Madeline at 6 Months

Our precious Madeline, you turned 6 months old on November 19th. Even though today is December 1st, I'm writing the info as if it's November 19th! At 6 months you:

•Are eating everything in sight - living up to your last name. You are drinking 4 bottles a day at 6 ounces each, still taking some rice cereal in your bottle in the morning and at night, just started oatmeal cereal in a bowl (and LOVE it), are about to start Stage 2 foods and still like all the other foods you've tried so far. We are SO blessed that you're a great eater!

•Are still wearing size 3 diapers. You've learned that it's fun to roll over onto your tummy when I'm changing your diaper. Mommy doesn't think it's funny!

•Wearing mostly 9 month clothes, but can still wear some 6 and 6-9 month clothes. You always outgrow your pj's faster than regular clothes, so your 6 month pj's are about to be retired.

•Weigh 20.5 pounds today according to our rough calculations at home (December 1st), but I have no idea what you weighed on your 6-month birthday. Sorry, baby! Mommy still hasn't remembered to weigh you on your month birthdays. That's only a half pound more than a month ago...hmm...we'll see what the doctor's scale says on Friday at your 6-month checkup.

•No teeth yet, but lots of drool!

•Are getting MUCH better at taking regular naps! You have a morning nap and afternoon nap and usually an evening catnap. I still never know how long each one will be, but somehow you seem to get the sleep you need!

•You usually go to sleep between 7:30 and 8:00 pm. The time change on November 7th hit you pretty hard, but I think you've finally recovered! You usually wake up around 7:00 am.

•Officially became a "sitter" on November 16th. Time is flying.

•Respond to your name almost every time you hear it.

•Still squeal quite a bit and have developed another sound that we call your "pteradactyl" sound. It's long, loud, and hilarious.

•Are still a happy baby. Your Aunt Michelle bought you a bib to wear during the Christmas season that says, "Always Jolly". That pretty much sums you up. :)

•Still chew on your hands, but not as much. You and paci have become big buddies. You only want it when you sleep and if you're upset.

•Learning more about Bond every day. You love to watch him walk back and forth in the kitchen when you're eating in your high chair. It's fun feeding an octopus.

•Still mouthing everything you can get your hands on. It cracks us up how you think you can get things bigger than your head stuffed into your little mouth.

•Are about to outgrow your baby bathtub!

•Still rolling like crazy, and can scoot backwards. Nothing forwards yet!

•Get cracked up over the most random things. Mommy or Daddy will say a silly word that will make you giggle like a hyena. That word will work for about 10-15 minutes, and then it's over. That word isn't funny anymore, and we have to find another one! It's worth it though. We LOVE to hear you giggle.

•Are C-R-A-Z-Y about textures. You're fascinated by how everything feels. You love stroking blue jeans, different couches, your clothes, the carpet, Daddy's beard, Uncle Phil's beard, and the list goes on and on. When you're drinking your bottle your free hand is always stroking the mouth/face of the person feeding you.

•Still have lots of hair - especially on top - but it's actually thinned a little bit around the sides. You still have QUITE enough to hold a hairbow in place though.

•Are still fascinated with your feet.

We can't believe you've been a part of our lives for 6 whole months! That's half a year! Wow. We love you more and more each day.

Photo taken on 11-22-10

Madeline LOVES Oat-fa-meal

In celebration of Madeline's sixth-month birthday tomorrow (can't believe I'm typing that!), we tried oatmeal cereal for a snack today. She loves it! MUCH more than rice cereal. She ate her oatmeal along with some peaches and she thoroughly enjoyed it. She is reaching and grabbing for things more and more every day - she wanted to play with the bowl of oatmeal SO badly!

We call it "oat-fa-meal" in our house. Alan and I have joked about this since we were newlyweds. I remember clearly watching the evening news with Peter Jennings in our tiny little apartment in Austin where we lived when Alan was in law school. It was during the winter and Jennings was commenting on how oatmeal sales were escalating because of the cold weather. Only he didn't say "oatmeal", his tongue got tied and he said "oat-fa-meal". He didn't correct himself - which we thought was funny - he just kept on going. We've called it oat-fa-meal every since. Probably more than you wanted to know, but I shared it anyway. :)

Madeline Meets Santa

Much to her Daddy's dismay, Madeline ran into Santa at the mall today. He was apparently on break. He came up to Madeline while I was browsing at a kiosk and started talking to her! I told him we were planning to visit him soon, but he said I could go ahead and take a picture with my phone. She wasn't scared or anything - hope it stays that way!

Look at Me!

I am declaring today as the "official" day that Madeline sat by herself for the first time. She's been practicing the past couple of weeks, but today's the first day I actually tried to take a picture of her. She lasted long enough for me to take a picture before she fell over, so that makes it official in my book!

Leaning....

Leaning...



STRAIGHT! for a few seconds anyway...  :)



In Memory of an American Hero

I learned on Saturday night that a sweet, sweet man went to be with Jesus. Mr. Ned Smith was one of the most amazing people Alan and I have ever had the privilege of knowing. A Godly servant, husband, father, teacher, and true American hero. He will be missed dearly by many, but most of all his precious wife of 66 years, Betty.

I was blessed to work with him during my time as the Office Administrator for our church's student ministry. Ned taught Sunday School to 9th grade boys at Green Acres Baptist Church for over 40 years! To think of the many lives he touched over the years is mind-boggling. Every time Ned came through the office, he would say hello or goodbye to me in a different language. It was always fascinating to me. I will always have fond memories of that. I will always remember the stories he told us about the war and about his return to Normandy Beach many years later. It was incredible to hear these accounts first-hand. I know that he STILL sometimes awoke with nightmares about his experiences. I never knew all of his military honors until I read his obituary.

I know when Ned awoke in heaven, he heard, "Well done, good and faithful servant".

Auf Wiedersehen, Ned! Until we meet again!

Funeral services for Ned Smith, 86, Tyler, are scheduled for 10 a.m. Tuesday in the chapel of Green Acres Baptist Church with Dr. Mark Dance, pastor of First Baptist Church, Conway, Arkansas, officiating. Burial will follow at Cathedral in the Pines cemetery under the direction of Burks Walker Tippit Funeral Home.

Honorary pallbearers will be students from Ned’s Sunday school classes from 1962-2004. Ned was born in Granite Falls, Washington to the late Orie and Juliet Smith and passed away peacefully on November 6, 2010.

He served in the U.S. Army during WWII with the Third Army Explosive Ordnance Unit. He was a veteran of the Battle of the Bulge, earning the Purple Heart, Bronze Star with valor, Good Conduct, European Campaign and European Army of Occupation medals. His life memberships include the Battle of the Bulge Explosive Ordnance Disposal Chapter, where he served as chapter president for ten years, and the Disabled American Veterans.
Ned volunteered his services to many of the youth of the area, educating them on the history of WWII with his personal collections. He was also a taxidermist and carried mounted birds so the youth were treated to the beautiful birds and amusing stories.

Ned was a faithful member of Green Acres Baptist Church where he was deacon emeritus and taught Sunday school for 42 years in the ninth grade boys class. He retired from La GLoria Oil and Gas after 31 years of employment.

He is survived by his loving wife of 66 years, Betty E. Smith; son and daughter-in-law, Ned Lindsey Smith and Donna; sister, Eleanor Mildred Smith; grandchildren, Heidii Godbold and husband Jason, Jimmy Youngblood and wife Susan, Ellen Shankles and husband Scott, Shannon Smith, Jason Smith, Linnea Malone and husband Tim, Bettne Ross; great grandchildren, Claire Juliet Godbold, Jake Godbold, Rosemary Youngblood, Zachary Youngblood, Jonathan Youngblood, Abigail Grace Shankles, Simon Shankles, Maddox Malone, and Austin Ross. He was preceded in death by his daughter, Betty Jane Smith Craig; brother, Elmer M. Smith; sister, Elsie Sola; and grandson, Jonathan David Smith.

The family will receive friends from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Monday at Burks Walker Tippit.

Betty would like to say “Thank You” to Park Place Rehab Center, particularly the East Wing staff- Shayla, Sheila, Candace, Claira, Tosha, Julie, John, Kim, Randy, Mark, Jeannie, Angela, Lola, and the kitchen staff. Also, Hospice of East Texas- Terri, Joan, and Chaplain Elwood.

Memorials may be made to Green Acres Baptist Church- College Ministry, or Hospice of East Texas.