Turkey day is upon us!

Well, I can hardly believe that Thanksgiving is almost here. This year has gone by so fast and it's crazy that the holidays are already upon us. It's hard to believe that 2009 is just around the corner. I have to say that I am a little sad about this holiday season because we are in Orlando and will not be around family or friends. Mike and I are excited because it will Ansley's first...well...her first everything but we will be missing our family and friends SO much.

"I am so thankful for you"!


Thanksgiving is all about being thankful and there is so much that I am thankful for. First of all...I am thankful to God for taking such good care of us. He has blessed us with so many different things and so many opportunities. I am so thankful that I have the most amazing husband. Mike has been so awesome about everything and he is so good with Ansley. I love him as my best friend, as my husband and as Ansley's daddy. I am so thankful for my beautiful, sweet baby. I was truly blessed to have a baby as good and sweet as she is. She has really been the best baby and I am thankful for that. I am thankful that she is healthy and growing everyday. I feel so lucky to be able to stay home with her and take care of her. I am so thankful for my family. I have the best family and they are all so important to us. They are not only an extremely important part of our lives but in Ansley's life as well. We don't get to see them all that much but we love them all and send our very best to everyone in Alabama, Pennsylvania, Hawaii, Texas (about to be Kansas), and New Hampshire. I also very thankful for our friends. We love them like they were family and could not have made it through this year without them. I want you all to know how much we love you and miss you!!! Happy Thanksgiving from our home to yours!

"Happy Thanksgiving...I love you!"

Ansley in action

Ansley loves playing with her toy balls

She was born to be a Penn State fan

Am I cute or what?

Ready for an outing

I kind of like it up here...

...but I like it here too...as long as I am with my daddy

I will sporting these hairbands until my locks grow out

This Archie...he sure does love giving me kisses

We are liking this Florida sun

She's obsessed with her feet...which by the way have not grown at all

Daddy says that I look like a Jedi Knight...I think he's crazy

Tummy time with my daddy

She is pulling and holding her head up like a champ

Jump around...jump up jump up & get down

So we decided to get the "jumper" (not sure what it is called) for Ansley...and she loved it. She isn't quite big enough to really go crazy in it but she defintely has the idea. She is holding her head up SO good and can almost sit up without falling over (with the assistance of some kind of support). HOLD UP!...newsflash...I MUST apologize right now. I just realized that I have not told you guys that Ansley has been rolling over. I cannot believe that I did not tell you that until now. I guess I have been busy and just forgot to let everyone know. I have filmed it on our camcorder but I need to try and get it on my camera so I can upload it on the blog. She had been rolling over here and there but lately it has been more so. Ansley and I joined a Gymboree class and she loves it. We go to a play and learn class every Tuesday and it really is great. She rolls so much more at the class than at home for some strange reason. I am sorry that I have not mentioned that before now. Anyway, she really liked being in her jumper and I will try to get that on film as well.

What's up doc

We went to Ansley's 4 month check up and it was...interesting to say the least. We didn't love the doctor (or the doctor's office) so we are going to try and find a different one but as far as Ansley is concerned...it went well. Ansley weighs 13 pounds and is 24 3/4 inches long! I cannot believe how long she is. She did so good with her shots...better than her mommy did. I had to get Mike to go with me because I just couldn't bear to watch her get those shots. She cried for 10 seconds and was good as soon as we picked her up and loved on her. We took a few pics before we went to the doctor's office because she was in her first pair (of many...I'm sure) jeans.

I am a daddy's girl...


...but I am my mommy's girl too...what can I say?...I am loved


Yeah...too cute


Mommy wanted everyone to see my complete outfit

Looking good with the hood

As you all know...Ansley loves her bath time. She can be fussy but as soon as I put her in her tub...she is immediately calm and happy. Usually, I give her a bath right before she eats so when she gets done with her bath she is ready for her bottle. What she doesn't love is getting out of the bath but I have to say...she sure does look cute when she gets out.

Family time

Ansley watching Sunday night football on the tube

Mommy and Ansley...and Ansley is obviously distracted

Daddy is trying to get her attention but...

...she is busy watching Archie and Parker

I love this picture...she's deep in thought

Hey Daddy!

Here we are out on the patio

"I see you Mommy"

I see Paris, I see France...

...I see Ansley's underpants!

"My daddy and I are pretty darn cute"

...and mommy's pretty happy about that


Well, Ansley turned 4 months old this weekend! Can you believe it?...we can't. I honestly cannot believe how quickly time has flown by. I was thinking about how she will be almost 6 months old at Christmas time and that is just crazy. We are going to our 4 month check up this Wednesday and I am both nervous and excited about it. I am nervous because she has to have her shots and I hate that. I am excited because she should be able to begin eating cereal and I will see how much she has grown. I am curious about her progress. Mike and I are looking forward to the holidays and having Ansley's first Thanksgiving and Christmas. I realize that she is still so young but I am still excited about it. It will be different since it will be our first family Thanksgiving in Orlando. Anyway, this weekend we decided to spend a little time outside and took a few family pictures. It was a pretty weekend and Ansley really does love to be outside.

We had visitors!!!

We had visitors the other day and I have to say...I was pretty excited about it. Our friends from Memphis, Crystal and Ashley, were in Orlando coming back from a cruise. They were at the airport for a few hours...so Ansley and I went and picked them up to spend some time with them. We took them to the one place that we all loved to go...the mall. We did a little shopping and then I had to drop them back off at the airport which I did not want to do. I really miss them and our friends and it was hard and sad to say bye. I know that I will see them soon...but it won't be soon enough. I was very happy to see them though and hope that they come back soon.

Guilty as charged...

I played a little dress up with Ansley yesterday. I was working on a "project" and had to put her in a few different outfits. Believe it or not...I purchased this outfit before I even found out I was pregnant...yes...before I even found out. We were visiting Mike's family for Thanksgiving and we went shopping where I picked up this little outfit. I had to share because she was giving me the best smile and was looking too darn cute. I thought you might enjoy this...plus I couldn't help myself.

How crazy is this...?

I know I just posted 2 of these...but I was looking at these pictures and I could not believe the difference and had to share. It is amazing how much she has grown. Believe it or not...she is still pretty small so that tells you just how tiny she was when I brought her home (at a mere 4 pounds 15 ounces). She is barely fitting into 3 to 6 months right now...and she barely (and I mean barely) fit into the premie then. I knew that she was small but I am now realizing just how small she was. She is my first baby so I didn't really know any different but now that she is growing...I am much more aware. I am so glad that she is getting bigger and stronger and is healthy...and bringing home a baby that is 4 pounds 15 ounces is not easy. There were a lot of things that I had to overcome because she was early and so small but sometimes I miss her being that small. I can remember her looking so tiny in Mike's arms...she still looks small...just not so tiny :)

Then

Now


Then

Now

"Mama"..."Daddy"

So, Ansley and I have this new thing. I ask her to say "Mama" and "Daddy"...and she cracks up and smiles SO big. I don't know what it is about me saying those words to her...but her face lights up and she smiles as big as she can. I like to tell myself that just hearing our names makes her so happy...who knows. All I know is that I love watching her smile and it really tugs at my heart. As much as I say the words "Mama" and "Daddy" to her...they have to be on the tip of her tongue. As soon as I get her to say that...I will be working on all of the grandparents' names... piece of cake (yeah right).

Out like a light

Let me start this off by saying that I am NOT complaining...at all...but I have a little trouble getting Ansley to nap during the day. She really does not take naps during the day unless I will hold her. As most of you probably already know...this is not the best thing to do for several reasons. Other than forming bad habits, I cannot get anything done during the day which is becomming an issue. Now at night, she is perfect. I start my routine at 8pm where I give her a bath, change her, feed her...and put her to sleep. Normally, she is out by 9pm and wakes up between 7:30 and 8:30 in the morning. If I had to choose...I would much rather have her go down at night than during the day but it would be nice if she did both. Anyway, the other day, I was actually able to lay Ansley down on her mat (awake) and she fell asleep on her own. I realize that this may only be a big deal to me...but I wanted to share this anyway.

What I wish Ansley was thinking...
"So this is what it's like to fall asleep on my own"...

..."this is really nice and so relaxing"...

..."I am loving this...I think I will do this more often"