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This probably isn't a great photo by anyone's standards except my own, but there is something I just love about it. Maybe it's the mouse ears on the suit that I had to buy G at a consignment sale. (Wish you could see the tail she is sitting on!) Maybe it's the new Ikea shelves that I finally got after years of covetting. Perhaps it's the mess she is sitting in (she is my daughter!). Whatever it is, to me, this says home. It's one of those days that I get to just stay at home and be Mommy, my favorite job, only second to Wife. These days are becoming more and more precious to me. I know some day they will be gone, or at least my kids will be grown. I will miss the mess, miss the toys, miss my babies being babies. But for today I choose to put off the household duties and play. I love being a Mommy!

Day 209

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She's a Climber!
Look out below!

Day 206

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View from the Crib
Decor compliments of Ikea. If only Gemma could see this view! The view from our bed isn't nearly this exciting.

Day 204

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My Best Friend and My Baby
Jenni and Gemma
Seeing my old friend was a true treat. I miss her so much! Plus she was great with G which gave me a little bit of a break. I could say a lot of things, but for me, the picture speaks for itself.

Day 203

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A Creation of the World Famous Architect, Will Wohlford

We have this conversation on the phone frequently. When I answer, it's the World Famous Architect, Will Wohlford. I commission him to build something fabulous for me. Now there are fabulous buildings everywhere...until Gemmazilla knocks them down.

Day 199

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Little G with her Bible Story

It's hard to believe that Jesus loves Gemma more than I do. But what a wonderful thing! Even harder to believe that He still loves me that much even after I have grown up!

Day 197

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Beautiful Blue Eyes

Day 189

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Thanks to an incorrect weather forecast (again), our trip to Holiday World was foiled. Instead we dressed like cows for free Chick Fil A and went to the Living Arts and Science Museum and Spaghetti Factory in Louisville. It was a first trip for all of us, and pretty interesting. Mimi and Pawpaw were especially good sports since this wasn't their usual cup of tea. Here they are riding a city bus. Look out...John was driving!

Day 185

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My Patriotic Baby...and my patriotic blue toes. Happy 235th Birthday America!

Day 182

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There is nothing more peaceful than a sleeping baby...or more rotten. I will always know by the sheets that she she was insisting on sleeping in our bed for this one. The worst of it is that she wasn't even really sleeping. The next photo is of her with eyes wide open, grinning because she knew she had me right where she wanted.

Day 181

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Gemma at 8 months

She was attempting to climb out of the chair the whole time. Little rascal! Regardless, I thought this captured her more serious side very well.

Day 179

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Swim party! Gemma wasn't too sure about the water play. See her blotchy face? She's not too fond of cold water.

Day 178

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I found this bear at a friend's yard sale. She was really happy to be rid of it and I was really happy to find it. What a great photo prop. I have a wonderful baby picture dreamed up in my head, but my baby is too big. Any takers???

Day 173

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This is one of my oldest and best friends, Linda. We haven known each other since college. She is quite the math teacher, so it's fitting that she be the first to let Gemma play with a calculator! (Although it's not pictured here, she let her eat it too!)

Day 167

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This little toy is cute as a button...an aquarium you don't have to clean! :) Gemma turns it on and off by herself when she's in the mood for a little music. She often likes to do it with her feet, but tonight I captured her little hand in action.

I like to look at her in the soft blue glow of the light for a minute after I lay her down. So many little things I don't want to forget...

Day 165

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First Strawberry/First Whole Food!

We love the summer concerts around town. This week was the first time we were able to go to Ecton Park. Gemma grabbed a strawberry and went to town. After the initial tart shock, she seemed to enjoy it. Dressed like a strawberry herself, I guess she would have to!

Day 164

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China One

That's John's name for this sleeping position. It was the first position Will fell asleep in in China. After a long day of crying, I might ad. We weren't expecting him to sleep that way, but it was so adorable.

Enter Gemma. "Back is best" is what everyone says for sleeping babies. But Gemma rolls straight into this position every time. I hate it. Especially because she usually faces the wall, which makes it harder to check and see if she is breathing. John calls me paranoid. I call myself a loving mother. Regardless, cute as it may be, I hate this position.

Day 163

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Snuggling to Sleep with Daddy

It's becoming a nightly ritual, at least when G's not up fighting it!

Day 162

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John bought this adorable little duckie robe as a Christmas present for our first baby while we were in the adoption process. Will ended up being way too big for it, so here it is on Gemma. I'm thinking this will look good in our duckie bathroom.

Day 159

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John knew a man growing up who's middle initial was "G." When people asked him what the G stood for, he would say,"Gorgeous!" We hope Gemma has enough spunk to pull that off. Modeling for pictures like this, I think she has an awfully good chance.