Happy Halloween

Happy Halloween!! And, Happy Birthday to Aunt Debbie and Aunt Melissa! Even though Aunt Deanna took her pictures last week, we couldn't pass up Halloween without a few more shots! Plus, Daddy hadn't seen her in her costume! Here are some of my favorites!

This past weekend, Grandma and Grandpa took A to the lake to see her Mimi and her Papa! She got to go to church and wear her costume and I'm sure she was shown off to everyone. Mommy and Daddy went to College Station and Mommy got to go watch A&M beat Tech! It was a GREAT weekend with friends and tailgating. Mommy had a great time and was very happy to be back in her town! I got to vistit the Bonfire Memorial for the first time. It really brought back some memories! I still remember that night and being woke up by the phone! It was a very sad time for the Aggies and the Memorial is absolutely beautiful. I forgot to get pictures from Aunt Tracy, but I will post some later.

It's Not Working!!

So, nothing seems to be working! Today A had a really rough day! She maybe got 2 hours of a nap in, and from what I hear that’s pushing it! I got home and she had a 30 minute nap. Then Aunt Deanna came over to take the kids Halloween picture and she did Awesome. She’s been in a great mood all day, just didn’t want to sleep. She even came in from outside later than usual and let me pack her clothes for her weekend trip to Mimi’s. Then she got tired and whined all the way through dinner! She ate it all up though, which was probably because, not only did she not sleep all day, she barely ate! She was one hungry girl!! Then WE did everything she could for the next 20 minutes to not fall asleep. Like I’ve said before, I really don’t like her falling asleep for the night while I’m holding her. I don’t want her to get used to it. But, I wanted to keep her upright for as long as possible. So, this time, I swaddled her in the faux “miracle blanket” but put her on her tummy. I was hoping that if the gas crept up again and if she was on her tummy, it would work its way out and she would remain calm. NOPE!!! Just like clock work! She started screaming. Only this time it was for fewer minutes and she put herself back to sleep twice before she finally gave way a third time. I never went in and now she’s down. I guess I’m going to have to give in and call the doctor tomorrow. I just don’t know why this happens every night. Now, if I can just find the time to call during the day!

Here is last months pictures form Discovery Green! I LOVE them! They turned out even better than I thought they would. Today we took her 5 month\Halloween pictures and they are just PRECIOUS! I can’t wait for those! If you know anyone who is having a baby and is interested in either newborn or monthly pictures, Deanna is the way to go! I’m so excited we are taking these monthly!

Bubbles and Carrots

Alexis tried carrots this week and seems to enjoy them! I've been tweaking our schedule the last two nights hoping to improve her 45 minute hysterics after she's down for the night. I've put her down for a nap around 4 each day and let her sleep till 5, she actually has gotten up on her own. Then we had the cereal and carrots, but I am holding her bottle off until we get a bath around 7. She gets pretty fussy around 6:30. She still knows that it is around her bed time and just wants to go down. I just don't want to put her down because she will just wake up screaming. I'm hoping if I feed her earlier and give her a later nap that she can stay up a little longer. Judging from the crying in the background at the moment, it isn't working. My poor baby is so tired. So, I'm off to give her a bath and hopefully that will calm her down for an hour till I can give her a bottle and put her down. If only babies came with a manual!

Carrots make her very happy

Below are some videos I got today after her cereal. She was in a great mood. She also loves it when I blow bubbles and then tries to do it back. I think she has gotten the hang of it.

Happy 5 Month Birthday

Today is Alexis's 5 month birthday and Pappa B's birthday! So, we thought we would take some pictures for Pappa to mark this special day. Alexis can't wait stay with you next weekend. We love you!

I'll Never be 4 Months Again

I can't believe Alexis will be 5 months old on Sunday! She only has three days left of being a 4 month old and it kind of makes me sad. There is just something about the number 5 that seems so old to me!

This week she tried barley and gave up on the green beans. The week didn't get any better after she tried them on the first post. She still doesn't enjoy them. We're just going to come back to those a little later. So, we switched to applesauce, which she seems to enjoy. Although she ate the barley all up, I'm switching her back to oatmeal because something is making her face all red. Just incase its the barley, we are going to stop it for a few days.

We have had a bit of a rough week on the sleeping front. I'm trying to keep her up as long as possible after she eats, but she keeps waking up 45 minutes later, with gas, I guess. I burp her several times after she eats, but she still wakes up screaming! Tonight we even feed her the cereal earlier and a bottle later, plus keeping her up longer and it seems like tonight was the worst night of all. We've been able to calm her down and put her back to sleep with in 10 minutes, most nights. But, tonight it took over an hour and 3 plus times going in! I let her cry it out for 10 minutes, but she gets to screaming so bad that she's shaking and can't breathe. The strange thing is, she doesn't do this during the day. She goes down for a nap and sleeps, even if it isn't longer than an hour. I also put her down awake and in a happy mood. Getting her to go down both at naps and that first time at night is no problem at all. so, I just don't know what I'm doing wrong and its getting frustrating.

Her first time in the highchair. Daddy put her in it while Mommy was at work. Thankfully for me, Aunt Lissa was here to take a picture.

I love her bathtub pictures the best. I guess it really reminds me of my baby pictures. You can really see how much she has grown from the her last picture. That was taken just 4 weeks ago.

Dedication Weekend

Alexis had such a busy weekend. Not only did she have an early morning play date and go to the pumpkin patch, but all of her family and friends gathered to watch her as we Dedicated her to the church and promised before God and our congregation to raise her in the church. This was a very emotional week for me. Every time I even thought about her knowing Christ I would tear up. I pray that she grows to love God and know him as her Savior. Once again God, we could not be happier and we thank you for your most precious gift! We love you Alexis!

I just loved her outfit this weekend! I've been waiting to put her in this since she was born. She looked just precious! In the afternoon, we put Ryder and A in their overalls together for an afternoon photo shoot.

The best aunts, uncles and grandparents! Thanks again for being there for A this weekend.

Every time we get A and Ryder together, she goes straight for his face. I'm not sure whether she is trying to kiss him or eat him. But, there is definitely an attraction. Look how smitten she looks with him! I mean, how could you not be?

Pumpkin Patch

Fall is here! And what does that mean? The PUMPKIN PATCH!! I just couldn’t wait to take A! She didn’t do as well as I’d hoped she would, but I did get some good pictures! I don’t think she liked the hay! I set up the cutest picture with pumpkins around her, but she just wasn’t digging sitting on that hay! We didn’t even get a family photo. Daddy run across the street to the bank so I could buy 3 pumpkins! This place had the most perfect pumpkins that I’ve ever seen! I love them so much that I don’t even want to carve them!

On Saturday We watched William and Ryder while Deanna had a photo shoot. I was a little nervous how this would play out, but both kids did really well. They both went down for naps and never really fussed. I even got a shower in while Uncle Michael and Uncle Brian were watching them. I just love this sweet picture of Ryder.

Green Beans and Conversations

It is crazy how fast we are flying through milestones. I know people tell you to enjoy it because it goes by so fast, but I feel like I’m constantly discovering something new with A! This week she got in her Jumparoo and played around. She’s only in the investigating stage, but her neck is certainly getting stronger. She is even getting pretty good at sitting up on her own, well with minor cushioning.

We also tried bananas and then green beans. I’m not too sure that she is enjoying the baby food, she tends to spit it out. If I mix the bananas into her oatmeal she doesn’t seem to mind, but if she eats them alone, she eats much slower. Maybe she is just trying to figure out what the heck I’m putting in her mouth! Tonight we tried green beans, and boy did she have something to say! It was hilarious! She was talking, smiling and spitting up a storm! We thought it was pretty cute! It's been a while since we got some video and I thought this was the perfect opportunity. Please don’t mind the hideous voices in the background!

Brian and I are having Alexis dedicated to the church on Sunday at the 11:11 service. Deanna and Chris are also dedicating William and Ryder. I’m so excited to be going through all these milestones with her and I can’t wait to celebrate with both of our families as we promise, before our family and the congregation, to raise Alexis in a Godly home. She is such a precious gift and I couldn’t be any happier. Thank you God for giving me my baby girl!

Our Week in Pictures

Alexis is growing so fast and the cooler weather is creeping in, so I'm trying to flaunt as many of her summer clothes in as possible! I will be so sad if she doesn’t get to wear everything! She is still too small for some of her summer dresses, only because she isn't very full, but she is so long that she can easily wear some 6 month outfits! So, yes, I’m going to be that mom that documents every outfit!! Well, maybe not every, but you get the point!

I’m also really amazed at how much her face is starting to fill out, even if the rest of her is still dainty! Last week we tried oatmeal and today she tried bananas. She was smiling while she ate but hasn’t been too interested in eating the last 24 hours. Maybe that’s why she’s so small. Sometimes she will take a 5 ounce bottle and sometimes she won’t even take three!! She is a finicky eater, just like her Mommy!

Mimi asked to see some pictures, so here you go! I miss you Mimi and Pappa!

It was such a beautiful morning that we dressed her up in her overalls and took her behind the shed to take some Fall pictures. Not really smiling on cue, but still pretty cute.

Warning: When Aunt Deanna sneaks off she's almost always up to no good. She's always wanted to know what her girl would look like and has been talking about dressing Ryder up for a while. Below is what happens when Aunt Deanna is quiet for a tad bit too long.

Alexis isn't too sure what to think, but even this youg she know's that something isn't right. Ryder however know's it is just plain wrong.

Daddy trying to get some smiles! All ready for the Tigers to play another close game against Florida.


Aunt Missy bought her a new LSU bow in Fredricksburg! She rocks it pretty well if you ask me.


I think she looks really good in Brown.

She is starting to talk and gurgle. It's so fun having conversations with her!

Back to Work

Well, I've been back at work for three days now. I cried all the way to work on Monday. I've been really emotional for the last couple of weeks, I know, that isn't surprising! But I seriously thought that I wouldn't cry when I went back to work. Boy, was I wrong!! Thankfully, I have been really busy so it has made the days go by very fast. Plus Grandma and Alexis are having lots of fun and have been enjoying this beautiful fall weather with lots of walks!! I’m trying not to get too jealous!!

It was hard to get back into the swing of things, but I have a lot of momentum, right now, and I'm determined to get my kids to read, one in particular!! I've got two pretty great classes, and then the one typical class which has all the jokesters in it. Its funny how unmotivated they are at the beginning of the year; I just hope I can motivate them and hopefully get them to WANT to read and read more than their friends! I'm going to try really hard not to get frustrated when they don't want to read and encourage them in the right direction. I forget how hard it is with a new group of kids, but then I think back to where my kids ended last year and I know I can do it again and my goal is to get Mr. D to read!

I started Alexis on oatmeal last night and she seems to enjoy it, but I think she might like rice more. Who knows if I know what I'm talking about, but she seems to be a little more upset after she eats it than she did with the rice. I'm going to try again tomorrow night and if she is fussy after it, then I'm going back to the rice. We are still working on the going down. She does a great job for three or four days then has a rough night. But on those nights, it just takes 45 minutes to an hour to get her to sleep. So, hopefully I'm doing alright.

Below are Alexis 3 month and nursery pictures. I LOVE her room! It makes me smile when I go in there and I hope she loves it when she gets older too! Deanna also did some football pictures of her in Texans and Saints gear! Those were taken when she was almost 4 months old. Before I went back to work Deanna and I took the babies downtown to the YMCA and Discovery Green. It is awesome down there!! I wish I could go more often! I will share those when I get them! As I've said before, Alexis is lucky to have an awesome aunt!

I think she looks pretty different just in those 4 short weeks!

This one just makes me laugh!