A Visit to Mimi & Pop’s

This past week, we spent some extended time in Dallas visiting Mimi & Pop while Chris recruited National Merit Scholars in the Dallas metro. We had some special time together (and Mommy got to go shopping & paint a step stool too – hooray)!! Alexa loved exploring in Mimi & Pop’s house. She liked standing in front of the TV & fireplace, feeling the kitchen tile, laughing at her reflection in the mirror, climbing the stairs, listening to the “golden oldies,” and playing peek-a-boo with Pop & the butterfly. We are always thankful for family time and all the spoiling. Mommy can’t believe she didn’t take more pics.
Alexa’s trying out the “frog” high chair for the 1st time. It’s the same high chair my sis and I sat in growing up. The “frog” has supported many babies while they eat.
Alexa had to sit on a neck pillow as a booster seat. She’s playing with Mimi while she patiently waits for some pureed delight.
Alexa got to spend a lot of quality time with her Pop while Mommy ran errands & Mimi worked. They would play and play and play until Alexa would just konk out. She loved all the playtime with her Pop-Pop – especially when he’d get her with the butterfly! We’ve never heard her laugh like that.

Our sweet little angel.

Mimi taught Alexa a new trick – tearing apart Kleenex. What a fun new activity!!

Surveying the damage while the culprit crawls away :) Kleenex bits were all over her pajamas too! I wonder what will happen when she discovers toilet paper.

A day in the life . . .

I thought you might enjoy a look at what a typical day looks like with our very active seven-month-old.
 The morning usually starts with a diaper change. There are ALWAYS several diapers to change in a day. Here, Alexa shows off a VERY impressive diaper. As pictured, we try to maximize the use of every one.

After her morning feeding and reading a book or two, Alexa crawls to her “toy box” and begins making her first selections. She can pull up all by herself and dig in.

It looks like it will be shapes.

Another favorite toy are stacking cups. Alexa loves to hit them together, stack them, and knock them over – again and again and again. 

Here she is anticipating the crashing sound as she knocks them over. Notice the purple cup mid-air.

Alexa keeps going back to the toy box to discover another colorful toy. Her attention span is about a minute or two per activity . . . unless it’s a book :)

When she’s tired of playing, she chews on the toys. YUM!

Once Alexa looses interest in her toys, it’s off to exploring the rest of the house. She is just getting used to crawling on the stained cement. She wasn’t so sure about putting her knees down on it at first but she loved seeing her reflection.

Her new trick is pulling back the rug. Oh there are all sorts of goodies underneath!

Just looking for dust bunnies Mommy!

  She even attempts to lift the rug in our dining room. It’s heavy!!

Mommy gets Alexa with her toes. She LOVES feet!!

After a nap, Alexa usually plays with her lion while Mommy gets ready in the bathroom.

Here’s a better shot to show you how well she stands and drools :)
Sometimes, Alexa makes it into the bathroom. It’s definitely motivation to keep the floor cleaned.

After another nap if the weather’s lovely, we’ll go outside. Maybe we’ll go to a park or . . .

we’ll go for a walk.

And sometimes, Alexa literally “sits up” in her bouncy chair to watch an educational DVD. Here she’s enjoying Baby Einstein’s “Beethoven’s Symphony.”

After a long, hard day of playing & exploring, the living room floor looks like this! Whew . . . what a day!

Who is seven-months-old . . .?

    
Alexa Hope :) These truly are the sweetest days. I just came in from putting our little sweet pea to bed. She was trying so hard to stay awake but she finally caved and nestled her head next to me while I rocked her. These are the moments I cherish – just watching her sleep peacefully in my arms while I sing and pray over her. I am so grateful for her life and the joy she has brought to ours.
It’s so hard to believe Alexa has passed the half a year mark and is even a month beyond (Mommy missed an update). I know it’s cliché but time really has flown by! Without further ado, here’s a list of the latest landmarks in Alexa’s life. There have been quite a few the last two months . . . She’s been a busy girl.
Stats at her 6 months check up . . .
Weight: 13 lbs 14 oz (11%) 
Length:  25 1/2” (39%)
Head Cir: 16” (6%)

Alexa’s latest “skeels” . . .
--Crawling
--Pulling up & standing
--Eating AND enjoying solid foods (including pears, prunes, sweet potatoes & squash)
--Sitting in her highchair
--Jabbering (including “Dada” and other nondescript phrases)
--Sitting up unassisted
--No teeth (and the nursing Mommy is so thankful) :) 

Lil’ bits of Alexa’s personality . . .
--Flapping her arms & legs in excitement when someone holds her (She looks like she’s running in the air)
--Sleeping with three pacifiers. She loves to play with her paci’s until she goes to sleep and she generally wakes up with a different one in her mouth.
--Throwing the paci’s out of her crib. She likes to keep Mommy & Daddy guessing where they are hiding.
--Jabbering when she looks at a book by herself – like she is reading.
--She loves to knock over towers, open & close books, go for walks, untie shoelaces, rip up paper, bang toys together & play with her shapes.
--Blowing bubbles – anytime, anywhere
--Crying at the sight of the doorstop. We don’t know why but she is afraid of it and the sound it makes.
--Her first bouts of separation anxiety :(

Yep . . . our little girl is officially mobile. We have lowered her crib to the lowest setting and the coffee table is surrounded by sofa pillows. The outlets are covered with safety caps and the floor is vacuumed often. It’s been exciting to watch Alexa figure out how to crawl & pull up. She figured both out shortly after our CO trip right around 6 1/2 months. She has had two hard bonks crawling with some accompanying bruises (Mommy cried harder than Alexa). But all in all, it has been incident free.

This how Alexa greets us after her naps and in the morning (normally with tears), but this was a happy day.

Alexa geared and ready to get Mommy!

Alexa loves her new toy which allows her to pull up and stand.

Another view of our little monkey. She loves sticking out her tongue.

Eating is fun – hooray for puree!! Such a happy girl :)

Just enjoying my high chair toys until Mommy gets me some grub.

I LOVE untying shoelaces!! Man, Mommy sure has a big foot!

Sitting up to enjoy a tasty flashlight.
Bye for now . . . I’ve got more growing to do! Love you!!

Fall means three things . . .

 
It’s been a BEAUTIFUL fall here in OK and we’re truly enjoying it. The weather has been delightful and the Sooners have been winning. Indeed, the commencement of autumn means three things:

- Daddy’s 31st birthday (Sept. 21st)
- Sooner football – BOOMER SOONER!!
- Hues of gold & orange paint the landscape.

Here’s a glimpse of all three :)

Alexa shows of her Sooner spirit in high style. Notice she’s trying to say “We’re #1!”

Like grandfather, like granddaughter. Alexa is showing Pop who controls the remote at this house.

Chris celebrated his big “31” by taking a test in grad school – poor guy! He passed with flying colors (hooray) and enjoyed some well deserved cookie cake when he got home. Unfortunately, Alexa couldn’t stay up to celebrate with Daddy. Isn’t Daddy handsome!?

Alexa enjoyed going to Orr Family Farms for Cole Green’s 6th birthday. She participated in her 1st pumpkin patch, petting zoo & hay ride. She also loved the wood chips.

One of Alexa’s new expressions is crinkling her nose. We must be passing the petting zoo on our train ride. :)

Here’s our cute little maple showing off it’s color.

Surprisingly, our vinca are still going strong. Alexa loves the bright petals.

Alexa meets Great Grandma Rachel

Great Grandma Rachel with her 1st great-granddaughter, Alexa Hope, and grandson, Christopher.
At the beginning of September, Mommy, Daddy & Alexa headed to the mountains of southwestern Colorado to visit a very special lady, Great Grandma Rachel. It was Rachel’s first time to meet Alexa in-person, and I’m pretty sure Alexa didn’t disappoint. Mommy made the week eventful by getting sick upon the arrival. However, Alexa stole the show and Grandma Rachel managed to spoil us all rotten. Chris and I even managed to celebrate our 5th “proposal-versary” (He proposed to me in Buck Meadow just outside of Rachel’s log home on September 10th five years ago). It was a very special time and we’re so thankful we had the chance to spend some unhurried time with Grandma Rachel in the beauty and serenity that is Colorado. In typical blog fashion– here are the pics!
Alexa’s a bit distressed by the magnitude of her hairbow.
Grandma Rachel & Alexa enjoying some time in Montrose. She loves keys – especially keys to a Jeep!
Alexa’s first outing to Ouray . . .
Enjoying a beautiful day of eating, shopping & walking in Ouray – just wait until she’s old enough for the hot springs!!
Alexa’s “stylin” in her new umbrella stroller. It made traveling much easier.
It wouldn’t be a trip to Ouray without eating at the Bon Ton. Alexa will get to try the amazing food next year. We just needed proof she was there :)
We got the giggles – must be the altitude.
Special times with Daddy . . .
Since Daddy’s often busy with work and grad school – Alexa got some extra special time with her Daddy. She loved every minute of it! Good thing Daddy has hair :)
Enjoying the view off Grandma’s front deck. That’s national forest to the right.
  A wake-up cuddle in the warm Colorado sun.
Alexa enjoyed the scenery so much on one of our walks that she couldn’t keep her eyes open.
It wouldn’t be a trip to CO without some quality reading time.
Enjoying the view . . .
Trying out the Baby Bjorn on the walk to Grandma’s. We’re standing on the bridge at the canal with the majestic San Juan Mountains in the distance. It was a beautiful sunset.
The Eyrie – the sign that means we’re getting close to the log home! Just a few more huffs and puffs and we’ll be there!
We were a bit late in capturing this full rainbow over the ridge. It was actually a full double rainbow and it was brilliant. What a beautiful promise from the Lord!
Alexa wasn’t sure what to think of the fountain.
And we ate . . .
Enjoying breakfast on the deck – tasty breakfast burritos!! It’s worth it to go to Colorado just so you can eat some of Rachel’s delicious home cooking. It doesn’t get any better than this!! The view is just a bonus ;)
Alexa posing in her booster seat. A glass full of Grandma Rachel’s spoons kept her preoccupied at mealtimes indoors. Look at that Olathe sweet corn . . . yum!!
Hanging with Tom . . .
Alexa got to meet a very special new friend, Tom. He looks after Rachel and Rachel looks after him. He’s one of the family :) We truly enjoyed our evenings with him when he came to visit.
  Tom teaching Alexa to play the piano with her toes – now that’s a skill!
More attempts at crawling . . .





Okay – so I don’t think she moved through that entire series of photos but isn’t she cute!
Homeward bound . . .
Grabbing a catnap at the Denver International Airport.
  Our little baby doll :)