lunch date

Michael had a lunch date with the beautiful Gracyn today...We met Gracyn and her sweet momma & daddy at McAllister's for lunch. I can't believe these babies will be 6 months old next week! They are both growing and changing and doing new things everyday. Gracyn is rolling all over the place and Michael is content to lay where he is. They are both enjoying their new found taste buds for food, therefore growing like crazy! They were both sleepy and hungry when we got there, but they were both so patience and such troppers....even through our mini photo shoot after lunch. It was a wonderful time and so good to see them again. We love you!!

Michael Sitting!

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they came

in masses...lots and lots of them! Every 45 minutes, new ones. Eager faces, new clothes and fresh smiles. Honestly, it was a great day. I think it's going to be a fun year with fun students.

It was so busy that before I knew it, it was after lunch and Grandma had emailed saying that she checked on Michael and he was getting ready for his afternoon nap! I think he had a pretty good day. It was better today (for me). I think it was because I did not have time to breathe, much less think about how I wasn't with him. Of course, I missed him and thought about him, but yes, it was better.

We had to take a first day of school picture....


So is this a sign he's getting too big for the swing??? I thought he was going to flip the thing over today...

fohawk boy

our saturday

Michael was so excited to have Juice, Pa & Uncle Bruce come to see him yesterday.



Michael had a party for Cy to go to last night. This is our attempt to get family photos...

it's going to get better...

Finally! It's Friday and I get to spend two whole days with Michael! YEA!! Oh my goodness this week was hard. I did ok Monday morning. Just a few tears on the way to school, but then I came home for lunch. Oh it was wonderful to see him again! I had to go back. I lost it after lunch. Oh my goodness, lost it. I was so ready for 4:00. Tuesday-Thursday was better. Then today, he cried when I left...yeah, I lost it again. Geez. It'll get better...for the both of us. It's going to take me time to get used to leaving him and it's going to take him time to adjust to me not being here. Anna is wonderful. She is super good with him. Michael smiles when she walks in the door, so that makes me feel good. I am pathetic because I count the hours I'm not with him and then count the few hours I do have with him. I thought I was getting the flu on Monday, but then figured out that I've just made myself sick. It's going to get better!

This is by far one of the hardest things I've ever had to do. I can't explain it. It sucks...that's all there is to it. I feel guilty, sad, like he thinks I've abandoned him, selfish, mad and even more sad. It's going to get better.

It's going to get better...that's what everyone keeps telling me.

in 5 1/2 months...

I've learned:
-to value any sleep I can get
-the true meaning of unconditional love
-true happiness
-the pure joy of watching your child discover new things
-patience
-how to have a conversation with a baby
-how to get myself ready fast and in phases
-not every child is the same
-it's ok not to take naps in beds...sometimes they are better in the swing
-those sweet smiles and giggles are the most precious things in the world!
-we should have bought stock in Shutterfly
-it's ok to take 100 pictures a day...it's digital!
-I can do many things one handed
-everything requires batteries, makes noise and lights up
-to get things done while he's sleeping...or sleep while he's sleeping
-family is the most important thing (something I already knew)
-the definition of over-protective mother...yeah, I am.
-flying with babies gets you in the smaller lines
-no one can do it like me...and that's ok
-to appreciate my parents (and grandparents) more than ever

In 5 1/2 months, I've learned a lot of things...many of which I did not mention. But most of all, I've learned that I love that boy more than he will even know and that tomorrow is going to be one of the most hardest days of my life. Tomorrow marks the end of my maternity leave. Yes, I got 5 1/2 months with my baby. Yes, it has been the most beautiful and fun 5 1/2 months ever. Tomorrow I start working again. Tomorrow I will miss that boy more than anything in this whole world.

family vacation

We finally got to go on a little family vacation that was just us 3. Daddy had to work in Dallas this week, so we decided to join him later in the week. Michael & I flew to Dallas by ourselves! Yes, I was a little nervous, but he did so good. We packed everything with Daddy in the car before he left so we would just have to take overnight things. We packed up our back-pack and headed out. They let me take the carseat on the plane and sit it in the window seat. Michael ate and then didn't want to be held, so I put him in his seat. He played then fell asleep with no crying! It was such a great flight. He was so excited to see Daddy when we got there too! We got to shop and just relax. It was a wonderful weekend!

We got to see Uncle Ryan & Aunt Maggie a few times and Mommy's friend from High School, Kristen.



Michael even got to take a bath in the ducky! His bottom is still a little round, but he loved it.


When we got home, Michael was so excited to try some green beans! He LOVED them! We took his shirt off, but we didn't need to...the boy didn't let much get out of his mouth! :)

splish splashing in the pool

Michael and I decided to take advantage of our last few days of summer. After his 2 1/2 hour afternoon nap, we put some sunscreen, our hat and sunglasses on and headed to the pool...


I'm trying to soak in all of that little guy that I can this week. Oh my goodness next week is going to be so hard going back to school. I know that Michael will hardly know I'm gone, but I sure will. Maybe the days will go by fast!

just playin

Michael and I found the funny effects in photo booth...

photo shoot by juice

Since Juice got to come stay with Michael these last two days while I had to go to work, she took the opportunity to do a little photo shoot with the boy...here are just a few!! Seriously, a few...she took about 200 pictures!!!









Thank you Juice...We love you!!

first foods!

Instead of birthday cake, Michael got to celebrate his 5 month birthday with a little cereal! He loved it!! Juice, Granddaddy and Grandma were here to witness the big event!





We tried it again tonight, but he really wasn't into it. So, we'll try again tomorrow!

happy 5 months

Happy 5 month birthday Michael Lance!




Michael is getting so big way too fast! He is so much fun to be around. He is still talking up a storm (he gets that from his daddy), laughing and giggling, rolling over and just being his cute little self. He has started squealing when he's talking. Here he is singing along with Three Doors Down. :)


We really think he's trying to start teething. If anything gets near his reach, he's going to get it and it will go straight to his mouth. He hasn't really been fussy, but he is chewing on everything! And he's really started getting his thumb in his mouth. I have tried the pacifier a thousand times and he spits it out every time. He will chew on anything, but the second you put the paci in his mouth, out it goes. He's not really sucking on his thumb, just chewing on it. His pediatrician said his gums are a little swollen and that he is definitely in the beginning stages of teething.


Michael is turning and twisting all over the place when he's laying down. He likes his tummy more now and can make a full turn on his belly. He will reach for his toys on the floor and pull them to his mouth. When he's on his back, he will roll to his side a lot. He even does this to sleep. He has rolled from his back to tummy...but just a few times.


He can sorta sit up on his own if you prop him up like a little bulldog! :) He grunts and groans the whole time he's trying. It's hard on a big belly! Daddy has even started letting him stand on his own a little.



His nap times are so much better now. He's pretty much put himself on a good 3 naps a day schedule. He will wake up anywhere between 7 and 8:00 in the morning. We'll play for a while, eat, get dressed then play some more. He'll be up for about an hour to an hour and a half before he starts getting sleepy again. I'll rock him for just a minute, then lay him in bed with his bear blanket and he'll take a good morning nap. He'll wake up and be ready to play and eat again. He starts to get sleepy again around lunch and this time he'll take about a 2 hour nap! Sometimes he'll wake up and if I just let him whine a little bit, he'll go right back to sleep. We'll play for a while in the afternoon, go swimming or run errands and then he's ready for another nap. This one usually isn't long, but that's ok because Daddy is usually getting off of work by then.



We haven't started him on any cereal or food yet. We went to the doctor yesterday and she said we could start! He weighed in at 16 lbs. 4 oz and measured 26 inches tall! She said he looked really good. He was talking and squealing for her. He got his 4 month shots too. He wasn't so happy about that. Poor guy. After getting a little snack to ease the pain, he was much better. I think we'll do cereal tonight, so pictures of that coming soon!

He has stayed with Anna a few times now and he seems to really like her. Momma is so not looking forward to leaving the little guy full time, but it'll be good for him to get to know someone else. Ok, enough about that, I'm going to start crying again if we talk too much about it.


One more video...he was so excited to get to go to Juice & Pa's house...


Happy 5 month birthday baby boy!!! We love you more than you'll ever know!