Cross Country Move to Idaho

It seems like it was eternity, but Mike and I moved to Boise four years ago today. Mike and I were talking about how long that stint out in Idaho felt, compared to the two years we have been back in Central Florida. I'll have to post some pictures of our "adventure" (understandment of the year!) out west. All I can say is that we are SO THANKFUL to be in Florida!

We learned quite a bit during our western experience, and know that Mike would not have the job he had today had it not been for working for his previous employer in Boise. It makes it worth the worth those two years to be where we are today.

It was also this weekend last year that we found out Anna Kate was going to be a GIRL! I was convinced that we were going to have a boy. I was in shock that it was most certainly a girl on that ultrasound monitor! It has truly been a crazy year, and one that we will never forget!

Hannah...Anna Kate's first friend

Anna Kate and Hannah are an adorable pair of girls! Hannah is just about 8 weeks older than Anna Kate, and it's been fun to watch these girls grow up together.

Earlier this month, Hannah and Anna Kate wanted to eat at a local BBQ place. Their friend Mason's parents are the owners. Ok, so the girls didn't eat BBQ, but they did enjoy the finest that Gerber has to offer while their mamas had lunch.

About a month ago, both Hannah and Anna Kate thought they needed to make a run to the outlets at Ellenton. Obviously, two lil girls can't go alone, so they were kind enough to let Hannah's mama and me go with them.....to act as their chauffeur and stroller pusher. I have to admit, we all had a ball shopping (who doesn't have fun shopping!) and found a few deals along the way. The best part of our day trip to Ellenton was the company. Check out the view from the back seat (if you don't see a picture here....it's coming! check back soon!)

This child never smiles....

Not!

Anna Kate has such an easy going personality and loves to share her smiles. I was at the grocery store and had Anna Kate on a giggle roll. I thought she was laughing at the balloon we found in the floral department....come to find out, there are reflective tiles on the ceiling in the floral department and a lower ceiling. She was laughing at herself laughing! I do wish I had a camera with them then.

We do have video to share...I just can't find the transfer cable as of yet. I hope to find it sometime tomorrow. Check back with us to see some video clips of this bundle of energy....

Doh!

"I can't believe I don't have any more sweet potatoes to play with"

~Anna Kate

Many milestones....

Well, quite a bit has happened in the last few weeks. Figured I'd better catch ya up!

• Last Monday, I placed Anna Kate on her belly in the den to play, stepped out of the room for *maybe* 30 seconds, and found her sitting upright! I screamed so loud that it spooked Anna Kate and Dixie! Anna Kate looked at me like "how did I get here?" She now sits up all the time....especially at bedtime. She hasn't quite figured out how to put herself down just yet. Hope that is learned very soon!
• Speaking of sitting up, crawling isn't too far to follow. Anna Kate can get up on all fours, head up, and rocks forward. She is so close to crawling it's not even funny! I think she'll be mobile by her eighth month (Oct 7). She can get around a good bit, even without crawling. This child is all over the place in her crib (rolling back to tummy, and back, and does the "butt up" crawl. She does this "London bridge" like move, with her head and feet down, booty up, and tries to take a step or two. In the crib, she can stay up a few seconds. on the floor, she usually just rolls over and sits up from that point.
• Anna Kate has another new trick: She has learned to pull the visor down on her carrier and laughs hysterically. It is funny to watch and listen to her squeal with delight over her new trick. Again, she hasn't learned to put the visor up, so she can continue her preoccupation with her car seat.

I hope to have some pictures and videos posted of this bean sprout soon. Mike is traveling (again!) to California next week, so our house will be a girls only place next week. Anybody wanna join us for a sleep over?

HOW 'BOUT THEM DAWGS!!!!!!

WOO HOOO!! State pulled out a HUGE WIN over the war buzzards of Auburn, 19-14 AT AUBURN!! Anna Kate, Dixie and I yelled screamed and rang our cowbells this afternoon! Mike is still traveling, and got email updates about every so often. It got so exciting at the 4th quarter, I called Jackson, and yelled, screamed with Ya Ya and Pops! Hard to celebrate by yourself! Anna Kate is proudly wearing her State t-shirt and knawing on her pompoms :).

Hey Daddy, that's one heck of a birthday surprise!! HOW 'BOUT THEM DAWGS!!!

Happy Birthday Pops!

We hope you have a wonderful birthday!!

The Proud Pops and his favorite grandchild :) (his only grandchild...)

Not a good week...

Trust me if I say that you don't want to see pictures of this week. Both Anna Kate and I have been sick, and on top of that, Mike has been traveling (he's been gone since Monday and wont be back until next Thursday). He just seems to miss all the fun, doesn't he! I got another round of the sore throat, sinus crud and unfortunately, Anna Kate got her first ear infection :(. We went to see Dr. W this morning, and he confirmed it. No fun. We have been laying low this week, not doing much of anything, because neither Anna Kate or I have the energy to do anything. Then again, nobody wants to be around a sick baby!



We ran into 4 other families we know from MOPS or Mother Goose library time while at Dr. W's office. One of the other mamas mentioned that if you want to have an impromptu playgroup, hang out in the sick room of the doctor's office. No kidding! Of the four families, there were six sick babies to be seen this morning. Only problem none of them were feeling good enough to play.



Well, hope your weekend is more fun that ours! We hope to be back to our normal selves soon enough!

What Anna Kate thinks of Ole Miss.....

Happy 7 months old to me!!

Meeting Leslie for the first time

Anna Kate met her cousin Leslie for the first time a few weeks ago. Leslie is (Mike's older brother) Andy's 10 year old daughter. She lives in Virginia with her mom, and lucky for us, has maternal family members in the Tampa area. So when she's in town visiting them, we also get to see her! She and her grandparents were in the area for one last trip before school started.

In the first picture, Anna Kate had been dining on peaches. She kept puckering and smacking her top lip. It was so funny to watch her.....

We really enjoyed lunch with Leslie and can't wait for her to come back next year!

Anna Kate would not look forward for pictures! She kept turning the other direction. Of the 20 or so pictures we tried to take...these were the only ones that she was looking toward the camera.

More Pictures.....

More pictures to share.....



You can barely see the two bottom teeth, but they are there!! She will definitely let you know when they are pushing through :). If you click on this picture, it will open it up in a larger view so you can see her pearlie whites!

Rollin' Rollin' Rollin'!

Anna Kate has been rolling from her stomach to her back for some time, and now has mastered the back to stomach roll. No matter where you place her in her crib, she won't be there too longer....she'll roll all over the place until she falls asleep.

It's fun to watch her on the floor move about. She's is started a primative crawl...she can get her legs under her and move forward, but hasn't quite figured out that she has to lift head up to actually move. She does get around with her head dug into the mattress or floor. I give it a few weeks before she's truly mobile.

Inherited from her grandmother

There is one thing that we have recently discovered about Anna Kate. She was been diagnoised with this disorder that came straight from her maternal grandmother. It's called "ICloseMyEyesForPictures-itis." There is no cure, and the doctor is only hopeful that she will outgrow this problem---but there is no guarantee. This child CAN'T keep her eyes open for pictures. Needless to say, when actually get a picture with her eyes open it is nothing short of a miracle! Although she may look sleepy, she's not! Just thought we would show you what this "disorder" looks like.