Just Because...

His new noise...we can't decode

"It was the tiniest thing I ever decided to put my whole life into."

-Terri Guillemets

3 Years...and counting

Happy Anniversary, Jeremy. Has it been three years already? I can't believe how much has happened in three years...we moved 10 hours away from everything we knew, got new jobs, bought a house and had a baby...whew! I think we are done with excitement for awhile. Why don't we just take it easy and enjoy our little monkey.

I couldn't be more blessed or more honored to be your wife. You are hands down the most wonderful father I could ask for and I fall even more in love with you when I watch you with Leyton. We make a pretty cute kids, by the way.

Here's to many more (years, that is).

Having a baby is like falling in love again, both with your husband and your child.

-- Tina Brown

Got Cheeks?

A week in pictures

Please excuse my absence in blogging. I know you were all waiting with baited breath, however it has been a nutrageous week. Jeremy has been in Chicago so I have been full time mom and full time employee. I figured I would give you an update while my little angel is napping. Although busy, I managed to capture a few shots of the tyke. He had a fun week, here are a few highlights:

Reading a Home Improvemt Magazine with "Aunt" Carolyn who so sweetly came over several times to play with Leyton so I could actually get some work done from home. Looks like he already has some ideas for the patio.

He even agreed to be her page turner. What a guy.

.

A few sit-ups...

and some backbends

seeing double

exercausing

and finally, hanging out with Mom

Child rearing myth #1: Labor ends when the baby is born.
-- Anonymous

Some Vids

Here is a video of his first taste of cereal- which he refuses to eat. This video was caught moments before he started crying. I think it may be a few more weeks before he is ready- many babies aren't ready before 6 months. The dr. told us if all else failed she wasn't completely opposed to trying to give him some in his bottle. So we did. Did he sleep better? Fraid not. He actually woke up more than normal. Oh well, maybe now people will get off our case with the "...if you would just put some cereal in his bottle he would sleep through the night."

Well, we did and he doesn't- Thankyouverymuch.

He is quite fond of the mirror

4 MONTHS!

This has been such a big month with many changes. He does something new everyday and I can't keep up. He is the light of our life and brings immeasurable joy to each day. 

A few things I am doing now:

• Rolling over (front to back)

• gabbing, gabbing, and gabbing some more

• smiling and giggling (my favorite sound)

• when I get really excited I squeal like a little girl

• I can hold his bottle for about 30 seconds before it ends up in my nose

• I am so curious about the world around me and love observing and soaking in all I can.

• I can keep my head level with my body when being pulled upright (and have been able to for awhile)

• I love the mirror and giggle when I see myself in it (this is a new thing, he used to hate it.)

• I love my evening walks in the carrier with mom and dad.

• I love "standing" and can bear most of my weight on my legs.

• Sit ups-no joke- when laying on my back I pull my head to my chest as if trying to sit up and grunt, my shoulders even come up off the floor. I have abs of baby steel. (The nurse was cracking up at this today- he wouldn't lay his head down for her to measure him.)

• I can grab whatever you put in front of me and the first thing I usually do is bring it to my mouth. My favorite thing to grab (besides mommy's hair) is mommy's fingers. I grab her finger with both hands and bring it to my chest and hold it there (sigh). Sometimes when I am sleepy I like to touch her face.

• I can now grab the handle of my mobile toy and pull on it to play music. I know this may not be a big deal to most, but to see an infant with absolutely no control be able to purposefuly reach and touch things is amazing.

• Bath time is my favorite and I am now trying to "catch" the water.

In case you were wondering...

16 lbs 10 oz (75%)

26 inches (60%)Doc said he is growing beautifully!

Hair: poor thing is losing his luscious newborn hair...except in the back at the bottom it is still as thick as the day he was born. He is sporting a Friar Tuck look. Ridiculous. Not to fear though- the doc said this is totally normal and his real hair will grow in soon.

Eyes: The jury is still out on this one although I think he will have doo doo browns like his dad. Somedays they look green though.

Carseat situation:He has gotten SO much better and is actually becoming a joy to travel with...as long as one of us is in the backseat to entertain. He hasn't pitched a hissy in the car in over a month. Except for one day when Jeremy had him in there by himself. Oh well...one thing at a time. The stroller situation has also improved. We started putting him in the bottom part without him being in the carseat. That way he can see everything and is actually traveling forward the way traveling is intended to be.

Sleep: A work in progress. I'm obsessed with it, and I may write a book on it at a later date and time. We are starting him on cereal tonight- the doc said it may or may not help. She said the problem is most likely his sleep associations though.

Teething: Doc confirmed our suspicions. 100% teething.

I have been reprimanded by some family members who shall remain nameless over my lack of videos. I have some coming soon. For now a few pics will have to do.

My chubby legs hold me up pretty well

Baby yoga. Namaste

Kristen: I stole the following pics from your blog. Please don't sue me for copyright infringement. I couldn't help it :)

I know you want to jump through the computer screen and gnaw on those cheeks.

Babies control and bring up their families as much as they are controlled by them; in fact ... the family brings up baby by being brought up by him.

-- Erik H. Erikson

Easter Sunday

What a beautiful day to celebrate the Resurrection! Church was great and little sugar muffin behaved himself yet again! He was a little overwhelmed when we first walked in and a little squirmy in the beginning, but he fell asleep through the sermon and woke up happy as a peach. He even flashed a big goofy grin to two unknowing strangers on the way out. 

Here he is decked out in his first Easter outfit (thanks to Jeremy's Aunt Carolyn). Jeremy was so embarrassed by this "bonnet" that I was only allowed to put it on him for pictures. 

COMING TOMORROW: 4 month update

Leyton-Cottontail

Surely, he will hate me for these one day. Oh well. Happy Easter to all.

Thank you Aunt Heather and Uncle Trey for the outfit!

"I don't know why they say you have a baby. The baby has you."

-Gallagher

Happy Birthday, Gran!

You don't look a day over 35...and much too good lookin' to be a grandma.

Leyton wanted to tell you happy birthday with the following video:

he also wanted to share the following pictures of his precious self:

my oversized cap

and THAT is a Nan White face if I have ever seen one

please, pretty please have a good birthday, Gran! 

If your baby is "beautiful and perfect, never cries or fusses, sleeps on schedule and burps on demand, an angel all the time," you're the grandma."

-- Theresa Bloomingdale

Build me a Son...

Build me a son, O Lord, who will be strong enough to know when he is weak, and brave enough to face himself when he is afraid; one who will be proud and unbending in honest defeat, and humble and gentle in victory.

Build me a son whose wishbone will not be where his backbone should be; a son who will know Thee and that to know himself is the foundation stone of knowledge. Lead him, I pray, not in the path of ease and comfort, but under the stress and spur of difficulties and challenge. Here let him learn to stand up in the storm; here let him learn compassion for those who fail.

Build me a son whose heart will be clean, whose goal will be high; a son who will master himself before he seeks to master other men; one who will learn to laugh, yet never forget how to weep; one who will reach into the future, yet never forget the past.

And after all these things are his, add, I pray, enough of a sense of humor, so that he may always be serious, yet never take himself too seriously. Give him humility, so that he may always remember the simplicity of greatness, the open mind of true wisdom, the meekness of true strength. 

Then I, his father, will dare to whisper, "I have not lived in vain."

-General Douglas MacArthur

Lazy Saturday...

"You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in Your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed."

 Psalm 139:16

Raise Your Hand if you Tooted...

It is the nature of babies to be in bliss.

-- Deepak Chopra

Happy April Fools Day, Dear ol' Dad

Dear Dad,

I know you are reading this. Today I WILL NOT fall for any of your tricks. Do not even think about trying to prank me today like in every year past. I know you are already cooking up something good, but this year, I WILL NOT  be so gullible as to believe that you were attacked by a bobcat, joining the rodeo, or making me a 26 year old big sister (not funny by the way). 

Love ya lots,

Nan

This is his real hair, fyi.