6 Months

(Photos courtesy of Grandpa Kornegay)

Can you believe Evie will be six months old on Saturday, January 31? She is growing up so fast! Everyday she seems to pick up a new skill or rediscover and improve upon an old favorite. Lately she has been... rolling from her tummy to her back and vice versa; almost sitting up on her own; reaching and grabbing for anything in her line of sight; blowing raspberries; sticking her tongue out all day; saying "mom mom mom"; laughing when tickled; pulling off her socks to suck on her toes; chowing down on her cereal; figuring out how to make the lights come on on her exersaucer; watching Calvin and Susie very intently. Blake and I are just amazed by her!

New Home?

For the past few weeks, Blake and I have been looking into buying a larger home to accomodate our growing family (No, I'm not pregnant, but we do plan to have more children in the future). Piney Z is a community on the southeast side of Tallahassee that we have always liked and have just kept going back to over the last few years. Yesterday, we discovered they are building a new section with Craftsman style homes (my fav) so we went and toured the models. We absolutely fell in love and are seriously considering reserving a lot and starting the process of building a home there. The only catch is having to sell the home we are currently in. Blake knows a great Realtor who is going to help us get the most we can out of this property, so we shall see. Wish us luck!

If you are curious, here's the builder's Web site with the floor plan we like:

http://www.zinscompany.com/index.php?action=details&listingID=97&picID=1#

We would be adding a second story to the detached garage as a mother-in-law suite/playroom.

TOO MUCH CUTENESS!!!

Evie has become aware of Calvin, our big kitty we got in Michigan. Calvin has become aware of Evie, the baby that can pet him. Together.... their Cuteness is a power beyond imagination.

Kiley's New Do

It had to happen. We knew it was going to have to happen one of these days. Evie, who has increasingly started grasping at things around her, has started to pull Mommy's hair out (it's not as if Kiley doesn't do that enough worrying about her). So in an effort to head her off at the pass Kiley has opted to get the "Natalie Portman" style haircut.

Love it? Hate it?

Just One Year

Evie is growing up so fast! I never understood why Carter's called their baby line "Just One Year" until I had my own baby. It's because they're really only babies for that one year, and Evie's is almost half over already! So lately I've just been trying to savor her being little and needing me for everything. The exciting news for this week is that she's starting saying "mom mom mom mom," though I'm sure she doesn't mean me when she's saying it. She's also been sleeping really well at night lately. This morning the alarm went off at 6:30 and she was still asleep! Blake and I certainly hope this trend continues!!

Christmas Vacation 2008

Christmas vacation was a blast for the Mallard Family. We packed up and drove to Apollo Beach on Dec. 27th for a week. We drank eggnog, played lots of Liverpool Rummy (btw, according to Blake, in the event of a tie he will always win), opened many presents, slept in as late as Evie would let us, and relaxed by the pool. On Tuesday, we went over to Great Aunt Chloe Anne's place and then hung out at Uncle Ken's house before chowing down on some seafood by the bay. After welcoming in the New Year, Blake and I got a break from parenting and went to the Cheesecake Factory and the movies to see The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. Evie enjoyed relaxing outside by the pool the most, as you can tell. Too bad Christmas comes just once a year...

Evie's First Solid Foods

Over the Holidays, Evie had her first solid food experience. Amazingly, she took to it like a champ. Kiley fed her rice cereal mixed in with Mama's milk. She really seems to like it! And thanks to Auntie Kim for telling us it's better to start earlier with the solids than later. The video below is her first try of the oatmeal, which she seems to enjoy all the more. As you will see, half of it gets in her mouth and the other half on one of her many bibs. Good thing we have about a thousand bibs; she's going to need them! In a couple of weeks, we'll try giving her mashed bananas. Yummy!