Camille~ 5 months

Ms. Camille is growing by leaps and bounds.  Here are a few updates about her:
She has started rolling from her back to her front. ~ She began eating solids this week. ~ Her sleep habits are getting better. We are still waking up once during the night around 4-6 am to eat, but this is a drastic improvement.  We're hoping for 12 hours by the time she's 6 months. ~ She is still blue eyed. ~ Her hair continues to get lighter. ~ She has become such a smiley baby.

Tripp at 5 months:

Solids

In hopes of getting Camille to sleep completely though the night, we started solids this morning.  The first food on the menu: Oatmeal.  The verdict:  She had more on her face than in her mouth.  She still does a lot of tongue thrusting so I'm not 100% sure she's ready for this yet.  I may give it another few days or a week and then try again.

Here we go!

"Yuck Mom, this is way worse than you lead me to believe."

The Circus

Yesterday, we took Tripp to the Ringling Bros. Barnum & Bailey Circus.  Camille is still a little young to do anything like this so we left her at home with a sitter.  Tripp had so much fun watching the elephants, tigers, dogs, and acrobats.  We weren't sure if he'd be able to sit through the entire show, but he was in awe of all the animals and had no problem staying in his seat for the two hour production.  

Before the show started, we were able to go down to the floor to get a little closer to the elephants.  So cool!

Rob got better pictures on his phone, but I haven't had the time to download them yet.

He got so excited every time a new animal walked out.

We'll definitely go again next year.

Happy Heart Day

We didn't do anything extravagant for Valentine's Day.  Well, we never do anything extravagant, but usually try to have a date night either the night of or sometime that week.  This year it fell on a Thursday.  We didn't feel like getting a sitter so we took the kids to a casual restaurant near our house and celebrated the day as a family.

Looking cute as ever in her V-Day attire.

Tripp's class had a small celebration that morning at school.  They made these adorable hats.

He had so much fun, he was asleep 2 minutes after I picked him up from carpool.

Truly a happy girl all day.

This is the mailbox I made Tripp for his school card exchange.  It looks a little beat up, but this is after being touched by ten 2 year olds.

Tripp didn't want to take his hat off all day.  He even wore it to dinner that night.  

She's still so good when we go out to eat.  When will that change?  I know it's coming!

Celebrating Mardi Gras

Mardi Gras has always been a big holiday for my family.  Both of my parents were born and raised in Louisiana, most of my extended relatives still live there, and I was born in New Orleans.  We moved to Georgia when I was a little girl, but we still go back multiple times a year and almost always visit during the Mardi Gras season.  I had so much fun going to the parades growing up and I want my children to be able to experience them each year as well.  Plus, you just can't get real King Cake in Atlanta!

Last weekend, Rob, the kids, and I headed down to Louisiana for the festivities.  We stayed with my cousins, but also spent time at our family farm with my parents, siblings, aunts, uncles, and cousins.  We had such a blast.  Tripp loved getting to run around Glendale.  The Plantation is definitely tractor heaven for a little boy his age.  

Tripp sitting on one of the John Deere tractors.

This boy couldn't have been more excited to see the tractors.

My Dad, Uncle Tim, and Tripp (you can't see him in this picture) are on the tractor.  That's Uncle AJ and my parents dog, Bosco, to the right.

Make a Wish.

Silly Uncle AJ

Standing in the tractor wheel is so fun!

Another tractor.  The child could have done this for days.

We drove out to our part of the land that touches the river...The Mississippi River that is.

Tripp and Uncle Donald

Tripp, Pepere, and Rob checking out the Mississippi.

Tripp LOVES his Grandfather.

I absolutely LOVE this picture.  There's just something so sweet about it.  Grandson and Grandfather exploring.

Aunt Alli and Camille.

Tiffany (my cousin) and Camille.

Reese, Matthew, Matt, and Rob most likely talking about when they could go shoot the guns.

I heart this face.

Lots of room to run around.

Camille and Ms. Chris

Hello Double Chins!

Memere and Camille

We have pictures of me as an infant, toddler, child, teen, etc. on this porch.  It's awesome to see my little man enjoying this wonderful home just as I always have.

Checking out the sugar cane fields and some rocks and sticks (of course).

A Daddy and his son.

Chris (Alli's boyfriend) and Tripp.  We were setting up the board and paper targets to shoot at.  Don't worry, Tripp wasn't outside during the target practice.  He was just hanging out while we set up.

Don't mind if I do.

Rob giving me some pointers.

Me, Almie (our cousin), and Alli

What a group!

Amy (my cousin) and Camille at the Endymion Parade the next night.  Amy was nice enough to wear Camille in the Baby Bjorn so my parents, Rob, and I could help Tripp catch beads.  I didn't have my good camera with me at this point so some of the pictures are blurry.  Atleast I remembered to take a few with my iPhone.

"Throw me somethin' mista".  Pepere teaching Tripp how to catch beads.

Such a fun weekend.  I can't wait until next year!