Yes Suz I am a Copy Cat

Today I saw precious pictures of my dear friend Suzanne's little men in the tub together. I don't always bathe the girls together but when I do Mary Stewart loves to have "baby Anna" (we haven't mastered Caroline) with her. Tonight I snapped a few shots and its so fun to see how tickled Anna Caroline gets when Mary Stewart talks to her. It warms my heart that they will have each other! Which makes me think of my own sweet sister (go look at the precious puppies on her blog), who by the way has a birthday today! Happy birthday Hattie!!

Mary Stewart "washing" Anna Caroline

Can't you just hear those giggles from Anna Caroline?

Let's Back Up

As I was uploading pictures on my computer I realized I never shared my precious flower or ballerina with you! Halloween was pretty low key this year.

(5 months old)

(2 years 1 month)

Our neighborhood has a great little Halloween Parade. We walked over to the parade with Emily & Durham and Shelley & Karter. Mary Stewart enjoyed looking at the costumes and then we enjoyed pizza and called it a night. I think next year she and her daddy will be ready to trick or treat!

His & Hers

Not sure if I have ever mentioned what a wonderful street we live on. All of our neighbors are great. The sweet family across the street took us in from the beginning. They are the definition of what it truly means to be a neighbor. Anyway, they have 2 girls (college & high school), and warned us when we were expecting with Anna Caroline we were about to go from zone coverage to man on man. Boy were they right. Most of the time it's Mary Stewart and her daddy.....

and me and Baby Anna Caroline

I thought these pictures were sweet!

Crazy Fast

It's scary just how crazy fast the time goes. On Thursday Anna Caroline turned 6 months. In one breath it's hard to believe we are already here and in the other breath it seems like she's always been a part of our family. At one time I wondered if I would ever be able to love the 2nd as much as I loved the first. Somehow God allows your heart to expand and grow. Anna Caroline has captivated my heart. I am still amazed at what a content child she is. She fusses when she's tired and when she's tired! Truly she is the sweetest disposition.

Six months was maybe a bigger mile stone of me than Anna Caroline. I'll spare you all the messy details but a little shy of 3 months, Anna Caroline went on a nursing strike. I have been pumping 5 to 6 times a day for the past 3 months. After talking to my pediatrician the goal was 6 months and anything else was lagniappe. Well we've made it! Looking back it really hasn't been that bad. Yet again, I look back and see where the Lord met me and gave me the endurance. Not sure how many more days of pumping are in my future, but there is a stock pile in the freezer and I know we will be fine going forward.

Now for the fun stuff Anna Caroline is doing......

* She has begun to sleep 12 (+) hours at night!

* She loves sucking on her toes.

* She can put in and take out her pacifier all by herself.

* She rolls from front to back and back to front with no problem.

* She is definitely scooting around.

*She is eating rice cereal, banana's and apples.

* She is a much better napper than her sister, thankful for that!!!

I don't want to forget the way the takes her bed time bottle. We snuggle together and as the falls asleep she takes her left arm and crosses it over her eyes. Precious.

I swear she gave me a hug and kiss the other night. As I was rocking her before I put her down, I always pull her face close to mine and kiss her cheek. When I stood up, she pulled my face towards her and gave me a big open mouth kiss (the best kind from a baby). I am counting it as a kiss & hug.

So thankful for baby Ann Caroline.

(Anna Caroline LOVES to be on her tummy. She has great core strength. Maybe a future Pilates instructor?)

PS- We don't go for our check up for a couple of weeks, My guess is she's around 15 pounds. This is what Mary Stewart was doing at 6 months: http://ashleydonald.blogspot.com/2010/04/half-way-there.html

Lucky Charm?

Maybe she is the lucky charm????

GEAUX TIGERS!!!!!

And So It Begins

And so it begins.......

Just a little cereal

but before we know it

She will be at the table with us!

Check out the little video for her first few bites!!!

Mary Stewart meets Mike

On our latest adventure to Baton Rouge a much anticipated meeting was had! Mary Stewart met Mike the Tiger!!!

(Mary Stewart, what does the tiger say? "ROAR")

I wasn't there to witness all the excitement, but the pictures say it ALL!

("Put your hands up" Mary Stewarts response to ALL things LSU)

Special thanks to Uncle B, Aunt Rachel & Dandi for outfitting Mary Stewart. What else is the biggest (littlest) Tiger Fan to wear?

And a special thank you to Papa & Dee Dee for taking Mary Stewart on her debut trip to meet Mike.

We will go ahead and enjoy another week of being 8-0 & ranked #1

GEAUX TIGERS!!

Happy Fall Y'all!

The southerner in me couldn't think of a better title for this post! I love fall. It use to mean a break in hot temps growing up in Louisiana. Now it welcomes the beauty of leaves changing and truly a the season that most of the country knows as fall.

I love to decorate for the different holidays throughout the year. This year I was determined to get some ideas from pinterst, find a bail of hay and some mums and go to town. I did just that.

However we had a little fall fairy come visit our house with fall gifts. This fairy is also known as Ya Ya to Mary Stewart. She brought us some rather large pumpkins, scarecrows, gords, corn and a wreath she made for my door!

(Mary Stewart kissing her giant pumpkin)

Thanks mom for adding your special touch.

Ya Ya & Mary Stewart

Happy Fall Y'all!!

Long Over Due....

Where do I begin? There isn't a post long enough for me to begin to convey the sweet joy Anna Caroline has brought to our home. She truly melts my heart.

I haven't done a great job filling my blog about Anna Caroline, but these are the things I want to remember.......

-Your smile! Especially when I go to get you out of your bed.

-The way you are so content ALL the time. I truly haven't ever seen such a laid back baby.

-I love to see you light up when Mary Stewart lays on the floor with you. You both delight in one another.

-The way you have blessed me beyond measure.

Anna Caroline turns 5 months Tuesday. Here is a little bit about her:

-At 4 months 10 days, she was 12 pds. 10 oz. and 25.75 inches long (string bean)

-She can roll from her tummy to back and back to tummy.

-She prefer her tummy & has great core strength, she reminds me of a turtle as she pops her head up and looks around and also she resembles someone flying with her arms and legs in air while she is laying down.

-We haven't started cereal, maybe next month (so different with the 2nd, not in a hurry for any of that).

-Great night time sleeper! She has been sleeping through the night since about 3.5 months! Her naps vary but she does seem to be a better napper than her sister!!

-Did I mention she is the sweetest baby? Recently we were with Anna Mae (Matthew's grandmother and Anna Caroline's name sake & one of my all time favorite people) and she thought there was something wrong with AC because she never fusses! We are blessed.

Truly my cup runneth over!

Chance of Rain....Never!!

You may not understand the title of this blog unless you are a Tiger fan, but it is referring to one of my favorite places..... Tiger Stadium!!!!

This past weekend we went to Baton Rouge for the LSU vs. Auburn game.

So. Much. Fun.

Rachel, Randi

I had every intention of dressing my sweet girls in their purple and gold and introducing them to game day at LSU. But after my senses got hold of me and I truly though through the details of having a 2 year old and an almost 5 month old with me on campus, well Matthew and I opted for a "grown up" day. So glad we did!

(Me and Virginia- she is in so many of my favorite college memories)

I loved college. There were several moments as I walked through campus I got a little teary. Thankful to have such sweet memories.

Love me some Holly!

We spent the day tailgating with our friends and family from Baton Rouge but also with some sweet families from Marietta. It was so fun for our two worlds to overlap.

Matthew, Me, Holly, Elliott, Rachel, Brian

What a game. LSU 45 Auburn 10 Need I say more?

Didn't I marry into a cute family?

Thanks Papa for the tickets!!!

Geaux Tigers!!!!

Where Have We Been?

Where have we been?

I feel like I have blinked and September has passed and I am about to blink again and Halloween will be over.

We have been cheering for the Tigers. It is so fun to see how excited Mary Stewart gets when she see's anything LSU or hears the cheers (It could be from all the u tube video's she and her Papa watch). The Golden Band from Tigerland began playing this song and since my child prefers music with a beat I felt it necessary to prepare her for game day. Don't judge.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PKr7cTmETcc

We turned 2. I say we, Mary Stewart that is. I am pretty sure I am still in denial she is growing up. My sweet friend Kasey and I did a joint playgroup to celebrate Lily Kate and Mary Stewart's birthday's. Again when I say we, I really mean Kasey. I basically showed up with the cupcakes. Maybe she just knew I wanted to do something for Mary Stewart, but just wasn't sure how to execute it with a new baby. See her blog post and super cute pics about our fun morning. Mary Stewart still has such a sweet and fun personality. We are entering into "mine" and "no" but the sweet moments are out weighing the rotten ones. She continues to LOVE her Anna Caroline and for that I am so thankful.

We've been enjoying our new bible study. I love it because they have a wonderful children's program. Mary Stewart came home with a new favorite song. Matthew and I LOVE to hear her say "holy". I pray she will come to know and love this song as I do. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BhGtbcLCcbQ

We've been on the road. In September we traveled to Baton Rouge for Matt's cousin's wedding. It was a fun weekend with lots of girl time. Thankful for Hattie who took care of the girls for me. Check out her post on her day with Mary Stewart. I have also come full circle. The sweet little girl I used to babysit (actually helped name her and she was in my wedding) isn't so little. She is a senior in high school and babysat Anna Caroline for us one night. Yes I am old. We had a little birthday party for Mary Stewart while we were there and it was so fun to catch up with friends.

Me, Rachel & Randi at the rehearsal dinner. Missing the other Ashley!

We have been loving the fall weather and weekends at Camp D. Matt's cousin Jeff, his wife Amee and their precious 6 year old Reece Caroline came for a long weekend. We ventured to the John Campbell folk school in Murphy, NC for a fall festival. Fun and beautiful.

And I didn't think it could happen but we've become even sweeter. Anna Caroline I mean! She truly is a sweet pea! She deserves her own post, and one is coming but she has captured my heart and I am so thankful for her sweet spirit. Yet another measure of God's kindness to me that I truly don't deserve.

We are looking forward to Halloween playdates and parades, a trip to Baton Rouge for the LSU vs. Auburn game and all the adventures along the way!

Let me leave you with this.......

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BhGtbcLCcbQ