Ally and Solid Food

This blog used to be devoted to our weekends and pictures of our dogs and friends. In the last four months, I think every picture has been of Elizabeth Magee. Ally has been a real trooper the last four months -- she's handling Elizabeth Magee's arrival and her new status as number two really well. I'd heard horror stories of dogs eating their own poop after baby's arrival -- gross!

Ally's biggest change has been that she's banished all her toys to the backyard and won't bring them inside. I have no idea why because Ally hates being outside and really hates the back yard (she prefers the front). The only thing I can think is that she knows Elizabeth Magee won't take them if they are outside......but it's a little early for that b/c it's not Elizabeth Magee can pick any toy up.

With Elizabeth Magee starting solids, Ally is in heaven --- lots and lots of formula and cereal to lick up after she's finished --- is that funny or gross --- I can't decide! I know I couldn't give her cereal mixed with breastmilk --- that would be crossing the line!

18 Weeks and First Food

We had our 4 month check up on Friday. She is now 24 inches long (the length Oliver was at birth) and 12 pounds 15 and 1/2 ounces! The doctor said she's in the 40th percentile for weight and 50th percentile for heighth!

She also gave us the go ahead on starting solids anytime between now and six months. Apparently, it used to be the norm to start at four months and now some doctors recommend six b/c there is less of a chance of food allergies.....so we are just going to take it slow.

We started with soupy rice cereal last night....one big mess and I'm not sure she swallowed anything!
First bite -- this was Oliver's baby spoon that he ate with everyday. His mama passed it down to Elizabeth Magee.

Doesn't it look likes she's saying, "Yummy yummy in my tummy......"

And after we got so messy we just decided to call it a day!

This is Madeline

I had (and still have a little) great fears about being a working mom....not something I really wanted to do. More than anything I didn't know who could possibly love and care for my little girl as much as me while I was at work. Staying home isn't an option right now but I have great peace about being at work everyday. Why? Because of this lady - Madeline. Elizabeth Magee was born early and we didn't have a daycare plan in place yet (I think I was secretly hoping all along that Oliver would let me stay home). But anyway, about two weeks after Elizabeth Magee was born I called the Associated Catholic Charities and asked if they knew anyone who might want to keep a newborn in about six weeks. The ACC gave me one name - Madeline. I called her and was hestiant because she didn't speak much English and we had a hard time communicating my address for her to come to the house to meet us. But she came - and I could tell she loved babies and she seemed nice enough. She came to the house a few times before I went back to work and we got to know each other a little bit. Madeline is from Rowanda. She and her family left Rowanda before the Genocide for Cameroon and lived there until 2007 when they came to the United States. Before her husband became a Rowandan diplomat, Madeline was a nurse and mid-wife. She knows everything about babies -- from her experience as a nurse and as the mother of 7 children! Her main language is French - which she is speaking to Elizbeth Magee all day. We are both hoping that Elizabeth Magee will learn to speak both English and French! In the past two months that I've been back to work, Madeline has made my life so much easier! I come home everyday to a very happy, clean smiling baby! I leave in the morning without any fears or worries -- I don't think a working mother could ask for more!

We took these pictures yesterday -- Madeline's children had the idea that we should take some pictures with Madeline in her Africa dress -- her dress is from Rowanda -- isn't it beautiful?

Sip-N-See

On Saturday my mom and grandmother hosted a "Sip-n-See" for Elizabeth Magee. We had a great turn out and I loved getting to introduce my little girl to the ladies of Senatobia!
It absolutely kills me that my sister lives 3 hours away and doesn't get to see EM everyday -- Oliver's brother lives in Memphis and I'm always jealous of how much time they get to spend with each other (and sometimes a little annoyed at how much beer they can drink together - but I guess Sis and I would put down that much wine if we had the chance)!

See the girl in the pink in the background? That's Lucy. I remember when she was BORN - I remember when Liz (her mama in the blue also in the background) told me she was pregnant with Lucy -- I was very excited b/c I alreay babysat her big brother. Now Lucy is babysitting extraordianare in Senatobia and I'm hoping she'll keep Elizabeth Magee one day! That kinda makes me feel OLD!

As always, we have to get some good time in with our Net. Sadly, no one got a picture of Elizabeth Magee and her Siggy (or Big Sig as Oliver has taken to calling her). We'll post one soon!

Four Months

This is how happy and proud we are to be four months TODAY! My how the time has flown! She is such a sweet baby with a sweet disposition. This weekend was a really big weekend - she went to her first cocktail party on Friday night, my mom hosted a Sip-n-See on Saturday, and she went to the church nursery on Sunday!

She LOVES LOVES LOVES to smile. She wakes us so happy and I believe she's going to be a morning person like her mama!

Weight is: 12.2

Aren't these two precious? This is Elizabeth Magee with Thomas --- their first photo session -- of I'm sure many!

Happy 4th Anniversary!

Happy Happy Anniversary to Oliver - we've been married 4 years today! This picture is actually a lot older than four years -- It was taken on our way to a wedding in Yazoo City in June 2003....I believe it was during this wedding ceremony that I decided I would marry this boy one day! Don't you love his Ole Miss frat boy look - sunglasses on top of that long shaggy hair? He had this hair do until about a month before our wedding -- it's been short every since!

We've come a long way in four years - neither of us at started working full time before our wedding, I wasn't out of law school, we didn't own house, and we sure didn't have a baby (besides Ally)!

Love You Lots O!

Playtime!

On Sunday, Elizabeth Magee turned 16 weeks and learned to play! We hung up the johnny jumper in the doorway between the kitchen and the dining room and --she LOVED it! She is a little crooked in it -- she can keep her head up but one arm falls down into the leg holes and she slumps -- but it doesn't bother her!

She loves the feeling of the hardwood floor....she's really suprised and proud of herself!

Ally also likes this new toy --- real easy to give Elizabeth Magee a lot of kisses!

Mr. Manly

Mama and baby are doing well! We joyfully celebrated the birth of Thomas Kirby Walker this weekend. He decided to make an early entrance at almost 37 weeks but he's as healthy and beautiful as he can be!

Look at all this hair.....maybe he can share some with Elizabeth Magee....Oliver keeps saying that she's not going to have this much hair until she's two!

We Survived

We survived our first night of single parenthood --- but we sure missed this cute guy!

EVERYONE now thinks that Elizabeth Magee is looking "just like" Oliver --- everywhere we go people comment....I do think she has his expressions....and she is talking loud already!


Isn't this the cutest towel? Pottery Barn find last winter for about $10 bucks! It's softer than any of my towels......

We survived our first night of single parenthood but we sure missed this guy:

15 WEEKS!

Laughing a lot now......especially during tickle time with Daddy.......weighing in at 11.11.....



Elizabeth Magee used to fuss when we put her on the scale....now she's really patient....I think she's gotten used to us doing it so often.......

This girl loves looking and talking and as Net says..."she just wants to participate".....Madeline says she likes to "lead the conversation"....she's going to be a talker if all this cooing is any indication! She also loves ---- laying on her changing table and sitting in the boppy -- I think because she can talk to you and see you so easily from either of those places! We sat in the bumbo successfully for the first time this weekend....I'll post pictures later because I haven't figured out which ones are my favorite!

As a divorce attorney, I hear about single parenthood a lot...but this week I'm going to experience it for a few days....Oliver is leaving for Chicago and I'm as nervous as a cat about

being on my own.....y'all say a little prayer for us!