6 Months

We are halfway through Caroline's first year!  Wow!  Love my little chunky monkey!

Big Changes this past month:
-She continues to be so vocal!  She "talks" and squawks so much more than Sarah did.  I think it's because SJ always had a pacifier in and Caroline never took one.
-Caroline loves her fingers.  She immediately sticks her index and middle fingers in her mouth when she's trying to soothe herself.  It's so cute!
-She's trying to master sitting up, almost there.  Before long, she'll be sitting without support.
-Rolls all over the place!
-Sleeps about 12-13 hours at night.  Naps about 2 hours twice a day.
-Takes 4 eight ounce bottles.  Also, just started food and she's pretty much loving it!

Do you like her shirt?  I made it!  Well the applique (it's a stocking in case you can't tell), thanks to Shelly for teaching me the awesomeness of Wonder Under.  And Amy, I think it's official, I am no longer a "closet crafter".  It's true, I like to craft.  There, I said it, I feel much better!  I wish there was a better word for it than "crafting".  Just don't ask me to do anything with Popsicle sticks and glitter, that's where I draw the line.

Winter Stockpile?

Warning:  Animal lovers need not proceed.

My deer-hunting-loving husband was successful this week in Kansas!  Congrats to him.  He says this is the 2nd biggest deer he has ever bagged.  It looks big in the picture...and in our freezer.  OMG, if the picture with the gun isn't redneck enough, how about the deer head in our deep freeze?  

Yep, that just happened.  

And in the past week, I have purchased 7 boxes of diapers.  Target is having a great diaper deal this week, y'all!  At least we will have food this winter and plenty of clean butts. 

Caroline is 6 months old today!  Wow!  6 month post coming soon.  Also, Happy Birthday to my momma!  I think she's celebrating the age of 25 again.  :)  Love you mom!

Mom's Family Thanksgiving

My mom's family always has a big Thanksgiving the Saturday before Thanksgiving.  I love getting together with my aunts, uncles and cousins!  We always have a good time and of course eat way too much.  I only snapped a few pictures...I'm pretty sure I always had food in my hand instead of a camera!  Thanks Aunt Susie for hosting us this year!

My cousin Eric with his son Christian and his nephew Brach (in red)

 Brach's mom, my cousin Leslie, with her niece Gracie

 Mom and Caroline

 Aunt Susie and Leslie

 Leslie and Kati

I guess I really like taking pictures of my cousin Leslie?  She's in 4 out of 5 of these pictures!  Ha!

6th Annual Thanksgiving Feast with Friends!

Wow, this year's feast turned into a HUGE party!  While we were sad to miss several of our usual attendees (Harris Fam, Kate, Jessica S., etc.) we were happy to welcome some first timers this year (The Terrys, Fitz, Smith Fam, The Martins, etc.).  

Here's the breakdown in numbers:  41 adults, 18 children (6 years and under), 21 pounds of ham, 2 smoked chickens, 2 smoked salmon, 10 pounds of mashed potatoes, 2 sweet potato casseroles (Pioneer Woman's recipe...yummy!), 2 green bean casseroles, 2 types of stuffing, corn, rolls and tons of desserts.  Unfortunately, we didn't have quite enough food!  That was a first and of course I felt terrible!  Oh well, we'll plan better next year...and probably have way too much food!  

Special thanks to Aunt Betsy and Cmom for coming over early and helping pull off the huge feast!  Cmom wanted me to take credit for the sweet potatoes and mashed potatoes but really, she did all of that!  She sure made me look good because I got a ton of compliments on those dishes!  Ha!  And to top it all off, Cmom and Betsy cleaned up after the party.  I sure have been blessed with great in-laws!

Get ready for lots of pictures...

The prep

 Food ready for the oven

 The feast...does it look like there's not enough food for 41 adults and 18 kids?  

That's because there wasn't!

 The cute Dawsons, Betsy and Chad

Seriously, two of the sweetest women I know!

Becca with Blair, Sarah with Sawyer

 Jeremy, Melanie, Riley and Jude Woody

Aren't they a beautiful family??

 The fabulous Smiths, Bryan and Brooke!

 Some handsome fellas!

Wes, Daniel and Kevin

 The Pickerings...LOVE them!

Melanie, Kevin, Molly and Chance

 Such a neat couple, Roy and Leona

 The sweet little ones loving on Caroline!

 And, one of the funniest and most adorable families, I know!  

Will, Cheli and Cleve Clark

Sisterly Love?

C:  I sure am cute sitting here with this bear.

SJ:  Whatever, I think your bear likes me better...

C:  Pleeeease give it back to me.  (If only my reach was just a little longer...)

SJ:  Nope, he wants all of my kisses. 

SJ:  Oh, and I think I'll take that headband too.

C:  Maybe if I ignore her, she'll go away.  (Why isn't she leaving...)

SJ:  Let me give you a kiss to make you feel better.  

C:  Umm, no, please no. (Don't make eye contact, don't make eye contact.)

This was my attempt at a cute sister pic where both girls are sitting content and looking at the camera.  That obviously didn't happen.  In a perfect world, someday, we'll have a perfect picture.  But that would require them growing up and understanding what it means to "Sit still", "don't take your sister's bear", "leave her headband alone", "look at the camera.", "Smile." So, I'll take these pictures and be happy that they are still little.  Love my little girls!

First food!

Caroline had her first bites of real food a few weeks ago.  I forgot to document...poor second child!  She sort of opened her mouth...

 But, as you can tell from her face, she didn't really care too much for it.  It was just applesauce.  The sweetest thing, in my opinion.

Oh well, we'll try again.  I'm not really excited about starting this food stage anytime soon.  It adds so much more work!

5 Months!

Sweet baby girl is growing up so quickly!  Here are a few milestones we've hit this month:
-has become super ticklish...her little giggle puts the biggest grin on my face!
-Sleeps about 12-13 hours per night.  Naps about twice a day for about 2 hours each.
-Working on sitting up...
-We've begun the transition to formula.  She took her first formula bottle ever last night and without any problem!
-Hasn't rolled over since the last monthly post so we're not mobile yet.
-Just met her new friend, the exersaucer...loves it!
-Sucks her fingers to soothe herself.  I really tried hard on that paci, it's much easier to eventually take away than fingers!
-Not sure if I've said this before but she is now reaching for toys and things in front of her.  Love watching the concentration she has when she wants something!
-Still eating about 5 times a day.  We'll probably start working on solids in just a couple of weeks.  Not looking forward to that stage.  When they're solely on milk, it's so easy!
-Spent her first night away from me last weekend.  I really wasn't too excited about being away from her (it was only 24 hours) but knew it was good for both of us.  She was a champ.  Drank 5 bottles and slept normally.  I guess she didn't miss me!  I was glad to have homecoming and friends as distractions because I think I did pretty well too.  :)

Happy 5 months, Miss Caroline!  We love you!