Half of a year

6 short months ago Hibdon and I moved into the twighlight zone. Life as we knew it is gone. Our days of freedom, 12 hours sleeping, daytime naps, leisurely eating, clean clothes...it all over. 

That's a bit dramatic, but yes it's been 6 months since the Bella Dozer blessed our lives. We are tired most days, but we would not trade one minute for the world. We are so in love with our giggily, wiggly, wild woman. She's our sweet angel baby. She melts our hearts when she uses her soft happy baby voice to chat, especially when it sounds like she's saying "hiiii" or "heeeey". 

Our lives are brighter with her giggles, structured with her eating, napping and sleeping schedules. When we travel we are sure to take little Lamby (yes he's still around) and big Lamby (her new stuffed lovey). She loves stuffed animals. She also loves books. When we travel in the car she gets her paci and a book to occupy her attention. 

She's a big wiggly mess most of the time. She needs to stand or jump when you hold her. When she's on the ground playing she starts out upright, moves to the crawl position, flops to her belly and then rolls to every toy around. We aren't crawling yet, but I'm sure it will be soon. Then my life will be flipped upside down. 

I've started trying this "no" word. Just taking it for a spin. See how we like it. It doesn't phase her. She looks at me and grins. Just like her Daddy. Great news. 

We've had several foods under our belt. Momma has been redeemed. We have adjusted to carrots in rice cereal. We love apples, bananas, and butternut squash. 

We had the stomach bug this month. Yeah that was awful. We lived off pedialyte for 4 days. It was hard on Momma and Daddy. Probably worse on Daddy because Momma caught it later. During this time ABJ was a little whiny, with good reason. However her whiny-ness led to "mmmummmmma". Yep, my name came first. Now I know it's not real talking, but when you smell like throw up for 3 straight days you get to claim whatever you want. 

Oh these past 6 months have been glorious. I mean that though. The best 6 months of my life. I'm shocked and saddened they have went by so fast. Every month I want to freeze my baby. I want her back in her new born diapers. It's fun, but it's going too fast. I don't care how cliche that sounds! 

Here's our Q&A sesh...  

Daddy-

1) What's your favorite thing to do with AnnaBella? Saying "hiiii"

2) What's your favorite memory from this month? Taking her to daycare in her pretty new pink coat.

3) What big thing did AnnaBella accomplish this month?

She can almost crawl. 

4) What are you looking forward to next month? She's going to crawl! 

This is what I said....

1) What's your favorite thing to do with AnnaBella? Play in the floor. I pick up a toy and she takes it out of my hand. 

2) What's your favorite memory from this month? When I walk into her class and she flaps her arms excited to see me. 

3) What big thing did AnnaBella accomplish this month?

She dominates the jumper now.

4) What are you looking forward to next month? Our first Christmas! 

Momma's Cookin'

You always hear people talk about their Momma's cookin'. They love it, there's nothing like it, and they miss it when it's not there every day. I remember wanting my mom's spaghetti all the time after I left home. That's the way I make my spaghetti now. When you think of Momma's cookin', you think of fondness. Well, not my kid.

Bella Dozer had her first vegetable. Now let me tell you I've been EAGERLY awaiting this day. I was truly excited to make her baby food. Hibdon always jokes that he married me for my cooking. So, naturally I was excited to give my baby the same happiness. Yeah, not exactly how it happened.

I purchased this awesome baby food processor by cusineart. (Highly recommend, A+++. It's easy and works great.) I made a full batch of carrots, thinking she will love carrots. They are a sweeter veggie. My mommy dreams were crushed. She literally acted like she was gagging. She left the carrots on the tip of her tongue, hack and gagged. Slightly on the dramatic side. We tried for quite some time to get the down. Didn't work so well. We've tried them 4 days now. She's getting to be okay with them. That's it though. Not excited. Some people are hard to please. 

I'm not going to let it drive me too crazy because what really does this kid know about food? She's only had milk. Yeah, that's right. I can still be the Pioneer Woman of the Hibdon house. Right? Please say yes. I'm a mom this really is about all I have. 

Aunt Randi

On October 26th, Aunt Randi became Aunt Randi officially. ABJ, we are thrilled. 

We love Aunt Randi. She's the peanut butter to our jelly, the Mac to our cheese, she's the last piece of our family. Oh yeah, she's pretty darn good to Uncle Wil. 

So, when we heard the news, the date was set, we all thought "it's about time". We were so excited as the day approached. It was your first time to stay in a hotel, you loved it. We made the drive Friday night for the rehearsal dinner. Delightful food & meeting loads of people. You finally got to love on Shirley & David Joe. They've been waiting on that one. That bought you the most perfect outfit & peacoat. You love it! 

Saturday morning we were up & getting ready pretty early. You chilled in the hotel room with Daddy & Papa. Then we got you all gorgeous and made it just in time for pictures. Everything was perfect. The wedding, you and the lovely couple. 

Great job on being a charmer, not throwing a fit and keeping Aunt Randi calm moments before she walked out. Oh how I love, love.

5 Months of ABJ

So remember last month when I said it was my favorite? Well, I have a new favorite. This month!!! 

5 whole months. It's so crazy that we are quickly approaching the half year mark. AnnaBella Jane you are without a doubt the light of our lives. We call you "angel baby" often. You are so sweet to us. You love to snuggle. Our routine every night is rice cereal, in which you eat every bite and making sounds that are pretty similar to mmmmm. I swear to this, I have witnesses to prove it. Who knows where you could have picked that one up. Then you get a bath. You love to hang your legs off the chair & kick them for a big splash. After that we lotion you down & sing songs. We head down stairs for a little play time and book reading. You eventually get tired. You save the best for last. You want your Momma, your blanket, your lamby, your bottle & a good snuggle session. Usually within 5 minutes you are out. You will sleep on Momma as long as I like. This usually results in me staying up later just for extra snuggles. 

You are almost always happy, happy, happy (this is a Duck Dynasty reference, it's a big show right now)  in the morning. You are chatty, smiley and giggley. You love school & do very well. This month you are getting bumped up to the next class. Momma was proud of you, Daddy was broken hearted. 

When you are at home your play consists of a rotation of your jumper, walker, bouncer, tummy time in which you play your little piano & reading with Momma. You love your puppy that sings with you, still get sucked into Daddy's guitar and are taking more of an interest in Maddy. 

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

1) What's your favorite thing to do with AnnaBella? Feeling your new teeth!

2) What's your favorite memory from this month? The way she kicks back when she takes a bath.

3) What big thing did AnnaBella accomplish this month?

Being able to sit up all by herself. 

4) What are you looking forward to next month? She's going to the bear class at daycare

This is what I said....

1) What's your favorite thing to do with AnnaBella? Snuggle & read. It's our special time. 

2) What's your favorite memory from this month? Last Sunday, we were snuggling on the couch. AB let me read several books. It was so sweet. 

3) What big thing did AnnaBella accomplish this month?

She can sit up without any assistance to play & she got two teeth! 

4) What are you looking forward to next month? Time to try baby food! 

Oh how he loves us...

Dear AnnaBella,

It's 1:39 in the morning, I have bronchitis, you were just crying in the middle of the night. You are a very good sleeper, but tend to have nights here & there in which you wake up. Most nights we wait for you to soothe yourself, sometimes we fix your blanket & give you your paci and others you may actually need rocked. 

I won't lie to you, we don't always seem happy about these early wake ups. Especially, on the nights I am not feeling well. Tonight, it's different. Tonight I was overcome by the love and blessings from God, tonight I just wanted to hold you.

We read "In Case you Ever Wonder", by Max Lucado. It has become a favorite of mine. I hope when you are a little older it will be a favorite of yours. The book talks about the love Momma and Daddy have for you, but most importantly the love God has for you.

Tonight on my night of your fussiness, my bronchitis, I felt the power of God's love for me. He loves me so much he gave me you. For the first time I felt loved that you are growing so fast. (Usually it breaks my heart) As I stood, rocking you, your feet were dangling near my legs in your 12M pjs, your head was on my shoulder and all that was going through my head was the song "Oh how he loves us". I had just been dead asleep. Not sure I had even heard that song today, but it was playing in my head as I rocked you.

I hope you always know, feel and honor how God loves you. I pray in your times of restlessness you seek him. He will give you rest, strength and healing. Just in case you ever wonder of his love, seek him. In the middle of the night, early morning, in sickness, you will find him. Just seek him. I was overcome with his love one night as I rocked you, my growing little angel. I pray you have this feeling often, you know it's him and you really never have to wonder how Momma loves you, Daddy loves you, but most importantly God loves you. 

Love,

Momma

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.