Outside

Yesterday, the weather was close to 80 so we packed up like a herd of gypsies and took you outside. You christened the world with your voice yesterday as we talked and laughed under the beautiful blue sky. I thanked God once again yesterday for giving me the most adorable son imaginable. And for the warm weather, the clear blue sky, the breeze, for everything that makes life good. It is my hope that your voice will continue to blow across grassy fields into the hearts and lives of the people you will meet in life.

Chillin' on the bobcat.



3 months old!

Oh my! You are three months old now! I can't believe how much you've grown and changed since last month! Here are some things you're up to these days:

*You are smiling, cooing, and talking all the time! You have certainly found your voice and know how to use it. We have conversations about most everything and you always have such good responses! You do the 'gggghhhh' sound and 'ahhhhh' pretty well. You can imitate sounds sometimes and you laugh if daddy or I make a silly face or noise.

*You are sleeping well at night! THANK YOU! You love your bedtime routine of bath, bottle, swaddle, read and most nights you are sleeping by 7:30. You usually sleep until about 5:30 or 6:30, occassionally waking once to feed in the night. You are a happy boy in the mornings and smile when we come get you from your crib. Talk about starting the day off right!

*You are independent! You love playing on your mat or laying in your pack-n-play looking at your mobile.

*You have discovered your hands and love to pull your clothes and show your belly off. You also love putting your hands in your mouth. I need to stock up on some antibacterial wipes!

*You still don't like tummy time but you're getting better at staying a little longer.

One month old!

Two months old!

Three months old!

You can definitely tell you've grown so much! We are enjoying every minute of watching you become your own little person.

Happy three months, Webb!

Forever Young

May the Good Lord be with you down every road you roam

And may sunshine and happiness surround you when you're far from home

And may you grow to be proud, dignified, and true

And do unto others as you would have done to you

Be courageous and be brave

And in my heart you'll always stay

Forever young (forever young)

Forever young (forever young)

May good fortune be with you, may your guiding light be strong

Build a stairway to heaven with a prince or vagabond

And may you never love in vain

And in my heart you will remain

Forever young (forever young)

Forever young (forever young)

For ever young

For ever young

Yeah!

And when you finally fly away I'll be hopin' that I served you well

For all the wisdom of a lifetime no one can ever tell

But whatever road you choose

I'm right behind you, win or lose

Forever young (forever young)

Forever young (forever young)

Forever young

Forever young

For! For! ever young

Forever young

Rod Stewart's lyrics to Forever Young speak so profoundly about all I wish for you. May you be kind to all, serve your Lord, help those in need, learn, laugh, and play with all of your heart.

I love you, my sweet little son. You are the light of my life.

Throwing 'They grow up fast' in the garbage!

I can't count the number of times people have commented to me that I best enjoy my baby while he's little because "They sure do grow up fast" or "He'll be driving before you know it." While I appreciate people telling me to enjoy the younger years, I am obligated to stop and wonder why I hear these statements so often. I have come to the conclusion that we as a society, force children to grow up quickly. We blink our eyes and realize that the days have passed too quickly and our children are grown and getting married. Why does this happen? In my opinion, it's the result of a world gone insane with running ourselves here, there, and everywhere day-in and day-out with the outcome being the thought of 'where has the time gone?!?!' Well, my friends, I think if we slow down and stop running our children to all-day triple headers, basketball practice, soccer practice, dance, and scouts, we might just have time to enjoy their childhoods. I have read many a facebook updates where mamas were spending their Saturdays on a ball field watching their seven year old play ball ALL afternoon! No wonder you say that children grow up fast. They're spending less time engaging in imaginative play around the house or in the back yard or having family meals at the dining room table and more time being coached by Billy's dad and eating fast-food in the car on the way to the game. I once knew a lady with a young son who would tell me stories of the tot changing clothes in the car on the way to the game while eating his Happy Meal because they were so rushed to get to the game before it started.

So we're back to where we started . . . "They grow up fast." Well, folks, not in this house. I refuse, repeat, refuse, to raise my child in a whirlwind of this sort. Chris and I believe in quality family time, dinners around the table, playing outside, and being at home. I want Webb's childhood memories to be of Saturdays spent playing in the yard, working puzzles on the floor, cooking breakfast with daddy, snuggling with mama, reading books, and building forts. I want to watch him grow up and savor every single minute of him. I must say however, that I don't believe that sports are bad. I believe children need to learn teamwork and how to listen and follow directions. I believe children need to be active in church and organizations like Scouts. All of these create a well-rounded child, which I hope Webb will be. But when the time comes for us to make decisions about his extra-curricular activities, I hope we can choose activities that help him, not make him and us feel like we're running a three-ringed circus. I hope to keep his best interests in perspective and remind myself that he's a little boy- not an adult trying out for the NFL. He'll have plenty of time for fierce competition and serious sports in middle and high school but not when he's a wee one.

I refuse to let him 'grow up fast.' And as his mother, I have that ability. The ability to make choices for our family. I choose family dinners and weekends spent at home. I choose to ignore the insane world of go, go, go. I hope you will too. For the sake of your children. Because I'm sure they do 'grow up fast.'

Daddy had matching toboggans made for you two.

Daddy has hung his carabiner on your playmat. I refuse to let you go climbing until you're 21. If ever. :)

Okay, mama, that's enough pictures for today!

In other news, I ordered you a CUTE bathing suit and sunhat today! We can't wait to put you in the water!



Hope everyone has a good week. And Happy Valentine's Day!

Be still my beating heart . . .

Nothing can make a mama more happy than seeing a grown man read and rock their little baby to sleep.

 Everything that really matters in life . . . in one room. I never knew that love could be so boundless, so brimming, so incredibly heart-stopping.

On the night you were born, the moon smiled with such wonder that the stars peeked in to see you and the night wind whispered, "Life will never be the same."

On the Night You Were Born by Nancy Tillman

Almost 11 weeks!

Here we are at nearly 11 weeks since you made your appearance! You are growing so quickly and are really starting to become your own little person. These are some things you've been up to!

1. You rolled over this week! I had you on your tummy while we were playing one afternoon in your room. You were getting a little frustrated with tummy time as you usually do but this time, you propped yourself up on your arm and rolled your little body over! I started yelling and laughing at you and the dogs went crazy! I bet you think your mama is one silly lady. I was just so proud of your little milestone!

2. You sleep like me! At least that's what daddy says- and I must agree. You love to have your head covered. Several times we've had to move the blanket off of your head because you've buried yourself under it. This morning, I went in to check on you and you were all the way under the blanket with your little fists in the air. I think you're moving around so much in your sleep and wallowing (like I do!) and you just get yourself all twisted up in the blanket- even when you're swaddled!

3. You are smiling and cooing a lot! We spend a lot of time talking to you and listening to you talk back to us. You are spending much of your day 'working' and playing instead of sleeping. You like to lay in your crib and watch your mobile. You are so much fun!

4. You have found your hands again. When you were born, you sucked on your hands a lot. Lately, you've been sucking on them more and making this crazy clicking sound with your lips. I think you're trying to entertain us!

5. Speaking of cribs, you are now sleeping in yours all night! We made this decision when I went to check on you one night and you had your legs propped up on the foot of your bassinett! What a little monkey. You were also moving around so much that you'd hit your head against the side of it. You have done well in your crib- and I know you like having more room to wallow!

6. We started a bed time routine a few weeks ago and it seems to be working pretty well! We start around 7:30 by giving you a bath (some nights, not all), followed by feeding you, swaddling you, and rocking you to sleep. You then wake up once in the night to eat and usually go right back to sleep. I don't want to get too excited about how well you're doing with this, but for now, I'm very pleased. You are sleeping for 6 hour stretches which is nice too! Go baby!

7.Your first beach trip is coming soon! We are so excited about taking you to our favorite place, Oak Island. This will be the first of many many trips!

8. Between the hours of 5pm and 7pm, you can be a BOOGER! This seems to be your fussiest time of day. Some days you're fine, but others can be quite trying! You have a little fit and there is nothing daddy and I can do to please you. During these times, I just pray for patience and wait for it to pass, which it does. Then you're ready for a good night's sleep.

9. Everyone says you're perfect. Like Gerber baby perfect. People have said you're the most beautiful baby they've ever seen. They might just be saying that, but we think you're perfect and beautiful too. You are loved so much. Your grandparents adore you and love spending time with you. You are one lucky little boy.

Hanging with dad

Tummy time

With your buddy Mr. Seahorse!

Love your little hands.

Stinker!

Daddy caught this face with his phone camera. You are a STINKER for sure!