Father's Day Photoshoot

Alli Miles (All Smiles Photography)

And like that, 6 months!

Look out, world!  This kid is half a year old today, & he's comin' to getcha!- One...scoot...at a time...

He's gone from "sitting up" like this-

To this-

Of course, there's been plenty of Grandparent time-

And even some time with more distant grandparents!

He's getting even more coordinated with his hands.  It's hilarious sometimes on his changing table- he loves to grab glasses, noses, cheeks, eyes... anything he can get!  This new control with his hands also means that he actually enjoys his toys now.  He especially loves his sun rattle for some reason.

Those hands also help him cope with his teething.  Poor thing- he doesn't have any teeth to show for it, yet, but does have some very bumpy gums.  Sometimes Dane and I will catch him trying to put both fists in his mouth, bless his heart!

He gets plenty of Daddy time- his face just lights up when Dane enters the room.  It's a joy to see.

He's made a few more friends (and he's starting to acknowledge them!)

Other developments this month include the following:

He LOVES to "stand" and "walk" (with a whole lot of help from Mom & Dad!).

He just barely stopped spitting up quite as much (hooray!)

He tried his first bit of banana this past week.  Loved it!

Yep.  We just love our little guy.  Bring on the next six months!

Father's Day

Again, this Father's Day meant a whole lot more to us this year with the little guy.  I am so grateful for the men in my life who have shown me what masculinity is truly all about.

It's not how physically strong, tough, or dashing you are (although my boys do have their fair share of strength and good looks!)  It's not about your golf swing, that collection you've been putting together, or your man cave.

REAL men play make believe games with their kids.  They change diapers.  They love their wives and try to express that to them every day.  REAL mean put the Lord and their families first.

Mother's Day

1 Samuel 1:27- For this child I prayed; and the Lord hath given me my petition which I asked of him

This year, Mother's Day definitely meant a lot more to me.  

 To go from wondering if we'd even be able to have children to having this energetic, talkative little guy has been the greatest (and hardest!) blessing of my life over the last few years.  My heart goes out to all others who, for whatever reason, do not and perhaps will not have literal children in this life.  My source of comfort before Atticus came along was the knowledge that, in whatever capacities we're able, Heavenly Father gives us a chance to "practice" for the eternities.  I know that He is a perfect, loving, heavenly parent and will not deny this blessing to his faithful chidlren.

For me, this "practice" came in various forms.  As a teacher, coach, Aunt, Sunday School teacher, and even as a neighbor, I had opportunities to mentor and love a few of these little ones (even the bigger little ones, ha ha!)  I know that, though we might not even feel GOOD at this whole motherhood thing (and I very often don't!) we, as women, have been given special gifts to nurture and love these precious children from Heaven.  Like so many other things, practice (along with generous use of the Atonement!) makes perfect.

So today, I express gratitude to Heavenly Father for the chance to have this beautiful little boy and to experience the wonder of life again through his eyes.

Gimme five!

Atticus turned 5 months yesterday (April 3).  Time really has flown by.  I look at the tiny newborn pictures we took in the NICU and he looks like an entirely different child.

In fact, there are times that Dane and I swear he looks like a little boy.  It's a little disconcerting.  He's growing up a little too fast for me.  I was more than a little upset when I had to put aside all of his 0-3 month old clothing a couple weeks ago...

But I can't complain too much.  This age is just so much fun.  He laughs all the time (I swear, his laugh is almost musical!)   He talks all the time and sometimes even seems to be trying to "sing" when I sing to him.  (It's really more of a growl, but he looks so sincere as he does it!)

He is starting to inch himself forward by propping himself up on his head and toes (it's exhausting, just watching him!)  He can scoot backward, although I'm not sure he means to.

He reaches for objects all the time (usually with his left hand?!), including our faces & my glasses.

He's also far better at self-soothing.  He finds his thumb (or his fist/fingers) every time, now.

He got his first real taste of the sun last week during my soccer practices (see the red on his nose?)

He also met his first friend just a couple days ago!  At first he didn't seem to notice the other baby in the room, but when the two finally made eye contact, it was pretty cute to see them interact.  Gideon is 7-8 weeks further along, so he was grabbing Atticus and putting his feet on him. 

As usual, there has been plenty of quality time with his grandparents.  We are so blessed to have three grandparents so close!

My favorite thing, though, is how much he enjoys action.  He really has become quite an adrenaline junkie!  He loves falling, bouncing, spinning, and being thrown up in the air.  Here's proof:

Yep.  He's pretty much a ray of sunshine in our lives.-  That is,  as long as his gums aren't hurting from teething!

Well, the little man has his four month appointment this Thursday.  Wish us luck with the immunizations (gulp!)