Christmas/ 6 month photo shoot

Thanksgiving

"I just wanna squeeze her" -Nanny

Wagon

Laynie is test driving her new wagon she is getting for Chirstmas. She likes it so much that she came up with a new silly face while she rides. Super Adorable!

Laynie sits up

Christmas (!?!)

We took Laynie to see Santa at My Kids Attic today. She really liked his beard. He must have been a very experienced Santa because he didn't let her get it! She told him she wants a wagon for Christmas :)

Halloween

Laynie was a lady bug for about 10 minutes on Halloween! That Saturday we tried to go to the pumpkin patch in Clanton with DeLane, but when we got there it was cold and raining. So we went to the gift shop and bought baby pumpkins and a Halloween pinwheel for Laynie. Then we bought candy apples to go and headed to the Galleria! When we got home that night she dressed up, but the outfit was a little too warm so it didn't last long. We had alot more Trick-or-Treaters than we expected and ran out of candy. DeLane panicked so we rummaged through the cabinets and came up with mints and Pringles pizza sticks -ha!

Baker got to come home this weekend. He was on leave for Columbus Day. He has to head back to Ft. Eustis, VA on Monday. Isn't he handsome? I'm so proud!

Hey everyone! So this blogging thing is harder to keep up with than I thought! It doesn't help that we don't have internet at home - oh well. The video below is of Laynie's first pick-nick last weekend. The weather was just perfect, so we had to be outside. Stuart taught her how to chase the ducks and geese. She had a great time! She turned 5 months old last week and started eating baby food meat -GROSS! She really likes it though. I think apples and chicken (yes, together) has been her favorite. She was very upset when she finished the jar. I also let her try a tiny bit of peach yogurt that I was eating and she threw an all out fit when I would'nt let her have any more. I think she may be getting a tooth, too. She chews on anything that gets close to her mouth and is drooling excessively. I'm pretty sure I can feel the beginnings of one coming through on her bottom gum but no one else is convinced yet. We'll see. Gotta go for now. Love you all!

Lots to catch up on!

Laynie Laundry

Growing and Growing! Laynie went to her first "cradle roll" class this past Wednesday night. She had a blast! She loved all of the songs and toys. Her friend Juliet showed her exactly what to do. They are both such busy bodies! She got to see bubbles for the first time, and was completely mesmerized. I'm glad that she did so good, now if only she were big enough to fit in the seats...

I'm sure it won't be long! Notice her toes in the third picture. In the Creel family we refer to this as "fruit picker toes". I used that term with someone the other day and they were very confused. It's simple, really. Her toes are so long that if she wanted she could reach out and pick fruit. If you have questions, contact Jill Bayer. (ha)

We're in Tuscaloosa this weekend visiting Grandma and Grandpa Rowe. Laynie did great on the ride here, she slept the whole time. I just put her down for a nap and she's a little put off that it's not "her" bed, but I think exhaustion will win out in the end. We are going to celebrate Stuart's birthday. I'm sure the traditional American flag carrot cake is in order. I don't really understand that tradition but as long as there is cake who cares.

We love you all...hugs and kisses!

I know most of you have seen this picture, but I forgot to bring more to load on the computer today. I felt like I had to give you something, though!

Laynie officially found her feet this week. She can stretch them all the way to her face! She also rolled over (with a little assistance) and laughed a tiny laugh. She's yet to do either again, of course.

I got to talk to Baker today. He told me all about how he started an IV on his friend during "field training". I asked him if he got it on the first try and he said "yeah, cause I made sure to pay really good attention during that lesson". He sounded a little congested but it may be because he's still sick from having to go through the gas chamber. In his letter he wrote: "within 5 minutes of breathing riot suppression gas your cold was laying on the floor and your sinuses are clean as a whistle". YUCK! Sounds like the physical aspect of basic training is catching up with him right about now. Please say a prayer for him right now as you read this. I'm so proud of him!

Laynie Talks!

Trying this out

Hello all! I've decided to join the world of blogging in an effort to keep you all updated on our family's happenings. The posts might be few and far between as I have limited access to the computer, but bear with me and I'll do the best I can!

Now to the important stuff...LAYNIE! She is growing so big! Almost 11 pounds now, can you believe it?? She amazes me everyday - I just can't get enough. The other night I had a dream that I had been babysitting her this whole time and I had to give her back. Needless to say I woke up in tears. Thankfully it was just a dream! It's still hard to believe that I'm a MOTHER! It's what I've wanted all of my life, but no one could have prepared me for how wonderful it is. Every morning I get her out of her bed it feels like Christmas. I can't wait for her to smile at me everyday and to see what she'll discover next. Her favorite thing lately is her hands! She will lay in her baby gym for up to an hour just grabbing at things, stopping only to hold her hands in front of her face with a "how cool is this" expression on her little face. I feel like I finally have a hint of the love God feels for us as his children. It absolutely amazes me that He can love me infinitely more than even this entire family loves her.

In other news, I had to go back to work on July 27th. It was rough going back to night shift! Thankfully it works for us right now, though as Stuart is home at night with her and I can kiss him on his way out in the morning when I get home. Nanny is going to help us when I need to sleep during the day. She is such a blessing to our family and I love her so much! Laynie has no idea how lucky she is to have such an incredible family. Getting back into the routine of work, and actually remembering how to do my job was a little more difficult than I expected. Things sure change fast in the medical world. I missed three months and it felt more like a year! Before I loved my job, it's exactly what I wanted to be doing. Nursing was my calling and I was working my dream job in the NICU. Now things have changed. My calling is to be a mother, and I feel that I don't want to be at work when I'm there! However, God gave me a strong healthy baby and the support of a strong family so that I can help sick babies. It's just a matter of reminding myself every night at around 2am when I feel like I just can't go on! I'm also grateful for the fact that I do have a job and can contribute to Stuart and Laynie in that way, especially in this economy. There is definitely a reason that our life is the way it is right now, and I'm just wanting to enjoy it while I can!

Stuart has absolutely amazed me as a daddy. He is crazy about that little girl and takes such wonderful care of us both. He's still slaving away at Peaches N' Clean, waiting on the Fire Department. Montgomery is in the process of budgeting for the new fiscal year, so hopefully we'll know something soon. He has been so patient and I know that God is going to reward him for his faith...whether it be now or later on, in the way he wants or in something better.

That's all for now...I have to go feed my little angel. Love you all so much!