Monkeyin' Around

This past week was Spring Break for George and it gave us a great opportunity to relax and enjoy some family time together. I took several days off myself and on the days that I did work, George brought Mattie up to OSU so we could have lunch together. It was just the break I needed to de-stress after all the work projects I've had going on. George got to do some projects around the house and I got to catch up on some organizing I've been meaning to do.

Mattie is doing wonderful and has hit so many milestones recently. She is officially crawling and likes to explore new things and move around. She gets very frustrated when she can't get to something she wants herself. It is so funny. She is drinking well out of her sippy cup and loves to feed herself finger food. Her favorite is still puffed cereal but she also likes soft cheese bites. Her little personality is so cute and we have fun laughing and playing together. She likes to play peek-a-boo and loves to be cheered on and clapped for. She is teething right now (and has many times before) - we'll see if this is the time she gets her first tooth! We will be celebrating 9 months with our precious girl this week and can't believe how big she is getting.

On Friday we got to go to the zoo with all the Hortons. It was a blast. We got to spend the day with Dan, Saradell, Saul, MaryBeth, Stran, Deedee, JC, Lincoln and little baby-in-the-belly Claira (Due date May 9). I have honestly never been to the OKC Zoo before and loved it. It was such a nice day and the animals were all out playing. Our favorites were the gorillas and the bears. :)

Below are some great pics I got of Mattie in the grass yesterday and from the zoo. Enjoy and have a wonderful week!

Verse for this week: "Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be." - Psalm 139:16
He is infinite and able to meet us where we are at all times. God is able.

We love bathtime!

Bathtime is one of Mattie's favorite times. She loves to play and has discovered how to press down the sides of her duck bathtub and let the water out. She likes to chew on all the bath toys and squeal. It is adorable! We got some great pics tonight of her playing and thought you would enjoy them, too.

Mattie Update

This week has been a little crazy and we are excited for the weekend. Mattie had her first 'major' fever outbreak on Wednesday so we spent the night worrying and checking on her. At one point it got up to 103 degrees so we got her in to the doctor the next day. We are so thankful that it was not the flu, but a simple virus. She is doing much better now and is back to her old self. This illness taught us the trick of rotating Tylenol and Motrin and that really helped to keep her fever down.

This weekend we will be traveling back to Lawton so that we can help with John Talley's Anadarko mission trip. Every year a John organizes a group of college students to help plan a rapelling trip and team building exercises for students in Anadarko. They also help with projects that the local churches have for them while we're down there.

Eleri got some great videos of Mattie this week while she was at her house. Enjoy!


Mattie plays with ball:


Mattie loves the spoon:

Going Walking

We snapped some cute pictures on our walk around the neighborhood yesterday. Mattie has really enjoyed getting to play outside now that it's nicer. We can't wait to take her swimming this summer and all the other firsts that summer brings!

8 Months with Mattie!

Mattie turned 8 months old last weekend and we can't believe it. She is getting so big. Her personality is really starting to come out, too. She is very vocal and is starting to have a little separation anxiety. Now, when she is frustrated or upset, she cries "Mamamamama!" When she is excited or giddy, she says "Dadadadada!" I think this girl already has us figured out. :)

This past weekend, we went home to visit family. My sister was in the hospital and Tyler had a soccer game on Saturday. Unfortunately we didn't get to take Mattie to see Tiffany since we are trying to keep her healthy after her respiratory issues a few weeks ago. On Saturday we all went to lunch after Tyler's soccer game to Texas Roadhouse. My family thought it would be funny to make me ride the saddle since we had not eaten together since my birthday. Mattie was NOT a fan of this. Whenever the employees came over to cheer and clap, she was barely holding it together. Then they let out a loud "Yeehaw!!" and she lost it. She cried and cried and clung to me. I felt so bad for her. It really scared her and upset her. Then someone else next to us had a birthday and it was pretty much over after that! Luckily, we were finishing up lunch so we finished up and left and Mattie was back to her old self (after a nap of course).

She is army crawling all over the place and we think she'll be "off the ground" for good any day now. She can pretty much get to the places she wants to be by scooting, rolling or dragging herself around. George and I have been amazed at how many 'plank holds' she's been able to do. She will hold her arms stiff and push her whole body off the ground except for her feet. She's trying to figure out everything and in the process doing some really difficult exercise!

Eleri captured this great video of Mattie playing last week and we thought you would enjoy it. In the beginning she grabs her hoodie and 'flies'. She is just so precious!


We hope you have a great week and are comforted by these words from Philippians as you get going this Monday.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. - Phil. 4:6-7