Let me introduce you to our six month old spunky monkey!  Millie Janalee is really getting her own little personality these days.  You all know how my daily photo shoots go...well, we've reached that point in her little life.  That point where she doesn't want to sit still to smile long enough for a good picture or two...or 50.  Ha!

She's too busy grabbing her toes, waving her arms, reaching for my phone or her toys, leaning over, squealing, "talking", or looking for Farley.  Really, I think Farley is the main distraction.  She L-O-V-E-S him!  So much so that she sometimes cries when he walks out of the room.  And, bless her heart.  Farley is not the least bit interested in her unless she has a yucky burp cloth near.  (What is it about dogs and gross things?)

So, I've given up on my formal sitting and smiling at the camera nicely shots.  I'll take what I can get...which, let's face it, are just as cute.  If not cuter!  When I prop her up on the chair or recliner, I have to stay close by to make sure she doesn't go tumbling feet over head during one of her excited stiffen up her entire body squealing episodes.  Ha!  So, I got a few close ups today.  And, OH, how they are SO her!

"I'm sweet and I know it.  Don't you love my tiny little mouth?"

"Did you hear me, Mama?  I can't see you real good behind that big camera."

"I trying to keep a happy face, but I'm losing my patience."

"Did ya hear me?!  I'm losing my patience here!"

"Hmph!  I see how it's gonna be."

Toward the end of our little photo shoot, she goes for the end all of formal photography.  She lifts her shirt to show me her little round belly.  Just look at that cute little evil look she tried to pair with her cute little act. 

It's almost as if someone told her I got sent to the principal's office (aka...my dad's office) one time for lifting my shirt for my classmates in kindergarten.  The kids were laughing.  What was I supposed to do?  Stop the fun?  Anyhoo...I suppose I need to add this lesson to my little box of "lessons to teach" right next to "things you need to say that you never thought you would say."  For instance, one of my Facebook friends never thought she needed to say, "Please don't pee on your brother's head in the bathtub."  But, it turns out, she did.  She should have taught that lesson before he actually did it.

Soooo...since there is a family history of this innocent inappropriate in public act.  And since she already has the desire to start it.  I'll add it to my list.  But I'm thinking that a six month old can raise her shirt as much as she wants to.  It's cute after all!  And certainly worthy of more photos.  Ha!

After our little photo shoot for the day, it is playtime.  Playtime lasts...oh...all day basically.  Except during her naps.  Millie Janalee enjoys living on the edge during playtime.  Like, it's so much more fun to play on your activity mat sideways!  Everyone should know that.

Because when you lay on your activity mat sideways, you can talk to Mr. Elephant SOOO much better!  Almost as if you were nose to nose with the character.

And your feet find lots of fun things to do too!  Like wrapping your legs around the pole (although that doesn't sound very nice either...add that to my list!), crossing and uncrossing your feet while kicking the fun frog, and using all the paraphernalia as leverage for turning over whenever you want to.

Yep.  This spunky monkey is figuring this big world out for herself.  In her own way.  Everybody watch out!

2012 Blog Book...2 Volume Edition

It's HERE!  Our 2012 Blog Book arrived this week, and I am so glad!  Every year is big and fun, but this year was especially big!  Like, two volumes big.  This is one of the many reasons I am so glad I have an interest in blogging.  I was never much of a journaler growing up.  I loved buying new notebooks and cute pens, but that's about as far as I got.  Well, maybe I have a couple of "Dear Diary" pages in my childhood diaries.

Since I began blogging, I found myself opening up much more than I ever would in person.  To anyone.  Bloggy land has been a wonderful place to get my thoughts out, mull over decisions, check my priorities, and of course share our lives with our families.  When I found out I could print my blog into a book, I was ecstatic!

It's like I have a real life journal with a Table of Contents, Dedication Page, and everything!  Not only that, but my children (and I) will be able to look back through the years of Mama and Daddy's young life and read our thoughts, our adventures, and our day-to-day experiences.  How much fun it would be to be able to "be inside my parents' head" when they were my age!

When I first started printing out our blog 4-5 years ago, I used www.lulu.com.  It was certainly way more difficult than what I do now, but I was able to design my own cover in Photoshop and have a cute little creation.  Basically, I had to copy and paste every blog post and picture into Microsoft Word and upload that document to the site.  Then, I created my cover on Photoshop and uploaded that.  It took way too much time, but I didn't have too much else to do.  Russ was in med school and I was hanging out in Jackson with Farley most nights.  Ha!

Now, I use www.blog2print.com.  It's SUPER easy and takes little to no time!  You type in your blog address whether you use Blogger, Wordpress, or other source.  It uploads your blog FOR YOU based on your preferences (pictures where you placed them or condensed automatically).  You choose your cover and upload your cover pictures and what you want your dedication page to say.  Voila!  You're finished.

More than ever, I treasure reading through the pages of this past year.  If you blog, I encourage you to print them out into book form.  Even if they just sit on the shelves.  One day, these pages will become treasures for someone else.  Or maybe for yourself...like when you send your kids off to college.  Or maybe even Kindergarten!  Ha!  I'm already dreading that.

Big Happenings for this Big Girl

There have been some big milestones going on around here lately.  My six month sweetie had her six month check-up on January 23rd.  Russ had to work, so I was on my own for this visit.  And, you know what they say.  When Daddy's away, the girls will play!

Playing while waiting on the doctor

Millie Janalee had a great report from the doctor!  She's growing right along...spit up and all.  Our big girl weighed in at a whopping 17 pounds 4 ounces in the 50-55 percentile.  She's grown long too!  She is 27.5 inches long, which is in the 90-95 percentile!  My tall skinny girl!  After the doctor did all her routine checks and discussed and answered any questions I had, it was that time.

Time for the needles.  There weren't quite as many vaccinations this time, but we did throw in a flu shot for good measure.  And this mama hated every second of it.  Millie Janalee wasn't a fan either.  It breaks my heart to see that unsuspecting happy face jump, scrunch up, and cry for someone to help her.  And there I stood...holding her down.  Oh my!  I hate to think of what's ahead in the medical department.  She survived.  I survived.  And we cuddled and napped the rest of the day.  She didn't run fever, but she didn't feel good at all.  Her little eyes were pitiful looking.

Mean ole shots!

I mentioned before that Millie Janalee has suffered from a Christmas hangover and refuses to roll over anymore.  Before Christmas, she had only rolled from front to back.  Lately, she has been working so hard on rolling from her back to her front.  There are always toys to reach or Farley to watch.  She just hasn't been able to get over that arm. 

Ready.  Try, trying, trying, trying again.  Augh...this is hard!

Well yesterday, Millie Janalee was playing on her activity mat and I was checking my phone for something.  I think I was ordering yet one more outfit for Millie Janalee! Ha.  Then, I looked down to check on her because she started "talking."  I quickly realized what she was trying to tell me!

I rolled over, Mama!  Did you see me?!

Yep.  She did it.  After all our practice together, she rolls over during the one moment I wasn't looking.  That stinker!  I jumped up acting a fool, cheering, clapping, and getting my camera.  She probably thought I had lost my mind.  I rolled her back over to her back so I might get the chance to see it again.  She rolled over so fast I almost missed it!  She is a rolling machine now!

The fun begins!  She wants to roll to her tummy so badly.  So she does.  Then, she can't roll back over.  Or she forgot how.  Screaming commences.  A tantrum follows.  I have video footage to prove this to you.  But I'll spare you the heartache.  I sent it to Russ and my family, though.  I was scolded multiple times to roll that baby back over! 

I'm glad she likes to share...but NOT with the dog, please!

This mama knows how to cure those rollover blues!  Spa time!  Millie Janalee loves her bathtime.  We've pulled out the bath toys, and I love the squeals and giggles echoing in that little bathroom.  Sweet memories.  We played a little beauty shop too.  Her blues turned to giggles in no time!

See...

Splish, splash!  She was takin' a bath!

Did you notice?  Our big girl is sitting up in the tub.  In fact, she's been sitting up for a little while now.  She's perfecting the art of sitting and wobbling over less and less.  I'm not sure what classifies a baby as a "full time sitter."  But she's close.  I don't leave her alone sitting, but she will sit and play for a very long time with me or her daddy.

Millie Janalee pulled out some of her toys she received for Christmas, and we play and play during our time at home.  Many days we play in our jammies for most of the day.  I love this sweet time laughing and squealing with my daughter.  She laughs at me.  I laugh at her.  And we both play with the blocks...knocking them together, waving them around, and reaching for the blocks we've dropped.

I know I'm biased and every mother thinks their babies are smart.  But, yall.  She IS!  She's such a smart little thing.  I pulled the box over and started putting some in there so she could hear them as they fell inside.  She began picking up blocks and moving her little hand inside the box.  Occasionally letting them go.

So, I thought that I might see just how gifted this little girl was.  Ha!  I put the lid on the box and placed the triangle block in the triangle hole.  She picked up the circle block and started banging on the top.  She may not have her shapes down yet, but she'll know exactly what to do when she learns them!  Ha!  Oh, the horrors of having a teacher for a mother!  Bless her heart!

Russ has been out of town for several days, so Millie Janalee got lots of mother-daughter playtime and even one early morning of sleeping together.  I'm not a fan of co-sleeping with babies (mainly because it scares me to death), but when Daddy's away and Mama is tired and no good at letting her cry it out...it happens.  So, when Russ got back last night, Millie Janalee was beside herself with excitment!  She couldn't wait to show Daddy how fun it is to build her new blocks up and knock them back down.  And chew on them some too!

How can you tell your doctor is from the South?  He wears cowboy boots with his scrubs!

Wow, Daddy!  You build tall houses!

It's been a big year so far for our little sweetie.  I kinda feel sorry for her as her parents compete on what her first words will be.  "Say ma-ma.  Ma-ma.  Ma-ma."  "Can you say da-da?  Da-da.  Da-da."  That's what she hears all. day. long!  But, I'm hoping that since I'm here more and say it more..."ma-ma" will be the winner!  I know.  I know.  It will probably be "Uncie Bucket" or something equally difficult.

No rush.  I'm keeping her little for as long as she lets me.  I'll cherish her little hands grabbing my face, her gummy grins, and her happy squeals.  This, my friends, is what I've been waiting for!

Days like these.

Fun Friday!

I found these pictures that I forgot to post on my 2013 post, so I thought it would be a great addition to this dreary and rainy Friday.  Doesn't it just make you wanna smile?  Or is it just me?  I'm a little biased I know.  That's one happy New Year's Baby!  She has fun no matter what she's wearing.  And, bless her heart, she's at the mercy of her crazy Mama!

I've been giddy with excitement as I check my email each day.  We had our six month pictures taken by the one and only Matt and Leah last week.  The pictures are FANTASTIC!  One great thing, among many great things, about having a friend as your photographer...is you can have an all day event, let the baby nap for an hour, eat, rest, and eat again.  We are SO thankful for Matt and Leah's willingness and excitement to be Millie Janalee's personal photographer for the rest of her life.  Ha!  So, as I continue getting sneak peeks, I will remain anxiously excited to see each one...all 600 of them I've been told!

Millie Janalee is resting up right now.  We had a long night.  Finally, around 1:00 am, Russ went upstairs to knock on our upstairs neighbors' door.  You see, there was a constant banging and it woke Millie Janalee up a minimum of 4 times.  Not to mention the fact that we couldn't sleep either.  So, Russ took his little slit eyes upstairs to ask them to stop whatever they were doing...lifting weights, wrestling, or whatever it was!  Ha!  It turns out...it was a THREE POUND CAT!  Can you believe such a tiny little thing can be so noisy!?  She was so apologetic and so nice.  She had no idea that it was so loud down here.  It's a nightly noise, but the cat was apparently especially noisy last night.  They lock him in the guest room at night.  I can see why.  But, I'm guessing after 1 am...they put him in their room because we heard very little banging after that.  Of course, Russ and I were up for a while.  We just couldn't go back down. 

Millie Janalee is also resting up for her Fun Friday!  Susu and Paw Paw are coming to spend the night tonight!  Paw Paw was sick a few weeks ago, so we haven't seen him since the new year.  I have a feeling I better get my cuddles in quickly before they arrive.  They don't like to share.

If you're looking for a little fun pick-me-up for this Friday afternoon, purchase one of my creative sister's t-shirts!  Pre-order yours today by emailing her at kjs0106@gmail.com.  She will send you an invoice when the shirts arrive in about 2 weeks.  Help her get her new business off the ground and enjoy wearing this fun piece of art!

Have a Fun Friday whatever you do!

Dear Birthmother

Look at that happy face!  Such a JOY!  Each moment of every day I thank God for this precious gift.  People tell us all the time how beautiful Millie Janalee is, and I have to keep myself from saying, "I know.  She is, isn't she?"  It doesn't feel like bragging to me, because I didn't birth her.  However, most of the time, I forget that I wasn't pregnant with her for 9 months and in labor with her for hours.  I forget that I wasn't there when the ultrasound tech announced it was a girl.  I forget that I didn't see her eyes open for the first time or hear her first cry.  I forget that I wasn't the one who wrapped her tiny 6 pound 13 ounce body in my arms and cradle her close to my chest to calm the shock of this big, cold, bright world right after she was born.  I forget all these things, sometimes, because she is my daughter.  God had a plan for her little life, and I am so grateful that we are part of that plan.  I am so glad God planned our Party of Three!  So, I do forget at times.  But I will never really forget.

I could never forget that there was one who was present for all those things.  Who heard the words, "It's a girl."  Who was pregnant for 9 months and in labor for hours.  Who saw her eyes open and heard her first cry.  Who cradled her tiny body next to her chest to calm her from the shock of this world.  There was one who loved our sweet girl so much, that she made a plan for her.  A plan better than they were able to provide.  A plan to let go of this beautiful face...because of a love for her.  I am grateful for this one.  I am beyond grateful for this ultimate act of love.  I am thankful for the one who cared for our daughter before we could.  What strength!  What love!

You see, God orchestrated this plan I know.  But, what I saw with my earthly eyes were two arms holding this sweet, tiny bundle...holding Millie Janalee out for me.  I saw the smile on her face knowing it was right.  What I'll never truly know is the many days and nights those arms ached for this baby to hold.  I'll never know the heartbreak of willingly saying goodbye to this precious newborn girl.  I'll never know her sleepless nights of trying to make this plan or the tears shed in preparation for the bittersweet day she is born...the joy of seeing her eyes open and hearing her first cry mixed with the sorrow of knowing she belongs to someone else.  I'll never know those feelings.

One thing I have learned through our adoption process is there are so many misconceptions about birthparents.  So many judgments and wrong thinking.  We know these people.  We met them.  We talked and laughed with them for hours.  We've hugged them and told them we loved them.  We grieved with them in the midst of our incredible joy.  We may not know their deepest feelings, but we know them.  And they are special to us.  They are a big part of Millie Janalee's story...the first part, actually.  And we are thankful for them and their decision made out of love.

A couple of weeks ago, we had the opportunity to visit Millie Janalee's birthmother.  We are so thankful for Bethany's continued love and service for the families they have ministered to...including ours.  We met at their office with Nancy present.  Nancy, if you remember, was with us when we took Millie Janalee home from the hospital.  It was such a precious time as we saw those arms - the ones who cradled her first - hold Millie Janalee again.  Of course, I cried.  This beautiful story is overwhelming at times...often times.  And I am so thankful for this journey.

Her birthmother brought Millie Janalee a Hello Kitty, and Millie Janalee LOVED it!  She grabbed and squealed and giggled as they played together.  We talked about Millie Janalee's life and the love that fills it.  We talked about how her birthmother has been since July.  Everyone looks great.  Everyone is thriving it seems.  This is part of the healing process.  For her to see that she did a great thing.  I am glad to be a part of that.  I am also glad Millie Janalee will have these pictures to see how much love she has in her life.  She has the love of her family...more than she can imagine!  She has the love of friends and so many she still hasn't met.  But, she also has the love of the woman who carried her for those months.  She was not "given up."  No...her birthparents made a loving plan for her life.  They made a plan through tears, anxiety, and sorrow...because they love her.  And we love them for it.  I pray Millie Janalee always feels this love overflowing.

Each night, when I pray over her, I pray for her to feel loved, secure, confident, and humble.  I pray that she grow into a deep understanding of her amazing story and how it touched so many.  This journey is not over.  It is just beginning.

Dear Birthmother,
Thank you.

Happy 1/2 Birthday!

Oh. My. Word!  How in the world did my sweet, newborn babe become a six month old baby girl!?  There is no way she is already six months old...halfway to her first birthday!  What is going on?!  Ok.  Now that I've had my comeapart, I am ready to continue I guess.  So much has happened since her five month update with Christmas, New Year's, and all the traveling we've done.  This little girl has changed a bit too!

"Well, HELLO, Mr. Bunny!  How are you doin'?"

This month, we started eating solids.  Millie Janalee eats about an ounce of oatmeal and a total of three ounces of fruits and/or veggies a day.  She loves food.  So far, she has tried bananas, pears, and sweet potatoes.  Next up...green peas!  We also moved Millie Janalee into her own room at night.  This was much more traumatic for Mama than it was for her.  She is sleeping very well in her own bed, and I'm starting to sleep peacefully without those sweet sounds coming from the bassinet next to me.  Our girl is just about to become a full time sitter.  She loses her balance when she reaches for things or uses all her body muscles to squeal.  But, other than that, she's sitting just fine!  I still place my mumbo pillow behind her for falls.  Her favorite thing to do when she sits up is playing her little piano at the end of her new play mat.  Apparently, she's bored with the whole rolling over thing.  She was a champ, and then she stopped.  We spent a lot of time on rolling over tonight.  I'm pretty sure she's just gonna do it when I'm not in the room to avoid all the fuss.  Ha!  We weighed her last weekend (unofficially), and she came in at exactly 16 pounds.  We have our six month check-up next week, so we will see how close we were.  Millie Janalee is still in a size 2 diaper and 6 months clothes.  The biggest and most fun of this past month is Millie Janalee's personality!  She has so much personality to share, and when she's on a roll...watch out!  I've never seen a more animated, social, and delightful baby in my life.  Of course, I'm a little biased I know.  But, just look at this face...

Millie Janalee,

You are the absolute JOY of our home!  That's the best way I can think of to describe you.  You are our sunshine, our sweet girl, our answered prayer, our longing fulfilled.  You, my dear, bring smiles to everyone you meet.  I love how observant you are!  I love that you give it all you've got to stay awake for a party...without a fuss.  I love how you stare into my eyes while I rock you when you are trying desperately to stay awake.  I love how you rub my face with your sweet little hands.  I love your curled up little toes.  I love to watch you stretch those baby fat rolls.  I love your squeals and giggles.  I even love your cry.  You, Millie Janalee, are adored!  Your daddy and I love you so much it hurts sometimes.  I promise to show you and tell you how much we love you every single day.  Even during those nasty teenage years when you don't want to hear it.  I will tell you.  And I will kiss you.  Probably even in front of your friends.  You are my favorite girl in the whole world, and I am so thankful God chose us to be your Mama and Daddy!

We love you!  Happy Six Months, Millie Janalee!