Buy me some peanuts and crackerjacks...

We have been very busy since last week. Busy doing what? Enjoying the weather of course! Sarah Beth, Dutch and I have spent many afternoons and the past weekend playing outside (with Sarah Beth's new sunglasses) and strolling. We even took in a baseball game on Sunday! Sarah Beth will be 8 months next week! I cannot believe it! So what has she been up to this past week?

It feels as though she is growing in leaps and bounds. We babyproofed the house 2 weeks ago and dropped her bed for the first time. She has never really played in her bed and generally goes straight to sleep and has been good when she wakes up. She stays laying down, so the bed has never been an issue. Not any more! 2 days after we dropped the bed, I watch her crawl backwards (more on that later) pull herself up on her knees and then pull her self up on her feet. Once she got up she just smiled at me so proud of herself. I was proud too, but in my head I thought... Oh Crap! Poor Dutch had to drop the bed again. That is not exactly easy to do. Now all she wants to do is pull herself up in her bed and starts to scream once she gets up and realizes she is in the room by herself. She LOVES standing up anywhere now and that is all she wants to do is climb like a spidermonkey whereever she is until she gets herself up.

Crawling backwards?? Yes, Sarah Beth crawls backwards. Or did... She is terrified to move her hands, which is why she has not even attempted walking yet and is happy just standing, but it also led to a funny crawl. I think she might have taken a couple of faceplants trying to move her hands while up on her knees and is now scared to move them. This leads to her getting up on her knees, sliding her hands back and then dropping her knees. In a sense, pushing herself backwards. She knows this is the only way to travel so she can get anywhere backwards. If there is something she wants in front of her, she just turns herself around so it is behind her and then crawls back to it. It is the funniest thing to watch. However, she crawled forward for her Grandy yesterday while she was babysitting and crawled forward for me this morning. So now she is mobile and fast! Gone are the days of the crabwalk and backwards crawl.

We took her to her first sporting event last Sunday - the UGA baseball game. The game was not so good and we lost bad, but Sarah Beth enjoyed it! UGA changed pitchers ALOT. It felt like all we watched was pitchers warm up and made for a LONG game, but Sarah Beth stayed up the ENTIRE game. 1 - 4 in the afternoon. We were all so impressed! She also got to hang out with Grandaddy, Nana and Aunt Amanda which she always loves. Dutch and I didn't get her once the entire game, which was kind of nice. We got to enjoy it together without Sarah Beth letting us know what she thought. By the end of the game she figured out clapping and would try to clap when everyone else did. She had a hard time getting her hands to hit each other but she loved trying. We brought a tired baby home who was determined to still play so we let her bounce it out in her jumparoo (my godsend). A picture will follow showing how that turned out.

Hmmm... other things, Sarah Beth has always been on a strict feeding schedule but naps have been as needed. She likes several short naps so it has been difficult. We finally got on a napping schedule and now I think she wants to cut out her morning nap so now we are back to square one.

That has been our last week. Very busy I know, but a lot of fun. This weekend we are heading to Tifton for my grandmother's 90th birthday! I am excited but nervous. We are eating at a very nice restaurant in Tallahassee and Sarah Beth REALLY likes to hear her voice so it should make for a funny story. I have slacked on the crockpot recipes, but am still cutting them out of the paper. So as I try them, I will post them. I have a new one once again from the Athens-Banner Herald:

Crock-rockin Chicken Alfredo.

6 skinless, boneless chicken breast
1/2 C water
1/2 C White Wine
1 packet Good Seasons Italian Dressing Mix
1 Jar Alfredo Sauce
Fettucine Noodles

Place Chicken in crockpot.
Mix water, wine and seasoning and pour over chicken.
Cook on low 6-8 hours or high 3-4 hours.
Warm up alfredo and cook noodles.
Place chicken over noodles and cover with sauce.
Serve with bread and salad.

The chicken falls apart and is AMAZING! I cooked on high for 3-4 hours and it was perfect! According to Dutch this is a cook again recipe.

That should be all until next week!

Much Love, Mary Beth


Sarah Beth's new favorite way to sleep. on all fours with her head straight down. I try to roll her over but she just goes right back. So the bed is now completely clear of anything.


Sarah Beth reading her activity book outside.


Dutch found her so proud of herself for standing up!


Being fratastic with the shades!


Playing outside. The bow by the way is made by a college friend of mind, Courtney. This is one of MANY (yes Sarah Beth is a bowhead). If you are interested in getting one made as a gift or anything let me know. She has some premade or can make to order.


Chllin before a stroll with daddy.


And last... this is the damage that a 3 hour baseball game and an hour in the jumparoo did to her. Dutch and I had the biggest laugh. Then of course we picked her up and put her in the bed!