First New Year's Eve

Kara Jane ate prunes for the first time on her first New Year's Eve...


The weather was really beautiful, so we took advantage of it by using the new wagon that Khaki and Q gave to Levi and Kara Jane. They both LOVE the wagon. Kara sits up so straight and proud to be doing something with her big brother. Levi loves watching everything. I finally remembered the camera on this trip. I told Levi I wanted to take a picture, and he did the following - totally unsolicited:


My kiddos, plus Mario (of course)...

Post-Christmas

Levi got a Buzz Lightyear sleeping bag from Mama Rains for Christmas. He wanted to sleep in it, but we didn't want him on the floor all night. He wanted to take it to school as his nap mat, but we knew his little cubby wouldn't fit it. He was thrilled when he realized he could take a nap in it at home. He also wanted to read his new books from CC and Chris. This is how I found him after his first nap in his Buzz sleeping bag...

Christmas 2011, Part 2

Kara Jane's first Christmas. I was really looking forward to it - both sets of grandparents, Kevin's aunt, my sisters, and my brother-in-law all shared the day with us, including being there to see Levi's face when he saw "the loot".


Levi spent most of the morning preparing food for everyone in his kitchen.


Kara spent a great deal of the morning in my lap...


Khaki and Q got Levi and Kara Jane a wagon, so that they can travel in style - whether just in the neighborhood or going to the beach. Levi loved it.


We had a crowd for lunch - it was such fun. My cousin, her husband, her three kids, and our backdoor neighbors with their two kids all joined the festivities. What a privilege to share the holidays with family and friends.

Here's a picture of Khaki reading to our neighbor and Levi.


Here's Kara in her Christmas outfit.


Kara also started playing a game with her Papa.

Christmas Eve

A family picture before Kara's first Christmas Eve service.

What a gift it was for us to have Kevin's parents and my parents, sisters, and brother-in-law join us for service!

Christmas 2011, Part 1

We usually have Christmas with my Mama Rains and my aunt and her family on Christmas Eve, but since we were anticipating Kevin's parents and aunt arriving the day before Christmas Eve we celebrated Christmas early. My mom's brother and sister-in-law (Uncle Wes and Aunt Joy) also made the trip, which made the pre-Christmas Eve celebration even more fun!!

My camera did not make it through the whole day - in fact it only took one picture. It was a sweet one, though.


Mama Rains rocked Kara Jane almost the entire time we were there. Kara fell asleep in her arms. Mama Rains said that she had a whole bunch of rocking to do for herself, my Papa, and my Grandmother Greer. I really missed them even more than usual today. She also talked about how she knew her arms were going to start having that same "aching" feeling that she got when me and my sisters were growing up and she hadn't seen us in a while. She would be "aching" to hold us again.

Levi's Christmas Program

Levi's Christmas program at school was short but oh so sweet. Since I was juggling the video camera and Kara, I only got to snap a couple of pictures with my camera.


I think he was looking around trying to find me - or at least someone from his family. When he finally found me, he was all smiles.

They sang, "Do you know why it's Christmas?", an upbeat version of "Go tell it on the mountain", and "Happy birthday, Jesus".

Kara Jane's 6th Month Appointment

Kara went to the doctor today. She weighed 16 pounds 8 ounces (50-75th percentile). She was 26.5 inches long (75th percentile). Her head was 17 inches in circumference (75th percentile). She got two shots and was only mad at Daddy for a little while.

Kara tried green beans for the first time tonight. She looks like she's saying, "I'm not to sure about this green stuff, Mama."


"Yes, Daddy, I really like them!"


She actually ate the entire container of green beans - well, she either ate it or ended up wearing it!!


I don't remember Levi being such a messy eater, but the main reason she's such a mess is that almost after every bit her thumb would go into her mouth. I can't remember if I've confessed that yet - we have a thumb-sucker. She prefers her left thumb. She likes to put everything in her mouth - thumb, fingers, socks, books, hair, etc.

Kara Jane has also started sitting up pretty well over the past week. Each day she sits up longer and longer - and with a straighter back.

A Few Firsts For KJ

Last night after the baking and decorating, Audy helped me by getting the exersaucer out of the attic. After everyone left, I cleaned it up and put fresh batteries in all the little toys. Then, Kara had a turn in it. She had a great time and so did Levi. I think he pushed the buttons for the noises more than she did! I didn't get a picture of her first ride in it, but here is a picture of her in it from tonight.


During Kara's 4-month check-up, the doctor didn't mention anything about rice cereal or baby food. I have been holding off, but lately Kara has been acting like she wants more bottle when she's done. So, today I cleaned up the high chair and gave her some rice cereal after her afternoon bottle.


I wasn't sure what she thought about it at first, but after the first five bites or so, she really seemed to have figured it out. She started opening her mouth when I brought the spoon close and kept most of the rice cereal in her mouth.

Little Miss Baker

Today, Kara Jane turned 6 months old. She had a fun day baking gingerbread with Mama, Audy, and CC. She spent the majority of the time in the Baby Bjorn, and she LOVED it!


We decided to change things up this year and do a gingerbread nativity instead of a gingerbread house. We got a little carried away - by making each of us Mary, Joseph, a donkey, a camel, a shepherd, and three Wise Men.




We also had BUNCHES of other cookie shapes that needed to be decorated. We had several little helpers, but the adults definitely ended up with bulk of the work. I forgot to snap Levi's picture while he decorated his two cookies.

Kara Jane turned 6 months old today. Time really does go too quickly! This little girl is so very precious. We are so blessed.

Happy Thanksgiving

Kara Jane's first Thanksgiving was spent in Madison at Khaki and Q's house. The cute turkey shirt was from Nana.


To say Mama Rains is smitten with the newest addition to the Hughes family is probably an understatement.


With all the excitement, Levi did NOT want to take a nap. He was finally coerced into "resting" on his daddy. I think he was out in less than 10 seconds.


After nap, we all went to a new Veteran's Memorial in Huntsville. Khaki and Q had bricks engraved - one for my grandaddy Greer and one for my papa. The kids are sitting / standing near the bricks. Can you find the names?

Hints - the picture above has my grandaddy Greer's name AND don't let Levi's look fool you.

Christmas Parade

We went to the Christmas parade again at the nearby outdoor mall. This year, Daddy didn't get to go with us, because he was visiting Dee Dee - and Nana and Papa. Instead, Kara Jane and Levi's wonderful caregiver and her husband met us there for a fun evening.


I think Levi waved at every single person in the parade as they passed us.

And of course, CC and Audy met us there, too, for Kara's first Christmas parade.


Levi loves attention from his aunts!

First Field Trip

Today was Levi's first field trip with school. When I heard about the day, I knew I was going to take the day off to spend the day with him. Then, we found out if a parent / guardian didn't go, then the child didn't go.

The field trip was a fun day at Old Baker Farm - where we have gone the past two Halloweens to get our pumpkins.
Levi got to pet a baby chick and a baby duck, a rabbit, a lamb, and several goats.


We worked our way through a hay maze.

He found an old rocking chair to rest for a minute.


He also climbed the hay bales.



We even got pumpkins again. He was a little nervous on the hay ride to the pumpkin patch that the "desperadoes" would come to get us like they did when we went to get our first pumpkins. This time, no desperadoes... So, he quickly became focused on the fact that he wanted a green pumpkin this time. His teacher was a little nervous that he wouldn't find one... He wasn't disappointed, though. :-)


All that fun meant one tired boy.

Rolling Video

A quick video of Levi and Kara Jane.


Finally, a video of Kara Jane rolling over.


PS - don't you love her dress? Daddy picked it out from Janie and Jack - and it was less than $13!!

Happy Halloween 2011

Levi got to dress up for school today. The stipulation was that the costume had to be easy for the kids to get into and out of for the restroom. The Mario costume did not fit that requirement. PJs were an acceptable "costume", so Levi was Superman for school.


Levi was excited to wear his Mario costume again - and the mustache of course.

Until he actually got the mustache stuck to his face. Then he decided he didn't want to wear the mustache at all.

The Happy Harpers trick-or-treated with us again this year. It is so awesome for me to see our kids interact. I think they all had a really fun time.


Kara was a cow, just like Levi was for his first Halloween.