Future Kicker?

Well, we had our 7 Month check-up today which consisted of 2 immunizations, a regular check-up, and stitches removed...not your average check-up! Here's the boy's stats: 23lbs & 30 in. He's still in the 100th percentile for height, but down to the 95th percentile for weight, slimming out just a little. He checks out healthy as a horse and his finger looks really good now that the stitches are out. Still have to keep that sock on for a few days until its completely healed. We had a good laugh over this picture--it's not just a good catch of Alex kicking, oh no, he will sit in that chair with one of his legs up in the air for a long time! Just stretching??? Warming up for his football career?? We're not sure, but it makes for a comical photo. Tomorrow Alex & I are headed to SC for a week, we hear it's chilly down there so it better warm up before we get there! If you think of us, pray for our plane ride--with an active 7 month old it could be a very successful flight, or.......:-)

7 Months Old & Never Sits Still

And just as I snap the picture...he looks down...
Or he does his kamikazee side lunge...
Or he scoots down...
Or he bottoms up...

Then, finally, we get a smile!

New Stuff and Updates

The newest game around our house is the gravity game! Alex seems to enjoy the sound of things hitting the floor. The sippy cup, when he's finished drinking, always makes it to the floor, and Ryan even found the pacifier on the floor next to the crib yesterday!
This is the smile we've been getting lately, the double-chin look. He'll watch one of us until he catches our eye, and then give this smile with his little chin all tucked in! It me up!

Update on the hand: his stitches look great! Very clean job by the doc, no redness or swelling at all. He gets them out on Wednesday, that will be fun.

Update on our SC trip: many of you know that Alex and I were supposed to be in SC from yesterday until Tuesday. Well, I spent many an hour inspecting the inside of the toilet bowl Wednesday night and early Thursday morning! I must have caught some kind of flu bug and was much too weak to attempt a flight to SC. So we rescheduled for next weekend. I'm feeling much better today. I've eaten oatmeal and it stayed down!! I've lost 5 pounds, though I wouldn't recommend this weight loss program to anyone! Anyway, we are looking forward to our visit down south, and will have lots of pics to post when we get back!

And So Begin Alex's Adventures!

My son is only 6 months old and he already has 2 stitches!! When I woke up yesterday morning I never dreamed I'd end the day in the ER! Here's the story: I was sitting right next to him, yes, right next to him, and he grabbed the front of the filing cabinet and pulled--I had no idea the thing had a sharp edge. Well, all of the sudden he was screaming. He cut his finger on the inside of his left index. So I called the pediatrician and they said to take him in to the ER to check and see if he needed stitches. Praise the Lord he fell asleep on the way there, cuz he didn't sleep again for the next 4 hours! It wasn't pretty--the stitching up, I mean. He was a champ, but the crying and screaming was a mixture of pain and anger, for sure! When it was over I gave him a bottle--you can always calm a man down through his stomache, right?--and then he started "talking" up a storm! Was he telling me his side of the story, or telling me off? I'm still not sure! Ryan met me there and we got him home as soon as we could! He did great last night, thanks to the help of our good friend, Mr. Motrin. The doc said to keep it completely dry for the next 48hrs--impossible as everything goes in his mouth, hands especially--so we put a sock on his hand over the bandage. He's happy now, you wouldn't even know he had his first major catastrophe last night. The Lord was good to us, we had a great doc, Alex slept well, and we can do our follow-up with our regular pediatrician! Ahhhhhh, sigh of relief, it's a new day! And so begin Alex's Adventures!!

Football Fanatic?

Alex was a bit disappointed in the football games we watched this past weekend. Disappointed that the Bears won--sorry Auntie Brenda! And disappointed that New England lost--sorry Jen Larson, no offence to the Colts, but I'm a Patriot fan!! Is he a football fanatic yet?? His dad says yes, & I enjoy watching him and Alex snuggled up on the couch in front of a good game!

He Likes Blondes!

This weekend we drove up to see Jason, Jill, and Madison Gamet. It was a really fun visit with them, catching up on the last two years and meeting their new little girl! We took a quick photo shoot of our two little ones and it was pretty comical. They were really interested in each other, only looking at the adults when one of the cameras flashed. No, Alex didn't really lean in for that smooch...he just did one of his legendary kamikaze head-dives right into the poor little thing! She took it quite well, didn't even cry! It was fun thinking about how we used to mess around in college, never dreaming of the day we would be having dinner together with our babies!!

Funny Faces

This face usually comes right before some major spit bubble action!

This is the new face that often accompanies the "ah-ya-da-da-da-da-da" sound! He really is happy in this picture, honestly!!

Bedtime Stories or Theological Discussions??

Here's a pic of Daddy sharing one of his favorite things with his son: a good book! (Nana & Papa may recognize this book as the Creation Bible they gave Alex for Christmas) Of course, since my husband simply can't help himself, after the book was finished I heard him say to my 6 month old, "Ok, now let's see how many dispensations we can find described in this book!" And, since Alex was just talking away with him, it was funny how it seemed as though they were having a very serious theological discussion!

Cold Weather?? Bring it On!

Noisy, Busy Boy!

Photo Sharing - Upload Video - Video Sharing - Share Photos
So, let me warn you that this video is kind of long! Alex proceeds to play with every toy on that excersaucer before he will give me a smile! The things I noticed in this video were how strong he is--he pushes and pulls himself all over the place, and how he never sits still for more than a second! Once again, the sound is a little off from the picture-sorry bout that! (you may have to hit the play button twice to get it to work)

Belated Christmas Picture

I forgot to post our Christmas pic and I love it!

The Three Little Amigos

Uncle Ryan, can I play in Alex's chair?
See Mom, I fit!
How come Josh gets Cheerios and I have to eat sweet potatoes?
Whoa, this place is crazy!!
The Hermans, Andrews, and Davis's came over last night after the church potluck and afternoon praise service. We had a full house, but lots of fun! The kids were champs after a long day: Alex enjoyed "talking" to everybody, Josh gobbled oh-so-many Cheerios, and Cate had fun climbing into the baby furniture and chasing Toby around the house! (Praise the Lord Toby is great with kids!) The ladies had fun chatting and the guys watched a good football game! We're very thankful for good friends!

Ahh, the Beauty of a Full Night's Sleep!

Alex started sleeping through the night at 21/2months and it was heavenly. Then he started teething...and not sleeping well...around 4 months. I had 6 weeks of rest!! It was nice. Ever since the teething started Alex has been waking up at least once a night crying and rubbing his gums, it's really quite sad. I usually rock him back to sleep after some teething tablets or motrin. Until last night...my beloved child slept from 9pm until 7:30 this morning! Bliss! I gave him the biggest, slobberiest, most thankfulest smooch on his smoochable cheek that he's had in his whole six months of life!! (The pic above is actually from Sunday when Ryan brought Alex in to wake me up from my afternoon nap.)

All Play and No Work Makes Alex a Happy Boy!

This is Alex's new toy from Christmas from his Papa & Nana. It's a tetherball so he can't play with it and it doesn't roll away, and he could kick it and bat at it all day!
On New Year's Day Alex played with Cate and Josh--they shared with him really well when I pulled some of his toys out of his bag! It was funny because Cate kept taking the toys out of Josh's hands to give them to Alex cuz she thought he was stealing them from Alex though he wasn't!!

Alex loves to play games with daddy. He likes to be bounced or tossed up in the air! He'll watch daddy from across the room till he catches his eyes and then squeal and smile!

Who's That Up There?

It's been fun to see Alex's personality start to really develop lately. He enjoys playing little games with us & already has a mischevious twinkle in those eyes (who's side of the family does that come from???). When he's sitting in my lap he likes to twist around, make a cute face at me, and twist back again. I got a good pic of him the other night--check out those eyelashes!!

Cruisin'

I hate to even post this picture, cuz it makes Alex look so grown up! I think I mentioned before that we ordered this car seat on sale cuz of the old fabric on it, but when it came, it was with a different fabric, and it's actually really nice, not ugly like on the website!! Anyway, I am already enjoying having this seat. It makes it easier to go places cuz I don't have to carry around that heavy infant carrier, just Alex. And he seems to like it, too--he's fallen asleep in it several times! He looks so hilarious in this coat--it's really a size too big--but I love it!

Giggles & Tickles

Photo Sharing - Upload Video - Video Sharing - Share Photos
We've had some requests for a video of the little man laughing, but it's taken us a while to get it, cuz he doesn't always laugh at the same thing today as he did yesterday! But we had the camera ready on Saturday and caught him giggling despite all his efforts to avoid it.

Happy Birthday Grams!

We just wanted to say Happy Birthday to the best Grams in the whole wide world! We love her lots and appreciate all she does for us! Happy Birthday Grams, maybe one of these years we'll be with you on your birthday so Alex can give you a big wet slobbery smooch!!!!

Shiny Red Fire Truck

Alex got a fire truck for Christmas from his Grandma Linda and Grandpa Dwight. He loves to play with this toy--he can even palm the little ball that sits on the top of the truck! Attached to the gift was a note that said "your daddy liked fire trucks when he was a little boy." Like father, like son.

Ahyadadadaya

Photo Sharing - Upload Video - Video Sharing - Share Photos
(once again we apologize if the sound is not in sync with the picture) Drumroll please...now introducing Alex's newest sounds. He will make these sounds anywhere, at anytime he feels like it, though seldom on cue! I think it's cute cuz he pulls his lips back and you can see though pesky gums. (close to the end you will hear his "panic mode." don't be alarmed, he's just faking! does that a lot) Ryan says he's saying "Dada" but we all know what his first word should and will be: "Mommy"

Muscle Control

A few pics of Alex's fight to sit up on his own! He is getting better and better each day, but still loses muscle control and topples! We'll keep you posted on his progress. Here he is watching his Baby Einstein very very seriously!

The Sippy Cup Mastered!

The sippy cup, until today, has been a fun after breakfast teething toy. I started putting his juice in it and letting him "play" with it for a while each morning. I figured since he had it in his mouth, even though he was just gnawing on it, eventually he would try to suck on it--and he finally did! And let me tell you, when he figured out he can get juice out of that thing he drank a ton! It's great because it's a no-spill cup and doesn't leak like his juice bottle did. Again, he's growing up too fast.