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.