Thomas is 5 Months!

Thomas turned FIVE months today!  

He is just a delight and these pictures of him smiling are his personality to a T!  

 I'm guessing he weighs about 15 pounds.  His weight and growth in general seems to have evened out a little bit.

He is wearing...

Diapers: size 3

Clothes: 6 months fit him perfectly

 Eating: nursing and bottles 5 times/day (every 3.5 hours).  When taking a bottle, he's drinking 6 oz.

No solids yet...we'll start at 6 months.  I can tell that he's ready--he follows our hands when we're eating and just looks like he wants to take a bite himself.  Praying he's not a picky eater!

Sleeping: 12+ hours at night.  He typically stirs once and will whimper but is able to put himself back to sleep until he wakes up at 7:30.  We often have to wake him, as we don't let him sleep past 12 hours.

Naps stink right now.  I hope it's just a phase but he is the definition of a 45 minute intruder.  Sometimes a 20 minute intruder.  It is maddening.  

Regardless of the crummy nap taking, he stays happy throughout the day so it's hard to complain.

 His first tooth popped through on Saturday!  I knew it was coming even though Dr Dobson saw no signs last time he checked.  He has been drooling like crazy and always has something in his mouth--a toy or his hands.  He has been chewing on his paci a good bit too and sucking it more than he has in the past.  He still likes to suck his thumb too.

 Thomas LOVES:

bouncing on our laps, sitting in his bumbo, tummy time, his Zubel football player rattle, sitting in the highchair (it's reclined), Sophie, and his toy caterpillar

 I was at home with him today while Ellie was at school--I love it when I have the opportunity to spend time alone with him (and Ellie too for that matter).  One on one time is a treat!  He was just talking and talking...more than he ever has before.  I realized he probably stays quiet most of the time because his sister does all the talking for him as she NEVER SHUTS UP.  {which is a whole other post...she is just so funny lately.}

Thomas is super close to sitting up himself.  He needs just a smidge bit more balance and he'll have it.  He sits well when the boppy is around him for that little bit of additional support.  I love it when babies start sitting up so I'm hoping he masters the skill  in the next couple of weeks!

 He started a little bit of "stranger danger".  His little lip can primp like you wouldn't believe.  It's ridiculously cute.

Oh sweet boy, I could just eat your face off!  I love you so--you just make my heart burst.  I love watching you grow and seeing your personality develop even sweeter than I thought possible!

First Friday!

We headed to Clemson last Friday for the "First Friday" parade.  It was great--Ellie was in her element and we all had a great (sweaty) time!

 Ellie ran across Bowman field for the first time...she loved, loved, loved it.  She's wearing my Clemson dress from when I was a little girl {although I probably wore it when I was 18 months and she's 3!}

 Thomas...as usual...along for the ride.  We did let him ride facing out (versus in his carseat) in the stroller and he stayed happy and content for the duration.  Such a trooper that baby boy is.

 Hope she's running across Bowman like this in 15 years as a freshman!  We'll support her wherever she decides to go, but would obviously love if she becomes a tiger!

 and oh the parade.  She LOVES a parade.  She squealed in delight and stood in amazement as everything came by.  The tiger rode on the back of the car and she looked at me and said, "I wanna give him high five but dat's ok, mommy."  Luckily Josh spotted him after the parade and we were able to see him and she leapt in his arms like he was a long lost friend!  {She was terrified of him a couple months ago!}

 This was her the whole time...pointing and saying "WOOK DADDY/MOMMY/Whoever would listen".  

She all but begged us to take her to the game Saturday--way too hot for that--but maybe later on in the season she will go to her first football game!  Fun to share it with her!

Sky Top 2014

We made our annual trip to Sky Top on Labor Day!  It was hot as the dickens and I can't say it felt like a "fall" adventure at all, but we had fun regardless!

 She has definitely grown in the past year!  She measured exactly 3" last week so the tree is surprisingly accurate.

 Ellie had to hold the scarecrow's glove...Thomas was just borderline miserable, sweating in his car seat.  Poor buddy.

 Thomas' first Sky Top adventure...Ellie's fourth!  

 The Tapps met us up there and of course the girls matched!  {and Thomas too}

 Ellie loved picking the apples this year.  Most of ours that made it home have bruises on them from where she chunked them in the basket.  {even after reminding her to put them in gently}

 Sweet buddies

 in our annual family picture spot.  Josh and I have been coming to Sky Top since we were married and have had a picture here every year.

 Life with two...super crazy and super exhausting but super sweet!

Tiny Dancer

Ellie started her new dance class last week!  She is taking a ballet/tap combo class for preschoolers.  

It's a new set up (for her) for an extracurricular activity in that she has to go in the room by herself while I wait in the lobby.  Josh or I have always been involved when she went to Gymboree or art classes so she was a bit hesitant when she realized I wouldn't be in the room with her.  After some initial separation anxiety, she did great and I was able to look through a small window to see her having a great time.

 She concentrates so hard as she attempts to imitate the movements from her teacher, Ms. Sara.  Hopefully dance will help her gross motor, coordination, as well as attention to task.

 and the attire.  I just can't stand how precious little girls look in leotards, tights and tutus.  I'm trying to be reasonable and not go overboard with hundreds of dollars in preciousness.

 She is loving it...hoping it continues for years and years to come!

Thomas is 4 Months!

Thomas is 4 months!  I blinked and here we are...1/3 of the way through the first year.  Newborn days are sweet, but we are getting to the part of baby days that I just really, really love.  He is becoming his own little person and has the sweetest demeanor and little personality--I already see so much of his daddy in him.  

 His stats:

Weight: 14 lbs, 9 oz (42%)

Height: 25.5" (70%) -- we have no idea where that is coming from

Head: 18%

Dr. Dobson was pleased with his growth--his weight is evening out and the rolls on his arms and legs make me want to eat them right off!

 At 4 months Thomas is...

Wearing--3 and 6 months clothes; size 3 diapers

Eating--6 oz when he takes a bottle; still nursing when I'm not at work.  Eating 5 times/day.

We started solids with Ellie at 4 months but Dr. Dobson recommended we wait until 6 months with Thomas, especially given his allergies.  Fine with me!  

Sleeping--he is a wonderful nighttime sleeper, often going 12+ hours and we have to wake him up at 7:30am.  Naps are inconsistent but we typically can get at least one solid 2 hour one in.  The rest range from 45 to 75 minutes.

 Thomas has started rolling from back to tummy today!  He has been rolling tummy to back for a while.  I notice a huge difference between his gross motor skills and Ellie's at this age...difference between boys and girls!

He loves laying flat on his back on a blanket for play time.  He loves toys and stays very engaged when we have them out--especially ones that dangle.  Ellie was never too much interested in toys so we never had too many infant ones...been working on picking some up for him because he does love them!

He likes sitting up in the Bumbo, especially when we are eating dinner.  We sit him up on the table and he just stares at us while we eat and converse.  I think he's ready to take a bite of the "good stuff" we're eating!

 He is transfixed to the television when it is on.  Loves staring at it.

Hates the swing, hates his infant bouncy seat, hates laying in his nap nanny.  Polar opposite from Ellie at this age.  

We are no longer swaddling and he transitioned well after a couple of nights getting used to the sleep sack and having free range of his arms.

We offer the paci but he cares absolutely NOTHING for it.  He will suck it 4-5 times and then spit it out.  Not even sure why we offer it.  He is a thumb sucker.  Full fledged thumb sucker.  Much to my dismay.  

 We can turn on his giggle box fairly easily--he is so ticklish!  He loves it when his hands and feet are rubbed together.  

He loves "talking" to you--especially when you're right up in his face.

Continues to be a super, super happy baby.  Cries only when something is wrong--hungry or tired typically.  

He also rides in the car well (for now at least).  Glory Hallelujah!  Josh and I feel like we earned a car rider after our days of listening to Ellie's SCREAMING for hours on end while being buckled in.

 I started back to work this month.  He has transitioned beautifully and his relationship with Mrs. Denise is becoming more familiar and he is genuinely excited to see her when she comes in the morning.  Mrs. Denise has only had girls but I'm pretty sure she has crossed over into baby boy love right along with me!  I feel beyond blessed that we get to experience having both a girl and a boy.

 Sweet buddy, we do love you so!