A look into our world

Mommy just realized that we haven't updated you on my sleeping patterns these last few days. Well, after the good sleep-through-the-night night early in the week, I kept going pretty good. I woke up at 4:00am a few days and 5:00 one day (going back to sleep after eating). The night before last night I slept from 8:30pm to 6:00am! Mommy loved that one. Things were going really great until last night. Mommy's not sure what happened cause I woke her up at 3:15 and again at 5:15. She wasn't very excited about it. She told me it's a good thing I'm so cute cause this getting up 2 times in the night thing sure is the pits! She's hoping it was just a fluke and I will go back to sleeping through most of the night anyways. We'll see!

Here are some more pictures of me smiling! Sometimes I like to ham it up real big, like in the second picture. Mommy thinks I'm so cute!

The other day I was playing on my hippo mat while Mommy was getting herself some breakfast. This is how I started out playing, and then Mommy heard a big jingle from the toys so she came to investigate.... And this is what she found! I had kicked the arch down and turned myself sideways. She's not sure how I got sideways and wished she could've witnessed the "playing". Grandma keeps saying that Mommy and Daddy are going to have to watch out cause I'm going to be all over the place!

Some of these pictures are blurry, but they were so cute that Mommy thought we should post them. If you click on the picture, it will make it big so you can see it a little better. This week I have started smiling very big and very often. I sure like smiling! Once I get going, I'm pretty funny. At least Mommy, Grandma and Grandpa think so! Mommy keeps saying, "your Daddy is going to love these smiles!" I can't wait to see him again so I can smile so big at him! He will love it. I miss you, Daddy! Can't wait to see you in 3 days!

Mommy told you earlier that there would be more pictures of me playing on my hippo mat...well here they are! I really like using my legs to play on my hippo mat. This is the progression that I did over and over and over again...

First I started out laying there looking at the toys.

Then I pulled my legs up...

really really far so that my feet would hit the toys...

and then after I hit the toys with them, I threw my legs over to the side of the arch. Sometimes I could get them back down, but sometimes I got stuck and Mommy had to help me. What a fun time I had playing on that hippo mat!

Here I am taking a nap in my swing. The special thing you can't see in this picture is that I am listening to my Dad sing on his Christmas CD. Mommy doesn't really care that it isn't Christmas time; I really like listening to my Dad sing, so she plays the CD for me! Here I am earlier in the week smiling at Mommy. I started smiling the week before I came to Colorado, but this week I have become quite the smiler! When people look at me and smile, I like to smile real big back at them. My favorite time to smile is right after I have eaten. Isn't everybody happy after a meal?!
And here I am snoozing outside in the evening in my swing. I just love being outside!

Well, blogger is finally letting us put some pictures on our blog! Mommy thinks we kept trying at busy blogger times and that's why it wasn't working. So much has gone on in the last week...I'm going to have to post lots and lots of pictures to update you.

This is me playing on my neat hippo mat that Grandma got me for when I come to her and Grandpa's house. This was early in the week, and since then I have figured out all kinds of fun ways to play on the hippo...more of that to come! And here I am having some tummy time. I'm still not grabbing toys on purpose, but Mommy thinks I might be getting close. I'm starting to become more intentional in my playing!
Last Friday, Mommy and I went with Grandma to her prayer group lunch. These are special ladies that Grandma has prayed with since Mommy was a little girl. They have prayed lots and lots for me, even before I was born! They loved meeting me and holding me and talking to me. It was a special time!

Mommy wanted me to let everyone know that we've been trying to post pictures last night and this morning, and for some reason blogger is not working. We will keep trying...stay tuned!

Yep, you read it right...last night I slept all night long! Mommy put me down to bed for good at about 9:30, and we didn't get up again until 7:15 this morning. Mommy woke up at 4:00 and then 5-something, and then 6-something...she couldn't believe what was happening. She was very excited! Maybe it was because today I am 2 months old. Can you believe it? I'm getting so old. Mommy wonders if I'm going to sleep all night again tonight...she's not being too hopeful. I haven't decided if I'll want a midnight snack or not. We'll see. I'll make sure to let you know tomorrow!

Grandpa Jere thought I should have some soothing entertainment while I'm here visiting him and Grandma Lou in Colorado, so he got me a swing! Here he is putting it together...
and here I am hanging out on the chair while Mommy and Grandpa are putting my new swing together...
and here I am in the swing! Sometimes swings are so nice and soothing that they put me right to sleep.
And this is me enjoying the swing this morning. Mommy says it's so nice and convenient to be able to put me in the swing while she does some stuff she needs to do. I tried to tell her she doesn't need to take a shower; she can just hold me all the time. For some reason, she didn't really agree with me. Oh well, I don't mind, cause I like to swing! Papa and M'Laine got me the swing that I have at my house, so I learned how to swing when I was just a little guy. Swings are just great - they are a perfect place to check out all the interesting things around, and they are a great place to snooze when you need a nap. Thank you Grandpa Jere for my new swing...I sure love it!

Here I am with my Grandpa Jere on the deck enjoying the nice weather. I sure love being outside - it's my favorite! At home whenever I get fussy, all Mommy and Dad have to do is take me outside to our porch swing and everything is better. It pretty much works the same way here in Colorado. Everyone has decided that I just plain old love being outside. It's so fresh!

And here I am napping on the chair with my "I love Daddy" bib on in honor of my Dad who is on a trip far, far away. I sure miss you, Daddy. I love you and can't wait to see you and snuggle with you and smile at you again!

On Tuesday I went to the Dr. for my 8 week checkup. Everything was going great; they weighed me, checked my height and my head size, the Dr. checked me all out and said I'm doing great....then things went downhill from there. I had to get shots. 3 of them. I didn't really like them so much. Actually, I cried really hard. Mommy said that I cried harder than I ever have in my whole life. The instant the needle went into my leg, Mommy said that it was the kind of cry where I stopped breathing I was crying so hard. Mommy and Daddy were very sad for me. They stood by my head and kissed me and told me everything was going to be okay, but it still hurt really bad. The nice nurse did my 3 shots really quick and then Mommy scooped me up and held me to calm me down. I was very pitiful. I guess the only good thing about it all was that I got these cool bandaids to wear on my legs!

Well, I guess you're wondering how much I weigh and how tall I am. I am now 13 lbs. 10 oz. and 24 inches long! Those are both in the 90th percentile. Everyone says I'm a pretty big boy. Mommy wonders how I'm growing so good because I spit up all the time. The Dr. says not to worry about it because I'm obviously getting enough nutrition!

A few hours later, Daddy took Mommy and me to the airport for my very first flight! Mommy and I flew to Colorado to visit Grandma Lou and Grandpa Jere, and we're having a great time. I was a very good boy on the airplane. We were so lucky because we had the only empty seat in the whole plane next to us. So Mommy and I got our own row. We spread out a little bit and had a little more privacy, which Mommy appreciated. I didn't cry at all on the plane, which Mommy was also very thankful for. So, all in all, we had a good trip. Mommy says she is looking forward to having Dad travel with us next time. Thank you to everyone who prayed for our safe and smooth travels! Mommy says to please keep praying for our trip back home.

Yesterday Dad lead worship in church. Mommy and I went and sat in the back in case I made noises. It was a great service! I did so good. I started out awake and then the music put me to sleep like usual. I stayed asleep the whole entire service! Mommy didn't even have to get up once. She was so proud of me. They did some baby dedications in church, and Mommy said we get to do that in November! Yesterday Dad sang to all the babies, and Mommy said that Mickey will sing to me since Dad will want to be standing with Mommy and me. It sounds like so much fun! I can't wait til November. This picture is of me right after we got home from church. I think soon I'll get to go to my very own class with some other babies! I wonder what that will be like? I'll let you know as soon as I find out.

Well, I don't think we've told you the exciting news yet. I've been smiling! Mom and Dad say it's hard to catch it with the camera, but they got the tail end of one with this picture. At least it gives you a little glimpse. There will be more to come! Here I am snuggling with Mommy on the couch. She thinks I'm so sweet when I'm sleeping. I wonder why when I'm sleeping?? Hmm. I'll have to ask her about that one.
Lately Mommy and Daddy have been catching me smacking on my hand. One day Mommy heard that noise in my pack 'n' play, and she thought to herself, "I didn't give him a pacifier..." When she came to see, I was sucking away on my hand. I've done this a few times since, and Mommy caught me doing it while I was snuggling with Dad. It looks like I'm sucking my thumb here, but really my thumb is in my fist, and I'm just sucking on the outside of it. Mommy wonders if I am going to start sucking my thumb? I'm not sure yet...I'll let you know what I decide!

Here is a picture of Bella after she got home from the groomers. They put pretty purple bows in her hair, and Mommy said she looks like a "Princess Bella." Dad called her P.B. for short. Then she got annoyed with the bows, so we took them out. I don't think I would like bows in my hair either. Good thing I'm a boy!

This is from the 4th of July at our potluck at Jeff and Kara's house. We had so much fun with all our friends, and I was really good for all the people who wanted to hold me. The only thing is that my best friend Hudson still isn't here for me to play with yet. Mommy says it's still going to be a few more weeks. It's getting hard to be patient. Hurry up and come see us soon, Hudson! This is me in the cool shirt that my friend Kevie got me in Orlando. Don't I look like such a big boy?
This is me in my swing. I always start out awake in there, and then sometimes when Mommy comes to check on me, this is what I look like. It's just so nice and comfy in there!

These are Mommy's handsome guys. Dad officiated his first wedding this past Sunday evening, and he did such a great job! This is us all dressed up for the wedding. I don't really have any "dress up" clothes for this age, so Mommy thought navy shorts and a nice sailboat polo shirt would be great. It was an outside wedding and it sure was pretty! I did great and slept through most of it. It just feels so nice outside...how can you not sleep? :)

Here I am having playtime on my fun mat with the hangy toys. I really enjoyed grabbing the parrott's tail feathers quite a bit and had a great time swinging my arms and legs around! It was a very fun time...I hope we get to do that again soon!
Wow, guess what?? We have a dog! Mommy said she already told me all about Bella, and Bella has been laying by me and giving me kisses ever since I was born. I guess I wasn't really paying attention, because yesterday I just noticed her for the first time! I looked at her for a long time while I was having my tummy-time. She was much more interesting than the toys Mommy laid out in front of me. Why does anyone need toys when you have a buddy like Bella around to look at? Sometimes when I'm laying in Mommy's lap and Bella is laying next to us, I flail my arms around really big and knock Bella in the mouth a few times. She thinks my hand is playing with her, so her tail starts wagging and she tries to "get" my hand. Mommy has to let her know that she knows it seems like I'm trying to play with her, but my hand really isn't for "getting" yet. Poor Bella. She just wants to play so bad! Don't worry, Bella, I'll hurry up and get big so I can play with you!

Well, since it's been a few days since we've last blogged, we thought we'd just post some pictures from the past few days.


Here I am having some more tummy-time. You can see how well I'm doing holding my head up! Bella likes to hang out with me during tummy-time too.

After tummy-time was over, Bella thought that the blanket was for her. Mommy thought it was so cute, she left the blanket on the floor for a few days for Bella to lie on. Anytime one of my blankets is on the floor, Bella lays on it. She likes anything that has to do with me! *(Mommy would like me to note here that she doesn't remember from grammar class when to use "lay" vs. "lie", etc. so please pardon us if we used poor grammar here.)*

Here I am in my robe after my bath a few nights ago. I had such a great bath and really enjoyed it...the last 2 times! Mommy finally figured out the water temperature, and so now I like baths all the way through. She was worried the water would be too hot, but I sure liked it.
Here I am talking to Mr. Lion on my changing table. He and I like to have conversations every now and again. He keeps me company while I'm getting my diaper and clothes changed.
This is my favorite blanket from Ami. She was my Uncle James' 1st grade teacher (that was a lot of years ago), and she and my Grandma Lou have been friends ever since. She made me this blanket, and I love it because it is so soft. I wish you could feel how soft it is. It is my very favorite blanket, and it puts me right to sleep. Thank you, Ami, for making me this special blanket!
And here I am having some play time in my pack 'n' play. I've got my wristband rattles on and some bright toys for me to look at. I sure like being in there...I play in there on my back, and sometimes I have tummy-time in there, and I have naps in there a lot during the day. It's one of my favorite spots!

Today is the 4th of July, and I just happen to be 6 weeks old today! Wow, has time flown by. I'm working really hard on my smiles, and everyone thinks I'm getting somewhere...you can see in the last picture of this post that I'm workin' on it!

This weekend my Papa was in town along with my Aunt Shannon and Uncle Tony. We had a great time with all the family, and we were very sad that M'Laine couldn't be here. We missed you!! Please come see us next time!

Here are some pictures from the weekend:

This is Papa and all the Grandkids...there used to be only girls until I came along! I thought there needed to be another boy in the family. Here I am enjoying the breeze in the shade at the waterpark. Boy, did I love being outside!
This is Papa testing out my tolerance for cold water...and I am saying "I don't like that cold water, Papa!" Mommy and everyone all thought it was pretty funny...I'm not sure what was so funny about it.

Here I am with Uncle Tony's hat on. Camo and the Hogs...what a combo! Everyone seems to think that Mommy wouldn't dress me in camo for some reason. Well, even though it's not really her style, she says this picture is living proof that she's a little more laid back than you thought!
And here I am working on my smile! Getting closer...what do you think?

This is my cousin Payton showing me the cow hanging from my carseat. Here I am looking at Mommy while she is changing my diaper.
This is my Aunt Shannon cuddling me at the pool.
This is me on my changing table...wow, what a looker I am!
Maxin' and relaxin' in Papa's arms at the pool.