Watch Me Grow...

1 Month...

2 Months...

3 Months...

4 Months...

5 Months...

6 Months...

7 Months...

8 Months...

9 Months...

9 Months...

Our little man turned 9 months old this week and his photo shoot proved to be the most difficult so far. He is crawling everywhere, pulls up on anything he can, still eats pretty much all baby food but is beginning to eat some table food, continues to sleep well, and smiles often! Needless to say, we are enjoying every minute of the special little man!

This is what most of the photo shoot looked like...Matt trying to hold him in the chair!

Ridgecrest 4th of July Parade..

On Wednesday morning we went to Anna Lauren's school 4th of July parade. In years past, she has not enjoyed the parade and really just wanted us...but...this year, she was all about it and had a great time! Guess she realized it was just a chance to be on "stage", which she has learned to like this year...

Miss Mississippi Week...

The week we have anxiously been waiting to arrive for some time now...Miss Mississippi Week! And of course, the week I never thought I would have any part of until my little "darling" showed an interest. Still not sure about all this hoopla but it is worth it just to watch Anna Lauren...ones of those fun times of being a girl mommy!

With that being said, we went to Vicksburg last night for the Miss Mississippi parade and autograph party. Anna Lauren was on a mission to see two girls...Sarah Beth James, 2010 Miss Mississippi, and Chelsea Rick, a student at Millsaps who I just love. We got to see both of them, and I wish I could save all of Anna Lauren's smiles from last night forever and ever!

Daddy and Cooper joined in on the fun last night but Anna Lauren and I are headed back Saturday night for the pageant...she is beyond excited!

Sitting on the sidewalk waiting for the parade to start and looking at her Miss Mississippi program, or as Matt calls it, a JCPenney catalog because it is HUGE. We were quite surprised to find a picture from Anna Lauren's birthday party in the program...

All smiles as she anxiously waits on the parade to start...

This little guy was all smiles too...and then he said, forget this, and went to sleep...

Police escorts had their "loud" sirens going but she never lost the smile...

Mesmerized...and yes, she is red faced and sweating...it was so hot!

Here she comes...Sarah Beth...just who Anna Lauren had been waiting to see again since her birthday party in March!

While at Miss America, she had to wear a costume in a parade that represented her state so she wore it again for the Miss Mississippi parade, and her dad drove her car dressed as Elvis...just as he did at Miss America.

Here comes our other favorite...Chelsea Rick...

And we just happened to be walking into the autograph party as Chelsea was getting out of her car...Anna Lauren immediately ran to her and didn't leave her side until she had to so Chelsea could take her spot at the autograph table.

Anna Lauren's 1st autograph...

And then she spotted Sarah Beth...it was all over then!

Anna Lauren stood beside Sarah Beth for a good 30 minutes and just watched her sign autographs...she didn't want to go see anyone else. Then at the last minute she decided to circle the room and get an autograph from most of the contestants. And she even managed to get Miss Mississippi State to autograph a picture for Uncle Brad...she may get some Uncle Brad brownie points for that one!

Supposedly you were not supposed to go behind the table...but...Anna Lauren quickly won the heart of Sarah Beth's hostess and she ended up behind the table right beside Sarah Beth...

Giving her one last hug...

And one more wave from Sarah Beth...this girl is AMAZING...she is just precious and was so so sweet to Anna Lauren!

Saturday Fun...

This past Saturday Anna Lauren wanted to go to the splash pad and to the Flowood Festival so we agreed and did both. Once she got to the splash pad, she played for a few minutes and was done...she played so quickly I did not even get a picture of her. Cooper on the other hand, had a blast playing in the water! I think Anna Lauren was just exhausted from two busy weeks at school and short naps due to swim lessons. However, she did perk up after her nap and enjoyed the festival.

Now...this cannot be fun...look at her "twisted" body and her face! However, she continued to keep sliding!

We ran into one of favorite friends, sweet Emily!

Off for a train ride and so excited she got to go with "no parents"...she is growing up fast!