Ellie 8 Months

My Ellie baby is 8 months old, and what a delight she is.  She is sitting up well on her own, always giggling and grinning at big brother, sleeping 11-12 hours at night (and in bed at 5:45 pm... she  has done it on her own.  She likes to go to bed early!), and is such a little ham, just like her brother.

For my record, she has eaten this month: peas, spinach, plums, pumpkin, carrots. Apples and plums are her favorite thus far.

At a quick visit to the pediatrician today, she weighed a grand 19 lb, 9.9 ounces (with clothes and diaper, so I'm guessing she is 19 1/2 lbs).  Love my little chunk.  I can see her two bottom teeth coming in, and bless her, she can let me know they're coming in by occasional fussiness.  But still overall SUCH a happy camper, loves giggling at us, and especially at her big brother.

Jackson has gotten very verbal and remembers everything these days.  It's fun to hear him chatting up a storm.  I'll also start singing a kids song, and he'll finish it:

Me: Who built the ark?
Jackson: Noah, Noah
Me: Christ the Lord is risen today
Jackson: some semblance of "Alleluia"
Me: The animals went in two by two
Jackson: Hurrah, Hurrah

I've also been trying to do simple memory verses, with pictures on our fridge, and that coincide with our Steve Green "Hide 'Em in Your Heart" CD that we listen to in the car.

Jackson: Onna, Fada, Mada Deuonomee fine sixtee!!!  "Honor your father and mother." Deuteronomy 5:16
Jackson: Don wohwe, gangku, pway! Phipeen fow six! "Don't worry, be thankful, and pray!" Philippians 4:6

When reading to himself, you'll constantly hear him counting, "Won, Too, Free, Nine, Six!"  Close buddy, so close.  Four seems to escape our counting these days.

Playing in Jackson's big boy bed

My current favorite picture of all time

 We love spontaneous after-work play dates with GoGo

 Playdate with BFF Anna Grace Menendez

 One of the few outfits I've smocked for her

 My view at the grocery store

 Ellie's first time in the big cart at Publix

Highlands 2013

We just spent a glorious week in beautiful Highlands, North Carolina.  70 degree weather, gorgeous mountain views, sure made it hard to come back home.

Some light hiking at Dry Falls

 Bridal Falls

 Superhero hiking Daddy

 Atop Whiteside Mountain

 Rough family pic, but I had to show I was there :)

 Random pit stop on the trail

 Sleeping baby at the end of our hike

 Blueberry picking. This is about all we got. Small but delicious!

 Yummy breakfasts at our house

 Loved waking up to this view every morning

 Andy graciously watched the kids one night so I could join my family and our best family friends, the Spears, for a delicious dinner at Canyon Kitchen.  Delicious food, yummy Blackberry Lavender martinis, fun fellowship.

 I took the kids to many a playground while the guys golfed and the girls shopped.

 Jackson's first ice cream sandwich

 Feeding the ducks and geese who swarmed our car, thus resulting in feeding them from the safety of the interior of our car.

 Ellie's new faces and gestures

We LOVED spending time with Uncle Jason

 Sunset atop Sunset Mountain

I have NO clue why these two photos are showing the progression of photos, but it's almost like a mini-movie. Don't you feel like you were there taking these pictures?  :)