December

Finding our Christmas books...

They sat for an hour looking through them all.

(and yes... I will admit I have a slight love for Christmas books!)

Getting excited!

Pushing hard to finish the semester well...

by the last week no one really wanted to do school.

So glad for a few weeks of vacation!

Making "Haman Pockets" and 

"celebrating" Purim.

Reading the story of Esther and shaking our noise makers

every time Haman's name is mentioned to block him out!

His  new obsession... the flags of all the countries.

This was from Honduras.

Getting out the "big boy" toys! 

Who needs Christmas?

When big brother doesn't finish his job of taking

all the recycling out... this is what happens!

Happy December!

Christmas at Our House

Four little pencil trees for each of my little ones.

Decorated with their own ornaments.

No big tree this year... it's just easier that way.

One of my favorite manger scenes.

And my other favorite from my childhood.

My mom painted all the figures, and I still remember watching my

dad whittle popsicle sticks to make the roof.

I played with this for hours growing up and it is a treasure to me.

My aunt has made all of our stockings.  Mine is from when I was a child,

and she has continued to give them to us as our family has grown.

Counting down the days in so many different ways...

We don't always stay on schedule, but we try. :)

Another favorite... 

Love from all our family and friends hanging in our kitchen.

A reminder of what a blessing each one has been on our lives in some way or another.

So thankful for the people God has put in our lives!

Almost one year...

11 Months

11 Months

Oh Baylor!  We are one month away from your first birthday.  How did that happen?!?!?  The other night daddy accidentally pulled up a little video we had from you in the hospital, and my insides suddenly had this war of emotions.  On one hand, I had almost forgotten that little babe with dark hair in my arms, but at the same time it felt like it was just last week that we met you for the first time.  I have come to realize that there is something very special about the first year of life for a mama.  Something that gets locked inside as each month passes by.  Just as Mary pondered all the things that had happened with her and her son and treasured them in her heart, I think all mamas do that in some way or another. So this last month I have been pondering, treasuring, and enjoying you so much.

It’s funny, because I thought I really loved eight months… and I do!  But…. You at 11 months… you, little boy, have wrapped yourself around my heart and are just a delight to my days. I never knew I loved 11 months so much!  So here is you, my sweet baby boy, at 11 months old.

Height: 29 inches     Weight: 24 pounds

Wearing 18 months clothes almost all the time.  A few 12 months pants… 

You are at the end of size 3 diapers.  There is a box of 4’s in the closet… just trying to save money and use the 3’s up!

You still have three bottles a day… and for some reason I do not see that changing soon.

You do pretty good drinking water out of a sippy cup. 

You still love to eat… and will eat almost anything we give you. 

Favorites now: Banana, pears, canned peaches, sweet potatoes, squash, broccoli, beans, noodles, yogurt, cheese, bread, mum-mum’s, puffs… yeah you like it all!

I’m still making some baby food for you because I like to get those veggies in you, and you love to eat them.  But we are trying to transition to more finger food and table food which you love… you just don’t have all the teeth to eat it!

Speaking of teeth, you have two on top and two on the bottom… and two more on top that are close to coming through.

Your schedule is still the same as last month…. Wake up around 6:00/6:30, take two naps at 9 and 2, then bed at 7:30.  You did try for about 2 weeks to drop your morning nap, but we fixed that! J

You love your blue blanket and your green paci. You love to bury you face into your blankie and snuggle with it and rub your face with it.  You also love to have a paci in your mouth and one in your hand when you lay in your crib.  I usually have 4 in your crib for good measure.

Oh and big news in the snuggle department…. You have turned into a snuggler!!!!!  My heart is so happy!  You love to lay your head on my shoulder before I lay you down for a nap.  You will sit in the rocker with me and your blankie and snuggle.  The first thing you do when I pick you up out of your crib in the morning or after a nap is snuggle into my shoulder.  LOVE!!!  There is just something about snuggles from my baby boy that is so tender and sweet.  I am in love!

I am actually surprised that you aren't walking by now… but it’s coming soon.  You have amazing balance… can stand in one place for 30 seconds or so, even bend down and pick up a toy and stand up again.  But just in the last week have you started cruising around furniture or take steps as you push your walker toy.  You walk the most when pushing something… and just a few steps when walking by something.  You do not like to practice walking by holding anyone's hand.  That does not surprise me!  I won’t be surprised if walking comes soon and that you are walking by the time you blow out that first candle.

And your personality… sweet, tender, determined, knows what you want, loves people, content, happy, and perfect for you.

Other things about you:

You LOVE the Ergo.  I’m pretty sure your first word will be ER-GO!  You and I use it almost every day.

We think you say “ball”.  It’s not consistent, but there’s a word that sounds a lot like “ba, ba, ba” whenever you are chasing around a ball. Other than that, no other words.

You just had your 2^nd hair cut.  You hair is going to be challenging for me to cut… we may need to call in a professional!

I always get comments on your big eyes.  Thanking God for your sweet face and beautiful eyes.

You have left all baby toys in the dust and now love balls, trucks, blocks, stacking things, drums, and books... big boy stuff you know!

You entertain yourself like a champ!  You will entertain yourself up to 20 minutes some days.

You don’t like hats or blenders

You love your mama… in so many ways, and many days just need to be close to me. 

You know what... your mama loves you too!  Happy 11 months sweet Baylor Boy!

November Gifts

Catching up with some sweet gifts to remember in the month of November...

Toothy grins and mashed banana everywhere

 My sweet girl who loves to be outside no matter what the temperature might be

 Bits of playdough left all over my floor by these four...

a reminder of these sweet days of childhood and neighbors to share it with

 These two are the best of friends...

even though there are very few girls in our area, God gave Ainsley this friend.

They play almost every day and never have arguments or conflict.

She wanted to make sure he had some playdough at his house... 

so we made up a batch for him to take home.

 Another sweet friend from church...

thankful for the giggles and fun they had in the fresh snow

 The smiles he gives me every day capture my heart...

Watching his mind work makes me smile even more...

This is his "952 Tower" because that's how many little squares he used to build it.

Oh Kallan... :)

 His favorite place to be...

the gift of being close, smelling him and soaking him in, and getting extra snuggles

 the sweet blessing of Chai Tea that warms my heart and keeps me going

on long afternoons

 The Wheels on the Bus song... a gift for sure

 The sweet blessing of big eyes and dishwasher play

 This smile...

 and the way he crawls fast toward his mama

 Watching him explore

 Bed head that makes us laugh

 When my nine year old plays like he's little again...

Day by day...

Counting the good gifts from Him...

And being ever so thankful for each one.

Turkey Art

A friend shared this art link...

Deep Space Sparkle

We had so much fun exploring some Turkey Art!

Works of Art!

10 Months...

10 Months...

I'm in love all over again.

Baylor at 10 Months

Double digits…. How can it be?  This year is going by so fast.  Too fast.  In just two short months, we will be blowing out that single candle and singing Happy Birthday to you, my Baylor.  I can’t even begin to find words for the mix of emotions I have as we round the corner to the end of your first year of life.  I have savored every day with you.  I have delighted in carrying you in my arms, watching you grow, and being mama to you.  

God has graciously blessed my heart with an awareness about being your mama that I didn't have with your brothers and sister… maybe it's an awareness of how precious these days are… maybe it has come with the wisdom in doing this for the fourth time… maybe it’s just more peace of who I am as a mama and how amazingly sacred this job really is.  I have had extreme joy and and such an open heart as I’ve mothered you, cared for you, and loved you.  Baylor, thank you for the gift you have given me this year.  As the next two months fly by, know I will be tucking these days in my heart as I hold you close and cherishing them with much gratitude to Him, who holds all our days in His hands. 

Here is YOU at 10 months…

Height:  I have no idea... forgot to measure you!      

Weight: Probably around 22 pounds

You are wearing mostly 12-18 month clothes.  And you are just a solid, chubby, squishy baby.  Oh, how I love your thighs!

You wear size three diapers, but there are days I think we need to move to a size 4!

You love to eat, and there isn’t much you won’t eat that we have given to you to try.

You drink 3 bottles a day.

You like all fruits and veggies and shove them in your mouth by the fistful…. Or hold your mouth open because we can’t shove them in fast enough!

Favorites:  Squash, Sweet Potatoes, Beans, Broccoli

                  Banana, Pears, Peaches (You’ll eat applesauce, but it isn’t your favorite)

                You also like chicken bites, hot dog bites, Mac & Cheese, bread, and yogurt bites.

You love finger food like Cheerios, Puffs, Mum-mums, biter biscuits, crackers… yeah… all of it!

You are on a pretty consistent schedule… or as consistent as can be with three older siblings and their activities.  You sleep from 7:30ish at night until 6:00/6:30ish.  You take two naps… at 9:00 and 2:00 and sleep anywhere from 1-2 hours each time.

You love your blue blankie and green pacis… they are your happy place!

You are on the MOVE!!!  You crawl everywhere and I love to watch your little behind wiggle as you speed across the floor!  You pull up on everything… and I mean everything!!!  You can stand alone for up to 15 seconds, but have no idea that your feet can move or take steps.  (that’s OK!)   We have gates and barricades everywhere on the main floor and have so far done an OK job of keeping the area baby proof!  But that is hard with three older siblings and all their little things.  You have found the stairs twice and could jet up them if I let you.  I still want to keep them kind of a mystery to you!

Example A of you being on the move... it's so hard to get pictures of you anymore...

Example B:

You are still a very happy baby.  You are pretty good at entertaining yourself for awhile with toys or books.  You can pitch a fit when you don’t get your way or we take something out of your hand… but eventually you get over it.  You are not a big snuggler, but have snuggled into mama more this last month than you have before.  It’s kind of nice.  You do LOVE the Ergo, and we spend lots of time together using that.  You are so happy and content in it…. It works well when you just want to be held, or are a bit fussy.  It’s one of my favorite times with you. 

Other favorites:

Going outside

Playing with Liam, Ainsley, and Kallan

Your Leapfrog activity table

Any “toy” that isn’t a baby toy

Your Lion hairbrush

You are starting to like books

Anything with a handle

Bath time

Containers and opening drawers and doors

Being held

The songs – “The Wheels on the Bus” and in second place “Jesus Loves Me”

Baylor, I celebrate you today!  Although it’s hard for this mama’s heart to know how fast time is going by… there is also a joy and peace that comes from just having you as my baby boy!  I love you much!