Adiya Grace at 5 Months

Adiya Grace is now 5 months old. 5 months!! It is amazing how quickly time flies...I think it seems to go faster with the second child for some reason.

Stats:
Weight: 15 lbs 11oz (75%)
Height: 24 in (25%)
Head:  (95%)...oh the joys of big headed babies

Likes: mommas milk, being swaddled, the exersaucer, being held, bubba, momma, her tasty fingers in her mouth
Dislikes: BOTTLES (yes she has boycotted the bottle...well for quite some time now),  not being able to see her momma, sleeping through the night
What's She Doing: Sitting up all by herself (although a little wobbly), rolling over and over and over, babbling, smiling, laughing some (she makes you work for it though), trying oatmeal--not so successfully

Adiya is a happy girl who loves being held. She has the most beautiful blue eyes. She has the sweetest smile that begins in her eyes. And who could forget those precious squishy cheeks and ruffly thighs. We love you sweet girl more than you could ever know.

loving the exersaucer

Happy 5 month old Adi

Sassy pants sitting up by herself

Christmas 2012

We had a wonderful Christmas this year. We took some time to visit my family in Huntsville before the holidays. We then headed to Stratford to have Christmas with Ben's family. We left Waco where it was 70 degrees outside to arrive in Amarillo where it was 30 degrees and snowing. And yes, my kids were dressed in short sleeves....way to go mom! We had a great time in Stratford with mimi, papa Lynn, pawpaw ER, and cousin ER. The kiddos got to open a present each day, so of course they were delighted. Eli got his very first tent...quite a nice tent I must say. 

We headed back to Waco on Dec 23 just in time for Christmas festivities in our new home. It was a low key Christmas eve and day. Ben led a beautiful devotional for our family on Christmas eve. It was so sweet as Ben asked Eli about various parts of the Christmas story and Eli knew the answers. It is amazing to see how God is already using my three year old for the glory of His kingdom. What a sweet evening it was. On Christmas morning, Eli woke up and found the stockings in the living room. He remarked, "mommy what are these beanstalk things?" referring to the stockings, "which one is mine?" Then he proceeded to find the one that had E L I on it. He's such a smart cookie. We stayed in our pajamas till well after noon and enjoyed a delicious breakfast of creme brulee french toast and hashbrown casserole. Mom and I watched a couple of episodes of Downton Abbey, while Ben headed to the theatre to see the Hobbit again. It was a perfectly lazy Christmas day complete with a salmon and lobster dinner. 

For so long our Christmas revolved around my work at Church. While I loved this experience, my family and our traditions were always a little neglected. It is nice that we are beginning to resurrect some of our families old traditions (i.e. opening presents at 5 on Christmas eve and eating pizza) and create new traditions (i.e. Ben's beautiful Christmas eve devotionals and relaxing Christmas mornings). All in all this was one of my favorite Christmases.

Adi in her Christmas finest.

Mimi and Eli playing bingo

Cousins

Cousins in Eli's new tent

A girl and her PawPaw

Light of the world

May the Lord's light shine now and forevermore

One beautiful gift.

Merry Christmas morning.

Thanksgiving 2012

Yes indeed we did have Thanksgiving in 2012. Thanksgiving is probably my favorite holiday. I love the no strings attached gathering of family and friends. It also the one time of year when we know we will get to see all of Ben's family! Each year we travel to Stillwater, OK to hang out at Ben's aunts house. She has always been so gracious to host us and allow us to stay in her home. It's amazing how Thanksgiving has changed over these past 5-6 years. In the past 6 years we have added 7 children to the mix! Long gone are our days of staying up late watching movies and playing video games...now we watch our children play video games on our iPads and head to bed at the same time our kids do (well me at least). It is awesome that Eli and Adi are growing up with cousins who are close to their age. I wish we got to see them more, of course, but when they are together it is such fun to watch them play together and love on one another.

Uncle Benny and Grayson

Mimi and PaPa Lynn with all their grandbabies

Adi and Grayson

Eli and Maggie

ER and Eli at the Wondertorium (Stillwater's awesome children's museum)....Eli stayed much drier this year than he did last year(see here)

Eli and Grayson. He kept trying to hold her hand :)

Adi's First Plane Ride

In early November Adiya took her first big trip on an airplane. And it was a big...long...long...long trip from Waco to Seattle, Washington. I had to go to one of my annual conferences and since I was going to be gone for four days, little miss got to travel with me. Fortunately, my good friend and colleague Karon traveled with me from Waco to Seattle to help out with Adi on the plane ride. Then Terri, Ben's mom, met me in Seattle to help out with Adi while I was working. Our trip to Seattle took about 12 hours after a delayed plane (which was delayed once we were already boarded and sitting on the runway...fun times with a 2 1/2 month old) and some poor navigation in a rental car. We made it though and Adi was a trooper. She did great considering the amount of time she was in transit.

11:00pm in Seattle, 1am in Texas...Laying on the floor in the rental car place. Sweet pink, chapped cheeks

Seattle was actually a lot of fun. Having Terri around forced me to get out and see the city. Generally, I am so tired at conferences that I rarely get to see the city I am in. Not Terri...she is a go getter and a site seer. We had tons of fun, ate delicious food, and enjoy hanging out just the three of us girls. We visit Pike Place Market...wow, ate delicious seafood on the water, and even made a trip to the Chateau St. Michelle Winery. We also had a very lovely and very interesting dinner with my colleague Karon's family in their beautiful home overlooking downtown Seattle. All in all it was a great trip! A big shout out to Mimi for all of her help.

Mimi and Mom had a delicious breakfast at Lola's...delicious homemade donuts with marzipan and pear jam

All bundled up...it was cold!

Before the tour of the winery. I think Adi was saying maybe i am a little young for the vino.

Chateau St. Michelle

Adi Laughs

Our Adi Grace has been working on her laugh for about a month now, but it wasn't until last night when she really let it go. Funny thing is...Eli laughed for the first time on New Years Eve too!! What a great night to start laughing on I suppose.