Momma's lil helper

If the shoe fits...

... Lou must be growing! These little pink bear booties were one of the first things that I got for Ainsley when my mom came for a visit last February when I was pregnant. Just for fun, I put them on her for her first pediatrician appointment once she was discharged from the NICU at about 3 weeks old. At the time they hardly stayed on long enough to take a picture and now they are almost too small! It is funny how I don't notice all the little day-to-day changes unless I look back at old pictures. Just another good reminder to cherish each day, even the tough ones.... and to keep a camera close. :)

Four Month Snapshot

Weight: 12 pounds, 4 ounces (25th percentile)

Height: 24 inches (50th percentile)

Head Circumference: 40 centimeters (25th percentile)

Development: Ainsley is right on track developmentally and can raise up on her arms when she's lying on her tummy, she can laugh, squeal, shriek, and coo, she turns in the direction of our voice, can hold her head steady when upright with the occasional wobble, and can reach for and grasp toys and rattles that are held within reach. She has turned into a social eater, wanting to coo and chat while she eats which is adorable although it often doubles the time it takes to nurse. She has become quite the fun little playmate and we're loving watching her discover these new tricks.

Usually much to her own dismay, Ainsley has also become a pro at taking out her pacifier. She'll typically be lulling herself to sleep when all of a sudden a no good hand comes out of no where and snatches her pacifier right out of her mouth! Sometimes it looks like she is literally battling with her hand in order to keep her pacifier securely in her mouth. She's still learning to put it back in, a feat which successfully happens about half the time... the other half she ends up in tears.

Likes: The vanity insanity has begun as Ainsley LOVES to watch herself in the mirror. I'm not sure that she actually realizes it's her yet, but she sure is in love with whoever she thinks is staring back at her. Ainsley never really liked to be cradled like a baby, but now one of her favorite position seems to be "standing" on our laps so that she can see everything going on around her. Although skinny, her little legs are strong and able to support all her weight. She also loves, loves, loves her mobile and always smiles and laughs when we turn it on. And of course, she loves any and everything she can smush, push, or jam into in her mouth.

Dislikes: Ainsley's dislikes have become fewer and fewer as she's gotten older. She now slurps down her medicine like a pro, splish-splashes and giggles in her bath, and it seems like she is FINALLY over the evening time crying and fussiness. Sadly, she is now back to not liking her car seat and she gets frustrated with anything that she can't figure out how to smush, push, or jam into her mouth.

Personality: This past month we have begun to see bits and pieces of Ainsley's personality poking through her babiness. She tends to be a quiet observer when she's in a new environment or around people who she doesn't know. She always seems to get a stoic face, studying everything around her. On the other hand, at home with George and I she spends most of her time talking, shrieking, laughing, and smiling (when she's had a good nap!) or silently concentrating on a toy.

Favorite moments: One of our favorite things is seeing her face light up when we go to pick her up out of bed in the morning. She gets a big grin on her face like she hasn't seen us in weeks. It is also so sweet to watch her full body stretch (arms long over heard and legs and feet as straight as they can go) when we take her out of her swaddle in the morning.

Since life has slowed down a bit this month (ie. we're FINALLY done unpacking!!) I have had some time to reflect on Ainsley's birth and time in the NICU. After finally processing how scary and challenging that time was, in the end, I have been completely overcome with gratitude for this little munchkin. She is absolutely my "miracle child" and the love of my life and I am so blessed to be her mommy. The Lord is so good!

Go Frogs!!

This past weekend was supposed to be spent with my best friends Rachael and Mackenzie for some much anticipated girl time... but Friday Rachael's son, Trip, who perhaps wasn't so thrilled about tagging along with us gals all weekend, came down with a fever, keeping Rach stuck at home. So, completely out of character for me I decided at the last minute to tag along with George to Fort Worth for the weekend. (He was literally a third of the way there and had to turn around to pick Ainsley and I up, only to turn back around and make the trip again, except this time during 5:00 traffic - what a sweet husband!) We got to cheer for TCU during their big game, reconnect with good friends, and show off Ainsley, so it was a great weekend!

Above is our family at the Bates' tailgate before the big TCU game. George was giddy with excitement of the publicity that the frogs have been getting and of course got up at the crack of dawn in order to get a prime spot at ESPN's Game Day that was hosted on TCU's campus. And yes, George and his friends were those creepy old guys in the sea of TCU students.

Here's Ainsley meeting my best friend Mackenzie for the first time. It was love at first sight! Notice they are both in their TCU purple.




Here's lil Ainsley with George's college buddies, Brian and Brad. Jeanette, we miss you!!



And here are Tim and Emily, our generous hosts, with their sweet lil handfuls, Matthew and Caleb. We love you guys! Thanks for such a fantastic spur of the moment weekend!!



As I mentioned before, Ainsley did so well this weekend, which makes me excited about more frequent trips back to Fort Worth in the future. This trip was wonderful but it was a quicky and there are lots of friends we didn't get to see. Next time we'll have to stay a bit longer and see everyone - yay for funky town!

Baby Faces

Yesterday I was in the middle of a spit up induced outfit change when out of no where Ainsley started hamming it up with melt-my-heart smiles, laughs, and squeals. Thankfully my camera was close by and I caught some of these priceless faces.

Jared & Kelly's Wedding

Thanks to Kesha, Derek's wife, here are some pics from Jared & Kelly's wedding. Above is the handsome group of high school buddies the day of the wedding. (Left to right, Eric, Jared, Derek, and George) Then below here they are at the rehearsal dinner. (Left to right, Eric, Derek, George, Dillon, and Jared, the groom)


It was fun for the guys to get together and they had a great time reminiscing about their high school days. Jared was the last of George's close high school buddies to get married, so no more fun filled weddings to attend for a while. Hopefully we can all get together in Canadian sometime again soon.

Finally, here is a picture of the guys at the church with Brad and Terry Henderson, the parents of George's close friend Miles, who was killed in Iraq in 2006. The cigars in the above photo were some of Miles'. Terry brought them to the wedding for all the guys to have for the celebration.


Miles was an incredible soldier who loved his friends, his family, and his country. Here is an old picture of all the guys (Miles is in the middle) at our wedding in 2005.

Dads and Weddings

This weekend we packed up and went to Dallas. It just so happened that my Dad, who has been crazy busy this fall, was going to be stopping through DFW on his way to a work conference so he got to meet Ainsley for the first time. I was excited that all the pieces fell into place to make this visit happen. I have always been my dad's little girl so it was all the more sweet to see him meet my little girl. Here are some pics of my dad with his granddaughter.

The original reason for going to Dallas was for Jared's, George's high school buddy's, wedding. It was a beautiful wedding and reception and Kelly, the bride, looked gorgeous!! I was preoccupied with Ainsley during much of the festivities, so I didn't get any pictures. However, I should comment that we were proud parents when little Lou let us party at the reception till 9! She was such a good little trouper and I hate to admit, but George and I felt like such night owls!! Here she is, zonked out in the hotel bed resting up for the big night. No, she wasn't sleeping here for long. She spent most of her nap on me, but I just thought she was too cute in this huge bed. I love how she always sleeps with this one hand behind her head, rubbing her bald spot.