Snug as a Bug

Does this look like a happy girl ready for bed or what? I have to tell you that I used to hate bedtime. I would dread it. It usually took us about three hours to get Anna Cross down for the night. She was especially fussy in the evenings and would cry as soon as bathtime was over. We would hold her and rock her to sleep then put her down in her crib and hold our breaths that she would stay asleep. Usually we were doing the same routine about five minutes later. And I know this sounds selfish but all I wanted to do was spend a few minutes of alone time with my husband before we both collapsed into bed. Hey, I'm just being honest.



But now it's a different story. Now I LOVE our bedtime routine. I LOVE the way she plays in the bath, the way she talks to me while I'm putting her jammies on, the way she smells so sweet after her lotion's on and her hair is brushed. She doesn't scream for the duration of it! Now after I feed her, she's all smiles and ready to have her picture taken! I am savoring these oh so fun moments with her.



So here's the latest bedtime "discussion" in our house. Beau and I happen to have differing opinions on how to put Anna Cross down for the night. I'm going to share both opinions and then read your comments. I wanna know what you think. I'm not going to say whose opinion belongs to who. I don't want to skew the vote :)



Opinion #1: After Anna Cross finishes her bottle, take her to her room and do nightime routine (book, sing, rock). Rock her for however long it takes her to get nice and groggy, then put her down. What's the point of putting her down awake if she just stays up talking to herself or protesting? If she goes down asleep or very groggy, she won't object.

Opinion #2: After Anna Cross finishes her bottle, take her to her room and do nightime routine for 10 minutes. Put her in her crib awake or groggy. Even if she talks to herself or protests, leave her alone. This will teach her to put herself to sleep.

Think you know which opinion belongs to me/Beau? Don't tell, Mary Grace!

New Discovery

Somebody found her feet! She works really hard to get them to her mouth, but she's not quite limber enough yet.

Four Months Old

On Monday, our lil' cupcake turned 4 months old!



Anna Cross is growing everyday. At her 4 month well baby check, we found out she weighs 13 pounds, 4 ounces (25th percentile) and is 25 1/4 inches long (60th percentile). We also found out that her head circumference is only in the 5th percentile! We don't think her head looks little but apparently it is. Her Papi jokes that it's all the headbands I put on her :)



I am happy to report that Anna Cross is (for the most part) on a schedule. The time change messed with it for a few days, but she seems to be getting back on track. She is getting much better about going down for naps, usually three 45 minute naps a day. She goes to sleep for the night around 6:00, wakes up to eat anywhere between 1:30 and 3:30, and wakes up for the day around 6:30 or 7:00.



Anna Cross likes to sit in her Bumbo longer now and we're working on sitting up with the Boppy pillow. She rolls from her stomach to her back and has started to grab toys. Everything goes straight to her mouth! Anna Cross LOVES music. She will stop fussing whenever she hears music. She is talking more everyday and loves the sounds 'g' and 'm'. We love to hear her little voice!

It Doesn't Get Any Better...

...than this. Am I the world's luckiest lady or what? I love these two people!

Happy Halloween

We had a great day with our little punkin.


















Okay, so I know that was a lot of pictures and a lot of the same poses, but I just couldn't pick my favorite!

Originally, we found Anna Cross a cute little chili pepper to dress up as on Halloween. Dontcha just love her little face poking through?









Well, then Grammy came for a visit and brought a little present for Belle and
Lilly...





So when I was out shopping and found this, I just couldn't resist...



Here's the whole clan...



You know Beau had to get in on the fun!





Some of the kids loved Beau and some of them weren't too sure about him! I thought he was kinda cute and ended up with the evidence on my face!



Beau and I sat on the front porch for a little while after the baby went down. Once we were ready to go inside, it was lights off. But I didn't want to take any chances!!!

A Southern Yankee

I didn't allow Anna Cross to stay up for the whole game, but she's anxious to hear who won when she wakes up tomorrow morning.

This is Beau's old Yankee's shirt from when he was a kid. It's a little too big for AC right now, but she'll grow into it.








Watch out, Olan Mills, there's a new photographer in town!

Grammy and Grampy Part II

Here are some more pictures from my computer. I never get pictures of Anna Cross and I together because I'm always the psycho with the camera! But I had lots of chances for someone else to take our picture last week.

Anna Cross is thinking, "Hmmm, wonder what's in that cup and if it tastes better than what's in my bottle?"




Date night. Whoop whoop!


Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww!