Yeah! Ayla likes rice cereal!!!

We'd tried rice cereal last Saturday night when my parents came over for gumbo, but she got one little taste of it in her mouth and her lips stayed pursed. It's been about a week, so I thought I'd try it again. Much to my pleasure... she not only opened up her mouth, but she grabbed for the spoon and couldn't seem to get enough. Once the spoon got in her mouth, when I could get it past her hands that were reaching for it, she would suck on the spoon. I think most of it actually went down! The only thing I'll do differently tomorrow night is strip her down first because she sure was sticky when we finished. That stuff, combined with the breastmilk I mixed it with, was like glue when it dried. :+] Here are a few of the shots Brett took as I was feeding her. We also got video, but I've not quite learned how to add video yet to the blog. I can only handle so much "learning" at one time. BTW: She's in my favorite "hippo" pajamas, which she is about to outgrow. :+(

Sucking on the spoon

Reaching for more

Again... sucking on that spoon

"Every last drop!"
Here she is sucking on her hands... she wanted to make sure she got it all!

She's nice and shiny here... coated in rice cereal!

"Give me more!"
As you can see, she was ready for more!

All finished, but boy do my hands taste better than they normally do!!

"Bath time after rice cereal!"
She obviously liked the spoon. It may have to be her new bath toy!

How could anyone resist a face like this!!!

The following are a few "random" pics I have that I wanted to share.

These three were taken last Saturday night before grandpa and grandma Davis came over to eat dinner with us. Yes, they only live next door, but we still like to get dressed up for them! :+} Plus, she's got so many cute outfits that if I don't take advantage of putting her in them when someone other than me can see her, she'll out grow them.

I love this smile!! It almost looks onery... :+}

Here she is sitting next to Daddy on the couch. She loves her hands!

I don't normally (if ever) take Ayla out in pajamas, and if she's wearing something that doesn't scream "girl," I generally will find a bow to put on her cute little head. However, one night we went to go eat dinner after Brett got home from work, and since I already had her pajamas on her, she wore them. These were the pajamas she wore, and all night people kept saying things like, "He's so cute!"

I agree that the pajamas are probably supposed to be for a boy, and although I don't love it when people mistake her for a boy, it really bothered Brett. In fact, he requested that I never take her out in anything like this again. :+]

"Basket Time"

Last week was my first week back at work. Although I was very sad to go back, and my house is not as "picked up" as I would like for it to be, I'm handling it MUCH better than I thought I would. Instead of focusing on what needs to be put away, vacuumed, or washed, I focus on her when I get home. I know that in 30 years... she won't care about or remember the dishes that are currently in my sink, not to mention the other stuff that is "littering" the house.

My mom is keeping Ayla, which accounts for much of my being put at ease. I literally wake her up as I'm walking out the door to then drive her on my lap and down the gravel road to hand her off to my mom. Unless I have milk to bring along with me, I take nothing but Ayla with sleepy eyes, still in her pajamas. I know that if I were in any other situation, my anxiety level would be so much greater. I am very blessed to have the situation I do, and focusing on that has also helped me keep things in perspective. I know Ayla is with someone who loves her just as much as I do and that is invaluable. :+] Although I will never be able to express it enough, I dearly appreciate my mom!

I know it might sound trite, but one of my biggest concerns about going back to work was whether I'd be able to get dressed and out the door in the morning without being completely stressed. However, except for one morning where she didn't follow her normal routine, each morning she has either stayed asleep until I'm ready to walk out the door with her, or she's woken early enough for me to get her back to sleep so I could go and get ready. I also very fortunate that she's such a good sleeper! :+]

So... my mom's got Ayla each day and Jackson on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Needless to say, Tuesdays and Wednesdays are much more hectic days. Last Wednesday, when I went to pick Ayla up, my mom had both kids on the floor playing. Ayla isn't a good "tummy time" baby... she does not enjoy being on her tummy, and I think it's got something to do with what she isn't able to see from the vantage point. She much prefers to be sitting up (or in mommy's arms), however, she's not quite able to do that on her own. The Bumbo seat is great, but she can't get to toys that fall out of "Bumbo reach," and she then gets frustrated that she can't get to them. That day when I went to pick her up, my mom had them on the floor and Ayla sitting in a small clothes basket with toys in front of her. It was perfect for her because the sides and back gave her support, and she was able to have toys in front of her that were contained within the basket. Plus... her cousin could also still get to her to give her his many hugs, but the basket offered a little protection (he can be a rough hugger). ;+) It was a great idea... and much cheaper than a Bumbo! That same day, I went home and, after spending some time with her, I placed her in the small basket I had. She played in it for about 30 minutes, which was just enough time to get dinner started. So, here she is enjoy some "basket play time" on two different occasions.

Happy New Year!! What a year it was!!!

Our first Christmas with Ayla!!

We had a great 1st Christmas with Ayla Grace. Although she won't remember any of it, it was a special one for us, and we've got plenty of pictures to share with her! We spent Christmas Eve at our house, Christmas day at my parents, and New Year's Day at Justin and Sarah's new house. My camera's memory card had an error so I lost Christmas day pictures. ;+/ I'm going to have to get the pictures from Sarah and Justin's camera.
Instead of telling you about it here, I've simply added pictures with captions. The reason I always upload so many pictures is because I have a hard time making decisions... and we also take lots of photos, which makes it extra hard. So, I just figure...
"The more the merrier!" ;+]

Our 2007 Christmas card picture
Ayla and Daddy

Ayla and Mommy... she was talking to me
Our first Christmas tree in our house... It's so pretty that I hate to take it down. In fact, I asked Brett what he thought about leaving it up all year long. ;+]

Ayla in her "Santa" suit. We actually bought this for Jackson last year, but he was so little and it was huge on him. It fit Ayla perfectly this year so we borrowed it! I love this face she makes it like she's saying, "What are you doing to me?"

We went to Zoo Lights this year at the Gulf Breeze Zoo. We had so much fun... we think we're going to make it a tradition!

Ayla and Jackson... ready to go see all the lights!

Sarah, Mom (Grandma Sherry), and Amy

Jackson Eli... with his paci upside down. He obviously isn't bothered a bit! :+]

Brett & Amy

Ayla, as Sarah says, "Doing what she does best!"

I LOVE this picture of Jackson. He is always ready to go go go!!!

Ayla and Aunt Sarah... they match quite well! :+]

Ayla, Sarah, Amy, and Jackson

Ayla with Santa... He wasn't the best Santa, but as you can see... she is quite content with the "ol' guy!"

Grandpa and Grandma with Jackson

Ayla in the outfit she wore the Sunday before Christmas. Stephen, Hollie, and Hobson gave this adorable, "Mrs. Claus" outfit to her!

Jackson, Grandpa Jack, and me on Christmas Eve.
We've decided to make it a tradition to do a pajama breakfast on Christmas Eve. Everyone will wear their PJs, we'll eat a big breakfast, and then open gifts. The kids had matching/coordinated "sock monkey" pajamas, which we also want to make a tradition to get them matching PJs every year. We got Grandpa Jack "Santa" pajamas... since he loves Santa so much!! ;+]

Ayla and Jackson... Jackson has recently learned a few body parts (eyes, nose, mouth, ears, hair), and he's showing he knows where Ayla's eyes are in this pictures. He is so cute with Ayla... he likes to give her lots of hugs. It's precious and melts my heart!!! She's pretty enamored by him, too. Her face lights up when he comes near her, and she watches him very closely. :+}

Ayla Grace in her "sock monkey" pajamas

"The Gang" in our pajamas. It took quite a few to get everyone looking at the camera. I think Ayla is the only one not "cooperating" in this one, but at least she's looking in the right direction.

Although they may "kill" me for adding this one.
This picture shows how we all felt by the end of the night! :+]
Actually, truth be known... this shows how we are most of the time!!!! :+}