A Big Announcement

It's official--I am a stay-at-home mom! Today was my last day at Elliott Davis.

Chris and I have spent many weeks praying about what to do about my job. We both knew we wouldn't survive the spring busy season at my current work schedule. I hinted at how difficult it was here. God opened up an opportunity to watch a friend's baby starting in February, and Chris and I leapt at it. Things are going to be tight, but Chris and I are actually looking forward to tightening our budget and gaining a new perspective on what we really need vs. what we want. We are very excited. Thank you for all the prayers for us as we worked through this, and we can still use those prayers as we start this new and exciting time in our lives.

More Faces of Lottie

Lottie is very expressive. I know, I know, big shocker with meek and mild parents like Chris and I. Sometimes genes just go awry.

And as part of that, Lottie is a ham for the camera, so most weekly photo shoots are all smiles and goofiness. However, every now and then, we will have a session where she goes through several emotions, and the 50 pictures that come out of this are hilarious when viewed in a string. Like such:

Here is our version with our little goose:

Monkey See, Monkey Do

Maybe that should be Goose See, Goose Do. Lottie is in a mimicking stage, which is actually a lot of fun. It is crazy how quickly she can pick things up. We have a couple of fun videos of what Lottie is learning.

Lottie has a thing about straws. She still doesn't know how to drink from one, but she loves chewing on them. Since I use straws all the time, she has figured out how to steal the straw from me and put it in her mouth. It is pretty neat to watch her increasing dexterity.

The other day Chris taught Lottie how to make noises with her mouth. We just happened to film it. I think she looks and acts so old in this one. The goose is definitely growing up.

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Happy Thanksgiving from all of us!!!

Post Thanksgiving feast of Sweet Potatoes mixed with breastmilk (I know--yum, right?)

When Lottie grows up...

                                                          ...she wants to be just like her daddy.

A New Cousin!!!

Chris' sister Elizabeth and her hubs Aaron are the proud parents of a precious little girl, Claire Evelyn. She arrived Wednesday at 4:04 pm. She weighed 7 pounds 9 ounces and was 20.5 inches long. Mom and baby are doing great, and we are so excited Lottie's little girl cousin is here!

 

 

 

Return to the Motherland – Part 1

Post written October 16, 2014

As I sit writing this post on the front porch of the Aero-Bee Ranch enjoying the 78 degree weather and listening to the breeze rustle the trees, I can’t help but feel at peace. It is so quiet here with no road sounds or city noise.

It is incredibly beautiful here at my favorite place on Earth. Don’t get me wrong, upstate South Carolina is gorgeous and probably prettier by most people’s standards than Texas Hill Country, but Texas Hill Country has something special to me that no place ever could or will have.

It is so good to be home.

It has been 9.5 months since we were last in Texas, and 16.5 months since we were last at the ranch. This week has been amazing already. We have loved every moment of introducing Lottie to our friends and family here in Texas and soaking up time with them as well.

Chris wrapped up block 5 on Friday, and we flew out Saturday afternoon. I planned Lottie’s entire schedule around our 145 pm flight. My plan was to give her a bottle after we boarded, so she would be eating while we took off (sucking is supposed to help them clear their ears), and we skipped her second nap, so she would fall asleep after eating. And sure enough, she got hungry at 145 pm and fell asleep right after the bottle; however, our flight was delayed 40 minutes, so my brilliant beyond brilliant mommy planning was for naught. She did wonderfully though.

 

Napping

 

Trying to entertain the baby in tight quarters

Our first order of business on Saturday was eating Tex-Mex with Gran, Papa, Uncle Chuck, Leena, Brian, Sarah, Dad, & Mom. Oh glorious Tex-Mex! It was incredible finally introducing my grandparents and uncle to Lottie.

Sunday, I hosted a baby shower for Sarah with 3 other wonderful ladies. We used her nursery theme of navy, red, white, & planes. I think it came off very well. I love doing being able to do things like this for a sister. God blessed me with an amazing SIL. I can’t wait to meet precious baby Luke!

 

I was in charge of the diaper cake. I kinda of winged it (pun intended), and I think it turned out pretty good.

 

*punch pic

 

 

Meeting Great Grandma Atteberry or Great Mimi if you will

On Monday, we had lunch with family friends and then attended a party Gran and Papa hosted, so our oldest (in length of time, not age) family friends, the Rossy’s, could meet Charlotte. Lottie also got to meet Aunt Karen.

4 generations of women :)

 

Aunt K & Lottie

 

Uncle Chuck & Lottie (this is fairly standard for him haha)

 

Tuesday, Charlotte and I went with my mom to her weekly coffee gathering, so she could share her grandbaby with them. Then, we took Lottie to Dad’s office, so he could enjoy showing her off. She was a little charmer at both as usual. After lunch at James Coney Island (a Houston treasure), Chris and I went to Bass Pro Shop, so he could spend his birthday money, which was burning a hole in his pocket. My mom sweetly took Lottie home for a nap. We may have over planned the poor thing a little. She hung in there gallantly, but at this pace, I could sense a meltdown brimming on the horizon. For dinner, we met up with the Noworatzky’s at Ruggles-City Centre. We were so excited to introduce our little girls to their future bff. They hit it off right away, of course.

 

 

It was great seeing Hattie & Josh and seeing a preview of what the next year would bring (Elli is 20 months old).

Notice how the little girls just ignore whatever madness their fathers are doing

After all the crazy, non-stop activity, we left for the ranch on Wednesday, which is where I sit now soaking up every moment. Sigh.

I updated the Week by Week pictures--finally!

I updated the week by week pictures. Sorry about the delay. I wanted to redo the pages, so now there is a separate page for the elephant pictures and for the cradle pictures. We are still doing both just in case we decide soon that she is too big to go into the cradle (i.e. standing up in it). I will update the outtakes soon.

I can't believe how much she has grown and changed. She is quite the young lady now.

Anyways, you can check out how much she how changed on the new pages!

New excuse for missing work...

...my husband's dog ate my homework breast pump parts.

No joke.

She did.

Not just any part, but the most expensive part--$40/each to replace.

Chris told me that we have no way of knowing that it was Winnie and not Amber.

But we all know that this dog couldn't possibly have done it:

 

And that this one sure could have:

 

Or this one could have:

 

Not to mention that Winnie's record is a little murky. It includes the following misdemeanors:

- Ceramic coasters
- 50 Liver Flavored Arthritis pills
- Baskets
- Electrical tape
- DVDs
- Picture frames
- My favorite flats
- 3 Crates
- Numerous bags of trash
- Electrical cords
- Dog beds
- Wood Christmas ornament
- Photo albums
- Tubberware containers
- Sunglasses
- Foam egg carton off the bed

 

I know it is un-American (you know the whole innocent until proven guilty thing), but Winnie is guilty, guilty, guilty and this

 

 and this

 

 

will be added to her record. Officially.

 

 PS Chris thinks in fairness to Winnie, this picture should be included.

Personally, I think this one should be stricken from the record.