Fun, Family, and Texas!

Here is my once a month post, or at least that seems to be the rate I'm going at. It's a Saturday afternoon and storming. Ainsley is asleep (for who knows how long), the hubby doesn't feel well and is snoozing, and I am trying to work on a new post before they wake up. I think you see the pattern and how my priorities seem to be a little out of whack. Blog, then nap, then clean in that order (mind you I will only have time to do 1 of the 3 and here we are.) Oh how I would love a nap, but I finally have a chance to sit in peace and tell y'all about our Labor Day Weekend trip to West Texas!

(Commercial Break brought to you by a crying baby who has been asleep for approximately 5 minutes now.....)

Okay, and we are back. Last Thursday (9/2) we took an airplane ride with a 4 month old and headed to Midland, TX. We were so excited about this trip (with the exception of the nervousness and, well, nervousness that I had about flying for the first time with a baby). But overall I'd say it went rather well. We went to visit Brantley's mom's side of the family. His Granddad, Nanny (Sue), Uncle Brian, Aunt Terri, Amanda, Jason, and Acee (cousins) all live in Midland. They had yet to see Ainsley and were ready to get their hands on her! The trip going went pretty well. Nothing too dramatic. Ainsley fortunately slept most of the time even with a quick 35 minute lay over in Houston. The difficult part came when we got to Midland and Nanny and Granddad saw her for the first time....SCREAMING her head off! This pretty much continued for the rest of the evening until she went to bed. I was so concerned because not even I could get her to calm down, which has never happened before. We finally decided it was either her tummy, her ears were bothering her from the flight, she was exhausted, or even all of the above. I felt so bad for her, yet had no idea what to do. So the whole family just dealt with it and passed her around anyways! We kept telling everyone that we promised she was never like that and hoped that they believed us.

(Commercial break brought to you by a crying baby....again.)

I was really anxious about how Ainsley would do sleeping at night in a pack-n-play in our room. And luckily she still slept her usual 9 to 10 hours. On Friday we went with Nanny/G-dad to a restaurant called "The Barn Door". This is where Brantley's mom and dad went on their first date, which would have been in high school. So special. I couldn't get over one of the appetizers you can order. They have these HUGE blocks of Wisconsin cheese they will bring to your table with some very delicious home made bread. You just scrape some cheese from the block and put it on your bread. I know...sounds kinda gross given they have a few blocks of cheese that pretty much go from table to table. I was a little apprehensive about this and just told myself that surely they scrape off the outside layer before taking it to the next table. So I got over it and dug right in. And boy was I glad I did because it was so good. I could have just eaten that for my meal! Later that night the family got together for dinner, catching up, and some much needed baby lovin'.

I was really looking forward to Saturday. We had a fish-fry over at Brantley's Aunt and Uncle's house. It was better than I could have imagined. Fried catfish, fried shrimp, coconut shrimp, boiled shrimp, grilled corn, fried potatoes and okra, hush-puppies, and cantaloupe. They sure knew what they were doing when they made it because I could not stop eating that wonderful, delicious, totally not-good-for you food (especially the coconut shrimp) until I was stuffed and I didn't eat anything else the rest of the day.

(Commercial break brought to you by a baby that refuses to take a nap and let Mommy get anything done...again. Okay false alarm. I have the monitor on and there was some crying, but it has ceased. Whew! Close call.)

We spent all of Saturday at Bryan and Terri's eating, talking, baby watching, eating, talking, baby watching, football watching, baby watching, eating, baby watching...you get the idea. It was a wonderful day and I wish we could do it more often!

Sunday was a chill day. We all got together and grilled out burgers for lunch then simply did nothing, which was relaxing. And the big event of the day was Ainsley took her first 2 and 1/2 hour nap! (I know you don't believe it after all of my commercial breaks, but it's true!) Of course, if I had known she was going to keep sleeping I would have slept too, but thanks to Brantley for watching her after she woke up so I could catch a short, much needed, rare nap.

Monday was our going home day. We ate a quick lunch and headed to the airport. I wasn't as worried this go around about flying with Ainsley. The hard part was saying our good-byes. We don't get to see this side of the family very often given they are a 16 hour drive away, but what time we do have is always so wonderful. Thank you for everything Ford/French family! We love and miss you so much and can't wait to see you again!

(Quick side-note: The flight back didn't go as well. We got stuck in Dallas for a few hours due to bad weather in Houston, with a baby that would not let us put her in her stroller, who had to be held and bounced and walked around, along with 2 disgusting explosive diapers, and a screaming episode 20 minutes before landing in Nashville along with screaming the ENTIRE way from baggage claim until we got home (Ainsley not Brantley that is, although he probably wanted to join her after a while). All of that to say I would not be sad if we do not fly anywhere again for a long time.)

At our gate in Nashville sound asleep and ready to board!

So far so good

Granddad and Ainsley

Nanny and Ainsley

Amanda had the special touch that night

Where B's mom and dad went on their first date (Odessa, TX)

Block of cheese. Hilarious. And this one must have been around to a few other tables prior to us because it was smaller than the other ones we saw.

Just talking away "telling me all about it"!

Aunt Terri and Ainsley

The Feast

2 words: mouth. watering.

Watching football with g-dad

Can we say spoiled baby?

"Telling Nanny all about it..."

Silly girl

This is what happens when you get stuck with a baby in an airport for a few unexpected hours...

A little of this

and a little of that.

P.S. For those of you wondering, Ainsley has now been sleeping for 1 hour 15 minutes (Whoo-hoo!). So now that I'm finished with my post, maybe I can get something else accomplished. Hmmm...clean the kitchen or take a nap???

4 Month Check-Up

Ainsley had her 4 month visit to the Pediatrician today. I was so anxious to get her on that scale and see how much weight she has gained! However, I was not so anxious about the dreaded shots she had to get. The doctor says everything looks great and she's a growing girl! We start cereal this week, so I'm sure I will have a post about that here soon. Here are her stats from today:

Weight- a whopping 11 pounds 13 ounces (10%)

Height- 23 7/8 inches (25%)

Head- 16 3/8 inches (60%! Haha)

This past weekend, Ainsley went to her first birthday party on Saturday for a little friend who is in our small group at church. I have been waiting for the right time to put this adorable fru-fru outfit on her and thought this was the perfect occasion! SO. CUTE.

Brantley just said yesterday (and I think I'll have to agree) that Ainsley is making a turn-a-round and starting to look more like her Momma. She's definitely a good mixture of the two of us, but she's starting to favor me more, especially with those big blue eyes of hers! I'm pretty sure this is what I looked like around this age. I have in mind one picture in particular that I'll have to get from my mom to compare this next picture to.

Happy Girl

We like pulling on our clothes now.

We have also started playing with our hands and fingers a lot lately.

"Why hello there Bella."

"Really Mom?....

(Thanks for the cute dress Lili!)

....Okay, I guess I'll participate....

...and blow you some bubbles...

...and chew on my hand...

...and crack a smile...

....and that's about all I got, so now I'll just look at you like you're crazy."

First attempt in the Bumbo. It did not last very long (and by that I mean maybe 30 seconds). But not too much longer and she will be able to use it!

I love sitting on the couch and being able to look around.

Hello Bell Bell! No you may not have my toys.

Just chillin' on a cozy Sunday afternoon watching some Cowboys football.

4 months and a little, I mean a lot, of catching up to do!

I feel like it has been forever since I have put up a new post! Considering the last one was Ainsley's 3 month post and this is her 4 month post that tells you something...we have been busy!

I finally had my church shower! Yes, 3 months after Ainsley was born I had her baby shower. It was actually scheduled for April 18th, the weekend after Ainsley was born, but considering we were both still in the hospital we couldn't quite make it. It was strange to have her at her own baby shower, but it was also great because most people had not seen/met her yet. Everything turned out so nice. I really didn't know what to expect because Brantley and I have only been members at our church for a year and pretty much only know the people in our small group, so far. I really enjoyed getting to meet people and now have names to put with faces. A big thanks to the girls in our small group who made it all happen and Jenny who headed it all up. Everything turned out so wonderfully!

Work is work. I was just telling Brantley that it was hard leaving Ainsley my first day back to work, but it's only gotten harder and harder. The older she gets and the more interactive she is makes me want to be at home and enjoy her! I sometimes tell her when I drop her off at my mom's that she needs to cry or be asleep so that it's easy to leave. But most of the time she is smiley as can be and I have to tear myself away to not be late to work. I know it will only continue to get harder for me and as she becomes more aware it may become harder for her. Hopefully not though because she loves playing at Lili's house and gets A LOT of attention!

Other than that we have done "nothing". And by "nothing" I mean we are busy, but not fun going places busy. Cleaning the house, catching up on much needed rest, running errands, taking care of a baby busy. "Nothing" exciting.

Our baby girl turned 4 months old yesterday (Saturday, 14th)! This brings her gestation age to 2 months and 2 weeks. But we don't think of her as that around here. She is growing like a weed. This is such a fun age because there has been so much change and she is so alert and interactive, yet she is still a baby-baby! At "4 months" Ainsley is: tracking, holding her head up, SMILING like crazy, very interested in her surroundings, loves going public places (restaurants, the mall, etc.) and being in her stroller, her paci, enjoys hearing her high pitch squealing voice (and we love to hear her high pitch squealing voice), her play mat, toys that rattle or are colorful, being wrapped up in a blanket and held close, she held on to a chewing ring for the first time today, does not like to be burped after she eats (too bad), is now wearing Size 1 diapers, seems to enjoy being in her nursery more than anywhere else in the house, takes cat naps during the day (one 45 minute nap and then 15 to 20 minute naps the rest of the day), but fortunately sleeps 8 to 10 hours every night, and last but not least she wants to be held ALL OF THE TIME. I do not know if this is because of us, but it's hard to get anything done at night (and for my mom during the day) because she doesn't last long playing by herself and wants to be held. Baby Bijorn Is. My. Friend. I'm sure I will come up with other things about our little one after I have put this post up, but I will fill you in at 5 months the things I missed. We could not be happier to have Ainsley in our lives. It has only been 4 months, but I can honestly say it's hard to remember life before her and it feels like it's been forever since our whole hospital experience having her.

Church Shower Pics

I LOVED the (strawberry) cake! Not only was it ADORABLE it was so yummy!

Sitting with "Lolli" just taking it all in!

(This was my dress from when I was a baby.)

The wonderful hostesses got us our exersaucer. This was such a treat because I know before we know it we will be using it all of the time!

Hostess Shot

Now for Ainsley's 4 month photo shoot with Mommy...drumroll please...

This one is for my Dad's side of the family. I figure they'd appreciate it!

The next one cracks me up because it makes her seem like such a big girl!

This one is for cousin Amanda who gave Ainsley this too-cute-tutu (as well as the hair accessories)!

On the way to Lili's house for the day

We love the puppy dog! I try to get her to hold on to the ear because she has started really clinging on to blankets and our shirts when we hold her. I thought this was sweet and that puppy dog is so soft.

Happy girl at Lili's house