loving this age.

oh my Everett. This age has been so much fun. My favorite yet....well, I'd like him to cuddle more like when he was a newborn but thats ok.

He is curious, and happy. He recognizes our voices and will crane his head to see his dad. He laughs at some random times. He is trying so hard to move around. He's not sitting yet, but is scooting pretty well. The past 3 nights he's gone to bed around 8 (he's been seriously fighting it at night, we still try to put him down with in 2 hours of his last nap) and slept til 5AM!! Oh my this sleep has been wonderful. He does like to show off for his dad, took a 4 hour nap on Sunday when we were all home and of course only slept one hour yesterday. I can tell he is teething, he has a corner of a tooth thats popped through. He's had fussy moments but he is still the most joyous little boy. Laughing, cooing, talking, smiling, blowing raspberries, always making noise. He makes my heart leap with joy every time he flashes me those gums.

He's been scratching his head when sleepy and going to sleep. Its so cute, but I can't keep up with those nails, hence the scratches on his lil face. I swear his nails grow faster and faster...

Oh and my lil stinker has starting peeing every time I change his diaper. He hasn't done that since he was a newborn, and he thinks its funny. Another thing he thinks is funny is biting me while eating...I'm pretty sure he thinks my shocked reaction is hilarious. He also laughed when I went to change his diaper and found a blowout so bad it went down his leg to his feet.

I love seeing his personality develop. He is sweet, happy, loves being around people, loves his mama and daddy, curious, funny, and an over all joy.

I thank God for him daily.

some recents

1. Isn't he just the happiest?/2. visiting dad at work last week

3. lash envy...for real/ 3. watching the d-backs play their last game (now go Cards!)

5. looks like his Dad here!/6. hiding in the cart- our big Sams club haul

7. resting after play and trying to "crawl"/8. "mom, point the camera THAT way"

9. on the porch with our pumpkins/10. he's really moving these days, I layer him on the far side of the play mat

11.this is how Chris puts the baby to bed- plays a round of gin rummy first/12. he sleeps in funny positions

Saturday Trip

Saturday we decided to take advantage of this great weather and do a day trip to Goldfield Ghost Town and Tortilla Flat.
The ghost town was a lot of fun and definitely somewhere I would go back to. Tortilla Flat was not much to see, and the windy drive up the mountain to get there is something I can pass on (I do not do well on cliff side roads).

We went with our friends and their two kids. We started the day with the most horrid experience at CoCo's for breakfast. Hair in my husbands drink, switched servers 3x, old rude servers 3x, 30 min wait for food, servers throwing things down....but anyway all that to tell you don't eat there.

At Goldfield the boys panned for gold, we went to the reptile museum, and we wanted to do the train tour but its a cash only place and we ran short. I really liked it there, a cool old town with lots to look at!

Tried to get some good shots of Everett, he had just woke up and I don't think he was too happy with me!

5 months!

Ok I officially feel like time is flying, and I think it'll just go faster from here on out.

This month more than any other went by the fastest. You have grown and changed so much since your 4 month post!

Right after your 4 month birthday you rolled from your back to your belly. You were so close for so long, then one day I went to get you from your nap (you were in our bed) and there you were, on your belly just looking around. Scared me to death but I was also so proud!

This month we struggled with your sleep. Struggled is an understatement! Putting you down for naps was hard, making you sleep at night was hard, keeping you asleep at either was hard. I will let you fuss for a little while but nothing helped you sleep. I think you being able to roll onto your belly really threw you off. You also had an ear infection, that your dad realized (not me- mom fail) that I know contributed to your struggle to sleep.

Just a couple weeks ago when your ear was healed we put you in your crib in your own room. This was so hard on me and even harder for your dad- we miss you so much! We also changed your bed time from around 8/9pm to 6/7pm. Yes, very early. But oh my goodness it worked! We now have a bedtime routine of bath, lotion, jammies, story, nurse, sleep. I do always put you in your bed awake, unless its been a hard night. You still wake up between 2 and 4 am to eat, then sleep until 7/8am and are up for the day.

For naps I was nursing you to sleep, sometimes in our bed because it was easy, but now you go down for naps easily as well. I can tell you are done eating and ready to be put in your crib because you squirm and turn your head away from me. Then you are in your crib and fuss for maybe a minute, then sleep for about 1-2 hours. Everything seems to be falling into place with your sleeping habits, I am relieved but know your somewhat schedule can and will change any day.

You are a very happy boy. I know I say that a lot, but its true. You smile so much. You seem to only laugh about once a day. Its weird, but we get about one good laughing session out of you daily. I love how anytime I go to pick you up, you give me the biggest grin. Melts me!

You still talk a lot. You are always making some sort of noise!

The other night you learned how to blow raspberries. We were driving home from dinner and you did it the whole way home. It was so funny. You wanted to stay up all night practicing that too!

You are much more mobile this month. When on your belly you can scoot and turn 360 degrees. It amazes me how far you can get! You also roll to get where you want to be.

You are still breastfed, with the occasional bottle if I'm away or if we are out in public. We did try cereal and avocado this month. You are not interested in either. I tried the cereal right after your 4 month well visit, you just pushed it out so I knew you weren't ready. A week later we tried again, nothing. Another week passed, tried again, nothing. And so on. One weekend I will try to give you food and I know you'll "get it"! For now, you get breast milk and food once a week.

You are still size 2 diapers. Mostly you wear 3-6 month clothes. Some 0-3 you can still fit (mainly shorts). You seem too long for most clothes that are "supposed" to fit.

I am so blessed to be your mom. Our bond has really grown this month. I can tell you are so interested in me, and you light up with me. I love how if nothing else calms you down, I always can. You'll always be my baby boy. I adore you. I pray for you and thank God for you constantly.

Things I want to remember:

• how when I pick you up and you've been crying, you bury your face in my neck so your cry is muffled. its almost like you are "humming" on my skin.
• the "haaaaiiii" noise you make. I swear its you saying "hi"!
• how you love to hold both your feet and rock back and forth.
• speaking of feet, I love how you manage to get those toes in your mouth
• the big exaggerated sighs you let out
• your Elmer Fudd face. its like you tuck the corners of your mouth into your cheeks, making a very square face with a little smirk. so cute.
  
  besides doing a normal edit to this picture (levels, sharpen), I didn't touch your eyes at all! they are so beautiful!

surprise!

My sister threw me and my twin brother a surprise party, with the help of our spouses.

I thought all week we were going to dinner at Joes Farm Grill with my Aunt Cheryl who was in town visiting. Little did I know they had coordinated all our family, in-laws, and friends to be there and celebrate our 25th birthday.

I did however find out about the surprise about an hour before the party happened. it involved a twitter slip and some miscommunication, but I was still surprised and in the end it doesn't matter!

I was totally frustrated with my camera that night. It was so dark out, with minimal lighting, and my flash wouldn't pop up. It still wont. I need to get it checked out. I rarely use my flash, and if I do I use an external flash but how annoying that the one installed on my camera is broken! ugh.

The next morning we went to breakfast with my aunt and family again. I wish she was here for a longer visit. I love my moms family so much, I wish I saw them more often. I really look forward to when we go celebrate Christmas this year with them for the first time since I was in high school.

25.

Well, yesterday I turned 25 and I kinda sorta feel old.

It was a great day. I got to spend it with my two boys and some great friends.

I thought this whole time Chris was going into work that day, which I was fine with, but he surprised me and took the day off. He told me he knows my love language is quality time, so he thought that was the best gift he could give me (great guy!) He also completely spoiled me with a birthday gift that we are waiting on being delivered, but it won't be here until next week. I'll be sharing that when it arrives.

Yesterday we went to Joes Farm Grill for an early breakfast. I had never been there for breakfast and it was pretty good. We got the belgian waffle and breakfast tacos.

Everett didn't get out of his jambes for breakfast, such a happy boy!

Later since Chris was home and I had made plans with some friends, I decided he should redeem his fathers day massage while I went shopping. It worked out perfect, and after Chris' massage he even came and took the baby so I could enjoy some girlfriend time.

I completely over indulged in frozen yogurt and See's candy. Its time to quit thinking breastfeeding is an excuse to eat whatever I want! Starting tomorrow ;)

Since Everett has been going to bed fairly early these days, and I try to keep him scheduled during the week (weekends are pretty busy so I try not to worry about it then), we just got Pita Jungle to go because they have my most favorite salad EVER- Mediterranean Chicken Salad. Chris also came home with some Cold Stone for us to enjoy.

Then we lounged, enjoyed the windows being open and hearing rain and feeling a cool breeze. Ev hung out on the floor- and I can't keep that kid from looking at the TV. Oh that little smile of his was is enough to make my day! oh, he also got me a present- a little handprint keepsake that we need to make soon.

sickness & sleeping

What a week its been around here! Last weekend we noticed Everetts runny nose and congestion had not cleared after several days. I thought he was fine and that it would clear on its own, but Chris urged me to take him in. Well, dad has good instincts because he had his first ear infection. I feel so bad that I did not notice something serious was going on.

What I had noticed was he started regressing in his sleep patterns. Nap times were hit or miss, he was waking up very frequently at night, and just all around fighting sleep. I thought it was just the "4 month sleep regression", but since he has been on his antibiotic he has been sleeping much better.

Before I knew he was sick, I was finally ready to move him into his own room at night. I hadn't been for so long. It was so nice having him right next to me, and even nicer to just swoop him up and feed him in bed for his middle of the night feedings (that he started to get up for again). Around 3 months he slept so awesome at night, and I considered moving him but it broke my heart to have him so far away! It was not something Chris was ready for either. But of course, when I was ready, he was so sick and I thought it best to keep him at my side. I cherished every night last week, because I knew the big move was coming! Chris was not happy about him leaving our room, but it is best on so many levels. He was getting woken up when we would go to bed, he would wake up to Chris' work alarm, I woke up to his every move, etc.

I think for so long I lived in fear of SIDS. It terrified me, and having him by me at night made me feel safe. I finally told myself that once he was turning from back to belly it would be safe for him to be in his crib. I knew by him doing this it meant he had strong enough neck control to move his head while on his belly. Two weeks ago he started rolling onto his belly! He is on his belly all the time now. He sleeps much better that way too.

Anyway, this morning was the second morning waking up to hearing my son through the baby monitor and not in person. Chris got him up and brought him into bed with us, I know those moments I will never forget!

1. very happy boy this morning- on top of a blanket made by his great Aunt Cheryl. I never want to wash it- it smells like her house :)

2. trying to get my sick baby to nap

3.finally asleep!

4. last night- went to bed very early and woke up so upset, I held him for a good hour while he finally went back to sleep. Then daddy got jealous and wanted to cuddle him too!