I think

that Smith and Mom are having fun at their private pool & villa in Thailand. I'm so jealous!

Chow Update

Chappell tried peaches for the first time today, and liked them. I'm assuming she liked them because she didn't throw up.

Reed and I just ordered Nutrisystem! We both want to lose some weight gained during my pregnancy, so we will see what happens. It's pretty cool- I got to customize my own menu and pick out my own meals. It seems pretty fool proof... and even better, no cooking's involved!
I need to go buy a scale tomorrow so we can track our weight once the food arrives. We're pretty excited about it!

Will's 4th Birthday Weekend

Chappell (8 days away from 6 months) hangin' out with her cousin Mary Parker (4 1/2 months) and Buddy (Reed's dad).
Trying to kick her cousin off of the couch.

Cousins & best friends!

All wrapped up after her first swim!

Chappell & Aunt Meg

Will, the birthday boy, in the pool...

Daddy and Chappell in the pool for the first time. She seemed to be OK with it...

On the way to the pool in her bikini from Aunt B (Brooke)! If you cannot see it clearly, because my camera is so blurry (more about that later), it is a triangle top/string bikini - hilarious!

So, we had a great weekend at Bay Point for Will's 4th birthday! Reed's whole family was there, and we had a lot of fun spending time with them. Chappell went in the pool for the first time on Friday evening and seemed to enjoy it! Saturday, we all went on a pirate ship to celebrate the big birthday-- the babies stayed with a babysitter at the condo. The pirate ship was hilarious-- they had pretend pirates walking around the boat leading activities for the kids... and a full bar for the adults. It really was entertaining-- I'm sure we'll do it again once the girls are older (MP and Chaps).

On the baby front... Chappell is still trying to scoot around if we put her on her stomach. This scares me because I know I only have a few weeks, maybe a month, until she'll start crawling. Yikes!

We tried to switch formulas this morning because her formula is being discontinued this month... just my luck. She hated it and wouldn't drink the new stuff... so I just went to www.diapers.com and ordered about a month and a half's worth of the old formula. Hopefully when we run out again we'll figure something out. Yet another question for the 6 month check up. I think I'm going to work on a list for that at some point...

And about the camera-- I'm going crazy with my little digital canon. It's either clear, with red eye - or blurry without red eye. I've messed with the settings a zillion times and it doesn't seem to help. I've had it since college and I think it's time for retirement. I'm currently researching cameras, so we shall see. I really like the canon rebel... hopefully I'll get one soon and take a class. Smith bought Photoshop for me in Thailand... I'm really excited to start playing around with that.

PS- Sorry the pictures are out of order... it's the way they uploaded and I was way too lazy to sort them.

2 Strikes = More than enough

Well, I really thought the reason Chappell threw up her sweet potatoes yesterday was because I mixed in too much rice cereal. I thought it was just too thick. Since "they" say to try foods for at least three days in a row to rule out allergies, etc., etc., I decided to try again.

Well, apparently I was wrong. Reed was here this time and insists that the second she smelled the sweet potatoes she started to gag. Once she had the smallest bit of sweet potatoes in her mouth... projectile vomiting once again... and this time it was bigger and badder than before. I'm talkin' Exorcist style. The worst part about it is I don't know what it means.

PS, Thanks mom for going to Thailand for a month.

She's eaten prune baby food... and she's been eating rice cereal for almost 2 months now.

I've been googling random things... to only come up with potential allergy & just not ready for solids... who the heck knows. Is instantaneous vomiting even an allergy symptom??

Let's just say this is one of those things that has left me confused, and I will have plenty to ask the pediatrician in a week and a half!

Poor little thing.

She's fine.

She ate a big bowl of rice cereal with prune juice right after she lost her breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Reed is currently putting her to bed.

DO Y'ALL SEE THAT I AM COVERED IN PUKE?? Like I've said before, she's the only person in the whole world that is allowed to poo or pee on me... so let's just add vomit for good measure. Honestly, I didn't even mind.

Quick e-mail excerpt from Reed

From the body of one of Reed's recent e-mails to his friends...

Just thought I would provide a little update about the Williams in Florida. We spent last weekend in Apalachicola celebrating our second anniversary and the Memorial Day weekend. I think we killed about two hund oysters between us. Just a quick story to show how I am becoming acclimated to the Florida lifestyle.

Scene: Apalachicola Convenience Store, I walk in

Lady Cashier: Boy, are you going out in the sun today?
Me: I think so.
Lady Cashier: Here, then you need this. (handing me a bottle of SPF 60 lotion).
Me: Come on, that's just rude.
Lady Cashier: No, it's considerate. Have you seen your legs? And here in Franklin County we're honest. Franklin County - home of the drunks (as she sips from a solo cup).

Sweet Potatoes

This is what Chappell thinks of sweet potatoes:

One bite and boom... projectile vomit.

A few pics of Will and Chappellina

Anniversary Trip Weekend!

I feel like I have a lot to blog about. For Memorial Day Weekend (and more importantly, our 2nd anniversary) Reed surprised me with a trip to Apalachicola. For those of you who haven't been to Flor-Ida's "forgotten coast," you really should go. Apalachicola is a quaint OLD southern town about 70 miles east of Panama City... it's a great place for fishing and hanging out on the water.

Saturday we hung out at Boss Oyster house and ate way more than two people ever should. We had raw oysters, several variations of baked oysters, crawfish-- and after that I don't really remember because we were already on to our second pitcher. It was a great time after we switched tables to get away from the diving sea gulls. Reed, as always, thought it was hilarious to watch me squirm in the presence of... the birds. He took a few pictures while they were hovering above. I look quite awkward, wouldn't you say?? The real estate magazine was for bird swatting...

We stayed at the Gibson Inn. It was really cool, even though it is haunted. I thought it was haunted even before I read a magazine in the lobby stating that the ghost of an old ship captain still lingers in room 309... which was our room! Needless to say, we didn't stay for the third night. BTW, I just googled the "Gibson Inn" to find a picture for the blog, and found more information on the ghost of room 309. I heard some knocking the second night and when I nudged Reed to tell him, he said:

"Holland, it was me. I think I pooted in my sleep. We aren't talking about this at 3:50 am."

Wow.

Since I was freaked out and really missed Chappell, we (I) decided to join Emmy, Buddy, Meg & Will at Bay Point Sunday night. We took the kids to the pool and put Chappy's little feet in. I think I'm going to wait a couple more weeks before we totally submerge her in the water, but she loved getting her feet wet! She drew them up really quickly and looked startled the first time Reed dunked them in the water. It seems like most people wait until 6 months to bring babies into the pool. Although, I'm not really sure why. I've heard 6 month shots... thoughts from other moms??

Reed and I had a really good time, but I just don't think I'm ready to spend three nights away from the Chapster. I'm officially a mom, and a sappy one at that.

MORE ABOUT the ChApMeIsTeR...

-She can sit up on her own for about 20-30 seconds

-Roll both ways

-Screaming high pitched sounds (totally adorable when she moves her arms at the same time)

-Seems to be reaching out her arms when she wants to be picked up

I'm in love! I'll post separately pictures of her playing with cousin Will over the weekend and a couple (kind of blurry) of her sitting up on her own. Hope everyone had a great weekend!

Next post to come, Chappell's visit to Beach Box 09! I need y'all to send me pics :)

Chappell & Nanny

We are in Pensacola tonight because Reed has a CLE here in the morning. Since mom and Smith are in Thailand, and ML is still in Florence, Italy, we thought we would come over and keep my dad company. Chappell spoke to her aunts and grandmother via Skype, and we all shared a lovely Chinese dinner from Hunans (for all of you P-cola people). Mom and auntie Smith were surprised to hear Chap's new skill- high shrieking/squealing. She's quite proud of herself. I wonder how the general public is going to respond to her newest accomplishment. It'll make your ears bleed, but of course we think it's wonderful. Tomorrow we are off to our 2nd anniversary weekend! I can't believe it's been two years. It's crazy how time flies!
Here are some cute pictures of Chappell with Nanny. Just a little history... my dad is called Nanny because it's been a tradition on my dad's side of the family for 3 (pretty sure 3) generations. Totally masculine, huh?

Totally freaked out

This morning around 6:45 I woke up and checked the monitor. I couldn't see Chappell in the screen so of course I ran up to see what was going on. She's a very active sleeper and likes to snuggle up to the back wall of the crib, usually on her side, where I can at least see the back of her bum or head...

This time, she was on her stomach, wedged in the corner with her arm still trapped under her torso. I quickly moved her and let her go back to sleep.

The worst part was seeing this when I went to pick her up at 7:45 :

I know the picture's blurry, but as you can see, it seems as though she got some kind of a "rug burn" on the left side of her face. I don't really know what to do? Take the bumper out? Then she could really hurt herself. Put her sleep wedge back in?

I know one thing-- we're not going out in public today because I don't want Child Protective Services called. I think that's what it's called...

Poor thing. It looks awful!

PS- Reed's home w/ a stomach bug today. I hope we don't get it.