Family Zoo Trip

This past Monday we had a day off from school and we decided to celebrate by taking a family trip to The Memphis Zoo.

We absolutely love going to the zoo--it's fun for everyone! And the weather we've been having has been gorgeous, not just for January, but any time of the year. Monday while we visited the Zoo, the temperature was 65 degrees or higher. There was a light south breeze and it just made for the perfect day to be outside! 

We explored all around! Augusta had a blast running, singing, dancing, and checking out the animals. She even ran into a friend. Calla liked seeing the animals too--she called anything with four legs a dog, but hey, she's getting it! Augusta's favorite animals were the gorillas and the penguins! I loved the giraffes and the tigers. And Dada loved the grizzlies. And pretty much all the others on the Teton Trek. 

Augusta also loved chasing the sea lion as it swam in it's pool. She ran back and forth chasing it for over five minutes. She also liked going in the underwater "bubble" as she called it. An indented, semi-circle that put you "inside" the sea lion's pool. On that same note, she also loved going in the cave and popping up in the "bubbles" in the prairie dog exhibit. 

After a fun-filled animal watching afternoon, we headed home. The girls passed out within minutes, and if we were closer to home I think Chase and I would've done the same. We definitely had a blast at the zoo! Such a fun family activity to do outdoors. We're lucky it's so close! 

10 months!

Cannot believe it has been 10 months since we welcomed Baby Calla Jane into our family! Seriously, where has the time gone? She'll be a year in two months (Something this mommy doesn't want to think about!) My littlest baby is too grown! 

So this month you've gained two more teeth--that puts you up to 6 total teeth. Both new ones were your top lateral incisors. So you've got four on top and still only two on the bottom! 

You had your 9 mo checkup just a few days ago. You weighed in at 18 pounds, 10 ounces--which is around the 50th percentile. And you were 28 inches long--around the 70th percentile. Your growth is great and right on target! They pricked your finger and your iron levels were good. They were so impressed with all the milestones you're meeting! You are our little superstar! 

You are definitely my little eater! Goodness, you love to eat anything and everything! You are the opposite of picky. And it's so funny because you are pretty much over baby food, especially when others in the family are eating. You want what we have! 

You favorite things to eat are macaroni and cheese, baby yogurt (strawberry flavor--a new addition this month), Mims' creamed potatoes, and Gerber little Crunchies (baby Cheetos as we call them). And you love to be able to feed yourself--so much so that a lot of the time your hand goes in your mouth right after the spoon! 

 

Your speech has exploded this month! You now consistently say "Sta" for stop (sometimes you even get that final "p" on the end--and your SLP Mommy's heart is so proud!), "no", "bye", "bi" for bite, "baba" for bottle, "bay" for baby (sometimes we get the final syllable on that one too!), "dah" for doll, and "daw" for dog. We've also caught you saying "hi" and something that mirrored "thank you". These are added to the "mama" and "dada" that you were already saying. And I do have to add, you said your first mini sentence in a request for food, it was "mana biba"! Also with communication you consistently wave goodbye and are starting to blow kisses! So proud of you little girl--you are one smart cookie! 

This month you are really discovering your toys and learning to play. Your favorite things by far are baby dolls. You pick then up and carry them around. You love to snuggle them in your carrier. You get so excited to play with the baby dolls at church--it's so funny! 

You are still sissy's shadow. You follow her from one room to the next--if she's up on something you want to be up there too. The only time you don't mind the separation is when you're getting attention from somewhere else. 

You have graduated to the big bathtub, this might've actually happened within your ninth month, but either way, you love it. You like being in with your sister or by yourself. You love splashing and you try to crawl in there. You gave tried to put your face in the water, but I doubt you do it again! 

As far as new foods, as I said before you are eating anything and everything! There is so much to list that I'll try to hit some high points. You started eating meat this month--sausage was first, then bacon, turkey, and finally chicken. You enjoy it all! Gammie fed you cake this month--she said you liked it. Mommy let you have a tiny taste of chocolate milkshake and you loved it! You've eaten waffles--you like these because you can feed the pieces to yourself. You've had snack crackers. You've tried grape juice and apple-carrot juice. You tried baby yogurt and Gerber yogurt melts. Favorites are definitely the things your able to pick up, but as I've said before, you're not too choosey about your food! 

And along with eating--you tried sippy cups this month. There is one, a dr. Browns, that you've really gotten the hang of. As long as there is liquid coming out, you're fine with it! 

Favorites this month: eating--especially self-feeding, baby dolls, walking and running around, "Let it Go" from Frozen Soundtrack (your go-to soothing song), greeting people you know, taking baths in the big bathtub, and playing with your sister.

Dislikes: having to wait to go to bed longer than you want to, having anyone but mommy hold you when you're ready for sleep, being in your car seat and trying to fall asleep, and not getting to eat what the adults are eating. 

You are such a little blessing! We so enjoy the innocence and light you bring into our lives, baby girl. Thank you for being you! And we thank God for letting us take this journey of a lifetime with you! We love you, Calla Jane!  

Augustaisms--Round 1 of 2015

So most of these actually came from last year, but oh well. Enjoy your first dose of Augusta humor for the year. You're welcome! 

Gammie--"Augusta you can't talk back."

Augusta--"I'm not gonna talk back. I'm gonna talk front."

"I saw a go sign."--seeing a green sign on the road

"The moon is flat like a pepperoni."

"I don't want this show! It's indelicate!"

"I want Pap to go away bc he's boreding me out." 

"I think I'm too shy for a flu shot. Shy girls don't get flu shots, remember?"

"I can't wait to ride a bus and go to school. But there's one problem, I don't have a lunchbox!"

When she finished all her drink, "Here's my cup. I washed it out." 

Getting out of the car at church and I'm straightening her leg warmers, "Momma, everyone thinks I'm so beautiful." (No confidence issues here) 

When I rolled over to put my glasses on the nightstand, she put her arms around me and said, "I'm holding on to you, Momma, just in case you fall off."

"No, No, no. You're too baby for that."--talking to Calla

Me--"Augusta, ask a grown-up to help you, okay?"

Augusta--"Okay, I will, not the small-up." 

"Momma, do we have any orange juice for Gammie so she can feel better and not be old?"

Me--"Augusta, mickeys bday is close to yours."

Augusta--"Yep. That's why we look alike." 

Augusta--"Too skoogy."

Me--"Skoogy?"

Augusta--"Yeah, skoogy means I don't like it."  

"Momma, I know you like to be Elsa. But there's only one Elsa and I'm her. You have to be Anna!"

Talking about her preference for plain m&ms.--"Cause that's not nice...to eat peanut m&ms. Cause that's not a fan." 

Me--"You're such a hard head."

Augusta--"Yeah, hard heads never give up." 

"Dada, I love your floppy ears." While wiggling ears back and forth. 

Me--"That was horrible!"

Augusta--"Yeah and funniable!"

"Pap used to feed his dogs trash cans!"

Christmas Eve night--

Augusta breathing hard--sleepy breathing, whispers "Mama?"

Me--"Yeah"

Augusta--"I'm askeep."

I laugh, Augusta back to breathing hard.

Augusta--Mama, I think I'm on the nice list." Then back to breathing hard.

Listening to Let it Go: 

Elsa: "It's time to see what I can do. To test the limits and break through."

Augusta:"Lemons? I thought they were limes!" 

"Olaf loves to eat snow!"

That's all I have for now! There are so many more I forget to write down though! Gotta get better about that! Love these precious memories! 

Bye 2014, Hello 2015!

So I never did a 2014 wrap up, and I feel like I need to.  2014 was such a big year in our little world. It was a great one that we'll always remember! 

Most importantly, we welcomed sweet Calla Jane into our family. She has completely filled our hearts and we couldn't imagine our lives without her as part of our family! We love our littlest baby! 

With the addition of Calla, also came a year full of firsts. We had our first Easter as a family of four. Our first Fourth of July, Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. Holidays are always so fun, but when you throw in the first experience for someone it makes it all the better. 

Also with Calla's birth came my experience as life as a stay-at-home mom. These are memories I will forever cherish. Getting to stay home the remaining two months of the school year, and then the entire summer with my two girls was amazing. I wish I could do it every day. (Since I can't, we're so lucky my mom has taken on this responsibility!) It was definitely a great time and I will never forget it. 

We also gained another family member in 2014. My sister, Alyssa, married her fiancé, Brad in July. It was an amazing storybook wedding and we were lucky to be apart of it. We are so lucky to have Brad as an uncle for the girls. He adores them and they love him too. 

Everyone also got older this year. Since I was off on Chase's birthday, we got to throw him a mini-surprise party. Augusta had a ball planning and decorating for it. Speaking of growing, Augusta turned 3! I still can't believe how grown up my first baby is--it is just unreal to this Mommy! And I entered the last year of my twenties in December. :) 

Also Chase and I also celebrated our fifth year of marriage. (And 11 years of being together.) Our time together has been so blessed with things both big and small. Our love only continues to grow as we do. I cannot wait to see what the future holds. I feel like 2015 will be a great year, so bring it on! I can't wait to continue this ride with my family!