Look Who's Talking

Baby girl is full of life and energy these days.  She is smiling almost constantly, which means we are too!  Had to post a video of our sweetie talking it up with us.  This was taken October 28 with my Blackberry.  Life is good...

To Grandmothers' Houses We Go!

Eva Brooke made her first trip to Booneville for a cookout at Mama Lin and Granddad's on October 1.  We were so glad to get to visit with Syd & Deb, Dwain & Diane, and MomMaw Brown as well.

Notice the spit-up on the outfit we had JUST put on right before leaving :)

Eva Brooke with MomMaw Brown.  Hmm...I believe this flower is a little too big for her head right now :)

Eva Brooke loves Mama Lin!

I LOVE this one!  Uncle Syd gets the blame for putting her in her car seat!

On October 7, Eva Brooke made her first visit to Hamilton to see Mimi and Pop.  Aunt Beth was also coming home for a little home cooking (how could we pass that up)?  We got to visit with Grandmother and Danny too for a little while.

Pop Loden and E.B.

Grandmother with Eva Brooke

She looks so big!

Daddy relaxing with our girl at Mimi & Pop's

And just had to include one more, taken October 8.  Mama Lin and Granddad came to visit us and Eva Brooke :)

That's My E.B. -- Part 2!

Eva Brooke's personality continues to develop and change!  EACH picture is worth 1000 words!

October 9- She wants included in the action!  Yes, Andrew vacuums for me...isn't he the best?!?

Kicks those legs up!

October 10- This girl would win any bubble blowing contest!

October 11- Really likes standing up on those sweet legs!  She may walk before she crawls :)

October 12- Smiles and laughs!

October 13- This face never ceases to tickle me!  Insert poo-poo sound effect here :)

October 15- Keeps these prissy little feet together

October 25

October 26

October 25- Likes to have her face (usually left side) snuggled up against something.  I think this may be because I lean her against my cheek (usually on her left) :)

October 26

October 27- Has learned to scoot!  Sideways in her bed with feet leaned up against the side one morning.  She actually did a full 180 during the night (I did not have the energy to snap a picture).

Kicks so hard she manages to un-swaddle herself.

Love this girl more and more every single day!!

Tummy Time

Eva Brooke is not a big fan of being on her tummy.  We aim for a few minutes a couple times daily, but, of course, it depends on the princess's mood.  I also try not to lay her down on a full tummy, so between the naps and feedings, it's sometimes hard to find good opportunities.  Here are a few pictures of "tummy time."  Enjoy.

October 5

Really likes the playmat

October 15- Actually smiling.  Before her shots that day :(

October 17 at Mimi & Pop's

October 20

Fun with Friends

We moved to Tupelo (actually Saltillo) about 3 years ago, and we have been so blessed with very good friends and a wonderful church family.  We love it here, and this is where we plan to stay!

Our good friends, Angie and Brad Crosswhite have a daughter, Emily, 2 years old, and a son, Hunter, just 3 weeks younger than Eva Brooke.  We are so excited that we have already arranged Hunter & Eva Brooke's marriage...in 30 years :)

September 18- The first time they met :)

Sweet Emily smiled big for the camera

The first picture of the crew since the new additions

September 24- Their first stroll together

Angie & I cheered on the daddies during a game of tennis

October 3

Looks like Emily & Eva Brooke are telling secrets :)

These kids are growing!!

Synchronized diaper changes...whose belly is bigger??

Emily teaching them how to brush their teeth.  So sweet!

Start this Girl on a Schedule!

September 28...that was the day.  I even marked it down on Eva Brooke's baby calendar in INK.  I told both Mimi and Mama Lin to hold me to it.  And it is working!!!!  Hallelujah! 

Feeding everyday on an 8-11-2-5-8-11 schedule quickly turned into only waking up ONCE to eat during the night.  Wow!!!  I am a new woman!  We have now had about 3 nights where Eva Brooke has slept through the night.  On October 22, she slept from 11:30 to 7:30...that's 8 hours guys!!

Although this sleeping through the night thing is new, and definitely not consistent, we are making progress!

Here are a few last pictures from September.  Time just passes by so fast...

September 25

A good lazy Saturday with all my babies

Watching football with Daddy

September 28- Playing with MomMaw Brown

September 29- She's liking baths better these days

September 30- Cotton's such a good big sister

She loves her playmat!  Also notice the "ever-present" blue line on the diaper (as stated by Angie).

Going on Vacation!

We left September 14 on a vacation to the Great Smoky Mountains.  This was Eva Brooke's first vacation, at just over one month old.  Mimi and Pop (my Mother and Daddy) were nice enough to rent a super-nice condo at Cherokee Lodge in Pigeon Forge for all of us.  We were able to stay 3 nights with them and had such a wonderful relaxing time.  Thanks Mimi and Pop!

Just in time for the big trip, we got an SUV!  It is a 2009 GMC Yukon, and I just LOVE it!  I do not think we could have made the trip without it :)

Eva Brooke slept almost the entire way (THANK YOU) except for feedings and diaper changes.  We could not ask for a better rider!

Eva Brooke's first trip to a restaurant was to Bennett's BBQ in Gatlinburg.  This snap is by the river behind the restaurant.

Going for a stroll in Gatlinburg

Happy Fall Y'all!

Bundled up for the cooler weather...ok, maybe a little excessively :)

Andrew in front of his favorite shop (they sell hot sauces and pickled everything).  He said he could spend his entire paycheck in there!

On the streets of Gatlinburg

September 15- Eating at Huck Finn's Catfish

Yummy!

That evening after church, we had dessert at Shoney's!  I got to eat strawberry pie AND hot fudge cake!  So much for losing that pregnancy weight!!  My Andrew is still a little boy at heart, and I just love it!

September 15- Eating brunch at the Apple Barn.  We ate good on this trip if you haven't noticed!

Good and sleepy for the ride back

A snap of our gorgeous condo

This was our first time to get Eva Brooke out and about, and we managed better than I thought!  It is so very complicated just to "run out" and get something.  I have to go through my mental diaper bag check-off list before heading anywhere.  So much for carrying a purse! 

Mimi and I got to do a little shopping at the outlets, and I really enjoyed the time with my Mother (and the shopping, of course).  Andrew and Daddy got to play a round of golf, and Daddy enjoyed many hours of looking at the car show.  On our last night, Mimi and Pop babysitted for Andrew and me so that we could go to a nice dinner at the Chop House.  It was our first night out without our angel.  Now, like everyone says, we wonder what in the world we did without her!  Our life definitely revolves around this girl, and we wouldn't have it any other way!