Fun and Play in Atlanta

We said goodbye to Atlanta last March with the comfort of knowing that we would frequent the city pretty regularly post-move.  We have too many friends and family there (plus the restaurants, events, shopping, Costco, etc).  The hardest part of a visit is trying to fit in what (and who) we can in 2 days!  (And dealing with the I-75 or I-20 traffic on Friday and Sunday to get there and back).

This weekend we spent time with JB's little bestie, Mac (plus some of our besties, Mac's parents).  JB talked about seeing Mac all last week, waking up at 5:45AM on Friday to say "can we go see Mac now?"  The reunion was a sweet one. and then they were off to play. So much play I could not get one stinkin' photo of them both smiling at me.

The adults had fun, too, enjoying Piedmont Park where our other neighbors put on a super large fundraising event called the Atlanta Moon Ride.  

The children did not care about our late night on Saturday morning, however.  Next time we need a babysitter for the Friday night adventure, plus the Saturday morning repercussions...

Saturday night was the big birthday party/gender reveal!!  I shared the important pics from that party (i.e. PINK ONESIE!!!!!!!!), but there was also some non-girly stuff from the day, namely excavators. JB's Uncle Chris had an excavator in his yard, which was the second best part of the weekend (after his playtime with Mac).  

"what's so exciting about an excavator?'

Sunday we headed back down to Middle GA with Gia in tow.  She's here with us until Wednesday, when James will take her back to Atlanta and bring back Gran Gran and Grammy!  As much as I hate the trek (due to the traffic), I better get used to that back and forth to the ATL because I know it's an (important) part of our reality now.

Happy Birthday Gia - You're Getting a New Grand-???

Our Gia (and cousin Brett) had a birthday last week, so we headed to Atlanta this weekend to help her celebrate.

Chris and Nicole hosted the birthday celebration, and we were in on a little secret - Gia's birthday present included a gender reveal of her newest grandbaby!  She has been so excited to learn the gender since Chris and Nicole shared the good news of their pregnancy.

How can you top this birthday gift?  A BABY GIRL!!!!!!!!!

We can't wait to meet you in November, Miss Addison Grace.

Maryn is so pumped about a girl cousin and future BFF.  And us a new niece!  I now have zero restraint when it comes to buying girl clothes for Miss M because I can justify them as hand-me-downs to baby Addison!  :)

Baby Quilt and Baby Model

Both of my kiddos have a special quilt handmade by our family and friends, then carefully put together by their Aunt Shawntel (who officially becomes their aunt - by law - in 4 months!!!) We use these quilts all the time, and JB loves to lay on it to read.  We also use it to work on animals, objects, shapes, colors, etc.

And I used Maryn's last month for a photoshoot!  Made a heckuva backdrop for a beautiful subject.  Below - pictures galore of my little baby model. :)

Her face in the next few is perfection.  (The settings on my camera….not so much.)  But I still wanted to share them!

I played with baby dolls from as early as I can remember till probably later than most other children.  To think I now have this real live baby doll...

Maryn Elizabeth - 9 Months Old!

Little Miss M has completed three-quarters of her first year of life - who can believe that!?   She's rapidly changing and learning new things each day.

Two months ago Maryn wouldn't touch anything but her milk.  Last month she loved purees but nothing else.  This month she has decided that food - any food - is yummy!  Despite the fact she still has zero teeth, she will eat and "chew" most anything we put on her plate.  She does quite well feeding herself with her hands, and loves avocados, pears, pancakes, cottage cheese, watermelon, eggs, broccoli, yogurt bites, teething biscuits, peas, and carrots.  She'll still eat purees, but prefers the real stuff.  She even ate some oven fried catfish without as much as a sour face.

Maryn is nearly, nearly crawling.  She can get on her hands and knees, rock forward and back, maybe move one hand and one knee, then drops back to a seated position.  If she's very motivated (by a toy, the iPhone, JB or Enda), she can stretch herself and glide along the floor on her tummy.)  She may just skip crawling, however, because girlfriend is pretty steady on her feet.  She's can pull up by herself, and also cruises along furniture or walks behind push toys.  Towards the end of the month she bravely let go with one hand.  We had to rapidly drop her crib when we caught her learning over the rail one morning on the monitor. Those thunder thighs of hers have a lot of strength!

This happy, happy girl continues to smile, coo, flirt, and talk.  She'll also shake her head (or her booty) when she hears music.  Maryn has turned into a total Mama's girl, and shrieks with anger whenever I leave the room or when I hold someone other than her (including her own brother).

So here we go!  Maryn's nine month stats:

Maryn's Measurements -

• Weight: 18 lbs 2 oz (down to 50th percentile - doc was not worried!)
• Height: 27 1/2 inches (down to 50th percentile - doc, again, not worried.)

Month 9 Milestones -

• Waved
• Pulled to stand
• "Walked" with a push toy

At 9 Month Old,  Maryn...

…Nurses morning and night, takes two bottles of formula a day (between 4-7 ounces, depending on her mood), and eats three square meals a day.  Maryn learned to drink water from a sippy cup this month.  She'll grab food directly from your hand and shove it into her mouth if you dare snack in front her.

…Still takes two solid naps at 9AM and 1:30PM, and is fighting the 5PM cat nap so much that I suspect she'll drop it soon.  She has started to wake up earlier around 6:30AM (um, I thought we had a deal, baby girl??), and tries to stay up with JB every night till 8PM (though dropping the catnap will probably up her bedtime to around 7:30PM)

…Wears 6-12 month, 9-12 month and twelve month clothes, and size 4 diapers.  Maryn's clothing challenge is in the length, and I think she could wear 18 month rompers without a problem.  Headbands are a thing of the past, as she'll pull them right out. Fortunately she leaves her bows in to control her crazy long hair.  80% of her hair is on the very top of her head, so she rocks that red comb over just like the presumptive Republican nominee.

…Loves being on a hip (she would live on her Mama's hip if she could); baths with big brother; eating; grabbing things; pulling hair, earrings, necklaces, noses and lips; standing and practicing her steps; her grey stuffed bunny; feeding Enda; giving open-mouthed kisses; attention; other babies

…Does not like waiting for food; leaving Mama; when brother won't share his toys; lukewarm baths or cold swimming pools

Month Nine - It's hard to believe you went from "unmotivated to move" a few months ago to "on the go" this month.  You're moving and shaking, girl!

Previous Updates on Maryn:

• Birth Story
• One Month
• Two Months
• Three Months
• Four Months
• Five Months
• Six Months
• Seven Months
• Eight Months

JB's Nine Month Update  (How do they Compare?): JB - 9 Months Old!

My SAHM Tuesday!

Since our sweet nanny, Danielle, had Jury Duty on Tuesday, I decided to take the day off work and play Stay-At-Home-Mom.  I didn't check email all day, and only took one phone call (and at 8PM, so it didn't count). I had a whole list of things planned that I would accomplish that day, and I accomplished, like, 2 things.  But I won't complain because I definitely met my main goal of the day - lots of 1:1 time playing with my kiddos.

JB kept repeating "you don't go to work today, Mama, YEA!!!!"  And then asked me mid-day if Miss Danielle was at work.  He doesn't quite get the concept that he is her work.  :)    

I started the morning with pumpkin pancakes, using a new, healthier recipe (whole wheat flour, flaxseed meal, very low sugar, etc).  Maryn is loving anything in pancake form (easy for her to eat with her hands and without any teeth.)  

Everyone who makes pancakes needs a griddle.

All of the kiddos loved the pancakes.  I even ate a few right off the griddle and they were quite tasty.

Even Enda ate a pancake

While Sissy took her nap, JB and I got lots of playtime in.  We did puzzles, played around with Candy Lane (we make up our own rules), and JB helped me measure a couch that we're recovering in an outdoor fabric (for the screened-in porch)

he'll take any excuse to use the tape measure....

For lunch we met Da Da at Sonny's BBQ, where the kids proceeded to make a huge mess but eat a decent amount of food. JB had grape juice for the first time and he is a fan.  It's not uncommon here for kids to drink sweet tea, but Mean Mama has not given him this yet.

I attempted a photo with the kids.  "Attempted".

why is a photo so hard

Despite my best efforts, this one fell asleep on the car ride home.

Sleepy girl

Somehow we managed to get her inside without waking, but those little eyes popped right open at the 45 minute mark.  Still gave me time to read and snuggle JB for his nap.

While JB napped, I got my playtime with this little angel. She had a snack, practiced walking with her push toy, chewed on toys, and put up with a camera in her face.

"Seriously, Mama, I'm eating"

I splurged on some new jeans at the suggestion of a fashion blogger, and BEST DECISION EVER. They fit perfectly right out of the package.  So soft, so comfy, so flattering. And they are high-waisted ,which is totally needed after two babies.  I want to buy some in every wash (which is why I need my job, haha.)

After naptime we headed back into town to speak to a reupholster (fail), and then went to the playground at church.  Miss Danielle always takes the kids here, and I've been jealous that I've never gone.  What a fun afternoon!  Slides, swings, see-saws.  I loved seeing these kiddos so happy.  :)

It was an absolutely perfect day.  While I'm very grateful for a career that I love, I don't ever forget these two are my priorities.  It's nice to be able to balance both with special days like these.