Tuesday?!?...That's it?

I cannot believe that it is only Tuesday. I was hoping that it was already Thursday but I guess I have to be a little more patient. It just seems like the weeks go by so s-s-s-s-l-l-l-l-o-o-o-o-w-w-w-w and the weekends fly by. I guess it doesn't help that I don't get to see Mike and that I am alone with Ansley all day all week. Don't get me wrong...I love being with her and I wouldn't change it for anything but it just makes the week a little longer. I do get to talk to Mike a little more than the weeks prior...but it's just not the same. Plus...he is an hour ahead of me so by the time I get Ansley down where I can talk...he is ready to sack out. The only thing that keeps me going is that one day soon we will be together and I cannot wait. I know that it is so hard on him not being around Ansley and she misses her daddy so much...but I see the light at the end of the tunnel.

It's that darn time again

Well, it is Saturday...so you know what that means...I have to say good bye to Mike for the week. This really (excuse my language please) sucks! I hate having to part ways with him and be away from him. It is so hard. I knew that it would be difficult to be away from him for all of the obvious reasons...but it is much much harder than I had expected. I mean...I miss him terribly when we are apart and I know that it is hard for him being away from Ansley and me. The only thing I can say is that since this has to be done...I am just glad that she is young and doesn't necessarily realize what is going on. I think she can sense that her daddy is not there...but you know what I mean. This week is going to be especially hard because Ansley has an appointment on Monday - she is getting an ultrasound done to see what the status of her kidney situation is. I am praying that it looks better because if it doesn't...she has to have a painful procedure done to see if she has a blockage in her kidneys and we DO NOT want to have to go through that. Please say some prayers for her because we are really needing her kidneys to look better. Anyway, I will defintely let you know how everything went. I am going to get off here and try to enjoy my last night with my hubby!

Can't you feel the love?

Grandpa is in love...can you tell? He has a special bond with all 3 grandchildren and it is sweet. Grandma has a special bond as well...but there seems to be something about Grandpa that all the kids love. He is so good with them and really spends a lot of time playing with them. Grandpa was the first person that Kayla went to...it took her a little time to warm up to the rest of us. By the end of the trip...she was loving on all of us...but it was Grandpa who she first went to. Although he has love for ALL the grandkids...he really loves his Kayla.

Here is Grandpa lovin with Kayla



Don't you just love those curls?

She loves her Uncle Mikey

Well...it took a day or so but when Kayla warmed up to her Uncle Mikey...that was it. She was such a flirt and really loved playing with Mike. He would be sitting in the living room and she would be in the kitchen. She would come around the corner, run up to him...and then run away giggling. It was so cute. I took a few pictures because it really was too cute. She just finished eating and was in her diaper only with Mike's hat on (that she put on herself).

Here she is playing peek-a-boo with her Uncle Mikey & just lovin it


Move over Aunt Liz...here I come Uncle Mikey


Baby got back...


Two of my new favorite people: Uncle Mike and cousin Ansley

A Mississippi State fan?

Out of all of the toys or things for Kayla to play with around the house...she picked the Mississippi State koozie and played with that for hours. I thought it was something to share since all of our friends (well...most of our friends) are Mississippi State fans. I thought it was a cute photo opportunity and thought you guys might enjoy this.

All dogs go to heaven...

...well Archie and Parker were in heaven while Kayla was here. As you all probably know...we have 3 dogs. Yes...count em...3! I know that we are crazy for having a newborn baby plus 3 dogs but we had them before we got pregnant and there was no way that we were going to get rid of them since they are a part of our family. Anyway, we have Sputters (who is 18 years old) and Archie and Parker (they are the Yorkies). Archie and Parker are pretty good with children but Sputters is getting old and she has a history of nipping so we decided to put her up while Kayla was here. I don't know that Sputters would have done anything but we just didn't want to run the risk in case she did. Kayla LOVES doggies and wanted to be around the dogs constantly. She decided that she wanted to play with Archie and Parker and rolled around with them and wanted to lay down on their bed. I know...I probably should not have let her do that but I will say that not only was it cute but I had just washed the dog beds prior to her doing this. Anyway, I got a few pics of her playing with them that I wanted to share.


Here is Kayla "playing" and loving with the dogs:






Here she is with Grandpa, Grandma and Daddy:

Kayla loves her Ansley

Here are some pictures of Kayla during her visit with us. She really loves babies and loved seeing and spending time with her cousin. She was so helpful and wanted to help us feed Ansley. She also was so sweet when we were trying to get Ansley sleep. She would take Ansley's hand and give them kisses and kiss her forehead...it was just the sweetest thing ever! I snapped a few pictures of her helping with the bottle because it was just too darn cute. I also included a few other pictures of her playing with Grandma and Grandpa and with a few toys that we got her. She loved it all. She is one of the most content little girls and she just loved playing with anything that we gave her. I hope that Ansley turns out to be just like her cousin Kayla!

Here she is helping with the bottle:




Here she is playing with some toys and Grandma and Grandpa:






Here she is loving on Ansley...I love it

Could she be any cuter?

Well, my brother and sister came in town to visit us this weekend along with my beautiful niece, Kayla. The last time I saw her was back in November of last year (when I got pregnant). She is now almost 18 months old!!! and I can hardly believe it. She's walking...make that running...around and talking (well...a little here and there). It is really neat because it gives me an idea of what Ansley is going to be like. I know she is my niece...but I have to say that she is just beautiful...see for yourself!


Here she is before bedtime playing with Ansley's floor toy


Here she is putting the babydoll in the vibrating chair...how sweet


She is making sure that the straps are fastened tight so babydoll doesn't fall out


Making sure that the chair is nice and steady


Now it's time to try out the swing


Just look at those curls!

Abs of steel

Well, Ansley and Grandma have an exercise routine that they do a few times a day and I have to say that I am already noticing a dfference (ha ha). They do tummy time, head lifts, leg exercises, arm stretches, and then finish things off with a massage. I think Ansley loves doing her exercises almost as much as Grandma loves doing them with her. I think I need to take Ansley's lead and do some exercising myself.... maybe Grandma will help me out with that.



Here Ansley demonstrates her arm curls...


...and her leg lifts...


...and doing her push ups and head lifts...


...and topping things off with a hand massage...


...and a back massage! Wow...that wore me out!

It's so hard to say goodbye..

Well, my parents came into town this past Friday and watched Ansley for us. They were coming into town to visit with my brother anyway...but came in a day earlier so we could go to a going away dinner with a bunch of our friends. Our friends, Eric and Rivers, are moving to Jackson at the end of this month and we are all sad about that. A large group of us went out to eat and then we went to a local bar afterwards. It was the first time that Mike and I have been out since Ansley has been born and it was nice to get out and spend time with our friends BUT we did miss her a lot. I think it's important to be able to still have time for yourselves and spend time with your significant other. I especially think it's important for Mike and I because we don't have family in town to watch her...so when they do come into town...we need to take advantage of that (not take advantage of them... just the situation). Anyway, we went out and had a good time and it was nice to see everyone especially since Mike has already been living in Orlando. I know Mike was really glad to see Ansley and I know she was super happy to see him.

Yipee...Daddy's coming home!

Ansley and I are so excited for Mike to come home this weekend. It has been a long 5days without him here and we cannot wait for him to get in. We also have other visitors coming in this weekend that we are really excited about. My parents are coming in from Huntsville along with my brother (Justin), my sister (Tricia) and my niece (Kayla) from Hawaii. I cannot wait to see Kayla since I have not seen her since before I was pregnant. I bet that she has grown so much and I am excited to see what she is like because it also gives me an idea of how Ansley will be. It will also give me an idea of the things that Ansley will be doing at her age. Anyway, I will be sure to put some pictures up of their visit. I have to go get ready to pick up my man!

Makes my heart melt

I know it may sound a little silly...but whenever Ansley looks at me a certain way or when she smiles at me...my heart melts. I completely understand why women go through the hardships of pregnancy and labor...because this makes it all worth it. I had always heard people say..."Oh...you forget what the pain is like"...and I am not gonna lie...I thought you women were crazy! I kept thinking to myself about how it would be possible to go through having a baby and not remember the pain. I do know now because (and I am not saying that I am going to right now)...I could probably get pregnant soon and not have a heart attack. I am not suggesting that I want to have another baby right now because I don't...I really want to enjoy my time with Ansley but if I did become pregnant it would not be the end of the world. Anyway, I am loving being a mommy and loving Ansley!



We decided to take a pics of Ansley sitting up...


...with the help of the couch and a few pillows



"Okay Mom...enough of the photo shoot"

I wouldn't think it would be possible...

that she could be any cuter...but she is! I knew that I would love her but it's so much more than that. I honestly love her more I ever thought I could love anything...and then some. I love watching her and seeing her do new things. I LOVE it when she smiles...it is one of my very favorite things...hopefully you love it as much as I do.



"If you're happy and you know it then your face will surely show it"...and it does



She either has gas or is really happy to be with her mama...I'm going with the latter



Yeah...I'm cute and I know it