This week brought some fun to Birmingham, when the Extreme Makeover: Home Edition crew came to renovate the home of a family of sextuplets. The demolished the house on Tuesday, started construction on Wednesday, and completed it on Saturday afternoon. We ventured over there to checkout the progress on the on Thursday evening.

It was pretty cool to see the frame of the house and how quickly they were making progress. We decided to go back on Monday for the big “reveal”, when the family comes home. We didn’t get there until after they’d arrived, but it was still very fun to see the house! Above, aAnlise and I in the parking lot before we walked over. Below, the finished house! It went from 1,700 sq. feet to over 5,000! They need that space with 7 kids (2 1/2 yr old sextuplets and a 9 yr old).

Isn’t it crazy that it’s almost February? My little bundle of joy turned 7 months old this weekend. I can’t believe it. It seems like yesterday that Brian and I were celebrating our first anniversary in the hospital as they were starting to induce me. Thirty-six hours later, Analise burst onto the scene and our lives have NEVER been the same… they’re so much more fun!

At the moment, she’s on her belly follwing her little musical crawl toy, drooling all over the blanket. It’s been a busy week here! A week and a half ago, she came down with a slight cold, and all semblance of “normal routine” (that we were still struggling to find since moving) dissolved. It turns out she has an ear infection, so we’ve been battling to get her to take her antibiotics twice per day. On top of that, the first 2 teeth (more like daggers!) made their appearance. So needless to say, Analise has not been sleeping well lately, and I’m hoping we can get back into some semblence of a routine soon. Right now, though, about all I can do is snuggle her in the midst of her fussiness, and rescue her when she ends up on her hands and knees in the corner of her crib in the middle of her nap. Poor girl doesn’t know what to do with her new mobility!

Anyway, here are a few new glimpses for those of you checking in to see her smiley face! Above, she’s backed herself under the coffee table. Backwards is still the fastest direction of travel, but forwards creeping/army crawling is improving! Below, is one of my new favorites:)

	Well, those of you that are checking up on me win yourselves a photo jackpot!:) We’re settling into our new home here in Alabama, and Analise is keeping me busy! I thought life as a stay-at-home mom would be full of free time to catch up on all the things I’ve been wanting to do. But I think Brian got the easier stage before Analise was mobile! Now she’s rolling, crawling (albeit backwards and in minute increments!), reaching, sitting, grabbing, leaning and drooling endlessly. It’s fun! Toss in trying to slowly unpack, organize, laundry, dishes, finish me much belated Christmas letter (or shall we say Valentine’s letter!), and walking to try to get myself in a little better shape and my day is full! Of course, I’ve got time for a phone call, IM conversation or a visit… if you want!
	On with the show. Here’s Analise trying to reach the block. She’s baffled that she keeps getting farther from it as she’s moving backwards!
	On our trip across the country, we would get Analise out of her carseat to give her a little break. She much enjoyed being on Brian’s lap and pretending to drive.
	Next we have Analise’s first taste of something other than milk! She doesn’t look too impressed, does she? It was quite comical. She was making terrible faces before it even got to her mouth. After nearly 3 weeks, she’s only barely tolerating a taste of solids. She’s a mama’s milk kind of girl!

Last glimpse of the day is Analise and I out for a walk around our neighborhood. We got this great backpack from my parents for Christmas, and Analise smiles at everyone while I take her everywhere in it. Our neighborhood is very hilly, and we’ve been enjoying walking every evening before dinner.

Ok, I’m hoping to update this more often because I know there are lots of you out there missing our smiling faces! We miss you too!

We’re finally here! After 2 weeks of travel and many wonderful hours with my family (though never quite enough!), we arrived at our new home here in Birmingham, AL last night at 10:30. Brian’s parents have spent hours and hour and HOURS cleaning and painting and unpacking and getting our house ready for arrival. It was great. We slept so well, and we’re ready to see what God has in store for us here.

I hope to upload some pictures soon… I know I’ve been saying that with each entry. But we’re going to be without phone and *GASP* internet until around the 10th. I have no idea wht I’m going to do with myself until then! Maybe get Christmas cards and a Christmas letter ready…

I’ll check back soon to tell you about our new Analise and Alabama adventures!