~{11 Months}~

It is so hard to believe it has been another month! Mellany is one month closer to the big birthday and I am so not ready. With each day, I (Johnny too) make a point to hold her just a little longer while she sleeps or get in a few more sweet kisses because we know that before long she isn't going to want to be held and the kisses will be few and far between. Life is so bittersweet isn't it?! 

Here's what she has been up to over the past month! 

• Her sleeping habits are pretty much the same from last month....about 30-60 minute nap in the morning, 2-3 hours in the afternoon, 30 minutes or less in the evening....in bed at 8/8:30 and up around 6:30....we are so fortunate that she has such amazing sleeping habits. I'm sure she gets it from her dad! :-) Sometimes though, she does put up a pretty good fight. 
• Mellany is really beginning to eat a lot of table food and is even less interested in the bottle. If we could just get her to drink water, I'm sure that we wouldn't even have the bottle at this point. She loves to be able to eat whatever you are eating and is trying all kinds of new things....way too many to list! She is totally a fruit girl though and will literally devour any kind of fruit you give her. Thankfully, she hasn't quite turned picky like her momma and that makes me very happy! Her pincher grasp is really good and she can feed herself quite well--puffs are her favorite
• Discoveries: Doors-She will swing a door all day every day if she could. She especially likes to look for the doorstop. 
• Accomplishments: Walking with the wheelie bug and walker.....she gets so proud of herself as she walks with them. Clapping! She loves to clap and does it often! She is really starting to make the connection between clapping and when it is "appropriate" to clap. 
• Places: Over the course of the past month Mellany and I embarked on a major road trip from Kearney, NE to Kansas City, MO to Columbia, MO to Branson, MO back to KCMO and all the way back to NE.....Mellany did AMAZING on this 2 week trip and we had such a fun time together! Thanks to Grammy, she got her birthday present early....a DVD player for the car.....so we enjoyed some Baby Einstein, Dr. Seuss and Lady and the Tramp, which definitely helped with the boredom of travelling. 
• Special friends: Anderson Thornton! She loved playing with Anderson; they did so well together
• New babbles: Finally!!!! Mellany says "ma-ma"!!!!!!! She drags out the initial mmmmm.....and then just breaks out ma-ma! I absolutely love it! She can also say "Nana". Really, she could talk your ear off. 
• She really loves music and has even learned how to "dance". 
• Her favorite toys are her bunny, puppy, rattle, truman blankie, her blanket, her leap frog table, her mini purse, The Very Hungry Caterpillar book and her photo album. She is really content playing with herself and can keep herself occupied for a long time. 
• Mellany is wearing mainly 6-9 month clothes as well as 12 month shirts. She is pretty long but slender...finding clothes to fit (especially pants) can be somewhat difficult. 
• She is developing quite the personality....she is very active, a studier/observer, literally always happy and excited, loves to read (and gets mad when you stop), loves to be in the car, loves the shopping cart, has the sweetest little grin when she knows she is doing something she shouldn't be, she really likes to put her hands in your mouth and nostrils (even better is when you "blow" out your nose....she just giggles and giggles)
• Standing unassisted is becoming more and more frequent
• She has gotten really good at climbing stairs but hasn't quite mastered getting down them
• She likes strings, especially ones on shirts and pants
• She really likes to go into her closet and go through all her shoes; she also loves to play with her diapers and our water bottles (or pepsi bottles) :-) 
• Mellany likes to "drum" anything she can
• She loves to play with junk mail or magazine or any kind of paper she can find
• Her legs are always crossed....in the tub, in the carseat, in the high chair, sitting in your lap.....always crossed...
• She always finds Johnny's pen/pencil in his shirt when he picks her up after getting home from work....it's like a nightly routine
• A fake laugh has developed....If we start laughing she usually chimes in with a real loud fake laugh....which makes us laugh harder. 

HAPPY 11 MONTHS MISS MELLANY! 

Definitely the hardest photo shoot by far....I'm sure you can figure out why! :-) 

Growth Chart!

If you remember one of my posts while I was pregnant, I found a growth chart idea that I really loved and wanted to make for Mellany. Well, about 6 months after Mellany was born, I realized it wasn't going to happen. But, I do happen to have a very artsy friend who I knew could do it! After asking her about it and telling her my ideas, she agreed and this is the result. I absolutely LOVE LOVE LOVE how it turned out and can't wait to start measuring M's growth. Didn't she do an amazing job?! 

Thanks Kim!!!

**Road Trip 2012**

As we prepared for our annual Labor Day Branson, MO trip, we quickly realized that Johnny wasn't going to be able to go with us this year. Because of the severe draught, harvest started early which imposed on our vacation plans. After a few long discussions, we decided that Mellany and I would still go, even stretching the trip out for a longer timeframe--making it about a 2 week trip. This way we could really take our time and spend more time with family. 

So, Mellany and I took off on Monday the 27 and headed for KC. We spent Monday through Thursday with my mom, dad, Teresa, Brad & Amiee, Aunt Kay, Amanda, Nathan, Chloe and even got to see the Kelley's while I got my eyebrows waxed. :) It was so nice just hanging out with everyone and not having to be in a hurry to go to the next place.

Thursday, we left for Columbia to see one of my best girlfriends, Samantha and her family....including Anderson who is 2 months younger than Mellany and I've never met until then! We did a few "Columbia" things like visiting the bookstore (would have seen more of the campus if it wasn't raining!), downtown and eating some Shakespeare's Pizza! We were even able to sit and visit IN PERSON versus on the phone....it was so nice! 

Saturday, Mellany and I left Columbia for Branson to meet up with Johnny's side of the family. Branson is always so much fun; very laid back, you can do what you want, but you're surrounded by family. It was so nice! Mellany got to spend time with quite a few people that she doesn't get to spend a whole lot of time with (same for me!) and it was sooooo great! While in Branson we shopped, went to see a show (a must if you're in Branson), swam, took boat rides and ate lots of food!

Friday, we made our way back to KC for another visit with my side of the family before heading out on Monday to come even farther north....good 'ole Nebraska! 

It was so nice to be back and see Johnny again (& Bo....Mellany was screaming when she saw Bo; guess she missed him too!).....we were both beyond ready to see him again! Although, I will say that the trip was very refreshing and I would totally do it again! Mellany is such a great traveller; she only cried once (for her binky--I had to pull to the side of the interstate) in the 22 hours that we were in the car.....I am IMPRESSED! I love to drive/travel so it was really good for me to get out of the house.....and Johnny was so busy with work while we were gone that we wouldn't have seen him much anyway. 

All in all the trip was fantastic, but the Barrett girls are glad to be home! (And I must mention, that we arrived home to a spotless home.....my husband is seriously the best!) 

**As always, I didn't take near enough pictures, so many of these are borrowed/stolen.....and sadly, I didn't get any pictures at my dad's :( 

Loving the new car that Grammy bought. She sat right in the seat and it was like she knew exactly what to do....she had never been in one before this.....she was even playing with the steering wheel, acting like she was driving! 

Mellany 10 months, Chloe 9 months (Chloe is my cousin Amanda's daughter)

...kisses...

Anderson (8 months) & Mellany (10 months)

They had so much fun together!

Love the hills of Southern MO!

Intermission at "SIX"...the show we saw in Branson. It was AMAZING! I would highly recommend it to anyone. Feel free to google them; totally worth your time. 

Vacation is rough.... :-) 

Saying "Nana"

...relaxed...

First boat ride! She's definitely a fan....just like her momma and daddy!

First Lambert's experience.....the rolls were a hit; as was the "roll boy"

Snuggling with momma

Taking a swim...

Back to Grammy...trying to see Uncle Brian

Dinner at Uncle Bagley and Aunt Mae-Mae's

Helping them with their kleenex box...

Final morning with Grammy

had to take a swing on the swingset her momma, aunt and uncle (and a super friendly neighbor) put together the day before...

Saying bye bye to Grammy!

We are now officially ready for fall which includes more harvest, open windows, mums, MIZZOU and Chiefs football, Chili and Pot Roast on Sundays, Birthday celebrations (including a big 1 year old birthday party for the little lady) and the start of holidays!!!! I think it is safe to say this is our favorite time of year!