Happy Halloween

At K's:




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In Style

Sister B helped me put Ivan to bed Tuesday night and we wanted him in something warm. We pulled out this collared, R.alph L.auren Polo, velour sleeper. Yeah, I know. It fit for that night, but my tiny preemie baby is too thick in the middle & thighs for him to wear it again. It's okay because I'm not sure his daddy would let him wear it again anyway.




Look at that length! The changing table's days are numbered, I think.




Ivan's hiding three chins in there.




Super cute.




How the photos get taken.




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New High Chair!

Ivan and I spent the weekend in M town with Daddy and we went out to visit Grandma & Grandpa R on Sunday. We loved seeing the dogs (they've been out there since Labor Day because we're moving and selling our house) and Ivan seemed much more interested in them this time. I think Grandma R has a picture of Ivan petting Bailey, which is the sweetest.
Grandpa R set up Ivan's new high chair (a lovely gift from Brother J & his J) and we tried it out! So far, Ivan seems to like it. He really enjoys being at our level and sitting upright. It is going to be perfect for eating around the table and when he starts solids in another month or two!

Trying to figure out the straps - hopefully not a Houdini!

Can you imagine how many chins he'll grow when he begins eating bananas and avocados?

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Twenty-Two Weeks: Perched

A short stop-through at our house by Nana & Gramps (my parents) on their way to Branson. While I had a few things to accomplish, Ivan perched on Gramps' shoulder. He loves being held by men and he especially missed his own daddy at this time!

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Funny Boy

He really likes his chair, but he also likes picking up things off the ground. Not falling . . . leeeaning.





















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Almost There

At K's house:

Pensive.



Happy sloppy drinker.


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Twenty-one Weeks: This is a Grandma R Day!

Grandma R was wonderful enough to come up and take care of Ivan for Thursday & Friday. C started work in M on Tuesday and the wonderful K, who watches Ivan, already had plans to go to Branson this weekend. Which means that little guy had two awesome days with Grandma R.

I hear that they read books, laughed, sang, talked, read stories, played outside, rocked, sat on the porch swing, went for walks, and napped. They were full days!

Grandma was so good at bundling Ivan up!

Then she wore him out!

And they met me on the porch when I came home!

What a wonderful grandma!

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Alert and Ready to Take on the World

At K's on Wednesday.

The greatest boy ever!



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Smiles with Aunt B

Changing table conversations are the best! And he loves his aunt B!



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Twenty Weeks: Early Halloween & Playtime

I bought this onesie at a garage sale and when we had Ivan so early and he was so small, I thought we'd be off the size on all of his clothes (the least of our concerns, but still).

Nope, it's Halloween in October and he fits into all of his clothes!

Even better, he's the most beautiful little man in the world!







The jump up bouncer is awesome and Ivan is just beginning to figure it out (his tip toes touch & we watch him constantly in it since he still needs some support). Our good friends found it for us at a garage sale for $15! What a steal!




Funny expressions are so fun!




Ivan's rolled over once or twice, but not on purpose and not repeatable on demand. But he is so strong and so close!




Waiting to fully execute . . .



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Fabulous Tuesday with Aunt B

She asked me not to get her in the photo and I couldn't listen. She's so wonderful with Ivan. She's so proud of him and I'm so proud of her when she takes care of him. When C stays home with Ivan, or B watches him, we let him sleep in (I say goodbye to a sleeping baby) and both of them have such a fun time dressing him for the day. Or not dressing him on days he spends in his sleeper!

Aunt B explained all about hippos and their superiority over other animals. And got a smile. Lovely boy.

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The Hand Chew Continues

The great hand chew continues.  Lovely boy.  Posted March 11th (no idea where this has been hiding!).

Nineteen Weeks: We've Been Sick

And it's scary when it's your baby and it's the first time and you can hear him struggling to breathe and feel him burning up and (Lord, have mercy on us all) he is hungry, wants to nurse, but it doesn't feel good so he cries.

For half a second I felt guilty letting him sleep! for so long! in his swing! But then I realized that he's upright, making it easier to breathe through the congestion and he's been asleep for almoner two hours = rebuilding health. So we're good. Thankfully, we're on the downside of things and we seemed to combat this cold with saline solution, the bulb syringe, baby Vicks, and the tiniest amount of T.ylenol.

Oh, is there a mouse in my pocket, you ask? Nope, Ivan gifted his cold to me so that I'd have empathy. And I do. This cold stinks. The sore throat, the congestion, the headache. I almost didn't make it through work yesterday. And it's had me wishing that I could sleep as well as this:

And that they made bulb syringes for adults. And that I would have thought to have C pick up adult Vicks as well. For this, my friends is a Family Cold. I'm desperately hoping to not give it back to Ivan!

For those of you who love the baby hands. Me too. My beautiful baby. Soon to be well again!
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Children: Measuring Implements?

These were difficult for me to believe, but really it's just what happens when a guy like C becomes a dad. He automatically combines two things that he really enjoys: his son and Jeeps.




No babies were harmed or injured in these photos. In fact, Ivan's whopping 24.5 inches in length is being utilized to measure the flex on C's friend, D's, Jeep. The Jeep is a beast. The baby is not.




I come home sometimes and wonder how my sweet, small four-month-old son got so dirty. I shouldn't wonder. And C should probably not let friends take pictures of their outings.




Ivan's more interested in chewing on his hand/clothes than standing on a tire and I'm grateful that C was able to get him all worn out!

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