Look who's 5 months old!

My baby boy turned 5 months old this week! As always, my question is: HOW DID THIS HAPPEN???!!! I feel like his babyhood is literally flying by me!! Love him more each day. I was going to put him in some new clothing after being at the sitter's all day, but then decided no, this is exactly how I picture him at 5 months: soaking wet shirt from his drool, too-short-shorts on his chubby thighs. :) So here he is:

Holden was helping me make him smile. He adores his big brother!

I could eat him with a spoon!

Right after this picture he burst into tears because I said "Peek-a-boo" a little too loudly and scared the life out of him. So dramatic!

Hanging out on his tummy is a common scene these days. He can roll all the way back and forth now, but sometimes seems to forget that he can! Ha! He will enjoy some tummy time and then get mad and start making whining noises and his pterodactyl screams until I flip him. He does sleep without his sleep positioner now, and often ends up on his belly. Because of the huge amount of drool, he wakes up with bright red, chapped cheeks. I have been using lots of Aquaphor on them but I do think he looks cute when they are rosy. :)

I think the flash was a little startling! Lol! He loves grabbing his feet now and is starting to manage to get them into his mouth.

Holden wanted to get in on the photo shoot. Hunter wasn't feeling it anymore. Yes-they are close in size now. When we stand Hunter next to Holden, he is up to his shoulders!!! Crazy!!!

One of my favorite times of day is bathtime with the two of them. I just love watching them interact together! There is a strategically placed washcloth on Hunter since he likes to sit spread eagle. :)

At 5 months, Hunter is a laughing, grinning, screaming (when mad or happy; the boy is LOUD!), drooling, spitting, bubble-blowing, eating machine of a baby. He is close to sitting on his own but too wobbly yet; enjoys the exersaucer and Bumbo seat for practice. He is eating three meals of baby food a day; one large jar and a 4 oz. bottle at each meal, and usually a 6 oz. bottle in the afternoon between lunch and dinner. Healthy boy! Still getting up twice a night...grr! Once around 11:30 and then again around 3:30. He guzzles them and then goes back to sleep, so I do feel that he still needs them. Now that I am back at school, Jay is taking one feeding and I do the other, so it's not too bad. I know this time is brief and that I will miss rocking with him and listening to his little "mmm's" as he drinks. He is in size 4 diapers, and they are starting to get tight. He SHOULD be in 9 mo. clothing but I often squeeze him into 6 mos. since he has outgrown Holden's seasons and I don't want to buy a bunch of summer clothes with fall so close. :) He loves music, people, being outside, and anything to do with his big brother. I have given up on a paci; he wants nothing to do with it and prefers his fingers, which are always in his mouth. At least he always has those handy! :) We love you so much, Hunter!

Sugar Creek

The past two weeks have been an absolute whirlwind. I waited all summer to find out if I would for sure be placed at Sugar Creek Elementary School. I was displaced from Northpoint when class sizes were cut due to a new school opening. I chose Sugar Creek because of the location in proximity to home and to my Northpoint friends (for lunch dates!), because they just added a new section on, and because I could stay in first grade, which I have taught for the past 7 years. Then they found out that there might not be enough students for two first grades, and the other teacher had seniority over me. So I just had to wait. The nice thing about it was that I truly just enjoyed my summer with my family and didn't think about school much since I really couldn't do anything about it. I found out on Thursday, the 12th, in the evening, that the class would for sure be splitting. Meetings started the 19th. Everything in the room was in boxes, and I had 1 week to get it all ready to go! This may sound like a lot of time, but if you are in the teaching world you understand it is not. Especially with two little boys at home! I am so fortunate to have wonderful parents and in-laws that watched the boys basically the whole week, and friends and family who came to help in the room.

This is what it looked like after Day1. Annie and her mom, Gloria, came in the night before with me and helped me move furniture and the desks. I spent the next day unloading all of my books and putting things in the cabinets. 7 hours and it still looked like this!

Some days, Holden came with to be my "helper." He really wanted to be with Mommy, and I felt so guilty since I knew by the time I got the room ready, I'd be back to school. He loves that Sugar Creek has a new playground, so we spent some break time out there, and then I relied on the good old DVD player in the room. He was honestly a little angel; watched his movie, played with games, and sorted through my treasure chest. I think he ate more candy than he did at Halloween, but he was quiet and happy and let me work. :) He really likes my birthday hat for the kids.

Sweet, silly boy. Love him!

Jay had to work a lot of overtime the same week that I needed to get ready. Murphy's Law! He couldn't do anything about it. But he did come in on his day off and spent 2 and a half hours hanging clips from the ceiling for me to display the kids' artwork. It was not a fun chore but he was a good sport about it.

My parents spent their week either with the boys or in the classroom with me. They brought me food, rolled tape balls, hung things up, put things away, cut, stapled, you name it. Dad climbed up on a big ladder and fell off (luckily on my carpet area!) hanging something. He also made numerous trips to the store for items that I needed or for drinks or food for Mom and me. I so appreciated your help, Mom and Dad!

Finally, the night before the first day of meetings, I was ready to go! Here I am peeking out my classroom window. Ready for kids!

My transformed room, welcome bags on the desks. The room is HUGE, and truly amazing. I love the big windows, the carpeting, all of the nice wood storage, the Smartboard, and the kids' little cubbies. I feel SO organized now that it is all said and done. There is just so much room for everything!

Some shots of the room. The clothesline is for displaying artwork. The Superstar door opens to a very nice, large, bathroom.

My "book nook," the front of my room with dry erase boards and a Smartboard, and the kids' cubbies.

Love my big new desk! It is funny and nostalgic being at Sugar Creek, because I attended it K-6 as a child! One of my former teachers (Miss Thomas, 5th grade) and my PE teacher (Mrs. Eaton) are still there! I miss my Northpoint family very much, and I do hope to rejoin them in a few years when some of the first grade teachers retire. Specifically, I miss working with Annie each and every day. We are so close and did so much together between our two rooms. But I know that God plans everything for a reason.

Finally, the 19 smiley faces that make this all worthwhile. Teaching is such a rewarding job. It is shaping up to be an interesting year so far. I have one with severe social/emotional issues, a diabetic child, a child with a very sad home life, some with physical needs, and one on the autism spectrum. Fortunately I have a wonderful t.a. I know that God placed these children in my hands and placed me in this building because we were meant to be together this year.

A visit from Aunt Steph and Granny's 80th bday!

Aunt Steph, my mom's sister, visits once a summer from Austin, TX. She is a preschool teacher there, so her trip falls before the back to school rush. This year, her trip also was timed to coincide with my Granny's 80th birthday. She came to watch Holden's final fun run with us. This was the first time she met Hunter, too. I tried to get some pictures of her holding him, but either he had his eyes closed, or she did. :)

Holden earned a trophy for completing his final night. He was so proud of it! We were laughing at the fact that they gave little kids these sharp, pointy trophies. You can't tell in the picture, but it had stars on it or something that poked out at the edge. A recipe for disaster!

Group picture. CRACKING UP at Holden! He thinks he's Rocky or something. Too funny!

The next day was Granny's 80th bday. We celebrated in Peoria at Jonah's restaurant. Yummy! Memaw watched the boys for us so that Jay and I could actually enjoy the meal. :) Here's my sweet Granny with her cake.

And here's everyone else! My parents, Jay, and I; my Aunt Barb (Mom's brother's wife) with the camera, my Uncle Mark, Aunt Steph, and Mark's son, Joe, a picture of Granny with her three children, and an attempted shot of my cousin, Leslie (Mark's daughter), and her 3 year old, Aidan. He was being a little camera shy and we were trying like crazy to get him to look at me! The kid is like a little adult. Jay and I are in awe of how he will go to a restaurant and just sit there quietly, munching his food, and looking around for 2 hours. NOT our boys!

I did finally get some pictures of him enjoying the cake. It was so good! Granny liked all of her gifts and reading her cards. It was a nice get together.

The whole group! I am very impressed that the waiter got us all! Happy birthday, Granny!

McLean County Fair 2010

Holden was so pumped for the fair this year! It's fun that he's old enough to know what it is, ride the rides, and enjoy himself. It was a heat index in the 100's (as usual!) on the day that we went, which meant my boys had cute, rosy cheeks, and I had frizzy hair and pit stains. Lol! We went with Memaw, Aunt Allie, her boyfriend, Jeremy, and cousin Chelsey. Despite the heat, we had a good time. It is so much fun for me to watch Holden having fun at the fair like I did as a child.

Fortunately, there were cool things for kids in the air conditioned building, too, so we rotated in and out as we needed to cool off. He also got to play just a couple of the total rip off fair games. They are such a waste of money! But so enticing when you are 3. He did manage to win a few small stuffed animals. They only cost me double their normal price! Ha! You know, because we need more stuffed animals at home.

Little Hunter, my trooper baby. He has recently been able to start sitting like a "big boy" in the stroller, without his carrier. He LOVES it! Makes it much easier to take him places, as he wasn't a big fan of the confining carrier. He spent his day at the fair in the shade, air conditioning, or by a fan. I do think he had fun people watching. His hair is sticking up extra high in the middle picture because Memaw cooled him down by putting water in it. :) Yes, he does have super long legs. WHERE he got that from, we have NO idea!!! He is still in the 97th percentile for length. I stood him up next to Holden yesterday, and he is up to Holden's shoulder!

Holden rode the pony rides all by himself this year! Made me realize how big he is getting. It was nice not having to walk with him and dodge the manure! But still, kinda sad that he is so big. He really liked it and asked to ride twice. I did feel sorry for the ponies because they had to be dying in the heat!

The little petting zoo area was also a big hit. I remember him crying last year when the animals took food out of his hand. This year he had no fear, and was very selective about all of the animals having their turn. :) Hunter liked watching the animals and was laughing at them. All of a sudden I heard Holden yelling, "HEY! Do NOT eat my baby brother!" I look over and one of the goats was nibbling on Hunter's toes!!! Hunter was just smiling away and kicking his legs. After that I pulled the stroller back to a safe distance. But you can see in the bottom picture how the same goat was still interested!

Finaly, some pics of the "big kids." Chelsey, Allison, and Jeremy on the Tilt-A-Whirl, (used to be my all-time favorite; now that I am old, it makes me sick.) :) and Jay and Chelsey on some flying ride. Jay is ageless when it comes to rides. He enjoys them and can do them all. Not fair!

I don't think I've ever needed a shower so badly in my life as I did after a day at the fair in August. Note there are no pictures of me: there is a reason!!!!

Pictures that make me smile

These are just some random recents that brought a smile to my face. :)

One scorching hot recent day, we met up with Annie and the Cunningham boys at the mall to play someplace cool. The boys rode the little cars/trucks/horses, ate lunch in the food court, and enjoyed the carousel. Annie and I attempted to carry on conversations that were interrupted thousands of times, bobbed our baby boys heads up and down carrying them as we chased after yelling, giggling, LOUD little boys, resolved a few meltdowns, made it through lunch, and had some good laughs at the expense of our wild and crazy broods! Boys are just so rowdy and did I mention LOUD? The mall didn't know what hit them! But I am betting we have a much calmer (and cheaper!) future ahead with the mall than the mommies of the sweet, quiet little girls. :)

I walked around the beloved ice cream truck to put more quarters in, and started cracking up when I witnessed this:

Oh Colin, you are such a trendsetter!

Holden and Cade...can you almost hear them in this picture? Can you tell what sweet, quiet, calm little guys the dynamic duo are? Can you note my sarcasm????

Riding the carousel. They made Annie ride with Cade since he was 2. Which meant Chase had his first ride, as well! Love the cow Colin is riding; how cool to ride a cow with horns and it's tongue hanging out like it is dying?!

I took Hunter shopping with me one afternoon while Holden and Jay napped. He got a big kick out of the mirrors in the dressing room!

Jay purchsed a tent for Holden recently. They have stayed in it in our backyard several times now. One night, cousin Chelsey stayed with them, too. So much fun as a child!

Watching the additions to "Uptown Normal" from the Discovery Museuem window.

We came home the other day to this scene:

Holden knows how to work Memaw!

Baby Love

I know all Mommies love their babies. But seriously, I cannot get enough of mine! LOVE HIM! I feel like his babyhood is just flying by me, because he is my second baby and I am busier, and have to distribute my time, and I know how quickly it will go this time around. My special firstborn baby is already potty trained, sleeping in a big boy bed, and getting ready to head to preschool. For all the days that I lament about blowouts and puke, crying jags, skipped naps, baby food on my clothes, lack of sleep, etc, I wouldn't trade this very short, precious time for anything. I think I am feeling extra sappy right now because I head back to school on Monday. My only summer with Hunter as a baby is now over. Makes me sad! But happy at the same time that he is growing and thriving and becoming a little person.

Love this little guy!

Hunter is almost 5 months old! Crazy! He continues to be big and incredibly LONG! At 4 mos. he weighed 17.5 lbs and was 27.6 inches long...Jay and I both think that now he feels as heavy as our peanut, Holden, did at 1 year, and he's just about the same length! I love the rolls on his thighs, his chubby cheeks, and his long fingers, toes, and eyelashes! I love that he gives me a huge grin every morning when I walk into his room to get him up. I love his squeals and screeches as he has most definately found his voice! I love that his hand is in his mouth over 90 percent of each day, and that he can manage to smile around it. I love that he rolls and cranes his neck to see me when he hears my voice. I love that his peach fuzz brown hair sticks stright up on the top of his head, and is forming a "V" down his forehead now. I love that he grabs his toes now. I love that he laughs out loud. Did I mention the word, "Love?"

My happy guy. He is getting to such a fun age, where he is easily entertained, loves interaction, and really only cries if he is hungry or tired.

There is an extreme lack of pictures of my baby and me due to the fact that I am the family photographer. I decided to remedy that the other day with some assistance from the mirror by our front door. Hunter played along nicely.

Holden is such a good big brother, and Hunter adores him! Holden makes him laugh more than anyone else, bar none. I love that he talks to him and explains things to him like can understand them. In this picture, he was clapping and cheering Hunter on because he was holding his toy book in his lap. Never mind that I set it there, and that he picked it up for one second with his little hands and then dropped it back in his lap; that was cause for celebration in Holden's eyes! :)

I am so happy that he loves the swing so much. Holden wasn't a big fan and we hardly got any use out of it the first time around. Hunter will chill in it for long periods of time, watching the animals twirl above him and grinning at us when we walk by.

I know I'm his Mommy and therefore of course think he is the most precious thing ever. But really, isn't he the most precious thing ever? :)