Pumpkins and the Arboretum

Last Saturday after Samuel finished his morning nap, we headed out to the Arboretum. The Fall Pumpkin Festival is going on right now and it is absolutely gorgeous...and crowded! We had such a great time and Samuel really enjoyed the people watching. He loves to watch "big" kids play and he becomes totally focused. I am a pro at getting him to smile and I couldn't even get him to look at me while we were there. Therefore, all of the pictures are of him staring off in to the distance...but they're still pretty darn cute!

What a cutie pie!

"hey, you kids are so cool. When I'm big can I play with you?"

This was his expression in the stroller the whole time we were there. Trust me, he was so content but looks so mad here.

Finally home with no body cool to look at...okay momma...I'll smile for you!

Balloons for Chase

Last Sunday, some friends of ours from church lost their sweet, precious boy at 34 weeks. Chase Allen Jacobs was delivered on September 30 and from what we hear, was oh so adorable. The family had a private memorial for Chase yesterday and released balloons to heaven. They had asked that if anyone would like to participate from their own home to take some pictures so their little girls could see all of the people who love Chase. After a prayer for the family for healing, we sent our balloons up!

Mark and Chelsea, you will continually be in our thoughts and prayers. Your strength and faithfulness through this situation has touched more people than you know and has been very inspiring.

"I am comforted by this truth, that when we suffer and die for Christ, it only means that we will be living with Him in Heaven. Even when we are too weak to have any faith left, He remains faithful to us and will help us, for He cannot disown us who are part of Himself, and He will always carry out His promises to us."

2 Timothy 2:11, 13

Rice cereal and sleeping through the night!!

Read below for updates!

Watching his Zoo in the bumbo!
Kinda sitting up!



uh-oh!

Wrigs new ways! This is ALL his does!

Pouting Mac!

Love this cereal!

Wait...maybe not!

Ahhhh...teething ring!

Forgot to mention I went to Branson with my family...sweet Amelia Brooke

Meredith, Amelia and me

Yes..it has been a big week in our house. Samuel has finally started sleeping through the night!!! Yea, Yippee, Praise the Lord!!! He is consistently sleeping between 10-11 hours at night..and last night was the first night that he didn't even wake up for Paci replacement...what a big boy! I'm so proud of him...however..we have to give credit to Richard Ferber and Dr. Dreiling. We had his 4 month check up last week and we were given the "thumbs up" the start the Ferber Method for sleeping through the night. Let me just say...not easy! Samuel was still getting two bottles in the middle of the night(one at 12 and one at 4) and I knew that it would be hard for this momma to cut that out cold turkey...not to mention hard for Samuel! Ha! I honestly think I needed to be "Ferberized." I had gotten completely used to getting up and seeing my little precious in the middle of the night. So, after his appointment we decided to decrease the amount of food he got at each of those two feedings and wean him over 5 days. When he finally got down to 3 ounces at each feeding, I felt comfortable completely cutting it out.

Night 1-cried for 30 minutes at 12 and cried for an hour at 330

Night 2-cried for 10 minutes at 12 and cried for 30 mins at 3

Night 3-can't remember

Night 4-can't remember..but definitely worse than night 3

Night 5-slept solid from 730pm to 530am..took a bottle and back to sleep till 8

Needless to say, this was by far the hardest thing that I have had to do since he was born. There is nothing worse than listening to your little boy cry. However, I am SO GLAD that we did it! Samuel is more rested now, staying awake more during the day, and mommy and daddy have well rested faces!!

Another first for this week...rice cereal! I was going to wait until 6 months but Samuel has started acting like he wants more food so I decided to go ahead with it. He did great the first time! He didn't spit any of it out and took about 5 bites. The past two days haven't been so great. He takes about two bites and decides he is done. I'm resisting the urge to add some mashed bananas because I don't want him to get the sweet tooth too early and not like his veggies. We will just keep working on it once a day for now. This is probably why the docs recommend 6 months..they are probably more ready for it at that point!! Anyway, enjoy the week of pics!!

The cutest smile you've ever seen!!!

Here is our little, skinny legged boy....standing all by himself! He is the strongest 4 month old I've ever seen. Like I said in the last post, he prefers to stand over anything else!! Cutie Pie!

4 months old!!

Well...the little guy is 4 months old! He gets more and more precious every single day. I could never thank God enough for this sweet soul and I am so privileged to be his mother. I know Thad feels exactly the same way. We love you so much Samuel! Here is what you are up to this month:

• watching entire DVD's of Praise baby...actually watching one right now as I type this
• napping like a champ three times a day
• smiling and laughing out loud all of the time
• wearing 3-6 month clothes and size 2 diapers
• riding in the car much better than before...still not great but we are getting there
• have become attached to a lovie...his name is Pup Pup
• love, love your paci but you spit it out when your asleep and don't have to have it to sleep..thank goodness
• can sit up while holding on to mommy's fingers
• you prefer to stand on your feet more than anything; does this mean you will walk early? Hope not!
• you sleep pretty good at night..but I think it is about to get better..stay tuned!
• you recognize your mommy and daddy and notice when we leave the room
• you take 5-6, 5 ounce bottles a day
• you have started sleeping in a sleep sack on your side; you would probably roll all of the way over onto your belly if you had room
• you prefer the Maclaren umbrella stroller when we go out; I think it is because you are up front and in the action
• you hold toys all of the time but they go straight to your mouth
• you LOVE bath time and love the basketball hoop that daddy got you
• you are such an easy baby these days and I'm so lucky that taking care of you is my job
• Lastly, here are your stats for 4 months: weight-14lbs, 14oz 50%
• height-25 3/4 inches 75%
• Such a Big Boy!!!

I HEART Samuel Cade!!

He definitely has my heart! I am so over the moon for this little guy it's nuts. I can't imagine a more precious and perfect little boy. Samuel has really come in to his own over the past month. He has really turned in to our laid back boy! He is pretty "chill" all of the time unless he is very sleepy...and this is usually around 6:30..right before his bath time. I am having more and more fun with him everyday. I will have a longer post about all of the new things Samuel is doing in about a week..when he turns 4 months old! Until then..just enjoy the recent pictures.

Enjoying his activity mat with daddy!

Wait...did I hear my momma?

I just thought this outfit was darling...he looks so handsome! Too bad he wouldn't look at the camera. We were headed to dinner on Saturday night with some friends!