5 years old!!!

FYI...no pictures of S on this post. This is all about Mac! I can't believe we have had our little "madadoo" for 5 years. He has been such a great, spoiled rotten dog and we love him. I have been so surprised by his change of attitude since we have had Samuel. He is so gentle around him and I know will be a great little dog for Samuel when he gets a little older. I always thought that it would be so easy to continue the spoiling once we had a baby. Boy was I wrong! It is so hard..especially with two dogs. They are quite bored these days! He definitely is number two now but we still love him so! Happy Birthday "Madadoo Jones!"

Overflowing with love

Lately, I just feel like I couldn't love this little guy more than I already do! He is just the sweetest, most precious boy in the world! My heart is definitely overflowing with love. Just this week, I have found myself very excited when I hear his little whine after his nap. It means it is time to get him up and enjoy our time. Today he put both of his hands on my cheeks and just pulled me in for some snuggle time. He burrows his head in to my shoulder when I pick him up and just snuggles for minutes at a time. Ahhhh!!! It completely melted my heart! He has been hysterical lately. He is sitting up for minutes at a time and is talking constantly...definitely like is momma there!

Here is his name on the screen during his baby blessing
Mommy, daddy and Samuel in our Sunday best before the blessing
Nana Karen with the man

Just some daily exersaucer fun. This is quite possibly the best invention ever...next to the baby Bjorn!

Cute legs! "he must workout"

"Oatmeal cereal...get in my belly!"

Pumpkin Carving party! Notice Samuel at the far right..totally pumped up to be in his Sock Monkey costume...more pumped to be sitting next to the bunny princess!!

"Woe is me. Is the football game on yet?"

This weekend was a very special visit from Nana Karen. We had a wonderful visit! On Friday morning, Samuel and I picked her up at the airport and went to lunch and to do a little shopping. That night after Thad got home, we put S to bed and got some good takeout. Saturday included a beautiful day at the arboretum followed by a nap, the mall for some more shopping, and dinner at Cantina Laredo. Sunday was Samuel's baby blessing at church (pictures to come tomorrow). The weather was absolutely gorgeous all weekend long so we had a good walk on Sunday. We also managed to fit in a late lunch at Fuddruckers followed by a movie on the big screen! Thanks Nana for such a special time! We love you!

Daddy and son!

Three generations




This boat is pretty cool dad!

This was so beautiful...all of the sail boats out on the lake

Getting some good Nana lovin!

Precious!

Halloween preview! This is not the costume we decided on..but it was a close contender.

What a change!!

5 month pics

I thought I would post some of Samuel's 5 month portraits we had taken last week. I'm so happy with how they turned out. Mimi and I were surprised that we got this many good ones...Samuel wasn't feeling it that day. Pretty grumpy! I guess that's why you go to a professional. Enjoy!

Fall in Arkansas and 5 months old

We had a great 4 day weekend jammed packed full of fun in Arkansas! We always have a great time visiting my family but there was just something about this weekend. Fall was definitely in the air and it was great. We left on Friday morning and arrived in Fayetteville around 2:15. After hanging out at Grandma Norma's for a while, we then made the 30 minute drive out to Monte Ne Inn...and oh my was it delicious! Fried chicken, corn, green beans, apple butter, etc! Thad and I were a little nervous because this was going to be the first night in 2 months that Samuel would miss his bedtime. When we are at home he usually turns in to a pumpkin around 6:45 or 7 but to our surprise he was great. Such a little trooper. This set the tone for the weekend...no naps and up late every night. Needless to say, we are staying home today and snoozing!

My mother's house makes the perfect backdrop for pictures


On Sunday, we headed down to aunt Linda's house and took some pictures next to her pumpkins. They actually grew about 100 pumpkins this year and they looked so good. Samuel was thinking "more pictures by these big orange things...what's the big deal?"

Lovin' his grandma Becky! Who wouldn't..she's a great grandma!!

On Monday, my sweet little guy turned 5 months old! I can't believe that 5 months ago yesterday, Thad and I were holding our little boy for the first time. What a change he has made too! He is such a happy, healthy baby and for that I am truly grateful. Here's what he can do:

• rolling over from back to tummy
• already pushing up on his knees and scooting some (early crawler...eek!)
• laughing and smiling constantly..even when he's very tired
• still eating about 5-6 times per day
• re-introduced rice cereal today
• still spitting up like crazy..but he's definitely a happy spitter!
• sleeps from about 7-4 or 5 with a couple paci replacements during the night
• wears mostly 3-6 month clothes with a few 6-9 month thrown in there
• IN LOVE WITH PUP PUP, mommy and daddy
• screams very loud A LOT, high pitched and usually in church
• blows raspberries and usually at hysterical times...like when he's really bored
• still loves his swing but getting very bored with the activity gym
• starting to sit up quite well in the exersaucer
• rides in a convertible seat in the car instead of the carrier
• still takes 3 naps per day, each about 1 hour
• has found his "man parts" and thinks this is just about the best bath toy there is
• watches the dogs a lot and thinks they are pretty funny

We love you sweet boy! Thank you for the best 5 months...well maybe not the first month...so I'll say the best 4 months of our lives! We love you so deeply and completely and are so very thankful for you!

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!