first things first.

stetson eating breakfast (oatmeal and prunes) on his first ever christmas morning...he was, of course, oblivious to the fact that it was christmas and went down for his nap before any gifts were opened...unbeknownst to him, he racked up...he got lots of clothes and toys.  it's crazy to think that next christmas he'll be running around! 

twas the night before christmas.

a slightly blurry picture of the 4 cousins on christmas eve in their jammies...liam, kate, sloan, and stetson.

james took this out the window while we we driving down to georgia on christmas eve...i worked late on the 23rd so we waited til the next day to drive...it was nice to get up and take our time packing and getting ready to go instead of being stressed and breaking our necks to hurry...it was a good day.

my fellas.

james took this before he and stetson went shopping one day while i was at work...pete and repeat...

these were some random photos of our little man sitting up like a big boy...you can see one of his favorite toys his "great" bought him...it's a little alphabet wheel that sings the letters.

christmas cutie.

stetson's mimi (my mama...both of his grandmas are called mimi) bought him this hat....SO CUTE...we took these before we went out christmas shopping while she was here.

our little family.

we had family pictures taken at thanksgiving and we used this one for our christmas cards.

6 month check-up, etc.

stetson went for his well-check on dec 11...he weighed 16 lbs 3 oz (now in the 25th %) and 26 3/4 inches long (still around the 75th %)...he's a skinny little guy but he's pretty muscular.  he wasn't sitting up too well at the time of the doctor's appointment but he is now.  the doctor told us it was ok but we just needed to keep working with him on it...he said that sometimes babies that are really content won't push themselves to do new things.  his favorite thing to do is lay on his back and kick like crazy and i'm sure if we'd let him, he'd be content to do that all day...which, for him, is only about 5 or 6 hours of wake time.  he still requires alot of sleep and enjoys having downtime in his crib before he goes to sleep.  he can now sit up and play for a while before falling over...he got a johnny jump up for christmas but still hasn't figured out the jumping part.  so far he just turns himself in circles.  his bottom two teeth broke through last week so chewing on our fingers is no longer an option...too painful!  he is babbling up a storm now...lots of consonant sounds...the doctor said he's a little ahead verbally...he also has become much more social in the last month...before it would take him a little while to warm up to new people and now he smiles and talks alot more openly.  he is such a joy to have around.  the month of december has been very hectic and exhausting...hence, the lack of updates.  james went on an eleven day trip (let's not do that again any time soon!)...it wasn't bad, we had visitors....my aunt holly and uncle troy and my mama...but just having sole responsibility for that long was truly exhausting...my heart goes out to single moms...so from the time he got home (dec 15) it has been non-stop with me working, going down to atlanta to have christmas with james' family, and then coming down to vidalia for christmas with my family.  as much as i love the holidays, by christmas day i'm looking forward to getting back to normal routines.

what a little guy.

stetson is a real champ.  i mean for real. 

notice his legs are up in the air. he's real wild with those legs.

first thanksgiving.

stetson had his first thanksgiving.  he slept through the dinner, but woke up afterwards and was ready to feast.  he had a good time with the tipps side of the family.  he thinks his mimi is the jam.  also, we left for vidalia after jacki got off work around 8:30 p.m. and he slept just about the whole way down. we were so impressed that we decided to try that on the way back. he slept the whole way back.  so we think that is the way to travel with a stetson in the back. 

he's real presh.

early bird.

the last couple of days stetson has been waking up around 6:30am....a little earlier than usual.  he usually wakes up sometime between 7 & 8.  so even though 6:30 isn't much earlier, i sure feel a lot sleepier.  however, it only takes seeing that little face for a split second and i temporarily forget how tired i am.  these pictures were taken this morning at 7:30.  he had already eaten and gotten cleaned up and was ready to play....i think he lasted til 8 before he was ready for a nap.  is that the most precious face you've ever seen or what?!  after being at work for the past 2 days, i'm so glad i get to be home with him for the next 5.

ready for church.

he looked so cute this morning when i got him dressed for church that i had to take a picture!

what a happy boy.  he is growing so fast.  he looks bigger to me all the sudden.  he's eating a lot more right now so i think maybe he's having a growth spurt.  he usually eats half of a jar of baby food and last night he ate a whole nother jar.  he's also drinking his formula out of a sippy cup (the transitional ones with soft tops).   it's so cute when he grabs the little handles and pulls it up to his mouth.

btw...if you drop a bowl of baby oatmeal and bananas on the way out of the microwave, it makes a HUGE mess.

life+stetson

this has been a big week for stetson. he is talking up a storm and using a lot more consonant sounds. he is grabbing everything and shoving most of it into his mouth. along w/ the constant kicking he has started moving his arms a lot more. when he sits in your lap he slaps your arms over and over. it's adorable. he holds on to you when you hold him, which is something i've been waiting for.  he is eating his fruits and vegetables. he is a vegetarian.  stetson says, "the vegetarian lifestyle just makes sense. " i told him that it was a little trendy, but he didn't seem to even acknowledge my comment. which we had to have a talk about.

he is the best thing ever.

all grown up...well sort of.

this was taken this morning...he looks like a little man in his jeans and flannel shirt.  he had baby food for the first time last night.  sweet potatoes and some funny faces.  it made a much bigger mess than the rice cereal.  he does pretty good eating his food as long as his bottle isn't in his line of sight...if he spies it, he won't eat any more 'til he has his bottle.

salute to autumn.

these were taken when we went to the pumpkin patch a few weeks ago.  stetson was being cute but was getting tired so we didn't get any smiles for the pictures.

his fairy godmother (aka aunt heather) was holding him in this one

happy days.

stetson was sitting in my lap yesterday being super cute.  the picture where he's smiling with his mouth wide open is what he does when you open your mouth wide with a surprised face.  it's  hilarious when he smiles like that and shows all his gums.  the middle picture looks JUST LIKE his daddy!

at the post office.

stetson was running errands with his daddy while i was at work.  i miss that little face like crazy when i'm not with him.

out and about.

not loving the parking deck.

helping mama hold the napkins

practicing eating solid foods.

we went out shopping with stetson today. he's cute. he's really aware of his surroundings now.   he's constantly looking around.  he loves sitting in the sling, facing out, and looking around at everything and everybody.  he's quite social and adorable.  

doctor, doctor.

stetson had his 4 month well-check today.  he now weighs 14 lbs 3 oz (still 50th %) and is 25 7/8" (still 75th %).  he handled his shots really well and hasn't complained since.  he's a tough little guy.  he's turning over all the time, holding his head up well, babbling(with much squealing), laughing, not crying in the car---he'll finally fall asleep in the car without screaming--but mostly looks out the window/sun roof and talks--- and is eating rice cereal regularly.  it's so much fun to feed him his cereal...he opens his mouth wide for a bite...so cute!  he also sucks his thumb with his other fingers over his nose when he's going to sleep. "it's so cute, it makes me want to cut my head off"...that's a quote from his daddy about the thumb-sucking.  he's quite verbal and active and i think i have my work cut out for me when he is mobile....he spends most of his wake time laying on his play gym and kicking.  and kicking.  and kicking.  and talking to all the little animals dangling over him.  he squirms and scoots so much when we put him in his bed (on his tummy) that all of his pj's have pills on the knees.  but he's a really good sleeper...possibly because he wears himself out when he's awake!  we enjoy him so much we can hardly stand ourselves.

bro's.

stetson and jude hung out a little (between naps) while john mark and james were downstairs playing music.  they impressively slept through lee worley playing drums... and lee don't play quiet. 

i bet these two will rock out together when they are older.  

the young lion.

stetsonduke

taste of my own medicine

so. jacki+stetson headed to vidalia today, and i'm staying home.  i am working here in town this weekend so i couldn't go. this marks the first time my family has left me here at home by myself. i deserve a taste of my own medicine every now and again.  i'll get a real taste too cos' they will be gone until sunday night. that's just like most trips i take. 

 i'm not really used to this. but i will get to play guitar as loud as i want. 

godspeed, minha familia

surveying the prop.

i took stetson out to his backyard today.  he was a little upset that there was no tree house or swing set. but i reminded him that he is only 4 months old and that he should just enjoy his blue bumbo. the rest will come. 

he's on the mend, by the way.

coffee girls.

smiling at me

looking at "aunt" molly

havin' a chat with "aunt" amanda

these are from this morning at "aunt" molly's.  stetson was being super cute after waking up from his nap.  he turned 4 months old over the weekend and something changed because yesterday and today he's staying awake for 2 hours at a time (content) and then going down for naps without fussing.  he has even been content in the car...which is usually not his fave.  it's crazy how they change so fast.  and even though it's only the second day like this, it's been wonderful having him awake a little more where i can actually run errands without feeling like i'm disrupting his nap times.  so precious, that little guy.  can i say it enough?  

big boy.

stetson ate rice cereal for the first time tonight...it took him a few minutes to get the hang of it, but he caught on pretty quick.  it was messy but he was happy...as long as i kept that spoon coming!