Freedom

These days Landry is getting quite a taste of freedom. She has those legs working and she has been really getting around like a big girl. Last year when I went back to Vietnam, I got to see the life I could have had and it made me realize just how important my freedom is to me. I have the luxury of a life far different from the one I was born to. I have always said that I am a true rags to riches story. Now don't get me wrong...my idea of riches isn't necessarily the car in my drive way or the house that I live in. It truly is the freedom I have and the liberty that we all share every day we wake up. It is something that I hope Landry never takes for granted and will understand that the life she lives is a privilege. I pray that she comes to understand the value of those people who serve to protect our right to speech, our freedom and the pursuit of happiness. I hope that is something that we all re-establish in our minds as this 4th of July weekend comes to a close. As we get closer to the upcoming election I pray that we choose the candidate who will best fight for these things and serve us with honor, duty and service. I personally think there is only one candidate who can do this....what do you think?

The Green Beans Won

She is experiencing green beans this week and she seems to like them. Mike thinks I am torturing her by making her eat them. He thinks they just look NASTY! I can't disagree with him but she needs her veggies and her Mama is making sure she is getting them. They haven't been so nice to her on the back side. She is trying to get a diaper rash and well that just won't do in this Mama's world! I changed her diaper 9 times today so she doesn't have the chance to sit in a dirty diaper long enough for her to get one. Boudreaux's Butt Paste Rocks!

Check out the spoon action and note the 'talking' she's been doing.

Little Fish
Landry went to the pool for the first time today and she loved it! Mike and I took turns swimming her around the pool and she kicked and splashed and just had the best time. I couldn't pick out just one picture from the day so I just made a video. The first ones are after church(she was wearing a cute little pink number given to her by her Aunt Big Mama) and a visit to our friends, the Barnharts, in Crystal Springs. They were instrumental in helping me build Sophie's Playground. I really couldn't have done it with out them and their generous help. Dave and his son, Matthew helped me get much of the heavy equipment needed and operated it. They were there throughout the entire construction and without their expertise, it simply would not have been built. Jadeen worked out in the HOT sun doing whatever we needed. She is such a kind, sweet person. There aren't many families out there like theirs. I hope we can give Landry the kind of home life they have given their boys. They are certainly a family to be modeled after in my opinion.
The video ends with some really great pictures of Landry and her doting parents in her first ever pool experience. There is a photo toward the end and it is of Landry and me right after she went under the water for the first time. She didn't even cry!!! I couldn't get the silly grin off of my face I was so proud! Yeahhhh Landry!

ps...BTW, the video is only 2 minutes long. The song is just longer. Also, don't forget to scroll down and turn off the music :)

I love GROCERIES!

Even though she has slowed down on her bottle intake these days, our little Bug really seems to love her groceries. I have been researching and learning how to make her baby food. She will be starting to eat big girl food in a few weeks and while it makes me sad that she is moving into such a big stage, I am really happy that she is growing and thriving so well. I am growing squash, peaches, zucchini tomatoes, and bell peppers. I will buy other organic vegetables and cook and puree them into baby food. It would be a lot easier to buy it ready made and I may have to for some traveling situations but I really want to do what is best for her so I have committed to making all of her baby food. I got a Magic Bullet for Mother's Day from Landry so it is pretty easy to do. I have already made her brown rice cereal and peaches and put them up in the freezer. She has already had the rice and she seems to like it pretty well. I weighed her today and she was a whopping 16 lbs 6 oz! It's okay if you slow down, baby girl. Mommy won't mind a bit.

Aunt SuSu
This video is one of the best ones of Landry that I have. I wish I could take the credit for her sweet laughter but I have to give all the credit to my good friend Susan. Landry just lights up when she sees her and as you can see in the video, she really loves her. Susan spends a lot of time with her and I know she really loves Landry too. Since we don't have any family here that we can call on to help us, we have come to really count on our closest friends to help us out when we need to. I can't recall a time when I have asked Susan to help me out that she hasn't been there for me and especially for Landry. I know without a shadow of a doubt that Landry is in the best of care when she is with her and that isn't a feeling I could ever put a value on. Thanks again for being such a great friend to both of us!