A Very Happy Half-birthday to John!

These monthly pictures are getting harder and harder to control ;)

I just really can't believe that you have been with us for 6 months already!! This is just so unreal to me.  It has truly been the best 6 months of my life.  You have given new meaning to both of our lives and I can't imagine life without you!

Weight: You know weigh 19 lbs. 14 oz. which puts you in the 88th percentile!

Length: My tall man, you are 27.8 inches long- the 91st percentile!

Eye Color: Blue with a ring- sometimes they look green to me, but it may have to do with your mood or what you are wearing, because those are some pretty baby blue eye balls. 

Eating: Starting right after your fifth month, we began giving you vegetables with your bottle for lunch.  You have had green beans, peas (your least favorite so far-plus they make Matthew gag), squash, sweet potatoes and carrots.  Your eating schedule nowadays is oatmeal and an 8 oz. bottle for breakfast around 6:30 or 7, vegetable and bottle for lunch, and afternoon snack bottle, and then rice cereal/oatmeal and a bottle for dinner.  You much prefer oatmeal to rice cereal!

Sleeping:  You usually sleep overnight from about 9-6:30 and take a couple of short 1-2 hours naps in the day time. One Saturday we did a bunch of errands, went to a baby shower for Jared and Holly, and when we got home it was dinner time. You passed out after finishing your bottle at 7:30 and didn't wake back up until 7am- heaven! ;)

Favorite Toy:  A tie between your keys and Deuce (Matt's name for you polar bear...you can change it later.  Mainly because I don't want to have to say "you dropped your Deuce")



John's first experience at the pool was a no go.....the water was just too cold for little man!  But he so loved looking at it AND swinging outside!!

 




You have gotten into the habit of playing with mom's face while you are starting to fall asleep....cute but man, you can hold onto a bottom lip!

You are getting better and better at sitting up on your own!!  My big boy :)

You have had a couple of "daddy and me" days recently and these are some of the pictures I get sent at work- it's like he is trying to torture me with your cuteness!!

  

Naptime with John is the best naptime!

Ouachita Graduation

Friday, May 16th, Matt played hookie from school and we drove up to Arkadelphia early for Andrew and Alyssa's graduation that took place on Saturday.  We arrived just in time to feed John and eat lunch with Andrew and Alyssa. 

I did work-study for Molly at the health clinic all four years that I was at OBU, so I was excited to see that the clinic was still open when we got there!  She got a chance to meet John, he helped pass out medications to kids leaving for the summer, and they played for a while!

Once we were done visiting, we strolled over to the Science Building and got to visit with Elaine (secretary), Dr. Knight, and Dr. Jeffers for a bit.  It was nice getting to catch up and show off John!  Then we walked around the campus a bit more and then we met back up with Andrew.  Early evening, we went on to Malvern and checked into the hotel. All the grandparents, Mom, Dad, Rebecca and Taylor arrived shortly after and we ate dinner together.

We got up early on Saturday to make it to the graduation.  One of the cool things about OBU's graduation, is that they request for there to be no cheering or clapping, but instead you stand for the graduates who you know and love.  It's quiet and respectful with just birds chirping in the trees.  John did well and eventually passed out in Matt's arms.  We ate lunch at the DeGray Lake Resort and then hit the road back to Forney.  It was a great trip and I will miss having the excuse to go up to Ouachita every so often- that school has such a special place in my heart!

Dr. Horne starting the Ceremony

The Graduates!!

 All three kiddos are now graduates!

Five Alive!!

Little Bit, you are 5 months old! You are so happy and cheerful- literally my joy!

Weight: TBD at your next doctor's appointment next month

Length: Same as above- but I would like to mention that you are LONG. You are getting too long for the 6 mos. sleep and plays, but still have a good amount of room in the trunk...good thing spring is *hopefully* here to stay and summer is around the corner!

Eye Color: blue with ring...I am still so intrigued to see what color your eyes become!

 

 

Eating: You are now taking cereal with a 6 oz bottle at breakfast, lunch, and dinner plus an afternoon bottle!  You do so well on a "regular" eating schedule!  You either have rice cereal or oatmeal- I think you may like the oatmeal a little more- We certainly like the smell of it better!

Sleeping: Usually from around 8:30/9pm to 6:30am- we like this schedule!  You still only cat nap during the day....little 1 or 1.5 hour naps.

I looked over at John while we were in the car one day and he was staring at me like this.....

And about two seconds later, he looked like this.....

You are drooling like crazy! I periodically check your mouth for any signs of teeth, but nothing yet!  You LOVE eating your hands. It is slightly ridiculous.  

You still roll both ways, but usually get frustrated when you are on your stomach playing and won't roll back over- so we help you go through the motions....and you are starting to use those powerful legs of yours to scoot when you are on your stomach- I placed you on your mat one day and went to put some laundry in the dryer and brought the clothes in the dryer out to the living room to fold while you played and, by the time I got back to the living room, you were all the way off the mat by about a foot and headed toward the kitchen! I don't think I am mentally prepared for crawling just yet, so please, take your time. 

You also have gotten so much better at grabbing things and using fine motor skills!  It's amazing how fast you are improving!  You love your "keys" and when we give them to you, you FLING them around- fair warning to anyone sitting near by: you WILL get hit. 

You have also found your toes. I love it!  Watching you grab them and play is adorable. *sigh*

You love to talk right after you wake up- I think you are telling us all about your dreams you had while sleeping. Also, you have started doing the whole "mom/dad is holding me so I am going to smile at you but then hide in their shoulder" I LOVE IT. I LOVE being your person- the one who can get you to calm down when no one else can, the one who you find comfort in; the one who can make you smile the instant your eyes meet mine- I adore it!

It makes me realize: if this is how I feel with you, how much greater is the pride and love that God has for me when I take comfort in Him, when I turn to Him with my stress to calm down, when I remember his love for me and have joy!! WOW! It is overwhelming!

My walking buddy for the March of Dimes

Getting better and better at sitting up!

Some early morning talks with Daddy:

Papa and Grandma Dottie came in from El Paso and got to meet John for the first time!

Getting him started playing cards early- we are a gaming family :)