8 months...

Eight Months – January 24, 2014

How has it been eight months?! 

Marley weighs 17lbs. and is 27 1/2in. long.

Every month seems to become more and more fun.  Marley is EVERY WHERE!  She is sitting, crawling and rolling all over the place.  She is never still!  She even dove off the chair I had her in to take her 8 month pictures.  Fortunately she got stuck head down between the chair and ottoman and came up laughing! She hates for you to hold her.  All she wants is to be on the move!  Even in her crib we watch her move from ribbon to ribbon untying her bumper. 

She laughs, giggles and smiles nonstop!  I never thought those first 3 months that I would ever have a happy child!

One of her favorite times is bath time!  Adam gives her baths when he’s home and it’s one of his favorite times.  She has no problem with water in her face and loves to splash! 

She will eat anything!  We’ve found nothing she didn’t like (well for 1 night she didn’t like squash).  She’s even gotten really good at picking up her yogurt bites and feeding herself! 

Sammy has become her best friend!  Sammy is a little more comfortable around her…a little.  But wherever she is…Marley is headed there!  

I love you Marley Scout!

Bath time...

Bath time is one of Marley’s favorite times of day!  I’m pretty sure that Adam and I enjoy it just as much just watching her laugh and play.  Since birth she has loved baths.  Adam has always given her her baths.  It’s their bonding time.  In my opinion he kind of manhandles her, but she doesn’t mind at all.  Water in her face…no problem.  For Christmas Santa put some bath toys in her stocking and she loves them, and now that she can sit up she can play so much better.  We just love listening to her squeal and watching her splash around!

Hmmmm....

What is this on Marley’s cheeks, forehead and nose?  A rash…nope.  An allergic reaction…nope. 

Sunburn?!  NOPE!

That would be carpet burn!  Yes, you heard me right…carpet burn.  She’s really working hard on crawling and we’ve got everything down except one crucial part…picking you face up off the ground! 

Poor baby!

To sum it up...

As I look back on this year I am amazed at all that has happened and how fortunate we are. 

Adam and I have learned so much about ourselves as individuals, a couple and as parents.

It’s so cliché to say you didn’t know love until your child was born…but it’s true.  It’s a different kind of love.  I mean when else do you love something or someone instantly?  I mean before you ever even meet them.  I get it now what it means to love your child unconditionally.  Marley has been sick the past couple of days and Adam and I just can’t believe how much it hurts us to see her not feeling well.  At the same time the smile on her face when she does feel well or seeing her “wave” at her daddy from across the room makes everything better!

I cannot wait to see what this next year has to hold for us…

Marley's First Christmas...

Marley’s First Christmas

Christmas is always a fun, but hectic time of year for Adam and I.  We try really hard to see all of our families from Christmas Eve to Christmas Day…too bad that we live 2 hours from my parents and 3-4 from Adam’s family. 

Adam and I thought long and hard about what to get Marley for her first Christmas.  Being 7 months old there’s not a lot she needs or can do.  It was really important to us that she get something that was meaningful and that she could keep.  We finally decided on the Little People Nativity.  She loved it!  The angel on top of the manger lights up and plays “Away in a Manger” and she thinks it’s really funny!  We also got her the book Go Dog Go! and the matching dog to go with it, some blocks and her stocking was full of bath toys.  

Marley and I went down to my parents for Christmas Eve and unfortunately Adam had to work so he couldn’t come until late that night.  Marley LOVED opening presents!  She had no inhibitions about ripping the paper or pulling out the tissue in the bags.  She got an interactive play table from Aunt Lauren and Uncle Randall along with a few other things and a Kick and Play Piano from Grammy and Pops along with a Snoopy book and toy, money for her savings and more.  

Heather, Marley and Aunt Lauren

Sammy, Marley and Pops

Pops and Marley

Pops and Marley

Pops and Marley

Pops, Marley and Heather

Pops, Marley and Heather

My Granny's ring...a gift from my Aunt and Mom!

Christmas Eve night Marley and I went to my dad’s house and she got to play with ALL of her cousins and help bake sugar cookies.  We really loved getting to see all of the family!

On Christmas morning we got up super early and began the drive to East Texas. Marley did wonderful!  She slept about 30 minutes then she watched movies on the Ipad and played with her toys.  When we got there she played with Grammy Carol and Pawpaw and took a nap.  We went to Granddaddy and Grandmother Cain’s for Christmas lunch.  Adam’s cousin recently opened a crematorium and when we pulled up to his grandparents there was a hearse in the driveway!  I guess you have to always be prepared at a moment’s notice!

 It was really nice because there were a lot of people who still had never met Marley.  She was a little fussy as she was overwhelmed with all the people (about 40!) so Pawpaw took her outside to ride on the lighted reindeer in the front yard, let her suck on ice cubes from the sweet tea, lick on lemons and watch the bumblebees in the rose bushes. 

What 7 month old wouldn’t enjoy that!?

Pawpaw letting Marley suck on sweet tea ice.

Pawpaw and Marley - ice lips!

Pawpaw and Marley

Pawpaw and Marley riding reindeer!

Pawpaw and Marley

Heather, Marley and Adam

That night we drove to Adam’s mom’s house and celebrated Christmas AGAIN!  Marley got some really cute gifts; from a dog that interacts as you read books to a book about Grandma’s that has Adam’s mom recorded reading it!  She even got the cutest little owl toboggan from her cousin Emma.

Adam and I are both very thankful for our families and all they have done for us this year!  We hope that this is just the beginning of many Christmas memories with Marley!