The 3 Amigo's

This past week has been so much fun all your cousins are out visiting and it's so cool to see you all together! You are so blessed that you have cousins that are so close in age to you. Aubrey is 3 years older than you (which now seems like a lot, but later it won't seem so bad), Bryant is 6 months older, and Jack is only 3 months older. Everyone is at our house right now since your Uncle Blake is coming home from Iraq today for is R&R. We have been so excited to have everyone together since the last time that happened was over Christmas. It wasn't that long ago, but you have grown so much since then!

Despite being the youngest, you are not the smallest. You are keeping up size wise (unbelievably so), and although you're not walking yet (like all your other cousins) that does not mean you aren't mobile! You're incredibly determined and can roll just about anywhere you want to go-and fast! I can't even turn my back on your anymore or you will have a handful of pizza or a computer cord in your mouth. You really make me laugh

Sometimes it's hard being the youngest

All your cousins are here becasue your Uncle Blake is coming back for his R&R visit and our house is where everyone decided would be the best place to gather (lucky us)!

It's amazing to watch how aware you are and that you notice that all your cousins are up and walking, eating interesting food, and playing in the blow up pool we bought. You want to play so bad... and you get SO frustrated not being able to be independent enough to walk around and reach things that you want. But-Buddy, you are totally holding your own on the size scale. You may be the youngest... but you are not at all the smallest. You, Jack, and Bryant (who are 3 and 6 months older than you) are all in the same exact size diaper. You are totally keeping up in the growing department! I also don't think it will be long before your keeping up with them running around either-and I can't wait to watch how much fun you will all have together as you get older!

Meeting your Uncle Blake for the first time.

You and Jack. You guys totally looked like twins in that stroller.

You and Jack, again. I think you two will be good friends. It looks like you guys were
having a very good conversation about something.

6 month check up

Well buds, you turned 6 months yesterday and I can't believe how fast the time has gone! In another 6 months you will be one whole year... and I feel like your dad and I were just coming home from the hospital with you. You were so sweet and so tiny when we brought you home... and you are still sweet but far from tiny! You weigh 19 pounds, and you're almost 27 inches long- such a big boy! You're really helping Mommy's arms get back in shape caring you around places (especially when you're in your car seat).

I had to take you into the doctor today to get a regular check up and everyone adores and remembers you. Your always smiling, making cute new sounds that you're learning, and your so curious about everything that the doctor uses on you (like the tool that looks in your eyes, ears, and the stethoscope). We really love your doctor (and you seem to also) and are so lucky that she takes good care of you. But, today you had to get some shots. And, I think it's harder for me than it is for you. You are SO tough, and even though you cry a little, it's never anything like the babies in the rooms next to us. The second I pick you up and start saying, "Mama's here... it's ok..." you calm down. You still sniffle a little and you bury your head into my shoulder, but for the most part-you get over it fast. It's moments like that when I feel like my heart could explode becasue I love you so much and I can't believe how amazing you are.

Well, I just heard you wake up from your nap. I should wrap this up so I can go kiss you all over.

Happy 6 month birthday Buds! Your dad and I are SO proud of you and so blessed that we get to call you ours and keep you for a while. I love you!!

Mr. Independant

I love you Buddy. I am in awe with how amazingly smart you are and how much you are soaking up and learning. You are incredibly aware of everything around you and I just love watching you study whatever you are next to, under, or on top of. You never stop moving (sometimes you even keep a leg moving in your sleep) and you refuse to snuggle becasue you always need to be off exploring something or rolling somewhere new.

I hope one day that you decide to become a snuggler- becasue I love the times that I get to hold you. Your dad and I have bought so many movies that we can't wait to watch with you while cuddling on the couch. And, even if that time period of snuggling is short lived I'm ok with that... becasue I'm your mom and it's my right to sneak in and give you hugs whenever I want to.

So there.

Bumbo+ new toy= happy Mommy

Since you have a little bit of a flat spot on the back of your head, I'm trying to get you to sit up as much as possible (Dr.'s orders). It hasn't been as hard as I was expecting since you want to be independent so badly and love sitting and standing up (with help of course). But lately, it's been a little bit of a battle becasue you just discovered that you can roll places and creep towards things that interest you... so that's all you've been wanting to do lately and nothing else. And that's fine with me for now. "Battles" with you are not really like "battles" at all and it's fun to see you experience new things and get excited.

Anyways, because you love rolling so much, getting you to stay in your bumbo has been a challenge. You arch your back so much (trying to roll over in it) that you look like you could do a back flip off of it. It scares me, so I never leave you sitting in it if I'm not watching. But today you discovered a new toy that sits in front of you while you're in your bumbo... one that has all kinds of buttons, switches, knobs, things that light up, and have fun noises. You were so mesmerized that I just left you sitting on the floor with it while I watched you and did the dishes. It was perfect! I got to clean up, and you had some good time doing something fun without putting pressure on your head.

I love watching you grow buds. You're so quick to learn, and so amazingly enamored by the big world around you. Seeing your eyes light up and your arms and legs start kicking when you get excited gives me such joy. I can't believe how amazing you are and how quickly you're changing and discovering new things. I'm so blessed to be your Mommy, and that I get to be with you at home and watch you go on these daily adventures. What's next?!

My Little Gerber Baby

We started solids with you about a week ago and so far you are loving the taste of food! You're still having a little bit of a hard time figuring out how to keep it in your mouth and how to swallow it... but up open up your mouth wide every time you see the spoon! Here you are eating squash in your airplane PJ's (your daddy's favorite).

Oh yum!

You love food and trying new things. I think that your bottle is still your favorite... but food is so fun and exciting to you. I love it-- you've really encouraged me to try some new things, and re-try other things that I haven't liked in the past.

Here is you with squash... yum!