More pictures by Sabrina Gebhardt

Below are more pictures from our photo session at the end of May with Sabrina Gebhardt at The Arboretum. I wanted the focus to be the boys but we took a few of the four of us too!

Sabrina Gebhardt Photography

We had a photo session at The Dallas Arboretum last weekend by a wonderful photographer from Fort Worth, Sabrina Gebhardt. I found her through a friend that I used to take dance with years ago. Sabrina has our same last name, spelled the same way, but no relation! We have already booked 6 month pictures for Michael and family photos in November for our Christmas card. I have only seen a couple of pictures so far but will be getting the CD soon with 24 of the best pictures from our session. I love the pictures of the boys above! Sabrina was so good with James and captured one of his many expressions that is so him. We also had family pictures of the four of us taken and some of James and Michael together. I can't wait to see them all and will post my favorites next week!

4 months old

Dear Michael,

You are 4 months old today! You are the best baby and so laid back. Since James is only two he of course needs Mommy and Daddy's attention also and sometimes you do have to stay in your swing or play in your crib or exersaucer while we take care of him. You are usually very content in all three of these places but you also love to be held and let us know when you want to snuggle. Mommy is so excited I only have two weeks of school left then I will be home with you and your brother for the summer. You will still go to Brookhaven on Tuesdays and Thursdays so it won't be such a shock in mid August when Mommy goes back to work/school. You have changed so much in the last month and your personality is really starting to shine!

You are 26 inches long and weigh 14 1/2 lbs

You wear a size 2 diaper

You wear size 3-6 month clothes but a few 0-3 month onesies still fit

You are a wonderful eater and still only eat/drink breastmilk and about 4-8 oz of Gerber Goodstart formula each day

You go to bed at 8:30 p.m. and sleep until 5:00 a.m. when you wake up only to eat then go back to sleep until 7:30 a.m. or 8:00 a.m. Mommy leaves for school at 7:30 a.m. so you spend every morning with Daddy. He gets you and James up and ready every day and takes you both to Brookhaven. You are so lucky to have such a wonderful Daddy!

Your smile makes my heart melt and you have the cutest dimples!

You can roll over from tummy to back and are so close to rolling over back to tummy.

You kick and move your little legs constantly!

You have started "talking" and already have a lot to say

Your hair is so long you have a baby mullet! Mommy does not want to cut it yet, maybe next month.

You have your 4 month pediatrician appointment tomorrow with Dr. Smith so I am excited to see what your official stats are and what Dr. Smith has to say. But, I am not looking forward to the shots. I think it hurts me to watch more than the shots hurt you. We love you so much "Mytul" and can't wait to see how you grow and change next month!

Love,
Mommy

Happy Halloween?

James saw his Halloween costume from last year (that he refused to wear) in the back of his closet and wanted to try it on. Luckily it was a little big back in October and still fit!I was happy to finally get a picture of him in his Elmo costume. Better late than never!

Old McDonald Had A Farm

Today was Texas Culture Day at my school and we had to dress up so I had my straw cowboy hat laid out to wear. James was up early and Sean and Michael were still asleep so I put on Sesame Street for James to watch while I got ready. I was in the bathroom putting on my makeup and I heard James singing "Old McDonald Had A Farm" as loud as he could. I went out to the den and saw this!

How cute is he? I can tell he just woke up because he looks so sleepy. I have a picture I took first with my phone. I wish it was better quality. He is scrunching up his face and saying cheese. I LOVE this boy so much! He is always making us laugh!

Easter Bunny & Motorcycles

We celebrated Easter with my parents and Sean's mom on Saturday night after James' birthday party so on Easter Sunday it was just the four of us. We had brunch at Pappasito's and had an unexpected visit from the Easter Bunny. Since James was terrified of Santa Claus I decided not to take him to see the Easter Bunny this year. So when the Easter Bunny came by our table I was happy that he didn't cry but he did stare at him the whole time without saying a word or even smiling. After a few minutes he said, "Go away Easter Bunny, go away!". It was so funny! James is also going through a phase where if we are at a restaurant he wants to get up from the table and run around. He doesn't sit in a high chair at home anymore but sometimes he will still sit in one when he eat out. On Easter he was in his high chair and wanted to get down while we were waiting for our food. We are always prepared with books, cars, and toys to entertain him but trying to climb out of his high chair and run aournd is always more fun. We call him Houdini because he can almost always wiggle out of the buckled strap. Sean told James that if he didn't stay in his chair then the Easter Bunny was coming back to our table. James was an angel and didn't ask to get out of his chair once, ha! It was the best time we have had with the boys at a restaurant in a long time. Michael is so easy to take anywhere right now since he is still in his infant seat and such a happy laid back little guy. I know now to appreciate this time because I it doesn't last long!

James checking out the Easter Bunny

Mommy & Michael

EB & Michael (I had to take a quick picture because James was insisting the EB go away!)
James kept asking for kisses from Mommy & Daddy
He is the sweetest boy!

We spent the rest of the afternoon at home and James loved reading an Easter book that Grandma-ma and Papa gave him. It is a wonderful children's book that tells the story of Jesus and the true meaning of Easter. That evening there was a thunderstorm and for the first time James was scared of the thunder. We kept repeating a page from one of his favorite Dr. Seuss books "Mr. Brown Can Moo Can You?". It says, "Boom Boom Boom Mr. Brown is a wonder, Boom Boom Boom Mr. Brown makes thunder! James loves to say the Boom Boom Boom really loud while we are reading. But, he was still afraid so Daddy told him the thunder had stopped and it was motorcycles on our street outside. James LOVES motorcycles. So much that we have an ESPN motorcross event saved on our DVR that James insists on watching. Since all of the men in my family grew up riding and racing dirt bikes I feel sure that James will have one as soon as he is old enough! Anyway, after James thought the thunder was really motorcycles outside he went right to sleep but while he was drifting off he kept mumbling, "Motorcycles VROOM!!!!" I think we have a little daredevil on our hands and I am in trouble! :-)

James' 2nd Birthday Party

On Saturday April 24th, after a fun Easter Egg Hunt in the morning with James' playgroup and naptime at home we had James' 2nd Birthday Party at The Little Gym! The Little Gym is a great place to have a birthday party for toddlers. It is well organzied and the kids are led through fun activities. All we had to do was show up with the cake, balloons, and ice cream! James loves Toy Story right now so we decided to have a Toy Story themed party. We talked to James all week about his birthday party and I told him about all of his friends that would be there. When I was telling him about the kids from his class at school that were coming he looked at me with the sweetest face and asked, "Nessa coming too? Ms. Deb coming?". Ms. Deb and Miss Vanessa are James' teachers at school. He loves Ms. Deb and "Nessa" so I told them the story of James asking if they would be at his party and invited them. Miss Vanessa came to the party and James was so excited to have her there!

Table with balloons

Alli & Stella, Blaire, Tiff & Michael, Ashley, Sam & Kim Circle time Parachute Getting ready for the bouncer Jumping with bubbles! Nanie, Grandma-ma & Michael, Papa Toy Story cake James blowing out his candles James & Mommy James Hula Hoop time Nessa & James Reading a card with Daddy Opening presents A Woody hat from Nanie

Easter Egg Hunt

On Saturday morning we went to my friend Amy's house for an Easter Egg hunt with James' playgroup. We have made some wonderful friends these past two years and met most of them through a baby yoga class I took with James that we started when he was 7 weeks old and continued until he was six months old. I love that our kids are growing up together and there are four of them, including James, that are in the same class at Brookhaven Child Development Center. There are only 8-10 kids in the class (depending on the day) and we have made friends with some of the other parents and all get together with our kids outside of school. It is so fun that we are all friends! I could write a whole different post on Brookhaven and James & Michael's school. We love the teachers and everyone there. We were told that at the school Easter Egg Hunt James was so fast and collected so many eggs that he had to share his eggs with everyone else! He seemed very excited to go and find the eggs at the hunt on Saturday so we had high expectations!

But, as soon as he went out the back door he was much more interested in playing basketball than trying to find Easter eggs!

We did convince him to pick up a few eggs.

After the Egg Hunt the kids took a break from playing and ate lunch.

James was enjoying his lunch, posed for a picture, and said, "cheese" with his mouth full of watermelon!

Michael went with us and the other moms had fun holding him. He is so sweet and snuggly! My friend Alex (Evy's mom) holding Michael and Amy (Hayden's mom who was the hostess and is due with baby #2 in November!)

Amie (MJ's mom) & Emily (Everett's mom) holding Michael

We had a great time and thankfully James was tired enough to go down a little early for his nap because his birthday party was that same day from 3:00-5:00. Pictures from his birthday party and Easter Sunday coming soon!

3 Months Old

Dear Michael,

You are three months old today! How is that possible? It seems like we were just bringing you home from the hospital a month ago. I am enjoying every moment with you because I know time goes by so fast and the next thing I know you will be six months old. This past month you started going to Brookhaven Child Development Center with your big brother. Daddy takes you and James in the mornings and Mommy usually picks you both up. You are the youngest in the infant room right now so you get lots of attention! You seem to be adjusting well and take long naps while you are there. Mommy and Daddy call and check on you every day and you are always doing great! Mommy has six more weeks of school and then we get to spend the summer together. I can't wait!

So Michael Scott, what are you up to at 3 months old???

You are 24 1/2 inches long and weigh 13 1/2 pounds

You wear a size 1 diaper but I think you will be moving up to size 2 after we finish this pack.

You are starting to wear your 3-6 months clothes but still wear a few outfits that are 0-3 months.

You have the cutest little feet I have ever seen! I couldn't resist posting the picture below:

You eat about every three hours. You nurse when I am home but are great at taking a bottle too! You eat 4 oz each feeding.

You are the BEST sleeper! You sleep from 8:30-5:00 then Mommy feeds you. We both go back to sleep until I have to get up at 6:30. You are usually still sleeping when I leave for work. Daddy gets both you and James up and ready for school and takes you every day. You are so lucky to have such a wonderful Daddy!

You smile a lot and love to "talk" to us.

You sometimes take a pacifier but usually prefer your fist, even if you are not hungry.

You are so strong! When on your tummy you push up and lift your head up and look around.

You only like being on your back for a few minutes but love tummy time. I put you on your back on a blanket on the floor and you wanted to be on your tummy so bad you almost rolled over back to tummy!

You are reaching and grabbing for things. Grandma-ma taught you how when you spent two weeks together when Mommy first went back to work earlier this month. We think you are so smart already!

Before you were born I wondered how I could possibly love another child as much as I love James? But I now know it is possible and I love you more than words could ever express. You make my heart melt when you smile and are my sweet baby boy. I can't wait to see how you grow and change this next month!

Love,
Mommy

Big Boy Bed

I don't know how I forgot to write about this (actually I do, I have been so busy since I am now back at work and taking care of our boys but that is an entire different post which I will write soon!) but James is now sleeping in his big boy bed! It was the easiest transition ever. When I say "big boy bed", it is his crib converted into a toddler bed. He has been sleeping in it for over a month now and we are so proud of him!!! Once Michael was home and we were all settled in James started throwing fits at bedtime and did not want to go to sleep. One evening we were tired and gave in to James' request of laying in our bed to read books. It all went downhill from there. Before we knew it our "normal" bedtime routine was taking two hours and we were all exhausted! Keep in mind this was all going on while we were adjusting to having a newborn in the house. After a couple of weeks of our exhausting nighttime routine we happen to have spring parent conferences scheduled at James' school. I asked his sweet teacher Ms. Deb how James had been doing during naptime. Her response frustrated me even more-"James is the BEST napper! He lays down on his mat with his blanket and goes right to sleep. He is always one of the first ones down and the last to wake up!" I told her the problems we were having at bedtime and she suggested that maybe James needed a change and maybe he would do well in a big boy bed since he is now a big brother. I thought it was a great idea.

Over the next couple of days we talked to James about being a big boy and told him he was going to start sleeping in a big boy bed . We waited until the weekend and James watched Daddy take the front off of his crib and put the toddler rail on. We had bathtime as usual and put his pj's on then when he asked to go to Mommy & Daddy's room for storytime we said No James, you have your big boy bed now and you have to be a big boy and stay in your room! He climbed into his bed, which he loved being able to do all by himself, we read books, and he went to sleep. We also started playing classical music during story time because at school classical music is played quietly during nap time. James now asks for it if one of us forgets to turn it on before we read!

James has now slept in his big boy bed every night since we transitioned him and hasn't asked us once to have storytime in our room. He does come in early in the morning, about an hour before I get up, and climbs in bed with us but I love it because he is such a snuggler! The picture above was taken during naptime. At school the kids nap with their shoes on so at home on the weekends James insists on napping with his shoes on. We have definitely learned to pick our battles with our strong willed, determined, independent little guy! I wouldn't have him any other way. =)