Six Month Smiles

Let us always meet each other with smile,
for the smile is the beginning of love.
- Mother Teresa



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Quotes and photos are two of my favorite things. Be sure to stop by Fresh Mommy's blog to see more quotes and photos.

Six Word Saturday: Food Fight

Caitlin fought

the carrots...

They won!

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I'm joining the fun:

PSF: To Grandmother's Yard We Go

My grandparents' backyard is a special place.

I remember climbing the then-relatively-small mango tree during a visit in the late 80s. I remember sneaking into the neighbor's yard for key limes that Grandma Betty turned into a yummy pie. I remember my brother helping Grandpa Boo build the fence during a visit when we were in college.

I remember an impromptu BBQ we had in the destroyed yard after Hurricane Wilma when the Irishman and I went to check on the house. Branches of the mango tree as big as the tree-of-old we used to climb littered the patio. My grandparents had been out of town, so we invited some friends (who were also without electricity) to join us as we cleaned the yard and then used Grandpa's grill to cook all the food from three life-less freezers before it went bad. We were just telling stories about the family reunion of 1997...I could go on and on!

Our climbing days behind us, now we all enjoy each other's company sitting in patio chairs after a another great meal that has left us too stuffed to move. My grandmother has a green thumb like no one else. She could plant a tire and make it grow! Her patio is a magical place. Shaded and tropical with the fountain bubbling, it FEELS like Florida.

On Mother's Day the Irishman, Caitlin, and I joined one of my uncles and the local cousins at my grandparents' house. As expected, we enjoyed sitting on the patio after dinner discussing the past, politics, jobs, Facebooks, and family members not present. ("Well I saw on Facebook that so-and-so was doing such-and-such...")



Caitlin entertained herself with her feet...and munched on her Daddy's arm...and wiggled around on a blanket under the mango tree as we all watched for falling fruit. It was a lovely afternoon...and was followed by birthday cake for my cousin's little son. It doesn't get better than that!

These are the memories to cherish.

And I'm sure Caitlin will be climbing that mango tree before we know it!


For more PSF visit:

Hosted by Cecily and Lolli

Half Birthday

Caitlin is now 6 months old! Where has the time gone?



At her six month check up on Tuesday the doctor was thrilled with our little one! Caitlin weighs 17 pounds 16 ounces and is 26 inches long.


(Click to enlarge the pictures)

Her favorite foods (okay all she is allowed to have at this point...) are mommy milk, rice cereal, apples, pears, and carrots. She LOVES her carrots!

Taking after her Daddy, she is a great sleeper. Bedtime is about 7:30pm and she sleeps through until Daddy wakes her at 7:15am the next morning. (Although I get to sneak in for a dream feed at about 10:30....but she doesn't usually wake up for that!) She loves the lamb mobile above her bed and is happy as can be self-settling in her crib. She actually goes to bed with a smile and wakes up with a smile!



Caits loves smiling to show off her two teeth...and we think the third is on its way. She is ready to move and rolls and creeps around on her play mat every chance she gets. The new favorite toys are all balls. Swimming and playing in the water are popular as well. Caitlin loves music and all the Irish songs Daddy sings to her in the car.



We love her so very much!

WW: My What Big Eyes You Have

Caitlin's eyes have been opened to the good things in life...

Solid food

A new highchair

Sing Along Songs

Toy balls

Lovely dresses

Hair bows




...and toys that talk back with the same wide-eyed expression she does so well.


For more WW fun visit:

Love those Baby Blues

I think I've told this story here before....but I'm going to tell it again anyway!

When I was pregnant, someone in my family passed wondered aloud what color eyes the baby would have being as the Irishman has brown eyes...

His eyes are blue. Oops.

Then a few weeks later someone in his family wondered aloud what color eyes the baby would have being as "Jenny has brown eyes"...

My eyes are blue. Oops.

We both got a chuckle about it.

But yes, her eyes are blue.

 

Thank you Aunt Julie for the lovely dress!

Mommy and Me #12

Saturday morning we tried out the little blue wading pool. Caitlin had just eaten and was a mess, so it seemed the perfect time. When it was time to get out, I wrapped her in a towel and brought her inside with her new favorite toy. Her daddy is so proud...

Somehow these are the only Mommy and Me pictures we got this weekend. Caitlin and I were both all dressed up for Mother's Day, but we forgot to take a picture together! It was a FANTASTIC weekend though and I have the pictures in my mind to remember my first Mother's Day.


Hosted by Krystyn

On Motherhood

A year ago today...

I was on a cruise in the middle of the ocean.
I was expecting my first child and was excited...
and hoping not to be sick during my "accidental babymoon."

I'd planned a surprise for my mom.

I felt like I had a baby bump, but had no idea how much bigger that bump was about to get. My reading list included What to Expect When You Are Expecting and The Idiot's Guide to Pregnancy and Childbirth. I was researching cribs and paint colors.

I was thinking about mothers and grandmothers and about becoming a mom myself.



This year...

I have a beautiful daughter asleep in her well-researched crib.

I have been so busy with work and the baby I am dreaming of a cruise....but am happy to paddle in the pool at home with my little family.

I plan to use the web cam to talk with my mom so that she can watch her granddaughter coo and smile. I know that I will swell with joy when she does so.

My current reading list includes Super Baby Food and Save Our Sleep. I am researching car seats and baby gates.

I am thinking about mothers and grandmothers and how lucky I am to have their love and support just a phone call away.

What a difference a year makes!

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Yesterday the Irishman took us out for a Tex Mex Mother's Day lunch.
The fajitas, sopapillas, and a happy sleeping baby - BLISS!!!

This morning he and Caitlin greeted me with cards and a CD I'm mentioned in passing that I wanted. He ordered a bag for me to replace my old one...in a style called "Morgan" none the less!

Thanks to Krystyn's Mommy and Me Mondays he had enough pictures to put together a Mommy and Me book on Shutterfly. It hasn't arrived yet, but I got to preview it online. It is fantastic!

We are heading to my grandparents' house for brunch this morning after Mass. Good food and family...it doesn't get any better than that!

The Irishman told me he wanted to make this the best Mother's Day ever. I sarcastically responded that as my first Mother's Day there wasn't much to compare it to...but seriously? He has made it perfect.

I'm one lucky Momma!