Happy June!

Hey, did you know it was June? Me neither...until today at church I spied it on the bulletin being waved around by the very "active" young many in front of us.

The big news around here is that William's front bottom teeth are coming in. He was a little crabby on Saturday and we couldn't figure out what was going on. Finally, on Saturday, William pulled my finger to his mouth and chewed on it. There is very definitely a tooth in there! I can't see anything yet, but maybe in another day or two we'll be able to get a picture.

On Saturday morning, we took William to the park together for the first time. He enjoyed trying out the swing and watching the other kids play. We squeezed in a walk around the lake before going home to get some work done. After church, we noticed that John and William are starting to look more and more alike...or at least their clothes do! After taking some quick pictures outside, we gave our cats the ultimate loyalty test: we left the back door wide open for 2 hours (accident). The answer: nothing happened - but we were lucky!

Okay, maybe it is dorky. But I think they are handsome!

Earlier in the year, John and I agreed that we were going to try and use our air conditioning less to try and save a little money. We agreed upon June 1st for the "turn on"date. Well, it is now June 3 and we still haven't used the air yet (okay, in a weak moment we did turn it on for a few hours back in April). Usually, we turn the air on in April and leave it on almost continuously through September. You are not allowed to say anything about this unless you have been here in the summer time (Sheila? Grandma Kim? Grandpa Kevin? Ask them if we really need it on ALL the time). We are very proud we have been able to go this long without it. It really helps that I am home most days to have the house open for air flow. We'll see how long we last now that the weather is supposed to get warmer later this week.

William trying out the swing...he really did get going very far. He is still pretty top heavy and I was afraid he would topple out. Plus, he has no idea he should be hanging on...


More swinging around

Okay. I had another picture for you of John and William at the park. I've been trying for 2 days now to get the picture uploaded and it just WON'T. I'll try again later, but I'm publishing this one without it!

William and Mommy out on the deck

Finally!

I have been working on a big surprise for you all! I have stolen (I admit it) an idea from a few different people and made a photo montage of William's first three months. I'm also going to try and put a link on the side of the page for easy viewing. Once you've seen it, you'll want to watch it over and over and over and over....I think it is stupendous and it was a lot of fun to look back and all the "old" pictures of William. He has done a lot of growing!

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

In other William news, he is now rolling from his back to his front in both directions. Makes diaper changes and bath time a whole new adventure as he feels any time spent on his back is just more practice for rolling over. He also has been doing a lot of experimenting vocally. He has discovered a squeal and a little shriek which are very cute. On the horizon, I see the scream ahead (yes, we have Tylenol). He has also found out that he can make coughing noises. Any down time is opportunity to practice any of his new sounds. So, there are lots of interesting noises coming from our house these days.

Thursday we went out for dinner with a few coworkers to say goodbye to an eighth grade teacher who is moving this summer. We'll miss you Lee! On Friday morning, we got out to the park to meet up with some other moms and kids. It was nice to chat and see other kids running around. The last day of school for my "kids" is this next week, so I'm going to try and get up there to say good bye to them and pick up some more stuff from my classroom.

William and John hanging out


Smiles from the boys

4 Month Doctor Appointment

Today was William's 4 month doctor appointment. We had a long list of questions to ask the doctor. William now weighs 18 pounds 13 oz and is 27 inches tall - that is in the 97% for both height and weight. We're just glad it is proportionate! His head circumference is the lowest scoring in the 95% at 44.5 cm. I had been worried that it didn't seem like he was growing as fast as before. I know that kids are supposed to slow down after the first 6 months, but we aren't quite there yet. The doctor reassured us that William is growing wonderfully - the last few month he grew from the 80th percentile curve to the 95 percentile curve. This time, he stayed in the 90th percentile and just grew. I don't know if this makes a whole lot of sense, but it made perfect sense to me during the doctor appointment.

Other highlights:

- William is teething. Although the spot in his mouth I thought was a tooth is a oil gland (normal).

-We can now use bug spray on William and can use sunscreen in 2 more months!

-The doctor recommended we start William on solids beginning at 5 months. At 5.5 months, we can start introducing vegetables. Should be fun!

-Swimming in pools is okay!

-The doctor is pleased with how William is doing developmentally. Based on his rolling, sitting, scooting, reaching and social interactions, she put him at the level of a 7 month old baby. Not bad for 4 months + 4 days.


And then there were the shots. Poor baby had a total of 4 injections and one oral vaccine. I thought it went much better than last time - John did not agree. I think the difference is where we were sitting. William is currently sleeping it off. Hopefully, he'll sleep and get to feeling better for tomorrow.

That's all for now....

Memorial Day Weekend

We have had a nice memorial day weekend. We celebrated our patio's one year anniversary by...doing almost no work outside. We did put in some duct work in the basement and some other odds and ends around the house. We did some sleeping in and went to church on Sunday. The pastor had asked we all wear red (everyone, not just us). I had the brilliant idea to take a family pic of all of us - but then changed when I got home. Just forgot, I guess. Today, we are going to Lydia's house to visit and grill out. Should be fun! Here are some pictures from this weekend!

John and William on Pentecost Sunday


William snuggled in for a nap with his bear


Sleeping in with Daddy

Why we decided to put the swing away...please note he IS buckled in!


The directions say "for up to 25 pounds". I don't think we've hit that yet, but...it still needs to go away! And yes, he IS buckled in!


Lydia and William! Lydia is almost exactly a year older than William. Can you tell?


Daddies and Babies


Daddies and Babies, part 2

4 Month Old

William turned 4 months old today. We took some pictures and worked on the basement. This evening, we took a walk and watched a movie together. All in all it was good to be together. I'm currently still going through the 150+ photos I took today of William for the best few. I had some making up to do after falling down on the job earlier this week. I may even try my hand at editing a few. So, I'll ask for you patience. Check back later - I'll add them eventually.


So, here they are. Some of them are good, others are mediocre at best. Oh well... I have more pictures from this weekend to upload and talk about. Maybe tomorrow. It's late now. I am afraid if I write more, I'll make embarrassing grammar errors.

Mr Cooperative

Diaper Shots

Things that make my heart melt

I love being a mom and I very much appreciate the time I am able to spend with my delightful offspring. I was thinking about the long list of thing he has started doing in the past few weeks that really make my job worthwhile. I'm sharing them with you - but this post is more about me being able to remember these things in a few weeks when he grows and finds other ways to touch my heart. They aren't always big things - but add up to a whole lot of love. Here is a list of just a few things that make my heart melt. Or warm.

1. Lately, when I pick William up, he wraps his arms around my neck (quite possibly for dear life as we careen down the hall or out of the house). I have been referring to this action as "hugs". The only thing that melts me more is when he couples his "hugs" with a head snuggled down onto my shoulder.

2. When I go in his room in the morning after a refreshing 9 hour sleep (serious. No sarcasm. He truly sleeps for 9-10 hours.), William has the biggest grin and does a little leg and arm kicking movement I call a "jig". The grin and happy jig do me in every time. Even if he has a poopy diaper on. My heart is melted.

3. His fuzzy head. Now that there is a lot of hair(okay, just more hair) on his head, it comes in contact with my face when we snuggle. It feels wonderful.

4. Slobbery "kisses". Lately, when were are snuggling or playing kissey faces (a "game" in which I kiss his face), William will open his mouth and turn his head head toward my face. As he is drooling constantly, this action causes his very wet mouth to graze my cheek. More often than not, he turns his head back and forth quickly in excitement and leave a drool trail roughly 6 inches long. He thinks this is funny as he plants the wetest, sloppiest "kiss" onto my cheek with a giggle. Does he know he is giving kisses? I don't know, but I like to think so. At any rate, it is pretty hysterical (and slimy).

5. Ahhs. The little ahh's William makes when he is sleeping. Ahhh...they are wonderful

6. Pats on the face. When William is eating, he is more still than usual. That doesn't mean he isn't moving. His top arm is in constant motion, whirling away. He grabs at whatever he can reach -recently, my face. He whirls and pats and occasionally stops eating to give me a smile with a goo. Precious. Entirely.


Now for the moments that just make me ...warm

1. The enormous spit up this morning that went down the front of my shirt left my heart literally warm.

2. When other bodily fluids end up on me...use your imagination. Even if they aren't symbolically placed by my heart.

3. Now that William is rolling over from front to back, he is constantly practicing. In the bath tub, on the changing table, in his car seat as I am buckling him in. Not exactly a warm heart. More like a stopped heart.



I could go on and on....but I want to put an end to this post so I can start a fresh one

Update

Things are better today. Only one of us spits up occasionally as usual. John is back at work. The two of us at home are laying low trying to catch up and rest. I think we'll make it. This time. Still no pictures of our cutie pie.