Slinging and Singing

     Being this precious boy's mama is amazing and somehow keeps getting better and better! He is such a good baby. People notice how good he is too. They ask me about it and I agree. But he hasn't been such a good sleeper. However, last night, he slept TWO 6 hour stretches! He just has to get through the growth spurts, which while in them, seem as if they'll never end.
     We are able to take him everywhere. We had him at a couples baby shower the other night. I had him in the sling the whole time. He fell asleep for a while, but mostly just watched everything going on. He's been great at parties! There were two pregnant women there. The father-in-law of one of them pointed to Jeffrey and said, "You know, girls, your babies aren't going to be as good as that one."
     Instead of using the car seat in the grocery store and running errands, he now goes in the sling. He can see everything and really seems to enjoy it. I think we're more in sync with each other when he's in it. I'm so glad he's finally used to it because it's supposed to be good for babies for many reasons. He can see people's mouths as they talk and learn from our interactions and from what I'm doing. On our morning walk, he now rides in the Baby Bjorn because he likes to face forward and it's cooler than the sling in this crazy heat!
     Jeffrey continues to sing! He sings in the morning in his crib, he sings in the car, he sings when I sing, he sings before bed. His sweet, long coos are the best thing I've heard next to his laughter. He wants to sing and sing before I put him down at night. I'll sing three real songs with real verses and choruses and he wants to keep going. Tonight I put him in his crib and he was still singing for probably 20 minutes before falling asleep. So, so sweet. Loving every minute!

My best accessory : )

 

 

 

Eating!?

4 1/2 months and Jeffrey is taking food off my plate! And put it right in his mouth! Luckily it was just a little parsley from a parsley-heavy tabouli salad. That's ok, right? Funny if he was sitting in anyone else's lap and they let that happen, I would not be happy! It's just the way it is! Mom watched Jeffrey while I was in a doctor's appointment last Monday. They read books on her iPhone and played in the waiting room. (We can't be apart for very long! : )) We went to Pasha for lunch. We've noticed how he's becoming interested in the food we're eating and we even talked about how pretty soon he'll be reaching for it. I didn't know just how soon or how good he's gotten with those hands! Sneaky!
So, this weekend he tried rice cereal. I spooned and Brant caught the mess, ready with a towel.  He's had a little bit each day since. He's really just playing with it, experiencing the texture I think. He doesn't gobble it up, but he doesn't hate it. I don't think it really counts, just practicing!

This is Your House

     This is your house, Jeffrey. But it's not just any house. Daddy and I looked and looked for a house that would be a good home for our future family. We both actually loved this one because of the outside. I loved that there are 50 oak trees on the lot and Daddy loved the big backyard for his future bird dog. Since then, this house has become a wonderful home for us. This is the house we brought you home to. It's not fancy, but it feels right. It feels like home. "Home is where your mom is," is true and this is where your mom is and loves to be!
     We moved into this house in June, 2010. Doc helped us move. We have some funny memories of that day. "Adventures in moving," as Doc would say! About a week later, we spent Father's Day here celebrating our wonderful fathers, Doc, Grandpa and Pop. I didn't know then that when I "kicked" Doc off that evening it would be the last time I would see him. Pop also passed away in October that same year. I am so glad we have that Father's Day memory here. Memories like that remind us of how important it is to spend precious time with the people you love.
     We have made many great memories here since and will continue to make them. Now they will include YOU! Who knows how long this will be our home. I am hoping a very long time!

 

Doc telling stories with Pop next to him on the couch, Gigi, Grandpa and Daddy, Father's Day 2010

 

Summer Days

     We've had a good week. Got the AC on the car fixed, so it was in the shop and we missed library, but got to hang out with Gigi, Jen and Graham a bunch. Lainey had theater camp all week. She starred as the lead in Alice in Wonderland and, as expected, performed amazingly. She is very impressive and cool as a cucumber- no stage fright, never misses a line! We had lunch at The Luxury one day, a beautiful outdoor restaurant on the newer part of the river walk. We've also had some lazy days at home.

     After his 4 month shots Monday, Jeffrey got thrown off schedule. He wasn't feeling well and had a fever for 2 days and I think it messed up his sleep pattern. He's been waking every 1 1/2-2 hours in the night to eat! Wearing me out! (Before this week, he was sleeping 5-6 hours, then 3-4 hours, only waking once or twice each night.) We have stayed home all weekend to try to get him back on track. He's taking the best nap he's had in a long time right now! I don't know if it's a growth spurt, teething or what. Like everyone says, as soon as you think you've got it down, it all changes! So true!!

     Two cute memories I have from this week: 1. Reading Big Red Barn before bed, which we have read probably 30 times before, but this time Jeffrey was just cracking up at it. He was laughing and talking through the entire book. Brant had to grab the camera and took video of it because it was so funny and cute. 2. Every night before I put him down, I read to him, say a prayer and sing a lullaby. This week he was cooing long and slow coos as if he was singing with me. Precious moments! 

Hanging out at Gigi's

The Luxury

 

Getting our picture made with the star!

 Gemme some knucks!

 I think those beautiful eyes are officially brown! Brant thinks the jury's still out!

 Quality time!

 Our baby fawns are growing so quickly

 More quality time!

 

 

 Monitor view: I will remember looking at this in the future-many times a day, at ALL hours! : )

Meeting Alyssa!

Jeffrey met his same-age cousin, Alyssa today! She is actually 11 weeks old, Jeffrey is 18 weeks.  Mama Cara, Alyssa and Gigi came over for lunch and a good visit. The afternoon included eating, breast feeding, pumping, several diaper changes, mama talk and naps. Sadly, Jeffrey was not feeling himself because of his 4 month shots he got yesterday, but we are so glad they came! Glad to have a cousin to play with!  We look forward to many good times together in the future!