Samuel - 6 months!!

Your 6th month was busy just like all the other months we have been blessed with you!  Just before you turned 5 months old (four days to be exact), your Nana had a bad car wreck.  After a few days in the hospital she came to stay with us for a little bit.  You loved having another person in the house to talk to you.  And even though Nana couldn't hold you at first, you still talked and cooed to her!   

Hanging out with Nana on the day she came home

from the hospital. 

We were actually on our way to the Fox Family Reunion when Nana had her wreck, so we turned around and drove back to Jackson so we could be with her at the hospital.  Your 'aunt' K'Anna took care of you while Daddy and I waited at the hospital.  Once we saw that Nana would be admitted at least overnight, Daddy took you back up to Grenada so everyone could see you at your first Fox Family reunion.  Your middle name is Fox, after that part of your Daddy's family :).

You are progressing in  your eating, and so far have had:  carrots, squash, green beans, and peas, along with the oatmeal you still eat.  You love everything we feed you!   

You attended your cousin Alayna's homecoming to watch her walk as a Senior Maid.  She was beautiful, and you loved the family interaction!  It was so exciting that you stayed up past bedtime just so you wouldn't miss anything.

Waiting for cousin Alayna's Homecoming

Such a funny pumpkin head!

Talking to 'Bug' before the parade

You and beautiful Alayna

Hanging out with Dad and Pops during the game

With Daddy and Bug after the game

Your first Halloween was this month!  We spent the evening with our friends Jo-z, Shae, and their little girl!  It was Shae's birthday so we are super happy that they invited us to come enjoy some fellowship and food with them.  You wore your monkey costume that Nana got you, and you were the most precious monkey I have ever seen!   We also attended a Halloween party with our friends Corey and Anna.  Dad and I went as two robbers and you were our bag of money :)).  As usual, I got caught up in taking pictures and forgot to get someone to take one of the three of us together :(.

Daddy with his bag of loot at Corey and Anna's :)

The only picture I have of me from that night..
I need to work on that!

Lilly was NOT happy you were on her sofa!  She
decided to take her cow-costumed self to her own corner!

Monkeys need naps too!

Sweetest monkey ever!

Hanging out with Daddy and Tea' on Halloween

Mommy, Daddy, and baby monkey on Halloween!

 We went to the Pumpkin Patch for the first time this month!  You were the most precious pumpkin EVER in your little hat!  We met 'aunt' Janine and her family there.  Even though we only saw them for just a minute, I did manage to get a picture with you and your German grandma (Janine's mom).

Samuel with 'Oma' Nina!

Sweet Izzy B went too!

Samuel had to get a picture taken with his Izzy B in the
pumpkins!

I love this little man soooo much!

So does Elizabeth!

Yay family photo!

Other things that happened this month:

Hanging with Daddy on our porch swing

Hey Mom, have you seen my feet lately?

Loving his play seat at Angie's!



Samuel - 5 Months

You had your 4 Month shots the day after your 4 month birthday.  Mommy got to take you to the appointment by herself because Daddy had class.  You cried for a little while after your shots, but overall you did great!  Your measurements at this checkup:  14 lbs 2 oz (45%), 27 inches long (95%!!!), head circumference 16 cm (45%).  I can't get over how long you are!  My little tall fella!

Waiting to see the Dr and get your shots, you were

obviously so concerned!



A couple days after your shots, you stopped sleeping through the night.  We had really gotten used to getting 9+ hours of sleep every night, so going back to 4 hours in a stretch, then waking every hour after that for several hours was no fun at all.  I feel certain you were going through a wonder week though, because after about 5 days of sleeplessness, you started sleeping better again.  You also seemed so much more aware of your surroundings and seemed to be able to hold your focus on things for longer periods of time.  It's still so incredible to me to watch you discover this big world around you!! You started eating baby oatmeal this month and taking an extra oz in your bottles at the beginning of this month, and by 4 months and 3 weeks old we started you on solids.  Your first solid food was carrots and you loved them just like your mommy does :).  You love to eat your oatmeal for breakfast and supper.  Mommy is making your baby food and we will slowly add more veggies and then fruits to your diet!  

First food!  Yummy carrots :)

You are still staying with Angie, and get to spend a lot of time with her outside on blankets when the weather is pretty.  I know you are just soaking up all the new things in the world around you, and that is priceless to me.

Hanging out with Angie while she plants flowers

We had our first cool weather this month, and you seem to like wearing your long sleeve outfits and your little hats.  On the day of Bren's 4th birthday, you were all bundled up!  Your great great Aunts Emma and Nell loved on you most of the time.   

Aunt Emma and Nell loving on you

Just too much excitement for a little fella!

Other things that happened this month:

 

Holding your bottle for the first time!

First long sleeve shirt!

Who is that super cute baby in that mirror?

Talking to Mimi at lunch



Mr. Blue Eyes!



Samuel - 4 months

We celebrated a couple milestones this month!   The first, Daddy started back to college!!  He is attending Mississippi College, so he is a CHOCTAW now (like Mommy!).  We celebrated his first day of school with a surprise outfit that Mommy made just for the special occasion.  I think it made Daddy happy :).

Hurricane Isaac came through this month, leaving us without power for two days.  For some reason any time the wind blows hard we lose power.  I guess that is the down side to living in a neighborhood that is full of old, beautiful trees!  We spent the first day and night of no power at Mimi's house.  You had a good time hanging out on your pallet in the floor!

Football season started this month!!!  Mommy is super excited when football season starts, so we had to dress you accordingly...

We celebrated Labor Day at the begining of the month, and that night was your first night to sleep in your crib.  I loved having you right there beside me in your pack and play at night, so I could make sure you were ok, but it was time for you to be in your big boy room!  The first couple of nights I swear I checked on you 20 times, but you sleep longer and better in your own room, so that has been a blessing!  You actually seem to love bed time (HUGE blessing!).  We have a nice little routine down, and you are usually asleep within 5-10 minutes of being put into your crib.



Work got super busy this month so we decided to let a good family friend keep you during the day while Mommy works and Daddy goes to school.  It's a true blessing, and Angie takes such good care of you!  Every day when I pick you up you are smiling and happy.  It definitely took some getting used to and a good bit of letting go on my part, but I truly feel like this is best for you right now.  I have a feeling that as you grow older, you are going to learn the best parts of being in the country while you are with Angie!  One thing is for sure, I figure you will grow up with a love for blueberries, since you will be able to run right outside her house and eat as many as your little heart desires!   

You discovered the wonders of a play seat this month.  The play mat no longer holds your attention, but you just LOVE your new seat!!

 

Other things that happened during your third month:

What a difference a year makes!

One year ago today, we found out that we had a baby on the way.  I still remember the shock and excitement like it was yesterday!  That feeling still takes my breath away, the feeling that everything in our lives would be so very different from that moment on.  The idea that a miracle was taking place right before our eyes, and that God had indeed heard our prayers for a child.

I never thought that I would get a chance to feel the love I feel for little Mr. Samuel (aka Peanut, Squeaker, Squeaks). I look at him and I see perfection.  He doesn't know sin, he doesn't know differences in skin color, or differences in political preference.  He is a blank canvas.  I was a blank canvas once, and as I grew so did my views on certain things.  My past helped me become the person I am today, and I will continue to grow and change until the day that I die.  It's so overwhelming to me when I see Samuel do something for the first time, because I know that he has NEVER done that particular thing before.  It's new to him, and with each discovery he becomes more 'Samuel'.  I can't believe that God lets parents have the responsibility of teaching their children.  He trusts us to show them a Christ-like love, and to not screw them up!  No pressure...  Every night before bed I pray that Samuel becomes the man that God planned him to be.  That's all I can do, is turn this little guy (who we prayed so hard for) back over to God.  Any time I do that, I think of Hannah, and how she prayed and prayed for God to bless her with a child and when He did, she turned around and gave her son (Samuel) back to serve God at the Temple.  I know that our Samuel will make mistakes, just as I have.  He will have regrets, as I have.  I want so badly to protect him from pain, disappointment, and heartache, but I can't.  If I did I would be doing him an injustice.  Those things will help shape the fabric of his being, and hopefully he will look back at his life and be thankful for that.  Hopefully he will know beyond a shadow of a doubt how much his Daddy and I love him.  I pray that I won't waste ONE SINGLE moment to show him just how big that love is!

-Lessa

Samuel - 3 Months

This month was a busy month for you!  I'm pretty sure you had a 'wonder week' in there somewhere because all of a sudden you started focusing in on things and 'talking' specifically to them. You found your hands at right around 9 weeks old! This month you've started really loving to hang out on your activity mat (or anywhere with bright colors that's flat so you can kick and squirm).  You are still going to work with Mommy every day and so far so good!  We have a pretty easy routine of eat, nap, play, repeat. 

HAPPY THREE MONTHS!  

Sweet smiling baby :)

Finding my hands!

You also went on another trip to Grenada to see Poppy Don and all the cousins.  The twins (Maggie and Katalin) even came down from Wisconsin and D.C., so you got to meet them as well.  

Daddy may kill me for this one, but I can't help it!  It's too precious!

Samuel's yawn cracks me up!  Sweet baby boy with Daddy

 

With the twins (Katalin on the left, Maggie on the right)

Family :)

Poppy Don holding Samuel for the first time!

Grandfather, grandson, and great-grandson!

:)

Four generations!

Tuckered out after traveling

This month I was able to start using your bigger sizes of cloth diapers!  It feels so nice to not have to spend as much $ on disposables.  I can also say that strangely, I love cloth diapering you!  I'm sure I wouldn't say that if I had to wash them all by hand :).

This month you and I went to a Pampered Chef party at 'Aunt' K'Anna's house and you got to see your great great Aunts Emma and Nell.  They held you for the first time and you were such a good baby for them!
 



With great great Aunt Emma

With great great Aunt Nell



More pictures from this month:

'Watching' the opening ceremonies of the 2012 Olympics
with great Uncle Tommy

 

This is what you thought of the Olympics :P.  You really liked
watching swimming, volleyball, and gymnastics.

 

Your very first trip to the Elite restaurant in downtown Jackson!
I hope you enjoy eating there as much as we do!

My precious Samuel

When you were born, a nice lady came around to our room in the hospital and took your newborn pictures.  We bought some of the pictures and the package we got came with a free sitting and free picture when you turned 3 months old.  Since we scheduled that sitting just before you turned three months, it makes it onto this blog post :).  One of the outfits you wore was a onesie that was your daddy's when he was your size!  That was a special thing to us :).

Wearing Daddy's onesie waiting to have your pictures done

Other things that happened this month:

You sat outside on Mimi's porch with her and watched the world!

We gave you your first binky!  You loved it :)

You still LOVE baths, especially your hoodie towels!

Sitting outside with Mommy, enjoying a rare cool afternoon

Monty just loves to 'protect' you

Talking to Daddy

Another pic of you with Mr. E-a-hant

You also like playing with things that rattle and crunch.  I can't get
over how blue your eyes are!  I think they are so pretty!

All that playing tuckered a fella out!

We are so grateful that God sent you into our lives!  It almost doesn't seem right to be in your 4th month of life!  Time is sure flying, and we are trying to enjoy every second!