Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween, everyone!

These are some photos from Halloween this year. They will also have to serve as Waverly's "4 Month" photos, as I never got around to taking any... Sorry!


An attempt at a Halloween family portrait.At least two of us were looking!



Smiling with Daddy. :)



Smiling with Mommy (I'm not behind the camera for once!)



Is she the cutest duck you've ever seen, or what??



Where did she go???




There she is!!





Crash! (Love that fluffy duck tummy!)



Crash again! Cute little duckie bottom...



Waverly was SO good at the Chili Supper/Trick or Treat at the church on Sunday AND our "Trick or Treating" on Monday. She wore her outfit both times and never complained one bit! She was just precious... How can she possibly get any cuter? (Maybe I'm a little biased...)

Hopefully we'll have a 5 month update and photos to post soon!

Life in Aliceville

It's been all I can do to get the monthly Waverly updates posted, so I haven't taken the time to sit down and write about "our" lives in Aliceville.

Let me start off by saying that it's WAAAAAAY different than what I'm used to! I know, I know... I'm from here and should be plenty used to the way things work in a small town, right? Wrong. Although I spent 18 years here, I never worried about things like... grocery shopping, fleas, ticks, dry cleaning, funky smells in old houses, fixing leaky roofs, etc. The list could go on and on...

When we lived in Smiths Station/Phenix City, I drove 10 minutes to work, 10 minutes to Walmart, and 15 minutes to the "big city" of Columbus, which had everything you could ever possibly want. I got used to the way things worked there. It was kind of annoying to go by Eastern time, when really we "should" be going by Central time, and switching back and forth every time we went somewhere, and our house was pretty small, as was our lot. Our neighbors (most of them) weren't very friendly, and were definitely not our age, and a majority of our younger coworkers lived in Auburn, so we never really got to do much "hanging out with friends."

We never really felt like we "belonged" in any of the churches we visited, so we never joined to have a "church family." The churches were either too big (Mega Churches), or there were no young couples to be found. We could have driven back to FBC Opelika, where we both joined before we married, but 45 minutes is a long drive to church, and we wanted to be a part of a local church. Needless to say, we never accomplished that...

When we moved to Aliceville (or even before that, while we were staying in Carrollton), we had church invites coming from every direction! The Methodists, the Presbyterians, and the Baptists from all over the county were "recruiting" (for lack of a better word) us to come to their church. Although everyone was VERY nice, we decided that our new church home would be First Baptist in Aliceville. We just felt like that was where the Lord was leading us. We have been attending the service for several weeks, and have become part of the young couples' small group. We plan to go to Sunday School as soon as we feel like Waverly can last that long in the nursery! Hopefully it won't be long. :) We feel SO blessed to have the opportunity to be a part of a congregation of believers who are so open to "newcomers" like us.

Now, back to everyday life changes...

Grocery shopping happens at the Piggly Wiggly, and the occasional trip to Walmart in Northport. This has been a bit challenging for someone who is used to having access to a lot of variety in grocery stores! We're working on this house, that I feel like will NEVER be done, but we're trying to take it slowly and do one thing at a time. Maybe one day we'll have it the way we want it, but it won't be anytime soon! One advantage to being back in a small town is that (almost) everybody knows you... People at the bank, the Post Office, the Pharmacy, and the grocery store all know you and treat you as a friend, not just a customer, and that's a nice change of pace! :)

Being here, I'm also close to other stay-at-home moms, which would not have been the case where we were before. Jennifer, Ashley, their kids, and Waverly and I all walk (nearly) every morning to have a little "out of the house" time and to get a little exercise. It's been a great way to start our mornings recently, and we're really enjoying it! It's actually helping to get Waverly on a sleeping schedule, so I'm enjoying that too!

Okay, I'll stop here. I apologize for the long post, but I knew if I didn't do it all at one time, I'd never finish.

Have a wonderful, rainy day! :)

Four Months

Dear Waverly,

I cannot believe it has been four months... my how time flies! 

You have been SO busy this month! You have started laughing when something is really funny (you happen to like the Hokey Pokey at the moment...) and started following movement VERY well and you like to watch me walk across the room (especially when I vacuum)! You sit up in your Bumbo seat like a champ and LOVE it! I put a pillow behind your head, because it seems to get a little heavy after you've been sitting there awhile. :) Just recently, you have begun to recognize people that you know and see often. While it's great that you recognize some of us, you are NOT happy when someone who isn't familiar holds you or gets too close. You poke that lip out (still trying to get a picture of this) and start crying if you don't get back to Mommy or Daddy pretty soon! I think your very favorite accomplishment this month is that you are finally able to get  your thumb (and toes) in your mouth whenever you want!!! Hooray! I know it might be a tough habit to break in the future, but you  won't have it any other way! :) Plus, it's pretty cute to see you sucking that teeny thumb of yours...

At your 4 month checkup, you weighed in at 12 pounds, 13 ounces (skinny minnie!) and were 25 1/2 inches long. Dr. Vaughn called you "long and lean" again, but said that you were growing along the same curve from when you were there for your 2 month checkup, so that was good! She also said that we could start you on rice cereal whenever we were ready... Mommy's kind of nervous about it, because I've read that you should wait until 6 months, but we'll take doctor's orders! She said not to stress about it if it was a pain for everyone, so we'll just roll with it and see how it goes.

We have been SO blessed to have you in our lives and don't know what we ever did without you. We love you more each and every day! We are so excited to be your parents!

Love, 

Mommy and Daddy

Pictures, Finally!

I promised pictures after the 3 month post, so here you go! :)

A little out-of-focus, but so cute I couldn't stand not to post it!

Smiley Girl!!!

LOVE this one!

She sure does love her Daddy! :)

First time in the Bumbo Seat. She loves it!

I must REALLY love my husband and in-laws...
At least it proves she can be cute in ANYTHING! :)

That's more like it... War Eagle, Baby!

Daddy wasn't home today, so she got to wear her Auburn bow and play with her tiger!

Gosh, I love her... :)

3 Months... Already??

Happy 3 Month Birthday, Waverly! This is a couple of days late because we've had company, but late is better than never, right? :) I'll have to post pictures later, because I'm composing this from my phone as you're having your "lunch"! This month has absolutely FLOWN by! You have done so many new things in your third month! You have started smiling That infectious, toothless grin "on cue" at people when they talk to you. Your favorite way to be carried is on someone's shoulder, but you really don't care, as long as someone is walking around with you! You really like to watch TV, the colors are so pretty! You enjoy sitting up with a little assistance from the sofa or someone holding you, but you're very strong to sit up for so long without falling over! You have started rolling from back to front, which is making me a little nervous because I am in the habit of lying you down and assuming you'll be there when I get back! You still seem to get one arm stuck underneath you when you roll over, which frustrates you, but we're working on it. You'll get it soon! You are growing SO fast. I guess you're really "on schedule" with your clothing, but it seems like you've hardly worn any of the ones that are getting too small! You're a VERY good eater. You have never once refused to nurse, or had trouble with it. We are so blessed that it has been easy and uneventful for us! This month you finally got that thumb you've been working on finding! You will still take a pacifier on occasion, but you sure do like that thumb! You mostly just like it when you're ready to go to sleep, so hopefully it won't become a problem! This month, we moved into our new house, and you have spent every night in your own room in your "big girl" bed, instead of in the room with us. It doesn't seem to bother you a bit. In fact, you've slept 8-10 hours every night that we've been here. Hooray! :) We have been doing a LOT of work around here, and you have been such a good girl while we are busy working! I'm sure I've forgotten to mention some things, but that mostly covers it! We love you more than you'll ever know, and are so blessed to have you in our lives! The past three months have been trying and interesting, but they are, by far, the best months of our lives! Love, Mommy and Daddy

Photos

As I mentioned in a previous post, Waverly had a photo session on her two month birthday. They won't be posted forever, but you can look at them here until they are no longer available.

Joy did a wonderful job, I'm having LOTS of trouble deciding which ones to buy!

Enjoy!

Ch-ch-ch-CHANGES!!

This post has been a long time coming, so here goes... I apologize to those of you who already know all of this, I'm afraid it'll be old news to you!!

We have experienced a LOT of changes lately!

1. We had a "complicated" pregnancy (not really...)
2. We had a baby
3. We went to the beach when she was 2 weeks old. Jed heard about a job opening in Tuscaloosa.
4. We went BACK to the beach when she was about a month old. On the way back from the beach, we stopped and stayed in Carrollton. Reason: Jed scheduled an interview at Tuscaloosa County High School for the Director of Bands position. The following is what happened after that:

• Friday, July 8: Jed interviews in the morning, I go to visit with Rebekah, Brad, Andrew, Isaac, Savannah, and Libby while he's there. I get a phone call that afternoon - they've offered him the job and he's going to talk with them about the details and accept. The principal will present her choice to the board for approval at the meeting Monday night. She assures us he'll be approved and all will be well. She gives him a set of keys to the band room.
• Saturday, July 9: "We're moving?? With a newborn?? We don't have a house?? We don't have our house on the market?? Oh my goodness..." Shock has set in... this can't be real.
• Sunday, July 10: We drive around to look at all available houses for sale in the area (within our price range) and schedule to see a few on Monday
• Monday, July 11: Look at houses, drive back to Phenix City. Principal calls and tells us Jed has been approved by the board and is officially hired. Oh goodness, it's real....
• Thursday, July 14th: We meet with Jed's Aunt Betty to put our house on the market.

Okay, after that, the days blur together. The house is listed the day we "move out". Keep in mind, we haven't really "moved" anything except things we'll need for an 'extended vacation'. We packed all of it into my vehicle, said a temporary goodbye to our house, and headed west. We went ahead and packed all of Jed's office into a U-haul that he pulled behind his truck.We have plans to stay with my Mom and Lee until we find a house and can really move. We are here for about a week, then we have to go back to Phenix City because I have my final postpartum appointment at the doctor. We stay with Jed's parents for two nights, and get VERY little done at our house. We brought a few things back with us, but nothing major. Jed has two weeks of band camp starting very soon after we get back, and has TONS to do. 

My mom had a "Sip and See" for Waverly on Saturday, August 6th. It was wonderful! It was so nice to be able to see and visit with lots of folks I haven't seen in awhile (several Jed had never even met)! Waverly was SO good!

School officially started on August 10th for Jed, so that was my first "reality check" about this whole staying at home thing... It was kind of weird not to be going back to start a new year at school. However, I think it was less weird for me, being here, than it would have been seeing all of the Smiths Station folks go back without me! I feel SO blessed to have the opportunity to stay at home (when we finally have one) with our daughter. I know that things might not always be easy, but I really think it will be worth any sacrifices we may have to make!!

Okay, I think I'm done... WHEW! Can I take a nap now?? Maybe I'll be more diligent about my blogging now that I have "more time (yeah right)" at home. No promises... ;)

2 months

Happy 2 Month Birthday, Waverly!

Again, I'm a little late on this one, but we've got a lot going on, after all! (That's another post)

You have been a busy girl this month! You hold your head up like a CHAMP! You smile that adorable, toothless grin at me all the time, and I just can't get enough of it!!

Your 8 week (2 month) checkup with your new doctor went really well. You weighed 10 pounds, 3 oz (36th percentile), and were 23.75 in long (89th percentile). The doctor said you were "long and lean"! :) You were such a trooper for your vaccinations. I think I cried more just thinking about it than you ever did! We went to visit Daddy on his first day of school after your appointment, too. He was SO happy to see you and to get some snuggles!!!

You had your first "photo shoot" this month as well. You were really good and we got lots of great pictures. I'll post those later.

I love you!!!

One Month Old

(This should have been posted on July 9th, 2011. I apologize for my tardiness!!!!)

Happy One Month Birthday, Waverly!

My, how time flies!You have absolutely blessed our lives beyond measure, and I don't know what we ever did without you!

This month, you started keeping your eyes open and staying awake MUCH more than when you were "brand new". You also started to follow people and things with your eyes.

You made two, yes, TWO trips to the beach in your first month. Who could ask for anything more??? I hoped you'd be a beach babe... We went with Daddy to a conference in Orange Beach, AL when you weren't even 2 weeks old yet! Then, we spent about a week at home, then left for St. Teresa Beach, FL to meet the family for the 4th of July. Although you never ACTUALLY touched the sand or water, we did go for one (very hot) walk the first morning at St. Teresa. You at least got to feel the sea breeze (what little there was) on your face. That counts as "going to the beach", right? Everybody was SO excited to have you there. You, as usual, were the center of attention! I can't wait until next  year when you can actually play in the sand and water!!! You're going to have SO much fun!

Here are some pictures from your first month:

After a bath

Snuggling with Daddy

During a visit with Grandmama and Granddaddy

Snuggling with Granddaddy

An attempt at "One Month Pictures"...

Holding up "one" for one month!

Not really excited about it anymore...

Sleepy girl!

We love you and are SO blessed to be your Mommy and Daddy!! :)

Waverly's Grand Entrance

On the way out the door to the hospital, and the last time we would be in our home without a baby!

Early in the morning on June 9, Jed and I headed to the hospital to begin what would become the most wonderful day of our lives. My surgery was scheduled for 7:30 a.m., and we had to be there at 6:30 a.m. to begin prep. We were there so early that some of the lights in the halls weren't even on yet!

In the dark halls on the way to L & D.

Here we go!

At 7:50 a.m., after a very unevenful surgery (praise the Lord), our beautiful daughter was born. She was 7 pounds, 7 ounces, and 20 inches long. There were no complications and she was perfect. I cried. :)

 Jed went to the nursery with Waverly and the nurses while they finished the surgery up (I'll spare you the details...). They took the "scenic route" to the nursery so that he could take her by the waiting room to meet her grandparents!

Proud Daddy - he was SUCH a trooper in the O.R.!

4 of the 6 grandparents meeting Waverly. The other two were late getting to the hospital because of bad GPS directions and a train.

Meet Miss Waverly Mae Smart!

Daddy and Melissa made it while WMS was still in the nursery and I was in recovery.

A lovely photo of me texting/updating Facebook while in recovery. Ah, the joys of  technology...

Right after Jed came into the recovery room to give me my "Mommy Gift"... a beautiful pair of diamond earrings. I cried... again. I love him... :)

After only about 30 minutes in recovery (they told me to expect an hour, so I was excited), I got to go to my room and FINALLY meet my baby!

I finally get to hold my baby girl!!!

I couldn't hold it back... I cried... again... I'm pretty sure there was a sob or two after this was taken!

Our family was wonderful. They stayed and visited with each other (and with us) and held Waverly for nearly 2 days straight. We are so thankful for loving, devoted parents. I pray that we are as good to our children as they have been to us!

Four generations of girls!

By a stroke of luck, the L & D wing of the hospital was VERY full of mothers, babies, and families. Because of this, and since I was recovering very well, they gave me the option to go home after 2 days instead of 3! We were SO excited to get back home with our bundle of joy!

Putting on her "going home" outfit.

Family picture next to the nursery window.

Waverly's first sunlight

On the way home. Look at those cheeks!

Daddy the chauffeur.

Welcome home, Waverly!

We are absolutely blessed beyond measure to have this beautiful baby girl in our lives. I don't know what we ever did without her! :)