Hippensteal's Mountain View Inn - Part 2

This is Andrew, who does NOT like long car trips. He plays a lot with Mr. Butterfly and enjoys singing. There were a few good times, but generally he was just glad to get out of the van!!!

We stopped, as I said before, at the Bass Pro Shop to look around, and Daddy took a picture with Andrew here by the Moose. Since Dr. Ricketts calls Andrew "Moose" b/c he is so large, we thought this was especially funny!!















Andrew and Mommy are sitting on the porch just enjoying the sunrise!

Finally, here is little Buddy, with his favorite chew toy - that's right! His FOOT!!!! :)

Hippensteal's Mountain View Inn

This was Andrew's first trip to Hippensteals! It was so fun! Check out www.hippensteal.com if you are not familiar with the Inn. It makes life feel a lot lighter to be there! A little piece of Heaven for sure.

This picture with the pumpkins was taken when we stopped for a little break on the way down there. Andrew was NOT happy to be stuck in the carseat. This was at the Bass Pro Shop that is right off the interstate. We went inside and looked at the fish and the giant waterfall! He LOVED that!

This is of Andrew and Daddy on our balcony! That was a great view!












This is of all of us outside the dining room. Andrew was getting very sleepy!













This was Andrew's favorite hiding spot on the bed! He is getting to be such a crawler!!!!











I'll post a few more soon - we are off to church!!!

PS Congrats to Joni and Justin who are now expecting their first baby!!!!!

Love
Jill :)

Lots of New Adventures!!!!

I am learning to try to feed myself! Everytime the spoon comes near me, I grab it and try to stick it in my mouth all by myself! I usually get food in my nose and all around my face, but at least I did it!!!

The other day when Daddy was eating chicken and broccoli, I picked up a piece of chicken and put it in my mouth! Daddy took it back and said I could eat it when I get some more teeth! Speaking of teeth.....

I have a TOOTH!!! All this chewing that I've been doing on my exersaucer has helped me pop out the one on the bottom in the front! It's all the way through the gum now and I feel better already!

(I love this picture b/c that is how Andrew spends most of his time in that saucer! CHEWING!!!!)





Here I am with Ms. Laura! She is my friend! She brought me this cute little pumpkin cap that I am wearing! Isn't it great???? She is so much fun! I love to play with her!










After all that playing and growing and cutting of teeth, I fell asleep with Daddy today on his and Mommy's bed! Mommy went to fix dinner and came back and we were all snuggled up together. That was so nice!

Today, when Daddy came home from work, Mommy and I were sitting on the front porch and we walked down the driveway to see Daddy and I reached out both my arms for him and gave him a big smile! That was cool! Daddy was SO HAPPY to be home when I did that! I am getting so big!!!


Love,
The Pookster :)

Trying to walk, trying to get clean!

Here I am with my buddy, Shawn! I love to play with him because he makes me laugh! He was helping me try to walk last night and we had a big time! Thanks for playing with me!!!










Here I am, giggling in the bathtub! I love to splash, so Mommy and Daddy put me in the baby bath in the bathtub. Can you see my rubber duckie on the bathtub bottom? He is my friend!

Daddy covered up my swimsuit area with a washcloth - I will be glad he did that in about 20 years when Mommy pulls these out one night when my girlfriend comes over!!!!!

Love, Andrew :)

Trying SO HARD!!!

The little man is trying so hard to sit up these days. He does pull-ups like a champ, and would LOVE nothing more than to sit up. He is almost there. I don't know if you can tell from this picture, but he was laying back on our bed and I had just gotten him dressed, and then he was lile this - almost sitting up!

KEEP TRYING LITTLE GUY! You're going to get it soon!!!

Love
Mommy

Bathtime and my "new" Playpen!

Well, it seems some days that all we do is take a bath! By the time we get up and get fed and get bathed, some days it is already almost noon! The good news is that Andrew really LOVES the bath. I can't wait until he can really sit up so that he can play a little more. Right now, he is so big that he is almost too big for the sink bath, so we put him in the bathtub that fits in the sink, but use it in the tub. That way he can splash all he wants and it's all ok!

The second picture is of Andrew is his playyard. I moved this into our room and removed the cradle. He has slept in it once or twice at night, but mostly plays in it while I am doing other things like cleaning the bathroom. He likes it in there, and I put a big mirror in there with him. (Don't worry - it's not glass!)

We are doing well and loving the life! It's a great day to be alive!!!

Love
Mommy

Daddy's Birthday!

Happy birthday to my Daddy! He is turning 39 (and holding after this year!) today. I gave him the new Casting Crowns CD, an LSU sweatshirt, and pictures of myself in LSU clothes to help him celebrate. Mommy and I are taking him to dinner tonight at the Bonefish Grill!

My Grandma (Mommy's Mommy) called this morning and sang "Happy Birthday" to him before he went to work. He was so happy that she called!

This picture was taken when I went and surprised Daddy last week at his school - I am wearing a suit, but no socks! HAHA! We got there right before lunchtime and then I went home to take a nap. We were about 3 minutes early so Daddy carried me around his classroom. It was awesome to see Daddy at work!

Thanks for being such a great Dad! Happy Birthday! Mommy and I love you very much!

Love
Pookie :)

Goodbye to the Pool!

We have LOVED going to the pool all summer! This was the first year that we joined a pool, and it was a fantastic experience. We live less than a mile from Andover Golf and Country Club (www.andovergolfandcountryclub.com) and joined as social members this year. It has lots of great things going on and we met some wonderful families there. Mickey even has some limited golf privileges, too. That was a HUGE draw, since the golf course is ranked well in the state. We hope to be golf members one day!

Andrew is a little fishie! He LOVED being in the pool. This raft in the picture was found for him by my wonderful Mom. We were able to put him in it and then either Mickey or I would wrap the other half around us and swim all over the pool. HOW COOL!

Every time we put the little Pookster in the water, he was very calm and happy. He would kick and play in the water. The pool is now closed for the season, but we will definitely be back for 2008!

Love
Jill :)

I LOVE my Daddy!

Andrew loves his Daddy! He's a great baby and always has a big smile for Daddy when he comes home from a hard day at work. He even loves to snuggle and nap with Daddy when he finds time!

Andrew is 5 months old today!!!

It's hard to believe my baby is almost a big boy! He sure didn't stay small very long! It has been a great 5 months, though.

Andrew now sleeps through the night almost every night. He goes to bed between 9 and 10 and gets up between 6 and 7am. Life is MUCH easier now that we are all getting some sleep!

Praise God from whom all blessings flow!