Six Months!!!

"I'm six months, y'all!"

Okay, so I know I say this every time she reaches the milestone of another month, but I cannot believe my baby girl is another month older! Six months! That's halfway to a year....don't even get me started on that one! :(

But seriously, this month has flown by! And if these month posts seem kind of repetitive all over to you, then just ignore...if not, settle in and get ready to read about Augusta's month (in a nutshell that is!).

Augusta is now full-on sitting up without assistance!! She can sit for minutes on end (haven't let her try longer than that) and only really loses her balance when she wants to grab something that is a little out of her reach. She is also scooting...she does great at scooting backwards, and turning directions. She has just started to scoot forward so hopefully there will be more to report there next month. She also can move forward in her walker now!! She can actually go pretty much any way she wants, but like the scooting, the other directions came first. She's also gotten really good at lifting herself up. She can even get into the crawl pose, but can't move in it. Usually she's lifting her front half or her back half, very rarely in unison. ;) She's also babbling! It's adorable! I love to hear her talk, squeal, and especially laugh!

She has now successfully eaten green beans, bananas, carrots, apples, and rice cereal. We're taking it slowly, per pediatrician's recs, to monitor for allergies. She's loves her veggies so much...not a big apple fan. But I'm sure the apples are made from red apples, and she's prob like her mom-either doesn't like that mealy texture or only likes green apples! (Not uh red!)

Dislikes for this month are being put down...Augusta, you are turning into a little diva. ;) Also, getting her hair washed. And apples (she may be coming around though). Also waking up from naps before she's ready.

This past month Augusta has been loving: Her swimming pool! She loves to splash around in it! Drinking water, especially from a straw. (It makes her feel like a big girl!) She's also loving Rowan...it's like she's actually discovered he's a living creature. She watches him and tries to touch him constantly. Lucky for Row she's not moving too quickly just yet! She also loves grabbing onto people's faces...especially cheeks and noses. She's also realized both the remote and the iPhone are important things and loves when she gets them in her grasp. (Can you tell what we do at our house?) She also loved the coke can, if I haven't mentioned that in a previous post.

I am just in awe of this little miracle God has placed in my care. I thank him every day for this tremendous blessing and I'll never stop doing so. Augusta Kate, we love you more than you'll ever know...and hope one day you'll love reading back on all the memorable times in your life on this blog. (And hopefully think your parents weren't too gooby!)

Sitting up like a big girl

Getting love from Aunt Lys

I'm gonna get you Mommy!!

First Family Vacay!

Well Augusta went on her first vacation this Memorial Day weekend...we took a trip to my family's house in Mammoth Spring, Arkansas. It's a tiny town, we're talking less than 800 peeps, that the Spring River runs through.

Trout fishing is a big thing to do there. As well as canoeing and rafting. Chase loves going to fish there. Personally I'd rather have a pond where the water is still, fishing in moving water is too hard! But he really enjoys it! So does my baby sister, Tori.

Chase and Tori fishing

We had fun days of fishing, Augusta and myself hung out on the bank. And we shopped, what little shopping they have! We also strolled around the park and checked out the dam and aquarium.

At the State Park

The only downer was both mine and Augusta's allergies went crazy! Poor baby has her Mommy's sinuses, I'm sorry sweet girl! We went both snotty and my eyes itched while hers watered like crazy. We think it was the dust in the house since it does stay closed off so much. But putting that aside, it was just what I needed. I wanted to get away and nothing is better than a (mostly) free trip! And Augusta did great on both the ride up and back! (My little trooper!)

Had fun, but I'm ready to go home, Mommy!

Vacation season is here! Can't wait for more travels with my loves!

Photots from the rest of the trip--Fun on the bank while the others fished!

Sweet Summertime!

I cannot believe it is finally here...summer vacation! It seems so unreal. I woke up yesterday, my last day of work, and I could not believe the day had finally come! I was almost like a kid on Christmas morning! ( I said almost people, I did actually still have to get up and go to work after all!)

But it was a great day. Super exciting because it was my last day before vacation officially started, but bittersweet because it was also my last day at the middle school--the place where I've been the past two years. In glad to be moving down, I'll now be at a school serving third and fourth graders, but I'll miss all the relationships I've made at the middle, junior high, and high school over these past 2 years. Making the transition easier though is the fact that one of the SpEd teachers is moving down with me. And the school's new principal is going to be the old junior high assistant principal, so at least I'll have some familiar faces.

But I'll get back to job stuff later, for now I'll put all that behind me and enjoy this time with my family! I'm excited for the time I'll get to spend with them and all the firsts we'll get to experience with Augusta this year! Do bring on the lazy days, afternoon naps, and fun in the sun...summer, the Goolsby's have been waiting for you!

I got my foot!

First Time in the baby pool

Happy Anniversary to Us!

Us leaving the church after the ceremony

Wednesday marked three years since Chase and I said "I do." And my how the time has flown. I guess it's true what they say, time flies when you're having fun!

I love you, Chase Goolsby, and that love grows every day. I can't Picture my life without you in it! We have had nine great years together (yes, 9 if you include all the years we dated) and it only gets better!

One of my favorite wedding pictures of us with our niece, Lani

For our anniversary this year, we had a low key night at home. Chase made dinner for me...and I mean he did everything! He marinated and grilled the pork chops, and also made green beans and cheese bread. It was so fabulous to have him pamper me like that, especially after the day I had. (it was field day at my school on Wednesday, and let me just say, when I got home I was exhausted and just wanted to melt into the couch!) He also took care of Augusta so I could get some extra rest in! Such a thoughtful guy!

And while I'm bragging in my husband, I'll go Ahead and Tell you what he got me for our anniversary...it was the hair straightener I've been wanting! I was so excited! He went to the website and picked it out all on his own! All i told him was the brand i wanted! He didnt go without, he got two Nike polo style shirts. Those are his favorites, basically all he wears to work. All in all It was a great way to celebrate our three years together! We're also planning an anniversary getaway this summer, much like last year when we went to Atlanta...just not sure where we wanna go yet. But for now, until next year, happy anniversary!

Mother's Day Weekend

Love this pic of me and my sweet girl :) 

Happy Mother's Day to all the Mommies out there! No matter how old your children are, I now completely understand the way you feel when you say that they are always your babies. I can't imagine my life without my sweet little and I am so excited to be able to celebrate my first Mother's Day with her!

The Friday of Mother's Day weekend was Chase's brother, Tyler's Birthday. Then Saturday was his mom, Mrs. Shelia's, or Mims, birthday. And finally, Sunday was Mother's Day, so it has been a busy weekend in deed.

Since I am all addicted to Pinterest these days, (If you're not, you really should be. Or maybe you shouldn't, depending on your amount of free time and how many hours you're willing to waste scrolling through it) I went crafty for some of my Mother's Day gifts this year. For Mims I got Augusta and my nieces to make a handprint canvas that reads: "Mims is wrapped around these little fingers". It turned out pretty cute if I do say so myself. Then I had Augusta make butterflies with her feet for both Gammie and Mims. They were cute as well. But a cautionary note...don't expect these hand/foot print things to be easy or turn out perfect with a 5 month old--it's not, and they won't. Well maybe yours will, but Augusta made sure to give her gifts for her grandmothers her own special flair. And I wouldn't have it any other way, she is my daughter after all. ;)

Augusta's feet prints

Other Pinterest craft

As for myself, Chase said Augusta could not wait to give me my presents, so I got one early. It was this adorable pair of burlap Toms. I love them! And am really glad that I now have a pair of Toms that go with more. I mean, I LOVE my red ones, just they don't go with pink. And if you know me, you know I tend to wear a lot of pink. Ha! I also got a beautiful dress that I wanted to wear to a wedding this summer...only it didn't fit. :( So I will be taking it back and hopefully finding another option that works better.if not, I'll raid my sister's closet...that always works.


For Mother's Day, Chase and I also decided to cook dinner for our Moms. We planned a great menu. Steaks, roasted broccoli salad, armadillo eggs, smokies wrapped in bacon, and fries. My family that was in town as well as his came over to celebrate with our wonderful mommies! The food was so yummy and our Mothers loved their gifts! I would have taken pics, but I had already told everyone to come comfy and I didn't want to ambush then with pictures after that...that just wouldn't be fair to do on Mother's Day no less! But it was a wonderful day for all. My first Mother's day and I can't imagine it gets much better! :)

1st Mother's Day

Love my Sweetie!

Why we love May

Where I found Augusta one day when I came home from work...

May is a fun month in our family...there are so many birthdays and other special events to celebrate! (Love!) Plus it also signals the end of the year and the beginning of summer vacation for me and Chase! (Double Love!!)

Augusta and I got the celebrations started a little early by celebrating Chase's birthday week! We had 7 envelopes tapes together accordion style, each holding a little something for that day. Whether it was pictures of the two of us, or a snack to enjoy on a baseball trip, we wanted him to have a little reminder that we loved him and appreciate all he does for us all year long. He's so special to us, we wanted to make sure he could feel that, and what better way than a big birthday! I think he enjoyed it!

Birthday happies

We had a family birthday trip to Memphis where we were supposed to get the iPad fixed and pick out Chase a smoker for his bday. Well, one of those things happened and one did not...they were sold out of the smoker he wanted! Even the display was gone! :( But we did get a new iPad, which is what we were going to have to do anyway with its condition!

Then on Chase's actual birthday he wanted to have a dinner date with just the two of us. So that's exactly what we did. Mims and Paul-Paul kept Augusta and we went out to Irie. (It's a seafood restaurant on the Square in town) We enjoyed our meal and time together, then headed back to Chase's parents to celebrate with them and our baby girl. His brother, sister-in-law, and two nieces were there as well so it was a family celebration. He got all his gifts and his mom had made his favorite strawberry cake. Or "mush cake" as he calls it. We had a great time celebrating his special day with them.

Then on Wednesday, we went and ate Mexican with my parents and sister. We came back to the house and I made him some brownies! We are obsessed with these things! We discovered them at Sam's and they are so good! Trust me, this is the only box brownie you'll ever want if you try it! (Well maybe not, because seriously who's gonna pass up a brownie? But they are soooooo delicious!)

Yesterday completed Chase's birthday when he finally got his present from me and Augusta. I was bugging him about needing to order his smoker because it was already 5 days past his birthday, when he decided to go look for something different. I convinced him he should look at sunglasses since he lost his right before his birthday at an away baseball game. We ended up going to Kinnucan's and he found a pair of Costa del Mar glasses that he loved! We got them for him to be the rest of his birthday present! And a big thanks to Mr. Paul and Mrs. Shelia for giving him the gift card there...so they actually gave the glasses to him too! :) I'm just excited he got something he really loves. As soon as he put them on in the car he couldn't stop talking about how great the lenses made everything look. I tried them on and had to agree, they are pretty awesome. They don't make things darker like normal sunglasses, it's like they leave the brightness but take away the part of it that hurts your eyes. (If that makes any sense at all) He's very excited to take them on his deep sea fishing trip later this month!

Chase in his sunglasses

And now it's only May 7th (even though it is the 12th when I'm actually getting around to posting this...slow, I know)...this week alone we have Chase's brother, Tyler's bday, Mrs. Shelia's bday, and Mother's Day. So I'm sure you'll hear more from me real soon! But first I'll leave you with two sweet smilies from the last baseball game of the season, which also happened this past week.

My baby is 5 months old!

And wow, another month has flown by! Seems like just the other day I was writing her four month old post! Can I please have a pause button? Or at least a rewind so I can come back to these sweet baby cuddles some time?

This month baby girl has been doing more of the same, mastering skills she started last month. She can now roll over with ease. It is nothing for her to flip over as soon as you lay her on her back. She's also laughing more, smiling more, squealing more, and making tons of fun baby noises! I love my happy girl!

Augusta went to the doctor just the other day and I just have to brag about all the great things he said about her! She is right on track with her milestones! Yay! She was also 100% healthy...such a blessing in itself! She also weighed 15 pounds and was 25 3/4 inches, which puts her in the 60th percentile for weight and the 80th percentile for height.

Sweet baby after the doctor visit... "Please, don't make me go back"

New this month has been the introduction of solid foods! We started her on rice cereal a little over a week ago and she eats that pretty well. It's not too thick and it's mixed with Mommy's milk so I'm guessing it's a relatively similar taste to her. We've also given her green beans, and so far I can say they aren't her favorite. I'm not sure if it's the taste or the texture, , but she's not really into them. Once we get through a week with these (waiting at least that long to check for signs of allergies) her next food to try will either be peas, or I may blend up some avocado for her. I'm so excited to use my baby blender and mix her some foods that it may be the next thing we end up doing. Who knows? I'm just enjoying this new stage of her trying foods!

Sitting and laughing in her Boppy

Also new is that she is beginning to be able to sit. She definitely has the lazy pose conquered...you know, leaning over like she's trying to touch her toes. She can sit with minimal assistance as long as she's relatively still, but once she spots something she wants, she'll topple over trying to get it. That's where the assistance is also handy. But she's working on building that core strength and gaining her balance and soon she'll be doing it all by herself!

Things Augusta has been loving this month are: (Some are old, some are new...) smiling faces/voices of people she knows, Sophie, taking strolls, watching videos of herself, getting a lotion massage, playing "air plane", red and/or polka dot things, being outside, her hands, her feet, and her walker.

Playing in her car walker

Things that make her wanna say "I do not like it": not being the center of attention (don't worry, she quickly reminds everyone who they should be paying attention to!), being put down for a nap, being still, and letting Mommy get any housework done! Ha!

These past five months have flown by. I told Augusta I couldn't believe it was only 5 months ago I was sitting in the hospital waiting to meet her! (and she totally got sentimental with me!) ;) Augusta Kate you have blessed Mommy's and Daddy's lives beyond measure. We are so blessed to get to call ourselves your parents! We love you sweet Lovie girl!

She's found her feet!

Mommy and Augusta at Rendezvous!