Happy 1 Year Birthday, my sweetest boy!

JJ,

What a special day today is!  One year ago, at this moment you were still in my belly.  You were as close to me as you will ever be.  I LOVED begin pregnant with you!!  It is so amazing to me how God allows us to hold you for a straight 9 months and then eventually we get to look into your amazing eyes at 10:17pm that night. 

We had your 1st Birthday Party this past Saturday and it was great!  Your grandparents were here, all your aunts and uncles, your 4 girl cousins, 2 sets of your great aunts/uncles.  You LOVED your frog cake and got it all over you. You had a great time opening your presents.  You got all kinds of toys, but a truck that Aunt Di Di gave you was your absolute favorite.  You would not let it out of your sight and we had to get it out of the wrapping immediately.  You were so cute about it!

You have gone from:
-7 lbs 14 oz to 18 lb. 14 oz.
- 21 in. to 28 in.
-blue eyes to hazel eyes
-dark hair to filled in blonde hair
-baby, dainty hands to little boy hands
-swaddled to crawling
-hating a bath to LOVING, splashing in the bath
-newborn shoes to size 4 shoes
-we loved you then, we love you even more now!!

Stats:
Weight - 18 lb. 14 oz. (5%)
Length - 28 in. (10%)

You are:
-a master at scooting on your belly now.  You pull with your right arm and push with your left leg.
-great at when we are dressing you with a toy in your hand and we tell you to "switch hands". 
-eating crackers, banana, strawberries, graham crackers, and cheese its now, but your favorite are plain cheerios.
-loving your musical chair toy.  You think you are such a big boy sitting in it.
-doing a fake cough now.  funny!
-already making "hum" sounds when you play with trucks and cars.  AMAZING how God makes boys!
-smart that when I put you in your highchair you put your arms up so I can put the tray on.
-now sitting up by yourself from crawling.  The first 2xs you did it, I didn't see it.  You were in your crib.
-sweet!  Daddy took you on a wagon ride (YOU LOVE IT!) and I met y'all on the street and you were excited to see me and waved at me (unsolicited) when I got close to you.  You melted my heart!
-NOT a fan of sitting in the grass.
-look so big in your crib now.  Daddy lowered it all the way down because you are also getting on your knees in your bed now and pulling up a little.

Daddy calls you "Mr. Curious".  Your wheels seems to be turning more than your sister's were at this age.  You love to look under the refrigerator, in the pantry, lift up the floor vent, what the hole on the wall is, what the electrical outlet is, how a door opens and closes, how the blinds attach to the door, etc. 

We love you, our sweet 1 year old!
Mommy and Daddy

Happy 11 Months Birthday, JJ!

JJ,

(photo to come)

I missed you so much while we were in Disney with Emmie.  She missed you too.  She talked about you every day.  It was so sweet.  She was also in a gift shop and picked out a baby Mickey and said "I want to get this for JJ."  It was the BEST when I picked you up from G'Mom.  I had butterflies!! When we were driving home, you kept waving at me in the mirror and also your cooing was the sweetest sound to my ears. 

Stats:
Weight - 17 lb. 4 oz. (5%)
Length - 28 in. (20%)

You are:
-funny!!  When you and I were sitting on my bed, I was looking at my phone.  You l-e-a-n-e-d (stretched) forward and under to see my eyes.  You had a HUGE smile! 
-waving now.  Your first wave was to Daddy.
-I weaned you from nursing before we took Emmie to Disney.  You did great!  You are taking your whole milk through a bottle now great. 
-scooting on your belly (only) backwards.  :)
-attached to Sissy.  We were at Mrs. Peggy's and when Emmie left the room you started crying.  so sweet!
-You had your first spend the night party at Pug and Papa's while Daddy and I went on an overnight date to Huntsville to a concert.
-got your first haircut by Mrs. Paula.  You were very still and did a great job.
-getting your 2 front teeth in.
-great at getting from sitting up to laying on your belly now.  You lean really really far forward (almost doing the splits) and then roll big on your side and squeeze your foot to the back so you can get your you belly.
-sweet at Grampa and G'Mom's for 6 nights.  We took Emmie to Disney and you stayed with them.
-great at giving us the stink eye.  You give it too us ALL the time, like Paw Paw.
-still trying to repeat sounds we say like "bye, bye" (baba),  "hey" (he),  "dada", and "peak boo" (bo bo).
-silly about making sounds with your mouth.  If I act like I am going to eat your toes, you will go "(smack, smack, smack)".

We really think you are going to be a funny, funny boy!  You love to dance, shake your head, and also give us the "stink eye" all the time.  We can see those wheels turning.  What are you thinking?

Click here to see more pictures from this month.

I love you, my baby boy!
Mommy and Daddy

Happy 10 Months Birthday, JJ!

JJ,

My how the time is flying!  I can't believe I am already thinking about your first birthday party.  You sure do love to laugh.  I can make faces at your or say "what are you doing?" and it cracks you up.  You also LOVE to be sitting on our bed and fall back.  You laugh so hard.  I sit you up and you do it again and again and again. 

Stats:
Weight - 17 lb. 1 oz.
Length - 27 3/4 in.

You are:
-trying to repeat sounds we say like "bye, bye",  "hey",  "dada", and "didi".
-officially not napping anymore at dinner time.  You wake up from your afternoon nap about 4:30 and then stay up til I nurse you about 7:30 and then you go to bed for the night. 
-precious sleeping on your belly in the fetal position.  It makes me smile.  When I get you up, your knees are red from you sleeping so hard.  :)
-biting me when you nurse sometimes.  The other day a reacted quickly and popped you on your diaper.  Oh, it made you so sad with your lip poked out.
 -skipped your morning nap at church this past Sunday for the first time.  Ms. Ella can usually get you to sleep.  You did well and held out until your afternoon nap.
-making very funny faces now.  You can furrow your brow like your Great Grandfather, Paw Paw, would do. 
-really cute using your pointer finger and thumb as pinchers to get puffs to eat.
-sweet when you sleep on your back.  You still put your hands behind your back from being swaddled for 8 months.  I also know when you are playing and get fussy, if you put your hands behind your back you are ready for your nap.

Click here to see more pictures of our precious baby boy during this past month.

We love you, our sweet buddy!
Mommy and Daddy

Happy 4th Birthday, Emily Jane!

 

Emily!

What an amazing little girl you are!  No more 3 year old kisses in our home, this morning we have a BIG 4 year old!  You are the funniest, most caring, and ultra-creative little girl I know.  Mommy and Daddy love you beyond words.  You were SO excited this morning that it was your birthday!  You woke up earlier than you normally do - about 6:30am.  Then you were jumping up and down so big I couldn't even steal a kiss.

Where do I even begin my precious little angel?  We have had an awesome year with you.  Watching God work in your heart, your mind, and allowing you to grow and learn new things.  You beg everyday at naptime to snuggle with JJ.  It is so sweet!  He loves you so much.  You are really good at making him smile and laugh!

Here are some of the funniest words that you say now:
"seriously"
"nappy" hair
"take a time" (taking a long time)
"hear's the deal..."
"give it a shot"
"fedder" (feather)
"Clounder" (Flounder from the "Little Mermaid")
"Gee Wiz!"
"Nuts!"
"Great Gizmos!" (from the "Smurfs")

Top 20 funniest quotes:
1. "Mommy, my shirt (turtleneck) was like an arm hole. When I took it off, it pulled my eyes off."
2.  You told Daddy "You are squishing my lungs." Daddy, "How do you know that?" Emmie "I have bones and lungs, Daddy.  It says it in Mommy's pregnancy book.  Like JJ."
3.  "Mommy, can we have a jammie day?  Zoe can stay in her jammies too.  It is her fur."
4. "You are the best cook in the WHOLE wide world, Mama! You make the goodest pizza."; Daddy, you are the funniest man in the WHOLE world."
5. "This has no arm sleeves." (when putting on a short sleeve shirt)
6. "It is fogging outside, Mama!"
7. "Mama, you know why I kiss JJ so much? Because I love him SO much."
8. While making popcorn on the stove, "they are having a party in there.  They are having fun."
9. "Emmie, I miss you when you are at school." Emmie said, "But Mommy, I will have you in my heart."
10. "I am so glad we have headlights or we would be scared in the car."
11. Taking Halloween candy to the firemen: I told Emmie to take 2 more pieces for herself.  "No Mommy, the firemen need those."
12. "Mommy, I am going to be sick 40 one hundred thousand years, right?" (you had been sick for about 3 weeks with a cold/cough)
13. "It smells fresh, Mommy" (I was doing laundry.)
14.  While watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade, Daddy told you it was the "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" balloon.  You said, "Diarrhea is when you have to poop really bad."
15. "Do I look dazzling?" (when wearing my really high heels); "Isn't that little girl pretty? Just like me, huh?" (while watching a movie)
16. "These are my accessories." (3 nightgowns that you got out with your Cinderella dress)
17. "completely watch, this dough is pickupable." (we made strawberry cookies)
18. "Mommy, I need to turn off my music.  It is distracting me." (from eating yogurt)
19. "JJ's cheeks are cold.  We need to take him to the dr. to get him checked out."
20. "It's beautiful.  God gave me that idea." (decorating the stairs with a scarf)

Firsts:
- a boyfriend, Averette!  Funny!  You get a woozie smile when we ask you about him.  You said he is sweet like Daddy and makes silly faces at you to make you laugh.
- you burned your finger on the cookie sheet :(
- you have watch all kinds of movies: Aladdin,
- you LOVE to dust!
- you had your first Lemonade and Cookie stand today for the Hart's adoption.  50 cups = $105.00!!!
- you have learned to hop on one foot
- you LOVE to sleep with only your pull up on - "naked"
- you don't sleep with bed rails on your big girl bed anymore - you have only fallen out of your bed one time since but you busted both of your lips
- you went bowling and did great - you almost beat Mommy with the guard rails up
- you were able to reach the mailbox and flag to mail a letter to Irene in Tanzania
- racecar track on the living room carpet with masking tape
- you put your raincoat and rain boots on and we took your umbrella to splash in the puddles
- you painted your fingernails ALL by yourself :) as you can imagine, they were beautiful!
- you named your freckle on your shoulder "Goey" (like Zoe) - funny!
- you LOVE to eat boiled and fried eggs
- you can wink with your left eye now too - you can do both!!
- you asked Santa for a Cinderella Barbie.  He brought you one and you were SO excited!!
- you took a shower all by yourself: washing your own hair and body!!
- you and Mommy made your first paper snowflake
- you ask Daddy to help you surprise me: you made me blueberry muffins
- you, Mommy, and Daddy made your first Gingerbread House (it only took 4 days) WHEW!!
- you recognize 1-10 numbers and also most of your letters!

Click here to see all kinds of pictures of Emily from June-now.

In December, I asked you what kind of party you wanted.  You said a lady bug party.  Really?  How did you come up with that?  Well, we had a lady bug party and it was a hit!  You loved it - all lady bugs: hats, strawberries, pretzels, polka dot balloons, game, cake, wreath, etc.

Stats:
Weight - 36 lb.
Height - 39 in.

We can't wait to make memories with you again this year - as a BIG 4 year old.
We love you, Emily!
Mommy and Daddy

Happy 9 Months Birthday, JJ!

JJ,

You are really getting to be a silly, silly baby!  You Big Sis loves you SO much.  She begs everyday at naptime for you to snuggle with her. It is so sweet!  You LOVE it and smile so big.  She is great at tickling you too.  You LOVE music and your way of "dancing" is wiggling your head.  It is the cutest!  Emmie got a microphone stand that has music with it and you bounce so big in your jumper when she plays it for you.  It is great!

Stats:
Weight - 16 lb. 8 oz. (5%)
Length - 27 1/2  in. (20%)

You are:
-great at "winking" at us!  With both eyes, you squint and it is so cute!
-an expert roller now.  We had to take you out of your swaddle for naptime and just put you in your sleep sack for all your naps and bedtime too.
-lovin' Daddy's toes.  You wanted to eat them the other day.  YUCK!
-Happy 1st Christmas, JJ! 
-a baby food eater now!!  This is a big deal because in November you threw up rice cereal 3 times (one of the times we had to take you to Children's hospital.)
-eating - carrots, avocado, baby oatmeal, prunes, bananas, applesauce, green beans, yogurt, peas, puffs, and peaches.
-great at eating bananas out of your mesh bag.  It is so messy, but you really love them!
-1st Hair Cut: Daddy cut the hair around your ears and also in the back. 
-sweet when you nurse (when not biting me).  You like to play with my hair, earrings, shirt, and face.
-finally drinking out of a straw sippy cup.  It took me offering it to you 3 times a day for about 10 days for you to figure it out!  whew!

Click here to see more pictures of JJ from this month.

You are my sidekick right now, Buddy!  You really don't like to be left alone, so I will put you in your highchair right next to the sink and you will "help" me cook.  You love to play with your toys and are very content in the same room with us, but you have to be able to see Daddy or I.  You REALLY don't like other people to hold you when we are out and about.  You definitely prefer Daddy or I - we really don't mind being your favorites! 

We love you, our sweetest boy!
Mommy and Daddy

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.