Birthday Cake

Hannah's birthday is Monday but we are having her party tonight. Last night we made the cakes so they would be ready to ice today. Hannah loves to help me cook and really likes the mixer.



She also likes to lick the bowl! (I know it has raw eggs but sometimes I have to put that out of my mind and let her have a little fun!)


(yes she is wearing a t-shirt and panty hose!)

Here is a picture of the finished product! (By the way, she is having a Minnie Mouse party.)


I can't take full credit. My friend Jennifer came over today to help me. She basically did all of it. She is great with cakes and I am not! :) I am so thankful she did most of it or there is no telling what it would look like!

Here is a picture of Jaiden standing on her own! She took her first step last night before falling on her face! She is 10 months old today!

9 months old

Jaiden is 9 months old until Friday. She says "ma-ma," "da-da," & "Hannah" (not clear but that is what she is saying. She waves bye and it sounds like she says "Hey" when she does it. She still only has 4 teeth (two fangs and two bottom). Although her gums are swollen on top and I think in a few weeks she will have her two top teeth. I tried to get a picture of her teeth because it looks hilarious but I am having a hard time getting her to stay still. She eats 3 jars of baby food a day plus her bottles. She eats puffs & crunchies for snack. She also likes table foods. She has had bites of mashed potatoes, french fries, broccoli (steamed), macaroni & cheese, banana, tomato, cantaloupe, & plums. I am sure she has eaten other things off of our plates but I can't remember. When someone has a plate of food, she gravitates to them!

She is standing for about 15 seconds at a time. She looks like she wants to walk but can't figure out how to move her feet. She likes to climb on things. Last week she climbed on a case of bottled water and couldn't figure out how to get down. She climbs all over anyone laying in the floor. She is cruising along the furniture. So I am just waiting on the day she lets go and walks on her own. I am NOT ready. I want her to stay little but she is growing up fast!

We went about a month when she was not sleeping through the night but it seems that she has gotten back into a routine of again. She does not like to nap and most days will only take about 2 or 3 - 15 minute naps.

Her favorite toys are baby dolls and balls. She loves to play and follows Hannah around everywhere she goes. She gets into everything. I have to keep shoes and paper out of the floor because she is drawn to them and likes to eat them. Gross, I know! She also likes to look into & under things. It is so cute!









Here is a picture of my big girl. She will be 4 next Monday!!! She is a beautiful girl (inside & out)!!

July ~ Part 2

One of my friends from college, Stacey, got married on July 17th in Fayetteville, GA. The night before we went to the Braves game. We had so much fun even though the Braves lost. We got to Turner Field 2 hours before the game started. We were going to find somewhere to eat in Atlanta but decided to eat at the ballpark. We found a shaded area and that is where we sat to eat ~ it was HOT!

Jaiden was eating a snack to keep her from putting her hands all over our food!


Hannah is posing!


Before we found our seats, we had Hannah's face painted. She liked it because it had glitter on it.


Waiting on the game to start...


Doing the tomahawk chop!






After the game there was a firework show but we decided to leave instead. We weren't sure exactly where our hotel was and thought it was a 30 minute drive to Fayetteville. We loaded up in the car and it wouldn't start. Hannah had left the light on in the car and our battery was dead. We found a very nice man to help us jump it off. So we got to watch the fireworks from the car.



We were on the highway about 10 miles from our hotel, stopped at a red light, and the car died again. No lights in the middle of the highway. So Josh called 911 and thankfully there was a policeman coming up behind us. He called another car to stop traffic on the other side of the highway and they pushed it in a U-turn to a parking lot which happened to be Walmart. After an hour of Josh finding everything he needed and changing the battery, we finally got to our hotel. By then it was about 1:00 am. Hannah was bouncing off the walls and we were tired! We finally got Hannah settled down but Jaiden ended up sleeping in the bed with us.

We slept as late as we could, got up & ready, checked out of the hotel, then had about 3 hours to kill before the wedding. So we went to eat. I didn't want to go somewhere that had a playground because Hannah was dressed for the wedding. We started driving and found this place. It is a Dwarf House Chick-Fil-A. It is just like other Chick-Fil-A's but has a side that you sit down to eat. I had never seen one before. Hannah was sad that there wasn't a playground but she enjoyed playing in the entrance of the dwarf house.





After we ate and shopped a little it was time for the wedding so we went to the church. Jason, Brandi, & Micah were there so Brandi & I went back to see Stacey and Jessica before the wedding! I was so excited to see them. It has been way too long since I have seen them! I saw Stacey at Lads to Leaders two years ago but I haven't seen Jessica since Hannah was born ~ almost 4 years ago! Stacey's wedding was beautiful and she was a beautiful bride.


Hannah & Micah played so good together. They were both a little silly. (Jason is behind the flowers)


The bride & groom


One last picture before Jessica had to leave!


We spent the night with Jason & Brandi after the wedding and had a great time visiting with them. Micah is the cutest little boy! We went to church with them the next morning and then ate lunch before we had to come home. We had such a great time and it makes me miss my girls so much!!

On the 20th of July Jaiden turned 9 months old. On that day she said "da-da" for the first time and stood by herself for about 3 seconds (which I didn't catch on camera)!

The end of July we went to Sixth Avenue & Adamsville's VBS. The girls loved going to class and singing!

July Part 1

Friday, July 2nd I took the girls to the zoo. We have a membership and it is wonderful. We can go to the zoo for a few hours and I don't feel that we have to see all the animals in one day. So Hannah gets to choose what animal she wants to see that day. On this day she wanted to ride the camel so I let her. I am glad she got to do it but I will be in a generous mood if I let her do it again. It costs $5.50 to ride 1 1/2 times around a small circle. I think she was on the camel for maybe 2 minutes and that was counting the time they stopped so I could take the pictures. They need to lower the price (in my opinion). Anyway Hannah thought it was cool so that made it worth it.



Jaiden was waiting happily for Hannah to finish riding...




She is so cute...


The tiger was so close this day. He was licking the box. I wanted Hannah to stand near him so I could take her picture but she was scared to be that close.


Hannah petting the goats.


Silly girl...


This day she really wanted to see the butterflies. She was really excited when we walked through their exhibit. I love this picture because it depicts Hannah to me. She is just walking along in her own little world, humming to herself, and dancing along. I can just hear her making up a song about the butterflies!


The 4th of July was on a Sunday this year. After church we had a feast for lunch and Hannah played in her sprinkler. After our night service at church we went with Ryan, Jennifer & their kids to see the fireworks downtown. We made it in time to hear the UAB band and get some ice cream from the ice cream truck. Then we moved a little closer to see the fireworks. We all had a great time. By the time we got in the car Hannah was exhausted. She fell asleep before we made it to the interstate!

Ice cream...


Hannah with her BFF Maddie :)


Josh & Jaiden


Jaiden was not happy that I was making her stay on the blanket. She really wanted to eat the grass!


This was about 2 seconds later ~ mood swing :)


The kids - my children were not being cooperative!


Our family (Again Hannah was distracted :)


Jaiden was wrestling Ian


Hannah was a little unsure about the fireworks at first.


The next day (don't judge me ~ I know Jaiden is wearing the same outfit. She was so sleepy when we got home I just put her in bed.) I gave Jaiden a cup for the first time. She used it as a chew toy. She cut another "fang" soon after this. So now has 4 teeth.





July 9th Hannah, Jennifer, Emily, & I dressed up like cows for Cow Appreciation Day at Chick-Fil-A. The adults looked a little silly but Hannah was adorable!! We got free lunch that day so it was worth it! Plus we had a lot of fun laughing at ourselves (and each other)!



The Wednesday after the 9th Jaiden began walking behind this toy. Hannah would push it and she would walk along behind it!! I can't believe that she is already doing that and I know that it won't be long before she is walking all over the place. I am NOT ready!





She got distracted from the other toy or she may have been tired of Hannah pushing it too fast while she tried to hold on! She started playing with her train. The balls circle around the train and she loves it.