Four Months Next Monday

Our lives seem to be in a constant state of busyness. Now that Tim is instructor qualified at work we ride ride separately with him getting up at 4:30 a.m. and me at 5:00 a.m. With traffic we end up getting home around 5:20 or 5:30 p.m. By the time the kitchen is cleaned and our bags are packed and ready for work the next day, we finally can relax around 7:30. So that leaves us with an hour and a half for the three of us to sit on our bed and watch t.v. and get ready for our 9:00 bed time. Tim and I laugh at the sight of me leaving the house in the morning; I look much like a donkey loaded down with luggage. I have my purse, a lunch box, Caroline's diaper bag, my bag for my breast pump, a cooler for Caroline's milk, and whatever two inch binder I brought home to study for the next days lesson that I will be teaching. Did I mention Caroline in there somewhere? So you can see why I don't have as much time to post blogs with our new routine. Thanks God for Presidents' Day!!!

During the last full weekend in January, Janel and Julia came to visit us from late Friday night until Monday morning. We had a wonderful time. That was the first time we have seen Julia and Caroline's first visit from an aunt. We got a visit from Granddaddy and Nanna on that Saturday, we went to Church and to the beach Sunday. That was both Caroline and Julia's first visit to the beach. I know they are going to be good friends when they get older. They are only four months apart and closest in age as far as cousins go. It seems like they hardly got to play with each other because they were on opposite sleeping and eating schedules. But there was one evening when Caroline was sleeping in her bouncer on the kitchen table and Julia was sitting in the bebe pod on the kitchen table and Julie leaning over and pulled of Caroline's socks. Quite funny to watch.

Julia and Caroline

Caroline's First Trip to the Beach

Caroline's First Laughs

My Mom stayed with us the on Thursday night since she had a work conference in town last Friday. It's always fun to see Nanna. She feed Caroline and got her dressed for me so I got to sleep in an extra thirty minutes that morning. Thanks Mom!

Nanna and Caroline

Caroline in her Valentine's dress from Grandma next to her tulips from Nanna.

Funny Story: We have noticed Alex, our smallest beagle, has been getting out of the yard this week. We would find him outside the gate whining in the driveway for us to let him in when we came home from work. He is known for not been the sharpest crayon in the box, but it seems he had us fooled the whole time. Tim noticed he was outside the fence yesterday and when over in the neighbor's yard to get. So the neighbor introduced himself to Tim and told Tim that Alex comes over quite often. Then he explained to Tim that Alex goes through their cat door and eat all the cat food and leaves. From the sound of it he has been doing this for quite a while now. Luckily our neighbor was not mad at us because we had no clue what was going no. It just goes to show you looks can be deceiving.

"Cats Beware: I'm coming after your food next."

Tim has been working on our living room every weekend since the beginning of January. He took a book case out of the wall and created a stud wall, drywall and painted the wall up. The most important thing about the project is that this wall holds our 52" screen TV. He also added sconces next to the TV...and there are NO wires showing. All the electronics are held in a closet of to the side of the TV. We also removed a wood burning stove in the living room and the hearth underneath it and continued the same hardwood flooring. I am so proud of Tim, he truly is a weekend warrior. My father also came one weekend to help with the demolition and the creation of the wall. Thanks Daddy!!!! I'll have before and after pictures posted when the room is complete. He still has to paint the wall, trim and replace some closet doors.

Caroline loves Elle the Elephant that her Uncle Jeff got her for Christmas.

Does anyone want a bear hug?

Caroline's Christmas

The holidays have kept us busy. I wish I could have posted one or two blogs in between this one, but I guess I'm learning about the busy life of being a parent. Caroline is now ten weeks old and learning so much. She is just now getting the hang to holding on to rattles when you put them in hers hands and she is doing so well with hold her head up. Before I know it she won't need my help any more. On the 19th of December Caroline and I rode with my parents up to Rome, GA to have our Christmas get together with my mom's side of the family. My Aunt Kay and Uncle Nick went to Italy this summer the same time Tim and I when to England. They got in touch with our Italian relatives to have dinner and share heritage stories with them. This year Aunt Kay hosted Christmas at her house and recreated the five course meal that was cooked for them. I was very delicous.

Right after I got home the Sunday of that weekend, we started getting ready for Tim's family. His mom, dad, brother, and grandmother came down the Monday before Christmas and stayed until early Saturday morning. We had a good time with them. And of course with grandparents visiting, Caroline got more presents than anyone.

This Christmas I did some major hinting for the Open Hearts necklace from Kay Jewlers. Tim did good in getting the not so subtle hints, however he tried to make the gift giving more fun than just giving me what I wanted. Click HERE to see the video clip from Christmas day. Happy New Years to all!!!

Four Generations on my Mom's side. The night before was a long night as Princess Caroline does not sleep well away from home...hence, the lovely hair style.

Caroline and Grandma Billings.

Caroline is happy it's Christmas!

Caroline and Grandpa Billings.

What a party animal!

Caroline has a new friend the same size as her.

Caroline's First Thanksgiving

Caroline turned 5 weeks old on Thanksgiving day. We took her to Bainbridge, Georgia to see my Dad's side of the family. Every year my dad's relatives drive all across the state to go to this country church to eat and leave. At the most people are there for about three hours and then they get in their cars and drive home. Talk about only going for the food. Every year we go and comment on how we wished we could have stayed longer to visit with everyone. When my brother, Jason, used to go he would use his journalism skills to interview relatives we never met. Then he and my dad would talk about who they met and what they learned about everyone. It was like they divided and conquered the task of socializing with others.

Caroline got to see her Great-Granny Ragan for the first time along with her other great-great aunts and uncles. After we spent our two hours there, we drove to Columbus, Georgia to say the night with Chris and Liz and her side of the family. We had such a good time there. It was like high school times seeing her family again. Liz, her mom and I braved the crowds on Black Friday while leaving the kids at home with the men. I normally don't shop the day after Thanksgiving but I did for Caroline sine there is no BabiesRUs in Panama City. After the shopping trip we drove back home just in time for Tim to get started on his weekend long project of painting the parlor. With a little encouragement he does such a good job on his Honey-Do-List. And believe me he has a long list with this house.

Tim and I have so much to be grateful for this year. I had a wonderful pregnancy, easy delivery, and a beautiful, healthy child that I couldn't love more. Not to mention we moved back to Florida to get new job and be closer to family. We found a house, good church and home group, and we find ourselves surrounded by friendly neighbors. What more could we ask for.

Nonna feeding Caroline.

Four generations. This is Granny Ragan who gave me the rocking chair that my dad was rocked in. A picture of the rocking chair is in a previous blog entry below.

Our family of three.

Caroline had a hard time sleeping away from home and ended up wanting to sleep in the bed with Mommy and Daddy.

Liz and Caroline. Two of my three favorite women to hang out with. I'm just missing my mom in this picture.

Liz's little girl Loralye. She wanted to hold "the baby" the whole time.

Third Week

Our neighbor across the street made this crochet sleeping bag/pouch. It is much easier than having to deal with the burrito wrap coming undone during her naps.

Who can resist taking a picture of a sleeping baby?

Caroline went to her first squadron function last Friday: our Thanksgiving feast. This is one of the few times Tim has gotten to feed her since I'm just now getting the hang of pumping. What a proud Father!

Uncle Aaron stopped by on his way through last Thursday night and most of Friday. He's a natural at holding newborns. They made a good pair: Uncle Aaron talked and Caroline just sat quietly listening.

My favorite outfit: "Will the Paparazzi ever leave me alone?"

Here is a video clip Tim took of her.

2 Weeks Old!

Caroline turned two weeks old last Thursday. At her doctor's visit they said she is now 7lbs 5oz. Tim and I can tell she is putting on a little fat.

Aren't I such a doll baby?

Last Sunday was our first Sunday at Church as a family. That is the first dress she wore. That is NOT our Christmas tree we are standing in front of; it's our THANKSGIVING TREE!

Daddy taught her a lesson on being a good citizen and voting at the poles. She got a sticker for being good.

Caroline's first Uncle came to visit, Uncle Robb. He taught us a new family activity of Geocaching. You can read about at www.geocaching.com