Dedication Sunday

Baby Bella was dedicated to the service of the Lord on Sunday, July 5, 2009.

Baby Bella Celebrates the 4th

Baby Bella celebrated the 4th with the fam - including Papa, Nana, and Great Grandma Blair. Late in the day it became all too much to handle. Baby Bella took a power nap to regroup.

Perhaps the best fireworks started on Friday night. Baby Bella slept for 5 - FIVE - straight hours and then another three after being fed. Mommy and Daddy were able to get eight hours of sleep with only one interruption. YEAH!!!!

99 Years Apart

Baby Bella and fam took a road trip to introduce Baby Bella to her other great grandparents. She was introduced to Great Granddaddy Blythe who is 99 years old and to Great Grandmother Jane who is.....well, you should never tell a women's age right?

We had a wonderful time, Baby Bella played in Great Grandmother's arms and then drifted into a deep sleep without the first whimper. She made it look easy.

A good time for everyone! Our children are blessed to have four living grandparents and three living great grandparents that absolutely adore them.

Side note: Papa took the opportunity to hold Baby Bella as well. It's interesting to watch the two of them together. They bond with their eyes - they stare at each other. Looking back at all of our pictures of Papa and Baby Bella, we do not have one where you can see his eyes. He is always gazing down at the little miracle in his arms.

Hamming it Up

Baby Bella was introduced to her precious Hammy today. Hammy is a very soft pink lovie with the head of a pig at the top. For those of you who don't know - Mommy loves pigs. That is her thing. Apparently, from the smile, so does Baby Bella.

Is it that Baby Bella loves pigs or is she just thinking of bacon? You be the judge.

Recess

Another first for Baby Bella. Mommy introduced Baby Bella to the play yard today. She kicked her legs and threw her arms around - good times. Amazingly enough it entertained her for over thirty minutes.

Bella in a Basket

What do you do with the baby when you need to fold laundry? You put her in the laundry basket on top of the dryer so the motion will keep her happy - of course. Necessity is the mother of invention. Mother had a necessity and invented.

Foiled Follies

Baby Bella bellowed for much of the morning and afternoon. No apparent cause - no crime was committed, no diapers voided, no feeding skipped and certainly no lack of attention was paid to the princess. She just had one of those days - but then again, (to quote a country song) "the lady has a right."

The evening turned a good deal happier as BFF Ava Grace and Baby Bella got together. Little Ava Grace found entertainment in the foil laying around. Too cute for words. We enjoy watching little Ava for a host of reasons, including that she is one year older than Baby Bella. It provides good insight into our future.

And a happy future it seems to be judging from the smile on our face when we are around Ava Grace and Baby Bella.

Baby Bella Goes Vertical

Baby Bella decided to challenge our "deductive reasoning" skills in recent days. While she has improved her overall sleep pattern, she changed the format on us. At long last, we have solved the puzzle - it is not that she doesn't want to sleep. It is that she wants to sleep in a vertical position.

Whether in your arms, the crib, the bassinet, or even the bath tub. Baby Bella will not fall asleep if she is in a horizontal position. Hold her up in a more vertical position and she will be counting sheep in no time flat.

I had the high honor of trying to handle one of her fussie periods and she went to sleep in the middle of a good scream because I had just tilted her upward. Literally, in the middle of the scream she closed her eyes and went to sleep.

Now I normally don't count myself among the slow crowd, but I have to say....this little girl is complicated and keeps Daddy guessing 24/7.

Baby Bella Announcement

Baby Bella will be dedicated this Sunday, July 5th, at First Assembly of God in Columbia, Tennessee. Rev. Charles Blythe and Rev. James Cain will be officiating. The service begins at 10:00am.

Please RSVP via email if you plan to dine with the family after the dedication. We are reserving space and would like to make room for everyone.

Surprise Party

Baby Bella was kicking it up this morning as she prepared to head out for some errands with Mommy. The girls had a good time together - so good that Baby Bella took a three and half hour nap when they returned.

The evening brought a wonderful surprise and yet another first for Baby Bella. Ms. Marie (Nana Marie as she is known around Maury County) stopped by to meet Baby Bella. Baby Bella had just eaten and was a little fussie so Nana Marie held her and put her back to sleep again. (we offered her a job as the night Nannie but we didn't get a response)

We had an absolutely wonderful time showing off our little wonder and catching up over pizza. This is the best kind of surprise.

Head Held High

Baby Bella is growing up fast!!! Today she was able to completely hold her head up by herself. Not once, not twice, but many times. Show her the left side and she turns to the right. Show her the right side and she turns to the left. As if to say: "Mommy and Daddy. Watch what I can do."

And watch we are Baby Bella girl. You are growing up fast.

Dog Days of Summer

Baby Bella and fam escaped to GREENBRIAR for another Saturday at the pool. Baby Bella had a great time visiting Aunt Eva, yukking it up with Uncle Jimmy, and meeting Ms. Sandra for the first time.

A note of interest: Skyler and UncleJimmy are good buds. They are pictured here swapping old stories and getting ready for a dive. Uncle Jimmy taught Sky man some pretty cool dives - and he nailed a few of them. (Uncle Jimmy lost his swimwear on one or two but this is a family blog so we won't show those pictures)

Good friends, good water melon, and a big salt water pool - just right for the dog days of summer.

Pretty in Pink

Baby Bella showcasing her pretty in pink pose with Daddy. Proud Daddy!!

Baby Bella and the family accompanied Daddy on some errands and then headed to Summertown where Grandma Cain took the opportunity to hold Baby Bella.

You will notice Baby Bella is sporting a new pink pacifier in her mouth. We have finally be able to graduate to traditional pacifiers from the lactation encouraging pacifier the hospital recommended. The value is that she can hold the new pacifier in her mouth without assistance - much to the delight of Mommy, Daddy, and Big Brother.

You will also notice Baby Bella is sporting some pretty cool shoes. Finally! Baby Bella is blessed with a ton of shoes but they are all too big for her tiny princess feet. But soon enough....

I am amazed at how much awake and very alert time Baby Bella is showing us now. Having been out of town for three days this week, I can clearly see that she is on a growth spurt. Which might explain her reverting back to two hour feedings this week. We are praying for a move in the other direction. Four hour feedings remain a fantasy in the Baby Bella house.

Peace on Earth

Peace on Earth - sort of. It was a pleasure to snuggle up close to the fam last night and this morning. Baby Bella decided to sleep a little longer in Mommy and Daddy's bed.

You will notice that Baby Bella is sleeping with a burp cloth between her and the sheets. Burping turned to yakking and yakking has turned to hurling. No really, this girl can hurl on your shirt, pants, or chair and not get a drop on the burp cloth, bib, or her clothes. Smart girl! (And I have never been more excited to be back in hurling range.)

I did the 2:00am feeding this morning to give Mommy an extended sleep period. Baby Bella was kind, she only kept me up for an hour and half.

Daddy Is Home!!!

Finally!! What a moment!

Ms. Kitty

Blogging from Louisville, KY........

Baby Bella has met yet another new friend. Mommy introduced Baby Bella to family friend Ms. Kitty today.

Baby Bella is pictured at the top doing one of her favorite morning routines. Kicking around on the changing table. On most days she will start her day by stretching out and making faces in the mirror. Some people spin, some people go to the gym....Baby Bella works out on the changing table. You Go Girl.

Daddy can't wait to hold her tonight.

New Friends

Blogging from Louisville, KY........

Baby Bella welcomed more Dillard's friends to the house today. Aubrey and Sandy were kind enough to make the pilgrimage to meet Baby Bella. And they even brought GiGi's cupcakes - now that is a true friend!

I cannot tell a lie. Daddy so enjoyed the full night of sleep last night but my heart is still in Spring Hill. It is not possible to describe the hole in my heart. Props to Mommy for rocking it out on her own - meet Super Mommy.