Finally a birthday update...a month later.

Sorry, about the delay. He is now 13 months old...I am blaming this on the busy season, being sick, and my new job...I can't think of anything else, but if you do just add it to my list.

My little "Bitty Baby" is not so little any more. He is one, a toddler. He weighed 17lb 6oz and was 29 3/4 inches at his 1 year appointment. I understand he is a light weight, but he has gained 3 times the average each of the last four months, and he is happy/healthy. He is daily eating new foods and doing well with them. I am no longer worried. He is on the advanced end of the scale as far as development goes so that proves that he is growing at the exact rate he is supposed to.

Anyway, I have been spending a lot of time going over this past year. It has been the most life altering year I have ever had, and in my young life I have had a few life-altering years. I have really learned a lot about being a parent this year. I learned that I can carry a baby, have him naturally and at home, and nurse. Then, I learned that I can go on about 2 hours sleep if need be, I can hear my son cry only with a monitor in one home, but I can hear his every move in another...teeth can be a real pain, for some babies, but not all. Worrying won't make your child gain weight. Babies have runny noses sometimes just because...and they don't need to be wiped every two seconds. I can fake like I'm okay for the sake of my son when he takes a spill (inside I am saying "oh crap are you okay?" and cringing). I love him so much I want to cry some days (and some days I do). I want to give him everything yet I want him to learn that he doesn't need any of it to be truly happy. Bed time is a magical time (if it is before 10 o'clock). Sometimes chewing is really all a boy wants to do...swallowing is optional...playing with the chewed-up-food is much more likely. Blocks are made for knocking down. Cell phones are addictive...even for babies. Remote-control lust starts in the womb. Your child will always have a slight squeeze on your heart. Time is a rocket and you don't get any of it back.


Okay, so the birthday party was good. It is a stressful event. But we were happy to share it with our family and friends. It only happens once in a life time.

Icing on the nose provided by Uncle Aaron.

Not a huge fan of cupcakes...but sugar is sugar.

This is my home-made cupcake tree...feel free to be impressed.

Grandma Judy with cousin Kassidy. Cousin Natalie is in the background.

Yeah for turning one!

A FIRST BIRTHDAY COME AND GONE...

Levi is now a "big boy" he is one year old! We had a party with some friends and family on his actual birthday. It was a lot of fun, but I am glad that is all over. I will post more about his first year in the near future. I just wanted to get some pictures of his party and a video or two on the blog since it has been nearly two months since my last post.

HOWEVER...as I was getting my blog stuff together at home to take to a computer with the internet, I have misplaced my blog pictures...not sure what happened....will be posting again in a few days with pics and video...hmm

One more month...

That's right, Levi will be one year old in 4 weeks from tomorrow!!!

I can honestly say that even though I have enjoyed these last 11 months, I am so excited for the months and years to come. I love that he has begun to communicate with me in new ways every day. I love that he can play on his own and discover with out me having to carry him every where. I love that he gives me hugs and kisses. I love that he sleeps through the night and has a fairly predictable daytime routine. I love that he eats some of the foods we eat and when we have a meal together, he can sit and feed himself too. We are in a really good place right now.

Levi went to a safety day at Home Depot and painted a pumpkin. The blotches below his name are his hands/fists. The blurry blob at the bottom was him slapping the pumpkin. The name, however was done by me :)


Just thought this picture really brought out his eyes.


Levi and Daddy were just hanging out on the couch. Levi was the one who was going to bed in a few minutes...but Daddy is the one that looks ready.


At the new house Levi has found a few cabinets to call his own.
This is his summer home.


And this is where he will winter.


Cousin Kassy was over the other day so I tried to get a few pictures of them.


This was shortly before Levi got fed up with the pictures and took it out on Kassidy. I have that on video, but will not be showing it for fear of painting Levi in a bad light.


TOUCHDOWN!

This is the first video of Levi doing "touchdown". He starts out clapping and then goes into touchdown mode...either that or he thinks he is a part of a wave.

I guess no matter how old he gets, he will always be our little boy.

WHAT A MONTH!!!

Okay, so I know that I have not updated my (Levi's) blog in over a month, but I have a really good excuse. (And thus the first announcement in my large post). WE MOVED!! :) We have left our wonderful first home where Levi was born. We wanted to move now before we had another baby, and no, I'm not pregnant, but we thought it would be easier to move now...plus the market..blah, blah, blah...anyway, we LOVE the new house and things are moving along nicely. However, we do not have the internet yet, so updating the blog has been difficult/impossible. I am doing my best though to keep informed though. With that said, this is going to be a full post.

So we start off with some events before the big move.

Here is Levi with the Malesich kids
(Matthew's cousin's kids from Chicago).
It won't be long and he will be running around with them.

These three photos are from a wedding in Chicago (friends of both of ours). The first is of Levi enjoying a cracker. The other two were taken outside the reception area. It was a beautiful day and we were all dressed up...why not?

Here is Levi taking his oral hygiene very seriously.
We hope he makes Dr. Smith very proud.

Here is Levi hard at work with Daddy.
I may have a future "Tek Hed" on my hands.

This is Grant and Levi at the Symphony on the Prairie. This was a first for Grant but Levi was an old pro. I think this was his Third for the year.

Now this picture is how I lost "Mother of the Year"award. This is a Lindt White Chocolate Ball. While I was packing feverishly, to move the next day, Levi got into a box with these candies in it, unwrapped the candy and took his first bite of chocolate
(to my knowledge anyway).

So now we come to the big move. At the end of August we moved to another subdivision in Fishers. It was a short move but it took a lot of help from some key people. You know who you are and we thank all of you from the bottom of our hearts.

Okay so I am going to take a small break from the list of updates to share some cute pictures.

It's kinda goofy and kinda cute. I don't know, you decide.

Here is one of his new things...sticking out his tongue...maybe a
Gene Simmons impersonator?

VIDEO TIME!!! YEAH!!!

This is Levi going down the slide ALL BY HIMSELF!!!
FYI: He did this about 30 times before I would video it, he's safe.


Back to the post...(more video at the end)

With the move, we also experienced some firsts. Levi had his first sleep over at Mamaw Debbie and Papaw Larry's house. He did excellent according to the grandparents.

He has also taken his first steps!!! He took 4 steps on Sunday, September 14th. Just 2 days before his 10-month birthday.

He also began saying a few more words. "No" and "Yeah" are more clear now along with "Mamma" and "Dadda". No real strong verbal communication yet, but we can tell when he wants a particular thing and his pointing is getting better.

We went to the Creation Museum for the first time. They had a Petting Zoo and Botanical Garden there as well, so let Levi meet some new animals.

Levi and his new friend, Goat.



This is Camel...he was not our friend...he tried to steal our stroller.


This one is my favorite. He liked her nose.


Here we are on one of the bridges in the Botanical Garden.

Finally, today, we went to Stuckey Farm to pick apples (another first) with our friends, the Summerfields. Levi enjoyed trying a few different kinds of apples while I picked them. Matthew and I together picked 30lbs. Almost a full bushel! He did most of the picking.

Levi picked this one and munched on it for about 20 minutes. He likes Galas!


I know, totally cute!

Oh the sweet taste of victory!


Finally, a small video from today at Stuckey Farms. ENJOY!

NINE MONTHS THIS SATURDAY!

Touch down!

So we had our 9-month well check on Tuesday. He weighed in at 14lb 14oz
and 27 1/4 inches long. He is still in the 25th percentile for head and height. He gained another 10oz in the last two weeks to bring his total for the past month to 1lb 9oz. We need to see roughly the same per month for the next three months for us to be in the clear. I feel we will be able to do that successfully. He is eating really well these days. He is still into the yogurt, but he has also branched out into some other foods mixed with the yogurt. He even ate in his high chair today without giving me a fit. If you've been around in the last month you know that that is a big deal.

We are getting ready for football season and Levi is working on his victory dance.


Look what we found in the dryer!
(Just kidding...he was on the clothes line)

Okay so this video isn't much.
We bought this tunnel at a garage sale for $2.
HE LOVES IT! One of the best toys that I have bought to date.

LOOK AT HIM GO!

I just had to show this video. We took him out to the cul-de-sac and turned him loose.
I think he will be walking soon, what do you think?

He's a growing boy!

We went to the doctor's office again today...to weigh in.

Two weeks ago he weighed 13lb 5oz. We were contemplating taking him to Riley Hospital for some tests on Failure to Thrive. I didn't feel at peace with these tests, but the doctor felt they were necessary. I have been praying about this for the last two months...I felt like something simple would fix this issue. We had tried solid foods, but he just wasn't consistently interested. I continued to pray about it while we tried one last idea.

I started giving him Yo Baby yogurt and also a bottle of formula each day in addition to all of the nursings. This sounds like a simple fix, but I had a hard time giving him formula...those who nurse could probably relate to that feeling. Anyway, he was getting an additional 12 oz of food to my nursing him 7 times a day. This along with prayers has given him the weight he needed to almost be on the charts again. He now weighs 14lbs 4oz!!!

Thank you Jesus! Also, thank you to everyone who has said a prayer for Levi. From the bottom of my heart, I appreciate every word you have prayed on his behalf. At this time, we are going to cancel the tests scheduled at Riley Hospital and continue the yogurt and formula as I try to slowly encourage him to explore and enjoy other foods. Today I was hoping for 14 lbs and that would have made me very happy, but God showed up in a big "weigh" and gave him 4 more ounces!

"And this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us."
-1 John 5:14

I am constantly humbled by God's everlasting love for us.

My Feather Weight

I have not been writing much about this topic because we weren't sure what to think about the whole situation. Levi has only gained 1 pound in the last 5 months...

We didn't really know the numbers until he went for his six-month appointment. He only weighed 12 lb 15oz. Since then we have been to the doctor at 7 and 8 months. He now weighs 13 lb 5 oz. So he is gaining weight but not a significant amount. He continues to grow in height and head circumference he is consistently staying at about the 25th percentile in both those areas, so the only real concern is his weight.

Furthermore, he has been crawling since he was 6 1/2 months, he has been pulling himself up to standing and walking along objects (ie the coffee table) since he was about that old as well. He just clapped for the first time on his 8-month birthday. (which I have been told is a 9-month skill). With all that being said his development is ahead of schedule and his height/head circumference is steadily increasing....so what should I do?

We have started him on coconut oil and yo baby yogurt. He takes both very well. He is up to about 8 oz of yogurt a day and about a tablespoon of oil. We also are giving him fish oil and some vitamins...just in case he is lacking an element or something. I feel frustrated some days...like I am a bad mother and then others I feel so proud of the way he moves and stands...(I really think he will walk soon). I guess what they say is true...there is no lack of guilt in motherhood. But, for the record, he is a healthy, happy little boy and he is God's child. I trust Him fully to bring the right information to me to make decisions concerning this matter. However, I must also note that prayers are always appreciated. :)

ONTO A HAPPIER TOPIC!
As I mentioned above, Levi has started clapping. Please enjoy the video below.

We were actually able to capture it the first day that it happened. He likes for you to clap first and then he claps for you.

MEMORIES OF JULY

Levi and I spent an afternoon with my mom. He decided to get cozy and take a little cat nap on Mamaw Debbie


His first Fourth of July! He really enjoyed the fireworks. As a matter of fact each time we have seen fireworks he gets excited and babbles after each one. As if he's saying, "OOOO, Mom, did you see that one!? OOOO, look at that one!"


This is another picture from the Fourth.
(We went down to the Canal for the first time with our neighbors, the Summerfields.) Levi was trying to grab my camera. I know, totally cute!


I couldn't pass up the opportunity to post another Daddy-Levi picture.
Here they are enjoying the fireworks together.



ANOTHER FIRST!
This is Levi's first trip to Symphony on the Prairie.



The Bath Time Cafe
As aforementioned, Levi is into Yo Baby Yogurt. He needed a bath, he needed to eat some more food, and it was late...so I just smushed my tasks together...it was a success!


YET ANOTHER FIRST!
Today we went to a festival and we got Levi's leg painted.


It is a Colt's horseshoe.
I know what he's thinking...I have very cool parents.

We have ourselves a cruiser!

Levi is in full on crawl mode. He is able to get where he wants and he can pull himself to standing. I can't believe how mobile he is!

He also had his first two teeth pop through last Wednesday, June 25th. The bottom two are in and coming up nicely...then I saw that his top two are just under the last couple of layers of skin...so he should have four in the next week or so :)

Well with that said, I have been trying to introduce solid foods to him...it's a no go. This kid eats about 7 to 9 times a day (nursing) I try to get him to eat 2-4oz of solid food as well...that has been a real struggle. He will eat them some days and other days, he won't eat any. In the beginning, he ate pretty well, but he has experienced a major decline in the desire to eat any solid foods except puffs and cheerios. I am open to suggestions so please feel free to comment on this topic. If he is really hungry, only nursing will do. He does eat cheerios and puffs like they are going out of style, but I want to get him into veggies and fruits and stuff...what gives?!

FUN PICTURES FROM JUNE 2008

This is Levi at Grant's "pool party"

He's "helping" me with the laundry...

We take a lot of bike rides with Levi and he almost always takes a little cat nap...can you blame him?

The Boys Club
(Bob and Grant, Donnie and Gavin, and Matthew and Levi)
We had a neighborhood cook out in June and the guys got together for a picture.