2 7 months old!

Georgia was 7 months old on Friday...I didn't get her monthly pictures done on time! Oops. Just 2 days late! Two BIG things happening right now: she's sitting up AND she's babbling mamamamamamamamamama! Leighton's first word was mama, so I've been training Georgia on her M sounds cause I think it's just a really great first word!

And just for those who like to do a little comparison between the girls, this is what Leighton looked like at 7 months:

The past two months, it's been tough getting this sign to stay put because all Georgia wants to do is put it in her mouth! I have to move fast with the camera before it ends up all slobbered on.

As always, Leighton wanted in on the photo session. I told her she needed to put on a dress and she said "I have one on!" Ok, I guess Tinkerbell nightie counts.

1 That's what I thought...

I KNEW that was a little odd that Leighton did so well at school last week. This week, it's been a whole different story. I took her Tuesday morning and while she seemed a bit hesitant to go in her classroom, she didn't cry. However, I got a call from her teacher two hours later that Leighton had been crying all morning and maybe it was better if I picked her up early. So I did. Leighton was crying when I arrived (so sad!).

This morning I took her and she sure did cry when I left. I could hear her cries all the way down the hallway as I walked away. (For the record, I have cried both days that I have dropped her off.) I picked her up early again today (this was the plan) and sure enough, she was crying when I arrived. I guess it's going to take a little time to adjust. For both of us!

I will admit, I was so hopeful and excited when she didn't cry last week. I thought maybe, just maybe, she had not inherited my big ol crybaby gene. Also, as the person who I think knows her better than anyone, I would have bet money that she was going to cry. So I felt like I had misjudged her. Turns out, mother does know best. That's my girl! My sweet little emotional offspring! Although it breaks my heart to see her so upset, I know that she will eventually enjoy school. We just need to hang in there together in the meantime.

1 Georgia's turn

Georgia had her 6-month appointment yesterday (yeah, I know, almost a month late). The doctor was pleased with everything and we got a big thumbs up!

She is growing quite nicely...she's even jumped up a bit on her growth curve. I compared her to Leighton's stats at this time (although it's a bit of an inaccurate comparison because Leighton had her 6-month appointment on time). Here's where they stack up:

Georgia at 6 months (really 7 months)
Weight: 14 pounds, 10.5 ounces (15th percentile)
Height: 25 inches (10th percentile)
Head circumference: 42 cm (25th percentile)

Leighton at 6 months (really 6 months)
Weight: 13 pounds, 11 ounces (10th percentile)
Height: 25.5 inches (50th percentile)
Head circumference: 41 cm (10th percentile)

They are pretty close in size, really. Georgia was very alert for the doctor and very smiley (until time for shots, that is). I am always glad for the doctor to see all her tricks. Georgia did get 3 shots and she wasn't happy about it. I'm HOPING that's why she pretty much woke up every hour and a half last night!

Georgia is starting to roll all around. I think she got a late start from being in her swing ALL THE TIME. But now that we've released into the great wide open, she's starting to get the hang of it. I think she likes tummy time much more when SHE decides she wants to do it.

We're coming along in the food department. She hasn't had anything yet that she wouldn't eat (wow I remember Leighton being much more picky with her food). Georgia was eating peas in these pictures, and although she's making less than happy faces, she ate the peas. Now we're on squash. I just wish all this extra food was making any kind of impact on her sleeping at night. It's not!

Georgia absolutely loves Leighton. She watches her, smiles at her, and laughs and giggles when Leighton plays with her. Here they are having art class at home together:

I asked the doctor what we could do about Georgia's awful track record with sleeping at night. She reminded me that just a month or two ago, we couldn't even get Georgia to lie down in her crib, so we're making big strides. I also got the feeling she's not a huge cry-it-out fan. I'm not either, but this doesn't seem to work on her anyway (two nights ago she cried for over an hour and wasn't near stopping before I went in for her). I'm just hoping that she's gradually going to sleep all night. Or really, come on, I'll take waking up just once at this point.

5 Yellow Duck

 Today was a HUGE day in our house. Leighton's first day of school! We had been nervous about this day...we just assumed Leighton was going to cry and it was going to be heartbreaking leaving her. Guess we underestimated our girl! She didn't cry AT ALL. Chad took her this morning and when they got to her classroom, she sat down to color and said bye to him. That's it! The teachers (Miss Shana and Miss Elizabeth) said she didn't cry after he left either. What a huge relief!

We had to wake her up this morning to get her going, and she wasn't necessarily in a good mood. She shot down the dress I had planned for her to wear (which I didn't fight...I didn't want to upset her) and she instead chose this adorable dress from Nonny:

 

I felt sick to my stomach when I took these pictures. I just felt like she had no idea what she was about to do. Thank goodness it all turned out alright and she did just fine. Whew!

 I picked her up after two hours. The school recommended we ease her into the class environment by starting off slow. When I got there to pick her up, she was reading books happily. Miss Elizabeth told me Leighton didn't cry at all, followed directions, and did just wonderfully overall. Great news! I feel great about things now and excited that Leighton isn't a big ol pansy like her momma!

On Monday, we took Leighton to visit her classroom and meet her teachers. She's a Yellow Duck (each classroom is some kind of animal name), and the classroom is decorated with yellow ducks everywhere. She loved it! (Her outfit Monday was one from Granna...thanks grandmothers for dressing our girl in such adorable clothes!)

The classroom has "stations" everywhere...sort of like an awesome playroom. Leighton enjoyed exploring the room, reading books, coloring, and playing with the puzzles. She seemed a little hesitant, but we stayed about an hour, and by the end, she seemed perfectly comfortable. We got some good alone time with her teachers too, so I think that helped.

Leighton goes back on Tuesday (she's going Tuesdays/Thursdays) and we're going to go ahead and leave her for the full day (8:30 - 2:30). I'm so excited to hear all about her adventures as a Yellow Duck. I know they are going to be doing all kinds of fun activities. Stay tuned for more on our little schoolgirl!

2 Storytime, Brick, and Swimming

Whew. Our weekends are starting to get really crazy. This Saturday, we went with Gordon and Leslie to Storytime Live! with Dora, Backyardigans, Kai Lan, and The Wonder Pets (all shows on Nick Jr.). It was at the Houston Hobby Center for the Performing Arts. Leighton and Gordon enjoyed the show, I think. (If Gordon's SCREAM at the beginning of the show is an indicator!) Leslie and I...a little disappointed with the story lines. But hey, it wasn't aimed to entertain us. After the show, Leighton said "I want my daddy. Me no like that show."

This was during intermission. The kids had a snack and we all had a bathroom break. Leslie left me alone with Gordon and Leighton while she ran to the bathroom. I was a little nervous being in charge of a BOY. Thankfully, he didn't get into any trouble.

Or did he?

This morning, we made a trip to the zoo in CRAZY HOT weather to see our family brick. For Father's Day, I got Chad an engraved brick at the Houston Zoo...they are paving the walkway with these bricks and they just installed ours last week. First, we rode the train.

Check it! We are so excited to have our family brick! And it's in the BEST spot! Right in front of the ticket booth. Either that's a great spot or it's going to get worn down really fast. I'm not sure. But it's pretty cool to see our little family "in lights."

Tonight we went to the community pool and for the first time, the girls wore their matching swimsuits! Adorable. It took us a while to get this to happen (Leighton has been on a swimming strike all summer), but I'm glad it finally did. Ah...the fun of having two girls.

Our neighbors, the Rushings, were also at the pool and Kyra and Tasia happily played with the girls in the baby pool even though they can swim in the "big" pool. I will be excited when we can graduate to the big pool, cause I don't even want to think about what all is in that baby pool. Ahem.

Georgia was pretty down with the whole swimming experience. At least, she didn't cry so that's a good start. Leighton was having a blast jumping up and down in the pool. She only face planted once (gave me a heart attack) but from then on, she was really careful. I guess we should look into swimming lessons soon.

The weekend is over, but the week is still going to be crazy. We have Leighton's visitation day tomorrow morning at her preschool she's starting this week. I'll write more about that tomorrow, but we're looking forward to meeting her teachers and scoping out her classroom. And I'm trying to be a big girl and not cry because Leighton is growing up so fast!

0 Fergusons take over TCBY

This past week we met Jessica and Shannah at TCBY for an afternoon treat. (Shannah is married to Gary, Chad's uncle who he works for here in Houston. Jessica is Chad's cousin.) We had so much fun and Georgia could definitely tell this was her family:

They brought some really sweet gifts for the girls. Lots of wonderful books for Leighton and Georgia. In particular, a book about a three-legged cat, which is INCREDIBLE because we HAVE a three-legged cat. Very thoughtful on their part!

Leighton loved tearing open the wrapping paper and discovering what was inside the box. She also had fun dancing with Jessica...they were doing ballet moves in the middle of TCBY!

I wish we got together with our fellow Fergs more often. Jessica is currently living in Los Angeles, so we are always happy when she comes home for a visit!

0 Thanks, Fisher Price

To say Leighton loves the new dollhouse is an understatement. She played all day with the dollhouse. It's the first toy so far that has captured her attention like this. I'm amazed. And excited! It's so fun to watch her little imagination run wild. When she first saw it this morning, she said "WOW" and then spent a lot of time staring and checking out the whole thing. Then, she got to playing.

I had to hold myself back from running to get more stuff to go in the dollhouse. I think I'm having as much fun as she is!