Blessed. with. Boys.: March 2011

Monday, March 28, 2011

Baby Dedication Sunday

Yesterday, was Bridger's Baby Dedication at church. And it went so well. There were 2 other babies/families participating in the service and all the little ones just did so great. And our interim husband and wife pastor team also did such a good job. They're so likable anyways, but none of the babies had any trouble being handed right over. And everything they said... it really just couldn't have gone any better.

And I'm really happy we finally were able to do it. I feel like we've been talking about it and wanting to since a few days after Bridger came home from the hospital!

Here are a few pictures of his special day.

During the Dedication Ceremony

Pastor Bob introducing him

Surrounded now by our families

After church. Bridger shares his middle name with Grandpa :)

Our family

Happy, handsome little boy♥

Sitting with Grandma and Grandpa after nap time

Saturday, March 19, 2011

Who says there's an age limit on Sink Baths?

... Not us!

♥

Bridger is now about 7 1/2 months old, is working on his third tooth, weighs a little over 20 lbs, is in the 90th percentile for height, is a total goofball, and still absolutely loves sink baths.

And since he's getting too big for his baby bath tub, and is way too slippery and wiggly for the regular bath tub still... the sink works for us!

Goof. He really already has such a "ham" personality :)

I have no idea how long bath time could last before he go tired of it. I don't think it's ever really happened yet!

Cheesin'... showing off those little teeth.

All clean! And trying to grab the camera. Of course :)

Friday, March 18, 2011

Blankie Boys

My kids can not be tricked.

They know which blankets are theirs and substitutions will not be tolerated.

For a long time now, the most important physical item in Holden's life has been his blanket. I tried to find a second one - about a year ago or so now - just for when his Original is in the wash or something. But I never could find an exact match. The second one feels just the same, but doesn't have the all-important blue stripe that the Original has. So it's not accepted.

So now Bridger has the second one and Holden has "Blue Blankie."

Bridger doesn't care about the blue stripe or not and will gladly snuggle Holden's blanket just as well as his own - until Holden notices. The it's game over. But I discovered the other day, much to my amusement, that he already knows which blanket(s) feel "right" and he will not use another.

His blanket was in the dryer and I didn't feel like going downstairs to get it, so I tried to let him cuddle a different white one while I gave him a bottle. He just screamed at me and wouldn't drink his bottle. It took me a few minutes but then I figured it out. We took a break, I got his blankie out of the dryer, and *poof*... happy baby.

Already such a stinker. Just like Big Brother.

So here are a few pictures of the Stinker Boys the other morning. And, of course, the blankies are nearby.

Love that Binky Face smile

Found Mommy's hat

Being "fancy." Silly boy.

Watching his crazy big brother run around.

Love. I think :)

The Blankie Boys♥

Outside.

Yay! It has finally been nice enough that we have been able to go outside! And we are loving it.

For two days in a row now, Holden has been able to play, chase Indy, "run too fast," and just be outside. And I was able to finally get into the big flower bed we have behind our house. I'll be honest, I think I may have pulled a few weeds once last summer. That was it. No trimming, no raking, no nothing. It was a complete mess. But now, it is so much better! I'm really starting to get excited for mulch this year. (Yea, Jared and I get excited about mulch and planting some new trees. What kind of dorks are we?)

And today it was so pretty that even Bridger got to go outside and play on a blanket. And we didn't even need coats the sunshine was so warm!

This "spring" we're having may just have been a little fluke and we'll be back down to the 40's next week, I don't know, but either way, we'll take it. And be happy we finally got to enjoy the sun again.

Just one more little corner to go.... so much better!

All the boys enjoying the weather.

And Bridger watching while Holden is trying to boss Indy around.

Sweet Boy
(Working on tooth #3 now)

Watching each other :)

Helping Mommy in the flowers with his own "shogel."

Indiana doesn't even need toys. Just find him a huge stick and he's happy.

Sitting together on the playhouse porch

Getting 2 little boys to look at you, not blink, and at least "sort of" smile is no easy task....

Holding Big Brother's hand ♥

Friday, March 11, 2011

"No day is so bad it can't be fixed with a nap." - Carrie Snow

My definition of "peace" ♥

Now I'm not the only 27-year-old around here!

My birthday is the end of December. And for the 2 1/2 months that I'm a "year older" than Jared, he really enjoys teasing me about it. Well, no more for now!

Yesterday we celebrated his birthday with a few small presents, a quiet kid-less dinner out, and - at his request - Whoopie Pie Cookies :)

(And it wasn't my birthday, but getting to go out on a "date" without having to worry about the boys was a pretty lovely gift for me, too.)

Some Birthday Whoopie Pies for the Man of the Hour

Sitting with Daddy while we/I sang him "Happy Birthday"

Serious Sweet Tooth.

I told him he was a Cookie Monster :)

Friday, March 4, 2011

... and we have a 7-month old!

Bridger turns seven months old today. Seven! That's over half a year already.... crazy.

Most of the time he's a pretty happy baby - unless he's hungry or sleepy. (And he really does like his attention.) He also still loves watching his big brother jump around the house and be goofy. Cracks him up every time.

And he still hates being on his tummy. And I still hate hearing him scream about it. But now he flips himself right over onto his back whenever I lay him down. So I'm not sure exactly how he's going to master the whole crawling thing. I guess we'll just figure it out when the time comes.

He still loves bath time every night - and it's a good thing. Because for not really doing much all day, the boy gets dirty. Could be in part to his newest trick: blowing raspberries at me all day. And all the spit that comes with them.

He's still not always sleeping as long as Mommy would like, but we're doing better. Since we've been back from vacation, I've only had to get up once or twice a night with him. And I can deal with that.

He loves his Jumperoo and he is getting much more "lunge-y" when it comes to just diving after things he sees. He is a squirmy worm nowadays. I'm thinking perhaps this is the precursor to learning to crawl. (I'm thinking Holden started by just leaning over so far to reach something while he was sitting that he would tip onto his belly.)

He's still a good napper and eater and he continues to just grow before our eyes. (My tired arms can attest to that at the end of the day!)

Basically, he's a good baby these days. He just really likes to be held and entertained and loved on. But what baby doesn't want that? :)

As Holden says whenever Bridger starts talking a lot or gets really happy: "Bridger 'cited" :)

Wednesday, March 2, 2011

Our Visit to Pensacola

Last week we took our very first family vacation. We went down to Pensacola, Fl to spend the week with my sister Megan and her family - before her husband deploys... for the third time. We drove through the night and the boys did great. Both trips I think we may have only had like 15 minutes of tears. Which was definitely a wonderful surprise :)

We did all get sick - which stunk - but other than that, we had a really great time. It was warm and sunny and we got to go to the beach a couple times, a local zoo, the Naval Aviation Museum, shopping, and even eat out - which is no small feat with 4 little kids. We got to do everything we had wanted to do. And it was really nice.

It was also really nice just to get to see their lives down there. Their home, where Joss goes to school and dance class, where Corey works, where they shop on base, etc. I feel like we miss a lot being so far part. But it really was great to get to be a part of their lives for the week. And now I feel like I can at least picture things in my head when I think about them way down there.

And, of course, I'll always have all the pictures from the week to help me remember :)

Almost there.... Jared having some coffee at a McDonald's right by their house. We stopped for breakfast and to call and make sure they were all up and ready for us!