Let Your Love Grow Tall: 11 Months

One of my favorite pictures of Sweet P

This month started out on a euphoric high - STAYING HOME ALL DAY WITH MY CHUNKY MONKEY!! Which was quickly overshadowed by having to pack up my house and home to go to Girls' Camp with the youth girls from my church... and sleep in a tent. Now here's the thing. I was not a part of Young Women's so I didn't know any of these girls. I also had a 10 month old that I was JUST getting to spend time with. Otherwise I would've been more than excited... But a week in tents, having to sneak off to pump so I could reach my goal of breastfeeding for a year - No, no thank you.

But I put on my big girl panties and sent Paisley to Camp Nana for the week where I was sent constant photograph/video updates that only made me miss her more. She was having way too much fun without me. An impending flash flood afforded us the luxury of packing up and heading out a day early (only after all of our personal belongings and tents were already flooded). My mom decided to bring Paisley back to us, so Jeff and I went on our favorite burger date (The Vortex) while we awaited the princess's arrival.

I dare say the best burger in Atlanta

Nana got here a little later expected, so Jeff was at his weekly basketball game when she pulled in with a delusional 10 month old who was up much past her bed time. I just knew she was going to die with excitement when she saw me! The van door couldn't open fast enough. I couldn't get her out of her car seat fast enough. Then I realized... she didn't recognize me. I was a stranger. She started reaching for her Nana and the tears started welling... In both of our eyes. I was stunned. All I could think in that moment was, "CURSE YOU GIRLS' CAMP!"

I rushed inside and tried to soothe and console. Nothing. I tried to nurse. Refusal. I tried to cuddle. Arched-back. Screaming. With tears in my eyes I gave up, put her in bed screaming, and brokenheartedly walked away. I tearfully told Jeff what happened and he reassured me she would be fine in the morning.



He was right. She couldn't wait to be in our arms again. She stretched her little hand between the rails and grabbed Jeff's hand. The sweetest moment. No longer delusional. She knew she was home. (Good thing because Nana was about to get it for brainwashing Paisley to forget us... Of course she blamed it on April, though.)

Relaxing with Dad (she never sits still like this!)

Modeling her dress from Aunt Ashley

Snuggling with Daddy

Holding Daddy's hand on a walk

Trying on glasses with Aunt April

We spent the rest of the month getting reacquainted, laughing, and throwing fits. She may seem angelic but Paisley can throw a mean fit. Most of the time it's because she's hangry (severe hunger which causes one to become hangry). Other times it's because I won't let her climb the stairs another hundred times in the same hour. This girl... She's quite the pistol. But man do we love her!

She loves to play "office" - I think she's Pam

Swimming with Drulie

Always having way too much fun at Costco

After nap hair. Seriously what happened?

She seriously loves this kid... It just doesn't seem like it

Everyone in Primary loves Paisley

Oh she's also been working on her swimming! She loves, loves, loves the water. When we walk towards the pool she starts squealing and kicking. She can't wait to get in. She kicks really well, puts her face in, holds the wall by herself, and can swim about 2 feet without assistance! I'm secretly going to train her to become an Olympic swimmer (Jeff would prefer something more feminine). Look out for her gold! (Short video of her swimming below.)

Just kickin' it

She looks like an old lady after some eye surgery

 Somehow Evaleigh and Paisley's playdate video did not make it into her 11 month video! Here's P and EJ bonding over hair.

Here's what's she's been up to this month. This girl was born with rhythm and takes every opportunity to dance! She loves music and crawls over to the iPod dock and waits for me to turn something on. Indie music is her favorite and she always tries to sing with The Staves. A girl after my own heart.

Paisley 11 Months from Jeff Nef on Vimeo.

Because I know you're so intrigued with my video making skills, here are the others in case you missed them:
10 month video (my favorite video so far)
9 month video
8 month video
7 month video
6 month video
5 month video
4 month video
3 month video
2 month video
1 month video

10 Months: Dance Montage

The dress I made with a LOT of help from Claudia Zimmerman.

*I am officially a stay-at-home mom!! I'm counting the days to be rid of my students. Ha! (Just for the record I do love, love, love teaching and towards the end I did start to get really sad about leaving... But then I'd look at my babe and be like, "25 stinky 4th graders or this chunky girl?" Chunky girl every time.

I just love this girl!

The month of May flew in and flew past. We were able to go and visit my mom, so lovingly called Nana these days, for her birthday which was also Mother's Day. (I always feel bad for people who share a birthday with a holiday. Maybe we should start celebrating her half-birthday or something.)

Paisley eating lunch with cousins, Logan and London.

Paisley eating lunch with twin cousins, Alex and Dylan.

Anyways, we had a great trip to Valdosta filled with ear piercings for Paisley**, tons of food, and silly photoshoots where we actually just recorded ourselves posing in the hopes there would be one brief second where we could pull a solid still shot from the madness. Paisley loved being surrounded by big kids (even when they shoved her around! - watch her shake one instance off in the video with her cousin, Kendall). She had so much fun watching her cousins and trying to keep up with them. At this point, she's taking steps but very reluctantly and only a few at a time. Her longest stride has been about 6 steps.

My first real Mother's Day and my mom's 36th!

This little stinker is growing more adventurous by the day. She has taught herself how to climb the stairs and takes every opportunity to. She huffs and puffs and stumbles often but she is a fiercely determined girl.

We are working on learning some baby signs. I cannot say enough about baby sign language and I recommend it to everyone. Right now she's not really doing the signs herself. It's more of introducing them, making her little hands do it, and her whining because I'm controlling her hands for a brief second before I give her that Gerber cheese puff she so desperately desires.

Exhausted after no naps at daycare.

She's also starting to talk more and more. When asked what a cow says she replies, "Mmmmm." She can also make sheep sounds... That's about all we've got so far. She is a sassy little thing though and loves to talk back when I tell her no. She turns, stares at me for a second as if to say, "Who do you think you are talking to?" and says something along the lines of, "Bshhhpoobushuuuu." It gets me every time. I read Bringing Up Bebe and it talks about saying no with conviction without a raised voice and how these French mothers say no one time and that's it. Baby moves on. I'm going to need a video tutorial on a "no with conviction" because those teenage years may be hopeless without one...

Playing a game of "how many books can I pull down in 5 seconds"

One of my favorite teacher friends, Rasheda

Here are the silly Nefs in Paisley's 10 month video. Also starring Kendall the babe, Moose the dog, and the back of Kendra's head. Special thanks to Aunt April for about 30 minutes of footage to sort through, as well. All of her best dance moves were in it.

Paisley 10 Months from Jeff Nef on Vimeo.

*If the world were perfect this would've been posted May 24th.
**Controversial topic, I know. I love them. They don't bother her, and if she ever wants them out she has the choice to do so. Dusts my hands off


Because I know you're so intrigued with my video making skills, here are the others in case you missed them:
9 month video
8 month video
7 month video
6 month video
5 month video
4 month video
3 month video
2 month video
1 month video

My Sugar Lump: 9 Months

getting her snack on

*This post is to cover the time from March 24th to April 24th. To be honest the months are starting to blur. I wish I had done this in real time, but I'm pretty sure I spent every day of the month of April freaking out. Standardized tests = pure evil.

crazy-eyed selfie with my babe

Paisley really started crawling like crazy and pulling up on everything this month. Since she's been born, we have basically purchased two toys for her - every thing else has been a hand-me-down (thank you to everyone who has supported P's playtime with your donations). One of them is a little walker that was probably about $10 (go big or go home!). You better believe we've forced her to get her money's worth out of it! We don't waste a penny in this house. After many failed attempts of maneuvering it she's finally gotten the hang of it and can even pull up on it now - huge feat followed by many rounds of applause. I'm still working on her medal.

summer toes

finally spring

During my luxurious Spring Break, Paisley and I ventured to Savannah to visit Aunt April. Aunt Sally, her sassy two-year old, Laney, and brand-spanking new 3 week-old, Walker, also came to visit and the six of us shared April's 1 room apartment. No, not one-bedroom. It is literally ONE ROOM! Our sweet, sweet Aunt Martha invited us to relax in her newly built home but we passed on the offer for girl time with the Aunties. Huge mistake. Let's just say Laney was very close to sleeping outside. Even with lack of sleep, we were able to pack up all of the babes and make it to the beach, though. First thing Paisley did was grab a shrimp skin and shove in into her mouth with those stealthy sausage fingers of hers. For some reason she was upset upon said shrimp skin removal, but was quickly distracted by Laney's non-stop-one-toddler-show. She basically spent the rest of our time in Savannah trying to team up with Laney, but her spotlight was not to be shared. Every time Paisley got within arm's length of Laney, Laney would say Paisley was attacking her. (I see some frivolous lawsuits in that girl's future.)

walker

laney and paisley working hard

found something special

she was a little perturbed about the shrimp skin

beach babe or what?

soaking it all in

love my girl

a truly dedicated aunt will do anything for their babies

tiny nap - all thanks to aunt april

who doesn't love aunt april

nobody, that's who

Sweet P's hair only seems to grow in one place. Right. on. top. Which gives her a great bob with no trim needed. Her vocabulary has also expanded from just mama and dada to also include bye-bye. Which she says with a huge grin as I tow her out of daycare...

I tried to keep the video short and sweet because I get it. Enough with the videos already, right? Well here's proof that Paisley doesn't cry when she falls... most of the time... She just pretends it never happens... and sometimes dances it off.


Paisley 9 Months from Jeff Nef on Vimeo.

Because I know you're so intrigued with my video making skills, here are the others in case you missed them:
8 month video
7 month video
6 month video
5 month video
4 month video
3 month video
2 month video
1 month video

8 Months: My Little Sack of Sugar

*Please note this actually took place from Feb 25- Mar 24.

Paisley is just so edible. I love, love, love her thick thighs and those squishy cheeks! She is our little sack of sugar that we can't stop stealing sugar from!

This month has been a little fussy - she has gotten to where she will only take about a 15-30 minute nap at daycare. Most days, she doesn't take one at all!! They say she's not fussy and just entertains herself... I'm not sure that I believe it! Sleep deprivation makes people in this family Hulk out! (Namely, me!) When we get home she nurses and crashes for a few hours. Sometimes she's only up for an hour and then she's in bed by 8. That means I only see her for about 2 hours a day. Depressing. Especially when I spend all day with other people's kids.

Well, she can say mama and dada (mostly dada, though). She's also started to say bye-bye. It's usually only when I pick her up from daycare. She's like, "Get me outta here!" She is also getting better at crawling and can pull herself up in her crib. She hasn't really mastered it anywhere else yet.

We sure do love this girl bunches and I can't wait to be home with her for good! Two more months!



Paisley 8 Months from Jeff Nef on Vimeo.