April Showers bring May Flowers

This past Saturday we took a family trip to the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Gardens.

Since it is literally a block away from one of our favorite breakfast food restaraunts, we got an early start to the day and had breakfast at Barbec's before going to see all the pretty flowers!

If you have never been to Barbec's and live in the Lakewood vicinity, you are failing at life.  Their biscuits are fantastic!  We always get breakfast foods, but I was spying on some other guests' plates and the lunch/dinner options look great too!  I may have to mix it up next time we go....maybe...probably not...

Anyways, we then got to the Arboretum and realized we were not properly dressed. It was CHILL-ly. John was wrapped well in blankets but we were in short sleeves and sandals(Sarah).  Whoops. To be fair- the weather said it was going to be in the 60s and sunny. Neither was correct.  It never got above 54 while we were there and I never witnessed a ray of sunlight poke out from behind those massive billowing clouds. Rude.

BUT. We made the most of it :)  This Momma loves her some tulips and I am glad we went this weekend, because I could tell that they were starting on the downhill slide to doom.  We walked around for about two hours, snapped some pictures, spied on some quincienera gals getting their photo shoots on, took long breaks in the heated bathrooms to get cozy, and oooed and aahed over the pretty tulips, the birdhouse exhibit, and the rest of the spring-time flowers attempting to survive in Texas "winsprimmer" (that's when you have winter, spring, and summer days all in one week).  

We ran into a couple of church friends while there- small world- and then stopped for some coffee to warm our innards. 

My favorite part was having John sitting in the stroller like a big boy- not in his baby car seat part.  He loved looking around, messed with the lining of the stroller, and took a nap. Such a content, sweet boy!

He Has Risen! He is Not Here.

Mark 16:6

     Easter is such an exciting time- everything is new with spring FINALLY coming for a visit.  It is a great reminder of the fact that we are made new in Christ because of his sacrifice He made for us.  Plus, some of my favorite songs are always sung during Easter time- He Arose, Christ the Lord Has Risen Today, etc. Matt and I had not been to Tyler for Easter in a while, so we spent the weekend in East Texas since Matt had Good Friday off (yay three-day weekends!).

     Friday we got up and headed in to Tyler pretty early. John gets us up around 6-7 every morning, so we just stayed up and headed out.  We met up with my parents, Andrew, the Hamiltons, and my grandparents at my grandparents house.  Then we went to eat lunch at Jason's Deli and the girls did a little bit of shopping while the boys went on home.  

    Friday night Papaw Hassell, Roger and Pam and the boys came over and we grilled out burgers and played games.  Rebecca and Taylor got into town after Reb got off work. I took absolutely no pictures. Sorry!

     Saturday I got up and, after feeding John his breakfast, I went out for a pedicure and some random errands.  A bunch of Mom's side and Papaw Hassell came over for lunch- chicken on the grill, salad, fruit, yum!  

     Easter Sunday was wonderful!  We got ready, showed John his Easter basket, and then headed to FBC Tyler and worshiped with the family.  Since Mom and Dad cooked out for the family on Friday and Saturday, we went to Luby's for lunch.  We stayed in Tyler for a greater part of the afternoon and then headed back to Forney to get ready for the week!  John did so great the whole weekend- of course, he was loved on, cooed over, and kissed/hugged constantly :)

 

And then John said "no more pictures!"

  

  

Four Months

My big, growing, boy!  It's already time for your four-month update.  You are getting more and more fun with every passing day.  But first, your stats...

Weight: 17 lbs 4 oz- you have gained 2 lbs 1 oz in two months!  

Length: 26.3 inches- that's 2.3 inches too!

Eye Color: Blue with a ring still

 

Eating: You just started taking 6 oz bottles about every 4 hours and we give you cereal with your late evening bottle.  You chow down on it!  

Sleeping:  Most of the time, you sleep from around 10-4/5ish.  On the days you go to daycare, you are wiped out by the time I get home from the hospital (8ish) and end up usually waking up about 2 for a bottle and then go right back to sleep. You are a cat napper during the day- a few short naps is all you take!

 

  

Aunt Rebecca came over and we put together your bouncy-play-seat-thing together.  You like it right now for about 10 minutes at a time, but you will get the hang of it soon enough!

One Sunday afternoon, Granddaddy and Pawpaw came up from Tyler after church and visited all afternoon.  Pawpaw had been itching to see you again!  You played with Pawpaw for a while and then passed out in his arms.  Granddaddy got some loving in too :)

Your smiles are the best!  And you are starting to find your voice and talk more and more each day!

Miscellaneous: Your hair is getting thicker and starting to cover more of your head. Eyebrows are darker and you still have the longest eyelashes ever!  You still love bath time- especially KICKING WATER. Oh my goodness you love to kick!!

We decided to try for some cute butt shots...

Now you are just wanting to eat the bunny! 

Your day usually consists of eating and then playing on the playmat or with mom/dad, sometimes swinging and then about an hour before your next bottle is due you start to get just a little fussy and fight sleep before zonking out.  After we give you your cereal and bottle, we rock and read a book and a Bible story and say a prayer together as a family. Usually by the time that is done, you are almost, if not already, asleep.  

You are rolling both ways now!  You rolled over from your stomach to your back at exactly three-months and then two weeks later, Matt laid you on your back and went to grab a burp cloth and when he came back, you were back on your stomach!  The next morning, I watched you roll over and then back and forth and back and forth- I even was lucky enough to catch it on tape! You like to use your powerful legs and scoot and twist and turn on the mat.  We are definitely going to have to start watching you when you are on the changing table and on beds!