The First UT Basketball Game

Your Uncle Quinn's friend, Danny, plays with the University of Texas at Austin basketball team. He's red shirting so he was not playing; however, he gets four tickets per game for friends and family and your daddy was out to get them. I was excited that we got to go. I'm not much of a sports fan but I enjoy live sporting events. The atmosphere and excitement makes the game exhilarating whereas games on the television lose my interest quickly. It was fun to go back for a UT game too because of all of the songs and silly traditions that took us back to our years as Longhorn students - not that long ago but seems like FOREVER ago. I was excited to put you in some of the UT gear that I had gotten for you. I had you in a Longhorn onesie all day to prep and someone asked me at the store how old my son was! Oops! I guess I need to throw in some pink or a bow when I have you in your UT garb.

For the actual game, I had you in your UT jersey with tights and a bow. The bow was way too big for your little head so I only kept it on for the pictures. You are too cute and you rockstarred the basketball game. Everyone always seems so impressed with how much a trooper you are with adventures. You are easygoing and travel well. You never cry much and seem to be very go-with-the-flow. Your daddy and I feel like we can take you everywhere. Others ask if we need sitters so that we can go to dinner or a movie, but I feel very comfortable taking you everywhere still. You love the movies with me (you've been to Twilight and Parental Guidance - without incidence) and dinners with the whole family. The game was no exception. We got bright orange earplugs for you which were great since we sat right next to the band. The seats were fantastic and super close. The game was awesome and we beat North Carolina by nearly twenty points. You were such a lucky charm. You seemed very entertained and had a lock-on the big screen most of the night despite all of the live action. Daddy can't wait to bring you for another game!

The First Giggles

I've been waiting for giggles. Your buddy Maverick was a giggly machine when he came to visit. You , on the other hand, are a really quiet little girl. You seem to closely observe everything and only comment when you really want to say something. Your daddy and I try desperately to entertain you to work a smile out of you and we have been really bringing out the crazy to elicit a laugh. This week you starting letting out a subtle giggle here and there. For a while now, you made big dramatic gestures that you are going to laugh. Your mouth looks like it wants to laugh but there is no sound. It's super cute, but leaves you hanging. You are clearly entertained with how silly you get your parents to act but not impressed enough to let out a laugh. Daddy was teasing mommy with the promises of a laugh. He said all day long you were giggling for him, but I had not seen it yet. All of a sudden, you giggled when daddy was talking to you. We were both sitting in bed with you in between and I was almost brought to tears with how cute it was. I don't even remember what we were doing, but I wouldn't let your daddy stop. It was the cutest thing ever. Your little laugh was so adorable and I didn't want it to stop. Of course, it did. If nothing else, you are super consistent. When you are done, you are done. 

The Time Your Uncle Married Your Aunt

It is poor taste to outshine the bride on her wedding day, but it's not your fault since you can't help it. Today you got to be part of your Uncle Zach's wedding party as the honorary flower girl. You were super cute in your pink, frilly dress. As per usual, your daddy made us late - traffic didn't help either. We arrived last to the family pictures outside of the temple that afternoon. Your Uncle Zach had already married your new Aunt Maggie and everyone was on the temple grounds taking pictures. They all appeared to be waiting for us. I thought that we were meeting them there while they were still inside and we would have plenty of time to get you ready once we arrived; however, I was unpleasantly surprised that we were aiming to arrive when they were coming out and we were late for that. I was rushing to get you dressed once we arrived and daddy ran off to be in the pictures. They sent someone over to help me dress you because, as it turned out, they could care less about your daddy getting to the pictures, everyone - including the bride - wanted you to be there. It was starting to get chilly so I had tights and a sweater for you but they took you from me before I could put it on. All I could think about was how uncomfortable you must have been. I kept throwing a blanket on you between shots. They held you up in pictures like you were the baby of the happy couple - a little weird - but you made the day. Everyone who had not met you was thrilled to see you. The bride was beautiful and the couple was so happy, but you were pretty cute too. Right after pictures though I put you in your owl outfit. I didn't like you being uncomfortable. You will note later in life that I hardly ever had hair bows or frilly dresses on you despite your lack of hair and sometimes questionable gender based on appearances alone, but I was always more comfort over everything. Every time I put a bow on you, it left a mark, and I was not about to subject you to any pain just to make you look more like a girl - you were beautiful all by yourself and believe me that hair will eventually come in! The wedding reception was wonderful and you were a champ being passed around to family members all night without a fuss. You napped for about thirty minutes, but otherwise, you were up all night enjoying the party. 

The First Encounter with Santa

Today was an exciting day! You met Santa. He came all the way from the North Pole to meet with the best of the best here in Austin. I got you all decked out in your beautiful Christmas dress (given to you by your daddy's Uncle Sam and Aunt Stephanie). You were by the far the cutest kid in line, but where aren't you the cutest kid. It was a pretty quick wait despite multiple children being terrified and crying at the sight of Santa and others who were far to distracted to sit still long enough for a photo. They really know how to push people through the line quickly and you were no exception. While I knew that it would be a challenge to get a smile out of you, I was hopeful that I would at least have time to try, but they get you set up and snap and go. Santa thought you were too cute for just one photo though and suggestive we try again in a different position. You were not even phased by him. I think you were more intrigued by all of the pretty decorations and the random assortment of people staring at you. Fortunately, you looked at the camera (without a smile but with lots of cuteness) and we got a great first Christmas picture with Santa. We used the picture to make all sorts of gifts for us and your grandparents. Of all of the Santa pictures I saw this year, you were by far the best!

The First Rice Cereal Attempt

At the last doctor's visit, we were informed that we could give solids a try if we wanted. Dr. Wagner said there were no strong pros or cons to initiating solids, but that if we wanted to give it a try before six months, we could have at it. Of course, I was revved up for this. Not that I don't love being your main source of food, but adding in extra food supply definitely couldn't hurt since you are hungrier than ever these days. Daddy's a little more weary and is more on the no cons to not starting solids now either. Today, I decided it was go time regardless of how much longer daddy wanted to wait. I got you all set up in your chair and daddy took photos. You were so amazing. Of course, you had no clue what to do at first. The best picture we got was of you going for the whole bowl - my bad that I put it in a glass side dish. It was really cool to watch how quickly you could adapt though. Within minutes you really seemed to get the hang of it. You were going for the spoon and opening up for the food. But, it will take a lot more practice for both of us because while you seemed to be getting the process, the food was not staying in your mouth very well. That's the boxes fault though! The first rice cereal feeding is supposed to be 5 tablespoons of milk with 1 tablespoon of rice cereal. This essentially make rice flavored milk. I was giving it to your in a spoon and it was just leaking right back out. After a few bites, we decided to make it easier (for all of us!) and give the rest to you in a bottle. This way you still got a taste for it, but you also actually finished it too!

The Time Your Turned Four Months

Highlights this month: 

5) Sadly, back to the doctor for 4 month well child visit which included a bunch of shots - healthy as usual, growing great, still skinny-miss-mini and tall like daddy and you handled the shots like a trooper

4) You have wiggly-leg-syndrome - always moving

3) You are starting to get an itch for movement - I can tell you really want to start moving

2) You are really sleeping long stretches through the night - now we just need to get you in your bed

1) You are flipping over one way!