BAYLOR AT 5 MONTHS AND THANKSGIVING

Baylor Boo is 5 months old today! Can you believe it? I can't! Don't you like the new nickname? That has been lovingly given by his big brother recently. Out of no where Grayson started calling him Baylor Boo and I think it is just about the cutest thing ever.

Baylor continues to meet milestones, growing and changing every day. On November 16th he rolled from his tummy to his back. I was so happy to be there and see the first time he rolled over. He was so excited with himself.

For about 2 months now Baylor has had trouble napping and was waking often during the night. He just seemed to wake often wanting his pacifier. We tried letting him cry it out and although that worked he was still waking up often and having to soothe himself back to sleep. A couple of weeks ago our babysitter, Cassalyn, asked if she could try putting him down on his tummy. Grayson always slept on his tummy. He would startle himself awake constantly on his back so very early on we purchased a SIDS monitor and put him on his tummy to sleep. We tried Baylor on his tummy once he was old enough to move his head around and he didn't seem to like it. I don't know why I hadn't thought of tummy sleeping more recently since Baylor had started waking himself up so often. Ever since moving to his tummy he is sleeping like a champ. Thanks Cassalyn!!!

Baylor is really starting to play more, which Grayson loves. He like to be in his exersaucer and on his play mat. He loves it when Grayson comes over to play with him. He likes holding and chewing on just about anything, but right now soft books, linking rings, and his bear seem to be his favorite.

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving and Baylor enjoyed his first Thanksgiving holiday. We traveled a little and spend the holiday with Justin's family. They live about an hour and a half from us. It was a wonderful time with family however we were all sick. Yep, all four of us. It is never good when the Mommy is sick, but it is even worse when Mommy and everyone else is sick.

Despite the illness we were able to get our tree and get our house decorated for the most part. I still have a few things to do around the house. Today we are still sick. Justin is at work and Grayson is well enough to go to school, but poor Baylor is home today. He is really congested and just feels generally poopy. Poor baby. He is sick on his 5-month Birthday.

GENEROSITY

According to Wikipedia the definition of generosity is the habit of giving freely without expecting anything in return. I think most would agree that generosity is a desirable trait. As parents we desire to instill lots of desirable traits in our children. Generosity is one of those.

It has been a long time since I blogged specifically about my sweet oldest son, Grayson. There are so many wonderful things I can say about my wonderful 2 1/2 year old. One specific incident this week is what prompted me to share a little about the child our boy is growing in to.

On Saturday we were cleaning up around the house. I was up in the boys' rooms organizing clothes and toys. Baylor's room isn't finished yet. We waited pretty late in my pregnancy to even start on it and well life has just been really busy and it isn't quite where we want it to be. It annoys me that he room doesn't look complete. While I was organizing and trying to figure out where to put all of Grayson's one million stuffed animals, I noticed that Baylor only has two or three "friends" in his room.

Grayson was upstairs with us and Justin mentioned to him that he has lots of animals and Baylor doesn't have any. Grayson replied with, "I give him some". He proceeded to go around his room very carefully selecting stuffed animals to give to his brother. He was sure to give him some of every size, some for his bed, some for the rocking chair, some for the dresser, and even gave some that I know he is very fond of. I wanted to make sure that Grayson understood what it meant to give something to his brother instead of just sharing it. I explained that when we give something to someone for keeps that means they don't give it back. I explained that it is very generous and kind to give to others especially when they don't have all of the nice things that we have been blessed with. Grayson just looked at me and said, "Brother need some animals for he room. He not have any." He gave me a look that said, "Well of course they are for him to keep. Why wouldn't they be?" I couldn't be more proud of my little guy. Baylor's room is full of "friends" because his brother was generous enough to give.

Grayson is beyond a wonderful son and brother. He has grown into such an amazing little guy. He is developing a love of NC State sports like his mommy and daddy. He is counting to 10, sort of saying his A,B,C's, loves to color and draw, loves to sing and dance, and has lots of friends at school. Right now the friends he most often talks about are Rin, Peyt, Katherine, and Cassalyn. It is sweet that Cassalyn is one of his "friends" because she is his sitter during the week. I consider it an amazing blessing that he calls her his friend. He is really enjoying going to school and especially the time they spend in Chapel. He has told me all about Moses, Noah, and Jonah. He has also mastered the most amazing rendition of "Jesus Loves Me".

Grayson keeps us laughing these days. In fact, I am considering starting a regular "Das Not Funny! Friday" post like my bloggy friend Jessica just to keep a record of his hilarious quotes. Just the other night I had to pull out of a side street and I couldn't see well to my left. It was one of those places where you just have to use your best judgment and go. As I am pulling out I say, "Okay boys, hold on to what ya got!" Grayson replies, "Mommy! I got nothing in my hands right now!" He loves to listen to "his songs" in the car and most often requests "Round and round" (The Wheels on the Bus), "Bible Book" (God Made Me), and "Pooted" (Who Did).

He loves to hug and kiss on his brother, play ball with is brother, tickle his brother, and pretty much do anything that makes Baylor laugh. It doesn't take much. Baylor pretty much laughs at anything Grayson does. It warms my heart to see how Baylor already looks up to Grayson and how well Grayson is responding to that so far.

I could go on an on for days about how great my little guy is and I am not biased at all. He really is amazing! He brings so much joy and happiness to our lives every day. Oh, and of course here is a picture of our little guy and friend Matt tailgating for Wolfpack football.

UPDATE

If you have not read my post from 11/9, please do so. Without reading that first you will not understand this update.

"S" posted today that her husband passed away this morning. Although he has moved on to a more beautiful, pain-free eternity he leaves behind a family that is going to miss him so very much.

Please remember them in your prayers today.

HELD

I have started this post a million times. A million times I have sent it back to the saved area because I just wasn't sure where God was prompting me to go with it. It started with a song and I am still not certain if I have it right, but here goes nothing.

Along the right side of my blog there are links to the blogs that I read. I actually read many other blogs, but the ones on the side are the ones I read most often. It isn't an accident or just for fun that I have them listed there. It is because those blogs encourage me or inspire me in some way and I list them in hopes that someone who may stumble upon my blog may end up heading over to one of those and be inspired or spoken to in the same way that I have been.

Some of the blogs are the blogs of friends who are at the same or a similar place in life as I am. No secret that those interest me because I can relate and often times we (me and those bloggy friends) are dealing with the same life challenges. Well, that and I like to keep up with what is going on with my friends.

There are other blogs that I read because I find the subject matter inspirational in one way or another. I read blogs by friends who are fostering and adopting. I read blogs written by friends who are missionaries. I also read some blogs that are sort of devotional in nature. Then there are two friends whose blogs stand out from the others and those blogs are what prompted me to write this post.

I have two friends who blog and right now they are in the midst of life storms that I can barely relate to. I have spent countless hours praying for these friends. Before I share the song God has laid on my heart to share with you all, I want to tell you about these women.

First there is my awesome friend "M". "M" is the kind of friend anyone would consider themselves lucky to have. "M" is funny, interesting, smart, kind, and devoted. Yeah, she is pretty much awesome. "M" and her equally awesome husband have wanted a baby for a long time now. Things weren't happening quickly for them and so they started seeing doctors. Many months later "M" has dealt with a diagnosis of endometriosis, surgery, and the determination that IVF may be the only way for she and hubby to have a little darling of their own. "M" recently found out that their first attempt at IVF failed. Here is this woman who I know will make an awesome mother. Here is a woman who has watched most of her closest friends have babies in the last few years and who even helped us get little Baylor here by helping out when I was on bed rest. I know that the realization that the IVF didn't work must have been devastating news for her. It is hard to understand why someone who would make such an awesome mother and who has the desire in her heart to have babies has yet to be blessed with one. On top of that, she is now dealing with a failed IVF.

I also follow the blog of "S". "S" is married with two beautiful daughters. "S" and her husband were high school sweethearts. "S" is my age and her husband has terminal brain cancer. He is currently living at our local Hospice House. "S" is facing a very uncertain future and on a daily basis gracefully deals with the reality that this cancer has brought to her family.

My two friends are in the midst of storms that bring heartache, pain, loss, frustration, tears, and emptiness. Although their particular situations may not be something we have endured, we all deal with trials that bring seemingly unbearable challenges. I know. I have been there and the only thing that pulled me through was the knowledge that God was with me every step of the way. He always carries us. "Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you." Isaiah 46:4

The song I have included with this post spoke to me about God's love for me and how he carries us through trials when I was in the middle of my own storm. Please pray for my dear friends, "M" and "S". Pray that God will guide them through their storm and that they will feel His love and encouragement every step of the way. I pray every day that "M" and "S" will feel "held" by the God that loves them so very much. He doesn't promise this journey will be easy and without trials, but he does promise that we will not endure it alone.

A NEW LOOK!

I have neglected my blog so much lately. Not posting like I should and letting the entire page just get so outdated. Things are beginning to settle down as much as I think they ever will with my life consisting of a business to manage, a household to manage, and two little ones to raise and I am working on making time for the things I love. Blogging is obviously one of those things I love.

I have a few posts in the works that I keep editing and working on. Some will update and some are just things that have been on my mind lately. I also took a moment to update the page.

Now you can see what our boys are looking like these days. The picture in the middle and the one of the left corner were both taken by one of our favorite photographers, Christa Hook. She owns Creative Clicks Photography and is just a wonderful person in general. You can check out her work at www.mycreativeclicks.com. Those were both taken when Baylor was one week and Grayson was about 26 months. The other photos were taken about a month ago at Portrait Innovations, which is where we go when we need inexpensive update photos of the boys.

So, enjoy the new layout and updated photos. I hope to get these other posts finished and published soon. Thanks for hanging in there with me during the posting drought.

BAYLOR AT 4 MONTHS

Baylor was 4 months old on the 29th of October. I waited to write this post until after we had his check-up. That was today. Our big guy is 15 pounds, 6 ounces. Baylor is at the 60th percentile for weight, 50th for head circumference, and 90th for length. Can we say "TALL". When we stand him up he comes right to Grayson's shoulders. Baylor is wearing 6-9 month clothing and continues to amaze me by how quickly he is growing.

Baylor continues to be such an awesome addition to our family. We are definately into a groove now having two kiddos, but I still stand in awe of those with 3 or more. Baylor is a real joy to have around. He has to be the most laid back baby ever. Grayson was laid back as well, but Baylor is just so very happy-go-lucky. We have done a lot of traveling since his birth, in fact we have been out of town every weekend since sometime in August, and Baylor has just been the best little traveler. He seems to enjoy every minute of the day as long as he is where the action is. The only time he wants to be away from the action is when he is ready to sleep. When he gets sleepy he prefers to be in his crib in a quiet room all by himself. He is already become attached to his little bear blankie and likes to sleep with it covering some part of his head and face. If he wakes without his bear he will cry until he finds him. He also likes to have his pacifier while he sleeps.

Baylor is sleeping well. Around 3 months he started waking up again during the night to eat after several weeks of sleeping through. We made a decision after about 2 1/2 weeks of waiting it out to see if it was a growth spurt, to give Baylor oatmeal at dinner. After waiting it out Baylor had gone from waking up once to eat, to waking two or three times during the night. The addition of oatmeal has given him the extra nourishment he was needing, but not in time for him not to get used to and spoiled by waking up and being nursed during the night. Baylor is not as happy and content during the day when he spends his nights waking up and I am not a happy mom when I don't get sleep. I discussed this with his doctor yesterday and I was happy that she supported me in the notion that we are doing the right thing by keeping him on a schedule and that at 4 months and 15 pounds, it is reasonable to expect him to sleep 8-12 hours without eating. I knew all of that, but it is nice when the doc backs you up. I have no issue with mom's who are happy to wake up all night to nurse for the comfort of their child, it just doesn't work for our family. I choose to provide comfort in other ways and encourage my children to sleep when it is time to sleep. We have been given the go ahead to let him cry it out (if necessary) and will move forward with that plan. Last night Baylor woke up twice. Once after crying for 5 minutes (we always check to at least make sure he is okay)I had to pick him up to calm him down and then we went right back to sleep. The second time he only cried for about two minutes and then went back to sleep on his own. What a big boy! Again, I have no issue with moms who nurse for comfort. I think it is great if that works for your family and if you feel that is what your children need. Every mom is entitled to decide what is right for her babies, so don't leave me any nasty comments about my parenting.

At 3 months Baylor was old enough to join Grayson at Hudson Memorial Preschool. No, Baylor is not in preschool. He is a member of the sibling crib room. He goes on the same days as Grayson. He seems to enjoy it and for obvious reasons the teachers just love him.

Baylor enjoys playing with toys and it thrills him when he realizes he has picked something up on his own. He has not rolled over yet, but rolls all the way to his side during tummy time or time on his back. The doc says he definitely could roll over if he wanted to. He loves to play in his new exersaucer and although he isn't always able to turn the seat when he wants, he has an older brother who is happy to turn him to a new toy anytime he voices unhappiness about his current location.

Baylor just loves his big brother and I am pretty sure the feeling is mutual. No one can make Baylor smile like Grayson. He looks for Grayson we he isn't in the room and his eyes light up every time Grayson approaches him to play. It is the sweetest thing to watch the relationship between the two of them grow. I know, because of my own relationship with my sister, that no one will ever be as good of a friend as your siblings and no one understands you the way they do. It is a joy to watch them together knowing that one day they will both be the best friend that the other has ever had.

Life continues to be amazing with this little guy around. He has started producing those deep belly laughs throughout the day. There is just nothing sweeter than the sound of a baby laughing hysterically. I have added some more recent pics to the blog header so you can see what the boys are looking like these days. One day I will get around to adding pics to my posts. Right now I am too impatient for the uploading.