Sunday, September 20, 2009

Fabulously Five




In his 18th week:
He weighed 16 lbs and 1 1/2 ounces.
He was in the 75th percentile in weight, length, and head circumference.
Size 3 diapers...  Good-N-E-S-S!
He was introduced to Applesauce baby food.
He L-O-V-E-D to eat from the spoon.
He learned how to spit... On his own.
Teething was a monster.
He went to his first football game.
He played with his buddy, Pierce.
He enjoyed touching the face of whoever was holding him.
He was SO close to sitting on his own... with his hands holding him up.
He discovered the monitor in his crib.
He was beginning to crawl...
He would get on his knees, rear in the air, head on the floor, and just push.
He never really crawled... yet.

In his 19th week:
He started Banana baby food again.
Except this time it WAS NOT organic.
Organic gave him a rash. So strange.
He would only take a pacifier if he could put it all the way in his mouth.
He was big enough to wear 9 month clothes.
He really attempted to hold his own bottle.
He would reach for anything in his sight.
He could sit up IF his hands were on the floor.
But later in the week, he could sit up without hands.
For all of 10 seconds...
He rolled everywhere.
The television continued to amaze him.
His signature face was when his mouth was wide open, drool was running down his chin, and he was wide-eyed.
He chewed on everything.

In his 20th week:
He became more aware of his hands.
He ate peaches like you wouldn't believe!
He smiled more than any kid I know!
He got a lot of visit from his family - because Mommy had to paint and was sick.
He started this weird habit of hitting himself in the stomach.
Changing his diaper was impossible UNLESS you handed him an empty bag of wipes...
He loved to hear the sound it made!
He rolled all over everywhere.  He would not stay put.
He enjoyed his umbrella stroller more than anything else he had.
TEETHING - He drooled.  He slobbered.  He was always chewing on something.
Oh, and he ate the fire out of some baby food prunes!
He watched slept through his daddy playing in his alumni basketball game.

In his 21st week:
He began eating vegetables...  Squash that is.  Baby food version.
Oh, and 1st food jars were not enough for him!
It's official.  6 month clothes were too small.
He sat up leaned mostly.
Well, he would sit up by leaning on his hands, but that counts as sitting up to his parents.
He tried his Johnny Jump Up for the first time!
He shopped 'til he dropped with his momma.
Everybody he knows was having birthdays and weddings!
He started loving his daddy...
He would follow daddy's every, single move.
He'd grin when daddy got home or when he walked into the room.
He took a crawling step...  just one though.  He's working hard on it.
Oh, and he FINALLY took a pacifier to help with bedtime.
But, of course, it's only a certain kind.  Playtex Binky's.
He also ate sweet potatoes, and ate them UP.



Oh, and here are some other events in Daniel's fifth month...

Eating was always a funny and messy occasion.



He was busy learning how to sit up on his own.



Teaching Daniel that the new car seat wasn't so bad.  It's also his new recliner.  Here he was in front of the television.



Visiting his cousins in West TN for his daddy's Alumni basketball game


Playing in his Johnny Jump Up


He surprised us when he took his first step...  crawling, that is.



Getting dressed up for the UT/Florida game...  SOMEONE, please, buy this kid some Black and Gold gear.


At his friend, Addy's 1st birthday party


Kissing Mommy at the party


Playing with some of his FAVORITE girls...
 

Oh, and I forgot to show this when Daniel FIRST had baby food...

Bananas, Baby! from Jenna Johnson on Vimeo.




Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Fearless...

It's not everyday that I open up and completely share my emotions.  It's not often that I have to admit to my insecurities.  It's not enjoyable when other people see me cry, and I am not a huge fan of feeling vulnerable. 

Oh, but sisters, I am.  I am emotional.  I am completely insecure.  I cry, and I am ridiculously vulnerable in the fact that I need to share something I've learned.  If I haven't said so, I am neck deep in the Esther Bible study with Beth Moore.  I have never been so moved to open my heart and fall face first into the arms of Jesus.  Because Beth is right, "It's Tough Being a Woman." And do you know why it's tough for me?  Do you know what I've been struggling with for months now?

Fear. 

I mean, full-fledged, scared to sleep, terrified to live kind of fear, and I am so sick of it.  I have been dealing with fear from all angles of my life.  Every aspect of fear, from the fearing of my lack of control, being fearful of being lonely in regards to faithful friendships, to being horrified of failing, to my struggles with making decisions, and even scared of death.  I could go in great detail over all of these.  I could tell you that I am fearful of losing control.  I am so miserable over not having solid Christian relationships.  I am sick over the idea of failing at being a wife, a mother, a Christian, you name it.  I have the most difficult time making decisions over fear of making the wrong ones.  I could tell you that I am so scared of losing loved ones. But honestly, it wouldn't do me or you any good.

What I have realized (with the aid of Beth Moore) is that each fear I have is a motive for the devil.  He attacks me when I am fearful and scared, and I am almost certain, if you're willing to admit it, that Satan is doing the same to you.  Sweet friends, let's take hold of these fears and no longer be gripped by them.  Because it's our gift from the Lord to be able to LIVE.  And not just live but live it more abundantly.  Fear is not included in that gift.  Jesus set us free from that fear when He saved our souls.  And that's a good thing for me, because I don't want to live like this.  I want to look life straight in the face and LIVE...  fearlessly.

I don't know how it could get any better than that.

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

He's Moving On...

To vegetables.  Squash, to be exact. 

Can you believe it?!  He's that big.  Big enough for vegetables.  That's just crazy to me.

Daniel's doing great with this food-introductory phase.  We started when he was 4 months old with fruit, and now that he's made it through all of them (bananas, applesauce, peaches, pears, and prunes) with no problems (other than that organic mess of bananas that gave him a terrible rash in a place I won't mention for his sake), he can now move on to vegetables.  I was worried that the squash wouldn't be good after all of the sweet fruits he has had, but he did amazing.  Just opened his mouth for every spoonful. 

He's growing up so fast, and literally, it's happening right before my eyes.  Next thing you know, he'll be eating birthday cake.  Nuts.  Well, actually with no nuts because that's the rule.  No this, that, or the other for at least so many years.  But, let's not wish his little life away...  We're happy with squash. 

Friday, September 11, 2009

Mmmm... Peaches!

Daniel's in the introductory phase of baby food, meaning we're trying each food for three days before moving onto a new one.  He's made it through organic bananas (which were awful in the form of a rough rash in an odd place), applesauce, bananas for a 2nd time, and now, we've made it to peaches.  They are, by far, the worst nastiest, most disgusting food we've had so far - only because they stink to high heavens and he's needing diaper changes like a crazy fool.  However, the stink and poop don't seem to bother Daniel; he's eating this stuff UP.  See for yourself...

Eating peaches for the first time...

and enjoying them fairly well.
Another day, some more peaches, and yet his parents won't stay out of his face for him to eat.
 
Mmmm, these are some good peaches.
 

He's Decided on a Best Friend...

We thought for sure Daniel would like Pierce, and we knew he'd become great friends with Addy.  We were thinking maybe it would be his security blanket or even one of his toys, but Daniel has decided that his Uncle Andrew is his best friend.  Of course, he's only 4 and a half months old, and we're sure he'll make other friends, but as of lately, the buddy he likes the best is his Uncle Andrew.  See what we mean?
Grabbing at and Laughing with his Uncle
 
Kicking Uncle Andrew's face
  
Just being good buds
  
Uncle Andrew has even been the very best teether...
  
Uncle Andrew trying to get Daniel's attention
  
Playing with his Uncle