Ali These Days...

This was written and never published last April!  Yikes!  So I guess you could consider this my "Throwback Thursday!"  Lol!!  Love the first line! 

April 2013
So we all know how horrible I am at keeping up on this blog!  I'm just not one of those super moms!  Haha!  Anyway...just wanted to jot down a few things to help us remember what Ali does through each phase of her life!  I'll add pictures soon!

Ali girl has been talking up a storm!  I read over my last post and I can't believe how long she has been talking so well!  She is now speaking full sentences, asking questions often, and using words that blow my mind (in the right context).  She is hilarious!  Anthony and I look at each other all the time and ask each other how and why God allowed us to be her parents!  We have so much  more than we deserve and are so thankful that He chose us to share this life with Ali.  She has brought us so much joy, happiness, love, and laughter.  Words just aren't enough to describe how we feel about our little doll!  Although, Ant and I do a pretty good job talking about other things in life, we can't wait to tell each other about things Ali did or said while one of us was gone.  It is one of our most enjoyable times talking and laughing about our sweet girl!  Sorry if I am sounding a little sappy, but I'm just overflowing with love for this little girl!  And these days keep flying by way too fast! 

We have had a pretty difficult time keeping Ali free of a runny nose and cough since December!  She ended up having to get tubes in her ears in January after her recurring ear infections.  That has improved, but she kept a runny nose and cough all fall and winter.  And now that we are into spring with allergies it is continuing, although it has gotten much better!  School is almost out so hopefully we will be in the clear for a while soon!  This year has been a very sick year all around for her school, my school, and teachers and kids!  So we have been very blessed to only have had ear infections and strep and nothing worse!

Ali is still going to preschool 3 to 5 days a week.  Daddy still has her 1-2 days a week and those days are so special for them!  I am so thankful that he gets to spend such quality time with her that many dads are unable to have.

Ali is 31 months old! We almost have a 3 year old!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I cannot believe that!  She finally weighs about 23 and `1/2 pounds!  Fighting for 24.  She is still a VERY picky eater!  She still loves any cracker, carbohydrate or sweet, and still eats baby food veggies and fruits.  She will eat grapes and strawberries occassionally, but will not eat anything else.  She seems to eat peanut butter and jelly at school pretty well.  She likes eggs, cereal and milk, gummies or "nummies," ice cream, chocolate or "choc," ogur (yogurt), and Big O's (Fruit Loops).

Ali has grown up so much over the past several months!  She loves going to preschool to see her friends.  Anytime we talk about going she says, "Needa see da freeyins!"  Little country girl!  Many nights when we are going to bed she will ask where her friends are by name, Caiah, PJ, Sara Beth, Dillon, Kate, Jordy, Natalie, Emmalyn, and more!  I am amazed by her little memory!  She also asks about her teachers!

About a month ago, Ali started telling us she loved us all on her own, without us saying it first!  This was such a wonderful feeling to hear her express her love for us!  She is such a loving little girl!  When she wants to give you kisses she will ask for a kiss or just grab your face and turn it her way!
Oh how I love being her mommy! God is good!

24 Months

We had Ali's 24 month at the end of October!  

She was...

Height:  32 inches

Weight:  22 pounds

Ali has been so healthy!  We have been so blessed to have had the opportunity to keep her out of daycare for the majority of her first two years!  This is a big deal for preemies especially!  Ali has started going to Harvest preschool a few days a week now and loves it.  But along with new adventures comes more children and more germs.  So we have just recovered from our third ear infection since October 3rd!    She has handled it pretty well, but we are hoping we can stay in the clear for a while!

At 24 months, we can stop adjusting her age by her gestational age and can officially say she is two!!  At 2 is when most preemies are considered to be "caught" up for a simple explanation.  Dr. Stubblefield was very pleased with her growth and development and just told us to keep doing what we are doing!  Ali is now on the growth chart and her growth over her two little years has been perfectly steady and proportionate!  Doc couldn't be happier!  Nor could we!  

At 24 months Ali is talking up a storm!  She says new words and phrases every day!  Her most common phrases are:

"I need mommy, daddy, baby Alice, baby Lilly, Kate, Aby, Papa, etc." 

(whomever she needs at the moment)

"No a no touch..._____" fill in the blank

"I need a bite a O's"

"Ali ride a car"

"I need O's and buk" (for milk)

"Where's Aubie, choo choo, a hand, baby Alice, baby Lilly, mommy, daddy, etc."

"I want rock a my mommy" (meaning she wants mommy to rock)

"I need on this"

"I need on shoes"

"I need help"

"I need down"

"I want push" (meaning I want to swing)
"I want go" (when she sees the jogging stroller...we went on so many walks over the summer)
"Go, Ali, Go!"
"Ali cook, mommy cook" (she loves helping in the kitchen)
"I need eat"

I know I'm forgetting some...but she says several multiple word phrases often and her speech grows every day!

Some of her most frequently used words:

baby

mommy

daddy

Kate

O's

eat

night night

baby Alice, baby Lilly

punkie (for pumpkin)

clothes

again

Ali loves to play outside, swing, slide, run, and play on the screen porch.  It has been so hard with these cooler evenings and cold mornings to have to tell her no to the swing sometimes.  She still doesn't really play with toys that much, other than her baby dolls, which she loves to push in her stroller, rock, feed a bottle, and "pat back."  She is a great little mommy!  She mostly prefers to be right there with mommy and daddy, doing whatever we are doing, helping us cook, playing in the Tupperware cabinet when we are cooking or cleaning the kitchen, putting on and wearing our shoes, and cooking with her play cooking bowls and spoons.  We got new home telephones so we have allowed her to play with the old ones.  She enjoys them and calls them "Ali's hallos" for hello.  Ours our mommy and daddy's "hallos."  She still loves cell phones and can unlock and slide through the many pictures and videos I have of her on my iPhone.  I can't believe how well she can use it!  She still loves books, but still doesn't like to sit for long.  She enjoys puzzles and her new small train set we got her for her birthday.  And Ali still loves music and dancing!  We love watching her dance!  She is just the best!

Ali's Two!!!

We cannot believe that our precious little doll is already two!!!  Seriously...where does the time go???!!!  She is just the best!  We are enjoying every minute of being her mommy and daddy!  She had a wonderful 2nd birthday!  We are so blessed to have such a loving, supportive family!  We decided to keep it simple this year and just have a family party.  Anthony's parents, grandparents, and my parents spent the day with us to celebrate our sweet girls two amazing years!  Here are some pictures of her party!  I think she enjoyed her gifts!  

Ali's party was Auburn themed because for one thing she loves anything Auburn 

and Aubie and it just so happened to be a game day!

Getting some good snuggles with Papa after waking up from her nap!

Being shy with her tongue out!  New thing we've started...

My sad attempt at a homemade cake.  I'll keep trying...

Daddy "sugars"

Posing already!  Sassy girl!

Ali loves books!!!

Opening her first real baby doll!

Doesn't seem impressed....yet....

I think she's a hit!

She could not put the baby down while she opened her other gifts!  

And the girl also loves some clothes...we change outfits or 

dress up many times a day when we are home!

Ali loved pushing her baby in her new stroller that is just like hers that mommy pushes! 

She kept saying "Buckle baby buckle" so we would help her buckle her baby in!

Four generations...Ali with Pop, Moo, and Daddy!

Playing with her new trains with daddy...

Enjoying a "cukee" cupcake with Grandmama!

Ali loved wearing her "buts" around the house...and while exploring her new wardrobe.  

Hard to believe how far we have come from 31 weeks at 2lb 15 oz, how blessed we have been to have such a healthy, perfect little miracle, and how much joy she brings to our lives!  

We are beyond thankful and forever grateful to our Lord and Savior 

for sharing this little piece of Heaven with us on Earth!

21 Months

Ali is just the most joyous gift from above!  We are so thankful to share this life with her!  I just can't say it enough!  I am sure every parent must feel this way, 

but man its the best feeling in the world and the greatest privilege!

 Here is what Miss Ali is up to these days! 

Ali still loves being outside. This summer she has especially enjoyed our back porch where she can swing, dance, play with her sea shells and many other things. When she's ready to go outside she just walks to the back door and asks to go out.  She loves her baby dolls and loves pushing them around in the stroller.  Somehow she piles all 8 of them in the seat.  She also loves to care for them, feed them a bottle, and take their clothes off!  Haha!  Ali enjoys reading books still, however, her attention span to sit in our laps has shortened.  That makes this mommy very sad, but I know that (hopefully) this is just a phase right now.  I am amazed at how much she is able to understand and how well she follows directions!  She is growing up so fast!  She is also saying many new words and phrases.  She always asks where daddy is when he is at work, or if someone walks out of the room, or an airplane flies away, etc. she puts her hands out to ask "Where is it? or Where is he?"  Its a little smushed together and fast, but you can understand it.  Its pretty cute!  She also LOVES to say "Hi!" or "Hey!" very drawn out.  She especially enjoys saying it to babies!  The girl loves real babies!  Now she calls babies "baybos or beebos!"  She loves to make animal sounds when asked or if she hears the animal.  Her latest animal noises are bird, donkey, monkey, fish, sheep, and horse.  Ali finally stopped taking a bottle at the beginning of June!  She is doing great drinking from her sippy cups and straw cups!  She also started eating more solids like chicken, strawberries, grapes, watermelon, whole crackers, eggs, and peanut butter sandwiches.  These are all hit or miss.  She still eats organic baby food to get her vegetables and turns her nose up to lots of things.  But we just keep offering and trying, but she is doing very well!  She has mastered jumping and loves to do it!  She is also more interested in drawing and using crayons and pencils.  She can find and say the letters A, B, and I and loves to find animals and different objects in pictures!  We are so blessed to have this special gift and so thankful 

for her wonderful health and development!

She even loves pushing real babies!  Especially her cousin Lexie!

Fourth of July

We had a great pool day to celebrate the 4th with Anthony's mom and dad and our good friends the Bohannons!  Ali loved being outside all afternoon, eating watermelon, swimming, and dancing! 

Ali could not get enough...

Sweet girl!

Enjoying the morning sun and her watermelon in the backyard!

More please mommy!!

Contest with daddy...

"Wheeee...."

Our little fishy...

Time to get dry and little missy decided to sit in her chair...hehe!!!!  

I love that belly...or "belleh"  as Ali would say!   :)

Happy 4th of July and Happy Birthday to Aunt Jules!  God Bless our troops and country!

Love, 

Ali Girl

Summer Visitors

Uncle Kevin, Aunt Amy, Noah, and River came to stay for a night with us on their way to the beach!  We had a great time!  Just wish they could have stayed longer!  Ali loved playing with River and Noah and especially enjoyed the entertainment in the pool during our 7am swim!  

River is the busiest little fish at the pool!  Love you all to pieces!

Ali and River filling up the baby pool!

Sweet girls...

Talented River doing a canon ball for us bright and early!

I'm ready!!!

Her amazing moves!  I can definitely see the gymnast in her!

All together...

Ali heard an airplane..."Where did he go?"

Noah's amazing canon ball!

Can't believe how big he is!

More of River's amazing stunts...

Sweetheart!

Little dare devil!  She gets that from Aunt Birdie...not Aunt Val!

All dry and still havin' fun!

Thanks for coming to visit!  We love you!!!

Happy Summer!