Over Eight Months

So being in the hospital made me miss my eighth month blog.  So…I need to catch up.  Here it goes:

Anderson is getting huge.  He is over 14lbs.  He is sitting up and starting to crawl.  He is so determined, even though that determination usually leads to him moving backwards instead of forward.  (You know what they say two steps forward one step back…..or for Anderson one scoot forward two scoots back!)  He also loves to eat.  (Pretty much anything you put in front of him! He had yogurt for the first time and he lost his mind in excitement!))  Reflux is still an issue…(I smelled really great tonight, nothing like the scent of partially digested formula, chicken and peas)  But, it doesn’t seems to upset him, which is a really good thing. He cut his first tooth this week.  I cannot believe he already has his first tooth.  It is pretty adorable.  Also, his personality is just coming alive.  He smiles and laughs all the time.  It is a really fun!  His giggles melt me!  (Little man…you make my day!)  So here are a few pics!  (He is so cute!!!!!  I know I am his Mom so I am biased, but I am ok with that!)

My First Mother’s Day

A letter to my little man:

Anderson,

On my first mother’s day with you here…I just want say how happy I am.  I am so glad to be your Mom…and am so thankful that God has entrusted you to me (and of course your Dad).  Being your Mom is so much fun, and a title that I am so privileged to have.  (I know I say it all the time, but it cannot be said enough!)

You gave me the best gift today…you were just you!  You smiled, laughed, and let me cuddle you!  It was wonderful.  I am even ok with the spit up and nap avoidance which happened as well.  Thank you for this special day!  I smiled and laughed so much when two years ago I was crying thinking I would never have you in my arms.    Thank you for delighting in everything, and those looks of adoration which I do not deserve, but enjoy so much!  I love you little man!  Thanks for letting me be MOM!!!!!!  (It is pretty awesome!)

Seven Months…

Anderson is doing so well….and getting so big! I am going to do a full 7month update…..but I thoughts a few pictures needed to be posted for now.

He has mastered bottle holding!

LOVES bath time!!!!!

Loves to eat!!!

Books are his favorite....for reading or chewing!

He Is a Morning Baby! Wakes with a smile!

Loves his Cousin Elle and Bible time!

LOVES his Daddy!

6 Months Today

Oh…how 6 months fly by!  I cannot believe my little man is six months today.  It has been the best six months of my life.  It has been filled with fear, tears, laughter, smiles, thankfulness, awe and utter joy!  Watching him the NICU was so hard, but such an amazing experience of complete reliance on God.  Watching him grow and change each day is an amazing and fun experience and still a complete exercise in trusting God completely.  The only way to raise him in the way we have been called is to trust God completely and seek His will for our lives and Anderson.

Little man…I hope you know how much you are loved and wanted!  I hope you know how thankful your Dad an I are for you!  Know you are prayed for daily.  Know how much you amaze us and how much we believe in you.  We know that God has an awesome, and unique plan for your life!

We prayed for you and hoped for you!  You are such an answer to prayer.  From the moment we knew about you …you have been a treasure.  Each kick I felt, and every ultrasound only made me love you more.  The moment I saw you…I was not sure my heart could contain such love, but six months later that love has only grown.  I love being your Mom.  Watching you roll over, stroke my face, laugh, and even yell are such cherished moments.  Today…you are six months old and will have your first solid foods…it is crazy how fast time goes!  I love you Anderson Warner Barnard!!!! I love our family!

Making Friends on Valentine’s Day Weekend

Anderson is so blessed to have so many babies around his age.  He has two cousins which are just a few weeks older and so many family friends that are just weeks or in Jack’s case days apart.  Last week, Jack Patterson and Anderson spent the evening hanging out, which has become a regular Sunday evening event.  It is so much fun!  (Jim and I and Mark and Kristy, Jack’s mom and dad, were celebrating Valentine’s Day.)  Just thought I would share a picture of the boys.  (Anderson had his pictures done that day, so he was a little over the whole picture thing!)

The hearts are the invite for the guys to Valentine’s Day Dinner.  Kristy and I made a “surprise” meal for our husbands celebrating how much we appreciate them.  We had the boys invite them…by holding these invites.  Of course Jim did not read his…instead he was offended that Anderson was holding a girly heart and threw it across the room…just to be ridiculous. Luckily, my Mom the babysitter for the evening, was able to guide him to read the invite so he did not miss his meal of Doritos, bratwurst and Cincinnati Chili.

When He Giggles…

Last night he giggled again….what a wonderful sound!  I become mush inside!

Pictures that Make Me Smile

Just a pic or two or four for now…but a full update to come.  I just needed to share his cuteness!

Our Packer loving family!

Superbowl exhaustion!

 

 

Getting So Big…

Anderson is growing like a weed.  He is almost 24inches long and weighs 10lbs 12oz. ( It is crazy!  My little 3lb 14oz baby at birth being so huge…)  He hit 12 weeks gestational age on Sunday and is hitting so many milestones.  He really is doing so many things, all of which warm my heart.  I am so overwhelmed by the miracle that God has done in our lives! I know I say that on each post…but it is so true! I am so thankful for all of the moments….even when he spits up like a fountain and goes through  10 bibs in a day and a half.  (Thank goodness for Etsy and cute, absorbent bibs.  If you need some check out http://www.appletreeboutique.com/.  Her bibs are amazing!)  So here is what the last two weeks have brought about:

-He holds a rattle now and is amazed that when he moves his arm something happens!  It is so cute!  (Looks like he is right-handed, but Jim is working on his left.  Every guy wants a left-handed son!)  I personally will just be glad when he stops hitting himself in the head with the rattle.

-He giggled for the first time on Sunday.  I cried!  It was one of the best noises I have ever heard in my life.  I will never forget the sound of that sweet laugh.  (What a precious moment!!!!)

-He hung out with one of the “guys” on Sunday…and watched some playoff football.  (He wasn’t quite ready for pizza and chips, but bottles were had by both Jack and Anderson!)  The Packers won and life was good even if his pout says otherwise!

-He adores all of the ridiculous songs I sing, and that I move him around.  His favorites are….I like to Move It, Move It and Reunited.  Songs that I have written that he enjoys are….”I Got the Wiggles”, “You have to have a Clean to Booty to Eat”, and “You Are My Vomit Fountain, My Little Vomit Fountain”.  I am sure all of these will soon be big hits.  (In comparison to most top 40 songs…they are pretty darn good…if I say so myself.)

-He is sleeping until 8:30!!!!  It is amazing!  (That is all that needs to be said about that.  I do not want to jinx myself!)

– He loves to read the Very Hungry Caterpillar.  He is captivated by the story.  Anytime I read it he settles down and just stares at the pictures.  I hope he loves to read as much as I do.

-He is smiling like crazy.  We went to the Gastroenterologist  today and he kept smiling at her, and then at me and then at Jim.  I don’t think I will ever grow tired of that toothless grin!

-He is echoing sound all the time.  It is so funny.  Jim and I just coo at him and he echoes back.  It is so fun.  The best part is that he concentrates on it so much…he really thinks about all the sounds he makes.

-For a child who cannot roll over…I do not have any idea how he moves all over his bed at night.  He starts in the middle and covers a good portion of the bed by morning.  Each time I check on him during the night he has relocated himself…he just wants to be comfortable.

I am sure I am forgetting stuff…but those are the big ones.  Thank you for letting me share his development and wonderful memories with you.  Blogging this is truly a letter of love to my son that hopefully someday he will look back on and know how much I loved watching him and grow and change.  I want him to know that I did not want to forget the little things, because I treasure them so much.  I hope he knows that being His Mom is such a privilege.  Anderson….you amaze me!!!!

He Sleeps!

Another Week…A New Year

Only have a minute but did not want to forget how each week is a gift…(actually each day..and so on, but you know what I am saying).  Here are a few things that have amazed me…I am such a Mom.  (This new year is going to be such a wonderful year watching him grow and change.)

-Anderson is babbling more and more.  He is echoing sounds and it crack me up.  He refuses to do it on video.  I wonder where his stubbornness comes from.  I cannot wait to share it with you!

-Anderson is liking bath time more and more.  We actually try to pour water on his face.  This may seem cruel, but we want him not to be afraid and not mind getting his face wet.  This strategy seems to be working.

-He is starting to love the mirror.  The funny part is that he is more enthralled by my face than his.  It make me feel good!!!

-He loves his hands.  Loves chewing on them…loves licking them, loves looking at them.  He delights in them.  (How easily we lose our amazement in thing!)

-The world is amazing him!  We have actually taken him out a little more and he is so curious.  It is so neat to watch.

-He got so excited at the Packer win that he lost his pants and his pooped himself.  He is a true Packer fan.  He is a good boy!

Our First Christmas

I am so tired that this as to be short, but I had to blog to make sure I would remember our first family Christmas.  A wonderful white Christmas with our son.  Last night we were eating Christmas dinner and Jim looked over at me and said…”This is real, we are a family!”  He spoke the words of my heart… we are a family…and our first Christmas together was pretty hectic for Jim, but still an amazing blessing!  Anderson will not remember, and did not understand the significance, but I will cherish it in my heart forever!