This Makes Me Happy (Part..Ummm..five??)

So Readers, I tend to do these posts quite often...

but I have to say, alot makes me happy!

So what is making me happy these days?

I have found that I LOVE staying at home with Lil D. Travis and I already knew that I would be staying home when we had kids. What I didn't know was how much I would love it! I had been working in the professional field for 8 (eek! that's alot) years and I was afraid that the transition from working in a "grown-up environment" to being a stay-at-home mom would be really hard for me. I thought I would miss my job and that I would just get bored.

How wrong I was, Readers! Now that's not saying I don't miss the work, I loved what I did! (and eventually I will go back one or two days a month) I'm also not saying I don't have any doldrum days. What I am realizing though is that being able to stay at home and take care of D has been more of a blessing than I ever dreamed it would be!

I may not like living so far away from my family or the state I love so much, but Travis' job allows me the luxury to stay home full time to raise our son. I am truly grateful for this blessing!

So that makes me happy!

This also makes me happy:

Lil D at 4 months old!

and (his little shy-guy smile)


At 4 months Lil D can put his paci in his mouth-he may not always get it right the first time, but he will get it! He also loves to stand-being supported of course. He has got some STRONG little legs! When he lays down he also loves to kick his legs like he is running in place. It is rather silly.

(And MB, you are most certainly correct, he has gotten to be so wiggly wormy that I can't walk away from the changing table anymore!)

I think he has forgotten that he knows how to roll over as well as sleep through the night. I think the time change and his being sick threw him off. He's slowly starting to sleep through most of the night now. Hopefully it will keep getting better.

And at 4 months I have found that generally speaking I find myself talking in a squeaky baby voice. I will rhyme most any word (Lots rhyme with "poo"..not much rhymes with "feet") or make it a double word (Nappy-nap, laughey-laugh, sleepy-sleep...are you getting the idea?)
I also refer to myself in the third person and call myself Mama or Mommy as well as make up both sides of the conversation when talking to Lil D.

Playing with his little gym.


"Silly Mama, its not for playing..its for eating!"


We still don't know what color his eyes are going to be. They will definitely be dark. We think either dark brown..dark brown with green (more of a hazel)..or a dark green. In the picture above I think they look dark green. Only time will tell!

What makes Lil D happy? Electronics! He is fascinated with my cell phone and is mesmerized when I text. He also loves this:

Such a little boy! Already wants the remote control :)

So, you may also ask, what does Lil D Not like?
Namely, anything involving my finger, or the little nose sucker, and his nose. Which is unfortunate because I have a mild obsession with his boogies and am constantly picking them. Much much MUCH to his chagrin!

Baby's first Spiky Hair! (I love it!)


Baby snuggles, smiles, and spiky hair...it melts my heart


Watching Travis play and love on his little boy makes me happy. Lil D adores his Daddy. He only really laughs for Travis (my dad-and Travis-have joked that it's just because he is funnier looking ha!) and his little face lights up when Travis gets home from work. He's like "Mom? Mom who??"

Flying Super Baby!


This is too precious for words


I have a hard time realizing that Lil D is now 5 months old! I think part of the reason I am having a hard time remembering how big he is getting is because he is still so little. His 3 month clothes are just now starting to fit him really well. At his last Dr. appt he weighed 12 lbs 5 oz and was 24" long. The time is going far too quickly. Where's that darn *pause* button?!

Well, folks, I think that is all for now!
To give you a glimpsed into how "with it" I am..I just realized yesterday that Thanksgiving is Next Week!! So I had better get on the ball!

We love you SO MUCH! I can't wait for Christmas when we get to see all ya'll!
My Lil D says "HI!"

ooooh wait...one other thing. This...this dear Readers, makes me happy: '


Being able to wear my skinny jeans again! (After alot of sweatin' with Jillian Michaels)

Can I get an "Amen and a Hallelulia"?? :)

So, I'm signing off for now and wishing you lots of things that make you happy!

More grins and giggles!

So, Readers, Lil D has been working on his laugh!

It is intermittant, and really he only does it for his Daddy (Hmph..as long as his first word is "Mama" I suppose I'll be ok..ha!) And of course, he refuses to perform, so getting it on film is quite the challenge.

But here is what I could get last night (I was in the other room when Lil D was really going at it!)

As you can see, he has become the little wiggly wormy! And he loves loves loves just being in his diaper!

We love you! More photos to come in the next couple of days!

Oh, and the Random Bloggy Award goes to: Heath, for leaving some of the funniest comments, to Ben-in-Africa for reminding us of the real priorities in life (that Lil D will be a Cubs fan!)

and last but not least, to my dear friend Erin M. who had her baby boy Novemember 14th-Benjamin Stephen! YAY!!!! I am so happy for her and he is absolutely beautiful!

Lots of Love, and Lil D says "HI!"

Fwends

Well Readers,

Aren't you getting spoiled! I figured I needed to make it up to you for waiting so long in between posts :) Aren't I a good Blogger?? Ummm on second thought, let's not answer that one!

So Lil D had some play time with one of his best "fwends" Lil C. Lil C is 3 weeks older than Lil D and is showing him the ropes and teaching him all sorts of things: how to blow bubbles, stick out his tongue, blow raspberries..you know, the important things in life!

Lil C: Hi Daniel! I'm so glad you could come play!
Lil D: Oh, why thank you! I've been looking forward to it!

(Oh, don't we have such little Southern Gentlemen!..hey it's my Blog, I can narrate it any way I want hee hee)

Lil D: Hey, so how 'bout them Auburn Tigers!
Lil C: Shhhhhh!! Don't let my mom hear you! She doesn't know you're a Tigers fan**..otherwise she might not let you play with an Alabama boy!
Lil D: oooooh gotcha *wink wink nudge nudge* I mean: Roll. Tide.!


Lil C: Which color is your favorite?
Lil D: Oooooh so many bright colors..it's...it's..beeeautiful!


Lil C: You ok, man? You're not looking so good..
Lil D: I dunno...something just doesn't feel right...


Lil D: Bllleeeeaaaah
Lil C: *gasp*!


Lil C: Mooooom, Daniel spit up on my favorite square! *sniff* Party Foul!!
Lil D: I Sowry, I didn't mean to..I'm just a baby *sniffle*


Lil C: Oh, it's OK fwend..here, I'll share my blankie with you..
Lil D: Oh...Ok, Thanks, man. You're the best!


Friends for life, Readers? I think so!
We love you! Lil D says "HI!"

**Disclaimer**
Travis says that Lil D is really an Alabama fan in honor of Davey's dad (an old family friend)
Abby took creative license for comedic effect.

Oy Vey!

"A mother understands what a child does not say."
~A Jewish Proverb


Really Readers?? I am having a hard time believing that this Rabbi ever had a 4 month old child.

I find myself scratching my head more often than not when trying to figure out what Lil D wants. So if this wizened Rabbi is holding out on some secret to D's mysteries he better start sharing!

Now, I pretty much know the "I'm hungry!!" cry, and the "I'm tired!!" cry, and well, he just doesn't really cry when he needs to be changed. But after those three things have been taken care of and he is still expressing his great displeasure it is all I can do just to guess what he wants! I cannot count the times he has been mid-smile and all of a sudden decided he wasn't happy about something and start to fuss..or be mid-fuss and in the blink of an eye start smiling!

In the game of Guess What Baby Wants alot of times I am a losing contestant.

So c'mon Rabbi..cough up the code to the Secret Baby Language!

The most recent frustrating guessing game started last week. Now Lil D traditionally fights sleep a little bit, but he will eventually calm down and then is down for the count.

However, last week when trying to put him down for bed, he cried and cried and cried! Almost two hours of crying! I had recently fed him, but I thought maybe he was still hungry..so I fed him again. Nope. He still cried and cried and cried! Then I checked to see if he needed to be changed.
Nope. The crying persists.

Finally he does fall asleep. We chalk it up to just a weird night.

But then it happened again the next night.

And again the night after that. Now I am really perplexed. What is going on with my Lil D, Rabbi? This mommy is not understanding what my child is not saying!

By the third night of this I am truly exhausted. Persistent crying is one of the most draining of experiences. Not to mention, Travis' folks were now here visiting and they too had to listen to this unexplained wailing.

So on that third night,we finally **finally** figured it out!

Take a look, Readers..can anyone guess what it is?

No More Swaddle!! My little baby is growing up!

"Mom, swaddles are for baaaabies, I'm a big boy now!" *sniffle*


So Lil D is coming up on finishing his 4th month! (yowzas!)
Other milestones?
Well...

He is now sleeping in his nursery crib full time! I thought it would be a harder transition for me to move him out of the bassinet in our room into his own room. But it really wasn't hard! I think we are both sleeping better and more soundly now :)

He has also learned to arch his back in protest. This is not a fun skill for him to have learned. I was expecting him to be more around..oh I dunno...two years old (?) before he started that!

He hasn't found his feet with his hands yet, but he does love rubbing both feet together!


He loves giving full body smiles! His upper will twist one way and his lower body will twist another! It is the cutest thing ever!


We have discovered a new "toy"...the bread bag! My friend Deborah shared this little tid-bit with me. As you can see, the idea is clearly a hit! So Deborah, you get a Random Bloggy Award for Cheapest Toy Idea!



He also fell asleep on his tummy for the first time!! (granted it was only for about 3 minutes..but still..a milestone is a milestone!)

The tired little Super Baby


Lil D regularly addresses the assembly

He also loves to read photography magazines with Daddy



Four months has flown by faster than I ever would have imagined! (I know I waited until the last possible day to do this, but I will be taking his "official" 4 mo. old pics today) While some moments are harder than others I would not trade one second for anything!

We love you! More Bloggies on the way this week :D

Also, a couple more Random Bloggy Awards.
One to Erin M., who managed to comment on my last blog even though she could be going into Labor **at any moment**!! Now that's dedication, girl! I love you so much!
Also, Erin W. gets one as well for stopping by to give me flowers when Lil D was sick (more of that in an upcoming blog)

Lots and lots of love and Lil D says "HI!"

Move over Beatles..

There's a new band in town. Granted, we might get run outta town before our gig is up. But that is neither here nor there.

Hellllo dear Readers!

Yes, late again. No, no more excuses. Life just seems to be getting busier and busier and I'm trying to stay afloat! But I do honestly try to get these Bloggies out to you as often as I can! Hang in there, Readers. Don't give up on me! :)

Hmmm so the hippest happenings since I was last in this great Bloggy World?

I have discovered the secret to getting family to come out here for lots visits- even out here in our isolated desert!

*drum roll please*

Have a Baby!

Oh yes, I'm loving it! If I knew that is all it would take, we might have had one sooner! ha!

We had a fabulous visit from Travis' folks- it flew by way too quickly, but we squeezed in as much fun as we could.

Grandpa and Lil D (Why the ridiculous over-sized bib you might ask? Lil D has gone from the Spit-up Phase, to the Drooling phase..a little more predictable, but still requiring the utmost in protection!)


See...there is a baby under that bib!


Hmmm nope, these aren't proud grandparents at all..nope, not one bit *wink wink*


So, I discovered the secret to keeping Lil D distracted while doing Tummy Time..electronics! (Namely, my cell phone.)


Grandpa giving Eskimo kisses!


"I've got my spoon, my thumb, and my Grandma..Life is gooood"


Lil D looooves it when Daddy sings the Cookie Monster song.

Cookie Monster has googly eyes, Baby has googly eyes!


We also took Lil D to the park. The weather was gorgeous and he adores being outside!

Baby in da hood, yo! (eh? Get it? You know...cause he's wearing a hoodie jacket?!)

First time on a slide..I think he was mostly just a bit confused the whole time!


Going down the slide with Grandma!


Is it just me, or does Lil D look a wee bit terrified?


Lil D's first Dino ride with Grandpa

But the weekend wasn't all about Baby..after he went down for Bedtime the grown-ups channeled their inner-rockstars. Oh Yeaaaah. Rock On.

Band members: "Lets see...what if we try her out on guitar.."


Ummmm...fail.

"Abby, we feel that someone of your *particular* talent might be better on the drums. Oh Yeah, the coolest Rock Stars are always the drummers!


Ummmmm...maybe not so much.. Abby, you know what we think you'd be perfect at?

Groupie! Oh yeah, all Rock Bands need a Rockin' Groupie and we think you'd be perfect!

It was alot of fun playing..we voted Dianne best lead vocalist of the night!

"Grandmaaaaa, not in front of the camera!"


"Mooooom, not you too!"


Oh yes, there are always kisses for the baby..whether he likes them or not ;) But of course, he *always* likes them :)

We love you! Thanks for coming to visit Dick and Dianne!

My time for now has come to an end, but I have other Bloggy thoughts that I hope to send out Tuesday or Wednesday, so stay tuned!

Daniels smiles and says "HI!"

The Three "F's"

And what are they, Readers?

Family, Fun and Flagstaff!

Yep, that pretty much sums up our trip!
Alrighty, now that you have the gist of it, I guess that's all folks!

We Love you and Lil D says......

HaHaHa...just kidding, surely you know me better than that!

SO as I said in an earlier Blog, this was D's first and longest real BIG trip so far. The most I had ever driven with him was a couple of hours. So I was curious to see how we all would handle this new adventure.

It was definitely a very long trip, and we had to add close to an hour and a half to our drive time because we had to stop three times to nurse him. And poor baby got so tired at the end that the last hour was spent driving with an inconsolable screaming baby. Needless to say, all our nerves were a bit raw by the time we got there.

But what a wonderful time we had with Meg, AJ, Emmy, Mom and Dad!! I wish we could have had another day or two..it just went by way too fast!

So it's time for the pictures to do the talking. :)

Hanging out in the living room!


I love this picture, Grandad and Daniel, Noni and Emmy


Me and my Niece, this is pretty much my expression the entire time...making silly noises for a silly cute girl!


Uncle Andrew lovin' on Lil D!


I thought my Lil D was a wiggly-wormy little baby..he's nothing compared to little Emmy. She is a hoot and a holler!

"Peace-out, yo!"


Noni taught Emmy how to touch noses.


She loooved to play it...and by "she" I mean "we, the grown-ups"!





Ok, Dad, feel free to tell me if you want this picture removed...but I LOVE it..I don't know what you both are looking at..but you're both making the same expression and it's too cute!

Lil D loved chillin' with Grandad!


This one is frame-worthy :)


Poor Daniel, I promised him I wouldn't let his girl cousins dress him up in funny things..

then again, I didn't say anything about Mommy doing it!


"Dahhhling, you simply must get a purple beret..they are all the rage!"


"Help. Me."


Ah, the beauty of Flagstaff. We were so fortunate to catch the changing leaves.

Meagan joked that I was now officially a hippie because I was nursing in an open field. To which I replied that I was not a hippie because I was using a nursing cover! ha!

One of my favorite action shots! "Mooom, let me go, I've got flying to do! Suuuper-Baaaaby Away!"


Me and my Baby and the Golden Aspens


Group Shot!


You would not believe how difficult it is coordinating a picture with a 4 mo. old and a 10 mo. old!
Good thing Auntie Meg was there to help!


Family Photo! (D refused to look at the camera...ever.)


I love this picture..Despite the fact that we are all looking in different directions..actually for some reason that is the reason I love it. I love what it captures and what it represents. I love the feel of it. (now if only Travis were in it!!)


We love you!! I miss my family already and cant wait to see them again at Christmas!!
This weekend Travis' folks will be visiting- we can't wait!!

Lots of love and Lil D says "HI!"

Oh yes, and the Random Bloggy Award goes to Meg. Have you ever remembered a scene in a movie but couldn't, for the life of you, remember what movie it was?

Well that is just what happened to me and I swear it was driving me batty! So congrats to Meg for figuring out what movie it was..you have helped contribute to my sanity!

Rollin' Rollin' Rollin'..RAWHIDE!!

Ok so it was either that song or the one that goes:
"so they all rolled over and one fell off..."

I think I chose the better song (I also claim creative license in lyric changing :P)

Yes my dear Readers,
My Lil D is officially a ROLLER! I knew he was on the brink, and on our last day in Flagstaff he did it! I think he wanted to show off his skillzzzz to Grandad, Auntie Meg, and Uncle Andrew (He was sad that his Noni had already left)

I was greatly amused at my level of excitement when he did this. Oh I've rejoiced with friends and family when they have excitedly exclaimed of their little one's accomplishments. And I was truly and sincerely happy for them.

But when Lil D rolled over for the first time you would have thought he had accomplished a great feat like curing cancer, world peace, a 75% off shoe sale (Ok, that might be a stretch..but all my other shoe ladies know how that feels!) with the way I was beaming.

I was completely shocked at my level of excitement! I could not stop smiling and wanting to see him to do over and over and over again! Naturally after that he refused to perform. Stubborn little guy!

But we finally got it on video and being the proud Mama that I am- I am, of course, sharing it with all my lovely Readers. Feel free to jump up and down in exclamation ;)

Oh, and don't you just loooove how Travis is saying "He isn't doing anything.." right before it happens? That's my son for ya!

I also love the slow deliberate "What's going on?!" expression Daniel has!



We love you! Lil D is sleeping (third night in a row he has slept for 10 hours!!) But I am sure he would say "HI!"

More Blogging and Pictures to come this weekend :)