Already a Bookworm

I love pictures of babies reading. I know that Libby is not really reading, but she sure does look cute here. She loves books (mainly to chew) -lately she has been kneeling a lot and looking at books on her little "tables" (they are actually boxes wrapped in baby blankets). She kneels and turns the pages. It entertains her for a little while at least!

Kerri's bridal shower

What a weekend. We threw Kerri a bridal shower on Saturday, and it was so fun-a little hot, but fun. Libby got to play with Ethan-she loves other babies-and Kerri got all kinds of neat stuff! Sunday, I threw a baby shower for Danielle and it went well too. A weekend full of showers is somewhat exhausting, but we got to recover on Monday-Libby literally fell asleep in her high chair while I was feeding her dinner. She went to bed at 6:30!

The world of mobility

Libby is on the move-that is great news for everyone, except maybe our cat, Animal. (I think he liked her better when she just laid there.) Libby also has 2 teeth now-the bottom front ones. She is progressing so fast now, it is hard to keep up.

We had a meeting last night with her physical and occupational therapists, as well as her service coordinator with Birth-to-Three (A GREAT program for kids like Libby). They are all so excited to see her progress. She is moving leaps and bounds ahead of what we thought she could. She's even trying to stand-despite the fact that her legs are not quite straight.

A year ago, I was unsure of how all of this would turn out, but looking back over my journals, I find so many reassurances that God was moving for us. Oswald Chambers wrote "Remain true at all costs to what God is doing with you and don't ask why He is doing it." It's hard not to question, but we are pressing on everyday and seeing so many miracles!

Our first family vacation

We just got home from our first family vacation to Knoxville, TN. Corey and I had been eagerly awaiting the end of finals so that we could leave town and spend time with our great friends, Scott and Danielle Taylor. Despite my excitement, I was DREADING the 6.5 hour drive that had to get us there. Praise God, Libby slept most of the time. We got there without any major meltdowns and the vacation got off to a great start. We had a wonderful time with Scott and Danie. They got to practice parenthood-they are expecting in August-and we got out of Morgantown. Corey and I haven't been on a real vacation in over a year because of my many pregnancy woes. On Mother's Day, I received a beautiful basket of bath fizzers and lotions-Libby knows how her mommy likes her baths. I also received a bouquet of flowers at church because I had a baby in the last year. We had a really wonderful time and I am so glad that we went. But I am also glad to be home.
This is Scott and Corey waiting to go to church!

Danielle and I finally get Libby to stop grabbing earrings long enough to take a picture. Libby is really excited about it.
This is Scott making Libby laugh. She is patting him-she likes to pat everything! A born drummer I guess.

It all happens so fast

On Friday, Libby could not crawl. On Saturday, Libby could crawl. She is not fast or graceful, but she is moving in the forward direction. She seems exhausted after just a few feet (much like when I exercise), but she is getting better everyday. It was Corey's Aunt Missy who first motivated Libby to crawl. Over the weekend, we celebrated Corey's Mamaw's and niece's birthdays. It was so fun, and the whole family was around! Missy was playing with a book that she got Libby and she lurched toward it. After that, Libby realized that she could in fact go forward.I think this photo is hilarious. The cousins are already fighting for Pappy's attention.

Here is the mob celebrating Mamaw (in the middle) and Aubree (baby on the left). Aubree turns 1 on cinco dimio.

Libby is being very studious with her Aunt Nancy.

Lots of fun to be had

Libby and Elliot have had a lot of chances to play this past week. They are really good together-Libby watches as Elliot crawls by. Elliots ability to move has definitely made me see all the things I need to get rid of in my house when Libby gets on the move.
We also got to go to Charleston over the weekend to visit my grandparents and my sister. Libby and I went with Grandma and Grandpa to a bridal shower dinner at my Great Aunt Greta's house. They have an amazing back yard and Libby got her first experience with grass. She liked it!
Libby loves pets. She was enamored with my grandparent's dog Abbey. And Abbey was of course the perfect pet and was gentle and kind to Libby.

High Chair Fun

Libby loves food-she eats it all! Corey and I have been procrastinating about getting the highchair though. It is one more enormous thing in our not so enormous house. However, Libby needed one-and so did our backs (not so fun sitting on the floor feeding her in a bouncy seat). She loves it. I think she likes sitting up and seeing everything. She is REALLY nosy! She is also loving her exersaucer-which is great for her leg therapy. I put her splints on while she plays and she never even notices. As she continues to do more and more, I will update the blog more frequently.

Nine months

How fast it all goes by. Libby is nine months old. She can now sit on her own, roll all over the place, eat baby foods and cereals, almost crawl, and last Friday she said her first word-"Dada." I may act offended that it wasn't "Mama," but I'm so glad that she is starting to talk and do all the things that babies do. Cognitively she is right on target. Even her mobility has jumped up. Now that spring has sprung (although you wouldn't know it by looking outside), we have begun to take Libby out. She made her first church appearance yesterday and she was SO good. She loved the music and slept through the message. The crowd didn't bother her at all. I've been reflecting over the last year or two, and even though it was the worst of the worst at one point, I think we have the best of the best. She's a handful and she can be frustrating, but she melts your heart when she smiles.

Easter fun

This was a fun Easter for Libby. She actually was able to take her presents out of the basket and play with them (and when I say play I mean hit them against whatever is closest-the floor, the table, her knee, her head). We spent time with both families, and Libby was cute as can be. My favorite thing was that she got a onesie that says "I'd Rather Be Naked" and it speaks truth. Enjoy the Easter pictures. I also included some of Libby in her pick WV warm up suit because she looks ADORABLE!

Rolling Around

Libby is now mobile. She has been able to roll from belly to back for awhile now, but last week, she figured out back to belly. Now she is EVERYWHERE. I was working in the office and went to check on her and she had almost rolled into the kitchen. She is doing well-despite the cold that we both got last week.

8 months, 11 pounds

Libby was 11 pounds 4 ounces at her doctor's appointment on Thursday. She is growing and developing a lot now. Sitting is her new favorite thing to do. She doesn't have the balance to do it all on her own, but when Elliot Smith is around, she tries to show off. Shawna and I get together as much as we can, and since the weather was nice, we took the kids on a walk today. It was great!

A fun week for Libby

Despite the fact that she is teething and thus sometimes really fussy, Libby had a fun week this week. We had tea with Janie Wilson on Tuesday-Janie is a GT-a grandmother in training. Libby is happy to be the subject of Janie's attention, and is anxious for Scott and Danielle to have her new friend. Also, Libby has had opportunites to play with her aunt Nancy and cousin Aubree this week. It's hard to get together with Nancy's hectic schedule, but she is making up for it this week. On Saturday, Libby went to her first baby shower-for her other friend Baby Jabbour. We have discovered that Libby does not like crowds-but she was fine after she got used to it. Finally, Libby had her first sleepover with Meme and Pappy. She was great-so they tell us. We go to the doctor Thursday , so I will update her weight!

Hair styling

Libby is continuing to do well-we have introduced peas and carrots and squash to her diet and she is loving it. Her hair is growing in a lot too, so of course I had to put a clip in it-Corey prefers to make a mohawk.

Will You Be My Valentine?

Well, Libby's first Valentine's Day is here and she celebrates by FINALLY reaching double digits in her weight. She was 10 pounds even at her last doctors appointment. She has started eating some rice cereal and squash everyday and she loves it. She also is able to roll around like a pro. She loves to play and we think the teeth are on the way (the fussiness and drool are a definite indication). She'll be talking before we know it.

Bumbo madness

Libby likes to sit up everywhere, so when Grandma Candy got her a Bumbo, she loved it. She is doing great-eating like a champ. We don't have a new weight, but she seems HUGE to me (and I should know given that I carry her around everywhere).

Six months so fast

I can't believe that Libby is 6 months old. And yesterday she weighed 9 pounds 4 ounces. She is now playing with toys and putting EVERYTHING in her mouth-which means that everything has to be clean! She is also becoming a lot more independent and is really starting to show her personality. We love watching her grow and seeing her develop.

Gator Bowl Super Fans

New Year's Day brought out all the cute Mountaineer gear that Libby got for Christmas. She looked so cute watching the game with her Daddy! She has discovered that she likes TV, especially Curious George, but football is okay too. She is up to 8 pounds 5 ounces as of last Wednesday, and we are off to the doctor tomorrow for another weight check.

Our first Christmas with Libby

Our first stop on the Christmas train was Webster Springs WV. We visited Corey's Mamaw and Aunt and Uncle. It was Libby's first trip of any real length, and she did great. She slept both ways without making a peep! She was a little confused at first, but warmed up to everyone eventually.

The next stop was at my parent's house. Both my sisters and my brother and their families were there, so it was a FULL house. Claire (my niece) and Libby had matching outfits and looked absolutely adorable. We had a great time being all together. Christmas morning was spent at Corey's parents house. We had an amazing breakfast and some time together before Corey had to go to work.

Even though it was an exhausting holiday, Libby has kept smiling. She is the most precious gift that we got and we are so thankful. Her smile lights up the room-the photo doesn't do it justice!

Happy Face!

Libby is still in her PJ's, but looking absolutely adorable. Our Christmas season has been wonderful despite the fact that Libby has been a bit under the weather. We are making some Christmas trips this week. Last night we visited the hospital so that all the nurses could ooh and aah over her again. Tomorrow we are heading down to Christmas with the Bozic clan. Then it's back to Morgantown for Christmas with my family. Libby of course is the best Christmas present of all!

Libby's First Christmas Party... but not her last!

This morning (very early) Libby and Corey and I attended the "Holy Huddle" Christmas party. This is Becky's small group-women who have dedicated a lot of time to praying for Libby. So Becky's Christmas present was Libby. None of the women had seen our little miracle in person, so it was quite a day for everyone! I wish we could share her with everyone that prayed, but it would be hard to visit so many. Merry Christmas everyone!