Moriah at 8 Months

Dear Moriah,

You turned 8 months old yesterday, September 20th. It's amazing to see how much you've grown and changed since you were that teensy little newborn in the hospital making those little grunts & purring noises! Daddy and I always think the stage you're in is "the best one" until you grow a little more and get into the next stage. So, naturally, we think 8 months is the greatest right now!

I know this is alot of info, but you may wanna go back and read it one day, who knows! At least I know I will! ; ) This is what you're up to these days:

*Personality/Spirit- Thankfully, you still have just the sweetest, kindest, most precious little spirit! You are very inquisitve and curious as well. You're still a little reserved in bigger groups, but you are nevertheless quite expressive. You're such a joyful, happy girl and I love the person you're becoming! I think we are going to be great friends!

*Sounds- Your first syllables to say were "Da-da-da-da-da." Still no "ma-ma-ma-ma" yet. Sometimes you will put together a whole string of different syllables and "words" that are complete jibberish, all the while making a very serious face. I think you know exactly what you're saying, it's just not English yet. You also like to fake cough and fake laugh. Pretty funny! You can do the pooting sound with your mouth (do they call it blowing strawberries)? One time, Daddy was holding you in your room and he passed gas, and you followed that by making the sound with your mouth. hahaha! You love to lay in your crib and "talk" whenever we lay you down and also when you wake up in the morning.

*Looks- Your hair is growing thicker, but it's definitely got a patch that's longer and thicker in the top front than anywhere else. Sort of a backwards mullet, but you definitely pull it off well. It also works great for a little ponytail! You're still covered in delicious little fat rolls all over your arms and legs. You get tons of compliments on your big beautiful eyes and your warm, friendly smile! (Sorry to tell ya but you also get lots of comments on your fat rolls and your thick thighs). But everyone thinks you're just the cutest thing! And they're right! : )

*Sleeping/Eating/Pooping- You still sleep through the night. You usually go to bed about 6:30 and sleep until 6 or 6:30..thank you Babywise! Although it takes you longer to go to sleep nowadays because you like to motor all over your crib before you can find just the perfect spot to lay your head on. When you get real sleepy you'll suck your left thumb, and you'll plop your head to one side, lay there a minute, then turn and plop it to the other side. You'll do that routine of going back and forth for a few more minutes, then decide you've got your head on just the perfect spot and allow yourself to go to sleep. As far as eating goes, you're still a so-so eater. You LOVE your green veggies (not sure where you got that from) as well as fruit and sweet potatoes/corn mix. And ever since we've started putting Miralax (well, technically "ClearLax" from our good friends at Brookshires) in your morning bottle, you've been a regular pooper! For awhile there your poops were getting so big and hard that you would stiffen your legs and try to hold them in, then scream as they came out. It was so sad and painful to see, and we got that fixed in a jiffy! No more painful poopies for you! (I know you're so glad I shared that, but hey it's been a big part of your life thus far)!

*Milestones- You're sitting up good although you still tumble over every now & then. You eat out of your high chair,  and enjoy playing in your exercauser and "Julie Jump-up" contraption.  You love your little doll and monkey, and smile at pretty much any little toy that has a face on it. You love to shake the fire out of your rattle! As well as drop it and let us pick it up for you. Good thing your 8 months, enjoy that game while it lasts, Missy. You love peek-a-boo, Patty Cake, Itsy Bitsy Spider, and Ride That Horsey Go to Town. We think you're gonna start crawling any day now. You get on all fours and rock back and forth. You find some way to motor all over your crib as well. I'll lay you on one end and you'll end up on the opposite end of the crib facing the opposite way you started. Crazy kid! ; ) You've started putting your hands together like you're clapping, you just can't quite make the actual clapping sound. When I show the sign for milk and say "Milk!" you smile real big and even chuckle, because you know you're about to get a bottle. You're getting better at drinking your juice/water combo out of the sippie cup. What am I forgetting?

*Etc.- You love going to Ms. Jennifer's house and playing with the boys. Ms. Jennifer says you think Mr. David is so funny...which is a theme I'm noticing. You think guys are funny. We'll have to keep an eye on that situation. You're so "nosy" and curious and you don't miss a thing! You'll turn your whole body and neck to see who's talking or to see what some noise is. If you're laying in your crib and hear me walk in the room, you'll be up on your hands in no time, perching up and craning that neck to see if I'm there. You love to smile, laugh, babble, and cuddle. And you are busy, busy, busy these days! Gone are the days where I could just sit you on a blanket...you're all over the place now, and I know it's just gonna get "worse" when you start crawling soon!

You are one of the very best gifts I've ever been given. I'm so amazed at how God would allow your Dad and me to have the privilege of raising such an incredible little person. Just today as I was feeding you and you were being your Cute Little Self, your Daddy came in from work and he and I talked about how surreal it is having this awesome little girl in our house with us! From the day you came into our lives you were a wonderful addition to our family, and eight months later, it just keeps getting better and better! Hard to believe, I know! I can't wait to see what God has in store for you and how He might use you to bring glory to His name. That's where life really is, Moriah, in Christ. I hope and pray we will raise you in a way that points you to Him, because He is everything and He is where you will find everything you need-Love, Joy, Peace, Provision, Life, Fun, Adventure, Faithfulness, Fulfilled Promises. He's not always "safe" but He is so good!

Moriah Grace Allen, Happy 8 months! I'm so very thankful for you! Your Daddy and I cherish every moment spent with you.

Love You Forever,
Mama

Labor Day, Indians, & Randoms: Aug, Sept 2011

August 2011- Sitting in her high chair like a big girl

A good visit with Uncle Joe, Aunt Barb, & Kat...Moriah was a little suspicious of Barb but treated Joe like her ole buddy. haha. She eyeballed Kathryn from across the room...then decided she'd hang out with her. Here she is relaxing with Uncle Joe. Another noteworthy thing from this visit: We got Barb to eat Edamame for the 1st time.

Labor Day Weekend in Gilmer- The weather finally cooled down and we all went outside for as long as possible! Here's Brayden writing on the kids table with his chalk.

Can't get this to rotate: Here's Kyleigh, Billy, Pop, and Moriah enjoying the nice weather

Karsyn was walking all over the place! Here she is knocking on the door.

Kyleigh, Pop, and Mo

Tootsie & Brayden playing catch- Lovely deck painted by Billy Allen ; )

Moriah is absolutely mesmerized by the Nike swoosh on Pop's shirt. The funny thing is, before seeing the next pic, Billy said,"She's thinking she really wants to touch that thing on Pop's shirt."

I'm married to a prophet.

Watching the kids play and shaking her rattle. Sporting the comb-over.

"I really wanna run around with those kids. That swingset looks fun,"

"Naw, I'm really happy here in Pop's lap!"

Everyone loves a pat on the back every now and then

Another sideways pic---isn't that kids table cute? And there's Karsyn in the background searching for her belly button. haha!

I tried to get another pic of her and she "hid" from me. so funny!

Climbing up! Big girl!

September 9th, 2011: A historic moment! 1st high school football game at the Tomato Bowl in Jacksonville, TX! Many memories at this place! We had a great time hanging out with Emily, Halle, and Whitney (and Chad!). Somehow we never got a pic with Em though...dern! We made it till halftime of the game, then spent the night at the Griffins.

Moriah and me visiting with Amy and Julie, two sweet friends (and fellow mamas!) from Jville,

Having a great time watching the Tribe & Buckeyes play

Saturday morning before we left Jville, Moriah got to meet Ke'odrick, a special young man that I used to babysit/mentor over a period of a few years in high school/college. He is very special to our family and is now a freshman at JHS! Moriah absolutely loved him! She went right to him, smiled, and babbled. It really made my heart smile!

I guess the whole thing didn't upload? Here she is looking right at him while he holds her up. Such a sweet moment for me to see these two together. God is so good.

Summer 2011 Part II

*Before I get started on the Summer Part II post, Moriah wanted me to say "Happy Birthday" to her Grandma Allen and her Pop! She loves you both and hopes you have a fabulous birthday! She loves her grandparents and so do we!

We stayed after the conference in Indianapolis a few days so that Billy's family would have the chance to come down and visit. It was really neat getting to see Moriah interact with them and have such a great time. We are so blessed to have such wonderful, loving families!

Moriah intently watching Grandma's facial expressions...so sweet!

Billy, John, and Jay at the food court

Moriah laughing with Grandma...we got a video of her chuckling everytime Grandma would say "pretty girl" with a high pitched voice and it was so cute! Mo thought it was the funniest thing.

Checking out her uncle's hat

Aunt Mary Jane and cousins Amanda, Abby, and LJ. They cracked me up when one of them said "Finally we have a white cousin!" Silly kids! (their other cousins are Filipino).

She cozied right up to Uncle Louis

The oldest, Amanda, holding Moriah

 Abby's turn!

Love this action shot...Moriah is looking up at Amanda wondering what she missed!

Big Boy LJ holding Moriah--she has just 1 boy cousin on each side of the family!

Louis, Moriah, and Billy

Everybody at the Late Night Holiday Inn Party In Our Room. Some of us (ahem...me)...look rougher than others late at night after they've washed off their make-up and slept a couple hours. But this was the only pic with everyone in it, so the pride had to go out the door! So glad Moriah got to meet the rest of her fam!

The next day I took Moriah "swimming" at the indoor pool...Look at this bathing beauty! heehee.

Drying off after a fun swim!

Mama and Mo in the pool

Sweetie Girl relaxing in the big bed back in the room!

Here's our hotel in Memphis that we stayed in on the way back.

One final night in a hotel before we were back home!



You were such a trooper, Moriah! 4 days of 7+ hours of driving (we went from Tyler to Memphis, from Memphis to Indy, stayed in Indy awhile, then from Indy to Memphis, and from Memphis back to Tyler). She did such a great job but I still think we will fly next time! ; )