Weekend of Firsts

With a new baby every day seems to be some type of first for them.  This past weekend we had two big firsts. 

1.  Eating some rice ceral and bananas; and

2.  Playing in the exercaucer

The rice cereal went okay.  John Henry had more fun playing with the cereal than eating it.  To be honest, I'm shocked any of it got swallowed.  It didn't look very appetizing to me!

Gearing up for the first bite...

I realize I look mad in this picture.  I'm not mad, I'm just concentrating on getting the food into his mouth as opposed to all over his face.

He's not necessarily convinced that it's good...

Overall it was okay.  Not great but not bad.  I didn't get any pictures of the bananas but he really enjoyed those.  They were frozen so I'm sure it felt good on his sore gums.

Next up was the exercaucer.  It didn't start off great but it got better.  He's a little afraid of the honking sound one of the buttons makes but overall I think he likes it.



Look how tiny he looks in it!

Wondering what it's all about

He would rather watch Lady.

Then it was off to the play gym.  Now that he is grabbing everything it's more entertaining for him.

Got it!

Mmmm, yummy!

After all that play time he needed a nap.  He fell asleep with me on the couch. I didn't sleep long since he kept rolling over on his side, which didn't leave a lot of room for me.  Oh well, his sleep is more important!

Easter Day

This was busy Easter.  We started by attending the early morning Easter Service at our church in Decatur.  It was beautiful and we always love that service.  Once we got home we (and by we I mean I) realized that we needed a family picture so it was off to Sherridan's house.  Sherridan took our picture and afterwards we were able to watch her kids play on their new slip and slide that the Easter Bunny brought them.  

Happy Easter everyone!

More pictures, really???

John Henry with Aunt Sherridan

Don't Jay and Sherridan look alike in this picture?

The Santivanez parents

Sweet Holland.  She was so happy to get out of her Easter dress and play in the water.

She needed a little help from her brother Max.

Later that afternoon we all headed over to Bunny and Carol's house for a backyard Easter egg hunt and dinner.  Holland was given a 5 minute head start.  She was a little confused in the beginning.  She thought everything was supposed to go in her basket, including the rocks in the backyard. 

Getting the hang of the it!

"What do you mean I don't eat it now?"

Then it was the time for Henry and Max to go.  They really treated it like a race.  Both boys ended up with an ENORMOUS amount of candy at the end!

Sumner and Jay hid the eggs this year.  This was Sumner's first year not participating as an egg finder.  Crazy!  She is getting too old.

Holland doing her candy dance!

After the egg hunt we had a delicious dinner outside.  The weather was perfect and John Henry was content to sit and watch the commotion around him.  I don't have any pictures of him at Bunny's house but I'm sure Jay would have taken the camera away if I tried to make that baby be in more pictures.  Overall we had a wonderful Easter and we are so blessed to be able to share it with family.  To our family that isn't close by, we love and miss you and hope to see you soon!

Happy Easter!

I took hundreds of pictures on Easter.  I was even lucky enough to get Sherridan to take our family picture below.  Not all of the pictures turned out great.  But below are my favorites.

John Henry's Easter Egg Hunt

He was more interested in his feet...

And looking at his daddy!

Our happy boy.

He pretty much lost it after this picture.  I can't say I blame him.

Mt Bethal Easter Egg Hunt

Sherridan and Holland joined us at the Mt. Bethal Easter Egg Hunt.  We didn't make it to the actual egg hunt but we did make it to the petting zoo.  Holland LOVES animals so this was the best thing ever for her.  John Henry was content to sit back and watch the craziness of the animals and other kids.  Maybe next year he'll be fearless like Holland and pet the animals!

I really didn't plan on being color coordinated, I promise!

"Hey Goat, give me a hug!"

"Why is this kid petting my bunny?"

Fearless Holland!

Happy Cousins!

The Start of Easter

My mom wanted to give John Henry and Lady their Easter gifts early.  Lady got a pink bunny and John Henry got a book and a blue bunny.  However, John Henry soon lost his bunny to Lady who decided she needed both a blue and pink bunny.  Tough luck John Henry!

Grandma Yeary reading his Easter card

Looking at his new book with Grandma

Lady with BOTH bunnies

Breaking through

At around 2 and half months we were convinced that John Henry was teething.  We knew it was early but he was drooling and constantly chewing on his hands and anything that he could get in him mouth.  The doctor said that babies teeth for a long time before they actually cut their teeth.  Well today we looked down and John Henry had cut his first tooth.  It's his front bottom left tooth.  That explains why he's been a little out of sorts.  It's so crazy that he has a tooth!  The crazier thing, we can feel the top two teeth under his gums so it's only a matter of time until he shows some more.

Picture Day

John Henry had picture day at daycare.  I was curious as to how they were going to take John Henry's picture since he can't sit up unless he's in a bumbo seat or his pottery barn chair (neither of which the photographer had).  When I got home today and saw the pictures I couldn't help but laugh.  They put him in a bean bag chair.  Very smart.  However, the bean bag chair wasn't what made me laugh.  It was the surrounding props they used.  The rock, picket fence, flowers, water bucket, and gardening gloves are hysterical!  I get the spring motif but if John Henry can pull weeds he better speak up because I have a lot of work he can do. 

And even though the fake props are a little silly, I ordered one of each print.  I couldn't help myself!

4 Months!

Here we are again and I feel like this month went faster than the ones before it.  John Henry is 4 months and is currently 14 pounds and 25 inches long.  He's 50% in weight and 70% in height.  Yes I said it, 70% in height!  I find this to be funny since Jay and I were convinced that the sheet said 20% for height until the doctor corrected us. 

Over the past few weeks John Henry's eyes are moving away from the blue and true green to a more hazel brown.  The doctor thinks they may be hazel when it's all said and done but I'm holding out hope for those brown eyes.  It also looks like the red is gone and he will have blond hair.
 

Overall John Henry is an extremely happy baby.  He wakes up with a smile and keeps it for most of the day. 


John Henry is a talker.  He loves to talk and doesn't always need a response from us to keep going.  He talks in the car, in his chairs, during tummy time, when you hold him, when he wakes up, when he goes to sleep...you get the picture.  I guess he has a lot to say!

He loves to grab at his toys.  If there isn't a toy in front of him he is content to grab and pull on your fingers.

He continues to put everything possible in his mouth.  We believe he's teething and is always gumming everything possible.

He loves to be outside which makes Jay so happy.  I pray he doesn't get allergies so he can spend as much time as possible with his daddy exploring the great outdoors.

 He's still very sensitive to sound.  When we blow our nose, close a heavy door, and unload the plates from the dishwasher he jumps from the sound.  His eyes get wide and for a brief moment panic washes over his face.  He gets over it quickly but for that split second he looks scared to death...

We've been told that we can start John Henry on solid foods (at least rice cereal) and he can now go in his exersaucer.  Next thing they'll be telling me is he's ready for college.  If I could slow down time I would but since I can't I'll continue to take a lot of pictures.

If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

(John Henry in his sleep sack)



We had the great idea that John Henry should try a sleep sack at night as opposed to being swaddled.  It didn't go well.  It didn't go well at all.  John Henry woke up several times (which felt like a thousand times) Friday night.  We tried again Saturday night.  At 3:30 AM on Sunday I gave in and swaddled him.  Within seconds he was asleep and stayed asleep until 8:30 . We're pretty sure we can keep him swaddled until he's 15 if we get creative with beach towels and duct tape.

Crawfish Boil

Two weekends ago we spent a wonderful Saturday afternoon at the Calvert's house for a crawfish boil.  We had a wonderful time and spent the afternoon visiting with our friends and their children.  We call it the Wheeler Group because at least one member of each family went to Wheeler.  It's the only high school reunion I hope to ever be a part of.  Not that I have anything against the typical high school reunion, I'm just not interested in seeing people that I don't stay in touch with and couldn't recognize if my life depended on it. 

Clint and Sarah did an amazing job of hosting our group of 36 (17 adults and 19 kids) that day.  All of the food was delicious and it was the perfect way to spend a beautiful day outside.

Our Host

Jay, Reid, Clint

I love this picture because everyone is holding a baby that isn't their baby!

Ash and his youngest of 3 girls!

Carrie and Griffin

It's amazing how swings can entertain kids!

Mandy and JH

Steph, Kelly holding John Henry's future girlfriend, and Jenny

Sarah and I jumped in on the picture fun.

Trying out the baby bjorn

Jeff and Jay can enjoy their beers and take care of kids.

Mandy and Ragan

Kelly and Tigger enjoy a few moments with their precious little girl

Future best friends

Hunter is going for the good stuff.  Forget the milk!

The party was so good it wore John Henry out!