Even More Pictures!

Seriously Mommy, this is the ugliest coat you've ever put on me!

I can take a bottle, I just choose not to most of the time!

I can nap in my bed, I just choose to nap on Mommy most of the time!

Hey what's up! I'm just chillin' in my recliner.

More 4 months Pictures

Daddy was taking care of me on this night. He made himself a fancy dinner while I slept. Why can't it be that easy for Mommy?

Here I am skyping (webcam) with someone. I can't remember who because everyone in my family has a webcam. They love being able to watch me grow while I'm so far away.

We've been having lots of fun lately getting ready for our big trip South. We were going to drive with Robert and the dogs, but we've chickened out. Now, Rob will drive with the dogs, and Robert and I will fly. Rob just wanted to hurry up and get there, which would have been impossible with Robert. So, Robert and I have been busy Christmas shopping online, which has been awesome! When the presents come in, we just wrap them up and we're done. Robert has enjoyed watching me wrap the presents. He seems enthralled by the bright colors and ribbon. We've been attending Christmas parties. St. Nick came to Nashotah House and brought all the children presents. Robert got a cool V-tech car that lights up and sings. I had an Advent party for the Women of Nashotah House, which was fun because we did a gift exchange and a cookie exchange. We had Lessons and Carols and a nice reception this past Thursday. Robert pooped in church so loud that everyone on our side heard. Of course, I forgot the diaper bag, and we had to borrow a diaper. What a fiasco!

Anyway, thought you might enjoy these pics!

4 Months Old

Robert is cuter than ever these days. I know the pictures don't seem to show it, but he is a happy, smiley baby most of the time. For some reason, though, the smiles turn off when the camera turns on.

He had his four month-old checkup yesterday, and praise God, the boy's healthy and growing! He's now more than doubled his birth weight, weighing in at 19 lbs. 1 ounce. The doctor had to school me on how to keep Robert warm this winter: layers, layers, layers. This is all fine and well until it's time to change him. Hey, at least I'll have something to do since it's too snowy to go anywhere: laundry!

Robert has now rolled over both ways. He doesn't do it all the time, though, only on special occasions and never when he's expected to perform for someone. He's certainly developing his own personality, and showing off for others or the camera is not his thing.

He is playing with toys, mostly putting them in his mouth, but he seems to enjoy it. He is still a thumb-sucker and loves to hold something soft while sucking his thumb. It's pretty much the cutest thing he does! He seems to love bath time and has recently found his feet, but only in the bath. He's found his upper vocal range lately and makes this high pitch squeal just for the fun of it. It was cute for a while, but after his shots the other day he added it to his mad crying and it was horrendous! I thought they were going to kick us out of the doctor's office!

Anyway, thought you might enjoy a little update.

Nashotah Babies!

Aidan, Robert, Adeline, Emmaline, Margaret

Well, here they are...all 5 of our July '08 babies! We are all enjoying watching our little blessings grow up together. They are all already developing their own personalities at 4 months old! All of the moms enjoyed catching up at the Thanksgiving dinner. We all can't believe how fast they're growing. It's so fun to have babies so many babies so close in age all in one community!

Visit to Atlanta

Robert and his cousin, 3 1/2 year-old Ty, being couch potatoes in front of the TV. They were watching Kung Fu Panda, and Robert was really into it!

Robert and his cousin, 1 1/2 year-old Jordan, on a pony at the Fall Festival. Jordan tried her hardest to hold him on, but he's almost as heavy as she is!

Robert loved snuggling with his Mabop!

Robert and I just got back from 10 days in Atlanta. We had a wonderful time hanging out with Aunt Lisa, Uncle Lee, Cousins Ty and Jordan, and Mabop and Pabop. Yes, those are the names that firstborn grandchild, Ty, gave my parents, and they have stuck. He was really into the Doodle Bops at the time!

Robert was so easy on the airplane, both ways. He nursed a little and slept on the way there, and he slept the whole way home. Perfect! He had a little trouble sleeping while there and reverted back to getting up during the night. It was pretty easy, though, since I was alone in the bed. I would just go get him and nurse him in bed with me, and he'd sleep with me for the rest of the night. Not too bad.

He really loved watching his cousins play, and they loved him. 1 1/2 year old Jordan was a little jealous because she is no longer the baby in the family. She had to do everything Robert did, like swing in the baby swing, sit in the baby carseat, hold Robert's bunny and silkie, and get rocked and burped like Robert. Ty loved his "baby brover, Wobert." He couldn't quite get the relationship straight, but he knew that he loved him, whoever he was. He actually tried to make me a trade. He said something like, "Youcan (he runs those words together) take Sisters (that's what he calls Jordan) to you house, and wecan have Wobert wif us." As much as I love "Sisters," I had to turn down the offer. He may have changed his mind later, though, because during one of his overtired meltdown episodes, he said that Wobert bit him. He was dead serious and ran crying to his room. I can only imagine how viciously Wobert must have attacked him with his gummy jaws! Very scary.

The only downside to our trip to Atlanta was the cold/ear infection that set in when we got home. Who knows how he got it (Lisa's kids weren't sick), but he did. We came back Sunday, and by Monday he had a fever of 103.8. Thank God (seriously, thank you God) for our neighbor, an ER doctor/deacon, soon to be priest, who came over Monday evening to check him out. Sure enough, it was an ear infection. We started him on antibiotics, and he ran a fever (kept down with Motrin) until Thursday. I think he's finally feeling a little better, though congested from the cold. I must say that this week has honestly been the worst week of my life, so far. It is pure Hell watching your baby suffer from sickness, first of all. And second of all, it's horrible to be stuck in the house for a whole week! Yesterday I couldn't take it anymore, so Rob came home from school to watch him for a few hours while I got out. I felt much better after that. Robert seems much better today, though he's still not eating much. Please pray for his continued healing.

Robert's Friend Margaret

Robert enjoyed two days of hanging out with his friend Margaret, the daughter of fellow seminarians here at Nashotah House. Margaret was born just a few days before Robert and only a few weeks before moving to Nashotah House! He's so glad she's here and can't wait to grow up with her in the next year and a half.

Robert and I are heading to Atlanta to visit with my family for 10 days. We won't be blogging for a while but will update when we return. Please pray for our safe travel and Robert's first airplane trip!

Visit From Nona

We all enjoyed a visit from Nona last week, especially Robert! He's really happy in this picture, you just can't tell by his face.

Check out more pictures from the visit by clicking on "Nona's Visit at 3 Months Old" to the left under Picture Albums.

We love you, Nona!