5 Months old!

Michael turned 5 months on Tuesday, the 27th! He keeps growing.. and growing... and growing! He was 18 lbs 13 oz, wearing 9-12 month clothing!!

-Michael LOVES his toes... he is all about his toe-touches! They don't quite make it to his mouth yet though :)

-He is all about his Gerber Applesause! Bananas to come this weekend!

-He is sleeping through the night! Well, 75% of the time... no complaints here!

-He girrgles! He also loves his ""rasberries and "motorboat" sounds. :)

-He likes, not loves yet, his Baby Einstein jumperoo! It grows on him more each day. We can tell though it is already helping with his leg strength!

-He absolutely LOVES his friends at daycare! Apparently he causes cat fights amongst the ladies! His g/f Brooklyn does not approve of Michael conversing with other girls. No joke!! But Mommy is still his #1 woman.

-He is all about shaking his booty, whether we tell him or he just hears a song he likes!! He will plant his feet on the floor and lift his butt and shake, shake, shake!

-Nemo! He hearts Nemo. Enough said :)

-He is rolling over more! From his tummy to his back :)

-Michael prefers to sit up over laying down! He is able to sit with minimal help.

-Michael is just fascinated with his surroundings. He enjoys new places, new things and meeting new people.

Mommy and Daddy's top 5 things about Michael!

1. After his morning bottle, the smile that you give us! So content and thankful! (Only bottle that we get this specific look)
2. His adult manarisms. This includes him putting his hands behind his head while relaxing as well as crossing his feet.
3. The constant rotating of his feet... he twrills them all the time.
4. He is just so easily amused! Love watching him watch himself on video. He won't stop giggling/smiling!
5. We love to watch lil man sleep! He is our little angel!

You've Been Holding Out on Me!!!

So, after some success with the rice cereal over the past 3 or so weeks, Kim and I decided it was time to add some flavor into the lil dude's diet! We introduced apples to Michael last night. Of course, after almost 5 months of bland formula and even more bland rice cereal, we weren't sure how he would like some flavor... Our question was quickly answered.

Kim picked Michael up early from daycare the other day and he was feeling warm...a 102 temp! So, after some Tylenol and a couple of conversations with the doctor, we took lil dude in. He has the start of an ear infection, this time in his right ear. He is doing fine though, still his normal happy self (as you can see from the video). We can't believe that he is only a couple of days away from being 5 months old (blog soon to come)! oh, by the way... 18lbs 13oz... Not kidding about the "eating us out of house and home..." I think he'll be ready to pitch for me by districts!

Love to you all!!!

Kim, Mike, and Michael

Ah, forget it! Where's my thumb???

Chatting With Mommy

CEREAL!!!!

For a few weeks, Michael has been very interested in watching Mommy and Daddy eat! He opens his mouth at the right time and giggles with anticipation as we raise our food to our mouths. At his 4 month check-up, we got the okay to get started on some yummy rice cereal!

We decided to do our once a day feeding between his 4:30ish bottle and his night-night bottle. When it is bottle time, Michael WANTS his baba and wouldn't want to mess with the spoon just yet. The first couple of nights, the lil dude wasn't too terribly interested. I think that we waited to closely to bottle time. But, the third night was a great success! Although he made nasty faces, he took the cereal and swallowed quite well. It has still been hit or miss, but Michael is doing all the right things as he gets used to moving the food to the back of his mouth and swallowing. He is growing up WAY too quickly!!!

4 month stats :)

Michael turned 4 months on December 27th! He is HUGE! Here are his 4 month stats:

17 lbs 10 oz... 95th % for weight
25 inches long... 50th % for height
17 inches for his head... 75th %

-Michael rolled over from his stomach to his back once, but doesn't seem too interested in doing it again. His look post rollover was scared and then the tears followed:) He seems more interested in trying to army crawl.

-He did begin scootching on his back also... with purpose! If he sees something he wants, he tries to go for it but ends up going in circles for now :)

-Michael LOVES his kisses from us. He is starting to kiss back... nice and open mouth... and sometimes with tongue! He talks ALL the time! The only time he is quiet it when he is sleeping. At his 4 month check up, he talked Dr. Harrell's ear off and then gave a stern talking to the nurse after his shots.

-He continues to be the happiest baby EVER. He smiles and giggles constantly.

-He has discovered his hands and feet. He loves to hold things... and then shove them in his mouth :)

-LOVES patty-cake!

-Rarely wakes up screaming for his bottle anymore. Always has a smile on his face when we go into get him, and then the talking begins!

-So far, he loves everybody, especially Auntie Amanda when she comes to stay! Doesn't mind being passed around though.


Favorite toys/things to do include:

-Playmat of course!

-The swing.

-His learning puppy and blue blanket puppy.

-VHI videos and Ducktales DVDs

-His best bud Bluey (the elephant on his mat)

-His GATOR football!

-Staring at Mamaw and Papaw on Skype

-Playing with his girlfriend Brooklyn at daycare

-Last but not least... snuggling with Mommy and Daddy!

Lots of love from Michael and us:)

Christmas Vacation!

Christmas vacation came and went too quickly! Michael went on his first BIG road trip to Boone, NC to spend the holiday with my parents and brother. We decided it might be in our best interest to cut the trip in half. Thank goodness we did! We left Monday night, stayed in Orangeburg, SC, then completed our drive the following morning. What should have taken 9 hours... took around 12? Michael has to eat ;) He is such a wonderful little traveler!! We stopped at Winthrop, where I attended college, and hit up the bookstore to purchase some WU gear for the little guy :)
We got to Boone on Tuesday afternoon! Michael and I relaxed while Daddy and Grandma hit up the grocery store since those two were our chefs for the weekend. Grandpa, Mommy and Uncle Ry Ry DO NOT cook. We are dangerous in the kitchen :)

Most of vacation was just filled with relaxation. Grandma kept Michael for 3 nights so that Mike and I could get some sleep. He slept through the night 2 of those 3. Grandma didn't want the little guy to go. She wanted to keep him for another week then drop him back off to us on her way back to Sarasota.


Christmas was wonderful. Michael made out well! New car seat... Priori Maxo Cozi... AMAZING! Also a new high chair along with mommy's favorites... baby Osh Kosh and Ralph Lauren outfits. He got some nifty toys from MOMA, museum of modern art in Manhattan.

Michael also got to visit Beech Mtn, but unfortunately, there was no snow this Xmas. Def next year when he visits Colorado! Most of his time in NC was with Grandma. He loves her!!

Grandpa and Uncle Ry played with him all week as well. Michael especially like to watch my dad walk around... he is so tall!


Of course we had to get him a little Appalachian State gear as well.
The trip back was better than the trip up. Better timed around Michael's feedings and naps. Once we were back, I had to return to work, but daddy spend the whole week with Michael, having many boy days. Lots of football to watch :)
Love to all!

BOY DAY!!!

As I hang out with the lil dude today, on New Year's, I am thinking of the many memorable boy days that Pops and I have enjoyed over the years. Of course, the one's that I most vividly recall occurred before picture in picture and occurred before the BCS ruined New Year's Day football... These memories involve collecting all of the TV's in the house, hooking up rabbit ears and watching ALL of the games throughout the day! We would hole up in the basement and watch 10 or 12 ballgames, leaving only to go upstairs and grab some of the snacks that Mom had cooked up for us.
Michael will not remember anything from today, but I cannot help to hope and pray that this is the first of many memorable boy days that he and I will share. I also hope that they have such a profound impact on Michael's life as the one's with Pops had on me.
Here's hoping that everyone of you has a terrific New Year and that we all can take the time to cherish every moment that we have with those we love and care about!