Granny's Birthday! (my mother)

I just realized I have pictures from my mother's birthday lunch here at my house (July 21st). We had a great day hanging out with my family. My mom turned...well, she doesn't look a day over 30 :). We had a wonderful ice cream cake that my brother, Lou, picked out.

Okay so it's my mother's birthday, but somehow we only got pictures of Laura Beth. Hmmm... how did that happen? SOOOO sorry mom! Ha! We wanted Laura Beth to be "in" on the lunch, so we put her in her Bumbo at the table. OK all you concerned mother's out there... I know the Bumbo doesn't go on an elevated surface. She wasn't there long nor unattended. Ha! Laura Beth loves playing with her Aunt GiGi!

Summer Ends. School Starts. Mommy goes back to work!

It is a sad, sad week. I only have 2 more days to be with Laura Beth before I have to start work. Teresa, Laura Beth's caregiver, will start this Thursday. She is a very nice lady who already loves Laura Beth. BUT, I am going to miss our sweet days of just me and Laura Beth hanging out together. Even since our last blog post, Laura Beth has become more and more independent. She has now learned how to put her pacifier in her mouth the RIGHT way, but NOW she doesn't know how to let go of the pacifier so she pulls it right back out. She also rolls over everytime we place her on her stomach, which interrupts tummy time, but it is nice that she can turn herself over without me having to help her every time. She has also started to pull her knees under her stomach when she sleeps. It's really cute to go in there and wake her up and she has her booty up in the air. I can remember sleeping like that as a kid. Ha!

Last Saturday, Steve and I tiled our foyer floor. Actually, Steve did most of the tiling. I helped a little in between taking care of Laura Beth. The picture doesn't really portray the exact color, because after we sponged the tile it leaves a film until a few "moppings." We started tiling the kitchen, but we haven't finished it yet. We've done more than the picture shows, but it'll be a couple of days before we finish.

It has been a really great summer. I have enjoyed trips with family, extra time with Steve, very special moments with Laura Beth, and a lot of time thinking about things that are most important. However, even with the Summer's end, we have great things to look forward to. The afternoons with Laura Beth will be more special now since we won't have all day together. I start school on Friday. My principal told me today that I have to move my therapy room back to the nurses station (We'll share the room, but the nurse is only there one day a week). The school year brings new adventures for Laura Beth to learn about such as high school football games, the olympics, her first halloween, thanksgiving, Christmas, etc. We are so thankful to God for the time we've had and we can't wait to see what he has in store for us with this new school year starting. :)

Growing too fast

I wish I had pictures of how much Laura Beth is growing, but most of them would have to be videos. She has started to laugh. She laughs at little kids and our dog, Jack. Sometimes she will laugh at us when we tickle her BUT mainly she continuosly smiles at us. She also occasionally rolls over front to back. She grabs everything and puts it in her mouth. She is eating green beans, apples, peaches, pears, peas, etc. She babbles more than ever now. She likes to look at the fish in our fish tank with her daddy. She weighs 18 lbs now. We can't believe how fast she is growing.

Today Steve is taking the youth to a conference in Jackson, MS to hear Steve Fee in concert and Francis Chan will be speaking. He'll be back tonight, but me and Laura Beth are enjoying my last weeks at home together. Steve just got back from BigStuf camp in Panama City, FL. The youth had a great time worshipping God and learning about what they are "Broadcasting" in their lives.

Last Monday, I was able to go to a Yoga class at our YMCA. The stretching and strength exercises felt wonderful on my out-of-shape body.

Also Steve and I have decided to tile our counters this next week, if we can find a tile that we like. I'll put pictures up soon. I go back to work on August 1st. Man, the summer has been too fast!

July 4th weekend

The Wednesday before July 4th, the youth had a pool party. Laura Beth loved playing with all of them.

Then, on July 4th, Steve's parents (Bampa and Mammy) came to town and we got to go swimming again. We also ate ribs and had a great time visiting.


We played Phase 10 with Steve's family and Laura Beth wanted her own deck of cards. It was too cute.

Jennifer Gilliam also came by on July 4th to visit Laura Beth. Laura Beth loves when Jennifer comes. Laura Beth was showing Jennifer how she plays in her Sassy Jumper that Jennifer bought for her. Laura Beth doesn't jump yet, but she'll get the hang of it soon.


On July 5th, we went to James Cheathams' parents house. Laura, Aaron, Hannah Claire, James, Alicia, and Lucy were all there. All of us have little girls, so the trip was alot of fun getting to watch them play. We had a great time swimming and James' parents cooked a great meal. Unfortunately, our camera battery died and I didn't get many pictures. If you're wondering what Aaron, James and Steve are doing with those noodles...well, lets just say they made a giant water gun which could also be used as an old fashioned telephone by connecting the noodles. ha! They are so crazy.