4 months of fun

I have seriously pondered a post that was not all consumed by BABY, but sorry... it's not going to happen.  We have settled in as a family of three, and I honestly don't know what we did before Trace was born.  He is awesome.  We are counting our many blessings for this precious child, and he pretty much dominates my every thought.  Plus, I want to share his progress with friends and family out of town so they can feel like they experience his raising as well... which is becoming a major point of this blog.  So, if you aren't into my virtual, detailed baby book style blogging-- maybe I will start a non-baby blog sometime... but not today :)

He is a busy, busy, boy.  At his 4 month check up, the doctor described him as a big, healthy and VERY active baby.  He was 15 lbs 3 oz. and 25 1/2 inches... putting him in the 90-100th percentile, which is a welcome change after his underweight entry into the world.

All of that dark hair he was born with has pretty much fallen out!  We've joked that he has even lost his hair just like his daddy.  But hey-- they are so handsome that even balding looks good on both my boys!  His eyebrows are getting thicker and darker, and he has lots of short fuzzy baby hair growing back that is lighter. We can't yet tell if it is dark red or brown. It looks different depending on the light you're in.  He still has some monster eyelashes that frame those baby blues beautifully! And yep-- they are still blue, which surprised both of us.  I know their eyes can still change colors, but his get blue-r every day.

It isn't hard to make him laugh.  He thinks a LOT of things are funny, especially when we "nom nom" his hips or tickle his thighs.  He also really likes the songs that we make up for him-- especially the one his cousin Andrew sings.  Trace Parker Morgan, tooting Trace... shake your booty, shake your face.  And yeah-- that's probably the most normal one we sing.  But hey-- he thinks we are funny!

He was so excited to eat cereal for the first time this month, despite the look in this picture.  He gets VERY sleepy around 7-7:30 every night, so we learned that cereal needed to happen much sooner!

Overall, Trace Parker is such a joy for everyone. He is a friendly baby, and has lots of girlfriends at church.  He has taken up with our youth group (which is heavy in the female dept.).  He LOVES his family, cousins... and well, just about everyone he meets. I just can't get over how quickly everything is happening. 

He even got his first tooth 1 day before he turned 5 months old!

 We went down for Aubrey's baby dedication.  Trace slept through it, but he was glad to be there ;)

 We even enjoyed our first family beach trip, albeit a short one!  Trace LOVED the sand.  Aubrey... not so much.  They are so funny together!  I'm not sure they could be much more different. Aubrey is so sweet and still!  Trace is like a little tornado going 200 miles an hour!  I think she is a little afraid of Trace, actually! He loves very "intensely" :)

A baby really does change everything!! I love my new role as "mama" and I feel like I have finally realized that I can sustain this little creature's life, and I can relax and enjoy the ride a little more now.  It is easily the most exhausting and simultaneously exhilarating and fulfilling role I've ever held!  I'm different than I thought I would be in many ways.  I'm HORRIBLE at documenting things. I can't remember the first time he rolled over or when exactly he started crawling... I know he is scooting at 4 months old, but I figured I would record the date/time, etc.  Enjoying the moment seems to be much more important to me than documenting the moment. I may regret that later, but I kind of doubt it.  I'm also more laid back than I thought I would be!  I feed him things that have fallen in the floor... I rarely wash a paci (which he really doesn't care for anyway).  I can accomplish a whole lot more in a sleep deprived state than I ever imagined. I have no doubt that God will continue stretching and changing me as I learn and grow with this little guy every day!!

Cutie Pie Cousins

It has been so much fun getting to go through this phase of my life with my sister.  I love that Aubrey and Trace will be so close in age, and will have the good fortune of growing up together.  Thankfully, they have gotten to hang out a little this summer-- not enough, of course.  They really seem to enjoy each other's company.  It's a lot of fun to sit back and observe their little personalities and interactions!

Their first slumber party-- Trace 10 weeks; Aubrey 16 weeks

Trace was too cool for this photo shoot.

Aubrey girl surely seemed to enjoy it, though.  She was very smiley!

They are so sweet!  They hold hands and tell each other "secrets" all the time!

Trace 7 weeks; Aubrey 13 weeks- eating dinner at the Lodge

Precious babies- Trace 3 months; Aubrey 5 months

All Granna and Paw-Paw's grandbabies- Aubrey isn't excited to share the spotlight.

Just the silly boys!

They really do love each other!

They enjoy hanging out... can't you tell?

What an amazing 3 months it has been...

The last 3 months have been a complete whirlwind.  First, there was the overwhelming exhaustion. Then, the dread of going back to work and the adjustment of being a working momma.  And the last phase has been one of unspeakable joy as we have finally seemed to "settle in" to being parents and been blessed to sit back and watch this incredible little personality emerge!  His "fourth trimester" is officially over, and I am convinced that we have the happiest, sweetest-spirited boy in the whole world.  It is surreal.

This month, he lost a LOT of his hair, which (we jokingly admitted) makes him look even more like his daddy.  They even bald in the same pattern ;)

He also discovered his favorite toy, the rainforest exersaucer in phase 2 (thanks Aunt Sandy, George, Jason and Traci!).  He absolutely ADORES this toy.  Once upon a time, I didn't want to have anything "loud" like this in my house.  I am so glad that Sara K. convinced me that he would appreciate if I got over my aversion to brightly colored toys!

We decided to wait until next year to try fireworks. So this Fourth of July, we were pretty chill.  As in, we took a 3 hours nap all together after Daddy's triathlon.  Then, we had a low-key cookout with Granna and Paw Paw.  Aunt Sandy came over to see me too! 

He and Daddy are BIG buds this month.  They are mommy's super heroes... two peas in a pod.  I have been insanely jealous that daddy has gotten to stay home a lot with this little booger this summer.

Trace loves crowds of people and lots of things going on.  He tends to just chill, though.  He doesn't get loud or try to get attention (maybe it's because he usually gets a lot of it anyway without working too hard for it!) He just enjoys watching people.

When it's just a small crowd of his favorite people-- he is all smiles. 

Trace has enjoyed  bath time for a while now, but as it has become more of our routine... he cannot get enough of it.  He splashes around like crazy-- effectively soaking me and dad.  We are still bathing him in his whale bathtub in the sink.  Not sure how much longer that will get to last!  Daddy and I both do bath time, and it's the beginning of "Naked Spa Baby Time"-- which comes with it's own special song and dance (one of many new tunes around here).  He loves it! But it does make him sleepy.  Then, we move to the more solemn part of naked spa baby time-- the slow down, where we sing "Twinkle Twinkle" to our baby massage with lotion.  We put on our PJs and tell the room goodnight.  Then, we go to mom and dad's room (no judgement) and read our bedtime story and get our bedtime feeding all snuggled up to mama.  Then, we say our prayers (usually over a sleeping baby by this point) and put him to bed.  The sleep sheep plays us some soothing rain songs.  Usually, he goes to bed around 7:30-8, and he wakes up around 3:30, but goes right back down after he is fed til almost 6 usually.  I LOVE that we have finally gotten into a good nighttime routine.  It took a while, but he is doing really well with it.

These are some of my favorite photos leading up to 3 months....

Memorial Day photo shoot with his cousins-- he was just too cool.

He used to make that face all the time!!  So cute.

Our first Mother's Day

Very special day!! And maybe 1 of 3 times he has worn shoes!!

He has always loved his bed!

"What do you mean 'I'm out of milk?"

I am so thankful for this precious little boy.  Things just keep getting better and better!! During Trace's 3rd month (on July 1st), I was approved to move to a reduced workweek at my job.  I cannot tell you what a HUGE change it has made already.  I feel like I can be more productive at work because I am not feeling as guilty for being away from him.  Just getting to wake up with him 2 extra days a week has made an enormous difference in my attitude and mental state!  I am SO blessed and thankful!

Other than the fact that time is going by WAY too quickly for my liking... I couldn't ask for anything more.

Trace's first Braves game

Trace Parker has been a Braves fan basically since conception.  I am sure of this because he was always SUPER active while he was "watching" Braves games in the womb.  Then, when he was just a few weeks old, he would cry if he was left in his swing beside the TV when ONLY when the Braves were on.  We decided that he was upset because he couldn't see the Braves play!

He watched his first Braves game on March 18th with Dad on the couch.  It was spring training, but still...















And he has watched MANY more in preparation for his first "in-person" game.  We really love our Sunday afternoon games, where we watch and take really long naps all snuggled up.  It's great fun!


But finally, on July 2, we made our first trek to Atlanta as a family of three to watch the Braves play the Marlins.  It was absolutely a perfect night. During a 7 day forecast where I seriously considered building an ark, we couldn't have asked for better weather.  It was 78 degrees with a beautiful setting sun when we arrived to Turner Field.  We were very thankful we waited until 15 weeks/4 days because it was just right in every way.  Trace really enjoyed the sights and sounds.  He took a little nap, but most of the time, he was very alert... talking and cooing at everyone in sight.

Parking in the Gray Lot... Trace changed into his #1 Braves Fan outfit.

Trace traveled "en Ergo" to the hallowed ground of Turner Field.

We had to get a photo with the brand new "10" stuff.  Chipper's number was retired 3 days prior.

We sat right beside the visitor's bullpen.  Same section we sat in on our honeymoon 6 summers ago.  Our sweet usher was the same and even said she remembered us!  The bullpen guys were smiling at Trace.  It was sweet-- for Marlins.

It was a laid-back Tuesday night game with plenty of room around us! 

Trace and Dad both LOVED it! Lots to see!

He even tried doing the chop.. at least the chant part.

He was one happy baby watching Kris Medlen get the W!

He did the chop and his first official "wave" as well. We have video evidence.

 We stayed until the bottom of the 8th, and we made our way to the car.  The Braves won 11-3 and had a season high 16 hits.  It was a fun night at the park for sure.  We were sleepy, so we stayed the night inVilla Rica.  TP was a champ.  He really seemed to enjoy it, and we enjoyed sharing something we both love with him! It was definitely a highlight of the summer.

Hopefully, we can have many firsts with baseball... including a first night watching TP play in Turner Field one day in about 20 something years :)

Toes in the water, Toes in the sand...

I can't say that we didn't have a worry in the world... sadly, I think those kind of beach going days have long passed, but we did make our first beach trip (a very brief one) when Trace was 10 weeks old.  It was Memorial Day at a public beach in Orange Beach, so it was PACKED!  We didn't stay very long, but he enjoyed sticking his hands and feet in the sand...and in the ocean.  I guess he had no choice but to be a beach baby with 2 beach bums as parents :)
 

We went down to stay with Sissy for a little while and then visit with Matthew and Courtney, our dear friends who recently moved to Gulf Shores.  They hadn't been able to meet Trace yet, and Trace fell in love with Courtney... although, apparently, I took no pictures.  I do have a precious video of him talking to her in the car that I will try to upload.

We took some really great shots of the little cousins this weekend.  Trace was sleepy, so all of these are pretty mellow for him, but I love how it looks like they were telling each other secrets!




 
He was loving on Daddy that morning!  It was a fun trip, but a rushed trip for Trace's first road trip.  He was SO good for the 6 hour drive...both ways.  We had one incident on the way down where he was inconsolable for a time, but all in all... very good trip!

Starting Him Young

We have a divided house.  It is not easy for me.  There is no secret that I am what Jefforey calls "Auburn people." I am not ashamed. I bleed orange and blue from my head to my toes, and I have no shame in the pride I have in my alma mater. It is much more than just sports to me. Auburn is a way of life, and seriously... if you aren't a part of it, you cannot possibly understand it.

Jefforey grew up as an Alabama fan... pretended for a while to be an Auburn fan (so I would date him), and then went to Alabama the year I went to Auburn.  We have gotten along fine for years (especially well in the years 2002-2007) UNTIL we bring a kid into the mix.  I simply cannot stomach my sweet, handsome boy wearing Crimson, but I do love my husband, and I want to respect his wishes. I know it sounds trivial, but it is a serious discussion in our house.

On April 17-18, my Marshall County Leadership Challenge class had a trip to Montgomery.  Jefforey couldn't go because of school, so thankfully... mom went along to keep Trace so I could take part in the day's festivities (including pumping without a cover in the state house!  You've not lived until you've had that experience!) It was a bit crazy with a 4 week old, but hey... you do what you've got to do.  A silver lining of that crazy trip was that I would get to detour through Auburn on the way home so Trace would get a chance to see Toomer's Corner.  The trees were scheduled to be removed on the following Monday after A-Day that weekend.  So instead of seeing it like THIS (with 100,000 of our closest friends and AU family)....

We chose to see it like THIS (with our 4 week old)....

Now, we will have photo evidence that Trace Parker Morgan rolled the original Toomer's Corner (even if he slept through it).

Naturally, we had to do the pictures with all of the Auburn landmarks on this first trip.  Here we are with the University Seal.  There are many great superstitions about this seal... if you step on it, that means your kids will never come to Auburn.  If your Alabama-fan spouse steps on it for that purpose... it means that they will ;)  He has joked, but never actually stepped on the seal, by the way. And neither have I!

It was such a special day, and precious time to spend with my mom and little guy in one of my favorite places on earth.

I loved this picture of the sunset. Sunsets are ALWAYS more beautiful in Auburn than anywhere in the world... although, Hawaii has given my AU sunsets a run for their money!  I thought the sun setting on Toomer's Corner was poetic.

When we got home, in the interest of being fair and balanced, I did allow Trace to wear the Alabama onesie that Grumps got him in the hospital. I must say... he even makes Crimson look good!