Time is Flying

Hi Everyone!

Time is wizzing by at what feels like warp speed. Last weekend Matt's brother Patrick married his long time sweetheart, Kelly. We're so thrilled for them and we look forward to seeing them enjoy a long, happy marriage! I have pictures from the wedding, but sadly that camera cord is temporarily misplaced, so I won't be able to post them here until Monday when I get to the office with the camera in tow and can slip the xD card into the printer slot. But I will do it. I promise.

Today, we discovered that little Alexa is finally getting a tooth. You can barely see the white of the corner of her top right tooth. So maybe she'll have a tooth by her 1st birthday!

In other news, Matt accepted a job with DHEC so he will be starting to work July 2. We'll miss having him around every day because he has been doing freelance work out of an office in our office, but I know he's happy to gainfully employed again. He will continue doing freelance work and building that business. His new boss(s) encouraged him to continue doing it, so that was wonderful news.

Other than for that, we're plodding along and working on lining up a 1st birthday celebration on June 27th. Anyone interested in celebrating with us is welcome to come. It will be held at our home, just email us for more info (april dot alsup at yahoo dot com - no spaces, of course).

Okay, I'm going to go spend some quality time with Matt while Alexa sleeps snuggled with her bunny upstairs. I promise to post pics next week!

Love,
April

Oops

It's said that time flies when you're having fun and that's definitely true for us. I recently had it pointed out to me that this blog hasn't been updates since March and I'm terribly sorry about that.

So I'm going to do a quick run down and get to posting some pics.

Alexa is now crawling, everywhere including up the stairs. She also crawls over to stuff and stands up. A couple of nights ago she let go and lasted a full half second before she sat down. Maybe three quarters of a second.

Alexa also went to a birthday party. It was for Anna, the child of some good friends of ours, Eric and Sara. Anna turned 2, but she was so sweet to share a ride on her big gift with Alexa. A picture of them in Anna's new wagon is below. Alexa thought it was great!

She took her first dip in her Oma and Poppy's pool today. I have pics, but not on here, so I will get some here.

This Saturday she gets a new auntie. Okay, Kelly, Patrick's (Matt's brother) fiance, is already called Auntie Kelly, but on Saturday it becomes offical. So we're gearing up for that celebration.

Alexa says "Mama" and "Dada" but I don't think she really gets it. Although she does point at Matt and say Dada sometimes. But it still seems sort of random.

She's finally getting hair. Enough that we gave her a cute mohawk in the bath tub one evening.

We're working on birthday plans for her first birthday. I can't believe it's coming so soon!

Ok, that's all I have for updates right now... So here are some pics:







This was Alexa's first real attempt at standing. She did a great job. The electrical cords the box is blocking are a great motivator to get her moving. She likes electricity.

Spring is in the air...

The weather the past few weeks has been up and down. But the spring bug has bitten us. With a week of 70 degree weather, it's no wonder though. Matt has been working hard. Hopefully with the local St. Patrick's Day event over he'll get to relax a little more. He's such a wonderful hubby and daddy. No matter how busy he is, how crappy his day was, he always makes time for me and Alexa.

Alexa and I have been busy trying to sell houses. She's such a wonderful little assistant. If I get a negative phone message she knows exactly what to do with it... rip to shreds :o). And if it's a good message she'll slobber all over it which is her quivalent to kisses for now. :o)

I finally found a few minutes to upload some pictures from our camera. I don't have the little videos from the other camera yet. Maybe one day.

Next month we head to Tennessee for some pre-wedding events for Patrick and Kelly (Matt's brother and his wonderful bride-to-be). I think we're all looking forward to the chance to get away! I'll have to make sure and get the other camera all emptied up before then. I also found my tripod this week, so I'm planning to try and find some time to play with it and Alexa. I promise, having a child won't make me into a photo nut. Not a major one at least.

Okay, here's some of our recent photos (Don't worry, I know you skipped all of my rambling and went straight to the pictures, I'm not offended)

Our little Gamecock.










She loves Daddy and his hat.









She also loves bath time.










In these two she's posing for the camera in the dress Auntie Kelly got for her while we were in VA.

Our Trip to Grandpa's House

Alexa finally got to meet her great-grandpa. Matt's grandfather, whom we lovingly call Papa, was thrilled to finally hold and hug his first great-grandbaby and she was equally thrilled to be held by her Papa.

The trip was shorter than we would have liked, but filled with family fun. Here are some pictures:

Papa and his very first great-grandbaby. Alexa loves her Papa!



Alexa and her cousin Tabitha.



Alexa and her cousin Cindy.



Alexa and har cousin Amanda.



Alexa and her Great Aunt Janice.



Kelly, Tabitha and Miss Maggie relaxing :o)


I promise to get better about posting quicker. I promise!
Love,
April

Snow Days...

We finally got some snow. It was light, short lived, and gone before lunch time. So we got Alexa up so she could get her first sight of snow.

Other than that, things have been pretty quiet here. She's sitting up pretty well, sleeping great and eating baby food at least for one meal. We're really blessed!




Note: I originally started this post just after the snow the end of January. But I just got the pics uploaded. Sorry it took so long!

6 Month Checkup

Today Alexa went in for her 6 month checkup. The doctor says things look great and she's right on time with her growth and development. I thought I'd share her stats:

14lbs, 2oz (6lbs, 2oz above birth weight)
26.25 inches (6 inches longer than birth length)

She's a growing baby, that's for sure!

He said we can start exploring more solid foods and she can have some finger food now. She tried sweet peas last night and loved them.

She also had to get more shots today. That is not fun! But she handled them pretty well, considering and other than for a little tiny bit of fussing she's done well today.

That's all I have for now.

Love,
April

Going to Memaw's House

Last week we ventured on Alexa's longest trip to-date. We traveled to my Memaw's house in Tennessee. She is my dad's mom. I was so thankful Alexa got to meet her. She's the only grandmother I've ever known and she's a very special lady. They had lots of fun together.

Alexa also got to meet her other family members (not all, but most!). She had a lot of fun playing and interacting with everyone.

Memaw and Alexa


Memaw and Alexa having some fun!





Alexa in her first high chair


Alexa and her beautiful cousin Erica.


Nutty cousin Phil providing some entertainment!


Sweet cousin Lisa and Alexa getting some snuggles in.


Erica and her hot rod!


Daddy snuggling Alexa after a long and fun day!


Memaw, Alexa and me.

Where's Alexa?????

There she is! (Alexa's favorite game)