day thirty-one

We've all been having so much fun here in Texas. This sweet girl passes out almost immediately every time I lay her down.

day thirty

The weather was sunny and in the high 70's today in San Antonio. Absolutely perfect day for a picnic at the park with PaPa!

day twenty-nine

Kasey got married tonight!! She was beautiful, and her wedding was wonderful and perfect.

day twenty-eight

Merit, August, and I flew to San Antonio today for the wedding of one of my best friends, Kasey! Here are some of my dearest college friends at her rehearsal dinner. (Sadly, bride not pictured!)

day twenty-seven

Look who got her first taste of cereal this evening! Merit was super excited that she got to give August her first few bites. They both did really well!

day twenty-six

I painted my nails red this morning for the first time in...maybe ever. Made me miss my Mama Bea, whose nails were always perfectly manicured and colorful. She always made sure mine were the same each time we visited. In fact, if my nails have ever been red before, it was likely her that painted them that way. We'd sit and laugh while she gave me the full treatment. I never let her know how much it hurt when she dug into my cuticles, knowing it'd be worth it when I saw my pretty nails in the end. 

I'm thankful today for those memories with my cute and classy grandmother.

day twenty-five

This was taken on our second Target trip of the day. 

day twenty-four

I'll admit. This was from a few days ago, but I love this picture so much I thought it deserved a pic of the day spot. Auggie and her Daddy...

day twenty-three

sitting on the couch, watching football with daddy

(two loves of this pic: August's bald head and Merit's outfit)

day twenty-two

Merit put on a ballet recital for August today.

five months (and a little bit)

My dear little August Rose,

 What a sweet little five-month-old you are! We never had your official five month photo shoot, but no worries. This past month wasn't photo shoot-less. In the pictures above you are wearing one of my favorite baby Merit dresses. You are such a pretty baby, pretty yellow dress or not.

You are in such a great "baby" phase. I told your Daddy I feel like this is the prime baby stage. Rolly (both in motion and physique), still little, but showing your personality more and more - it's just really fun. I can carry you around on my hip now. I also recently told your Daddy that I feel like I could have a baby on my hip forever. I love being a mama - you and your sister make it easy for me to love it.

This past month you learned how to roll back over to your back from your belly. You get pretty frustrated when you're stuck on your belly, so this new skill was a relief to you, I'm sure.

 You're starting to sit up on your own a little better. You can stay up a few seconds all by yourself, and sometimes you lean over on your hands to stay up longer. I let you try out your Jenny Jump Up for the first time a couple of weeks ago. You're not quite sure about it yet, but I think you'll like it when you get a little bigger. Merit LOVES for you to be in it and stuffs as many toys as she can in the little seat with you. She tends to do this for you no matter where you are. She is really good about "taking care" of you.

Nobody makes you laugh like Merit does. You give her the biggest smiles, too, and your eyes follow her all over the room. You're already great friends. She still loves to hold you, even though you don't quite fit in her lap as good as you used to!

then

 now!

You're sleeping through the night more consistently and still like to wake up for the day around 10am. One of my favorite parts of the day is going in to get you when I hear you wake up. You are so giddy when you see me - smiling big, waving your arms, and kicking your legs.

This past month, you had your first Christmas!

And it has snowed and snowed some more! I set you up by the door to play and see the snow a couple of times.

On one of the days, your Daddy and Merit were building a snowman. You had a great time watching from the warm house.

August Rose, I can't really put into words how I feel about you. Your sweet spirit already radiates through you. I am beyond thankful for our little family and am so glad God chose you to be a part of it. 

Things get a little crazy around here sometimes (you let us know by your wide-eyed and concerned looks!), but you have such a calming and peaceful effect on us all. I can't believe that you have been with us for almost half a year! I love you so very much, baby girl. Happy 5 months!

much love,

your mama

day twenty-one

August slept until 11am this morning, but wasn't a huge fan of sleep the rest of the day. That's ok though. i happen to like these wide eyes!

day twenty

It's snowing again. A trip to Sonic in our pj's was mandatory this evening!

day nineteen

This picture totally sums up today. And this week. And probably next week. Sigh.

 (Thankful for work, though!)

 

day eighteen

my baby girl wearing my baby dress

day seventeen

bedtime books with grammie!

day sixteen

fun date night! blurry date pic.

day fifteen

Merit and her bff Audrey, hanging out in honor of Audrey's dad's birthday. Happy Birthday, Grant!!

day fourteen

August's first time in the Jump Up. Fun! Still in pj's at 5:30pm? You betcha.

christmas 2010: santa visits our house

We waited until after we got back from Jackson to do our little family's Christmas. I was so thankful that Santa was willing to make a return visit! Merit was beside herself excited because not only did she get a visit from Santa and Rudolph, but also from Nina and PaPa! We won't be doing Christmas with my side of the family until after Matt and Nikki have returned from Ethiopia with Kai and have settled in a bit. So, my parents made a quick trip to come see us, and I'm oh, so glad that they did.

Merit and I made sugar cookies for Santa and Rudolph. Merit wrote a letter to Rudolph and he did his best to leave his hoof prints behind. (She was very into Rudolph this year.) With no chimney, we had to leave them by the front door.

When we visited Santa this year, Merit specifically asked for a "green dinosaur". She was so happy that he remembered! And oh my goodness, she loved her princess barbies.

August enjoyed her Santa gifts. too!

It was so fun watching Merit open presents this year. Lots of "Ohhh, look!" and "Is it mine??" and "THANK YOU!!!".

me and Auggie in her new outifit and hat

Nina and PaPa made a gingerbread house with Merit the night before they left. She loved eating the pieces that had fallen off "accidentally" - or, rather, the ones that she made fall off. Poor thing, we finally had to throw it away one day while she was taking a nap. She still asks about where it went. I may or may not have told her that some cute animals came in and ate it up. (She was okay with that response - I guess because at least they were "cute".)

Merit helped PaPa decorate his shirt with her stickers from Santa. So thoughtful, that girl.

Thanks to my parents, Kevan and I got to get away for an hour or so and get some froyo. That in itself was a great Christmas present!

Christmas 2010 was a good one! So glad we still have Wallace Family Christmas left to look forward to!