Mimi's Eventful Week

This has been quite a busy week for Mimi -- in both good and bad ways. First of all, Mimi's first tooth has finally emerged! She has been doing some serious chewing and gnawing for about 5 months, but I'm glad to say it was not in vain. (If you can enlarge this photo you can see a little white speck on the bottom of her mouth). Thank goodness I found magical teething tablets that help with the pain!!

Last weekend we visited our friends Amery, Clay, and Olivia in their new, yet very old 1800's home. The yard was full of purple flox, so of course I had to take about 100 photos of Mimi.
Jordan, Amery, Me, Olivia, and Mimi in front of Big, Bad Breakfast in Oxford.

Mimi's friend Hadley has made it to the one-year-old mark and was rewarded with a fabulous red wagon! They had so much fun throwing their toys over the side!

Uh oh . . . Mimi discovered cartoons this week. She is sitting in the middle of fabulous toys but is mesmerized by Yo Gabba Gabba (Jack Black was actually on this episode. Strange, huh?). Our favorites so far are Max and Ruby, Charlie and Lola, and the Backyardigans. Lola is my personal fave. And now for the bad . . . a family stomach virus! It hit Mimi first on Tuesday night, me on Wednesday morning, and Clint later on Wednesday. Poor little Mimi was so miserable and we could do nothing but hold her and let her watch cartoons. So sad.

My sister's family visited us Easter weekend and we had a family egg hunt in my backyard. Mimi's cousins Courtney and Nick found all the eggs . . . and Mimi chewed on them. After the egg hunt, we went to the zoo and had a blast. Mimi completely skipped her morning nap because she was so excited about all the animals and other kids. Later in the day we went to the Overton Square Crawfish Party . . . and then she went to bed at 5:30!

Happy Mimi

We're finding out more about Mimi every day.

She LOVES playing on our bed while we get ready in the morning . . .

but when she gets bored or tired her fingers go straight to her mouth.

She is ticklish under her arms and on the bottoms of her feet.

Her favorite toys are plastic cups . . . interesting, I know.

She likes to hide her lips . . . while playing with her plastic cup.Being naked in her crib (while playing with those silly cups) is so much fun!

She also likes to sit in her chair with her baby doll and squeal.

New Milestones

Although Mimi is still bald and toothless, she's still impressing us with her new tricks. She's officially a great sitter-upper now and loves to sit on the floor and play with her toys. She pushes up on her knees and rocks back and forth, but she can't quite figure out how to crawl. She's also trying to pull up on everything and thinks it's hilarious to hold onto her crib. Mimi attended her first official birthday party for her friend Reed. This is Mimi with her friend Emerson and their dads.

Clint is proving to be a great multi-tasker by babysitting Mimi while closing deals on the phone!

I guess Spike has been feeling a little left out and thinks if he gets in the carseat we'll take him with us just like we take Mimi.

It's a bow!! Doesn't it look goofy?

New Photos

We went to Nashville over the weekend, and our friend Lauren (who is 38 weeks pregnant!) took pictures of Mimi. She took so many beautiful photos but here are just a few.

6 Months Old

Mimi is HALF a year old and time has flown! She only weighed 5lb 9oz when she was born, and now the little piggy weighs 15lb and 9oz -- she's tripled her weight over 6 months.

This time last year I was about 14 weeks pregnant and just beginning to try out my maternity clothes and studying over What to Expect When You're Expecting like my life depended on it. Although I was so grateful to be pregnant, I was scared to death that I would be an awful mother! There was so much that I didn't know and so much that could go wrong -- How do I feed her? How do I bathe her? What do I do if she gets sick? When do I sleep? With a lot of help and a lot of prayer, we've made it 6 months! Mimi has gone from being a fragile little bundle to being a full of life baby who loves jumping in her exersaucer, squealing at her puppies, and eating her toes! I've tried my best to soak up as much of every moment as possible because I realize how quickly this sweet baby is growing and learning.

Mimi's First Snow Day

She is such a happy baby!

Mimi is a fabulous sleeper (and so is her daddy)

The first time we tried to give Mimi a bath was horrible -- she screamed nonstop, and we were so afraid she was going to die of hypothermia. Now she doesn't want to get out and leave her rubber ducky.

This was Mimi trying her first cracker -- she picked it up by herself, chewed on it a few minutes, and got choked. What a big girl!

We're so glad Mimi loves puppies! This is sweet little Lucy (who I think I might steal and bring home with us).

Mimi's new friends

Mimi is about 5 1/2 months old now, and she is really interested in the dogs -- especially Spike . . . and the feeling seems mutual. As soon as we put her on her pallet on the floor to play, Spike cuddles up as close as he can to Mimi. When she finally notices him she rolls over, squeals, and reaches out her little hand to grab his fur. It's so sweet!

Mimi and Spike are spooning
Spike is a great footrest

Ruthie tries to act too cool for Mimi . . . she's still a little jealous

We are also trying to help Mimi sit up, and she can for a few seconds . . .
. . . and then this happens!

This is Mimi reading before church . . . she's already a nerd like her daddy!

Mimi's First Christmas

Mimi and her cousin Oriana finally got to meet for the first time! They had so much fun cooing to each other and trying to bite each other's hands and feet! Needless to say, the babies definitely got more than enough attention and love over Christmas. My dad called as soon as he got home from Nashville and said he was already having baby withdrawals!

Oriana and Mimi

My mother, brother Bobby, and his daughter Oriana.

This is most of the Nixon clanMimi is obsessed with her feet now -- it seems to be a reflex for her feet to fly into the air (or in her mouth!) as soon as we place her on her back.
Why, yes, that is "The Singing Bee" game in the background! I love it! But I'm sure no one else loves hearing me sing . . .

Christmas Eve was spent with the Darbys, and Mimi slept through the opening of all her presents.

Mimi with her cousin JR, who wants Mimi to watch everything he does.

Mimi with her cousin Olivia.