5 Months Old!

Jeffrey is 5 months old! On his 5 month birthday, he slept better than he has in a very long time, 8 hours, then 4 hours! (This is a really big deal for mamma!) He is so much fun, laughing, talking, singing, getting our attention, flirting, reaching. Recently, he stares at other people's hands and tries to put my hand in his mouth. He tried bananas mixed in his cereal yesterday. He seems to enjoy the cereal more and more and perhaps it is making him sleep better, even though the doctor and books say that is a myth! He also went swimming for the first time at his first children's birthday party this past weekend!

 

Ready to go swimming at Taylor Turtle's Birthday Party!

 

 

 

Road Trip!

Mom, Jeffrey and I road tripped it up to Dallas to make the rounds this past week. We had a great visit. I was hoping Jeffrey would like road trips like his Dad, but I think he gets tired of being in the car quickly like his Mama! We spent one night with John and Katie. Amanda and Kent came to their house for fajitas. The next morning we went to Kristina's house for breakfast with her and Kenneth. She's expecting Baby Klara any day now. Then we went to Grammi and Dave's where Burley joined us for Italian dinner. This was the first time Grammi and Dave met Jeffrey! We were at their house for a little while and I was walking around with Jeffrey and she said, "It just seems perfectly natural for you to have a baby." That made me happy! Mom and I decided to stay an extra night with G&D, which was very nice. Mom made a good chicken dinner and we relaxed. I like to feel what "normal" is at other people's homes. It's nice to be so relaxed and "normal" at your grandmother's house!
A few special memories from this weekend include Grammi getting into bed with Jeffrey and me one morning. Jeffrey is so happy, all smiles in the morning and they got to have a close look at one another. Another is Dave leaning over J's pack N play for a long talk and laugh after his morning nap. Dave is great with babies. Grammi got out her baby book and I really enjoyed looking at it. I could tell how much her father adored her by the pictures he took. It was interesting to see her pets and toys and all the pretend play she had outside by the clothesline! I think Jeffrey enjoyed his first trip to Dallas!

Playing with Aunt Katie

Dinner at John and Katie's house

 

Visiting with Kristina and Kenneth

 

 

 

Watching the golfers on a sunny day!

We visited B-Pa's grave



Went shopping and ate at a Mexican Restaurant in Roanoke

 

Longest car ride ever! Ready to be home!

Glad to be home, have a bath and some naked tummy time!

A very similar picture of his Daddy!

 

 

 

 

Isn't it Great, Isn't it Grand?

Jeffrey is so lucky to have these GREAT GRANDmothers. We have had a wonderful visit with each of them in the past week. Each are our maternal grandmothers and each are grand women in all of our lives in so many ways and for so many reasons. We love you, Lolly and Grammi!

Lolly

Grammi

 

 

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