Christmas Photos

We had a long but fun day finishing up some last minute Christmas shopping today. Uncle Tim and Aunt Amy are in town for Christmas, so they came along too. We started the day off with a photo shoot at Target, and man did the pictures turn out great! Lailey was very happy and content to sit on the floor playing with pretty Christmas ornaments. Here are a few of our favorites:

One more thing after the previous post

Davey, after diligently studying for about a year, has completed his certification exam and is now a Certified Fitness Trainer!!!!!!!!! I'm so incredibly proud of him! I shouldn't brag about his exam score, so I won't tell you what it is. I'll just tell you that it's 104 minus 11 (out of 100) and you can figure it out on your own. :) WAY TO GO DAVEY!

Hello Again

Well, it's been awhile. But we've been getting into the holiday season in full force. I'll try to back track and let everyone know what's been going on since the last post. With pictures, as usual, to tell the story. We'll start back at the week of Thanksgiving...

As in the tradition of our family, we went in search of the perfect Christmas tree. We drove for miles through the mountains, searched through the wilderness, climbed the highest peaks, and finally arrived at a Christmas tree farm in a remote location, not known to many people, known as...

Lailey rode along in the Baby Bjorn carrier, which she loves. She's definitely getting heavier now though. Not quite as easy any more. Here she is feeling a little tree.
Thanks to the help of the local wilderness experts, we sawed and chopped for only 2 hours and ended up with this beauty.
We then loaded the freshly cut (ha!) tree onto our dog sled, er....snowmobile...okay, CAR, and headed the 1.5 miles home. :) (I like the adventurous version better.)
We celebrated Thanksgiving several times over the course of a week, ate lots of great food, and enjoyed time with all our family. Here's a picture of Davey, Lailey, Grandpa Jim, me, Amy, and Tim at my aunt and uncle's house.

It's a Lailey sandwich! (her shirt, which I accidentally covered with my thumb, says "Good things come in small packages.")

Playing a round of peek-a-boo around Daddy always gets her giggling.

Here is Lailey's funny face. For a week or two she would do this whenever she liked something or got excited. She hasn't been doing it as much lately, but hopefully it will come back because it makes me laugh every time. Goofy kid. She takes after her Daddy in that area of course.

Lailey and Rudy are becoming better buddies now that she's more curious and interactive with him. I keep my eye out for pulled ears and fur, but he's pretty patient with her and just moves away if she bugs him. This was so cute, because she kept reaching for his paw, and he'd move it and try to lick her hand. Then she'd reach toward it and he'd move it again and try to lick her again. It was like they were playing a little game. I think the licking won out. He's too quick.

Lailey is now 8 months old. In this picture, she was saying, "Hmmm, I'm 8 months old now. Shall I use my powers of cuteness for good or evil?" She is sweet as she can be, of course.

We still thank the Lord often for good health, even through this nasty cold and flu season that has people out of work and school all the time. A little bit of a runny nose for a couple of days has been the worst of it, and for that we are truly thankful. She is not quite crawling, though she's getting up on all fours and rocking a good bit. She still scoots backwards, and it still annoys her that she tries to go toward an object but ends up getting farther away. I know it's mean, but I think it's hilarious. She'll be all over the place soon enough, so I can laugh. She wants to pull up on the couch, and can do so much more easily now when sitting on my legs. In the last week I've given her some Little Puffs and Cheerios to try to pick up and eat. She'll sit in her high chair and concentrate for 10-15 min. on picking them up. It's amazing, and it lets me get dinner finished. She's gotten a few in her mouth using her index finger and thumb, but mostly they end up in the palm of her hand and then she attempts to eat her whole fist. It's darling. I love to watch her learn. She's still a great eater and hasn't really refused anything I've given her. She's eating more fruits now along with a bunch of veggies. I made acorn squash this week and she's been doing pretty well with that. The texture was a little weird for her at first, but she kept eating. As far as homemade veggies go, I've now made peas, green beans, avocado (no cooking, just cut open and "smoosh it real good"), carrots, peas/carrots together, broccoli, sweet potatoes, and acorn squash. For the fruits, she likes applesauce and bananas, and for the others I've been buying baby food because not as many things are in season right now. She's eaten pears, peaches, prunes, and mangos. I also gave her some YoBaby yogurt and she loves that too. Different sources say different things as to when to give a baby yogurt (since it's dairy), but I decided to give it to her anyway and she hasn't reacted to it in the slightest. I tried it and it's yummy and not too sweet. Fine with me.

This is my favorite recent picture of Lailey. She was all dressed up ready to see Santa at The Bass Pro Shop. Sounds like an odd place to get Santa pictures, but it was free for a 4x6 photo. I like free! Then to download the file it was only a couple of dollars (thanks Grammy and Granddaddy!). We'll probably be heading there every year.

Isn't he a cute Santa?

Here are two videos of Lailey. The first is of her crinkle face. The second one is of her in a Jumperoo. Thank you to our dear friends who so graciously let us borrow it. It is getting lots of love and good use as you can see. We love you guys!

Praaaaaaaaaaaise Jesus!

Ah, the joy of teaching your child something. Life with a baby is more and more fun as she interacts with us every day. Since Lailey was a little bitty newborn, whenever she would stretch her arms above her head, I would say "Praaaaaaaaise Jesus!" It became a fun little habit. Well, last week sometime whenever she put her arms up in the air and I said it, she started doing it again and smiling. I was thrilled. My favorite part is that she cocks her head to the side and gives this cute proud smile because she's figured something out. By the way, in the video, I wasn't raising my arms at all; she did it all by herself.

You know, having her imitate something is quite an eye-opener. As any parent of a toddler will tell you, it's quite convicting having a little person repeat things you say. You really get a glimpse of your words and attitudes. Well, we're not to the toddler stage, but I guess I tend to think ahead. We try to keep our words and attitudes in check now so we're not backtracking later. Of course, we'll make a zillion mistakes, but that's why it must be a daily activity of prayer and self-control.

This was from my birthday dinner in October, but I love the picture so I posted it.

She kept putting her feet on the table and it was so funny.

Sound asleep after a car ride home

Enjoying her new afghan from Great Aunt Carla

Grandpa with his grandkids

I have a picture of me like this when I was little which I will have to find.

Funny kid

Hanging out in her play pen

Our Busy Little 7 Month Old

Today Lailey is 7 months old. Hard to believe it. She's changing so much every day. She loves playing with her feet now. She tugs at her socks and rocks back and forth. She almost independently rolled from her back to her belly tonight, but I helped just a little so I can't say she did it all by herself. Rolling over just doesn't seem to be on Lailey's priority list. She's clearly strong enough, just not interested enough. That's because scooting around is much more fun! Of course, only our child would learn to go backwards first. Check out Lailey's new method for mobility... (as usual, Rudy always has to get in on the action when I have the camera out. I think he's jealous.)

Lailey is sitting up very well and can go from sitting to her tummy. It's sort of an ungraceful flop, but she makes it. She is grabbing at things a lot more, which means we have to watch out for our phones, camera, utensils, and anything else she can grab and stick in her mouth. I love watching her curiousity bloom. She also has a newly found interest in Rudy. She talks to him, laughs at him, tries to grab him sometimes, and loves it when he licks her hands and feet. I wonder what he will think when she starts crawling after him and chasing him? Guess we'll find out soon.

Last week we went to see Davey play at a church about an hour away. I made Lailey's shirt that says "MY DADDY PLAYS BASS" for the occasion. With a red bow and her little cowgirl boots, she looked adorable.
It won't be long before she'll be singing on stage, according to Grandaddy.

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Today we went to Chuck E. Cheese's with my cousin Christy, her daughter Sadie (pictured), my aunt, and my other cousin's boys, Noah and Ethan. It was Lailey and Sadie's first time there. Lailey had fun watching all the excitement. It was SO packed when we first got there, which seemed a little overwhelming, but she did great.
Sadie and Lailey enjoyed sitting in next to each other in their high chairs. They were even holding hands at one point. It was so cute!

Lailey liked to sit on top of the table and watch everything. Afterwards, we all went to Toys 'R' Us for fun and to get Christmas ideas. She was so content and happy to be out and about.

This was the pulling at the socks thing I was talking about. It drives me nuts because I don't like socks to be bunched or hanging off or the heel in the wrong place, etc. (don't ask - it's one of my weird quirks), but she loves it so I get over it. Of course, I fix them when she's finished. Hehe. I can only stand it for so long. :)
7 Months old with Teddy. We was not so nice to him while we were taking pictures. She was biting his ear, slamming his head, etc. Good thing he doesn't mind.
Okay, last but not least, we have more news...Lailey got her first tooth! Make that TWO teeth! Sure enough, she's been drooling a bunch today, and it just occurred to me while I was feeding her dinner to stick my finger in her mouth and check. I couldn't believe it when I felt a sharp little tooth, which I later discovered was actually two sharp little teeth, bottom center. I never realized how difficult it is to look inside a wiggly 7-month-old's mouth while she is trying to lick, bite, and suck on your fingers. It was pretty funny actually. So far she hasn't been terribly fussy due to teething, so hopefully it won't be a horrible process. I can only hope.

Rockin' Lailey

Thanks to Grandpa Jim, Lailey has learned a new game on the couch.  I hope you enjoy this delightful video.  

Do I look smart, Mommy?

Every morning when I first nurse Lailey, she likes to pull my glasses off.  So I put them on her just for fun.  Gotta love that kiddo.

2nd Place!!!

Hooray! My Minnie Mouse pumpkin carving won 2nd PLACE in the Chick-Fil-A carving contest! That's a free combo every week for 6 months (not every day). Not bad at all. Davey gets honorable mention from his wife because I think his pumpkin deserved to place too. The judges should have seen it lit up with a lava lamp bulb (like the picture above). It looks the best like that. Great job babe.

My favorite Halloween picture of the year!

Halloween Traditions

One of our little family traditions that we've done since we got married was each carve a pumpkin at Halloween.  This year we plan to enter them tomorrow in a local contest at Chick-Fil-A just for fun.  Of course, we decided this before we actually carved them, hoping they would turn out good enough.  But happily, both turned out pretty nice.  Wish us luck for the contest tomorrow!  Free CFA for a year if either of us wins first prize!  Okay, I'd be so chickened out if I won, but it would still be cool.  ("Chickened out" as in tired of CFA, not scared.  You probably knew that but just in case.)

I just realized how bad the backs of those pumpkins look in the picture.  The fronts are fine, but I guess that's just where they sit on the ground.  I love how big the pumpkins look and how little Lailey looks. 

Fun textures - had to watch her so she wouldn't stick it in her mouth

Mine with just the nose cut out (you can't see the pattern in this picture)

My Minnie Mouse for Lailey

Davey's "No Ghost" sign (betcha didn't see that one coming)

Tomorrow I'm going to bake the seeds hopefully.  This is a tradition too.  Half salty the other sweet.  

That's it for now...I need to go to bed.

Happy (early) Halloween

This is our first Halloween together as a family. Davey usually travels on Saturdays and we have never been to our church's fall festival together in our 8 years of knowing each other. Plus, it's Lailey's first Halloween so we had to do it up right and go all out. Soooo, here is our little family last Saturday decked out as Ghostbusters characters. For those of you unfamiliar with the movie, Davey is a Ghostbuster, I am the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man, and Lailey is Slimer, a funny little green ghost who is a sort of "bad guy" in the movies but ends up being a good guy in the cartoon. Yes, I'm a little ashamed to admit I know this much about it all, but that's what happens when you live with the craziest GB fan ever. There's a part of me that just can't believe that I actually dressed my adorable little girl as a slimy green ghost for her first Halloween, but she makes it look cute. A couple of people have commented that it looks like "Slimer ate the baby!" I got a kick out of that one.

Could Daddy be any prouder of his little Slimer?

My Ghostbuster

So, I must include a little section in honor of "The Proton Pack." In the movies, a proton pack is the Ghostbuster's weapon. Jokingly, "an unlicensed nuclear accelerator." (Davey, you should be beaming with pride right now because this proves that I actually listen to you and pay attention to your movie ranting. Love you!) The weapon is fictional of course, but very cool to any Ghostbusters fan. Little did I know, but people make these things and sell them on Ebay for crazy amounts of money. Thousands. Literally. It's been a childhood dream of Davey's to build his own, so when he found out we would be home for Harp's Harvest and have the opportunity to dress up, he did everything short of beg, borrow, and steal to make it. He searched every dollar store in town, craft stores, online, and everywhere else to find cheap parts to look like the pieces on the pack. His brother Eli has a band saw, and that's really what made the whole thing possible. They got the plans online, cut, sanded, glued and painted, and made what I think is a great replica of the movie prop. And they did it pretty cheaply. Oh, by the way, this is Davey's Christmas present. In his words: "You can put a bow on it and stick it under the tree on Christmas morning because this is what I've wanted my whole life."

So, now you can see why Lailey and I had to go with the theme. I made her costume and mine and it was really fun to be able to do this all together. Happy Halloween!

Besides spending her time as a slimy green ghost, Lailey tried to eat her toes the other night. It was so cute!

In the morning I let her play on my bed while I get ready for work, with me nearby of course and lots of pillows. She looked so happy and grown up sitting there.

Lailey continues to be a happy, growing, delightful kid. Sometimes it amazes me how easy going and adaptable she is. We are a very blessed family.

Num Num Nanners

Lailey has eaten vegetables very willingly since I started her on them a month ago, for which I am truly thankful.  She was hesitant about carrots at first but now gobbles them down like everything else.  This week we added corn "mashed up real good" (pureed) to her veggie repertoire of peas, green beans, avocado, and carrots.  I'm not sure when I'll start her on fruits.   I don't think there's a need to rush since she's satisfied with cereal and veggies right now and is still nursing great.   Plus I was allergic to some fruits as a kid, mostly citrus, so I want to be cautious as to how much I give her.  Fortunately I wasn't allergic to bananas so I didn't worry when Lailey started going after Davey's banana this week.  As usual, we always have the camera nearby to capture those priceless - and hilarious - moments.   

Tonight is Harp's Harvest (our church's fall/Halloween festival), and Davey is so excited about dressing up you would think it was Christmas.  I finished my costume last night and Lailey's this morning.  Davey's has been finished a while now.  I will try to get a post up tomorrow with pictures when we're all dressed up together.  I know...the anticipation is killing you.  (just kidding, it's only killing Davey.)  He would probably wear his costume every day if I'd let him. Gotta love him!

The Leaves are Falling...

Ooooh! Let me just tell you how proud I am of my little artist! Today in nursery at church Lailey made her FIRST art project...

Aren't those the sweetest little handprints? It is now displayed proudly on our refrigerator which, ironically, I just cleaned off and reorganized yesterday. Just in time to make a perfect place for her artwork! Please allow me some proud mommy bragging. Her teacher jokingly said she is a "natural painter" because she spread her hands open to do this instead of making fists. How delightful! This made my day.

The verse on the bottom says:

"This is my commandment,
that you love one another as I have loved you."
John 15:12

Fall is here, and that means Halloween is coming soon! We're getting ready for our church's fall celebration next week, Harp's Harvest. We've already told some people what we are dressing up as for Halloween, but if you don't know, then I'm going to save it to keep the element of surprise for when I post pictures next week. I love surprises, can you tell? I mean, that's why we waited until "Baby Akin's" arrival to find out we were having. Just a little hint: all 3 our costumes come from Davey's favorite movie. They're going to be superb! Any guesses?

Six Flags, Six Months

Last Friday night, we continued with an Akin family tradition and took our annual trip to Six Flags during October.  The weather is usually nice and cool but it actually ended up to be pretty warm and humid.  Better than Six Flags in July!  Lailey was a trooper, she was just happy to ride along and enjoy all the lights and everything.  She fell asleep in her stroller around bedtime and only fussed a little when we moved her into her carseat, where she slept all the way home.  What a great kiddo!

First family trip to Six Flags

Grammy and Granddaddy bought Lailey a Tweety bird and she loved it instantly.  I've kept it in the car for her to play with while we're riding, but every time she just picks it up, dangles it over the edge of her carseat and drops him.  Oh well.

My smiley girl

Lailey is now six months old, and she had her check up on Monday.  She weighs 16.7 lbs, is 25.5 in. tall, and Dr. Banks said she is healthy and everything looks great.  She's grown so much!  Now when I pick her up I've really started to notice how much heavier she is.  In a good way of course.

Lailey 6 mos. with Teddy

Don't talk Daddy, just listen.

Mommy and Lailey
Uncle Nick won Lailey these toys in Tennessee on a recent trip (hence the TN colors...sorry Uncle Tim and Aunt Amy and any other Georgia fans).  She likes them very much.
Scooby kisses...I think his expression is perfect for this photo.
My own puppy kisses back!

Lailey is advancing in the world of solid foods.  She still loves peas (homemade and Gerber), she likes avocado (very nutritious and NO cooking for me, just "mash it up real good"), and she just tried green beans this week which she also liked.  I'm so proud of my good eater!  After carrots, I started with green veggies because I figured those would be the ones that would be harder to get her to eat.  Well, not my girl!  Hopefully we'll continue with this trend of good eating.  Until toddler years, right? I'll just enjoy it for now.  It can't hurt to start her on all this stuff now to maybe increase the chance of her liking more things in the future.  Homemade baby food has proven to be really easy so far.  It does take a little prep work, but once it's done I have a whole batch of veggie ice cubes to keep in the freezer.  SOOOOO cheap too.  A dollar worth of green beans makes a whole ice cube tray of food.  Definitely worth the work for now. 

It seems to be my trend to put a cute video at the end of the post, so I won't disappoint tonight. I just can't help but eat up those sweet little cheeks sometimes, and tonight she loved it.  Betcha can't watch without giggling a little yourself. :)