7 months

Our big guy is 7 months old now.  Here are some new pictures...

Harrison is "talking" up a storm.  He has started saying "da da", among many other babbles.  He is still very, very loud at times- no matter if he is happy or mad.  He is quite busy lately and has to see everything- very easily distracted!  His favorite foods are avocado, carrots, banana, and oatmeal.  He does not like zucchini or broccoli, but ate the spinach!  He's been rolling everywhere and is still not interested in crawling or pulling up.  That's fine with us- it's nice that he's not mobile yet.  I know we will be chasing after him soon enough!  He loves being outside and swinging in the swing that Grand Nan got him.

spinach....yum!

When I found out I was pregnant I started praying for a sleeper (among many other things of course).  Well, the Lord really answered that prayer!!  We laugh about it because he sleeps so much!  It usually ends up being about 16 hours a day- 11 hours at night and three naps.  The down side of that is that when he gets tired- he is ready to go to sleep now!  He falls asleep great in the car, but will usually not sleep if we're out with other people around.

one of many naps ;)

Jermaine went out of town for a week for work.  I have a new appreciation for single moms!!  How do they do it?  There's just never a break...until they're asleep of course!  Thankfully it was just one week and that he hardly ever goes out of town!   Harrison was so excited to see his daddy...and Jermaine was so happy to see H.

Our niece Madyson's first birthday was this month.  I can't believe she's one!  I feel like we were just going to the hospital to see her on her birth day.

La La, H, and Mady Lynn

He loved driving his cousin's new car!

My first Mother's Day was great.  The three of us went to church, lunch, and then just relaxed at home.  That day had a different feeling this year.   I am so thankful to be a mother and that I was blessed with such a loving, giving mother!  I had a heavy heart that day though, for women who are desiring to be mothers.  I pray that in His perfect timing, their longing would be fulfilled.

6 Month Update

Harrison is 6 months old.  All I can think is...he's half way to his first birthday!  What a joy and blessing he is.  This little guy is so in love with his daddy!  I can understand why...Jermaine is definitely an awesome dad.  Harrison has started getting very excited when I pick him up from daycare, though...it just makes my day.

He would not just lay next to Gator...so this is the best we got!

We usually just lay him in his bed when he's going to sleep.  A few nights ago I rocked him until he fell asleep (and much longer after he did).  I just love holding my little boy so much... especially when he's still and cuddly.  It is the best feeling.  In that moment nothing else matters.  I am really trying to appreciate and enjoy these sweet times because I know they will fly by and he'll be a big boy soon enough.

The word for this month is LOUD!  Buddy boy has got some lungs.  Once he realized that he can yell he has not stopped.  You can imagine the enjoyment this has brought to the lady who keeps him ALL DAY LONG!! haha...sorry Nancy :)

Little man started sitting up and rolling over with ease.  (Changing diapers has become quite the task!)  He had his second ear infection and first cold all in the same month!  Poor guy.  He is still an overall happy baby even when he's sick.

cute duck on his booty...thanks Mrs. Michelle!

Harrison has started eating veggies.  He's done pretty well.  I'm hoping he will enjoy a wide variety of food.  He's had carrots, green beans, and squash so far.  We are preparing these ourselves.  Any moms or soon-to-be moms who are considering making your own baby food....do it!!  It could not be easier, saves money, and you know what your child is eating.  All we do is steam the veggies, puree them in the blender, and pour into containers.

he really enjoyed them...lol

Here are some pics from when the Kellys came to visit us...

Pictures from day care....

a private concert

his buddy Ainsley

Here are pictures from Easter....

 

Love this one of my boys!!

5

Wrestling with Gator

Harrison is 5 months old today.  The little dude is growing like a weed!  His activity level has tripled, he just doesn't want to be still.  It seems like he wants to start crawling, but hasn't figured it out yet.  His arms and legs are trying but his belly is stuck to the ground!  He has found his toes and loves playing with them.  A couple times this month we have gone in his room to check on him after he fell asleep and he had flipped himself onto his stomach.  He is not rolling over consistently yet, though.  We started feeding him rice cereal and oatmeal once a day.  It was everywhere the first few times, but now we've figured out how to hold his hands down while feeding!

I love you Aunt Ellen!!!

We went to the doctor at the end of February and he weighed 15 pounds, four ounces (60th percentile), but he is in the 90th percentile for his height.  His future as a head bustin' linebacker or ball mashing third baseman is looking good.

We celebrated our 5 year anniversary on March 10th!  It's crazy to think we have been married for 5 years already.  What an amazing time we've had, marriage definitely rocks.  To celebrate we went to N'awlins to kick it with the Schneiders and enjoy some of the Crescent City's finest.... crawfish and Copeland's.  A special thanks to Grand Nan and Pop for looking after H as we enjoyed our celebratory dinner.  I know it must have been tough. ;)  Harrison also experienced his first parade while we were down there.  He rocked out with the rest of us at the Cooney's, (who have an amazing home on the parade route, thanks for the invite!) enjoying the music and flying loot.  That reminds me, whats up with the throwing of cabbage, onions, carrots and oranges?   I really saw people with bags of food, which was hilarious.  Really, why go to Robert's Grocery when you can go to a parade to collect your vittles?

We also got to see Aunt Taylor...she held me until I fell asleep :)

This past weekend we visited La La and Paw Paw Jim in Seminary. It was good to see them and other family. Harrison got to see Uncle Mike and Aunt Debbie for the first time.  I think he really enjoys the country, I guess there's nothing like fresh air.

Rach has enjoyed being home all this past week with H.  He may have gotten a little more spoiled!  She says its hard not to spoil someone who you love so much.... I tend to agree.  A shout out to my job, thanks for allowing me to take Thursday and Friday off to spend with the family and cut the grass.

Our little buddy is four months.  He is such a happy little guy and we are so thankful for our sweet baby.  Here are some highlights from his fourth month of life...

He got his first ear infection at the end of February (ok, this was not a "highlight").  He really was not that fussy, even with an ear infection.  We took him to the doctor because he had a runny nose, a little cough, and a kid at Nana's had RSV.  Thankfully it was not RSV!  When we went to the doctor he weighed 14 lbs, 7 oz.  We will go back on Wednesday for his four month check up, so we're interested to see how much he weighs now.  This boy loves to eat. He can down some milk!  Jermaine kept saying that he wanted him to be a linebacker, but now he's thinking he may be a defensive tackle (played by a larger boy).  I just know that momma is having trouble keeping up with these eating habits!!

Harrison's dedication was also at the end of January.  Both of our parents came up to share in this special occasion. Psalm 127:3 says, "Children are a heritage from the Lord, they are a reward from him."  We are thankful that the Lord has given us this reward, but know what a huge responsibility He has also given us.  I sometimes feel overwhelmed when praying for Harrison- I feel like there's so much to pray for.  It's usually the same...thanksgiving, protection, development, etc.  I was so happy to find a calendar on Pinterest that has a different topic for each day of the month to pray over your children...so I'm very excited about this!

We moved Harrison to his crib this month.  We were apprehensive, but he did fine.  He actually slept longer than he had been in our room.  I guess we were waking him up when we got up.  Jermaine had to wake him up a few days so he had time to feed him and get him ready to leave.  He has been sleeping about 9 or 10 hours a night...glorious!  We are thankful for normal sleep hours again.  We still swaddle him, although he usually slips his hands out very quickly.

One of the last nights in the bassinet

Harrison has started rolling over from his stomach to his back, sleeping on his side, sucking his fingers (two or three at a time), and putting anything he can grab into his mouth.  He has been sitting in his bumbo, exersaucer, and jumper.

talk about stimulation! :)

he likes to eat...as you can tell

My mom and sister came to visit and keep Harrison when he was sick.  I am thankful that family is close enough to come up for a couple days- on a whim.  My mom came back up this past weekend and kept Harrison at home on Friday just to spend time with him.  It is a great feeling to know that our families love him so much!  Ellen left for Korea on February 6th.  She will be teaching kindergarten there for a year.  We got to Skype with her a couple days ago.  Her apartment is the tiniest thing I've ever seen, but she looks happy :)  I am thankful for Skype so that we can see each other and she can watch Harrison grow this year. 

playing with Aunt Ellen

he loves to read books

playing with Grand Nan

Jermaine's mom also can up to babysit Harrison allowing us to go out for Jermaine's birthday and Valentine's Day.  We celebrated at Mugshots and followed that up by watching The Vow.  It was really good for just the two of us to be out.  Grandparents rock!