Squash!

This week we added Squash to Hope's solid food diet. The first bite usually catches her a little off guard and she gets an "I'm not so sure about this" look on her face.

After the first two or three bites, she really starts enjoying it. She now opens her mouth for the next bite and no longer tries to suck the spoon. She is still figuring out what role her tongue plays in this whole eating thing - so she usually ends up just sticking it out.

Hope enjoys laying on our bed - she usually chills out on my pillow while I play jack-in-the-box / peek-a-boo from the bottom of the bed, which really makers her giggle.

Hope continues to be amazed by her feet and toes.

Hodge Podge

These are a hodge podge of pictures from our visit "back home" the weekend of July 25th.

Grandma fed Hope her cereal one evening.

She's still pretty messy with it.

Leah is the family's entertainer.

Devin was concentrating really hard on holding Hope. I think Hope was concentrating really hard on being held.

Hope in her jammies.

A bright eyed Bailee.

Great Grandma and Bailee

Great Grandma with Hope - including a little entertainment from Pap Pap.

Hope is very wiggly and likes to move. She had blocks scattered all around her, but most were slightly out of reach. She would wiggle all around and scoot like a little inch worm in order to reach the blocks.

Good News in the Motherhood!!!

I am sooooo excited to share that my dear friend, Alison, is joining the Mommy club! She is ten weeks along and due at the beginning of March. We believe that March 5, 2010 would be the perfect day. You see, Alison and her husband, Mike, got married September 23, 2006, which was one day short of a year after Joe and I got married. So it's only fitting that they have their first child a day short of Hope's first birthday. I can't wait to meet their new little one next year.

Here are a couple of photos of Alison and Mike on their wedding day.

Alison and me on her wedding day.

Alison and me on my wedding day.

Congratulations Alison and Mike! I hope you have a happy and healthy pregnancy!

Outside with the Girls

Last weekend I took a few photos of Jenna and Bailee together while they were dressed alike - here are a few samples.

I think this one was the best of Bailee - sorry about the look on your face Jenna.

Leah was tired of waiting on the sidelines.

We convinced Leah to be patient.

But it was only a minute (if that) before she came back.

I didn't even ask them to pose for this one.

I did ask them to pose here, but they were all a little to antsy for a good shot.

This is the look Leah gets when she's trying really hard to not hear what Grandma is saying.

BFF - or until the next argument.

Ironbirds

Last night, Joe, Hope and I went to an Ironbirds game with a group from church.

Hope visited for a bit with the Chessers. It's her bedtime, I wonder how well she'll hold up?

Okay, question answered as Hope made her way back through the crowd.
Eric thought he could calm her down. He probably could have if it was any other time of day.

Our seats were in the foul ball zone - we had to keep an eye out for flying balls.

Hope made good friends with our neighbors. She's starting to look tired.

Hope napped during the last couple of innings and amazingly through at least half of the fireworks display (there's something she gets from me). It was late by the time we left, but remarkably not one old lady stopped to tell me that it was too late to have such a little baby out. (I didn't hear any whispers either, but they were probably just really quiet.)

Congratulations to Jess and Phil!

This past Tuesday, we had a bridal shower luncheon for Jess, one of my co-workers who got married on Wednesday, July 29th. Here are a few photos.

Amy and Emily

Carrie and Sue
The Bride-to-Be Jess humored us and played dress up

Sue, Heather and Ruthann

To see a couple of photos from her wedding day, check out Carrie's blog at

http://gregcarrienatalie.blogspot.com/

Pebbles and Ba....Ba...

Okay, not Bam Bam, but Bailee. I put Hope's hair in a little pony tail on Sunday to keep it out of her eyes. Her nickname became Pebbles for the day.

I posed Hope and Bailee together for a few priceless shots.

Uncle Darren provided some entertainment, which really made Hope giggle.

Bailee - "Seriously Hope, my Daddy really isn't that funny."
Hope - "Yes he is! Do it again! Again! Again!"

Jenna posed with her babies.

It's Tummy Time for Bailee! Bailee's hair has really filled in over the last month.

"Pssst, hey Bailee, let me tell you a secret...."

"Oh never mind....there's your Mom."

For the record, I did not do this to her - her own mother did. I just documented it.