What A Year!

It is hard to believe that it has been a year since we found out we were pregnant with Michael! In the midst of being pregnant, being mom and wife, school and life...it seemed to take forever for him to arrive. But now looking back it has really flown by - and he's already almost 5 months old! Wow!!


Happy Birthday, Wesley!

In addition to our discovery last January came the arrival of our beautiful and silly nephew, Wesley. It is hard to believe that he is already a year old...yet it seems like he has been in the family forever; I am sure none of us can remember life before Wes!
In honor of his first birthday his momma and Yaya put on a wonderful football themed party for him. We enjoyed soups and the company of good friends. Here are a couple of pictures from before the party got underway (unfortunately I am a bad aunt and did not get pictures during the party. I will try to get Alison to send me some to post).

We spent the night before the party at Yaya's house to prepare. The morning of the party the little boys woke about the same time. Here they are, anxiously awaiting breakfast!



















After breakfast, Wesley opened his presents from us. We got him some very cute outfits (that we will recycle for Michael in a few months!) Here is Wesley, daddy and Maria opening his presents.













And here is the birthday boy!








It was a fun party. I think Wesley really enjoyed it and he got some wonderful gifts. Michael really wanted to crawl around and play with the big kids...he was so interested in them! Sheniah had a good time too. Fortunately there were a couple of older kids there for her to play with so she didn't get too "babied" out!

Basketball and Report Card

Sheniah is still playing basketball and loving it! Last week at her game she finally made a basket during a game. It was so exciting and I was so overcome with pride that despite Michael being soundly asleep in my arms I jumped up and started shouting and jumping up and down. Now, looking back, it was quite embarrassing (haha) but so worth it! It was no wonder that Michael woke up and didn't go back to sleep for the rest of the game! At this weeks game she made another basket! I am so proud of her. She is really getting into the game and getting more aggressive and taking more shots...she is doing great!



Unfortunately, we have discovered that it is very difficult to get pictures of her during the game. Here is David's best effort from the other night. It is really dark and impossible to see her! But, she is hustling down the court...grinning from ear to ear because she had just made the basket!

Hopefully we can figure out how to post videos as that will make posting basketball stuff easier and more interesting!

Finally, last night Sheniah brought hom her report card. She made all A's! I am so proud of her...she is a genius! She has been working very hard in middle school and is truly enjoying it. Not only is it great that she made all A's, and great that she made A's in her advanced math and English classes...but she made 100% in science - that is incredible!

Pigging Out!

Michael is still quite a piglet! We took him to the cardiologist on the 25th and he weighed 14# (yep, that's right...in 8 days he gained 12 ounces!). Everything looked great at the cardiologist appointment...they will just be checking him every couple of years for any changes. He was so good at the appointment, too. He was a bit squirmy for the ECG but he didn't cry when we had to remove all the electrodes. Then, during the echocardiogram he fell asleep! He was even snoring at one point!



At this point Michael is still eating a lot of cereal and I have introduced bananas, applesauce, carrots, pears and squash. He loves all of it...though sometimes the pears and applesauce are a bit tart at which point he makes the funniest faces - squinting up his eyes and puckering his lips! Here are some eating pics.












This is the first bite of carrots. He was not sure how he felt about them, then...












he realized he loves them!










Tummy Time...

Michael and I practice tummy time every day, trying to get him strong enough to start crawling. I know we still have some time before that happens (he is still only able to roll from tummy to back - though he is VERY close to going from back to tummy). The other morning David was playing with him on the floor, too...Michael really enjoyed that a lot.



Here he is trying so hard to crawl to get his stuffed frog.















It is hard work...but so much fun!














And here he is trying to get the little sports balls. This is the cutest thing...a wonderful gift from Joey and Talmadge...it is a little bag that says "My First Sports Bag" and then inside are a football, basketball, soccer ball and baseball!









Here he is holding his sports bag...look at the shirt! How cute is that!?!?!?










The Pout...

We are cruel parents! When Michael is tired he can still be driven to pout at things that never bother him. After the last pouting episode, he realized that the "moo" was coming from daddy, so then it was funny, not scary. However, the other day he was tired and daddy "moooo"ed, and Michael lost it. It was like the paparazzi had invaded our home with all the snapping I was doing to capture it! And I just kept encouraging David to moo more and more so I could get some pictures...yes, we are very cruel! But...look at these shots! They are so cute (in a somewhat sad and cruel way!)





"Did you just mooooo??? I don't know how I feel about that..."













"I'm pretty tired, but I don't think I felt good about it..."













"I'm getting a bit more disturbed by the moo..."














"That's it...I don't like it at all...can you put down the camera and rescue me?!?!?!"


This was followed by a scream that was followed by crocodile tears and parental feelings of guilt (and yet, we were giggling still!!!) Poor little man!




Catching Air...
Michael really loves his Johnny Jumper. He will jump in it all day long, and often gets upset if I try to take him out of it before he is done playing. Here are some shots from this morning.



Just getting warmed up...


















Get ready, get set....












LEAP!!! It is nearly impossible, but I was able to get this shot of him catching some air!












Despite his best growing efforts, though...he is still about an inch too short to fully enjoy his walker. He just hangs in it...not really sure what to do.

Soon enough he will be tearing around the house, chasing the cats and pestering his big sister, I'm sure!

Family Times

Michael and Sheniah are in love! They are so cute together - they appreciate and enjoy each other more and more every day. It is wonderful to see the two of them spend time together and interact. Sheniah loves making Michael laugh...and she is such a big help with him. I don't know how I would get anything done without her help.
Here are the two of them bonding!




















Michael also loves his Bumbo seat. He loves sitting up like a big boy and playing with his toys.


















Visiting Popou...
Later that day we went to Albemarle. We took Michael by the cemetary for the first time to visit his Popou. It was a special moment, though difficult. I know it meant a lot to David to have the special time with Michael and tell him about what a wonderful man his Popou was and how he'll always be with Michael, watching over him and loving him as he does us all.


















It is fun to get all the kids together. Sheniah is so good with the little ones, and Maria just idolizes her! Michael is becoming more aware of Wesley and Maria. This visit you could just see him dying to get down on the floor and play with them. I know it is only a matter of time until he will be rolling around, playing like crazy.


















After all the play Michael was worn out...and so was Yaya! They decided to take a nap together.

















Happy Fall!!!

I know it is not fall anymore, but since David has been working so much he has not had the time to devote to our yard as he had in the past. Now, with winter halfway through he finally took a couple of hours the other morning to get all the leaves out of the yard. There was a ton of them! Michael and I decided to suit up and try to help...well, we actually just posed for some pictures!

















This little suit is so cute...he looks like a little teddy bear!





After "helping" daddy...Michael played with a new toy that was a Christmas present from Yaya...he really loves it.
















Youngest Walker Ever...

No...he is not walking yet! But Michael is really yearning to walk. One of his favorite things to do is to "chase" the cats around the house. This is accomplished by my making sure he doesn't lose his balance as he independently holds up all his weight and steps with each foot, one at a time, completely on his own. It is hard to explain...but it is soooo cute! Anyway, after this taking its toll on my back for several days (I now understand why 4 month olds don't walk because they are so short it is killer on momma's back!) I decided to buy him a walker. Unfortunately, his little legs are about two inches too short! After contemplating strapping wood blocks to the bottom of his feet (yes, I am serious...remember we are the ones who put our 6 week old in a pumpkin!!!) I gave up. Then, I spoke to a very smart person (who happens to be my momma) and she suggested I break out the "Johnny Jumper". I did, and Michael absolutely loves it! I got one picture of it - but this is something that is much more enjoyable to view via video! David is going to work on posting videos (how exciting that will be)...but until then the still shots will have to do!




Look at that muscular calf! His daddy would be so proud of that! haha











"Chubs"...

A new nickname given to Michael by his daddy! This was earned after I took him back to the Dr's on the 17th. He has had a persistent runny nose and some congestion so I was getting concerned about an underlying issue. Sure enough, he had a bit of reddness and irritation starting in his right ear. The Dr said it was not infected, yet, but it looked as though it was trying to get there. So he is now on antibiotics to prevent an infection.
Anyway, the nickname was given because at that appointment (I'll just remind everyone that at his 4 month checkup on Jan. 8 he weighed 12#11oz) he weighed 13#4oz. Plus, he is eating cereal like crazy (1/2 cup cereal with 2 oz milk 3 times a day) and I finally introduced bananas tonight after dinner as he was still hungry! Yep - he's making up for his slow start and turning into quite a little piglet!
That night he had a wonderful time playing with Sheniah and her good friend Courtney. He really enjoys the girls so much! And I think they kind of dig him too (do people even say "dig" anymore? I am such a dork!)! Sheniah got this cute picture of him playing in his exersaucer...







Then it was time for a nap...















Granimal's stuffed animal...

One of the many adorable gifts we have gotten for Michael is a pillow that looks like a giraffe from my mom. Well, the other day Michael noticed it on the ottoman in his bedroom (where it has lived for the last month). He was "walking" around his bedroom, stopped when he saw it, got very excited and started stomping his feet. Then he regained his composure enough to walk over to it.
Once I realized what was going on (I can be a bit slow sometimes!) I put it on the floor. Michael tackled it, and I got the following images...

I think he likes it!

Growing Boy!

Rolling Over!!!

Michael has been rolling over now for quite some time - however, he has been somewhat shy about sharing his talent with us! When he would wake from his naps I would go into his room to find him on his back (yes, we put him to bed on his tummy). I would try and try to get him to do it while I watched him and he just wouldn't. Finally, on January 3rd he truly mastered this skill and was proudly showing it off. We were able to catch the sequence of events on camera a few days later...







First we lay him on his tummy...















and he is happy...maybe a bit unsure...















then he starts to work...and get a bit frustrated!














After a little more frustration, and one final kick...














OVER he goes! (great action shot!!!)














He still seems a bit shocked and amazed when it is all done and there he lays, looking up at us!

It is so cute and so exciting to see him learning and mastering new tricks!









After all the rolling over and playing, it was time to get ready for bed. Michael got a bedtime story from Daddy!














He really enjoyed the story and payed attention while David read it to him 3 times!






4 Month Check-Up...

It's hard to believe that Michael is already 4 months old! He is getting so big and developing such a wonderful little personality. He cracks up all the time - which is so much fun. He also can be quite shy and seems to have a bit of "stranger danger" from time to time where he will pout and let out a big scream.
Yesterday he had his 4 month check-up at the Dr's. He weighed 12lbs 11oz. He is 23 1/4" tall and his head circumference is 42 1/4cm. The Dr. said he is right on track (he is still a little guy, but growing well) and he was pleased with his physical and emotional development. Michael was in such a great mood...talking and cooing at the nurse and Dr. Then, they came and stabbed him 3 times (it was his vaccinations - but he looked at them and me like "Why'd you stab me????") It was so sad!
The Dr. also said that Michael was old enough to start trying out solid foods! So yesterday he had his first taste of cereal...here are some pictures of his first spoon feeding of cereal (well, at this point it is still 99% milk and 1% cereal...but still...it was exciting!)





The first bite!


















The reaction to the first bite!





















Getting "soup" from Daddy. Michael was quite happy with this situation...as you may be able to tell from the little smile on his face!










Unfortunately, Michael developed a fever from his vaccinations (which I know is normal, but it is still upsetting to me!) He has been quite crabby and not feeling well since yesterday afternoon. We were able to catch a cute image of him napping today, though...since he is so pooped from the shots.





His little bottom is always up in the air like that when he sleeps! It is so cute!