Happy Birthday Granny!

Mary Lindsey would like to wish her Granny a very HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Since she is not able to be with her today, she is sending her this hug through the computer! Mary Lindsey is blessed to have two very special Great Grandmothers in her life and we certainly love Granny a ton!

This is a picture of Mary Lindsey taking a bath in Granny's sink at her house several months ago. We had so much fun at our slumber party at Granny's house!

Here is a picture of only part of the Overton side of my family. This is GiGi, Pops, me, Granny, my cousin Bridget, her husband Jeff, and their boys Anderson and Corbett. Mary Lindsey certainly is loved and spoiled by many people on this side of our family.

Here is Mary Lindsey with Granny at her house.

And here is Mary Lindsey enjoying a bottle!

We love you so much Granny and are so glad God placed us with you! We pray that you have many more healthy and happy years with us!

Trunk or Treat!

Our church hosted "Trunk or Treat" tonight. Mary Lindsey went as a baby pumpkin, (thanks for the costume GiGi!)

Here we are with my good friend Melissa and her little girl Ann Elise. Mary Lindsey loved Ann Elise's blue fairy outfit. She managed to rip part of her too-too after this picture was taken. Sorry Melissa!

This is Mary Lindsey's first experience with a lolly pop. Let's just say she loved it! Larry let her lick on the lolly pop for a while and everyone got the biggest kick out of it. Her eyes would get so big and she would smile and lick her lips. I was the bad guy and was the one to take it away from her. She SCREAMED! Everyone thought that was funny too!

Here is mommy with her cold little pumpkin!

Daddy and Mary Lindsey.

Here we are with my good friends Missy and Ellen, and Ellen's new little baby boy Smith. He was dressed like a baby pumpkin too!

Here is Mary Lindsey with some of her favorite people at church. The big kids!

Here we are with the Bear mascot from Southwest Community College. Notice Mary Lindsey is eyeing the lolly pops in his had. She grabbed several of them away from the bear after this picture was taken. See...I told you my child was brilliant...it didn't take her long to figure out she likes sweets!

We had a really fun evening! And the best part was the big crowd that came...lots of visiting families as well as people from the homes and apartments close to our church. It was a wonderful outreach opportunity for our church family and all the children had a blast.

Our little pumpkin is fast asleep right now. She is worn out from her busy evening!

Blessings

God has really been working in my heart here lately in very profound ways. I must admit, that I have been struggling over the past few weeks with being at home with Mary Lindsey on a full time basis. I think all of you who follow this blog know that I am a people person. The hardest part for me about being a full time stay at home mommy are the weeks that I feel secluded from adults...the lack of adult conversation and interaction...and also projects to keep my mind busy. I feel completely consumed by baby. Now, I have said all of this, but I would be remiss if I didn't also tell you that I see the eternal value every moment of the day in staying home with Mary Lindsey. She is the joy of my life...so I have been in deep prayer to God about helping me with the areas that I am struggling with. Let me just say...God is so faithful!

I have an amazing husband! He really does listen to me, even when I am throwing a pity party for myself and have lost all signs of sanity. He has really been encouraging me over these past few weeks to get out and invest my time in those around me. It really is true that when you pour yourself into other people, your own problems or stresses seem to diminish and your joy is multiplied. Today Mary Lindsey and I went to visit a dear couple in our church, Jim and Mary Ellis Reeves. I have posted their picture above. They are both in poor health and are not able to come to church or get out much. I know Mary Lindsey brightened their day, but truthfully they will never know what their company did for my heart. God is so good, and I am blessed to be a pastor's wife and get the opportunity to love on so many people. So, every week Mary Lindsey and I are going to pay a visit to at least one person or family who need it. I am counting on all of you to hold me to this...even when my schedule gets hectic and I can think of a million reasons why I can't!

Picture of the Night

I think this is the sweetest picture. Mary Lindsey and her Daddy were playing in the bed, and when she got sleepy, she just laid her head on his side and went to sleep. How precious!

Moving In Reverse

I took these pictures earlier of Mary Lindsey playing in the den. This will give you a good idea of how she moves right now. She is not crawling yet, but can move from place to place...only in reverse! She get up on all fours and rocks back and forth...and then falls back. She can also roll from side to side, she just doesn't got straight ahead yet. If she is sitting up, she will pull herself up on her knees and then fall forward. Boy...my days are numbered...we will be chasing her soon! Enjoy the pictures!

Evening Happenings.

When Larry and I sit down to dinner now, we usually give Mary Lindsey one of her favorite teething cookies and some juice. The cookie is the perfect size to keep her occupied so we can eat and have conversation without having to entertain her. I am waiting for the day when I don't have to strip her clothes off after she finishes the cookie. The pictures I am posting explain what I am talking about. She drinks her juice from the sippy cup but still has not figured out how to pick it up and drink it. She will do it for a little while if you pick up the cup for her and put it in her hands...but, not long! So instead, she opens her mouth and makes grunting noises while she looks at you like, "crazy, pick up the cup and feed me my juice!"

Bath time came immediately after dinner time. I tried to take some pictures of her splashing her feet in the water, but you can't tell that is what she is doing. She thinks it is hilarious to get you wet. She she just constantly kicks her feet and slaps the water. She has too much fun!

Thanks BoBo and Nana!

Larry and I wanted to say a very special THANK YOU to his parents for making our vacation this past week so enjoyable! I didn't have much time to write last night, but the two of them really are amazing people who without a doubt love their grand daughter! The days that we spent in the mountains were such a sweet time for them to spend loving on Mary Lindsey, and getting some quality time to reconnect with their son too! I am just grateful they allowed me to tag along! Their kindness and generosity were beyond words and we are so thankful for our relationship with them.

Nana has already called us to say that she is going through "Mary Lindsey withdrawals". Well, we are going through Nana withdrawals! ML doesn't understand why there isn't someone by her side 24 hours a day to entertain and hold her. We are back to reality!

Larry and I are blessed to both have wonderful parents who love us and think Mary Lindsey hung the moon. We had a surprise visit from my daddy, her Pops, this afternoon and that was so much fun! He hugged and kissed on her for a while before heading to South Carolina. Now, we are counting down the days before we go to South Carolina in a few weeks so GiGi and Holli can get their hugs and kisses! Mary Lindsey is so blessed to be loved by so many people!

Well, again, THANK YOU Nana and Bobo for everything. We had an amazing time and made lots of special memories!

Back from Big Cedar!

Well, we have made it back to Mississippi after a wonderful family vacation! We had a much needed time of rest and relaxation in the Ozark Mountains of Missouri at Big Cedar Lodge. The scenery was beautiful and a perfect environment to just get away from daily responsibilities of life. We were blessed to have Larry's parents go with us. It was the first time the two of them have got to spend an extended length of time with Mary Lindsey so they enjoyed that beyond words.

The resort we were at was located on Table Rock Lake so we took a boat ride one day, the guys went fishing (of course!), we hiked, we ATE at wonderful restaurants, took naps in our room, played putt-putt, and just enjoyed nature. I am posting several pictures right now, and promise to post some more when have had unpacked and spent some time playing with my child who is worn out from a 9 hour drive home. We love all of you!

Happy Bosses Day!

Larry called me this morning from work to inform me that today was National Celebrate Your Boss Day! He had received a pound cake from his secretary at the church which was a nice surprise for him. Thank you Wanda!

So in light of this discovery, I would like to pay tribute to my boss, Mary Lindsey LeBlanc! She works me harder than any boss I have ever had, the monetary pay is the pits, the hours are long and work never ending...but...she is BY FAR the best boss I have ever had and the joy and satisfaction I get from being her full time stay at home mommy blesses me beyond words daily!

Mommy loves you a ton Mary Lindsey!

Lap Chaps

On Wednesday mornings, Mary Lindsey and I head to the public library to attend "Lap Chaps". I learned very early, that in order to properly raise a baby here in Pike County, you must be a part of "Lap Chaps", which is a story and music time led by a dear, sweet lady named Ms. Mattie. Ms. Mattie has read to every individual that is 40 years and younger here in Pike County. That is how long she has been involved in the public school system and the library. She sings songs and dances and then reads to the children. This is a special time that Mary Lindsey and I look forward to each week. We have made some good friends too! I have posted pictures of us and Ms. Mattie as well as part of our group from this morning!

I am also posting a picture of ML attempting to drink from her sippie cup with no help. We have just started this process. It is sure funny to watch right now!

Love yall!

7 Month Check up and SHOTS!

This morning we had a routine doctor's checkup and shot appointment. One of the only negative things I can think of about being a baby is the amount of shots you have to endure your first year of life. Today we had the normal round of 4 vaccinations PLUS a flu shot. So basically 3 shots in one leg and 2 in the other. OUCH! But as usual, Mary Lindsey was trooper. She only cried a little when the actual shots were being injected, and then a few seconds later it was as if she forgot what had happened. In fact, you can see by one of the pictures I posted that the nurse handed me a piece of paper explaining her vaccinations right after she had finished, and ML immediately took it out of my hands and started playing with it. You can see her pretty purple bandaid on her leg. She had a shiny silver bandaid on the other! I also posted a picture of our pediatrician, Dr. Charles. I know he looks like a shaggy kind of guy, but he has a wonderful bedside manner with Mary Lindsey and is extremely knowledgeable. He and his wife have 3 daughters, so he knows a thing or two about little girls. The other picture is of ML looking at herself in the mirror. She had a blast talking to herself while we were waiting on Dr. Charles.

So the stats from today are as follows: Mary Lindsey now weighs 17 lbs. 12 oz., so she gained 2 lbs. exactly in the past two months. She is now in the 60th percentile for weight. She is 27" in length, so she grew 1/2 and inch in the past two months. So she is now in the 70th percentile for height. He said everything about her looks perfect...praise the Lord! We have a happy and healthy baby girl. Thank you Lord for the blessing of a healthy child and we continue to call out to you to protect her and allow her to grow into a young lady who would follow close after you her whole life!

Monkeying Around

Well, Mary Lindsey received a new best friend today. This is her new sock monkey and she loves her to say the least! A good friend of our family, Marty Lewman, had this sock monkey made especially for Mary Lindsey. Noticed the monkey is dressed in pink and brown, since everything we own for ML is pink and brown! Marty said she could think of no other outfit for the monkey that would be more fitting!

Anyway, after Sunday lunch we came home to take our usually afternoon nap and I put the sock monkey in the bed with ML and I. She proceeded to talk to the monkey as if it were a person sitting beside her. She laughed at her, grabbed her bow, kissed her, slobbered all over her, and then talked to her some more. It was so funny! I was attempting to read ML a book and she took the book from my hands and looked as if she was trying to read to the monkey. Larry and I got the biggest kick out of her. So here are some pictures of ML and her new best friend.

My Buddy and Me!

This morning Mary Lindsey and I headed outside! It has been such beautiful weather here the past few days we can't stand to stay inside. My intent was to sweep off our front porch, but being the addicted "blogger mommy" that I am, I could not pass up the opportunity for some good pictures. These I thought turned out especially cute. The yellow lab in these pictures is Buddy. I tell people that Buddy found Larry about a year ago, and has lived here in our yard ever since. We are not quite sure where Buddy came from or what his story is, but one evening he ended up here and Larry's heart absolutely melted. You could tell he had not had a good meal in a while and had no one to love. So, to make a long story short, Buddy became a part of the LeBlanc family. Buddy and I have a love hate relationship at times. He has been known to make a mess of my yard and brings all sorts of junk into our garage, but he has the sweetest eyes of any dog I have seen in my life. He seems to really like Mary Lindsey and she is gradually becoming more fond of Buddy and our other lab, Lucy. So have fun looking at these pictures of Buddy and Bit Bit this morning. We love you all!

Bit Bit and the Boys!

Yesterday afternoon Mary Lindsey and I got to spend some special time with our family in Bogalusa. Mary Lindsey especially liked hanging out with her cousins. They definitely loved on her and held her and lavished her with lots of attention. I thought these pictures of them together were too cute. From left to right...Anderson, Carlton, Corbett, and Collin. I love you guys and we know that Mary Lindsey certainly does!