O'Malley

O'Malley has been living with us (again) for the past week and it's been such a treat. We love that dog but knew it was best to let my parents keep him after he lived with them for over a year.
Mom and dad headed to Em's house for Thanksgiving so they dropped the dog off last weekend.
There have been so many people up at the lake house over the last week, O'Malley has been in heaven! He has probably gotten more people food, less walks and dare I saw less attention but I think he has had a good stay.
He is the protector of Anderson and always has to be laying near him. It stems from jealousy I'm sure, but it's still sweet.
We will miss O'Malley when he goes home tomorrow. But I'm glad we are back in Charlotte so we can see him a lot more often.








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Cereal

We have entered a new phase...cereal!  As I mentioned in his 4 month post, Anderson stopped sleeping his normal 12-13 hours at night and mama wasn't happy.  He would wake up, down a bottle and then go right back to bed.  Selfishly, I wanted those 12 hour stretches so I didn't have to wake up at 4am/5am and go back to sleep.

We went to his new pediatrician in Charlotte for his 4 month check up and she suggested we start him on cereal.  The next afternoon, I was excited to get home and see his reaction to this new food.  The first night, we might have actually eaten 3 spoonfuls.  The rest was on his face, chinS or bib.  The next night (after a 2.5 second random freak out), he did so much better and actually ate most of it.  The poor little guy seems to be constipated which he NEVER is, so I added some prune juice to the cereal.  Praying this doesn't backfire on me.

  This face was too good not to document

We're excited the 12-13 hour stretches are back...yet to be determined if it's actually from the cereal or not.  Whatever it's from, we're praying our good sleeping boy is here to stay for a while.

4 Months

Anderson,

You are now 4 months old and had a really great month!   Am I allowed to say each month... "this was my favorite month"??  Your personality keeps changing and you are becoming more and more fun.  
We moved to Denver, NC to live at the Russo's lake house right when you turned 3 months old.  Everything we own is packed in a storage unit except our clothes, your crib and chair.  You did great during the move and it didn't seem to mess up your sleep or demeanor. 

Mom started back to work and you have adjusted so well.  We take you to Miss Beth's everyday and you are so happy at her house.  You arrive in your pj's every morning and give Miss Beth a smile right when we walk in the kitchen.  When mommy picks you up, you muster up a smile or giggle to make sure I feel loved.  Miss Beth has been great to keep your same schedule and says you are a very good boy for her.  I went away for the weekend with your aunts and nanny.  You had a great weekend with your dad and were extra well behaved.

You have continued to roll around, eat your hands/fingers ALL.DAY.LONG, love standing and started to really belly laugh.  The first time we heard you belly laugh, I almost cried.  It was the best thing I have ever heard.  You have continued to drool like a champ and constantly want to hold your bottle.  You played in your exersaucer for the first time and continue to love the johnny jumper (we only let you play in those for 30 minutes a day so it doesn't stretch our hips too much...following Dr. Ellen's orders)  You started riding in the bob face-forward like a big boy and have done really well.  You either scratch the sides and listen to the noise your nails make or play with the toys we attach.  You found your voice this month and started to "talk" all the time.
You are still a total morning person and smile and giggle the minute we walk into your room.  You are the happiest when you are naked.  If you could roll around in your diaper all day, you would be the happiest baby on the earth.  Sorry bud, clothing is important.
You attended eKidz at church for the first time this past month.  Mommy was a little anxious during the church service but you did great.   You have gone a few times now and really love it.  You have started to nap longer on the weekends (2.5-3.5 hour) stretches.  It is glorious for us and we appreciate it!  
You had your first Halloween and mom let you wear a lame costume.  We dressed you up in your giraffe costume,  took a few pictures, went to test drive a new car, then put you to bed.  Exciting night, buddy!
As promised, we bought you a home this past month.  We showed it to you a few weeks ago and you approved.

4 Month Stats:

Weight- 14lbs 1 oz (50% percentile)

Length- 26.5 inches (80% percentile)

Head- don't remember the exact measurement but you were in the 20% percentile.  Sorry about your pea head

Eating-taking a bottle every 3-4 hours during the day

Naps-2 hour morning nap, 2 hour afternoon nap and a 30-45 min cat nap in the evening

Night time-You are usually in bed by 6:30pm and we wake you at 7am to put you in your car seat to go to Miss Beth's house.  A week before your 4 month birthday, you started waking up around 4 or 5am.  We gave you a bottle and you went right back to sleep.  We started you on cereal but more on that later

We are thankful for a healthy and happy little boy and feel blessed to be your parents.   
Love you little nugget! 

Sorry, mostly iphone pics this month...

first time time in the water/sand at the lake

 first pair of shoes

 dinner date with mom and dad- played the whole time

 getting ready for the pumpkin patch

 your favorite past-time...drool bubbles

 first time at church

 first Halloween

 exploring the exersaucer

 attempt at a family picture

 first time riding face-forward in the bob.  Need more toys?

Sold!

When we moved back to Charlotte, we thought it would be a breeze to find a house.  We were sadly mistaken!  It has been an ORDEAL to find our "forever" home, but we finally did.  We put an offer down on 5 different houses and walked away from each for one reason or another.  During the whole process, Mike kept reminding me that the Lord had the perfect house for us and we just needed to be patient.  Everyone knows how much I wanted to listen to those words.  

We put an offer on a house a few weeks ago and the next day it was accepted!  We had the pest inspection and home inspection today and everything went pretty well.  Only a few minor things we would like the owners to fix.

I might have already started planning a housewarming party.  I just needed an excuse to see everyone.  We're excited to move in a few weeks and start making it our home.  Our door is always open, so feel free to come stay (unless it's past 9pm and I will probably be in bed)!

Girls Weekend 2012

Last weekend, we headed to our Annual Gibbs Girls weekend.  

Em drove from Tuscaloosa, I drove from Charlotte and mom and Lora flew from GSO & RDU.  Somehow, we all pulled into Chateau Elan at the exact same time.  We didn't waste anytime once we dropped our bags in the room.  We walked the property, checked out the spa and found ourselves at one of the property restaurants ordering adult beverages.  That evening, we headed to a local Mexican restaurant where everyone tried to get the other person tipsy.  Mission accomplished.

Saturday morning, we woke up to mom asking what time it was and/or coughing (love you, mom)!  We began to question why we didn't get 2 rooms, but all was quickly forgotten once be started talking about food.  We had a great breakfast, made best friends with the chef then headed to the spa.  We were at the spa from 9:30am until after 2pm.  We had massages/facials, relaxed, ate lunch in our robes (my favorite part) and took advantage of all the spa "extras".  

After the spa, Em and I headed back to the room so we could just chill.  Lora took one for the team and went on a nature walk with mom.  Apparently it wasn't too painful since they stopped halfway through the walk and had drinks at the pool bar.  

Late that afternoon, we all quickly got ready for the winery tour and tasting.  We had a good time sipping wine and being obnoxious as usual.

That evening, we all got dressed up and headed back to the winery for dinner.  The food and wine were amazing.  After dinner was over, mom might have been trying to talk us into going to the restaurant/bar next door for drinks and dancing.  Her daughters are lame and said no.  We were all tired and wanted to lay around and then get some sleep.  BORING...but a perfect night in my book.

 Mom misbehaving as usual

 Happy 60th birthday mom!

Sunday morning, we all woke up and got ready to head out.  Mom and Lora had to get to the airport to catch an early flight and I was ready to hit the road so I could see my little man.

It was my first time away from Anderson and I missed those chubby cheeks!  Mike and Anderson had a great weekend together  and I was so thankful for a weekend away.
Until next year...

This is what happens...

when the four of us are at the spa together.

Clearly we don't get out much!

I should caption each photo with what we were saying at the time, but I will leave that to your own imagination.  Bless them!

Weekend away

I am leaving tomorrow for the Gibbs Girls annual trip.  This year we are heading to Chateau Elan, right outside of Atlanta.  It will be my first weekend away from Anderson and I have mixed emotions about it.

I am SO EXCITED to spend the weekend with my mom and sisters and sleep without the baby monitor.  But, I am a control freak and won't be able to control Anderson's schedule while I'm away.  Crazy, I know.  Mike is completely capable and I know he will be fine, but I will still be worried. (plus he has assured me that he will follow the schedule and keep track of it in my journal-love that man)

I am sure we will facetime an excessive amount this weekend and that will help my craziness.  To make matters worse, I get back on Sunday evening and fly out on Monday morning for a work trip.  Mike gets the award for super dad!

I'm ready to drink too many glasses of wine, laugh at random things mom says, rent bikes, tour the winery, relax at the spa, consume lots of yummy food, get some sleep and of course make more memories!

Happy weekend!