Summer Is Here...

I think the 90+ degree days are telling me that summer is here. No matter how much I wish for cooler weather and complain, I can't keep the heat away. As I mentioned earlier, Emory is now on summer break from her Mother's day out program, and we are finding things to keep us busy.

Emory has started to enjoy playing dress up. We have 3 pair of play shoes (all heels), some tutus, jewelry and purses. Here she is giving me a sweet smile with her hand on her cheek.

We are hanging out with friends much more now. Emory's friend Ryan invited us over for a swim in her kiddie pool. Not just a small kiddie size pool, but the deluxe pool. It was wonderful and after being terrified at first Emory was playing. Never putting her head under though. The two girls both have younger brothers who just have to chill while the girls play. I love Zane just floating along and Gabe fell asleep in the carrier.

Some after swimming swinging! Emory loves playing with Ryan and she had such a good time in her pool.

Gabe had his 4 month check up this past week. I thought I scheduled it when Emory still had school, but no such luck. I didn't like the idea of her being there when Gabe had to get shots but I told her many times that Gabe was going to cry and get boo boos, but he would be ok.

Gabe is now 14 lbs 11 oz (50%) and 24 3/4 inches (50%). His head circumference was 42 (50%). I told Grant he is our perfectly average baby right now.

The scary doctor's office is no match for Gabe's little tiger lovie.

Emory was such a good big sister. She was very well behaved and kept herself busy with a toy that she hasn't played with in awhile. I also bribed her with a treat if she was good. I am not above bribery! So we ended up at Sonic for some ice cream.

Family Pictures...

We had family pictures taken a few weeks ago. We were in desperate need of a good family of four picture and also needed some pictures for Gabe's birth announcement.

Beautiful big sister!

Gabe was such a good boy while we took pictures. It was funny that once we said we were done, he feel right asleep on my shoulder.

We even got to take one of just dad and mom! Super rare. Thanks to Lindsey and Beto for being patient and taking the time to get it right. We truly appreciate it!

4 Months Old!!!

We have had so much fun watching Gabe grow up! Here are some of the things Gabe has been up to in the past month...

-He has found his hands, and is always putting them in his mouth.

-He has seen his feet but is still confused by them.

-He has rolled 3 times and since then is refusing to do it again. (poor daddy hasn't seen it)

-He has found his voice, and wants us to know it!

-He laughs while Emory is playing. The other day she made him laugh, which made her laugh, which made him laugh even more. It was precious.

-He is sleeping through the night. Goes to sleep at 7:30, wakes up around 6:30. No feedings in between, although we might go in to give him the pacifier.

-He is ticklish!

Look at Gabe's little toes, he is squeezing them so tight! Maybe that is keeping him balanced!

We are so proud of our happy little guy! The past 4 months have been such a joy and we are so blessed to have him in our family.

Last Day of School...

Today was a sad day in our household.... Emory had her last day of school. She LOVED her school and teachers. She will be going two days a week in the fall and Gabe will go one day a week. Emory has changed so much from her first day of school, she is such a big girl now!

Mrs. Pam and Mrs. Stacy were fantastic!! Emory loved them and would talk about them all the time. She just woke up in this picture (which is why she looks grumpy). They told me she was the best behaved kid in the class, maybe they said that to everyone! Pam and Stacy were such kind women, we will miss them!

True Confessions...

I think that I am so much more aware of how quickly my time with Gabe. It makes me sad to the point that there are so many things I want to make sure I remember.

His toothless grin in the mornings when he is SUPER happy.

The way he loves just the sight of his sister.

How hard I work for his little giggles.

The smell of his stinky little feet and all the lint that somehow gets stuck in between his toes.

How he is so surprised by the wind.

How he pulls his lovie over his face when he is tired.

The smell of the stinky milk/spit up in the crease of his double chin. I know how gross that sounds. I guess it is just a mommy thing. I know to everyone else, it just means he needs a bath, but there is something so "baby" about that smell that it makes me so thankful. Sweet stinky milk baby smell.... I love him.

Big sister Emory is so kind to her brother. She still tries to pick him up, she wants to feed him his medicine, she brings him piles of toys, and she dances to make him laugh (ok part of that is she just wants all the attention!). They are truly the best pair!

Nothing some kisses from big sister wouldn't fix!

Big Boy...

Gabe is getting to be such a big boy. He does such silly things and makes the cutest faces. He enjoys bath time and has started kicking in the water.

"These things are so much fun!"

Daddy went to a baseball game with some coworkers this week. He said that he "had" to get the ice cream sundae, but at least he brought the kids both home the little hats...

I thought this picture was so funny of Gabe. It looks like he is praying, "please God, let those little birdies keep spinning!"

Gabe is doing so well sitting up in his Bumbo, I would say he prefers to sit up (to watch his sister). Comparing him to Emory, he looks much slimmer than she was at this age.

Happy Mother's Day!!!

I love Mother's Day. I take full advantage of any pampering I am offered, which makes Mother's Day wonderful. This morning we had an extra bonus of dedicating Gabe at our church. We were so glad that uncle Ryan, aunt Jenny and cousin Ella Grace were able to be there with us!

My sweet little girl makes me so glad to be her momma!

At the end of the day this is my favorite place. It's just before bed time, Emory drinking her milk and watching a show, Gabe also enjoying some of her show, and we get to cuddle. I feel very fortunate that Emory will cuddle with me and right now Gabe loves being held.

Happy Mother's Day!!!

Mommy & Son Days...

Emory goes to a fantastic Mother's Day Out program on Thursdays, which is also very nice for me to have one on one time with Gabe. Eventually I see our time as fun errands, or maybe music class with just him but as for right now we spend the time at home (mainly because he still screams in the car). I also take advantage of the time to take pictures of Gabe, like I did when Emory was little.

Thankfully, my friend Kristi let me borrow a huge tub of little boy clothes and this sweet outfit was in there. Too cute!

Here is Emory when she was just a little older than Gabe is now. I still don't know how much they look alike. People say all the time that they look identical, but I don't see it.

Relaxing Evening...

There is nothing better than hanging out as a family with beautiful weather! Tonight after dinner we all went out front so that Emory could play with bubbles. This girl LOVES being outside and as you can see, she also loves bubbles. Gabe enjoyed sitting in his bouncy seat, but at least he was outside. He laughed for the first time this weekend, I was changing his diaper in the back of my car and I think he liked the breeze on his bottom because he chuckled.

Gabe watching all the fun, he will be joining Emory soon enough!

Emory loves going on walks right now, because all the yards have "flowers." No need to tell her they are weeds. Of course there are no weeds in our yard....

Love her!