Great Eight

Georgia Kate is 8 months old today- Happy Birthday sweet baby girl! I can't believe how fast the days fly by. Being Georgia's mom has been the most amazing gift I've ever received, and the most fun job I've ever done. I love getting up every morning to her big smile and enthusiastic waving. She learned to wave last week, and, ever since, she's hard to stop once she gets going! I love letting her wake Larry up, crawling over his back to pat his sleepy face, giving him big squeals in his ear. I love how opinionated she can be, and her strong determination to get what she wants, even if it's to my frustration at times! I love how busy she is, like she can't wait to just run off on her own, even though the thought of her little fingers letting go of my hands breaks my heart just a little. I love the fun we can have, just sitting on the floor- a couple of girls, an empty formula can and big, floppy-eared dog. And I love, LOVE the rare moment after her bedtime bottle when she lays her little head against my chest and snuggles into me. It's just a little "thanks, mom" moment that I will keep in my heart forever.

Georgia Kate- I am looking forward to our many more months, moments and memories together!

Here are eight GREAT Georgia shots to share with you!

Thankful

This Thanksgiving
I am thankful for my sweet family-
my strong, smart, loving, handsome husband
my sweet, silly, wiggly, beautiful baby girl.

I am thankful for my boisterous basset hound,
with the silky ears, sad eyes and big bark,
to chase the cats out of the backyard.

I am thankful for family that loves and supports me
that love and cherish my sweet baby.

I am thankful for friends that truly care
that open their homes and hearts to us.

I am thankful for the gift of laughter
especially when it comes in the form of sweet silly giggles
from my greatest blessing!

Note to Moms: New Bib

This is just a little note to all the other baby's mommas out there:
There is a new bib available in Babies R Us that is pretty good (brand: "Bumkins"). It's plastic, like the good kind that a lot of us have (ours was "Mullins Square Kids"), but a little cheaper- about $5.99. It's not as heavy duty plastic as the other, but seems to work well. They have lots of cute styles and boy/girl colors- which we know is most important! ;)

Just thought I'd pass this along! Here's GA stylin her new bib:

Our Sweet Whiner

Georgia has been a bit of a whiner lately. At least, whiney for her. She's always a happy, sweet girl, and she still is, but I guess we're getting our dose of reality lately. Of course, as I write this, she's smiling and giggling with Larry, cooing and gooing and being so cute!

She's finally cutting her first tooth, which will make the other moms reading this go "Ohhh- that's her problem", or at least I hope that's what's going on with her! It made me sad and excited to see that little tooth starting to push through- it makes her seem like such a big girl to actually have teeth! That's sad & exciting! She's also just getting over a seemingly never-ending cold, which may also be the tooth. Hopefully that little tooth will go ahead and push it's way thru so our sweet girl can be all sweet again!

Of course, she's cuter than ever, so I can stand a little fuss!

Georgia's Best Buds

Georgia is in love with the men in her life! She is all smiles and giggles when daddy gets home, and loves to play with him on the couch. She loves to hear how his day was, and when he plays kissy-monster with her. She loves to play guitar with him and walk up & down the hall. They even took a little nap together on Saturday...

And Bernie is her favorite plaything! She chases him around the room, and it's getting to be quite a workout for him as she's a pretty fast crawler now! He is being really good with her, and lets her crawl up on him and pat him. It's so cute! She'll even try to share her toys with him, but I think that has ulterior motive as she wants him to share his rawhides!

Silly Singing Sweetie

Georgia has definitely shown a love of music, like both of us. In fact, last night Old McDonald was the only thing that could keep her from fussing in the car! When you sing to her she quiets down to listen, and then, ever so softly starts making singing noises herself. It's not like she's trying to say any words, just sing! It's so sweet! I've tried to capture it on these videos, but of course she's always more intrested in the camera. And I apologize for my own singing!
And she loves it when Larry plays the guitar for her. She fascinated that her daddy can make that music! She crawls right up to the guitar and tries it herself...
Check out this Double Feature:

Trucks, Peas, & Sittin-Up-Sleeping

This past weekend was Larry's annual "guy's weekend", where they take their trucks to an off-road park, camp out and do manly stuff like that. The trip is always highly anticipated, and involves a full year of preperation- mainly added "needed equipment" to their overgrown toys!
This year's trip was at Greyrock, which is a huge off road park just north of B'ham. So Georgia and I, and Laura Broom (another truck wife & good friend of ours) went out there Sat. afternoon to see daddy, take a ride (me, not Ga), and cook out with the guys. It was a beautiful and fun weekend, though the guys froze at night, and we had fun getting to enjoy a little piece of the action with them. And the best part- Larry didn't break anything on the Green Machine!


The Hipps at Greyrock

Speaking of green- Georgia is definitely her grandaddy's granddaughter! For this week's New Food Friday Food, Ga got to try peas- and she LOVES them, like her Grandad! They are now officially her new favorite food! And, thinking they might be some sort of sweet, delicious yummy pea I've never eaten, I tried them- and they are the same ol' yucky peas you hide under your napkin! Guess I won't have to worry about that from Miss Ga! :)


Georgia licks the bowl of peas clean!

And this is just TOO funny not to share- as you've heard, Ga is such a pro at standing up now, she'd rather do that than anything- including NAP. So it may take her a little while to unwind when it's nap time. On such an occasion last week, I went to check on her b/c it had finally gotten quiet, and she had fallen asleep sitting up in the corner of her crib! I think she was standing, got sleepy and slouched down, and, refusing to give up, fell asleep! I waited to see if she was going to fall over on her face, but she didn't- just folded up, head to toes, so I finally laid her down. Such a silly wiggle-monkey!

Sleeping sitting up!

Love Letter to Georgia

My sweet baby,
I love you so much I just can't help but tell you all the time! You are so beautiful and funny and smart. You make each day special with your smile!
I love how you wake up in the morning with a big smile, standing at the end of your crib, just excited to start the day!
I love how you get frantic for that first gulp of milk- I still remember too vividly almost forcing your each swallow. You really hated to eat for so long, I cherish your frantic-ness now!
I love how you are learning so much each day and how you are always trying new things, without waiting for anyone to tell you to try them or even show you how! Like standing up with no hands- just leaning your back against the couch! Little daredevil...
I love how you are such an awesome blend of your daddy and me, that only God could have thought to put together. I love looking into your deep blue eyes and seeing your father there. It makes me love you both all the more. You are both smart beyond your age. You even love electronics like him! Who will win the fight for the computer in 15 years? You better both have your own!
And I love how you are like me too- somtimes it's like looking in some kindof time-machine mirror... if that makes any sense. You look so much like my baby pictures, with your big smile and blonde-ing hair. How you love to laugh and giggle, and you try to sing every song even though you don't know any words or melodies yet, and you even sneeze twice like me! And you're just so fun- if I was half this fun growing up, how lucky Grammie and Grandad were! ;)
There is so much I love about you, I could go on for ever. And I find new things every day- like the way you giggle when I become the kissy-monster! And the way you smile when we rub noses. You are such a beautiful and special gift- I thank the Lord every day for you and what a special blessing you are to your daddy and me. We continue to pray for you, my sweet baby, that you will grow and mature in this love we give to you, and know for yourself one day what it is to love this much!
I love you- love, mommy