Roll Over

Happy New Year!

It sure was a great 2007 and promises to be an even brighter 2008!!

This winter has been snowy in Wisconsin. We've received a record amount of December snow. I'm sure glad December is now over.
Our Christmas holiday vacation was nice. Lots of lounging around the fireplace chilling with Mommy.
And just now, I finally learned why Mommy has shiny sippy-cups in the curio -- for drinking champagne!
I also learned about New Year resolutions. For example, I resolve in 2008 to do the following:
- Learn to crawl
- Learn to walk
- Learn to talk

Notice how I left off learning to roll-over! That's right, I did my first stomach to back roll-over today!! It was slightly assisted, but I really have the momentum and back arching down.

Happy New Year!

Film Star

My film debut.
Of course, you figured it out. It's not really "film". It's still digital.
I have many faces, varying from serious to pure joy.This was a serious of shoots from over a month ago, Nov 24th. It was such a fun shoot, I had to include a few into the blog.
The blanket in the background is my Star * Bennett blanket from my Nana. The blue really matches my eyes!

Baby's First Christmas

Today was my very first Christmas. It was filled with Joy and Peace.
On Saturday, we bundled up for a trip down to Illinois to stay with family. It was a very foggy drive down, but we made it in a speedy 3 hours. Only one pit stop at the highway oasis for a quick diaper change.
In the afternoon, Santa Claus made a special stop to hand out a few presents to me and my two cousins.
I got a white stuffed polar bear. It's so soft and hug-able.
Along with many cousins, my Nana was there. I received some amazing presents from Nana, including her sled from when she was a young child (pictures to come later).

We stayed in Illinois Saturday night. That night -- happy with glee from a day of unpacking presents -- I gave my mommy and daddy a wonderful gift. Laughter! I delighted them with a series of joyous laughs. My first true laughs.

We returned home Sunday driving through a blistery-cold and windy snow storm. This winter sure has given us a lot of snow and a white Christmas!
On Monday, Christmas Eve, we had lunch and got all dressed up for church.
At church, I listened to everyone sing songs. My Aunt, Great Uncle, and Grandparents have beautiful voices.
During church, I learned about little baby Jesus, and I saw Mary holding him in the nativity crèche.
At the end of church, we sang in the dark while everyone held candles.
On Christmas morning, we woke up to find presents under the tree and our stockings stuffed with gifts. I sat with daddy and opened each present in joy -- smiling and cooing the whole time! I received a set of books by Beatrix Potter, a baseball bat and balls, some clothes, chew toys, a swim suit, and my first rice cereal (which isn't really going to be my first, since it's Stage 2 with Applesauce, but I digress). I enjoyed holding and tearing the wrapping paper.
After breakfast, I had time to talk with my Great Uncle. He recently found some blocks that belonged to my Great Grandfather. Since they spelled out my initials, I had to include a photo of the blocks on my blog.
Here is me giggling away with my Great Uncle. If you look closely...
you can see my new faucet. The drool faucet turned on this past week or two. Of course, my mommy and daddy are worried that I may start teething soon. So far, I'm not in too much pain, so I'm not crying any more than usual.
Also this week, I learned to sit up by myself! I put both hands on the ground in a gorilla pose, supporting myself like a tripod. Daddy (usually) does a great job at catching me before I fall over. I also like to stand up when somebody holds my hands.

Merry Christmas to everyone!
Thank you everyone for all my wonderful Christmas presents!
And Happy New Year, in case I don't post a new blog before then.

Silhouette

A wonderful artist created my silhouette this week.
Notice the detail! You can see my wonderfully chubby neck, my tufts of hair on top and back of my head, my eyes, my nose, and my lips.

Twelve Days of Baby Bud

On the twelfth day of Christmas, my True Love gave to me:
Twelve Bouncing Babies.
On the eleventh day of Christmas, my True Love gave to me:
Eleven Fussy Minutes.
On the tenth day of Christmas, my True Love gave to me:
Ten Hours of Sleeping.
On the ninth day of Christmas, my True Love gave to me:
Nine Out-of-State Cousins.
On the eighth day of Christmas, my True Love gave to me:
Eight Dirty Diapers.
On the seventh day of Christmas, my True Love gave to me:
A Birthday on the Seventh.
On the sixth day of Christmas, my True Love gave to me:
Six Daily Feedings.
On the fifth day of Christmas, my True Love gave to me:
Fiiive Baaabyyyyy Fingers.
On the fourth day of Christmas, my True Love gave to me:
A Funny Fourth Toe.
On the third day of Christmas, my True Love gave to me:
Three Cooes and Smiles.
On the second day of Christmas, my True Love gave to me:
Two Thumbs to suck.
On the first day of Christmas, my True Love gave to me:
A Baby Bud in the Parents Bed.

[repeat verse]

Kiddie Crusader

Mom and her friends have been collecting things for me from Valparaiso, where Mommy went to college. Daddy says I'll have some purple and blue stuff soon! :)

Visage

I was wondering why the camera was so close?

Reflecting

I wanted to introduce everyone to my new friend.

Now isn't this the cutest little boy you have ever seen?My daddy says he looks just like me. Although, I don't see any resemblance. We love to smile and talk to each other.

Holiday Spirit

I've been learning lots about the holiday season:

Cookie baking

Piano playing

and sitting on Santa's lap

I think I like this holiday!

Happy Birthday Mommy

I love you Mommy!
Love,
Your son

Over Achiever

The past week I learned to use my hands to grab things. Now, when I see something in front of me, I concentrate and reach out for it!
My daddy says I'm a little ahead of the game... the books say this is a skill for older babies.
Well, what can I say... I've been reading ahead a little.
I found a few of daddy's engineering books. I'm taking careful notes, and I'm having fun!

Christmas Card - Teaser

We finished our Christmas Card photo shoot today. Here is a teaser photo ;)
It's December now. Only 25 days until Santa Claus brings presents. So I'm on my best behavior. I smile at my mommy and daddy as often as possible!

Splishsplash

Friday night was bath time. Here I am in my towel getting mentally prepared for my bath.
My mommy lays me down on a soft yellow sponge.
And I love to stare at her while she bathes me.
She gently pours water over my head, arms, and belly.
Then comes my back side.
When I'm done, I crawl back into my towel to dry off.
Finally, it's back to the changing table for a new diaper.

One clean baby boy.

Child of God's Love

"On the Day You were Born"
Paul Kyle

On the day you were born I danced over you
On the day you were born I rejoiced
On the day you were born all heaven proclaimed
You're the child of my love, you're my choice

There's freedom, freedom, freedom to dance and sing
When you know the love of the Father
When you know the love of the king

You've come this far, now step farther out
Out of the veil of tears
You've come this far, now move further in
While all of heaven cheers.

Give Thanks

Today, I had my first taste of Turkey. Ooooh, yummy! As a result, I slept through the night. Something about that tryptophan.
We woke up in the morning to snow outside. My first snow was bright to look at. Later in the day, we sat down at a long table, and gave thanks for a wonderful meal.
Happy Thanksgiving!

Freedom and Justice

Today, I got to watch the Charles M. Schulz "A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving" DVD (Paramount 1973).

The Thanksgiving dinner prayer was especially poignant and timeless. Linus van Pelt provided the oration:

"In the year 1621, the pilgrims held their first Thanksgiving feast.

They invited the great Indian Chief Massasoit who brought 90 of his brave indians and a great abundance of food.

Governor William Bradford and Captain Miles Standish were honored guests. Elder William Brewster, who was a minister, said a prayer that went something like this --

We thank God for our homes and our food
and our safety in a new land.
We thank God for the opportunity
to create a new world
for Freedom and Justice.
Amen."

I would also like to pray for everybody's health,
for those people we've lost in the past year,
for family, especially for all the mommy's and daddy's,
and for love.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Changing Identity

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While looking back through my first 2 months of photos, my Daddy realized how drastic my photos have changed. Yet, I'm still the same person. So, in an effort to write a new blog post, Daddy looked up "change" in the Thesaurus...

A great way to make change is to start with some coins. All coins have a denomination.

And religious denominations are subgroups that operate under a common identity.
This explains it. Change is founded on having a common identity.

The two photos are from when I was 1 day old, and 70 days old. It's hard to tell I'm the same person.

Soothing

Immersed in total concentration, I've learned to guide my hands toward my mouth. And once in reach, I've taught my tongue to greet the guest (or guests) with warm hospitality.

Mommy and Daddy took me to see the doctor lady today. In my parents haste to be on time, they apparently lost my neck (really, do you see any neck in these photos?).
The doctor reassured my parents that missing a neck was a positive sign, and she shared the good news that I've grown to the 95th percentile in weight -- 13.5 lbs! Ooh, goohh, gaahh-gaahh!! I've doubled my birthweight. And I now stand a full two-feet tall.
Then came the sad news. I had to join the American rite of passage and receive my vaccinations. Three quick shots, a swig of Rotavirus grape juice, an eye-dropper full of Tylenol, two yellow Bandaids, a hug from Daddy, and I was back to requiring a bit of soothing (see above).

No more Polio, Hep B, or DTap for me.