4 Months Already?

It is hard to believe that Madeline is 4 months old already . . . but she is. She babbles, drools, rolls over, laughs, sleeps through the night, puts everything in her mouth, and continues to eat like a horse. Madeline has begun flipping over in her sleep. I was having to get up 2-4 times a night and flip her back over, because she was very upset. Thankfully, she has recently begun to sleep on her tummy once she flips over. I even found her sleeping on her tummy once, and then found her on her back when she woke up. So, she is capable of flipping both ways-- she just doesn't know it yet. Unless you lay Madeline on the changing table, dressing her is like trying to clothe a rolly polly. She flips over before I can get her second arm in the sleeve. Madeline loves to laugh, and no one can get her gut laughing quite like Hannah. I love to listen to Hannah make Madeline laugh as we are driving around town. Her personality continues to emerge every day. She is a happy interactive baby, and we are thrilled to get to know her more each day.

Madeline LOVES her big sister Hannah. She thinks Hannah is so funny! And, as you can see-- Madeline is WAY to big for her carrier. She outgrew it over a month ago (measuring longer than 26 inches), but she can't sit up yet, so I am hoping to keep her in the carrier until she can ride in a shopping cart. We'll see what she weighs at her appointment next week though-- she may have to move up sooner.

Pushing up.

Madeline LOVES her feet. Hannah never played with her feet, and Madeline can't leave hers alone.

Madeline even enjoys sucking her toes in stereotypical baby fashion.

I recently got over my bathtub germaphobia and started bathing the girls together. They think it's great. Madeline sits on her little mesh bathtub seat, and Hannah hands her toys and makes her laugh.

Feeling Much Better!!!

Thank you for your prayers! As of this morning, Jonathan and I are feeling much better. We both still have sore throats, but we are thrilled to report that our fevers and headaches finally subsided. Amazingly it took about 3 days for the Strep to run its course-- even with antibiotics in our systems.

We are very grateful to have many caring friends who checked on us and asked to prepare meals for us during our sick days. We are truly blessed!!!

Mama Has Strep . . .

Mama has Strep . . . and now Daddy does too! I woke up yesterday morning with a fierce headache, and I was unable to swallow. I felt achy all over, so I decided to cancel my orthodontist appointment and spend my morning sitting in an immediate care clinic instead. Good choice-- I have strep throat. Jonathan came home from work yesterday with a fever. We both fevered all night, and sure enough, those pesky white spots were on his tonsils this morning as well. We are both on antibiotics and spending a great deal of time on the couch. This has really wiped me out. Let's just say Hannah watched a VERY long line up this morning (Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Handy Manny, the Doodlebops, and Little House on the Prairie). Such extended television watching is out of the norm-- I assure you, but I have found the TV to be my friend over the last 24 hours.

Please pray that we will have a speedy recovery and most importantly, that the girls will remain healthy.

Brooks Family Beach Vacation '07

On Sunday evening, the girls and I headed out for our first vacation without Daddy (hopefully our last!). We were sad, but we are very glad that we joined Jonathan's family at the beach. We had a great time with Grandma Mary (Jonathan's grandma; the girl's great-grandma), Aunt Elise, Uncle Arden, Cousin Paul, Paul's wife Kellie, and of course, Matthew, Kim, Philip, and Braewyn. It was nice to get away for a few days, and we had a wonderful time playing on the beach at Oak Island, catching up on sleep, sitting on the dock at the house (Intracoastal Waterway), and touring the USS North Carolina Battleship Memorial in Wilmington. The girls made many special memories with their cousins and Grandma Mary. Jonathan's grandma had never met Madeline and has only been around Hannah a couple of times, so this was a very special trip.

There is nothing like a trip to the beach to teach your children about the enormity of God. But, before I even had a chance to discuss God's creation with Hannah, she began telling me that God made the ocean and the big blue sky. We enjoyed singing "My God is so big" at the edge of the water. It was awesome to see Hannah give God the glory for His magnificent creation that we so thoroughly enjoyed this week.

Here are some pictures from our vacation:

Brooks Family Visit & Father's Day

On Friday night, we finally got to meet our sweet baby niece Braewyn. Matthew, Kim, Philip, and Braewyn arrived late Friday night for a weekend visit. The girls and I then joined the Brooks family at the beach for a few days this week (blog post coming). Jonathan wasn't able to accompany us to the beach, so he was glad to spend some time with everyone at our home. On Saturday, Philip enjoyed a tour of the Imagination Station. Uncle Jonathan even got out Enrique (one of the pythons) and a leopard gecko for Philip to pet. On Sunday, Jonathan's Aunt Elise, Uncle Arden, and Grandma Brooks joined us at church and then we all enjoyed a Father's Day lunch at Bojangle's.

Here are some pictures from our weekend:

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Pictures From Grammy's Visit

My Mom was able to visit with us for a few days this past weekend. Hannah had a lot of fun playing with Grammy. We took Grammy to the Farm (where we buy our vegetables) Dick's Famous Hot Dogs, and the park. Hannah and Grammy also made special cookies and painted denim hand bags for Hannah and Madeline. Here are some pictures from our weekend:

Hannah says hello to the hot dog mascot at Dick's.

Hannah and Grammy at the park.


Madeline and Grammy.


All dressed up (after church on Sunday).


Mommy and Hannah picking out some yummy squash at the farm.


Hannah acting very silly.

Such a big girl--Madeline in her Bumbo.

Sister time.

Making some cookies.