Red-White Game

Shaw experienced another first yesterday. The Razorback football team had their spring game and we decided to battle the crowd. So glad we did because we had a great time. The weather was perfect and our little man soaked up the band, cheerleaders, players, and all the people. Josh and I were talking about how social he is. He loves being out in public and being around other people. We had a great time taking him to see Razorback football for the first time. These games will be a part of his childhood, and we are glad we got to introduce him to the greatest game and team :) at only 8 months!

Woo Pig Sooie!!

Notice the cheerleader with the prosthetic leg! I was super excited to see that she made the squad this year..she did amazing!

My boys making memories

 

Daddy put his hat on backwards....he is 110% boy

We got to see several friends and family, too! This is one of my best friends, Nat. We went to OT school together and I miss her so much! Luckily, she comes up to a lot of Razorback events so we have seen her a couple of times since we moved up here. I didn't get a chance to get pictures with our friends Heath and Lauren, my childhood friend Sarah and her family, or Josh's cousin Clark and his fiance Jessica. We were super happy to see all of them!

We had a great Saturday! 

Weekend of Fun

This past weekend, Josh's family came up to stay with us. Shaw got to stay with his Mimi, Aunt Ashley, and cousins Friday while mommy worked. We spent the weekend dealing with three kids four and under :), visiting the town square, eating lots of yummy food, going to the Hogs baseball game, and just enjoying ourselves. It was a great weekend spent with family.

Shaw and cousin Sam.

They were both in similar moods about being put in their car seats.

 Sweet baby enjoying the scene and beautiful weather

Allie with her new Hula-hoop in front of Walton's five and dime (the original Wal-Mart)

We had a mini photo shoot on the town square

Allie was mid kiss (TOO sweet!)

Sweet boys in their matching outfits.
Perfect opportunity to embarrass them in the football program in about 17 years! :)

My love

"Sam, it's okay...we are about to go call the hogs!"

First Easter

We celebrated Easter two weekends in a row this year. Since we are a few hours away from home, we went to be with family the weekend before Easter. We had originally planned to go to Benton both weekends, but loading up an 8 months old, two dogs, and our necessities isn't the easiest chore. So, we decided against that and spent Easter weekend in NWA. The weekend before Easter, Shaw got to participate in his first Easter egg hunt, we went to our home church, and spent precious time with family. On Easter Sunday we visited one of the many churches we have gone to up here and celebrated our risen Lord and Savior, I made a mini Easter lunch, and we spent time as a family of five (including the furry members). Oh yeah, and the Easter bunny came to visit the entire family :)

Sweet cousin time

Easter egg hunt

Daddy showing him the leaves

This boy and his many faces :)



num, num!

Cool dudes!

Look, I found one!

The Easter bunny came :) (Daddy got an antique fishing rode holder and the daddy Easter bunny surprised mommy with all the Courageous books!)

Sweet boys

New shades!

Livi and Ollie checking out their treats

All his Easter goodies from Ganna and Pops (Thank you mom for installing in me the importance of making each holiday special, and thank you for continuing the tradition with your grandkids)

Sweet baby 

With his Thumper from Mimi

 We had a great, perfect, and blessed Easter!

8 Months

As of last Monday, our sweet boy is now 8 months old! WOW! Time is seriously flying by and it NEEDS to slow down! I love seeing his personality develop and the little boy he is turning into, but it makes this momma SO sad! I know I will never get these days, weeks, and months back. People say all the time "Enjoy it while you can..they grow so fast". That is so true and exactly what I am doing. I try to enjoy every snuggle, play time, silly laugh, milestone, and even screaming fits I can! On to what our sweet Shaw Michael is up to these days.

• On his 8 month birthday I weighed him and he was 14 lbs. 12 oz. Not the 15 lbs I was hoping we would be at but very close. He is probably about right at 15 now. He has also gotten a lot longer in the last month so I am eager to see where he will be at his 9 month check up.
• Wearing size 3 and 4 diapers. I know he is only about 15 lbs but we get size 4 diapers so much cheaper from Aunt Carly and they actually fit him just fine so I am switching between the two!
• Still wearing size 3-6 month, 6 month, and some 6-9 month clothing.
• Our size 2 shoes are starting to fit better
• I have never mentioned his skin on here before but the boy still has BEAUTIFUL skin! Serious...since he came out his complexion has been perfect. I can count on one hand the amount of "baby pimples" he has gotten. We have had no issues with diaper rash, eczema, or any other common problem! Super blessed in this area. A few months back he had a minor case of cradle cap but nothing the soft bristled brush and some scrubbing didn't take care of :)
• Still on the same nursing schedule. He nurses 5 times every day. We are adding in a few formula bottles every once in a while (when he acts like he is still hungry after a feeding). Sometimes he takes them sometimes he doesn't.
• We are now on 3 full meals a day. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner. He usually has oatmeal/fruit for breakfast, one veggie/fruit for lunch, and 2 veggies for dinner.
• He has tried yogurt and egg yoke. Doesn't like the texture of either. He actually gagged on egg yoke so much he puked. We have also added in some new veggies. He is starting to dislike the green stuff and really love the sweet stuff.
• Taking a sippy cup OKAY. Some days he takes to it well and others he doesn't. He loves it a lot more when momma slips some apple juice in there ;)
• Sleeping has been very consistent. He sleeps anywhere from 10-13 hours. Most week mornings I have to wake him up (which should be a criminal offence)! On the weekends he will sometimes sleep until 8:30/9ish.
• We are about half and half on swaddling. Some nights he needs it, others he doesn't. Regardless, he breaks out of it every night and is without it in the mornings.
• He has been able to put his paci in his mouth for a while but this month he has been able to find it at night and put it back in. SCORE! It is pretty cute to watch on the monitor as well :)
• Still doing good in the car seat
• Sitting up in the big bathtub now and loving it even more. He usually cries when we take him out.
• Making leaps and bounds with tummy time. He can now scoot on his tummy, but he mostly just rolls everywhere and to get whatever he wants. I wouldn't be surprised if he is crawling by next month's post. We will see.
• If he is on his back he will grab onto whatever is around him and try to sit up.
• Has his first PT appointment tomorrow
• The boy talks up a storm! He can now say the sounds/words: mama, dada, byby, baba, wawa and several more
• Giggles, laughs, cackles
• Has two teeth that are semi through.
• Still a side sleeper even though he rolled to his tummy while sleeping last night for the first time. He then woke up super confused, back arched, and screaming. Once we came to the rescue and turned him back over he was fine.
• Still a huge momma's boy. Actually, besides his Ms. Tammy, I am the only one he ever wants. He has reached to a few people while I am holding him, which always makes me feel good.
• Mimicking really well. He likes to mimic sounds and actions
• Almost has clapping down. He will move his arms in the motion but his little hands miss each other
• Loves to play the bashful hide and seek game. Super cute
• Silly, silly. Always making hilarious faces, sounds, and giggles
• Loves: being outside, wearing sunglasses (odd, I know), going on walks, jumping, being around the dogs, his Ms. Tammy, peaches/plums/apples, rolling, his paci, bathtime, and anything he can chew on.

Shaw Michael, daddy and I say on a weekly basis that we aren't sure what we did before you came along?! You are so much fun and we love doing anything and everything with you. You are our biggest blessing and we love you to the moon and back, a bushel and a peck, and way, way more than you will ever know!

This face explains our little ham perfectly! haha