Laughing Baby

So today we discovered that Bella could laugh. Scott was making funny noises and laughing at her.. and she would try and laugh too. It was absolutely adorable, so of course.. we had to video it.

Also, I was playing "dress-up" with Bella today and here was her "oh mom.. " picture. Look at that face! The cute jean skirt is compliments of gma cindy.

Libby was feeling slightly jealous that she was not being posted about very often, so she decided to put on show. I was playing with Bella on the floor & up jumped Libby on my back. Immediately I called over Scott to take a pic.

Libby was so proud!

God is our Daddy

Each night as Jill and I retire for the evening we lay in bed and get excited as we talk about getting to wake up and see Bella smiling at us the next morning. We walk into her room together (we're each offended if the other sneaks in alone) and we sing to her and she just gives us the biggest smile and giggles imaginable! Every second of attention that she gives me as her daddy is pure joy. Her attention towards me interrupts EVERYTHING that captures my attention including even the most distressing emails or the biggest offers on ebay books. To say that we "love" her means more to us than anyone can possibly understand. Such unspeakable emotion and affection has recently gripped me as I told Jill recently that I don't think I really understand the love of God. Of course I understand God's love in a theological way. I sing about God's love and treasure his acts of love towards me, especially in the sending of Jesus as my Savior. Is God a better Daddy than me? OF COURSE! Does God feel emotions towards those who have been adopted into His family through the sacrifice of His Son Jesus? OF COURSE! Why then do I not awake and give Him the same smiles and adoration that my daughter gives me? Such life experiences have recently challenged me to recover the joys and child-like pleasures of being lavishly loved by the God of all Creation who chooses to relate to me as a Daddy! I'm writing this blog as a memorial so that I might read it again in the future and be reminded of this priceless truth so that I might never stop rejoicing and delighting in the reality of God's love towards His children. Praise the Lord!

Tough Girl! Immunization Day...

Bella proved her toughness today. She had to get her 2 month immunizations today.. 3 shots to the leg. She waited 1.3 seconds after the first shot to start wailing and the stopped crying after her last shot before I even picked her up. She of course did not like the shots, but she was proudly sporting her cute UK color band-aids afterwards.




Other news from the doctor: She is 11 weeks old and weighs in at 12 lbs 10 oz, is 24 inches tall (2 FEET!!), and is in the 90th and 95th percentile respectively. We are so proud of her for growing so well. And everything else looks healthy. She smiled lots at the doctor and didn't cry at all until she got stuck.

Now that looks like a healthy 90th percentile baby! See her nicely shaped tummy, thighs, and cheeks?


And so since we are posting, we thought we'd take several pictures of her...



Here she is playing with "Pinky".. it is a nice soft duck with hair that she can easily grab on to.. better Pinky's hair than mine!
And here she is sporting a new outfit from a nice family at church. She is sitting proudly in her bumbo seat. Look at that head control!

Friday Date Day

Scott and I have been keeping ourselves really busy with work and school lately, so today we opted to make it a fun day. After I got back from my morning class, we went to Mi Mexico.. our favorite Lexington mexican restaurant. We haven't been there since Bella was born, and we thought it was time to introduce her. Considering we were going almost once a week for a while..

We both enjoyed our chips & salsa along with our yummy chicken burritoes.. yum yum! Here is a picture of scott's clean plate (isn't that rusty's t-shirt???)

When we got home, we broke out the timeless Civilization boardgame to play during Bella's naps. We used to play it frequently with Scott's brother Matt when we lived in Arkansas. It is a fun strategy game. Scott and I thought hard about how we would dominate the world against each other. Who do you think won? It must of been the man who grew up playing strategy war games with his father and brother.. he is the master of all strategy games, right?? So... when I heard the words.. "okay, I concede", you know I must have been quite pleased!! Also considering right before we started he (incorrectly) said that I had NEVER beaten him at this game.. haha.. riiiiigggghhhht!! :) So I may be rubbing it in just a little...

And a little bit about our favorite baby girl.. she is now starting to grab things with her hands randomly. Just yesterday we caught her lifting up her dress.. eek! It isn't so good when she pulls it on her face. She is also just smiling away. Her daddy delights her greatly. Whenever she hears his voice she turns her head around to find him. It is quite cute! We've also started to put her in the bumbo seat. It is funny because she'll sit up really good for a few minutes and then gradually lean to the side. She smiles REALLY big when she first gets in it.

We also think that she is looking different every week. This is what she looks like this week :) This last picture is a little fuzzy because she was moving.

Back Home Having Fun

We are getting back into the swing of things at home. Scott is working hard with his business. I am attempting to ride the waves with Bella as it seems that her "schedule" is always changing. She has decided recently that long naps are not her thing. She prefers frequent shorter naps. However, her night time sleeping is steller! She is having lots of awake time to learn new things. She is discovering how cool her hands really are.. little did she know that the fingers would fit in the mouth so well :)

I videoed her on the rainforest jumper that we are borrowing from my parents. She doesn't even touch the floor, but she seems to enjoy the bright colors and fun sounds. And yes.. I know she cannot hold her head is straight up for very long, but she'll get there.

Labor Day Weekend

Well we had a wonderful long weekend in Missouri! Lots of enjoyable family time! Bella got to meet so many people.. uncles, aunts, cousins, great-grandparents, great-uncles, great-aunts, 2nd cousins, 3rd cousins.. so many!!! At times she seemed a little overwhelmed, but overall did very well.

The car ride was relatively uneventful. Scott took care of Libby who insists on riding on his shoulders as he drives. I made sure Bella was well fed and happy. She slept most of the way. Other than that.. we finished two audiobooks "obsessed" by Ted Dekker and "A Thousand Splendid Suns". Both very good!

Yeah for college football!!! We enjoyed a great MIZZOU TIGER game on Saturday evening. That morning we dressed Bella in her Arkansas Razorback outfit that her Grandma Cindy got her to celebrate the beginning of their season.. but the rest of the day.. she was a tiger! I don't have a good picture of her in the mizzou outfit but this is one my cousin Kate took of us. I don't know why I have such buggy eyes!

On Sunday we spent a great day in Sedalia, MO visiting the Schilb family. Steve and Teresa hosted a welcoming shower for Bella. We received several very meaningful family gifts such as a doll crib made by Bella's great-great-great-grandpa. Also lots of very useful things.. clothes, diapers, ect. We made away with some good loot!! Most of all we just enjoyed showing off our little girl.

Bella also got to visit the candy factory for the first time. Daddy Scott ate the candy for her though...

What a fun trip! I wish I had taken more pictures so I could post them.. but maybe next time!!