Knoxville & Dollywood

Last weekend we went to TN to visit Mimi and Granddaddy Pete and introduce Hannah to all our family there. It was a great trip and she did fairly well for long drive there and back. We had not been there since last Christmas, because of the pregnancy and then arrival of our little girl.

On Thursday Mimi and Granddaddy treated us to Calhouns, an East Tennessee favorite. Aunt Kaye and Toni met us there and we had a great meal and great time together.

On Friday we went to Dollywood. Mimi and Granddaddy are season ticket holders and had free passes for us to use. I haven't been there in years - and boy, had it changed! Jackson was beside himself with excitement for the rides - bumper cars, Ferris wheel, child roller coaster, teacups, flying elephant, a real steam locomotive, scrambler, water rapids, and much much more. He did it all. He was one squeally, happy little boy! Funny thing - I ran into Michelle and Dawn, friends from App there. Small world! By mid-afternoon the heat had really turned up and we had two exhausted kiddos.

Saturday was dedicated to football watching, which is a very sacred thing in TN. They are serious about their football and there is hardly a car in town that is not covered with Big T magnets, pompoms, or orange somewhere. Mom and I escaped for a brief shopping venture before the big game. We debated going to the game but it poured down rain all day so we settled for watching it at home instead. It was fun to show Jack all the little traditions - like the team running through the big T, singing Rocky Top, Smoky, etc. Here's Hannah with her great Aunt Kaye watching the game...

Sunday we went to church at my parent's church. It is always refreshing and odd to be in a church other than the Bridge. It's fun to just be a participant in some ways. Their church is a bit more traditional and has like 5,000 or so members and a choir. Very different. We really missed our church family and worshipping with them!! After church we had lunch and packed up for the drive home. Sad! We had such a great time and love spending time with our family there.

4 months - revised

Edited to add her 4 month digits - 14lbs 5 oz and 25" (75th percentile).

Our little princess is four months old! This past month has been so fun as we've watched her little personality emerge more and more. She is curious about everything. She generally only wants to be held facing out so she doesn't miss anything. She is laughing more and more - especially when you tickle her feet. Hannah is grabbing at anything she can get her hands on and is starting to "play" with toys - mostly just putting anything she can in her mouth. She especially loves her taggy (thanks, Anna!) and her play gym. She has discovered Daisy (our cat) and she is mesmerized by her. Her hair is really starting to come back in. It is such a light blonde that it is hard to see - in most of her pictures she still looks like a baldy.

Our little compliant one is now starting to exert her opinion more and more. :) Last week the teething began and I can tell already that it will be a long, difficult road ahead for that!

She still sleeps great at night. Her daytime naps are not as long as I hoped for (45-60 min.), or as long as Jackson's were. Hopefully those will get longer with time.

Hannah and Jackson have this little squeally babbling language that they share. I have not yet captured it on video, but I hope to soon. It is so funny and sweet! Jackson told her the other day that she was his best friend. Yes, I [courtney] cried! I pray that they will always be close.

It has been four of the most wonderful months for our family. Hannah, you bring us so much joy! We love you, pumpkin!

little learner

Jackson surprises me more and more everyday. Last week I decided to show him some sight words and expose him to some reading. As I was writing down the words from a website, he looked over my shoulder and read most of the words to me before I ever showed them to him! The ones he did not already know he sounded out and read as well. Then, he asked for the stack and began to make silly sentences to read to me..."Little blue dog can jump not run" etc, etc. I sat there baffled. We have been playing word games with bath letters, rhyming sounds, and tons of library books. Not to mention his love for starfall.com and some other educational sites. But, I had no idea he could already read so much!

Outer Banks Pics

The Brug's added these shots to their facebook page and we stole 'em! Enjoy!

Superman!

I found these pjs at the consignment sale last week. Jackson absolutely loves them and wants to wear them every night (I have already washed them twice). Here's our little super hero showing his moves...

early autumn outings

Cooler weather has drawn us out and about the town! Last week our family joined our friends the Wells for some fun at the Museum of Life and Science. Jack LOVED the dinosaur exhibit! We also got to see the black bear up close and personal.

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Here's Madeline and Jackson holding hands as they walk down the path....I HAD to sneak a pic! Not sure who grabbed who's hand first. Although, Jackson recently told me that since he can't marry me or Hannah, Madeline would be his next choice. :)

We also went to Pullen Park with our buddies. Hannah had her very first train ride!

And, I had to include our little tarheels as they geared up for the football game.

3 month (and a week)

While we were out of town last week, Hannah turned 3 months. She's at such a special age where we see changes in her growth, personality, and abilities almost daily. We are so very smitten by this little girl!

Here's the latest...

• We officially have a thumb-sucker. She prefers the left hand. She will still take the paci on occasion, but it is obvious she loves that thumb.


• Starting to grab things – particularly loves to grab her dress and pull it up to her mouth. It is not unusual for her to have wet spots all down the front of her dress from doing this.


• Loves her play gym and loves to talk to it.


• "Talks" or coos at any toy or any person.


• Perfected razzing and making spit bubbles. She razzes (is that a word??) constantly... I blame her daddy since he constantly does it to her to get her to smile.


• We are able to put her down for a nap while she is awake & she will fall asleep on her own – most days.


• She can sit in the bumbo seat for short periods of time.


• She's had some minor skin issues. I think she might be allergic to mommy’s sunscreen. Also, she is prone to dry skin & eczema – nothing that some aveeno can’t take care of though.

Outer Banks - Part 1

Last week we went to the Outer Banks for a few days and shared a house with our long-time friends – the Flynns and the Brueggemans. It was an absolute blast. Jackson had SO much fun with Nate, Zach, Emily and Kate. He loved sharing a room with Nate! Some highlights were eating out for some incredible seafood, mommys shopping at the outlets, playing games after the kids went to bed, seeing Currituck Lighthouse, and of course the beach. Each morning we hit the beach and Jackson stayed in the water nearly the entire time. He absolutely is obsessed with riding waves on his boogie board and doesn't mind being pummeled by waves one bit. We stayed very close by, of course. He still shows no sign of fear. I really wish I had him on video.

Hannah camped out under the canopy. We converted her little tub to a beach bed and she slept to the sound of laughter and waves. We had to dip her toes in, though.

I love this picture of her holding her hat and sucking her thumb!

Our camera died mid-trip (so sad!), so we'll post some more pics that our friends took when we get those.

Question - Does Hannah Look Like Daddy?

Every seems to think Hannah looks a lot like Dad. Although some are saying that she is beginning to look like Jackson in his baby pictures. Here are a few shots of Daddy as a baby to help you decide!

Hannah's photo shoot

We had our first session with Mishmash Photography on Sunday and here are just a few of the great pics she got of our little princess...

Hannah was more interested in "talking" to Amanda and the camera than smiling for most of the pics. Our little social butterfly. Mike has been scanning some of his baby pictures and I hope to post them here soon to show you how alike they look. In case you haven't noticed already. :)

Thanks Amanda!!!!! We LOVE them!