First Smiles, Snuggles, and Monkeying Around

 MIcah's first smile came at 5 weeks 6 days.  He looked up at me in the night feeding and gave me lots of sweet smiles.  However, these smiles are quick and hard to catch on camera:)  I got one here but not a full smile.  He likes to try them all out.  Half smiles, full smiles, open mouth smiles, and gummy smiles.  I love them all.

 After that morning feeding, I usually put Micah in bed with me.  This morning I brought the camera hoping to videa tape his crazy grunting.  However, I ended up snuggling him in close and catching this sweet moment of how he calms right down and falls asleep when I get close.  Loving this snuggle bunny!

Elli is quite a little monkey on the bars.  She kept wanting me to watch her do crazy moves:)

July 28th, 60th birthday surprise party

 Nana and Grandpa recruited some help for blowing out their candles.  Both turned 60 this month.

 Jenna and Justin did a ton of work in planning and preparing this party.  We got Linda and Larry here under the guise of a trip to the zoo and dinner resevervations in Columbus.  We told them we needed to stop by Cedarville to help Justin clean up from a meeting he had.  They were totally surprised.

 Opening gifts.

 Elli was concerned that we were lying and wondered if we should ask forgiveness.  She decided in the end that since Kyle came up with the zoo story, it was his fault:)  I like that she recognized the problem with the lie, even though it was for keeping a surprise.

Nana and Micah.  He has grown quite a bit over the last month since they were here last. 
Overall it was a very fun weekend.  We got in lots of family time and lots of fun.

Micah 6 weeks

 He is sitting in his bumbo seat and doing very well at it.  Look at that fuzzy hair on tip of his head.  Can't get enough of it.

 One of the sweetest faces and I get to see it everyday!

 Not the best picture, but just another glimpse of my big girl being a big helper and loving on her chunky brother!

 And this is the other sweetest face in the world.  Again, I get to see it everyday:)

I was trying to teach Elli to vaccuum.  She really did a good job after I stopped this...running with the vaccuum.  She is cute though and has really started liking helping around the house.  She is also at the age that if I give her a job, I can expect it to be done relatively well.

July 22, 2012 Pool Day

 Brent and Elli were working on their cannon balls.  She is at a very fun age for playing in the pool. 

 Micah was just hanging out with us.

I did put his feet in.  He did not like that cold water on his warm and toasty feet!  He curled them right up and gave a sweet little cry to make us all feel sorry for him:)  It was a fun day.

Birthday Parties at TWIGS Kids Gymnastics

 Elli jumped right in there and was so good!  Here she is hanging like a monkey from the rings.

 Walk across the balance beam and leap into the foam pit.

 No fear.

 All the little girls.  The two in the middle are the birthday girls.  Claire turned 6 and Catherine turned 4.  Happy birthday girls.  Thank you for including us in your super fun celebration.

I got a picture with Claire but missed one with Catherine.  Such a sweet girl.
I could not believe how well Elli did on all the apparatus.  She did a back flip on the rings, walked on the balance beam, and performed her cartwheels all over the place.  She loked very comfortable out there.

July 20

 This is the best we could do with Micah, Wesley, Leah, ELli and Luka:)  Another visit to Papa's work, but the first for the twins.

 We then went to the Centerville Activity Center park.  The boys loved the play equipment and Elli loved helping them find their way around.  She was also a super helper with the slides.

 MIcah and I do the park a little differently.  He likes to just hang out.  It was actually a little overcast and felt chilly with the wind.  The good thing was there were only a few other kids.

 I love their expressions in this picture.  All three of them running and having fun together.  So sweet.

And the night ended with the three of them palying with cars.  I purchased a box of hot wheels and various other types of cars at a garage sale for my nephews to enjoy while they are here (this includes Seth too!) and also in thinking about Micah in the future.  So far, Elli has enjoyed them too.  $5 well spent.

Lovin' these days, mostly:)

 How can a sleepless night not be undone by the adorableness in these next few photos.  Look at his chunky!  5 weeks here.

 5 weeks and 1 day he tries out the bumbo seat.  Now he and Elli can "play" together.

Look at that booty in the air.  Wish he slept this confortably at night, and for as long.  One day he will and then I will probably be sad he doesn't want to spend time with me at 3 am.  Then again, maybe not. hehehe

Family Time

 Friday, July 13th, we dressed like cows for our free Chick-Fil-A meals.  They even gave us free dessert this year.  Awesome way to spend our evening.

 Elli used to be very afraid of this cow. Now she lovs him.

 Elli playing with Micah.  I know she wished he could do more, but for now, she is happy holding him and batting toys around for him.

 He was holding his own pacifier. 

 Elli was reading to us and Brent and Micah were a little sleepy.

Daddy with his kids.  Micah is 5 weeks in this picture.

July 11, Happy One Month Micah

 I thought I would start taking Micah's picture next to this lamb at each month so we can see how big he is getting as time goes.

 At one month old, Micah has learned to say, "I love you, Mommy."  He does it by; staring at me with those big adorable eyes, smacking his lips after eating, providing me with smiles even if they are involuntary, making little baby noises, and snuggling like none other.  He is able to focus on our faces, follow moving objects given they are close enough to his face, push up with his arms, interact with toys, and grunt!  I cannot wait to see the new things you learn each and every day.

Big sister holding her chunky brother:) Look at those sweet little rolls.

Cousins

 Ok, this is not a cousin picture, but mom wanted her picture with chunky baby!

 Heather, Gloria and mom came over to help me get caught up on life.  Gloria was wearing this adorable outfit and since Elli had one that matched, I did a little photo shoot.  Aren't they cute?

Gloria loves Elli so much.  She is one of Gloria's top 5 favs!  She was trying to kiss Elli and Elli returned the love:)

Elli lost number 6

 We started the day at the park. Elli's top left tooth was basically sticking straight out.

 We went to visit Papa at work.  Micah is wearing his "Grandpa's helper" onesie and dad was showing both Elli and Micah off.

 As we pack up to leave, Elli told me we needed to go back inside and get a tissue from Papa because her tooth was coming out.

And here is that adorable smile.  I think it is even cuter now that both top teeth are gone.  She woke up at 2:30 am when I was feeding Micah and told me the toother fairy didn't come.  Her stash was in the hallway right outside her door, but thankfully she was still too sleepy to see it.  So, I got her back in bed. She fell asleep and then I, I mean the tooth fairy, left $3, a half dollar, a quarter, a dime, a nickel, and a penny along with a littlest pet shop  toy.  I was all for stickign with the quarter for a tooth like I got all growing up, but it is way too to leave more.  Man, by the time Micah starts loosing teeth, considering inflation, this tooth fairy may go broke!!!

Little Snuggle Boy

Micah loves to have his legs tucked up underneath him when we hold him.  It is so sweet.  Here he is almost a month old but still tucks those legs up.  Here you can see his little foot under his belly.  I did want a snuggle baby and I got one for sure.  He certainly does love to be held too.

Digital Cuteness

 Chubby cheeks.  Getting bigger by the hour!

 He always calms when he is outside.

 Elli discovered the secret tray in our couch and used it to eat her zucchini bread.

Micah is starting to see and interact with his toys.