Daniel Has an Announcement to Make...

I bet you've been wondering what's kept my mom so busy the past few months.  It's because I am going to be a...

A BIG BROTHER!

My little baby brother or sister is due to arrive on June 2, and we are all feeling very blessed!  Most people are shocked that my parents are going to have another baby so soon, but they always tell everyone that God knows best.  My mom and dad bought this shirt for me to wear on Thanksgiving to share the news with our family.  So now that they all know, my mom decided it would be perfect for me to tell you.  Please pray for my mom; she's been a bit sick and awfully busy having to keep up with me and the new baby.

These are a few of my favorite things...

blue eyes

toothless grins

button nose

strong legs

sleepless nights

reaching arms

messy bibs

stinky diapers

bare feet

bruised knees

deafening squeals

unmatched energy

slobbery kisses

whiny cries

holding hands

staying up late

sharing quick kisses

sheer goodness

brutal honesty

true love

genuine friendship

deep thoughts

sweet secrets

argyle sweaters

all of which come from these two guys...

Seven, I'm Not Even Believing It.

Actually written on December 8, 2009
 
I cannot believe that Daniel has turned seven months old.  It came and went so quickly that I failed to take a picture or even post about it on the day he did (November 20, 2009).  Nevertheless, I have kept up with his amazing accomplishments and wanted to share them.

In his 26th week:
He took his first step actually crawling on October 23rd at his Uncle and Aunt's house.
He dressed up as a cow for his church's Western Family Feud night.
He started pulling up on the recliner, then the couch, and finally the coffee table.
Spoons became his favorite toy.
His buddy, Pierce, came to visit, and Daniel loved to touch him.

In his 27th week:
He gave himself his first busted lip - blood and all - by falling down from pulling up on the coffee table.
He crawled and crawled and crawled some more.
He was everywhere and into everything.
He helped his Mom with laundry.
He dressed up as a lion for Halloween;
He visited his Pop and Gran-Ju, then went to see his Mimi, Grandpa, and Aunt Jessica and Uncle Andrew.
He didn't get any candy, just his very own remote control from his Mimi.
His Grandpa gave him his first taste of a honey BBQ chicken wing, and he LOVED it.

 

 

 

 

In his 28th week:
His Mom found out that his favorite spot to play was the bathtub...  clothes ON with NO water.
Due to his curiosity and crawling, he needed a superyard to keep him contained.
However, he realized he was contained while in it.
He threw a few thousand fits every time he was in it.
He was extremely ticklish.  Daddy really had fun with him!
He would bounce up and down anytime Daddy said, "Jump, Jump, Jump!"
He said, "Da-da," all the time.

In his 29th week:

He found the trashcans around the house and wanted to play in every one of them.

His hairbrush was his new-found favorite thing.

He announced to his Daddy's family that he was going to be a BIG BROTHER!

He visited his cousins and family.

He met his friends, Jeremy and Erin, who came to visit him while they were in town from Oklahoma!

 

 

 

At a Loss for Words...

I really haven't stopped writing on purpose.  It isn't because anything has happened or that something has gone wrong.  It's simply because I have this amazing, almost-seven-month-old little boy who I have been insanely busy trying to keep up with. 

Being a mom isn't as easy as I expected it to be.  I actually have days where I feel I completely fail at it.  Days like today when I was so frustrated that he wouldn't stop pressing the buttons on my computer or putting his precious hands in the VCR slot or finding a way to be ill in every place I wanted him to play.  And, I'll admit that I lost my cool.  A lot.  I fussed at him and used my "stern" voice a little too much, actually expecting him to understand, "NO, Daniel.  Stop it, Daniel.  Be still.  Don't spit.  Do NOT touch the computer, Daniel."  Yes, a child who only says da-da will understand those phrases perfectly clear.

The truth is that now that I'm a parent myself I find myself more and more in awe with God.  I'm floored by the love He has for me.  I'm amazed that He would give me such awesome gifts like my husband or my beautiful child.  I'm shocked that He'd listen to my prayers and care for someone that has nothing worth loving.  He loves me when I won't stop pressing buttons long enough to HEAR HIM.  He loves me when I put my hands and myself in places they should not be.  He loves me when I cannot find joy in the spectacular life He's created for me.  AND... though at 26 years of age, when His voice is calling me, I don't listen, and He decides to love me even still.  Is that not mind-boggling?!

It isn't because I have decided to stop writing.  It isn't even that I'm tired or lazy.  It certainly isn't because I have a lack of things (or a little-amazing-blue-eyed boy) to blog about.  It is simply because it's okay to be still sometimes.  It's okay to be silent at others.  Most importantly, it's because I have somehow failed at realizing how good God truly is, and that, my friends, will put any girl at a loss for words.

Seeing Six...

Right before our eyes, Daniel turned six months old on October 20, 2009.  So many things happened during and following his sixth month "birthday" that it has honestly been hard to keep up with him.  Hopefully, that explains my very LATE update.

In his 22nd week:
He found his toes, and they always ended up in his mouth.
He really started recognizing his family. 
Smiled immediately upon seeing any of us.
He began doing the "thinking" pose.
It seemed he would concentrate incredibly hard on particular things.

Guess these work just like a pacifier

Laughing with Mimi

 

Daniel's "thinker" pose

 

In his 23rd week:
He attempted to crawl...  often. 
He'd scoot toward things that were in front of him on the floor.
He sat up...  ON HIS OWN.  We couldn't believe it!
He was happiest in the bathtub. 
He loved his light-up rubber duckies!

Trying to crawl to Pop's keys

So, sitting up isn't that tough.

Enjoying the empty bathtub

Trying to get away from Mommy

In his 24th week: 
He had his first "lunch-date" with some very special friends.
He wasn't too impressed with McDonald's.
He continued attempting to crawl, and sat up all of the time.
He teethed, but no teeth.  Just lots of drool.  LOTS.
He outgrew ALL of his 6 month clothes.
Still wore size 3 diapers, but needed ALL 6 to 9 month clothes.
He hated his pack n' play.
He loved playing on his toy drum (thanks to our friends in Georgia)!
Mom's hairdryer and plastic grocery bags were his favorite things to play with.

Making a new friend in Tucker

 Greyson wasn't so sure of Daniel at first...

Outgrowing his clothes before he ever wears them

Beating on his drum

 His newest toys...

In his 25th week:
He sat up in a high chair by himself...  with no assistance.
He went on his first vacation (to Gatlinburg).
He walked rode down the strip with his mom and dad. He spent a lot of his time with daddy - riding in the carrier and sleeping there too!
He found out that remote controls are extremely interesting.
He got his first taste of country music at the Dixie Stampede.
He loved the live band!
He moved out of the infant car seat into the big convertible car seat!
He tried Puffs for the first time!

 Riding in the carrier

Finding out about the remote control

Turning 6 months old in Gatlinburg