First Haircut

Macie had her first haircut this past weekend. Her bangs had gotten so long and when we went into TK's, the owner gave Macie a little trim. I think she seemed a little unsure about sitting in the chair but she didn't move a muscle while she was getting her trim.

Mmmm Good

Macie is now saying Mmm when I get her meals ready. It is really cute to watch. She obviously thinks the dog food is "mmm good" but I won't let her eat it which makes her cry. Oh, but she wants to so bad!

Macie Walking

We have a walker! It is sooooo cute to watch!

My Friend

Two are better than one...for if one falls down, his friend can lift him up. Ecclesiastes 4:9-10

My precious friend, Kay, was welcomed home to our Heavenly Father on Monday. I have never know this kind of ache but the ache is worth the 5 special years we shared as friends. For all who knew Kay they knew her for her bubblily personality, her go-getter attitude, and her compassion. She touched and changed so many lives. So many students learned a great deal from this wonderful teacher. She made me feel special and she always reminded about how lucky I was to have such a wonderful husband and family. She listened, shared in my joys and my sorrows, she would put me first...that is just the kind of friend she was. I hope I did all those things for her too. Special doesn't even come close to explaining how much she meant to me or what kind of person she was. Although I wasn't able to help or be with her during this final battle, I prayed and prayed and prayed. God answered my prayer when I asked that he give her peace and comfort. I will always remember my friend, Kay!

I love this place

Who needs presents or toys or anything that cost money when you can play in a cabinet with toilet paper and paper towels? Macie loved having the door closed on her and then after I would knock she would work on pushing it open. She is so fun and full of life.

Macie loves her new pjs from her grammy. She had a pj day and stayed warm in them all day. They were perfect because the wind made it such a cold day.

Let IT Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow!!!

Macie got to experience her first snow. Even though she won't remember it and it didn't last very long, she did like looking out the window as it came down. Then we went outside in it for just a minute or so. She didn't seem to notice that it was landing on us because she was more worried about getting her hood off her head. I know it doesn't snow tons here in the Dallas area but I hope when she gets bigger we get an enormous snow that she can play in, build a snowman in, and have her first snowball icecream (like we used to make when we were kids). I keep my fingers crossed on that one because I so want her to see and play in the lots of snow like I did when I was a kid. We may have to take her up to where I grew up so she can have that experience someday.

Christmas Preview

I don't know if I have ever been more excited about this time of year...(well, I was super excited the Christmas season when Zack and I got married and also last year I was anxiously awaiting the arrival of Macie! I am probably going to be like all the little kids counting down until Christmas Day arrives. It is Macie's first Christmas! She seems to be very interested in the Christmas lights and ornaments 0n the tree. She loves taking the bows off the presents that I have wrapped. I just think it will be lots of fun. I have had so much fun buying the kid's gifts and have gotten some really great buys which makes it more fun to me. It will be fun to see how all the little ones act and what they do on Christmas. Not only that but Sheldon and Reagan also have had their newest addition, Cage, and he will be there, too! I think Macie will have a good 'ol time with Finley, Jackson, and Blake since they are all around the same age. She will love spending time with her big cousins, too.

Here are a few pictures that I have taken. I was posing Macie for Christmas cards. (It isn't as easy as it used to be because Macie is on the go and not interested in sitting in one place and smiling for me.) Zack got to sit in on one as well! We got some good ones though and now I am excited about getting those in the mail so I can get them addressed and sent back out.

First time seeing the Christmas tree completely decorated.

Bumps and Bums

Don't ask me how this diaper started coming off but it did. No worries though...Macie kept on playing in the pantry. She loves the dog food container and as gross as it may be has tried dog food a couple of times. I think she must think that since she shares her food with them as she slings it from her highchair that she should get to have a bite of their food, too!

ONE BIG BUMP!

While playing in the pantry (I was getting her lunch ready), Macie some how slipped and fell. I think she must have hit the door frame. OUCH! I picked her up and noticed it immediately. She stopped crying as soon as she saw her lunch so I guess it looked worse than it felt.

Thanksgiving

I have so much to be thankful for and when I woke up Thanksgiving morning I realized just how blessed I am. We have a wonderful family, great friends, and a precious daughter. Life is good. We enjoyed Thanksgiving with Zack's side of the family this year and it was lots of fun. Macie got to play with all her cousins and her second cousins too when we were at Nana's. It was good to gather together with all the family.

Thursday night we were off to my parents' house. Mom and I were planning our 5 a.m. shpping adventure. Unfortunately, I got a stomach bug and was up all night with that. I was on the couch all day Friday so Mom took care of Macie. We wouldn't let Macie get too close to me and she couldn't understand why. She would crawl up to me wanting me to hold her and cry when Mom or Zack took her away. Finally around 4 I held her and cuddled with her. She loved on me too! It made me tear up. It was crazy how much I missed her even though she was in front of me the whole day.

Thanksgiving Day

Macie's tummy was full of turkey, rolls, sweet pototoes, green beans, and pototoe casserole. I think she ate more off my plate than I did.

Gloria's

We went and ate dinner at Gloria's for Thanksgiving. We had such a good time.

Papaw and Grammy with all the grandkids

(It's not easy getting the babies to stay in one place for a picture.)

Finley and Macie loved playing with one another this time. They also loved making a big toy mess.

Cousins!

Reading the book, Faces

I was reading the book Faces to Macie today and she would laugh a ton each time I would say yummy, yucky, and shhh. She would fall backwards and laugh on the word yucky. So then I tried to video it but she didn't laugh as much! I still thought it was cute enough to show.

What's Happening Now

So we are well into Macie's tenth month of life and still loving every minute. We can't let Macie out of our sight for a second. Macie is busy pulling up on everything, crawling all over, walking with her stroller, and putting anything she can find into her mouth. She has tried dog food twice this week and hasn't been thrilled with her mommy when it is taken out of her mouth. Macie is very interested in the dogs' toys and treats. She loves to hold them hoping one of the dogs will come take it from her. Macie also loves to walk with my help and kick her pink ball. If you ask where the pink ball is she will look for it and crawl towards it when she spots it. Macie loves to open and shut the doors but sadly smashed her finger in her drawer the other day when I was putting her clothes on. Macie also shakes her head "NO" when you say the word no or don't touch or make the no sounds. Sometimes before she touches a frame on the coffee table she will shake her head no and then touch it anyway.
I thought Macie was hilarious because she was trying to crawl under the chair to get the dog chew that was left behind.

Macie was watching a leaf that just blew from her hand.

ESCAPING!

The wind blew the door open and she was moving as fast as possible to get out the door. She loves being outside.

When I went into Macie's room after her nap, she was standing holding her bear. She sat down in her bed and grabbed her blanket too. As I picked her up, she dropped the bear. I let her reach over the crib and she grabbed both things. Then I let her walk into the living room with my hand under her arms because her hands were full. She was so happy to have her two bed things in the living room.

TUCKERED OUT!
Reading in the car always wipes a person out!

THE BIG DISCOVERY

Macie was crawling last Saturday all around. All the sudden it was quiet and Zack was right when he said she is in something she shouldn't be. We walked in the bathroom and she was eating the toilet paper. I now keep those doors closed because she crawls in there every single time if they are left open. (I am certain the toilet was clean, too!)

We celebrated Halloween with the Griggs. It is always fun to get together with our favorite friends. The kids were ready for bed after Trick or Treating.

The Happy Meal

Macie Crawling

Friday afternoon, my mom and grandmother Skyped us so my grandma could see how skype worked and see Macie. I put the laptop a distance away from Macie so she would scoot to it and to my surprise she started crawling! Zack had just gotten home from work so he got to see it too! We were so excited. I wanted to call and tell everyone! She has been busy trying to figure crawling all out and still goes to the army crawl when she gets tired but it is way cute to watch.

Daddy's Race

Macie was waiting on her daddy to finish running.

Zack ran a 7.32 min mile for the 5 mile run. He did amazing. He placed 13th. He would have placed a few places higher except I made him slow down so he could take a picture. It was a beautiful day for a run!

Good Luck, Daddy!

Macie met Elsie before Daddy's race. There was a real cow there and Macie loved touching it. She would happy scream when we walked by it.

I had to get a picture of her first day of crawling! It was so fun to watch her take off!

After Macie's first day of crawling, she was still on the move. Her hair looks a little wild and I thinking her first hair cut is getting closer and closer.

Busy as Can Be

Macie got an early birthday present from Sheldon, Reagan, and Jackson. She loves her baby stroller and is getting the hang of holding on and walking with it. The other night she did great and walked from one side of the living room to the next. She is becoming more and more brave. She got busy the other day holding the baby and took both hands off the stroller and fell down. This video doesn't show her best walking but I think it is cute. (Plus, I like her outfit.)

Macie loves to army crawl all over the place. I turn around and she is somewhere else! Before too long she will be up on all four! Then I won't be able to take my eyes off of her for a second. She loves looking out the back door especially when the dogs are outside. She is so funny.

So Much Fun

Wow, we are halfway through the ninth month and I feel like I am trying to hang on to every moment because my baby will be one before I know it. I can't believe how much she has grown. The last few weeks she has really starting moving around and becoming more active. She waves and says bye-bye but I am not sure she realizes what it means yet. She claps and does a little dancing when music is played. She is army crawling, pulling up, and walking with our help or the help of her stroller. Yesterday she wasn't it the napping mood I guess and was crying after I put her down. I went in her room to check on her because I heard her talking too. When I walked in I couldn't believe my eyes. She was standing up holding on the crib with her right hand and had her other thumb in her mouth. She looked at me like, "What do I do now?" I took her out and I ended up cuddling with her and letting her nap on my stomach. It was a precious moment for me because I know she will soon not want to do that. One of my dear friends is about to have a baby and I try to explain to her the love she will have for her newborn but I don't think I can do this kind of love justice when trying to explain it! Macie brings so much JOY to mine and Zack's life. I know I have said it several times but I will say it again...she is such a precious gift from God! I can't imagine life without her!

"I don't see any cats. Do you?

Is Daddy home yet?

Macie trying out one of her new toys that we bought at the neighborhood garage sales.

Macie and her Mimi (her great grandmother)

Mimi came down for a visit and to "shop til she dropped" at the neighborhood garage sales. She loves to find a bargain. I think we did actually get some pretty good toys for a couple of dollars a piece! It was a beautiful day to spend outside.

Weekend at Grammy's

We went to to Grammy and Papaw's house this weekend and it was the first time the whole family has been together since Christmas. Not only that but 2 members, Macie and Finley, are the new additions since Christmas. It was a lot of fun to have all the kids together. It was also a very special time for Jillian because she was saved and was baptized by Paul on Sunday. I am so excited about her decision.

Getting ready to go to church

Finley and Macie hanging out. Macie was having some lunch. We were hoping Finley would teach Macie to crawl this weekend but it didn't happen.

Macie brushing her 2 teeth.

9 Month Check-up

Weighing in at 19 pounds (60 percentile) and 29 inches (90 percentile), Macie is a healthy 9 month old. She charmed everyone she talked too. She was grinning and talking. It was so funny to watch. While the doctor was checking her eyes with the light she was smiling so big showing off her 2 teeth . The doctor said it obviously Macie is used to getting her picture taken. Then Macie tried to grab that gadget and every other tool the doctor used. The doctor said she would even like to have a picture of Macie smiling so big grabbing the tool. Iwanted to grab my picture and tell Dr. Richardson that I was camera ready but I held my tongue. Macie wouldn't stay still and thought it was great to tear the paper she was sitting on. Wow, I can't believe she is 9 months old! I am thankful we have such a precious daughter and I am also glad that she has been healthy these past 9 months (except for the 1 time)! Hopefully, she will breeze through flu season, too!

A quick picture before we head to the doctor.

CHEEEESSSE!
Look at that belly hanging over that diaper!