6 Months Old

So...my blogs have been sparse lately, and when they do show up, are simply pictures of Lula. What can I say? Life has been rather busy lately. Trying to start my own business...sort of...and dealing with Jay's insane schedule at the moment as been all-consuming. However, I've managed to at least take a few pictures of Lula over the last month. She turned 6 months on Saturday while my sister-in-law was in labor with their new baby, Lola Jane. So these two cousins will be exactly 6 months apart, which is pretty exciting since my other niece is now 10, has been the only grandchild for a long time, and has had to hang with the adults all these years! So I'm glad Lula will have some playmates at holidays. Anyway, here are my few pics of this sassy little thing who has finally found her voice and is using it frequently much to our delight!

Almost 5 Months and Still Rockin'

Serious Coffee Drinker and Other Quandries

Does anyone know when it's safe to start giving infants coffee?

Dragons and suns and globes...oh my! Lula is starting to enjoy her new Baby Einstein for big girls. It took her a few days to contemplate her new toys, but she's now interacting with all of them and getting the hang of turning herself around. Thanks, Nana and Papa Jack!

And finally...my new haircut...almost! I took the picture myself which is why my head is slightly cut off. I didn't have the patience to fix it...which is also why I chopped my hair off. While I've been wanting to grow my hair out for a long time, it wasn't practical with a baby and getting ready for Cider Days (2 more weeks!!!). I don't want to take the time to wash and fix it. I'd like to never have to wash my hair...but that would be gross...even considered dreads before! So I chopped it off instead. I think I did a pretty good job, if I do say so myself! Bonus: Jay likes my hair short. Works for me!

Finally, finally, I received the business license for Lula in London yesterday. I can't tell you how exciting it was to see this simple blue piece of paper. It's temporary, yes, but it's a beginning. It's a sign of what's to come and a step in the right direction. Jay said, "well, you started a business before me." That has been one of his ambitions in life to start a business. Hopefully, we can continue it and it can become his too. That's the hope anyway. So exciting to fulfill a dream and make it a reality.

Card Junkie

So I'm kind of a card junkie. I takes me forever to choose a card for any occasion and I typically have to read a great number of them before choosing. I often even choose more than one...a serious one and a funny one...I've even been known to choose three for one person, one occasion! So today as I was browsing the aisles for a baby shower card, I stumbled upon a section at Walmart called "Saturdays." There was an entire section of cards for moms about moms...and they were pretty funny! Even though they weren't for the particular occasion I needed, I enjoyed reading through many of them and chuckling at the commonality that seems to occur in motherhood. I was sorely tempted to buy several for my fellow mothers, but decided to be thrifty instead and stuck with the one card I had intended to buy. So...since I didn't buy any for you, my friends, you'll have to go to Walmart yourself and check out this section. Sometimes it's nice to browse in a place like Walmart when you just need to get out of the house and give the baby something else to look at besides the play gym! Lula loves going to stores and is mesmerized by all the new sites and sounds. I might be damaging her little brain with information overload, but it's a nice break for me and she seems to enjoy it! So go on a field trip and check out the cards at Walmart. It's totally worth it!

The Model

So...I still enjoy dressing Lula up and taking pictures of her...when she'll let me! She's such a good little model. I mean, what 4 month old can give the looks she gives (see middle pic in the tea cup shirt). It's like she knows what she's doing! OK...so every mom has probably said this at some point, but I like to believe my child is extra special. So don't burst my bubble! Did I mention in my new description of me that I'm a hopeless dreamer and still believe in fairies? :)

Some people have asked to see pictures of things I'm making for Cider Days. The last pictures of Lula in the blue and white outfit show one of the items I've made. Just a little preview! More to come!

Sweet Potato Pie and An Attitude Check

We started Lula on solids Sunday and today we tried sweet potatoes with rice cereal for the first time. As you can see, most of it ended up on her chin instead of in her mouth! But she's getting the hang of it and it's so fun to see her figuring out how the spoon works and what not. She was 4 months old on Monday and still the greatest joy in my life. Now on to the serious stuff...

Seeing a friend's post on facebook the other day where she declared she needed an attitude adjustment reminded me again of a recent e-mail my best friend sent to me without realizing the impact it would have on me. After making several silly and fun comments on some of her blog posts, she sent an e-mail expressing that I had obviously been in a good mood when I wrote the comments. Her intention was not to suggest that I usually wasn't in a good mood, but that I was in a sillier mode than normal. However, regardless of her intentions, the e-mail set my mind rolling. I was disappointed that my sillier, happier mode apparently wasn't the norm for me. I feel like I used to be much more carefree than I am nowadays. What happened?

Life! The typical cliche answer. But I refuse to bow down to that so easily. Yes, it's true that I've become more cynical, rational, realistic as the years go by and these traits often steal my joy, my once common daydreams, and my laughter. But I'm putting my foot down. As my other friend said, I need an attitude adjustment and I'm the only one who can give it to myself. I too often allow myself to get caught up in the frustrations of every day life while I'm longing to do something else. Instead I will choose to enjoy every day tasks and remind myself that even when I'm doing laundry or cleaning the kitchen, I'm not just doing it for myself, but for my family and ultimately for God. Every act I do can either be a chore or it can be a part of my worship to God and a gift to my family. Who wants a gift that's given with complaining and whining and frustration? No thanks!

Several years ago I was in a women's study at my church in Nashville. The study revolved around exactly what I'm talking about and it made a huge difference in my life. Despite the fact that I was working a ridiculous amount and didn't have a dishwasher (!), I sang while I did the dishes. I cleaned my house from top to bottom every week and was happy doing it. It was ALL about my attitude and it was only me that needed to change it. Reading the character of Hadassah's story in Francine Rivers' The Mark of the Lion series also helped my attitude change. Yes, she's a fictional character, but she was definitely inspirational!

I guess the bottom bottom line is: I can choose to have joy doing what I have to do or not. I have to do the dishes, clean the house, make dinner, etc. but I don't have to have a bad attitude while doing it. That's something I can choose to change. So let's go clean the kitchen! It's a mess!

How I Became a Carnivore

When I was born, all I was given was milk. I thought this was pretty good and was satisfied, but then I discovered something even better and am hooked...Meat. That's right, I've become a carnivore. It all happened one day, when I accidentally stuck my hand in my mouth.

I quickly pulled it back and wondered, "What is this wonderful, new taste?"

So I tried it again. Wow! My hands taste really good. You will now find me with my hands frequently in my mouth and drool spilling out of both sides. I might even try to eat your hands if you'll let me.

I've also discovered, while trying to find more tasty meat, that stuffed animals work well also. Biting the heads of animals gives me a "taste" of what's to come in the future...real meat! I'm really excited about it, but have to wait til I'm a little older. It's fun fantasizing about real meat though while I'm chomping on some fake animals.



Mr. Monkey was particularly good.

I've also found that my thumb can be terribly soothing when I'm really craving some jerky and have traded my pacifier in for the flavor my my thumb.


Lastly, I've also discovered that when my thumb just won't cut it and I'm so hungry for meat that I can't hardly stand it, I can caress my head or grab a handful of hair and this really helps me settle down. The ultimate is to have both my thumb in my mouth and my hand on my head. This puts me right to sleep.

So take it from me, all you babes out there, wise little Lula knows best and hopes you'll listen to my instruction. Meat. It's what's for dinner.