and say, "Remember when". 

Dear AnnaBella Jane,

I'm so incredibly in love with you little girl. Your giggles, your sweet snuggles, your silly smile, and your sleepy noises. They all melt my heart. 

You have been hitting some fun milestones of social development and each time we see just a glimpse into your personality. If I could pick two traits that are spot on AB, I would pick sweet & ornery. Now most people that know your parents are going to say that the sweet comes from me and ornery from Daddy. Well, I would agree with that. Not sure Daddy would though. He has been pretty sweet to both of us here lately. You've been sick with your first cold and Momma had to travel for work. Daddy held down the fort, supported Momma with her needs and gave you some major extra, super sized TLC. 

Something else that is sweet about Daddy is he provides for us. He has been working retail for quite some time to help provide a good lifestyle for you and I. (Lets just face it, we are expensive.)  After working the crazy long hours and the not so fun job, Daddy landed what could quite possibly be his dream job. Daddy will be working in Marketing and Sales. He's so good at this & will be putting that hard earned masters to use. We are thrilled with this change!! This means Daddy will be at home way more. We love our Daddy time.

This weekend you and I made Daddy's favorite cake, a big dinner and invited everyone over after church to celebrate Daddy. It was a great time with a full house.

I told your Daddy someday Ill look back and say, "Remeber when you got this job, Bella was just a baby & we were so blessed to celebrate with our family". 

I have tried to mentally capture all of the remember whens with you. You are going so fast, I want to press pause!!