Weekend in Lubbock

What a fun weekend!  Josh, Levi and I went to Lubbock here in October.  We stayed with our dear friends Janna, James and Hudson.  There is something so wonderful about getting to stay with someone.  There is a closeness about lounging around in our pj's, feeding our children, waking up together(not looking 'presentable' yet).  I get to keep up with Janna over the phone....but it sure doesn't do real life justice.  And those quick conversations don't include our husbands or our children.  I just soaked up every moment with this sweet family.

We both found baby sitters for our children and went to a Tech game.  Josh assured me this was his kind of date!  :D  Even though I might not be the biggest football fan ever, I sure enjoyed myself!  What a great game we went to!  Tech won!!!  We yelled.  We put our guns up!  We gave high fives. (Ha!  Where else can you do that?)  We ate nachos and got sunburned. We did this along with many more Tech fans and it was just FUN! 

I had Josh on one side to 'talk football' with.  And Janna on the other side to talk life.  Perfect situation.

 

On a side note, Josh is usually a chill, calm kind of guy.  I forget football(mainly in person) brings out his LOUD side.  He was so loud and excited, it almost freaked me out.  Ha!

Love these two!

We watched Tech students rush the field when we won........oh the college days.

Coincidentally both boys had footballs on their bums....with the left pant leg hiked up.  So funny!

They were so cute playing next to each other. 

Post game....notice Josh's sunburn on the right side.  I brought sunscreen, but of course he didn't want any.  Crazy guy!  Now it's peeling all off.

I got a few pics of sweet little Hudson.  He is too cute!

 

Oh...we also got to go to Redeemer Church while in town.  It is such a treat to hear Dusty Thompson teach and Joe Morrow lead worship.  Wow...so good!

Family Time in Amarillo

Whenever I get a chance to come together with my family I jump on it!  It doesn't happen as often as I'd like, but greatful for the time we do get.  Levi and I made it up to Amarillo to visit my family at the very end of September.  Josh had to stay home and work.  We did a lot of chasing babies around and just watching them.  So fun!


Levi and Mason are about three months apart.  But they are both doing lots of rolling, sitting, and chewing on everything.

"Oh hey there!"

Big cousin Elliott was probably the star of the show.....or at least the loudest, funniest and most active.  I absolutely loved watching and playing with her.  She is so fun!  She started crawling out of her crib in the mornings while we were all there.  One morning Levi and I were the only ones awake and she comes creeping(so very quietly) into my room.  Trying to let everyone sleep a bit more, I invite her into the bed.  Such sweet memories reading and playing with Elliott and Levi in those early morning hours. 

Strolling around at the lake to feed the ducks.

Elliott sure did love her Momo....Papa too.  But Momo definately holds a special place in this little girl's heart!

Love this sweet family!  They do such a great job with their little ball of energy as well.  Harper is so fun.....and oh so active.  She is constantly on the go!  She definately keeps her momma and daddy busy busy!  She is only 11 months and just started walking!  So sweet to see her walking around....getting better and better so quickly.

Tossing the bread.....after taking bites of it herself.  Hilarious!  She even ate some old bread off the ground.  Ha!

Taking it all in!  Aunt Erica you're so funny!

We met up with my cousins and their kiddoes at the zoo.  It was so fun!  Not necessarily because of the zoo, but because we actually got to do life together for one brief moment.  Usually when we meet up it is packed with saying hello and catching up real quick over a meal while keeping an eye on the kids.  We just walked together and enjoyed each other.  So blessed by this moment.

Kristi, along with several of the others wanted their turn pushing Levi.  He loved it!

I love this shot of Marcus and Harp.

So glad we got to see Myca and Lexi!

Creepy snake at the zoo.

It was such a beautiful day...a bit breezy....but still beautiful!

This is right before my dad tried to make Levi smile by making this loud sound....and Levi busted out crying.  Ha!  Backfire!  Thanks for the effort Dad!

So very greatful for you all!

Levi is Six Months Old!

Levi is a growing boy!  He is officially half a year old. 


Levi got his six month shots.  Such a trooper!  They made him awfully tired.

Levi went to the zoo for the first time in Amarillo.  I think he was more mesmerized by all of his cousins and second cousins than with the animals.

All of us girls and our parents got together in Amarillo at the end of September.  Sweet sweet times with family.  Babies were everywhere!  :D  Levi has lots to learn from his older cousins, Elliott, Harper and Mason.  We are at the lake feeding ducks in this pic.

Levi got to swing for the first time!  At first he didn't like it, but then changed his mind.  Who wouldn't like to swing?

Levi still loves his buddy Keller....and vice versa.  Inseparable.

Levi has officially caught on to eating baby food.  I have introduced lots at this point: green beans, peas, bananas, avocado, pear, peaches, sweet potato, butternut squash, oatmeal cereal, rice cereal.  I feed him baby food twice a day.  He loves eating from a spoon!  Maybe more than a bottle.  :/  I've tried pureeing a few foods: peaches, pears, and squash.  Pretty easy....but not as easy as grabbing pkgd baby food.  I do that too some.  He likes it all so far.

So....this picture says oh so much.  Breastfeeding started out so easy for me.  No worries.  Well....at Levi's four month check-up he had dropped from the 63% to the 39%.  My doc advised to start him on foods and offer a bottle.  So I did.....everything!  He's been eating foods great, but his nursing went down.  He went from 10 minutes total to about 5-8 minutes.  I started offering a bottle after every nursing and once or twice a day he might drink a little.  I started only giving him a bottle, after nursing, in the evening.  He acted happy and satisfied.  Anyway.....I go in for his six month check-up and he dropped down to the 19% in weight.  So right now he is:

15.15 lbs(19%)
27 inches(66%)
17 inches around head

I was so disappointed, just because I felt I was trying everything to ensure weight gain.  The doc advised continuing what I'm doing but offering a bottle after every single feeding.  I know he is happy and I'm so very grateful he is healthy, but at the same time I feel like I let him down by not helping him gain more.  One more reminder that I am not the perfect mother and God is in control, not me.  So I did as the doc said.  First day, Levi drinks about 8 oz extra from a bottle that day.  I'm thinking I've been starving my kid!  Then the next two days he doesn't come near the bottle!  Won't drink any other than nursing.  So ya know....my baby is just unpredictable to say the least and he eats when he wants to eat.  Go figure!  :)

Levi watching Praise Baby for the first time....enthralled!

Levi loves to sit these days.  He's so good at it now....only occasionally topples over.  He loves his tummy time still as well.  But seems to be getting a little irritated at not being able to move better.  He scoots in circles a lot, rocks on his knees and hands.  I have a feeling crawling is right around the corner.

No teeth yet, but he loves to chew/suck everything still.

He is such a happy boy still!  He brings such joy to our lives!  But bringing him on our date nights has gotten a little more tough.  He is not content chilling in his car seat like he used to.  Time to get a babysitter.

Almost there buddy!

He loves his time with Josh still.

It got chilly a few weeks back and I finally broke out the shoes Erica got him when he was born.  Cute!

Look at that crazy hair!  If nothing else, at least his hair is growing.  :D

Levi likes baths okay....but nothing like his cousin Mason who is sad when taken out. 

He is still in a size 3 diaper.  He only poops 1-2 times a day once I started him on baby food.

He wears 6-9 month clothes.

Scooting around!

Levi loves to make all kinds of  noises.  He clicks his tongue and squeels and babbles.  It is pretty high pitch.....so cute!

When he is startled by loud noises, specifically from other children, he starts crying.  Funny and sad at the same time.  On the first day we visited family in Amarillo he cried many times from his cousins' excitement.....thankfully he grew accustomed to the noise.  Ha.

We love you Levi!