If I'm going to eat my words, I need a Diet Coke to wash them down

I like to read new blogs when I come across them. My friend Amy (we worked together in Newport) just had twins in September. She started a blog to keep family and friends updated and Beau and I think it's pretty funny. Plus her kids are pretty cute, so I thought I'd share it with y'all!

Yesterday Beau, Anna Cross and I went and got our Christmas tree. It's up but not decorated, and it's gonna stay that way until Anna Cross and I get back from Austin. We made sure to be home in time for the big game yesterday. It was no secret who Beau was cheering for. But I hadn't made up my mind who AC and I were cheering for. I really like Tebow. I know most non-Gator people love to hate him, but he is really a great guy and a positive role model. We heard on GameDay that morning that the most searched thing on Google the day after a Gator game is the Bible verse he writes under his eyes.



Well, I just couldn't bring myself to pull for the Gators after they beat the pants off us last week! So we cheered, "Roll Tide" as a family!

Tomorrow Anna Cross and I leave for Emily's wedding. I am very excited to be able to get to Austin early and help her finish up last minute stuff. I have been acting a little crazy today trying to get packed and decide what the baby needs vs. what I am just being paranoid about. I am NOT excited about flying sans Beau with a baby. Here's why. Before I had a baby, I was a little intolerant about babies on airplanes. Actually, I should change that to say intolerant about babies in public. I know, it's hard to believe since I love babies and work with babies. Several years ago I was on a flight with a screaming baby and I said to my friend, "If you can't get your baby to stop crying, you just shouldn't fly." Yes, I actually said that. In real life. ISN'T THAT MEAN???? So I just know that AC is gonna scream her head off. I got it coming to me.

Actually, since Anna Cross has been born, I've had to re-evaluate lots of things that I've said back in the day. You know, back when I knew everything there was to know about babies, but before I actually had one of my own?

Fantasy land:
"When I have a baby, I'm going to let her sleep in the nursery so I can recover from labor and get some sleep."
Real life:
Beau and I walked past the nursery and saw Anna Cross crying. I literally had an emotional breakdown in the hallway, screaming, "Why are they just letting my baby cry?" Needless to say, the baby stayed with me the rest of our visit.

Fantasy land:
"When I have a baby, I'm going to be one of those laid back moms that isn't uptight about babysitters and go out a lot."
Real life:
I'm going to need 10 letters of recommendation, do a background check, a drug test, and observe you with my baby for at least the first 15 visits.

Fantasy land:
"I hate those moms who only talk about their kids. BORING!"
Real life:
Um, have you read this blog?

Fantasy land:
"Sometimes babies just cry. That's okay and actually it's good for them to learn how to self soothe."
Real life:
The only crying going on is this house is when I discover that we're out of ice cream!

Fantasy land:
"Babies don't belong in restaurants. If you can't find a babysitter, you should stay at home."
Real life:
Okay, this is the one that I actually still agree with. However, I have been known to take my baby to a restaurant. And even stay there when she screams her head off for no apparent reason. The table beside us actually asked to move. True story.

Fantasy land:
"I will never fly when I have children. If it's somewhere I can't drive to, I just won't go."
Real life:
We leave for Austin tomorrow! Please ask God not to teach me a lesson about this one. I have been eating my words since the moment ol' girl arrived!

Five Months Old

Baby Girl turned 5 months old today! She was pretty excited about it.



Anna Cross is still lovin' her feet. Especially in the bathtub! She babbles all of the time when we're at home, but when we're in public she's pretty quiet. Once she feels comfortable, she chats it up! Dad says we gotta start working on the /d/ sound! She is blowing raspberries and sticking her tongue out all of the time. Recently, she started laughing. Up until now, she would chuckle or squeal from time to time, but never really laugh. I recorded her laughing at me the other day and I'll have Beau post it when he gets back.



Anna Cross weighs 15 pounds and is in a size 3 diaper. She is working on sitting up and can sit with her Boppy pillow or in a tripod.





She's also working on holding her own bottle. People tell me my life will change when she can hold her own bottle-ha! But, I have to admit, I'm not in too big of a hurry for her to hold her bottle. I love cuddling with her during meals! She eats one 8 ounce bottle in the morning and four more 6 ounce bottles during the day. We are waiting a little bit longer to introduce solids.



Anna Cross takes three 30-45 minute naps a day. She goes to bed between 6-6:30 at night and starts her day between 6-6:30. She's not yet sleeping through the night-some nights she wakes up once and some nights she wakes up four times! She likes to keep us on our toes :) But, I'm not at my limit yet. I was living with Mary Grace this summer when she made Grady cry it out. It was really hard on me then, but NOTHING like it would be now. I didn't understand then how difficult it must have been for Mary Grace, but I sure do get it now!



Anna Cross rolls from her stomach to her back. She can roll from her back to her side, but not all the way over. Her favorite toys are her exersaucer, her mirror, ANYTHING that fits in her mouth, and the dogs. Yes, she LOVES to look at Belle and Lilly, grab their hair and try to eat it, and have them lick her. You'd think I would be paranoid about them licking her, but I'm not...I figured I'd better get used to it now!





I don't know how it's possible to love this baby more and more each day, but somehow we do. Thank you, Lord, for this sweet baby girl!

Family Photos

A few days ago we had some family photos taken. We went to a local park and the weather was great. I was a little worried (I know, that's hard to believe) because Anna Cross didn't have a great morning nap (I know, another shocker) so I thought she might be a little cranky. But she did great! We got so many great photos, I can't pick which ones are my favorites. So, I'll just post all my favorites. There are a lot, I'm warning you now!

Daddy and his girl













Mama and her girl



















The fam

Happy Anniversary

Yesterday Beau and I celebrated our 2nd wedding anniversary. I can't believe it...it seems like we've been married way longer than 2 years. And I don't mean that in a negative way even though it sounds like it. I really wanted to get this posted yesterday so the date stamp was posted on our actual anniversary, but I figured actually spending time together was more important that blogging :) But, In true Navy fashion, Beau got underway this morning. At least we got to spend so much time together over Thanksgiving. (And, for those of you who were wondering, Anna Cross is enamored with her Daddy again.)

Anyways, Beau called me yesterday and let me know not to cook supper. He stopped on the way home and got some of my favorites: cheese, olives, marinated mushrooms, and wine. And, he also cooked some asparagus and spinach stuffed chicken. Yum! (And, no, I did not get any pictures. Go figure.) I wonder why it is that the husband is always expected to pamper the wife on their anniversary? But hey, I'm not one to change rules so I'll just continue participating! Happy Anniversary, Beau! I look forward to celebrating more and more anniversaries together.

November 30, 2007



November 30, 2008



November 30, 2009

Happy Thanksgiving!

We had a great Thanksgiving this year. Of course, I really missed my family and would have loved to get the cousins together, but it just wasn't possible. I am really looking forward to Emily wedding!

This year we stayed here and Beau invited a friend of his that he works with and his family over (wife and 3 kids). Also, Beau's cousin Eliza came over to spend the day with us. We had a lot of fun hanging out together and visiting. Before everyone arrived, I told Beau we needed to make sure to take some pictures since we're so bad about it. BUT WE STILL FORGOT! Yes, it's true. I got zero pictures of Anna Cross's first Thanksgiving. Maybe we could go back and re-create the day?!

TADA Boutiques

I am so excited to write this post. Anna Cross got a package in the mail today that I have been waiting for! Now, y'all know I don't like to get very deep on this blog, but this topic requires some deepness. So bare with me and there will be some photos at the end :)


This is my friend Diane with her husband at our wedding. Diane is the office manager at the outpatient rehab facility where I used to work. This lady is always smiling, always laughing, and ALWAYS ready to lend a helping hand despite the difficulties she has encountered in her own life. And let me tell you...she has encountered some difficulties. I always used to tell her, "Diane, you should write a book." And she would respond, "I would, but nobody would believe me!"


Diane was made a Nana when Diane's daughter Alexis had her first daughter last August. I've been told that baby Olivia was one special baby. I'm sure her pictures don't do it justice, but oh-what a looker! Tragically, Olivia died this past summer. I remember getting a phone call from a friend of mine that I used to work with. Anna Cross had just been born and we had just arrived in California. When she told me the news I was stunned. And horrified. It made me question things about my faith. And about why I deserved all of the blessings that I've been given. And why Alexis and her family had to go through something so horrible that I won't even begin to pretend like I understand what it must be like.

Shortly after I got that news, I came across this verse while I was reading my Bible:

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. Psalm 139:13-16

I immediately thought of Olivia. I read it over and over, being reminded that Anna Cross, just like Olivia, was planned before I was even born. God has a plan and a purpose for their lives, and He knows and has ordained all their days before they were even born. What comfort!

A few weeks ago Diane and I were chatting through email and she told me that Alexis and her husband were stronger than ever and that they really wanted to use this tragedy to bring good to other people. So, they started TADA Baby Boutiques. Please click here to read Alexis's story. This little baby continues to bring God glory. What a testiment.

I told Diane about my mini-obsession with hairbows and she and Alexis hooked me up! Soooooo, when Anna Cross refused to take an afternoon nap today, I can't say that I was too upset. I scooped her up and told her we were having a fashion show!

Here she is in the first bow that goes with two of her Christmas dresses. She's still pretty happy and excited about the whole "no nap" thing!





Here's a close up of the bow. Can you see the Santa?


I love this dress! I found this dress online right after I found out we were having a girl, and even though I was warned that it was a "big 6 months", I still bought it. They were right, though, it's pretty big on her. She's a little bummed because she can't find her feet and right now that's all she wants to do!





Here Anna Cross is realizing that having a fashion show instead of a nap may not have been such a good decision. But I'm relentless with that camera! Don't you just love this dress and matching tights? The bow has a matching reindeer!





Well, we had to pull out the passy! She was totally over me and my whole, "look at the camera" bit. She was obsessing over the dogs who were obsessing over me and my high pitched voice. I love this one! I think it can double as a Valentine's bow, too.





Please visit their website to order a bow. Share the name TADA Baby Boutiques with friends. Thanks, Diane and Alexis, for these bows and headbands. I can't wait to get more from you!

Happy Birthday...

...to the best husband a girl could ask for.



Beau and I went to a wedding one time and the bride and groom stood up at their rehearsal dinner and professed their love for one another. Now, if you would have known me four years ago you would have known me to say, "Give me a break, that is so cheesy. Keep it to yourself!" (those exact words, probably!)



But since I've met Beau, I don't care that it's cheesy. I love for people to hear me talk about why I love this man.



There is no doubt that God's timing was perfect when he gifted Beau to me.



I love Beau's sense of humor.



I love his dance moves.



I love his sense of direction.



I love his eating habits.



I love his cheesiness.



I love his boyish good looks.







I love his work ethic and admire his love of our country.





I love the adventures we've had together.

























Did I mention that I love his sense of humor?





I love the way he is so quick to end an argument. I love how he can make conversation with anyone. I LOVE his interactions with our daughter. I love the way he makes pancakes. I love his even-temper. I love that he fills my car up with gas anytime he drives it. I love that he rolls out of bed every morning at 5 am without grumbling so Anna Cross and I have easier lives. I love his cheesy jokes. I love that he is a great grill master. I love that he is a Godly man and that he loves Anna Cross and I unconditionally.

I LOVE THIS MAN!


Happy birthday, honey!