4 months old!

Everleigh is 4 months old today! She's doing so great and growing like a weed! She brings so much joy to our lives every day. Here are some things Everleigh is doing at 4 months:

• she sleeps between 10.5-12 hours at night with 2-3 really great naps. The first 2 are around 2 -3 hours each and the last one is about 30-45 minutes. I think she's trying to drop the 3rd one soon.
• I'm back at work 2 days one week and 3 the next so she is staying with our friend Katie the days I'm working and doing great there. I think she really loves playing with Katie, Anagail and Brody and I'm so glad she gets to play with other kids.
• she's eating 5 times a day for me and about 6-7 ounces for Katie.
• Her reflux is getting a lot better, but I still can't drink milk. I tried last week again and she spit up ALL day for 2 days. Guess I'll try again in another month
• She had her 4 month check-up and weighed 13 lb 13 oz (57%) and was 24 in long (48%). Her head circumference was 64%.
• She is SO happy all the time!
• She loves her exersaucer, jump-up, swing, mobile, kicking piano, books, and those linked bright circles
• She's still not crazy about tummy time but it's better. At Katie's, Katie puts the girls facing each other and I think she's stays longer on her tummy there. At home, she'll stay for a minute, but rolls over pretty quickly to get on her back again.
• She LOVES her baths. She learned a few weeks ago that when she kicks in the tub she splashes the water out and this is all she does in the tub now. It's so cute! She also loves her bath toys. The walrus and the starfish get smiles every time!
• She does not like getting her Aquaphor on and being dressed after her bath. This is pretty much the only time of day we hear her fuss. We put Aquaphor on her in the morning and at night and she doesn't mind it in the morning, but at night she's not very happy about it. Cody and I will sing to her and dance around to get her to stop fussing. It's amazing how stupid you will make yourself look to make your baby happy!
• She wears 6 month clothes, is a size 2 diaper and a size 1 shoe.
• She loves standing up with help or sitting with help. She gets this look on her face when she's standing on your lap like she's so proud of herself. I love it!
• She doesn't get overstimulated any more, which is great. We can take her out all day long and she doesn't seem to mind.
• She's not sticking her tongue out as much as she used to.
• When I eat in front of her, she doesn't take her eyes off my mouth. I'm trying to wait a little longer before we do rice cereal, but I think she's getting ready.
• She takes her naps in her crib every day and she used to do fine sleeping when we took her out, but now she doesn't want to nap while we're out. She wants to see what we're doing. She doesn't really get fussy from not napping, but I know she needs it so I feel bad when we're out too long.
• She can grab things and hold on to them now. She's gotten so much better with her hands and being able to actually grab what she's going for.
• She loves looking at herself in the mirror.
• She is fascinated by other babies.
• She laughs randomly - usually at something I've never said or done before and then the same thing won't make her laugh later. We will do anything to hear that sound! I'm convinced it's the best sound in the world!

Off to Chattanooga...

We went to Chattanooga for Memorial Day weekend with Cody's parents and had so much fun. Here are some pictures from the trip:

"I'm ready! Close up the suitcase!"

The Tennessee Aquarium

I love my Granna!

And Pappy too!

Ruby Falls

First trip to the beach

It's been a while since I've blogged. We've been very busy. Last week I started back to work. It has been great to be back at work, but I really miss Everleigh while I'm there. I think it's good for me though. Everleigh is staying with our very good friend, Katie, so I know she is very well taken care of. We have no worries about her when she's with Katie, which is amazing!

These pictures are of our trip to the beach the week before I went back to work. We stopped in Birmingham on the way down b/c John, my brother-in-law, was graduating. Happy Graduation, John!! You'll be a wonderful lawyer, with how stubborn you are!!

We had a great time down at the beach. It was nice to be able to relax a little before work started back. We even got to see a movie, which we were proud of with a 3 month old! We tried to play putt-putt, but it was raining. It was a really fun, much-needed trip.

Isabella had ice cream and was very excited!!

Mimi with Everleigh. Her shirt says "If Mommy won't, Mimi will"

She was in the hospital with chest pain, but is doing much better right now.

Everleigh's adorable cow outfit from Adam and Kim - Thanks guys! We LOVE it!!

Out to eat at Lulu's

First trip to the beach - VERY short. It was really hot!

I love this jumper. She has the cutest little watermelon bottom! Thanks Aunt Christy!

Ready to go!

Daddy and his girl

Mother's day

Cody made my first Mother's Day very special. I got some great gifts from my sweet little girl and from my sweet husband. I felt very loved and appreciated.

Mother's Day has been really hard for me the past few years since my mom is not around. I knew this year would be just as hard, but also great in a new way. Being Everleigh's mom is the greatest thing in the world. I know every new mom feels this way, but I feel like no one else could possible love their baby this same way or as much as I love her. My heart just pours out with love for my baby and my husband. I feel so lucky and blessed.

Before my mom passed away, she told me that she had done everything she ever wanted because she had a Christy and a Lauren. I cried when she told me because it was one of the sweetest things anyone had ever said to me. Now, I truly understand. She didn't say because she had 2 children - she used our names. She was fulfilled b/c she had us, not just any 2 kids. I feel the same way about Everleigh. I am more than fulfilled by being her mom. This is all I've ever wanted and I wake up every morning feeling like each day is a gift from God just by having her and Cody in my life.

Happy Mother's Day to all my wonderful mother friends! I pray you all feel like I do about your amazing families!

3 months!

We had her 3 month pictures made and here are a few of them:

It really goes by quickly! Everleigh is now 3 months old. She gets more and more fun every day and when I think I can't possibly love her any more, I do! It's amazing! Here are some things she's doing now:

• she goes any where from 9 to 11 hours between feedings at night
• naps are not so great, but we are working on them. She takes 2-3 naps that are about 45 minutes each; sometimes a little longer, but not usually
• she is not crazy about tummy time, but we do it a few times a day anyway. She starts fussing after a few minutes and we're done
• she has great head and neck control and loves to look all around while we walk around the house
• she laughed for the first time a few nights ago. She was laughing at me making noises with my mouth and silly faces and then she started looking at Cody like "Ok, Daddy - your turn!" and then she was laughing at him. This is the BEST sound I have ever heard!
• she LOVES her daddy. I love hearing all the noises she makes when he gets home and I know it makes his day, too
• she smiles all the time - even when it's nap time and bed time. It's very hard not to smile back when you know she needs to sleep!
• she's wanting to stand now (with us holding her under the arms of course - I do not actually think she is trying to really stand or walk or anything like that!) about as much as she wants to lay down. Getting ready for the big bouncy toys!
• she still loves to be read to on the floor. She'll grab a hold of my hair and pull and coo and kick while I read. To Cody, she just hits his face a lot instead of grabbing hair, but same thing
• she eats about every 3-4 hours while awake and is nursing for longer than she was (about 30 minutes each feeding). The last feeding is at least 45 minutes and sometimes an hour. This is about 6 feedings per day.
• she still loves to stick out her tongue all the time. She has done this since she was first born and it hasn't gotten old yet!
• she gets over-stimulated pretty easily. If I have her out for too long or there are new people around for too long, she gets very fussy and just wants me or Cody and a quiet place. She likes her "alone time" where we put her in her swing and don't talk to her for a little while. If we're at home all day and it's just us, we can play all day, but anything outside of our typical day at home really throws her off.
• she only usually cries to eat in the morning now. Any other time, she will be hungry and still smiling at you.
• she still loves the car as long as it is moving. She either looks out the window or falls asleep, but she is staying awake a lot more now.
• she loves her bouncy seat and the animals that are attached to it. This is great for me because I can do things like make dinner or shower while she plays and is completely happy.
• she has grown out of her 0-3 month clothes, which was very sad for me. I would be even more sad if she weren't growing, but growing out of clothes means she's getting older and bigger and I want her to stay where she is! I wasn't sad for very long, though - I love her summer clothes!

Being Everleigh's mom is so wonderful and fun. I can't wait to see what the next three months brings!

Weekend in B'ham

This past weekend we went to Birmingham to see my family. We had a great time hanging out with everybody. I miss my family so much, so it was great to see everyone all weekend!

Aunt Kathy holding Everleigh

Christy with Everleigh

Nathan with Isabella

Karen, my dad's girlfriend

Mimi with Everleigh - WAR EAGLE, HEY!

I LOVE this picture of Isabella - she's eating homemade ice cream. Mimi's is the best!

Nathan and Amber with Everleigh

Christy and Isabella

The many faces of Everleigh

Cody and I absolutely love the stage Everleigh is in right now. She's so much fun! She makes some of the cutest faces and sweetest noises. She freely gives smiles now to Cody and me both when just about 2 weeks ago we really had to work hard to get them. She's such a happy, good baby. We're so lucky! Here's some cute faces she was making one morning. I had to include the last one. She was done playing and let me know!