Go Western Day

Full Disclosure: I actually purchased Ellie a new outfit specifically for Go Western Day. How lame is that? I don't even like "western" attire! But I didn't have anything that applied this year and I have always dressed her up for Go Wester Day! Plus, I figure she can also wear it to the rodeo next week.

Dear Jack - 5 Months

Dear Jack,

Today you are 5 months old! The past 3 weeks have been rough for you (and for us) as you have been teething. About three weeks ago, you became very congested and started coughing a lot. You started waking up almost every hour during the night and your appetite diminished. All classic signs of teething but since your sister didn’t get her first tooth until 8 months, I just ignored the signs and worried that you had your first cold.

Nighttimes have become a big blur with your dad and me taking turns comforting you. I am no longer able to keep track of how many times we get up during the night or what time(s) you woke up. I am hoping once you are done with this nasty teething business we can go back to your once a night schedule.

This past week your appetite returned with a vengeance. Whereas you used to take 4-5 ounce bottles, you are now scarfing down 6 ounces and still begging for more. We also started you out on rice cereal a few weeks back. You were not having it. Probably because you were teething and your mom is too dumb to realize it. Either way, you are now enjoying a nice bowl of rice cereal every day and we recently offered you sweet potatoes as well. Sadly, you are no longer breastfeeding. Tuesday was your last nursing and you are now a formula-only child. I think I will miss it more than you will.

You are smiling a lot more frequently now, but you are still stingy with the laughter. I always have to find new things that make you laugh because once you find something funny, you will only laugh at it once and then I guess it just loses its humor for you. You like to make us work for those adorable chuckles.

Even though you are currently waking up all night long, you are still the easiest, most mellow baby. I can take you anywhere and know that you will be content as long as your belly is full. When you get tired, you just close your eyes and drift off, regardless of what is going on around you.

One of my coworkers recently commented on how whenever I talk about you, my face just lights up. I feel all lit up on the inside, too. Even when life is really hectic and I am feeling sleep-deprived, I still have this deep-rooted sense of contentment and happiness. And that is partly due to you, little man. It is hard not to be happy when I have a sweetheart like you to call my own.

I love you forever,
Mama

Track Meet

I have taken Ellie and Jack to several track meets this season. My hands are usually too full of Jack (and chasing Ellie) to take some pictures. But today I decided that I needed to capture the exhausting fun on film so I pulled out the ol' camera phone and snapped a few.

Ellie LOVES watching Tom's team run. She loves to wear her track shirt and scream "Daddy!" from the sidelines. But it pains her that she is not able to go run with his team so today one of the girls came and raced Ellie on the sidewalk. Ellie won. She is that fast.

Daniel's team happened to be participating in this meet as well so Sabrina brought the kids and met us there. We were having a good time until Ellie put her finger in Jack's teething mouth. When she removed the finger, it had a whole lot of drool on it. So what did my lovely daughter do? Walked over to the person sitting near us and wiped her finger on the lady's pants! Horrifying! The people behind us witnessed it as well and really got a kick out of it. Yeah, real funny when it isn't your child wiping drool on complete strangers!

Jack though it was funny, too...

Sunday Best: White Shirt and Tie edition

Jack went with the classic "white shirt and tie" look for church today. Ellie was in the room when I was getting him dressed and she looked at his clothes and said, "That's just like Grandpa and Uncle Daniel!"

Ellie wore this beautiful hand-me-down dress that Rosie made. With her own two hands. Is there anything Rosie can't do?

Also, check out how it brings out the best in Ellie. She is standing normal instead of striking her trademark rockstar pose. Like this... Or this...

Or this...

For journaling purposes only...

I think I already mentioned that Jack doesn't get much floor time. I love to hold and cuddle him and if I am unable to do so, I need to put him somewhere where he will be happy for an extended period of time. Flat on the floor doesn't cut it. Like right now? He is in the swing next to me. And if I am cooking dinner or washing dishes, he is in the exersaucer watching his sister play or watching me work from his high chair. But I was tired today and crashed on the floor almost as soon as I walked in. I put Jack on the floor next to me and he quickly flipped from his back to his stomach. But apparently he forgot to flip from his stomach to his back so he soon started fussing. Every time I would put him on his back, he would flip over again to his stomach with ease. For all I know, he may have executed this maneuver days ago in daycare, but my policy is "if I didn't see it, it didn't happen." So, yeah, for journaling purposes...Jack rolled from his back to his front for the first time today. Why was this so much more exciting when Ellie did it?