Good days & little things

Some things just make my day & get a big grin. Saturday was a good day. I was out walking with Tate (Liv was at Matti's & Bobby was at work). It was a little chilly but so nice to be outside. Oh I just remembered I took a cute pic of him in his little newsboy cap this day. I felt it was too hot for the winter monkey hat. It ended up being the wrong choice. Especially because he took it off & enjoyed chewing on the tag instead. He is obsessed with tags lately. On toys, on blankets, on clothes. You know, the silky kind. It's funny. Anyways, I will have to add the pic in :) Getting to the point, I saw this adorable little boy riding his bike. He had a cute little helmet & pads. His bike looked like a little decked out bmx racing bike (I'm sure it wasn't :)). He was probably about 7 years old. I smiled & said, "Hi. Cool bike." Without hesitation he goes "Cute baby" all matter of factly. Then he turned back around & said "Thank you! Bye!" all sing-songy & happy. It was so cute & made my day. I'm sure you had to be there, but kids are just so fun & make me giggle. It made me excited for Tate to grow up. (Extremely RARE moment. I usually want to freeze him as his perfect little self right now). After having a little boy, I notice them around me a lot more & get the biggest kick out of them. So many are so sweet, happy go lucky, sometimes looking for trouble. They are brave, want to try things, like to show off, look like little men sometimes. They are just so cute. I love my little man & love watching him grow up. He is seriously SUCH a boy. He is wild, but so fun.

Tate is 9 months old!

Tater's 9 months old!

What's new with Mr. Tate:

1. He is crawling & ALL OVER THE PLACE! It's crazy. He got so good & so fast in like 2 days!
2. beCAUSE he can crawl he is even more obsessed with HoneyBun & pulls on her facial hair constantly. I watch her like a hawk & we try to get her to "remove herself from the situation" if he's bugging her. We're working on it :) She's very good with him, but I still don't trust her. She is still my sweet baby girl though. We have special snuggle time after the kids go to bed.
3. He is so extremely silly before bedtime! It's his silliest time of the day! He giggles, loves to be tickled, sings, & jumps on my lap. He's just a ham. More than a ham. I call him a hamBURGER! He is too fun.
4. He can give kisses! Trying more for the bedtime routine, I've been reading the same book for awhile. I think I mentioned it in the last post, it's called "Peekaboo Sleepy Baby." Now he gets mad when the story is over & I put it on the dresser. He loves to kiss the babies! He has started kissing US on the face too! That is new. He did it for me as I was leaving for work tonight (4/15) & it melted my heart! He is so sweet!
5. The last few weeks he has been in a growth spurt, waking up through the night, wanting to nurse all the time (the first time in almost 9 months that he has really nursed good though!) & CONstantly wanting to be held by me. I'm flattered my little love, but Mommy can't get anything done when I'm holding you. Who cares I guess, right? Enjoy it while you still let me!
6. I think we may be out of that little growth spurt because the last few nights he has slept better during the night & has been so happy! I love it. We went to dinner with my friends at Pizzeria & then to the mall. He was so good & chill & was my little shopping buddy. He's been so happy & content. I love it! He has such a cute personality :)
7. In the mornings whoever worked wakes him up & feeds him at 7:30ish & then puts him back to bed so he will hopefully sleep a few more hours :) he usually does & wakes about 10ish. Anyways, he is so cute. He sings a lot these days, & even though he's half asleep nursing, he'll lay back & just sing a little sigh song. It is so cute! Liv loves to sing & I hope Tater does too. Maybe that's why she's such a happy kid? Anyways, I love his little sing-song voice he does. It's all the time too. So sweet.
8. We lowered his crib (by WE I mean Bobby :)) to the lowest setting & it's a good thing. Now he can sit himself up & he will just sit there & entertain himself. It is so fun to watch on the monitor. Tough when you're trying to get him to sleep, but cute when he wakes up happy & is playing :) The other day I cam in & he was facing the slats, holding on to them, with one leg in between two of them. He looked like he was in jail. I have to say though, now that he can sit up & maneuver around better by himself he will hang out in his crib & be content a little more. Sometimes :)

Naked yoga

Look at those adorable thick legs!

i LOVE them!

More naked  yoga.

What a funny shot huh

Naked basketball.

No we do not live in a naked house believe it or not :)

He can seriously make baskets all by himself! Repeatedly. Of course not when I'm trying to get a video of it, but I swear he can :)

So talented!

Look at this happy face! We dance for him & sing while he's eating. He loves it. He is starting to sway forwards & backwards like he's trying to dance too. It's so fun!

He is so much more happy these days. He loves to giggle

He is WAY more messy eating now.

Can you see food on his eyelashes?

Oh my beautiful little man!

Look how long his hair is getting.

He loooves the bath even more these days!

He sometimes gets mad & throws a gigantic fit when you take him out & he wasn't done playing

IFA

So I've had a coupon for IFA & have been wanting to go. I heard they have chicks there that people have taken their kids to see. We needed fertilizer so we went to check it out. It was AWEsome! They had chicks, ducks, turkeys, bunnies! Tate wasn't super interested. I think HoneyBun was more interested in them than he was, but I probably was most of all. Baby ANYthing is cute! I loved the ducks the most. We had so much fun putting tiny cowboy hats on Tater. It was fun that we could take Bunny in the store too. She was SO good. She looks all cute in the pics too with her fancy new haircut. I actually love her best as a furry little beast, but I don't want Tate to be one of those babies covered in disgusting dog hair soooo...her hair is gone. She's cute though-you can always tell she feels so good like she's hot stuff, because she's always a happy girl after. AFTER- getting there it is like dropping off an anxious little kid at kindergarten for the first time. She looks at me like "Mom! Don't leave me!"

Anyways IFA was a hit :)

Awwwh! So cute & little huh?

Tater in his "Woody" cowboy hat.

And yes, he is pulling HoneyBun's hair.

He is obSESSED with her these days. Especially now that he can crawl. He is CONstantly chasing after her. I have to say, I am very impressed with how good she is with him. Please bless I did not just jinx us.

Cutest boy :)

Liv's grades for first term. HIGH Honor Roll!!!

We are SO proud of Liv. She has done such an awesome job in junior high. It is seriously a huge transition from elementary school. She has done great & been getting such good grades on top of it all.

Check it out! HIGH honor roll! That's right 3.949!

You rock sista!

Soon to come:

A post all about Liv, what she likes to do these days, who her main circle of friends are, funny things about her. Time just flies, can't believe she'll be 13 next month. Wow!

Easter fun

 

Our cute Easter eggs that we made for our kitchen window

Mine n Liv's awesome Easter eggs

We laugh every year beause Liv is seriously the worst egg-finder. It is so funny :)

She tells me it's so fun though & this year we should hide her Christmas presents.

Tater was UP-SET.

Easter fun at Grammy n Poppy's

My mom & dad did such a fun Easter. It was great weather too!...Bobby had to work so we missed him...Poor Tater's face! He had an ear infection & got this "amoxicillin rash" (hives on his torso, & red, hot, welty cheeks. Poor baby)...I didn't get pictures of Houston & Mae because I was trying to get Tate to eat at the time. Key word TRYING. He's still a tough one. He is pure perfection though. Love love love him.

"Hoppy Easter!"

Thanks Grammy & Poppy for the fun! 

Dangit! I just noticed I didn't get any pictures of Grammy & Poppy 

I don't think he quite knew what to think about everything.

He looooved this little chicky. It wound up & jumped.

He loved it til Daddy accidentally stepped on it & broke it ;)

Cute chubby feet :)

Isn't this a cool pic with the sun shining???

Cute Liv

Kota rockin some sweet aviator sunglasses.

He is always so GQ

Marchish

Just random stuff we've been doin this month:

 

Tater loves chewing on EVerything. He's like a puppy!

Bundled up & goin for a ride in his car outside. Momma's got cabin fever!

Liv had her friend Breeana sleep over. She is really cute & nice. She's the friend that did the "cup song" with Liv at their assembly.

Anyways, we are here at Jodi's 3rd birthday party.

My little one learning the concept of sharing! SO funny.

"Hmm, I see that toy. I like it. I want it."

"Umm, please give that to me now."

Awwh. Now both boys got a toy & all is well.

Thanks Corbin for sharing!

 

Ashley's 25th birthday party.

Wow! My baby sis is gettin so old ;)

Visit with Gramma Marilyn & Grampa Bert

Bobby & I got to go to the Jazz game. I got him tickets for Valentine's. My mom & dad watched Tater & Liv hung out at Bella's til we were done. It was soooo fun to have an adult date night sans kids, but of course we missed them & called to check on them ;)

We ate dinner at the gateway & had the yummmmiest garlic burger, garlic fries, & wings. So good!

The Jazz played the Brooklyn Nets & won. It was so fun!

Opening Day for the Orioles.

The boys are ready!

Walked to the neighborhood coffee shop a few times.

Of course Buns gets tired & needs a ride :)

 

We found this written on the sidewalk. Kids are so funny. I had to take a pic because it made me giggle :)

Mommy playin with SuperTater & gigglin.

Poor Liv! Last time she played with Tater like this he threw up all over her face. It was hysterical! Now she always asks, "Did he burp good?" before she plays like this with him :)

 

Look at my back! Me n Tater went walking for an hour. I was so careful changing positions of the stroller's umbrella, shading him with a blanket, I shoulda put some thought into my own skin! I knew it felt a little burn-y, but this is what I found when I went to get in the shower that night!

 

 

 

Africa Night

My mom had invited Lindsay's fam over for dinner & to do a presentation on their Africa trip lastnight. It was so cool! These girls & all their pics were so inspiring! It made me want to hop a plane, take my savings, & go kiss & hug each one of those beautiful children. I am so grateful for the life I have here & for all the blessings & opportunities I have also. Thanks Janet & Lindsay for sharing your physical & emotional journey from that trip. It was awesome! And thank you Momma for a usual fabulous dinner & fun time :)

Uh oh! It's official, he's crawling!

The last few days Tater has been mastering crawling. He's been able to maneuver any which way but forward, & he's finally done it! I know it will be disastrous soon, but it's so cute! Today before I left to work he would faceplant & then use his head to help drag himself forward quicker. He is so amazing. He's like a little science project I've worked on & I get to see it evolve more everyday. Weird analogy, but it is so cool! I swear he learns or changes every single day! Way to go buddy!

Tater is 8 months

 

Tater's Tops of the Month

 



1. He is almost crawling. Now he gets up from his knees to his toes while having his hands on the ground. It looks like he's doing downward facing dog in yoga!

2. He tried yogurt & loved it. Vanilla.


3. Seriously has the cutest body :)


4. His hair is long enough to have bed head now. It's so cute :)


5. Still a wrestle to get to sleep. This night he was up for like 2 hrs so we just let him come sit with us for a bit. He was so content to sit & hold my hair. He's like "Duh, this is what I wanted the whole time!" Good thing for him Daddy's a sucker.


6. Gettin good with a sippy cup. Well, better :)


7. Tater tried mashed potatoes. You can't tell here, but he loved them!



8. Another example of how he hates bedtime. This is him finally breaking down. Blanket over his face & his foot up on the side. He has started kicking the bedrails too. It's so loud it sounds like he's 
chopping wood down there!


9. He sits up in his stroller like a big boy!

10. He is starting to have stranger anxiety a little. Just a little, he's really pretty good. He IS getting really whiney & wants Mom a lot. All he wants is for me to hold him & nurse him sometimes. Obviously this is impossible. I swear I don't foster this behavior, I have to cook, clean, work, get ready, etc, so I can't! Of course he is fine with Bobby. I think it's the breastfeeding, which is still not going fabulous. I'm trying to be a trooper though.

11. He does not like peas or pineapple baby food.

12. He had an allergic reaction to his antibiotic for his ear infection. Hives all over his trunk & red, welty, hot cheeks. Poor baby :(

13. Do I dare say he has a nap schedule??? 2ish (give or take an hr) & 5:30ish. Never know if it is going to be 30 minutes or 2 hrs. He's going though a growth spurt we think because the naps have been definate & kinda long for him! He's eating a ton too. I swear I can see how much he's grown when I get home from work! His hair & length seem to grow daily!

14. He says dadadadadadada & bababababa. He talks a ton now, with running sentences of jibberish. I love it! Where is "mama" though????

15. He has the cutest giggle & gets so silly at bedtime. Of course.

16. For help with the bedtime routine I've been reading him "Peekaboo Sleepy Baby." It shows reall babies getting ready for bed. We tell the babies "Night night" & give them a kiss. This last week he's started giving  the babies a kiss himself!!! It is the cutest & sweetest thing ever. He's SO big :) and a lovebug :) yay :)

 

 

 



To my Baby,

 

You are actually not a little baby! You are turning into my big boy. It's so fun & exciting, but it makes me sad that you grow so fast. Every stage is my favorite & you pass each one so quickly! It is so fun to watch you learn, try, & experience new things. You are so observant of your surroundings & learn so much!

I love seeing your little face smile at me when I come to get you in the morning or after a nap. You pull down on your crib bumper & look at me through the slats like you're in a jail cell. You have the sweetest face I've ever seen.

I love after you've eaten & you snuggle into the nook of my neck while I'm trying to burp you. I love the feel of your silky hair on my cheek & listening to your soft breathing. I'm even in love with the way you breathe! You're a little miracle & you make everyday better for Mommy. You bring me so much joy & my life is so much better with you in it.

Love you so much my sweetheart.