Lacey Lynn's 4th Birthday Party!!!

This Friday evening we had a birthday party for Lacey at Gram Gram and Papa's house. Her other grandparents--Mimi and Papa Nance--also came bearing gifts for Princess Lacey. Lacey specifically requested a "dinosaur wedding" birthday--who really knows what she meant by that??--so Gram Gram, Papa, and our good friend, Susan Cooper, made two very special birthday cakes: a pink dinosaur with yellow eyes (and buttons?) and a Barbie doll wedding cake. Lacey was in heaven! You should have seen her cute little face!

Kate thoroughly enjoyed playing with her big cousins who seemed to be as enthralled by her as she by them. It is amazing how young children bond so easily with others near their age and size. It's as if they know they aren't authority figures but their equals. However, Kate was not too thrilled when Mommy was holding Robby, who, by the way, is almost as big as Kate.





We had a wonderful time with our family and friends although we hate Uncle Brian couldn't be there. He was in South Carolina getting their house ready to sell. But we are so excited that they already have an offer!

Our Growing Girl

Last week Kate turned 9-months-old. She now has her two bottom teeth and is working on the top ones. Kate is also crawling, climbing, and cruising everywhere! At first she only hung around her Mama but now that she realizes she can go places, she follows her Daddy all over the house. She even pushed open the bathroom door the other day so she could await his exit from the shower. Mobility has meant more independence for her and me, and now Kate is even more of a Daddy's girl!

Everyone asks us if Kate is always such a good baby because the little girl they see is angelic, but little do they know that this little angel has a fierce temper and a defiant streak that has already resulted in countless "spankings." And she is not even one yet! Kate knows when she is not supposed to eat the yucky stuff off the floor or jump on Mommy's laptop and will pause and look at me like, "I know I'm not supposed to do this, but will anyone stop me?!" And when she needs a nap, which I think is her least favorite activity, she will stiffen those chubby little legs and throw her head back to try to escape. But I think she is just too busy to rest. There are so many places to go, things to see, and sounds to make to sleep.

A lot has happened in the two months since I lasted posted to our blog. At the end of May, we welcomed baby Robbie into our family (Brian & Jen's newest addition). Daniel worked at Bonnaroo again this year selling ice, so Mom and I went up to visit Brian, Jen, and the kids in SC.

Here is Gram Gram amongst all her grandchildren at the peach farm. You know she's in heaven! Unfortunately, we couldn't get a picture with everyone looking up, but the peaches sure were delicious!

Lacey and Ellie are such good big sisters. Kate has a blast just watching them frolic and twirl in their skirts. We are very excited that they will be moving closer to us later this year.

Kate has started crawling in the last couple of weeks and simultaneously been cutting her bottom two front teeth. One tooth has broken through and is very sharp. I know because she bit my back the other day. She loves fruit, especially apples, watermelon, and peaches.

We also had VBS at our church at the end of June. I taught the 2 & 3 year-old children, which was truly a learning experience for me. The theme was "Rounding up Riders for God." Here is Kate decked out in her cowgirl regalia.

Kate doesn't like to read her books as much as she likes to read mine. Here Kate is "reading" an Agatha Christie mystery. I am currently devouring Christie's books in between studying for my exam.

We have been very busy these last few months, but God is truly blessing our family and for this we thank Him.

My First Mother's Day

This past Sunday I celebrated my first Mother's Day as a mommy. On Saturday, I was pleasantly surprised with beautiful daisies from Mom and Dad. Then on Sunday, Daniel did an excellent job making the day extra special for me, taking me out for lunch at the restaurant of my choice, Moe's. Then, we went to Books-A-Million where he let me pick out a book: I chose Flaubert's Madame Bovary, a classic I still have not read. Finally, after shaking down the Triple Lindy burrito with some walking around, he treated me to icecream at Baskin' Robbins. And if the day wasn't perfect already, Kate took a nice long 3-hour nap, and I had some time to read.

I feel very blessed to have such a wonderful husband and daughter.

I'm 6 months old!!

It is hard to believe that our little Kate is already six months old! Yes, I can still vividly remember the day she was born and how little she was. She is getting so big! She is now 14 lbs. 11 oz. and 26.5 in. long.

Here's Kate modeling her OshKosh overalls. We think she's a little doll!

Kate is starting to dabble with food. We've tried rice cereal, applesauce, sweet potatoes, and bananas, but she really seems to prefer to pick up the foods herself. Here she is eating (and spitting out) her yummy rice cereal. I totally don't blame her for not liking that stuff!




This week we have started something new: baby-led weaning. Basically, I offer Kate a variety of finger foods rather than pureeing veggies and fruits or stirring up rice cereal and water, which she doesn't seem to like, and expose her to different foods that she can hold in her hands. She doesn't eat them yet but feels their textures and kind of sucks on them. I'll let you know how it works!

Mayes Family Vacation

We have just recently returned from a wonderful trip with our family in Young Harris, Georgia. As I was telling Daniel the other night during our reminiscences of the trip, I accomplished everything I wanted: I ate a lot of really good food, I hiked up the highest point in Georgia--Brasstown Bald, I rested and relaxed, and I spent some great quality time with my family.

Kate had a great time with her cousins, Lacey and Ellie, especially looking at books.

Brian's birthday was Saturday, so of course Mom had made him a birthday cake, which we devoured.

Now that we are home, Daniel and I are once again on our diet. Because we had been doing a fair job of eating a gluten- and dairy-free diet, the indulgence in these foods really hurt!