Papaw's Birthday

My Papaw has not been with us for over 2 months now, and I miss him so much.  Today is his birthday, and he would've been 71 years old - definitely too young to be gone.  : (   Sadly, I never got around to writing a special birthday blog for him when he was around to see it, but I would still like to write one in his memory.

The picture above shows the one and only trip that Papaw got to spend time with my daughter.  He loved to hold her when she wasn't crying, haha.

If you had the pleasure of knowing my Papaw, then you know there were many different "sides" to him.  Rough and tough to those who he thought deserved it, and cuddly as a big teddy bear to his family, whom he loved dearly.

So here's to a Papaw who:

Threatened to kill and/or shoot every past boyfriend I had in the foot (including my husband, haha)
Always made me sit on his lap, no matter how old I got (and he always had to let me know that my baby butt used to fit in his hand, but not anymore)
Bought my Granny and my mom a dress for every occasion, even if they wanted pants, lol
Took me dress shopping at a young age and bought me 2 dresses, because I told him "Papaw, I love this dress you just bought me, but I REALLY love this dress over here!"   ; )
Chased me down the beach when I was a toddler
Never let me forget that I accidentally lost one of the diamond earrings he bought me when I was 2.
Always let someone know "What you NEED to do is..."
Took me and all of my cousins to Disney World
Grew the best tasting tomatoes ever
Referred to the Young and the Restless as the "Young and the Useless", but still watched it
Came outside to direct our parking up until he had trouble standing/walking
Made some delicious food!!!  Scallops, lamb chops, mmmmmm
Loved sitting in his disco light jacuzzi
Took us on countless trips to the beach in the RV...we had so much fun!
Listened to jazz music in the car on Sundays
Would always claim that "the midget did it" (My family will understand this one...)
Always told me I needed to buy darker lipstick because I looked half dead, lol
Would always answer the phone by saying "FBI" or "Sheriff's Office"
Enjoyed watching Dog the Bounty Hunter, Swamp People, Storage Wars, and any other redneck TV
Also enjoyed watching sports, NASCAR, and criminal investigation shows
Bought my brother and I all the pets we ever had growing up - first 2 hamsters, Jimmy and Trouble, who were not with us very long, haha, and then our dog SweetPea, who was an irreplacably special part of our lives for 13 years.
Would say "Listen to this..."  if you told him something he thought was funny, stupid, or unbelievable
Taught me to target shoot with his BB gun
Always ask me if I wanted to take his diabetes shots for him
Loved driving his Lincoln
Would strongly advise you on what to order at a restaurant
Told the best and funniest stories about his experiences when he owned his own motel at Myrtle Beach
Was a retired veteran in the US Army
Could talk to a stranger for hours
Would give you the shirt off his back

I could go on and on with all of these.  I truly have so many memories of my Papaw.  He and my Granny were always such an active part of my life and were always there for us if we needed anything.  He provided us with lots of love, fun, and advice.

I love you and miss you Papaw!  We all wish you were here for us to have a birthday party for you, but we at least have the comfort of knowing we will see you again one day.

Love, Holly

Emily - 8 Months

Emily, you are 8 months now and summer is here!  From now on, Mommy is going to stay home and be with you all day, every day.  That may be a difficult task at times, but I know that I won't have to miss spending time with you and I'll get to watch you learn & grow every day.  I am so excited!!

You sure had some pretty significant "firsts" this month!  Way to go baby!
This month:

You started CRAWLING!  uh oh...
You are trying to pull up on things
You even stood up a couple times on your own when we were barely bracing you!
Your first tooth FINALLY popped through!  It's on the bottom and still barely out there, but trust me...I found out the hard way it was there when you bit my chin, haha.
You got to spend a month with Nanny while she was here to watch you during the day
You had your first experience with bubbles!
You are getting into everything you aren't supposed to have...pulling DVDs off the shelf, picking up sneakers to chew on, yanking decorative strings off of our Pier 1 pillow grrr!, trying to stick your fingers into electric outlets (we had to baby-proof those), door stoppers, and more.
You unlocked the door to Katie's kennel and let her out after we had put her in there.  This was a very funny moment, as I think you pretty much conveyed to Katie that you two would be partners in crime.  : )
You want to play with anything that is NOT your toy, lol (cell phones, nail files, bottles, remotes, etc)
You accidentally turned the volume all the way up on the TV by holding down the button and completely freaked out.  It. was. hilarious.  You started throwing your body around and gasping over and over, haha.
You learned to clap, and it is so adorable!
You love me to sing the same songs to you with the motions that Grandma and Grandpa sang to me when I was a baby - Ride a Little Horsie, Patty Cake, Round and Round the Garden, There Was a Little Mousie
You finally started to sleep through the night again...cue the church choir "HALLELUJAH!"
You like to live dangerously by leaning over the edges of things as if you don't realize or care that you will fall...in fact, you would if I weren't holding you! This applies to all couches, chairs, and beds.
You like to stick your fingers up our nostrils....sigh....
You are still saying "mama" and "dada" very well, and unfortunately, yes, the "diva scream" is still around
You love rocking on your Tigger rocker!

I love you SO MUCH, Emily Grace!  I am so blessed to have the sweetest girl in the world!
~ Your Mommy

Emily - 7 Months

Well, the time just keeps on flying baby girl...you are 7 months old now!  WOW!  This month you have really blossomed into the sweetest, funniest, most lovable baby I could've ever asked for.

This month you:

Got on your first bouncy house (with Mommy)...you weren't that thrilled
Have a new favorite food - pears!
Say "Dada" allllll the time.  You seriously can't stop saying Dada.  Even though you said "Mama" first...come on now!  Bring the "Mama" back!
Got to stay at home every day while Aunt Ashley and Madison watched you and played with you
Hung out on blankets in the front yard enjoying some nice warm weather
Went down the slide for the first time (with Mommy and Daddy)
Went to the Whiteman Family Fun Fair - you got your picture made with Sparky the Fire Dog & Smoky the Bear, AND you got the cutest balloon flower hat made for you!
Aren't quite crawling yet...but you get up on your hands & knees and rock.  It won't be long.  You can also scoot/pull yourself towards a toy.
Possibly got a little more hair to even out that mohawk!  : )
Are getting much better at navigating your walker around the house
Love banging toys against surfaces
Love to make squeaky noises with your hand by moving it up & down the outside of the dishwasher door


Only 1 more month baby girl, and Mommy will be home with you for good.  I cannot wait!!  We will have so much fun together!

I love you, Emily Grace!   ~Mommy

Emily - 6 months!!

You've got to be kidding me...

You're already 6 months old?!  That's half of a year, Emmy!  Time is already flying.  You're growing to be the cutest, sweetest, funniest baby I could've ever asked for.  Sure, at times you show quite well how spoiled you are...lol...but during other times, I wish I could stay in that moment forever because you are so sweet.

This month you:

Had your first St. Patrick's Day
Celebrated your first Easter
Flew 4 more times to go be with family in NC after Papaw's passing...he loved you very much!
Started sitting up by yourself most of the time! (Sometimes you unexpectedly fall over so we still have to stay close by!)
Ate baby oatmeal, mashed bananas, and had sweet potatoes ONE and ONLY ONE time - you were up alll night with the worst gas ever.
Got at least 3 sips of sweet tea...this was definitely against my rules, but someone, ...cough, cough, Grandpa...didn't care.
Are teething so bad!  I don't see or feel any teeth yet, but you're drooling like crazy, chewing on everything and then screaming, and you love chewing on cold or textured objects. 
Laughed so hard when Daddy pretended to be sleeping/snoring and then he woke up really fast.
Got to pet a real bunny!
Said "mamama" 3 times and also started saying other new sounds...but no "dada" yet...mwahahaha!
Can pick up your paci and put it in your mouth by yourself
Got in a real swing for the first time and you loved it!
Have perfected your "diva scream" when you don't get your way
Are still growing like a weed...and your cheeks are unstoppable
Love to practice standing up/walking with our help
Put both hands on my face and pull my chin, cheek, nose, etc. into your mouth to suck on
Are still best friends with Katie...you two love to love on each other :)

You've been learning so many things that I'm afraid I've left something off the list!  I am so proud of you already, my smart little girl!

I love you more every single day!
~Mommy

Emily - 5 Months

My baby girl is 5 months old today!  And just look at ya -

You have grown soooo much!

This morning, I tried to get a cute photo of you at the bowling alley...

You were not impressed.  And then...

You got so tired from your morning of fun that you ended up passing out right there on the bowling alley couch.

You sure give us a lot of smiles, laughs, and wonderful memories!

This month you:

Had your first Valentine's Day  <3
Made your first craft - footprint heart Valentine cards for your family
Started shrieking at the top of your lungs, making funny lip noises, and breathing in & out really hard when you get excited.
Improved your motor & coordination skills - you are now able to reach out and pull musical toys.
Got sick for the first time with an upper respiratory infection.  :'(   But you were still happy and we wouldn't have even known you were sick were it not for the sound of congestion I heard when you breathed.
Pulled my hair allllll the time - OUCH!  (and sometimes my earrings, too!)
Saw a BLIZZARD!  The last snow you felt/saw was tiny compared to this one.  Of course you're still little and you were also sick, so I didn't take you out in the snow, but I let you look outside at it from the open door while you were bundled up.  : )
Started sleeping face down with your little booty straight up in the air.  I sing to you "Booty in the sky, booty in the sky"  haha
Became BFF's with Katie - you reach out for her when she's near, pet her fur, and touch her wet nose.  She loves to lick your hands and feet, which always makes you smile and giggle.
Became more attached to me - there was one time you started crying when someone else held you because you wanted me to hold you.
Cry when we lay you down upstairs in the early evening - but when I show you a diaper and tell you it's only to change your diaper, you smile really big and stop crying...you are so smart!!
Started getting a bit...uhhh...bigger...haha.  You used to only wear clothes that were true to your size until this month.
Started blowing raspberries on my neck and arms!  heehee

I love you so much, my sweet Emmy Grace!   Can't wait to see what next month brings!
Love, Mommy

Emily - 4 Months

Guess what Emmy? 


What Mom?



You're 4 months old today!

Get outta town!!!

Guess what else?  To celebrate, we're going shopping at the mall!

HOORAY!!!!!
 

Haha.  You are so much fun, Emily, with all your silly expressions.  Go on and read what other fun you've had this month.


This month you:

Tried your first bite of baby oatmeal - and hated it
Started going to Cait while Mommy had to go back to work - you love going there!
Started rolling over!
Sat through your first Superbowl - (the Ravens won)
Started picking up and shaking toys
Loved sleeping on your side - you roll that way on your own
Are making tons of funny noises! (shrieks, squeals, etc.)
Smiled at Katie
Made a loud "AAAAAHHH" noise every time we blow a raspberry on your stomach
Are drooling like it's your job
Loved trying to stand up on Mommy's lap
Started bringing toys to your mouth
Went to the mall for the 1st time - and loved it  (today!)
Laughed for the first time!!!  (today! - and at what? you may ask...it was after getting a dry diaper, because of course that is soooo funny, lol)


Keep being your funny, cute, and sweet self, Emmy.  I think you're the most wonderful baby in the world!

Love,
Mommy

Emily - 3 Months

Sweet baby girl, you are 3 months old now!!!  My arms can sure tell a difference from carrying your ever-increasing weight around.  ;) 

This has probably been your most eventful month yet!  This month you:

Began sleeping through the night (1st time was 12/11 - Mommy & Daddy's anniversary!)
Went on FOUR airplane rides!!
Set foot in 2 new places - Chicago, IL and NC
Met TONS of family and friends in NC
Had your very first Christmas!  Yay!
Had your very first New Years Eve - you did not stay up to watch the ball drop, but we kissed ya anyways!  ;)
Saw snow for the first time...you even touched it in Mommy's hand!
Started smiling at yourself in the mirror
Loved making sounds at us, especially the "k" sound
Started blowing spit bubbles and drooling like crazy!
Started trying to sit up with help (us pulling on your hands)
Smiled so big mostly every time you saw Mommy or Daddy   :)

I love you SO much, my Emmy girl.  :)  I can't imagine my life without you in it.  Can't wait to see what next month brings!

~Mommy