Sisters by Chance, Friends by Choice

Little Chef Gripka

Wooo Pig Sooie!!

Even though our HOGS lost to #1 Alabama, Tori cheered hard for them in her cute hat from Auntie Sarah and onesie from Grandma Patty

Melting Mama's heart

This bundle of cuteness melts my heart every time I see her!! Thank you Miss Tori Elizabeth for just being you! Sweet, cute, wild, mostly quiet w/ a few loud moments, just plain wonderful!

Drinking and Driving

We have a wild one on our hands. We told her it was against the law to drink and drive but she didn't listen to us!! The evidence is there underneath the "hood" :)

Cheap entertainment

Who knew a water bottle could be so fun and funny. Thanks Auntie Stacy for playing with me this weekend!! Copy and paste this link into your browser to view our fun!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rfyMGcfkJ0E

mmmm solid food

Tonight I decided I was going to feed myself for the first time. I typically play with the food I get at dinner unless it is served to me on a spoon. Tonight I had sweet potatoes and mixed fruits and Mama put some Yogurt Melts on my tray as she does every night. I surprised her by using my pincer grasp (I'm better with my left hand right now) placing the pieces right in my mouth and ate the yogurt melts. I guess all of those nights Mama was "introducing" these melts to me paid off.

Monday Cuteness

8 Months Old

Today I turned 8 months old. I started my morning out by waking up at 7:30am (sleeping for 11.5 hours) which is very normal for me. I nursed first thing this morning and had some snuggle time with Mama. By 8:00am I was ready to begin my day by having some rice cereal with fruit. Then we played. When I got tired and was ready for a nap, Daddy took me on a stroller ride. This is one of my favorite things to do. The cool breeze and warm sun puts me right to sleep as I doze off looking at all of the leaves on the trees. I normally sleep anywhere from 1-2 hours in the morning. I am still having 6 ounces of milk every 3 hours. When I am at school I have cereal again early afternoon. My afternoon naps are much shorter, sometimes only 20-30 mins. There is just too much going on when you are 8 months old. Anytime between 5:30pm and 6:00pm I have dinner. I am now eating about 4-6 tablespoons of a fruit and 4-6 tablespoons of a veggie at dinner. Mama gives me a cup of water every night. I prefer to use it as a teether instead of drinking the water. I have also started to snack on puffs and yogurt melts.

In the last couple of weeks I have went from inchworm crawling to crawling on all fours. I can also pull myself up to a standing position on almost anything. I have had a couple of accidents. One accident report came home from school. I was trying to pull myself up holding onto the little table and my fingers slipped and I fell backwards and hit my head. I only cried for a minute and there wasn't even a bump when Mama came to pick me up. Last night I was standing at my learning table and I fell and hit my eye on the leg of the table. This morning when Mama was washing my face we noticed my eye had a bruise on it. I didn't seem to mind though.

I prefer to walk holding onto your fingers anywhere I go. This is fun but Mama, Daddy and GiGi say it hurts their back. I think they are just whiners. ;)

Last week at our breast feeding support group I weighed in at a whopping 17 lbs 12 oz, must be all of that good food I am getting these days. I don't have to go back to the doctor for another month so I am not sure how long I am or what percentiles I am in right now.

I am talking a lot more lately. I tend to repeat my "L" and "B" sounds. I also like to blow raspberries. Mama says I have a soft sweet voice. GiGi says she only hears me growl (which I like to do too) :)

Banging toys together or on the table/floor is probably my favorite thing to do. Making music with rattles or anything I can shake is also fun.

I don't have stranger anxiety yet but I do have separation anxiety when left alone in a room. This is not fun for my parents as I tend to cry like my heart was just broken and I get huge alligator tears, even if only left for a moment. Mama is hoping this stage passes quickly.

Here are my 8 month pics w/ Mr.Bear.in.the.chair (I was not too excited tonight about this photo shoot, sorry there are not any gummy grins)

Happy Grandparent's Day

On Friday it was Grandparent's Day at school, GiGi was the only one of my Grandparents able to come since the teachers didn't tell us until Wed night that they were going to have a craft day on Friday for all of the Grandparents to come and help out. I had a ton of fun with her. We got to finger paint, glue, and she even stayed to give me a bottle and put me to sleep at nap time. Thanks Gi, can't wait till next time you visit school! And Happy Grandparent's to each and everyone of my grandmas and grandpas!!


This is the flower GiGi and I painted. I don't really like paint to be on my hand and I like to make a fist. GiGi told Mama this was kinda hard to do but we all think it is beautiful.


Today while I was playing with Adyson at her house, GiGi and Papa Gary came over to visit.


Even though these pictures don't show it, I really do love my GiGi :) I had just woke up from a nap in a strange bed and I have kinda been a Mama's girl lately.


Happy Grandparent's Day - that is me - the crabby one in the middle ;)

NFL Kickoff Playdate!

I love playing with Daddy but I did not want his hat on!


Our NFL kickoff playdate at my friend Adyson's house..her family likes the Green Bay Packers and we like the Denver Broncos..can you tell?? :)


Cutie Patootie Adyson playing in her jumparoo


Daddies and their NFL Babies!


I had so much fun playing today I had to take a night night in Adyson's bed while we were at her house..thanks Ady it was comfy!

Cutest llittle MU Tiger Fan

Eating lunch at Buffalo Wild Wings..all of the girls working were in their MU gear too but they said I was the cutest :)


Big Tiger Fan..Little Tiger Fan playing on Sat morning


working on standing in my pink Chucks (Mama side note: these are the cutest shoes ever..thank you to Diana and Phil Young..we are soooo glad they finally fit)


stopping to pose for the camera


on the move towards Mama..if I could only get my hands on that camera I would be so happy

Tori hosted playdate last week...

Emry (8months), Levi (9months), Riley (9months), and Gianna (9months) came over to play and boy did we have fun!! We love when our friends can get together and are looking forward to many many more playdates with these fun friends.

Funday Sunday

Looking at the Sunday ads with Auntie Sarah


I am just like Mama..I LOVED the pickle when Mama let me try it


Jason, Auntie Sarah and I at D'Bronx for lunch


mmmmm D'Bronx


Our first trip to Yogurtini..Daddy didn't let me have any but he said it was "Two Thumbs Up Yummy"


I drank some milk instead of having self serve frozen yogurt and I was just as happy as the adults :)


After saying goodbye to Auntie Sarah and Jason, I ended my day playing at home!

Auntie Sarah & HOGS Football = AWESOME Saturday!

Mama, Tori and Auntie Sarah - all decked out in our HOGS gear!!


This is what happens when you take Mama's camera away from me when I want it!


All better now that I have a toy in my hands


Playing with Auntie Sarah


Trying to walk around the ottoman like a big girl


The game was on but the HOGS were blowing TN Tech away so I decided playing w/ stacking balls would be much more fun


Watching the end of the game just to say I did cheer on the HOGS a little bit ;)