Barrett Lately

Little Man has not been feeling well! He's growing new teeth, had a cold, AND got shots. But I think he's starting to feel better. And he's learning new skills so fast that I can't keep up! He's crawling, started to play in the bathtub (instead of just wanting to be picked up after bath time), and playing with toys that he couldn't quite master before.

Yesterday I was decorating his new room while he was playing on the floor. I realized the more I moved, the more he was moving! He was trying to catch me as I was unpacking and organizing.

All of the sudden I heard him WAILING. I turned around and he had pulled himself up using his toy basket. He started crying so hard because he was stuck! He had never stood all the way up by himself before. I was SHOCKED when I turned around and discovered him STANDING!

Like any good Mom, I laughed at him and then grabbed the camera so I could takes pictures of him standing up. When I stood him back up, he was happy to investigate all his new toys!

This morning I knew he was feeling back to his old self because he fell into a fit of giggles during breakfast. I didn't capture the best part on video, but I got some of it!

I could listen to that sweet sound ALL day! Love you sweet boy!

Playing Piano

Another benefit for the new house! We can set up the rest of Barrett's toys! We did not have enough room in our old place, and poor boy has had toys boxed up that he never knew existed.

Yesterday we pulled out his Step 'N Play Piano. He has no idea that he can turn songs on, and when he accidentally does he gets SO excited! He can also make musical notes by stomping his feet, and I think he kind of started to figure that out.

He loves his new toy! But what's not to like? Flashing Lights. Music. Spinning Gadgets. And a Mirror. And Mom and Dad dancing to the songs (That's just an added bonus. Didn't come in the package.)

My favorite pictures are the ones where his hair looks like a 50's do-wop singer.

7 Months!

How is this even possible?!?! Barrett is becoming so independent! And determined. He wantseverything that that he can't have. He has learned to stick out his tongue, wants to feed himself (although I'm pretty confident he is going to gag himself with his spoon), now has SIX teeth, and has learned to crawl! Watching him is hysterical because he raises his hands slooooowly as high as he can before he actually moves forward. He's still figuring it all out.

Below are his 7 month pictures:

Things I Don't Want to Forget:

• the only way he takes a nap is by reading 1 Fish 2 Fish first
• how he starts falling asleep while I'm reading
• the look on his face when he falls asleep in my arms
• how excited he is that he can actually move on his own (and go for that toy that is just out of reach)
• how he looks up just to make sure I'm still there while he's playing ... and then the smily of reassurance I get once he spots me
• our night time ritual of prayer time as he falls asleep on my shoulder
• the sparkle in his eyes when he sees something he wants
• morning play time = the BEST Mommy + Barrett time
• the look on his face when Daddy comes home from work
• the uncontrollable giggle he makes when Daddy tickles his tummy
• how family dance time makes him smile (I'm pretty sure he's already thinking how uncool we are somewhere in the back of his head ... but he puts up with us!)
• the way his arms and legs start moving when he sees his bottle. And the smile on his face that comes with it.
• how much he loves his Mommy. One day I'm going to have to tell him I don't know how to fix everything

Mother's Day

Mother's Day was actually last weekend, but I just haven't had time to blog about it yet. We've been moving, unpacking, packing for vacation, taking a vacation ... It's time to get updated!

First ... here are a couple of my favorite pics from the past couple of weeks. We lived with Nana and Papa until our own house was ready, visited Aunt Lindsey, and played with friends. And then we FINALLY moved in the day before Mother's Day.

Taking a Quick Nap After a Day of Celebrating!

(With my friends Quinn and Caroline)

Driving Poppy's Truck at Aunt Lindsey's House

Playing with Food ~ Thinking He Can Feed Himself!

Determined to Start Crawling!!!

First Picture in The New House

Which brings us to Mother's Day. We went to church, ate lunch in our new neighborhood, and then spent the rest of the day UNPACKING! We LOVE our new house, and, although it was a busy weekend, I love that we got to move in to our family house on my first Mother's Day. (We had definitely outgrown the town home!)

Last year on Mother's Day we found out that we were going to have a baby boy. So although he's only 7 months old, I have been loving sweet Barrett Matthew for an entire year. We spent so much time preparing for him, and it doesn't get much better than this. Looking into those big blue eyes, whether he's falling asleep during nap time or looking for Mommy, make my heart melt. I am so thankful that God chose ME to be this little boy's mommy.

Practicing His New Skill in Our New Backyard

Kissing His Chubby Cheeks

Moving Day!

Today is bittersweet for me. We have found a great house that we are so excited to call our new home! However, leaving Barrett's 1st room behind has been a little harder on Mommy than I thought.

I took this picture real quick with my phone because I felt like this moment needed to be documented somehow.

Just after Barrett's last nap in his 1st bedroom.

(The back of his onsie says "Most Likely to Be Your Boss". Thanks and Gig 'Em)

(Due to moving and packing, I have yet to post pictures from last week's Baby Dedication. They will be coming. Soon!)

Half Birthday!

I cannot believe that our little one is already 6 months old! He continues to make us laugh everyday. We love watching him discover and learn how to do new things. He's learning so fast! In fact, he's found his crawling position ... so it's just a matter of time before he starts moving!

He's also going through a Mommy Phase right now. Which, I admit can be exhausting, but I've never felt so loved! He thinks I can fix anything ~ just by holding him. He really is Mommy's Sweet Boy.

Here are Barrett's 6 month pictures:

Things I Don't Want to Forget:

• the way he finally can take a nap without screaming first. A little Twinkle Twinkle goes a LONG way!
• the way his face lights up when he sees Mommy or Daddy
• how excited I am that he's about to lean how to crawl (knowing that my whole world is about to change here pretty soon!)
• the way he makes a "umph" sound once the finds his spoon finally
• singing "Itsy Bitsy Spider" stops his crying 99.9% of the time (and that's the ONLY song that works)
• how he will stop EVERYTHING that he is doing to watch a car go by
• the squeal he makes when he gets really excited or wants something
• the way he kicks his legs with excitement when he sees his bottle
• the way he wants to know what everything is, how it works, and where it's going
• the way it feels when he falls asleep on me at bedtime

We love you so much Little Barrett. You have change our lives and our hearts in ways that we never could have imagined. You are such a precious gift, and I thank God every night when I'm putting you to bed for the privilege of being YOUR Mommy.

In fact, we love you so much ...

we're going to take you with us to our new house!

Barrett's First Easter

Such a busy Easter weekend! We bought a house. Had family lunch at Nana and Papa's. Sunday morning church. And Gamma and Poppy come to visit! Below are some pics of Barrett and his gifts from the Easter Bunny.