Jordan is 13 Months Old!

It's been a crazy few weeks! We started the month in Charleston and ended it in Kansas City. Big changes for a little person. But Jordan handled all the chaos like a pro. I counted all the different places she slept this month - it was at least nine. Good thing Jordan is mellow and goes with the flow.

Besides this month being rough with all the transitions - it was rough for Jordan in terms of falls. We had our first Emergency Department visit (on Father's Day!) after a fall and cut near her eye and our first double black eye from a climbing/tumble.

We also spent a few nights down at the lake house once we got to Missouri. It was so fun to take Jordan & Willie there. She had fun and we got lots done. Here is what our big girl is up to this month....

Understanding EVERYTHING!

I just can't get over how Jordan has turned into this little mini person who is walking, talking & understanding everything around her. She follows commands i.e. Shut the door, pat the dog, let's go outside. It's so much fun to interact with her in this whole new way.

Signing

I was so excited to start baby sign language with Jordan around 7 months. Needless to say, she didn't really pick it up till this month. All of a sudden she started making the signs for milk, more & done. It's so nice to know what she wants!

Sippy Cup

We had been trying sippy cups with water and milk but Jordan didn't really pick up the sippy cup until this month. She likes a specific kind (handles from the bottom) and it didn't hurt that mom started coaxing her with chocolate & strawberry whole milk to get things moving. The doctor wanted to "fatten" her up - so we are doing our best. Here she is drinking while watching Willie on the dock.

Much better eating

Jordan did start eating much better this month - trying new foods (not just yogurt!) and eating more volume. She still doesn't like to hold onto anything slimy (which I sort of understand).

A whole new DANCE

Jordan took her head bopping skills and moved them to a whole new level this month. We graduated to the knee bop, whole body dance. It started when we were packing and she was imitating us (we are horrible, horrible dancers). But it's pretty cute when she does it!

One Nap

Um, Mom.... 2 Naps are for babi

es. Right around move day, Jordan started refusing her afternoon nap. The strange thing is that she still naps in the morning. Most kids drop the morning or move to a mid day nap. Not Jordan.

Feet

I love Jordan's curiosity and this month is no different. She loves different feeling under her feet (sand, cheerios, grass). She really loves to feel the difference - going from stone to grass. So much fun to see her figure things out - but not so much fun to see her crunching food under her little feet.

A few more fun photos from this month:

Tough baby - goose egg & two black eyes.

Last night in Charleston with the Moses Family

Night out with Justin & Holly

Beach the day after the ED - check out that eye!

Playing with Chloe at Botany Bay on Edisto Island - such a fun day

Best friends

Fun at the aquarium on Father's Day

Willie learns how to dock dive at the lakehouse

Grandma & Grandpa's new horse toy - it was a big hit

{New} Home

Since I recently posted my goodbye love letter to Charleston, I thought I should show some love for our new home - Kansas City. We are settling into our home more and more everyday, meeting neighbors and getting into our routine. The house is amazing and I still pinch myself everyday that it's ours. Everyday Jordan, Willie and I go outside and play - Jordan on her playset and Willie with his frisbee.

We have loved seeing friends and family and looking forward to seeing many more folks in the coming weeks. And yesterday, as I looked around my table on a Thursday and saw my sister-in-law, cousin and her kiddos, my nieces, my mom and daughter - I thought to myself- this is what this move means. Jordan growing up around family.

Doug started his first week of work and is adjusting to his new role and new job. Looking back, I think I should have celebrated and recognized all of these milestones much more. At the time we were so busy with moving, but something that took 26 years of school and study should have been a bit more celebrated. I know that he doesn't mind at all, but I am so proud of his accomplishments.

So now we are back to our old routine. Jordan, Willie and I spending quiet days (trying to avoid the crazy heat) looking forward to when Daddy comes home. Home {Sweet} Home.

Jordan is 8 Months

Valentines Day, Missouri trip, meeting Uncle Aaron & lots of new stuff for Jordan this month. Our little baby keeps proving that sometimes the best things can be found in little packages. Small but mighty - she continues to amaze us with her inquisitive mind and happy personality.

Our little girl had lots of opportunities to work on her socialization this month - we joined the gym at MUSC and Jordan spends time in the nursery while mom goes to yoga class two days a week. It's been a nice break for me and Jordan has done great in the nursery. The first time I came back to pick her up, she looked at me with a bored look and went right back to playing.

I also did a part-time, short-term, nanny job this month to help out a friend. Jordan spent a few weeks with two fantastic kids and I think it really helped her be more social and get into an even better nap schedule.Jordan & Jake

Here is what is going on with our 8 month old sweetness.

Getting Down- Early in the month, Jordan started getting so much better at getting down from standing. She began to understand that she needed to slowly lower herself (opposed to falling flat on her back) This is a great video to showcase this skill and the next...

Cruising - Jordan started cruising along the fireplace when we were at Grandma Ceil's house at the beginning of this month. She is getting better (and faster) everyday - turning corners and even moving from one piece of furniture to the next. She can also pull up on flat surfaces like walls or moving objects like doors.
Tongue Curl - Our new favorite trick - flipping our tongue over. It is sometimes accompanied by a squeal.

Climbing - Doug's mom told me that Doug was a climber and it seems Jordan inherited his proclivity for climbing. Jordan loves to play on our end tables, which have a shelf about 5 inches up. She has also started climbing into her toy basket - yikes!

Eating - Jordan starting feeding herself this month - starting with large rice cakes (Mum Mums) and working her way to Puffs. She is getting better and picking up the small puffs and somehow shoving them into her mouth.

Mom and Dad? (Talking!!)- Last few months with Jordan have been on the quiet side. Usually when she is doing lots of development - she doesn't "talk" as much. This month, we started to hear lots more sounds. She loves when you mimic what she is saying - thanks to Uncle Aaron. We hear a lot of m sounds (mum, mama) especially when she is upset. I have also heard her say more of dada - when she is happy and sort of singing. Not sure I would classify them as words quite yet, but she is getting close.

Waving- This month we have started to work on our waving. Usually saying goodbye to Daddy when he goes to work or Grandparents on the webcam. Some days are better than others - but it's so cute when she gets it! No good picture yet - but here she is holding hands with Willie. Which is just adorable. Other fun stuff this month:

We had a fun play date with Jordan's two cousins - with the little ones wearing their team's outfit. It was so much fun to see them all together and dressed up.

Sleeping - Jordan is currently sleeping 12 hours per night - sometimes getting up once to eat, but go right back to sleep. Towards the end of this month, she was sleeping straight through with no wake ups.

She loves to play Pat-A- Cake - especially with Dad. Her love of music should help out when she starts Kindermusik class next month.

Jordan took her second plane trip this month - back to Missouri with Mom and Dad. She was such a big girl. Even trying to read the safety card.

Jordan got to see her first big snowfall in Missouri this month - and a chance to wear her snowsuit :)
She is such a happy baby and such a blessing to our family. So much fun! See you next month!

KC Fun

The second half of our trip was in Kansas City. We took it a bit easy - we were all worn out. My mom babysat one night so Doug & I could go out to dinner, and we made ourselves at home in her new house. On Friday night, family came over to meet Jordan and say hello. It was so great to see everyone and the highlight was getting all of the cousins together. You might remember this post, where three of us cousins were due to have babies within a few weeks of each other. So fun to get the kiddos together! On Saturday, we had a great day at the Mizzou tailgate and game with my girlfriends and their families. Very successful trip back home - can't wait till the next time.

Jordan's first Missouri game. She loves the Tigers -but could do without the cannon.

With all the girls and kiddos - what a fantastic day!

With Grandma Ceil Four Generations Cousins with baby cousins. They are going to be best friends :) Meeting J for the first time. My sweetums on the plane ride home. People couldn't believe how good she was on the flight!

Showering Baby B - Take 2

The second part of my weekend home was a family/friend shower in Kansas City. Hosted by my three aunts and at my mom's house - it was a great day filled with all my favorite people. One of the most fun parts was seeing my two cousins who are due right before and after me. Our due dates are within 20 days of each other! Additionally, it was so nice of Doug's family to drive in from St. Louis for the shower. We had a great chance to catch up, since they came in on Saturday night and stayed with us at the house.

The shower was so fun and the food was fantastic - check out the adorable cake! Baby B was thoroughly spoiled with cute outfits & baby gadgets and her mom was pretty excited, too. Time with family is always too short - especially when you get to see them so little. Looking forward to the next visit home to introduce Baby B to her great big family.

With my friends Carrie & Becky

3 pregnant cousins- no it wasn't planned :)

With my Aunts

The cousins with our Grandpa John

Opening presents!

Did I mention the crazy snow that weekend? Beautiful view of snow/lake from my mom's deck.

With the Burgess/ St. Louis Crew

With my Mom

Adorable cake!

With the presents & bassinet (from Aaron & Niki)

Showering Baby B - Take 1

I arrived Kansas City on Friday night for my "Shower Weekend"- just in time for the snow to start. My mom picked me up and we made it home through the blizzard-like storm. The next morning we started out early to make it to Columbia for my first shower. It's always so much fun to spend time in Columbia, where I went to school and this shower was at the sorority house where all my friends & I lived during college. So much fun to go back and see all the changes (and the things that are still the same!)

I feel so lucky to have so many girlfriends from college that I am still in touch with. Although I live far away - email, phone, text, emails, blogs and even Facebook- we have managed to stay close all these years. My friends are amazing mothers, wives, women and I continue to be so amazed by them. Best of all, whenever we get together - it's fun fun & chatting nonstop.

My best friends Sara & April hosted the most beautiful shower and it was so much fun to catch of with everyone in such a familiar place. Of course, there were gifts to be opened. Baby girl Burgess is going to be the best dressed little one in Charleston thanks to my friends. They picked out some of the cutest clothes and baby stuff.

Thanks to everyone who was able to make it & drove through the snow to come to the shower. I felt like such a lucky gal and inevitably hated to leave the fun & party to head back home through the snow.

The required bump picture at the shower (in front of all the delicious food!!)

With all the girls

The hostess with the mostess - with April & Sara :)

Third Trimester

28 Weeks!

Just funny...

Officially into my 3rd Trimester this week. Whew! Besides looking like I'm smuggling a basketball around under my shirt (perfect for March Madness) - things are looking normal and I'm feeling great. (Besides the nighttime leg cramps that have decided to pop up this week.)

In other Burgess News, we have put Willie McGee on a diet. The vet says that he has gained three pounds and is slightly over his ideal weight. I think it's pregnancy sympathy weight (he is so sweet!). We have been told that he will gain more weight once the baby is in a high chair, so we are trying to have him shed a few pounds now.

Best of all - I am really looking forward to my trip to Kansas City this weekend to see friends & family! Leaving tomorrow evening - hopefully American Airlines can hook a sister up with an aisle seat :)

Whirwind Wedding Weekend

After my fun family time down at Rockbridge, I picked up Doug from the airport to begin our official wedding weekend. Doug's good friend Pat was getting married in Kansas City and Doug was a groomsman in the wedding.

Friday night was a fun rehearsal dinner down on the Plaza. So fun to catch up with so many friends and even Doug's parents who came in for the event.

Saturday, was fun with lunch with friends and shopping with Mom on the plaza. The wedding was beautiful - Pat and Amy are a great couple and we were so happy to celebrate with them. A fun night, followed by brunch with our parents the next day. A very full few days, but so much fun to see so many friends and family back home. Congrats to Pat & Amy!

Rehearsal Dinner with the entire group

The guys

The girls showing off our dance moves

With my date at the end of the night

Rockbridge Fishing Trip

Our usual lodge

Love this picture of my mom and sister-in-law Niki

The Mill

Aaron reeling in a fish by the dam

My 3.67 lb trout

My family has been going down to Southern Missouri for 19 years for our Annual Fishing Trip. Such a great tradition and I was so happy to make it back this year. By far, our biggest group ever, along with the biggest fish we've ever caught (Grandpa John with an impressive 7+pounder!) With this trip and this group - it just keeps getting better and better. Such a fun time with my big Slayman family - can't wait for #20 next year!