A smiling baby

Joanna is about two months old now and is smiling and starting to interact with us. It just melts daddy's heart when he sees her smile.
She started smiling for real a few weeks ago and she has just become more and more interactive since.

Jason makes "woo" noises and she tries to mimic him. She smiles and shapes her mouth and gets all excited and grunts and breathes like she's saying it back.

She kicks her feet like she's riding a bicycle and her arms are swimming and her fingers are moving. She likes to sit up and look around at the world. She will recognize her momma's voice and looks to me from across the room.

Christmas Parties

Friday we went to Jason's work for a short visit before going to Dad and Brenda Fox's church Christmas party. Brenda had Joanna scooped up and showed off to many folks (she's very proud); I couldn't count how many people held her. I fed her in the church's nursery a couple of times through the evening. We were there from about 6:30 to just before 10p.m. Joanna was pretty geared up when we got home. We had to swaddle her to get her calm enough to sleep. She was looking around and very happy, but not at all tired.

Shopping for a dress

We went to Dillard's and didn't find anything, but I tried on about 10 dresses, nursed Joanna, and changed her diaper in the dressing room.
We went to JC Penney and did the same thing but found a nice dress. Joanna did really well. I wore her in a carrier for the most part. Folks looked and smiled as we passed. Babies are great; I think seeing babies invokes happy memories for a lot of people. There's just something special about a little baby.

Happy One-Month Birthday, Joanna!

Joanna is one month old today. She's happy and growing. It is so neat to see her grow. I'm a proud momma. Jon and Barbara, Jason's brother and wife, came down from Kentucky to visit this weekend and see the baby for the first time. They just love her.

Jason's mom came over today, too. She came in and scooped up the baby and then went off and changed her diaper. It was weird (but good) that someone else took care of her. Jason and I just looked at each other and I said, "Okay." Also, on this Joanna's one-month birthday, I went to the grocery store and left her at home. It was weird getting out without her.

My friend Meg sent Joanna a bunch of great books for us to get started reading her. She sent a variety of books including, "I Love You Forever," "Chonicles of Narnia," and "Anne of Green Gables." That was a great gift. We are so happy to start reading together.

Happy Birthday, Daddy.

Jason's birthday was yesterday and I cooked dinner for the first time since Joanna was born. We are really grateful to everyone who brought us meals and to the fast food industry. I made spaghetti. I started it early in the day to make sure it got done and I didn't burn it! I put it in a casserole dish and then heated it up before everyone arrived.

Rachel, Chris, and Tracy came over for dinner. Everyone arrived just about the time Jason got home from work. Rachel brought hot fudge cake. I fed Jason his as he held Joanna. Then, she ate her dinner and I had my cake after that...yummy.

Learning to burp better

Learned how to burp Joanna in a way that works. Before, I was doing the shoulder burp, but usually got nothing and Joanna would be miserable until I tried again after realizing she still needed to burp. Now, I put her on my knee and bounce her and pat her on her back while holding her by her chest with the other hand.

Lori, Ashey, and Adrienne came to visit today. They brought a basket with goodies and a balloon.

Jason and I bathed Joanna's bottom because she pooped a LOT. Jason figured out that blowing in her face startles her into not crying for a moment during a diaper change. :-)

Jason is a sweetie and he ran to the store for me. He is so good to me.

Joanna's Birth

Joanna was born on Oct 10, 2007 at 3:10 a.m. She weighed 8lbs 1.4oz and was 19.5 inches long! She is beautiful and so sweet.


Don't laugh at the cow.
Jason bought her for me for my birthday when we started dating. I only thought it was appropriate for the cow to be present at our baby's birth!v