Happy 8 Months Birthday, JJ!

JJ,

From JJ's Monthly Pictures in the Chair

Sweet boy!  What a joy you are to have around our home!  You are so ticklish and laugh alot which keeps us smiling too!  Emmie thinks it is fun to make faces at you too that make you laugh or hug you big, tight, and tickle you to make you giggle too.

Stats:
Weight - 16 lb. 7 oz. (5%)
Length - 27 in. (20%)

You are:
-the owner of a 2nd TOOTH!!! We found it on 11/9/12!!
-a frequent visitor to the dr. office right now. 
     On 11/15/12 you were really sick.  At 3:45p, you started throwing up.  By 5:20p, you had thrown up 10 times, so we took you to Children's Hospital ER.  You did have a really bad ear infection (which was misdiagnosed as to why you were throwing up - they thought it was from the pain). 
     You ended up throwing up again on 11/20/12 you threw up 5 times in 1 hour.  We gave you Zofran and the vomiting stopped. 
     On 11/27/12, we took you to a Ped. GI, Dr. Mestre.  He wanted me to supplement with formula to help you gain some weight back. 
     Then on 12/4/12, you had an upper GI test.  It came back that you had Silent Reflux but no medicine at this time.  We were praising God that you don't have Malnutrition Syndrome, nor an obstruction in your esophagus, nor holes in your stomach that milk is leaking out of.
     PRAISE GOD!!!
-holding your own bottle now!  :)
-LOVES to splash in the bathtub!  He also LOVES to be able to sit up.

From 11-9-12 JJ during his 8th Month

Click the photo above to see more from this month.

We have been so worried about you this past month.  I am thankful that nothing serious is going on.  We will con't to pray that you will gain weight and hopefully be able to keep some baby food down soon.  You are so content and alot of fun to be around.  You are still sleeping great during the day and all through the night.

We love you!
Mommy and Daddy!

Happy 7 Months Birthday, JJ!

JJ,

Hey my sweet boy!  What a month we have had. Looking back at the pictures, you have kept us on our toes.  On November 1st, Daddy left for South Sudan with Neverthirst and that same day I had to take you to the doctor's.  You ended up having a bronchial trachea viral infection. :( Then 2 days later, you threw up because of all the phlegm you had been coughing up and you were sick for awhile.

From JJ's Monthly Pictures in the Chair

Stats:
Weight - 15 lb 6 oz (5%)
Length - 26 3/4 in. (40%)

You are:
-the owner of 1 TOOTH!!!  We found it on Halloween night!! So cute!
-vaccinated for the flu.
-very strong.  You like to stand on our laps alot.
-great at reaching.  If there is anything close, you will try really hard to get it.
-VERY loved by your sister.  She calls you "Buddy" sometimes and it is SO sweet!
-great at sitting up now.  At the beginning of the month, it was only 1-2 minutes, but now you can do even 45 min.
-opinionated about your paci.  If you don't want it and we try to put it in your mouth, you will stick your tongue out to stop us.  I think it is funny!
-the cutest Sebastian!  You and Emmie (Ariel) dressed up from the "Little Mermaid" for Halloween.
-getting good at twisting and turning on the changing pad.  You like to reach for your diaper cream.

Click here or the pix for more.

From 10-9-12 JJ during his 7th month

We love you so much our little buddy!
Mommy and Daddy

Happy 1/2 Birthday, JJ!!

JJ,

From JJ's Monthly Pictures in the Chair

You are 6 months old today!  I can't believe it!  How is it that 1/2 a year has gone by since your sweet little personality entered into our lives?  We are definitely so happy you are part of our family.  We love to tell you and Emmie as babies "Oh no, you have met your kiss quota today."  You are so kissable and irresistible. 

Stats:
Weight - 16 lb (30%)
Length - 26 1/4 inches (40%)

You are:
-pulling hair now.  You will get Sissy and I if we are not watching out.
-great at pooping in the tub.  Daddy was bathing you and you gave him a huge mess to clean up.
-a big fan of Peak a Boo.  It makes you laugh and smile so big!
-an official plane rider.  We went up to Baltimore for Leah's 3rd birthday party.
-VERY ticklish and laugh ALOT!!
-better now, but you had to take your first antibiotic because you woke up one morning and had green coming out of your right eye and your nose. 
-an official Auburn fan.  Mommy and Daddy went to the Auburn/Ark. game this past weekend and you went with us.  Miss Alene babysat you at Mrs. Julia's.
-very fond of your toes.  You found them and now you like to chew on them.  It is very sweet and makes me smile!

From 9-9-12 JJ during his 6th Month

Click here to see some cute pictures.
Mommy

Happy 5 Months Birthday, JJ!

JJ,

From JJ's Monthly Pictures in the Chair

"Show us that million dollar smile!" is what we heard someone tell you the other day.  You are smiling so much and it is really alot of fun that you recognize us now and you are especially excited to see me, Daddy, and Emmie!  We keep looking for a tooth to pop through.  You drool and chew on EVERYTHING, but nothing yet.  You are really sucking your thumb now alot to sooth yourself to sleep and while in your bed.  It is pretty cute!

Stats:
weight - 16 lb. (50%)
length - 26 in. (60%)
eyes - they have changed a little bit from blue to a little greenish

You are:
-now sitting in your Bumbo and LOVE it!
-also sitting in your exersaucer and love that too!
-very loved by your Big Sister.  You were crying the other day and she said, "Mommy, I need to get JJ a tissue."  Sweetness!
-sporting some thick rolls behind your knees!  crazy!  You are a big boy!
-have wrist rolls and they are so cute! They make me smile everytime I see them!
-loving your toys now.  I got your raddles out. 
-so cuddly when I rock you to sleep.  I don't do this everytime I lay you down, but when you are super sleepy it is your favorite for me to rub your face. 
-so, so excited when you see yourself in the mirror!  It is awesome!
-a big paci chewer now!  You love to take it out, play with it, and put it back in (eventually).

It has been a fun month!  Click here to see more pictures.

From 7-9-12 JJ's 4th and 5th Month

We love you, our Lil Boy!
Mommy and Daddy

Off to Preschool!

Last Tuesday, we went to Emmie's Preschool Open House at God's House.  We met her teacher, Mrs. Kelly Kyzer.  She is going to have 8 other friends in her class.  Look at Emmie's pretty smile.  She is SO excited!

From 1-24-12 Em at 3 yrs old

From 1-24-12 Em at 3 yrs old

From 1-24-12 Em at 3 yrs old

The kissing hand. When I asked for one last kiss from her when leaving her class room, she said "I am going to miss you".  That got me.  I was chocking up.  It is going to be weird not having my little friend with me all day!

From 1-24-12 Em at 3 yrs old

Emmie got a kiss too!

From 1-24-12 Em at 3 yrs old

From 1-24-12 Em at 3 yrs old

Emmie my prayer for you this school year: 

"Thank you Lord, that you have blessed us with a healthy, little girl that is getting the opportunity to go to preschool today.  Cultivate in her the holy and Godly characteristics that you want in her sweet heart and spirit.  I pray that God will teach her all that you would have her to learn this year.  Thank you that you have chosen Mrs. Kelly to guide her, protect her, and teach her this year.  We love you, Emmie and are so excited for you that you finally get to start school. Amen."

Love, Mommy and Daddy

Lay Lake with all the Long's!

This past weekend we went to Lay Lake with all of Jeremy's family!   We loved being together and making some great memories.  Here are some of my favorite pictures from our time together:

sweet, sweet cousins! (Emmie 3 1/2, Mally 3, Tate 5, JJ 4 mo)

From 8-11-12 Long's at the Lake

The Grandkids with Pug and Papa.

From 8-11-12 Long's at the Lake

Oh my, love toes! (L to R - Mally, Emmie, and Tate)

From 8-11-12 Long's at the Lake

Happy 4 Months Birthday, JJ!

JJ,

From JJ's Monthly Pictures in the Chair

What another fun month we had with you!  We are so thankful God let us love on you and enjoy your sweet spirit! 

Stats:
15 lbs and 8 oz - weight (70%)
25 1/4 inches - length (70%)
16 inches - head cir. (25%)

You are:
-still sleeping AWESOME!  I feed you for the last time at 8p and feed you again in the morning at 8am!  YAY!
-sometimes sucking your thumb!  :)
-really good at rolling on your side.
-really trying hard to roll from your back to your tummy, but you have not gotten it yet.
-loving your paci!  You sometimes keep it in for your whole nap.
-still very lucky to have a Big Sis that is crazy about you.  The other day, you were crying and she said "Mommy, I need to get JJ a tissue."  so sweet!

From 7-9-12 JJ's 4th Month

-still a roly poly.  You hide about 3 rolls on each leg well at the very top of your thighs.  Also, you have 1 HUGE roll behind your knees.
-now playing with toys.  I got some out for you today.  It is rattle time!
-now sitting in your Bumbo.  You love it and you are doing really well with your head control.
-doing really well putting yourself to sleep.  We lay you down in your bed awake most of the time and you are very content to fall asleep on your own.  Thank you!
-very sweet to rock to sleep.  You love to cradle in my arm, have your paci, and when I rub your face, it puts you right to sleep. 

From 7-9-12 JJ's 4th Month

JJ, your smile is contagious and everyone loves you!  You are such a predictable baby and do very well on your schedule.  We could listen to you coo/talk all day.  It is music to our ears. 

3 Month Pictures:
Click here

We love you, our sweet baby boy!
Mommy and Daddy

Emmie is 3 1/2 now!!

Emmie,

From 1-24-12 Em at 3 yrs old

We LOVE having you as part of our family.  WOW, God really blessed us.  You have one of the most caring hearts I have ever seen.  God gave you a very sweet soul that Daddy and I (and lots of other people) get to benefit from each and every day.  Even in the "small" of moments, you are often willing to give Daddy or I your last piece of favorite candy or (most of the times) share a toy with a friend.  You are very quick to say you are sorry when you make a mistake or even when you do something accidentally.  We are also teaching you about your tone when you are talking.  You are sometimes quick to correct yourself and try again.  We really appreciate you talking kindly on your own.

I can't keep up with all the funny things you say through the day.  Today you told me "Mommy, my (clean) pull up is on the back of the commode" and also while playing the iPad you said "I seriously did it!".  Hilarious!  When you are waiting patiently, you sometimes say "taking a (long) time".  I also asked you what movie you were going to watch and you said "I am going to give Aladdin a shot".  Where did you hear these?   I love it when you say "bacuum" (vacuum) and "inbatation" (invitation).

From 1-24-12 Em at 3 yrs old

You are an amazing Big Sis to JJ.  You are constantly thinking of him.  Yesterday, you got a princess crown for you and I to dress up and it was also your idea to find a prince crown for JJ too.  He was so handsome all because of you!  You love to give him kisses and have him play hide and seek with us and participate in the marshmellow fight too! 

You are eager to learn.  New letters and even your Sunday School class scriptures.  I told you last week "Emmie we need to learn a new verse" and you said "Teach me, Mommy!"  You are up to 5 verses now.  precious!  You have been helping me with 3 chores around the house (unloading the utensils 1x/wk, emptying the bathroom trashcans, and also cleaning the coffee table glass).  You earn your allowance and you share it with the church and also save it to buy some toys for yourself.

Click here or any of the picture above to see more pictures of Emmie from the past 6 months.

From 1-24-12 Em at 3 yrs old

We pray that your sweet spirit continues and your silliness too!
We love you so so so much!
Mommy and Daddy

Summertime, Summertime, Sum, Sum, Summertime!!

We had had so much fun in the water this summer!  Here are a few pictures.

Memorial Day at Lay Lake - our first "family of 4" picture at the lake.

From 6-9-12 JJ's 3rd Month

4th of July in Chattanooga

From 6-9-12 JJ's 3rd Month

JJ got his first life jacket.

From 6-9-12 JJ's 3rd Month

Emmie tubing with Jeremy for her 3rd summer.

From 6-9-12 JJ's 3rd Month

Emmie took swimming lessons with Mrs. Monica.  She did great!  Mrs. Monica was really wonderful!

From Summertime, Summertime!!

From Summertime, Summertime!!

From Summertime, Summertime!!

Last weekend, we went back to Lay Lake and had the Caretti's come with us.
(Josh, Sashari, Walker - 14, Sophie - 7, Livi - 4)

From 7-14-12 Caretti's at Lay Lake

From 7-14-12 Caretti's at Lay Lake

From 7-14-12 Caretti's at Lay Lake

From 7-14-12 Caretti's at Lay Lake

Click any of the above pictures to see more.

JJ's 3 Month Professional Photos

My friend, Ashley Matteo, took some more pictures for me of JJ.  They turned out wonderful!  Here are a couple, but click on any of these and you can see more.

From 7-9-12 JJ 3 Month Proff Pictures

From 7-9-12 JJ 3 Month Proff Pictures

Happy 3 Months Birthday, JJ!

JJ,

From 6-9-12 JJ's 3rd Month

You are growing by leaps and bounds!  We can't believe you have only been part of our family for 3 months.  It seems like so much longer!  You are smiling all the time now, especially when you see your big sis!  You definitely recognize her voice.  Emmie said "Hey cute little ribs.  I like his teeth."

You are:
-15 lbs. - weight (70%)
- 24 1/2 inches - length (60%)
-talking alot!  It is so fun to hear you coo and gurgle.
-making lots of eye contact with us now.
-SLEEPING thru the night - I feed you about 10p and then again about 7:30 in the morning!!!!  YAY - Mommy loves this!
-putting yourself to sleep within 5-10 min. of us laying you down.  so nice!
-experiencing sickness for the first time.  You got sick with an upper respiratory virus.  Thankfully you didn't have any drainage from your nose and you could still eat well and take a paci.
-eating your hands alot more.  so cute!
-sticking your tongue out alot!
-playing hide and go seek with us now.  You are a little loud, but we did hide you in the pack n play and under Mommy and Daddy's bed.  Emmie loved you playing with us. :)
-so sweet when I feed you.  You sometimes look at my with the biggest smile.  I also LOVE holding your little soft hand.
-trying out "tummy time", but you are not a fan.  We will keep working on it.

Sweet boy, I love you so much!
Mommy

Mini High School Reunion (16 years)

We went to Louisiana this past weekend for a mini high school reunion with 6 of my friends/husbands/kids.

Friday night, we went to de la Bistro for dinner in Slidell.

From 6-23-12 Slidell Mini Reunion

On Saturday morning, we went over to Carla's to swim. Here are all the kids: (back row) Ben Lagarde, Sam Marse, Jacob Lagarde; (couch) JJ Long, Emmie Long, Griffin Barrett, Maia Barrett, Camille Lagarde, Caroline Lagarde, Foster Lagarde, Issac Zeid, Eli Zeid; (floor) Sophie Marse, Connor Barrett.

From 6-23-12 Slidell Mini Reunion

Saturday night, we went to Friends for dinner on the water.

From 6-23-12 Slidell Mini Reunion

I can't believe it is already over! I miss my girls already!
Click on any of the above pictures to see more!

Happy 2 Month Birthday, JJ!!

2 Months already!!  What fun we have had with you!

From JJ's Monthly Pictures in the Chair

Stats:
Weight - 13 lbs. 2 oz. (70th percentile) - up from 7 lbs. 14 oz. at birth :)
Head - 15 1/2 in. (50th percentile)
Height - 23 1/2 in. (50th percentile)

You are:
-cooing just a little bit!  It is so sweet to hear you "talking".
-tee teeing on Daddy when he changes your diaper, so he got some Pee Pee Tee Pees to cover you b/c you have gotten him 3-4xs.
-starting to cry REAL tears!  so sad!
-trying to tee tee on me too.  You tried it 3xs when I was changing you, but I was ready with a wipe.
-tasting cake icing for the first time.  Daddy gave you 3 very very tiny licks.  :)  You LOVED it!
-having your diaper changed by Emmie (with a little help).  so sweet!
-now in 0-3 month clothes.  You have grown out of all of your Newborn size ones.  :)
-you have the softest heels and feet (just like your Daddy)!
-getting calves that are so chunky that your socks are cutting into them and leaving a mark :)
-having lots of FIRSTS - zoo, pool, movies, party boat ride, McWane Science Center
-recognizing Emmie's voice
-losing alot of your hair (receding hair-line), but it is growing back in blonde.
-a snorter sometimes when you nurse.  It makes me laugh.
-so relaxed and stare into mine and Daddy's eyes when we sing to you.  so sweet!
-sleeping from 10p-5a consistently.  YAY! 
-putting yourself to sleep when we lay you down within 5-10 min. :)

From 5-9-12 JJ's 2nd Month

 

JJ,

You are such a true joy to us!  Your big sister thinks the world of you.  She thinks you have the cutest ears and toes also.  You are precious when you stretch, cough, or even sneeze.  The wrinkles on your wrist and ankles make me smile!  You have the smallest of toenails - I noticed them in church one day during the sermon.  I had the sweetest bonding moment with you the other night when you were done nursing.  I was holding you in front of me and you made eye contact with me AND gave me the biggest smile. It was the sweetest and made me cry.

I love you so much, My Little Boy!
Mommy


Click on the picture above "JJ's 2nd Month" to see more pictures!

Happy 1 Month Birthday, JJ! (Letter from Mommy)

JJ,

Oh My Sweet Boy! You have been the perfect addition to our family! We love having your presence in our house! What was life like just 30 days ago? Loving you has been so much fun! We are SO glad that you are here.

You have the sweetest smile! You smell so good and your skin is so soft! The rolls in your neck are so irresistible and kissable. I love it when I get to hold your hand while you are nursing and I get to kiss those sweet fingers. You have your daddy's feet - long, flat, and skinny. The balls of your toes are so cute! I love looking into your sweet eyes and you staring back at me. You already have rolls on your wrist and they are so cute! You make sweet and funny faces - smiling, wrinkled brow, and bird lips. You love to sleep on your side. You are already running us out of the room, like a teenage boy, when you toot. They are terrible - like rotten eggs!!! You are an expert at tee teeing on Daddy. He says you are like the Bellagio fountains. You are now 10 lb. 4 oz  (70%) and 22 1/2 inches (50%).  You are up from 7 lbs. 14 oz at birth. I think you like your "momma's milk" as Aunt Jen says.

Your big sister loves you so much! She thinks of you as a new friend and not as competition. Praise God! She loves to hold you, snuggle with you, kiss you, hug you, check on you, watch a show with you, ride next to you in the car, or anything else with you.

We are dedicating you to the Lord this Sunday at church. The Lord showed Daddy the perfect verse for you "and now I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified." (Acts 20:32)

You are loved much!
Mommy

4-9-10 JJ's First Week

We got discharged around lunchtime, so we didn't eat lunch at the hospital. We got to leave as a family and stopped at Moe's on the way home. We also con't our tradition of going by Jeremy's office on the way home to show him off! :)

From 4-9-12 JJ First Month

Welcome Home, JJ!

From 4-9-12 JJ First Month

From 4-9-12 JJ First Month

Zoe has been really sweet!

From 4-9-12 JJ First Month

From 4-9-12 JJ First Month

Emmie got me some tulips!

From 4-9-12 JJ First Month

JJ's First Bath

From 4-9-12 JJ First Month

Jeremy did a photo shoot of him and these are some of the pix:

From 4-9-12 JJ First Month

From 4-9-12 JJ First Month

Snuggle time in Emmie's bed

From 4-9-12 JJ First Month

Click any of the pix above to see more in this album.