1 year ago tonight....

We were waiting...not so patiently, because I was ready to get her out of me...but we were waiting...nonetheless... for Caroline to make her arrival. She was born at 3:33 am on October 1, weighed 7 lbs, 10 oz., and was 19 1/2 inches long. She goes for her 1 year checkup on the 15th, so I'll report back with her stats. I love my baby girl so much and I want to do whatever I can and need to do to make her happy. I just want to her to be HAPPY! I love my GOD, my life, my husband, my daughter, my family, my friends, and this world God has given us, and if God can just help me to instill in her how wonderful this life is, even with its ups and downs, then I believe that she WILL be happy. I have watched her laughs grow louder and louder over the past year, and have watched her personality unfold with such beauty and splendor and I see God's light shining through her every minute. I thank God for letting me be her mother and for giving me life this day to see her enter into her second year of life! Happy Birthday Caroline! (still no camera cord, but it's probably coming tomorrow...birthday pictures to come...)

WAR EAGLE!

Caroline's first football season and first Auburn outfit

I have the cutest picture of Caroline in a UAB cheerleader uniform that her PaPa gave her, but Ben has taken my camera cord to his office and I can't download it. Ben, please bring back my camera cord! I know everyone will LOVE this picture of our baby!! Being "a family divided", Ben and I promised each other before Caroline was born that we would not push her one way or the other...Auburn or Alabama. Ben has kept his promise (it was his idea in the first place) while I have sported her around in Auburn AND Alabama outfits. What fun would it be if didn't dress her up in any of it? She'll make up her mind soon enough and I am sure she'll be a smart little one and choose to pull for the orange and blue...but...in the meantime, Ben is happy with the UAB outfit, which is adorable on her, and whom we proudly support since Caroline's Uncle Spence will be a graduate of UAB before too long. Go Blazers! Looking forward to a great college football weekend!

A week behind...

I'm a little behind...over a week, but I have so many cute pictures from weekend before last that I can't not post them..we had lots of company. Dad and Spence on Friday night, Mom Saturday morning, and Aunt MaMa and Uncle Steve Sunday. Caroline entertained everyone...we relaxed throughout the weekend and even enjoyed a cruise through the Buckmasters Expo downtown on Sunday. Caroline had her very first open house (for daycare) on Friday, and we brought home the first of many things she will make us...an imprint of her little feet in clay. I so look forward to the day she will color me pictures to hang on my refrigerator! Saturday she went to her first birthday party. She had been invited to a couple before, but we had been out of town and been unable to attend, but I hate it for her because she just looked at the balloons and giggled and grinned. I can't let her miss any more!! Today I had a work trip to Birmingham and stopped by to see one of my best long-time friends, Elizabeth Jackson, and her husband Rod, who welcomed their first little one, Lottie, into the world a couple of weeks ago. She was beautiful and perfect and we wish the best and many congratulations. As for updates since then...the biggest thing is that Caroline can stand up from a sitting down position by herself! Walking is just around the corner!

For those of you who have never seen Caroline crawl...CANCELLED.

I have been wanting to try uploading a video, but have been wondering how long it will take. If I don't let everyone see Caroline crawling around now, so many people will miss this stage of her life because she is going to be walking before we know it. Here she is crawling from me AND after me, and laughing her head off when I go in to tickle her.

By the way, Maggie Lee did the sweetest thing tonight when Haley was putting her to bed. They always read Good Night Moon and then say their prayers before bedtime, and tonight, after they read their book, but before Haley could say "now it's time to say your prayers", Maggie Lee had bowed her sweet little head and put her hands together. HOW PRECIOUS IS THIS??!!

Right now, my child is standing up against the blank wall beating on it. I guess she wants to climb it.

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OK, I wrote this over 2 hours ago and this video is STILL uploading.

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Cancelled video upload...it is morning and it STILL hasn't finished. Will try a shorter one at another time. Sorry!!

I love pictures of my Caroline!

I love this picture of Caroline scrunching her nose up. This is a character trait of hers now. She thinks it is so fun.

We've been at home for the weekend...really just relaxing. Ben has still been doing a lot of studying, but took today off to relax. Caroline and I went to the Hope Hull pool yesterday with our friends Leslie and Henlee. We had a wonderful, relaxing time and mommy even got to lay out in the chair for 15 minutes while Caroline took a nap. This was the first actual "lay-out" time I have had since before I was pregnant. Usually I am staying close by to her in her float, and while I was pregnant, I never wanted to get too hot, so I usually stayed in the water. Thanks for a great time, Leslie! I am glad we had the chance to get Caroline and Henlee together. Today, we went to church and came home to relax in the baby pool and do a few things around the house. We have a busy week ahead and are planning on a relaxing night tonight with dinner at home and probably, as usual, a movie. (Shark Week is over, unfortunately!)

A few cute photos...

Caroline taking a bubble bath tonight.

Caroline on codeine. She has had an ear infection and the pain was bad Sunday night, so we gave her some tylenol with codeine that the doctor prescribed her for bad nights. I thought this picture was funny. She just laid like this on my chest for a while.

Caroline and Holly (Amelia's dog) discovering, for the first time, the gate we put up last weekend, and discussing their plans to break out. They both gave up and the gate has worked GREAT!

Ready for wings...

This little one right here....

is about ready for her wings! I know some babies learn to pull up, stand on their own, and then seem to take forever before they take those first steps, but we are definitely headed in that direction. The picture above is the first picture I've gotten of Caroline standing on her own. She can go for about 10 seconds, but keeps practicing, and I know what is around the corner...us chasing her around the house as she laughs and laughs. I love this baby so much! We had to get gates to keep her in the family room this weekend, and baby-proofed the fire hearth with rubber edge and corner guards, have electrical outlet covers, and have to keep the floor vacuumed constantly as the tiniest piece of dog hair goes in her mouth. Shark week starts shortly...I will be watching every night this week...tune in to the Discovery Channel if you are interested. I must go watch...!