Chloe, 9 Months

Chloe is turning 9 months old today!! Woot, woot! Here is a little update on what she's doing...

• She started crawling, standing, and getting to the sit-up position all this month.
  
• Her favorite word is "Da-da".
  
• She eats only table food, her favorites are...chicken, green beans, & mac n' cheese.
  
• She still has no teeth.
  
• She nurses still 4 times a day and once at night.
  
• She goes to bed around 7 and sleeps until 8ish, usually waking up quickly at 5ish to eat.
  
• She naps twice a day...morning naps are usually 30 minutes long, afternoon naps are 1-2 hours long.
  
• She loves to be right next to her mamma, all. day. long.
• We didn't have an appointment this month but last month she weighed 18 lbs. and was 27.5 inches tall!
  
• She is starting to wear 12 month clothes now, and still in size 3 diaper! Although I think she could handle the 4's...her tummy is so big! :)

Chloe shares her 9 month birthday with her Grandma Pat, and wants to wish her a very happy 60th Birthday today!!

Crate Liners...

I've been looking for another bin for the living room for a while now, to hold all the library books we get each week. Then I found an old crate Nate had from his bachelor day's, and decided to cover it with this tutorial. I think it turned out pretty cute!

And it's....

Finished!

So glad I can scratch this project off my to-do list! It certainly isn't perfect, but it's good enough for me. Thanks to Pink and Polka Dot for the great tutorial! I love her white one, and almost did the same, but chose a chocolate colored fabric in the end. Much more suitable for my lifestyle. :)

Milestones...

This week Chloe reached 3 big milestones...

1. She learned how to get from her belly back into a sitting position. (that makes putting her bed real fun now ;))
   
2. She started crawling, like the real deal, on her hands and knees, (as opposed to scooting backwards like she used to do).
   
3. She has started standing on her own. (So far she doesn't pull up on her own, but if I help her up she can stand by herself holding onto something.)

November...

Austin planting a quick kiss on Chloe

November has/is going to be a tough month for this little family. With daddy away for what "seems" like the whole month, our lives are thrown out of balance yet once again. Although I know there might be many tough days ahead, tonight I am feeling so blessed. Here are some of the few things I'm thankful for...

• Phone calls and sweet emails from my husband. Love You!
  
• Playing out in the snow with Austin, and teaching him how to make snow angels.
  
• Chloe taking a three hour nap today.
  
• Finally getting started on one of my many big projects today. I'm following this tutorial... http://pinkandpolkadot.blogspot.com/2008/08/laziest-slipcover-tutorial-ever.html (I am even using the exact same chair!)
  
• Yesterday I sat in church and got to listen to an entire message by. my. self. That was amazing, and I so needed it. Thank you Lord!
  

Let's Go Sooners!

"Start 'Em Young, Raise 'Em Right"

Nate seriously almost got mad at me when I told him I bought this shirt. But he has since gotten over it, I think?? ;) Either way, I'm still a Sooner fan and I say, "Go OU!"

Trick or Treating...

We took the kids to the mall in Nashville last Saturday night and dressed em up all cute so we (I) could get some free candy. ;) Neither Nate or I are big on Halloween, but I was looking for something for the kids to do, and they (as in Austin :) ) had a blast. Austin was so pumped to be looking like daddy (and just in case you are wondering, Nate didn't wear his uniform when we went to the mall) and I had Chloe in a little cow outfit. She will probably kill me when she's older for dressing her up as a cow! Ha! But, I thought she was pretty cute.

Trip to Nashville...

Grandpa and Austin checking out the scenery...

Gaylord Convention Center...beautiful waterfalls...

Austin was just lovin' this phone...maybe b/c we don't have one like this??

We took a super fun, super spur of the moment trip to Nashville last weekend. I didn't decide until Tuesday whether or not I should go, and by Wednesday evening we were bording the plane on our way. Nate had a conference to attend and he spent most of the time in meetings and social gatherings, so he called up his parents and asked them to meet us out there. It was SUCH a blessing that they came. They were so much help to me, and the kids (esp. Austin) just LOVED the attention they doted on him.

If you are ever in the area, you should check out the Gaylord Hotel. It is AMAZING. I'm not even kidding. I'm not super wowed by many things, but this was one place that completely impressed me. The conference that Nate attended was held there, so we spent a lot of time walking around it, checking out the shops, eating in the restaurants, etc. The Grand Ole Opry was right next door as well as a huge shopping mall, Opry Mills. Yep, that was another one of my favorite places, I think I went to the mall 3 times. :)

Anyways, I'm thinking I love the south, and I told Nate it would be okay if we moved there. :)

It turns out that the trip was just what we needed. A chance to get away and a chance to be together as a family. We probably won't be going back home this winter (unless I get desperate), so this was a good way for us to see family one more time. So, thanks to Dave and Pat for meeting us out there. I know it was A LOT of driving for you guys, but hopefully it was worth it?? We sure thought it was!