Thanksgiving in Texas

We had a really nice Thanksgiving visit in Texas. It was our first Thanksgiving as parents, which gave us so much more in which to be thankful! It was great to see everyone, and of course the highlight was introducing Ayla. She got to meet the rest of Brett's family. His mom and dad came for a short visit when she was two weeks old, so it was fun for the rest of his family to see her. :+] .

We also got to see Hollie, Stephen, and Hobson while there, and it was their first time seeing Ayla. Hobson was great with her...and could even say her name...quite well I might add. He only showed a little jealousy once, and it was while Hollie was rocking Ayla. But...in his defense...that was his mom and he was tired.! ;+] Hobson is adorable and getting so big way too fast. :+] Hollie and Stephen just found out that they will be having another boy this spring, and we can't wait to meet that little guy. Hobs is going to make a wonderful big brother. :+]

It was Ayla's first trip to Texas, and all in all she did rather well. :+] She slept the whole way there...and 7 out of the 10 hours on the return trip. We've learned that it's a whole new traveling experience when you have a baby. It's amazing how much stuff you think you need when you travel with one extra "little" person. :+) On the first day of our last trip to Texas I broke my cell phone, and on the first day of this one I lost my phone. Most of you know how I am with my cell phone, so maybe someone is trying to teach me a lesson. :=] I've ordered a new one that should be here in a few days.

This week we've been getting back into whatever routine we had before we left. Tonight, Brett and I got out our Christmas totes, and while he, my dad, and my brother watched the Cowboys, I unloaded them. It's been 2+ years since I've seen any of my Christmas decorations, and it was fun to be reminded of all the "stuff" we have. Okay, here are a few pictures I took while in Texas. I had 205 of them to choose from, so it was hard picking which ones to post. :+] I've posted 31 pictures, which isn't too bad considering... ;+)

This was the first image I saw after waking up the first morning we got there. :+] Hollie and Stephen had this shirt made for Hobson, and the below onesie for Ayla. We desperately want to be related "for real," so these kids are going to love each other if it kills us! ;+] If only arranged marriages were accepted in this country!

By the look on her face... you'd think she was surprised by our little plan! :+]

How precious!!!

Need I say more...

If this isn't little Brett and Stephen... I don't know what is!!! :+]
I think they were watching "Handy Manny," which I have no idea what that show is or whether I'm calling it the right thing. However, I am sure that Brett and I will know all the kid shows very soon! :+]
Hobson, Hollie, and Ayla

Grandpa Ken and Ayla

Grandpa Ken, Ayla, and Oma (Brett's parents)

Ayla's 1st cousin, Garrett (left) and her 2nd cousin Liam (right)

Ayla's 2nd cousin Madison (left) and her 1st cousin Jaycee (right)

Ayla's 1st cousins Jasmine (Liam's mom) and Stephanie (Madison's mom)

Steph and Ayla

Willy (Stephanie's husband) and Ayla

Ramona/Oma (Brett's mom) and Kim (Brett's sister)
The Gang

Pam (Brett's sister) and Ayla

Jaycee, Ayla, and me

Oma and Ayla

Friday night, we went to go visit with Sarah's family. This is Jackson and his great grandmother, who has also "adopted" Ayla so Ayla will get to have a Grandmother, too! :+}

Me and Jackson Eli

Ayla in the Bumbo seat at Steak and Shake. She was giving her unintentional "Elvis" look again. :+}

Ayla and Maddy

Ayla and Jaycee rae

Ayla and Garrett
By the way... she isn't crying because of Garrett... she was getting tired

The night before we left to go back to Florida... I said I would title this picture, "Does this onesie make my thighs look big?" :=]

Very sleepy after her long visit to Texas!!

Off to Texas We Go...

Well, we are leaving for Texas pretty soon. Justin, Sarah, and Jackson will be leaving soon as well. This will be the first time many of our friends and family have seen Ayla, and it will be our first "long" trip as a family. I've packed the entire house (feels that way), and I know I've still forgotten something. :+] However, as long as there's a Target where we're going, we can get anything we don't have.

Ayla's new thing this past week is drooling and her hands constantly being in her mouth. We aren't sure whether she's starting to teeth, whether she's found her hands, or if it's that she's found her tongue. Regardless, She just loves those hands being in her mouth, and the front of her outfits are evidence of her constant drooling. There have been a few nights that I've heard her sucking, and I go into her room to find her sleeping soundly with her hand in her mouth. The other thing she can do pretty well is lift her head and shoulders when she's on her belly. We can't believe how much she changes daily.

Okay, here are a few pictures, and I'll update it when we return from Texas. :+] I hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving! This is an extra special Thanksgiving for Brett and I. We've got so much to be thankful for, and I know all of you do as well!

Ayla after a bath.

A little "tummy time." She's doing really well at holding her head up!

In the car heading home from church. This outfit ended up being much to warm!
Taken last night... on our way to Sunday night share group. Uncle Justin is holding Ayla before we left. Last night we talked about Thanksgiving and all the things we are thankful for, and we went around and shared. Sarah, Becca, and I all had tears by the time it was all said and done, but I think Sarah holds the record... Brian only mentioned talking about it... and it was "all she wrote." :+} I can only hope that Ayla has a sweet heart as her Aunt Sarah!!! :+)

3 Months Old

Ayla was "officially" three months old on Friday. She is smiling more and more with each passing day, and she continues to interact more with us. She does this adorable thing with her mouth when she's trying to make sounds. It's almost like she's getting her tongue in the right position to make words. Last week while I was holding her, she was smiling and cooing at me. I was talking back to her, and I started to do a silly voice and face at her. All of a sudden she let out this giggle. She's done this before, but it's been very "hit or miss." However, on this occasion, I did the same thing three times in a row, and she giggled at me each time. Before, I only wondered whether she really thought I was funny.............. this past week, she verified it for me. It's official... Ayla thinks I'm funny!!! ;+}

Several weeks ago we learned that Ayla was suffering from dairy allergies, so I've had to take dairy completely out of my diet. She's been a good baby all along, but this has really helped. The dairy in my diet was hurting her stomach and therefore causing her to be cranky at times. Although it's been some what of a challenge to find foods I can eat (so many things have dairy or traces of dairy in them), and I don't know how long I'll have to do this for her, but if it makes her feel better, it's well worth the sacrifice!

Thanksgiving is right around the corner, and we'll be leaving for Texas in about a week. We are very excited to get to introduce Ayla to friends and family that haven't seen her yet. And... we know her Grandpa Napier and Oma are thrilled to get to see her again. :+]

Taken today, Sunday, after church. She'd fallen asleep in her car seat, and before I changed her out of her dress, I had to get a picture of her. This was one of the dresses Stacy Petty gave Ayla. I believe it was Chaney's. :+] Her Grandma Sherry got her the black patent shoes.

I love taking pictures of her in her car seat because she watches me so much. She is not a big fan of being placed in her car seat, but if I'm back there with her she does much better.

My mom came over to see Ayla before leaving for our Sunday evening church share group. She's already in her PJs and ready for bed.

We'd gotten home from share group, and before going inside, we got a quick picture. It was dark out, and although Brett was calling her name to get her attention, you can tell that Ayla has no idea where to look. ;+}

Happy Halloween

It's been two weeks since my last posting, so I've got to play catch up. We still continue to have warm days, but it should get cooler in the coming weeks. Saturday, was a very pretty day, and we took advantage of it by going for a walk with Baylie and Hazel. Ayla is really starting to "talk" to us when we talk to her. She lets out these sighs and coos and gets these really funny faces, which I've caught in many of the previous pictures I've posted. We stop whatever we're doing to watch her and listen to her. I've attempted to get her talking on video, but she doesn't seem to "perform" on command. She also does this sweet giggle every now and again, which almost seems as if she truly does find us funny. Although she hasn't been weighed in a few weeks, by the way her clothes are fitting, I'd guess she was close to 14 pounds (if not more). Her 0-3 outfits are quite snug. :+] She has been sleeping through the night for weeks now. However, there is something ironic about having your child sleep through the night, but then you sleep so lightly (listening to the monitor) that you aren't able to get good sleep. I won't complain though about the "light" sleep I'm getting because regardless of how good it is... it's sleep! :+)

Last Saturday, we went to our church's Trunk-or-Treat, where people decorate their cars and kids go car to car "trick-or-treating." They also have a carnival in the gym. It was a really warm day, so both kids were out of their costumes within the first hour. The warm weather made for a fussy "flower." I did manage to get some cute shots of her in her costume. Halloween night we went over to Judy's house, ate lots of good food, and then went trick-or-treating with Terri, Taylor, and Jordan Dodd.
Our friends, Aimee and Bo had a Halloween party two Saturdays ago, but I didn't have my camera. So...if you wish...you may view Sarah's blog (davisdailyscoop) to see photos of that night. I went as a "real life desperate housewife" and Brett went as Borat, some weird character from a movie that is supposedly funny, but I still don't quite "get" the humor. :+)

Okay...here are a few pictures for you to enjoy. :+]

Although you couldn't tell by the serious look on her face, she really does enjoy bath time...:+]

Taken Halloween night just before going "trick-or-treating" with Taylor (left), Diane holding Ayla, and Jordan (right).

Ayla in her flower costume. It was really cute, but it was just a bit too warm to keep on for very long. That's North Florida weather for you... you never can tell what it's going to be like.

Ayla in the overalls my friend Kari got her when she first found out I was having a girl. She said she had to buy Ayla her first pair of overalls. They fit her so cute, but as fast as she's growing, she won't be able to wear them for long. We are very excited that Kari is going to have a girl, too, so Ayla will have a play mate.

She can stand fairly well with some help. She had her little Keds on here, which give her feet a bit more support. I love the faces she makes! :+}

I just love her bald head, but if not in "noticeable" pink attire, I try to put a bow on her when we go out so no one will say, "He's so cute!" :+]

These were our (Sarah and I) attempt to take fall photos in their matching onsies. However, Ayla just wasn't in the mood to sit in uncomfortable positions while having her picture taken. We did get a few cute ones. You can tell that Jackson was "ready to go" as usual. I don't think the kid has ever taken a bad photo.

Trunk-or-Treat
Aimee (our good friend from church) with Luke, the monkey, Sarah with Jackson, the bumble bee, and me with Ayla, the flower :+} Joshua (Luke's brother) was a monkey too, but he's 3 and was much too busy to wait to have his picture taken. :=]

Jackson... in his adorable bumble bee costume!

Ayla, outside on our front porch. Since it was so warm, this was the outfit she wore Halloween night.

This is a onsie she has that I think is too cute, especially since eating is her favorite past-time right now. ;+)

This last one is the latest satellite view of our house and property right after it was finished and prior to landscaping going in. I am going to have my dad take some current pictures of it. He's done a great job "documenting" the whole "house process" for us and we appreciate it greatly! If it weren't for him, we wouldn't have all the photos we do to remind us of how "fun" it was to build our home. Thanks, Dad! :+]

That's all for now...