Alex is 5 Months Old Today!!

Alex had his 5 month well-baby visit today at Dr. Bronni's office. We love Dr. Bronni, she is so sweet and helpful. But the important part of the visit was finding out what Alex's 5 month stats are: 20lbs., 27 3/4in. That puts him above the 100th percentile for both weight and height, and proportionaly perfect! To sum up the rest of his appt: he's healthy as a horse! And, (b/c mommies are allowed to do this) I'll repeat the really neat thing Dr. Bronni said about him after testing all his faculties: he is advanced physically and mentally for his age! That's my boy! ok, enough bragging, but I can't help it--I love him!

Two Happy Birthday Wishes!

Happy Birthday Nana! We are looking forward to seeing you at Christmas!



Happy Birthday Grandpa! Didn't get a great pic of Alex with his sign for you, cuz he decided to snack on it!! Oh, well, it's the thought that counts!

Happy Thanksgiving!

This year the Gibson side of our family celebrated Christmas and Thanksgiving together. Nathan and Heather were kind enough to host at their place in Linesville, Iowa. It was a 14 hr. drive for us, but well worth it! We had fun driving around the countryside, eating our Thanksgiving feast, shopping in Kansas City, watching movies, celebrating Dad's birthday, and exchanging Christmas presents. My brother lives in the middle of nowhere, but it sure is pretty out there! We had some great family time, though we forgot to take pictures of most of our activities!! It was so much fun to be together, but since we are all spread out around the nation it doesn't happen as much as we would like. God has blessed us with a wonderful family and much to be thankful for! Hope your Thanksgiving was just as special!

Dining in Style!

This is Aunt Jen again--Alex was playing peek-a-boo with me and we were both having a great time.

Alex was telling me such a story. He loves to talk and I loved listening to him. I love spoiling this child. In a completely unbiased opionion I think this child deserves to be spoiled and who better to spoil him then his Aunt Jen.

Jess here--yes, Aunt Jen is spoiling my boy! This highchair is for Christmas (a little early cuz my side of the family is doing Christmas at Thanksgiving this year!). Let me just put in a good word for this particular high chair if anyone out there is looking for one: it is space efficient (fits on a dining room chair), parent friendly, and fits a baby perfectly cuz it has 3 different seating positions (including reclining)! And it turns into a booster seat for an older child! I was looking for this seat when I registered for my shower, but it wasn't out yet, so I was so excited when Jen got it for him! It's called the Fisher Price Space Saver High Chair. Thanks bunches, Aunt Jen!

Aunt Jen Comes to Visit!!!

This is Aunt Jen writing today--Alex and I are having a lot of fun together. We read some books and watched some baby einstein and played on the computer. What fun a nephew is!!!!

Self-Portraits

Green Beans???

Hey, Mom, what's that green stuff on my spoon?

Wait a minute...you promised these would be yummy!

Toby, I'm not so sure you really want any of this stuff.

Ok...maybe these aren't so bad, after all.

Ok, ok, I really like these gean beans, Mom!

Spit Bubble Fun

Here's some spit bubble pics. This is Alex's latest accomplishment--we told you he is a brilliant child!! He spends lots of time entertaining himself this way, and it's pretty funny to listen to. He does this most often when he's getting sleepy and in the carseat. Having a kid makes even the littlest things in life so much more fun!

Hangin' out with Mom

This whole teething thing turns my child into a different person every three/four days. Three/four days he's my old happy, playful Alex---then three/four days of this new clingy, cries-at-most-anything Alex. Don't get me wrong, I am very compassionate, it's just that the Mr. Hyde version of Alex takes some getting used to!! Anyway, these pics are from a teething day. He did not want to sit and play by himself much, he wanted to be close to me. Thankfully Alex is sitting up with little help but to keep his balance, so I can put him in my lap to do things. He also needs a little more help going to sleep sometimes on Mr. Hyde days, so I get to rock him a bit--which I don't really mind! Thankfully this teething thing is only supposed to last for....2 years???? I hear it gets easier as they get older though, so there's light at the end of that tunnel!!

Just Hear Those Sleighbells Ringin'

This weekend Alex met Santa for the first time! Santa was such a sweet old man, and his beard was real!! Alex was so interested in all the people and things to look at in the mall, that he really didn't pay Santa all that much attention! But Santa told me to enjoy this year while the price tags are cheap--he said Alex wants just some boxes, bows, and ribbon to play with!! Of course this put me in the Christmas mood, so I convinced Ryan to play our usual first Christmas CD of the year: Sleigh Ride by Emile Pandolfi. Christmas is coming, people!

You Put Your Left Foot In...

Lately Alex has been watching his feet a lot. We're not sure that he knows they are his or not, it's more like he thinks they are neat toys! Yesterday morning he was really struggling trying to reach his foot, but couldn't, so Ryan helped him grab hold of it. Of course you know exactly what he did...open mouth, insert foot!! Then of course he made a face that said it didn't taste exactly the way he thought it would!! Maybe feet are more fun to watch than to munch on!!

Aunt Betsy Comes to Visit!

The whole family was excited cuz our old friend Betsy came to town. (she's not old, we've just known each other for...let's see...14 yrs!) We had a great time chatting, sharing pictures, and even going for a stroll--the weather was gorgeous! Alex got to meet his Aunt Betsy and was very charming!! Thanks for driving all this way just to visit with friends, Elisabeth!

Going Buggy

Alex was given some great fall/winter hand-me-downs from Cici that have really been a blessing. This particular hat, though, has been more of a laugh!! Every time we put it on him we have a good chuckle. As Aunt Jenny Herman said, "Alex, I just can't take you seriously when you're wearing that hat!"

Can You Say Teething?

Get Your Own! | View Slideshow

Growing Pains

2 Weeks Old...

4 Months Later...

I swear I am not feeding him Miracle Grow! He is just a healthy growing boy! And no, he's not having growing pains, I am! I've just been realizing a lot lately that my little newborn baby is gone and he's growing into a "big boy"! Excuse my sappiness...but there it is! Oh, well, he will forever be our "little munchkin"!

"I Will Be Free!"

When Alex was born one of the nurses at the hospital taught us how to swaddle him to put him to sleep. He's so used to it now, that he has a hard time sleeping without being swaddled! Mostly because he's so active that he needs his arms and legs tucked in so that he can't wave them around and keep himself awake. Well, now that he's bigger he really enjoys working his way out of his swaddle when he wakes up. In fact it keeps him quite content most times to lay in his bed and wiggle out of that blankie! You can hear him on the monitor making all these little noises as he works on it. Then he plays with his blanket and when you go get him out of bed he seems quite happy with himself! Guess our little guy has a bit of an independent streak!

"No, I'm Not Tired! I Wanna Play!

"Yummm, I love Duck! Tastes like chicken!"

"Uh, oh, Mom, I lost my paci!"

"No, I'm not sleepy..."