and we have crawling!!

She's been rocking on all 4s and doing the army crawl, but this morning Mary Beth decided she was done with that and that she wanted to crawl for real. I finally got it on video -- it's not an easy task since Mary Beth stops and poses for smiles whenever she sees/hears the camera! I'm on the phone with Kim, so you get to listen along...

We're so screwed...

follow the bouncing ball

Mary Beth has discovered a love for the stuffed soccer ball that Kim gave us last Christmas. It's absolutely hilarious! We were playing with it tonight and she just kept giggling and giggling and giggling. And she's such a ham in the video below. Whenever she hears or sees the camera, she smiles and poses. Priceless.

i think the meds are working...

So Mary Beth was diagnosed with a "raging ear infection" in her right ear Monday morning. After a lot of Tylenol, Motrin and bubble-gum tasting penicillin (I'll take the pharmacist's word on that), I think it's all working. We put her down at 8:30ish tonight after she finally started eating again. And then she woke up. A completely different person. She decided to show us both that she was feeling better. Proof shown below...

happy 8 months!

Dear Mary Beth,

Eight months ago tonight, your dad and I tried to fall asleep in the hospital room -- physically exhausted and emotionally elated. We didn't really get to sleep much, between nurses checking on me and you being brought in for feedings.Your dad had diaper duty, as it was near impossible for me to get out of bed yet because of the c-section. And I was learning how to live on few hours of sleep and give you lots of yummy milk to eat.

You're still loving the yummy milk, but a lot has changed since then. We're all sleeping a lot more, thank goodness. You're sleeping through the night, but every once in a while wake for a feeding. In the morning we let you "talk" for a while in your crib, as you move around and practice your army crawl and scooting backwards. And when we go to get you, you greet us with the biggest, best smile we've ever seen. It's simply priceless.

You are starting to get up on all 4s, but haven't mastered the crawl yet. Which is good because we know that once you start, you're going to be off to conquer the world. I can just hear your Grandpa Phil laughing and saying "Oh you're so screwed!" But at least there's only going to be one crawling around. I still don't know how they did it with your Auntie Kim and me going off in different directions!

Tomorrow will be your first Friday the 13th. I'm sure as you grow up you will learn how much your parents LOVE this day. In fact, your Dad was born on one. And you almost were too! And in addition to a Friday the 13th, tomorrow is also our 5th wedding anniversary. Little did we know back then what joy you would bring to us.

We love you, Baby Love!
Love, Mom and Dad

mb's big adventures

This was QUITE a busy week for little Mary Beth. First, she got to spend the week at home with Nana as her private little nanny. No stooping down to be with the little people in daycare. Oh no, she got to have her grandma cater to her every need. Not the she was spoiled or anything. I think she's already put in her requests for next time Nana comes down to visit!

Then on Friday we headed south on 35 to San Antonio for Trinity's Alumni Weekend and her baptism. We had to introduce her to the soccer team, and she watched as her mama attempted to play soccer for the first time in years. I didn't do too badly either. Just can't feel my legs anymore.

Then on Sunday she was FINALLY baptized! She told me she was ready to start cussin' and causing trouble, so it was just in time. We headed to St. Mark's, and the baptism was presided over by Father Kevin Ryan -- who back in 1993 buried the original Mary Elizabeth. Quite appropriate, we thought! This time he remembered all of our names (hi Rob!). She was a little fussy throughout the ceremony, so our beautiful pictures include the pacifier. Hey, whatever works. We were joined by all our immediate family members, as well as Bill, Kelly and the girls (who showered MB with kisses) and Vanessa and Joe. It was wonderful to see everyone! And little Mary Beth looked so adorable in her long, white dress with eyelets. It reminded Kim and me of our dresses Mom made us for our First Communion. Though we didn't have a bonnet...

(Special thanks to Vanessa who took a TON of photos for us during the baptism!! You're awesome, Vanessa!!)

trouble with a capital T

Mary Beth and I had the weekend to ourselves at the house. Makes it difficult to get things unpacked and arranged how I want it. But Mary Beth did help me by laughing and giggling in her room while I was putting stuff away. Then Orbit came and joined us... and let's just say I saw a glimpse of what will happen soon. And oh boy. As you can see from the video below, we're in trouble: