ah, baby h...=)

Baby H is relatively new around here and is due for a little blog time. =)  What a precious addition to our family!  He is just a few days shy of 3 months and we already can't imagine life without him.  We are finally coming out of that "newborn baby schedule" fog and settling into somewhat of a routine with our family.  That feels good!

H is a good baby.  The first few weeks of his life were filled with the best baby faces, stretches, yawns, and cuddles.  He has always had his days and nights straight, thankfully, and is only up once, usually, between midnight and 7.  S and I love holding sleeping babies and it has been so nice to snuggle down with H.  Who loves to be either snuggled in close and upright.  H also likes to be held out so that he can see us.  He has been great at connecting with our faces from very early on.  It is even more fun now that he is smiling at us!  H added that new trick at around 7 weeks.  He started really kicking and waving his arms around that time too.  Now he is starting to smile and coo and talk and G even got a giggle out of him the other day.  It is wonderful to see him growing and changing and connecting with us.

Life is not always easy with a new baby.  H had some issues with nursing and eating that required a lot of time and patience (and tears and frustration and overall it has been one of the most challenging periods of time for me as a mom) over these first few months, which is why you haven't seen me here on the blog lately.  But I won't bore you with all of those details today, just the happy news that he is now nursing and growing like a champ and we are so thankful for that blessing.  So are our 3 other children who have had to be very patient at times when momma and dadda could not respond to them immediately.

The kids love H to pieces and have been so good with him.  G loves to be another little momma and likes to help with anything that has to do with H and we often have to remind her of things that only Momma and Dadda can do with him (like pick him up!).  She loves to hold him and we make sure that she gets a good amount of H-time when she gets home from school.  W loves H, but his attention span with him is a lot shorter than G's.  W gets a kick out of mimicking every noise that H makes.  Which is cute and all until H is fussing a lot, then things get overly loud!  C is the one we were the most worried about, but there has been no issues.  In fact C can't get enough of H and is very gentle.  Whenever C enters a room we are in he ask's "where's Baby H?."  Then, "Can I talk to Baby H?"  And a lot of "Can I hold Baby H?."  When S and I help him hold H, he will look lovingly at H and say "Hiiiiiiii Baby H!" followed 10 seconds later by "that's 'nuff!"

But where you really can see H's growth is through a photo or two...or 21. =) 

sleeping by Aahma R (11/5/11)

G was getting jealous of everyone else that got to hold H the first couple of days and was happy for her turn  (11/6/11)

squawking by Aahma B (11/10/11)

assuming the position - H loves to be bounced just like our other kids did  (11/18/11)

see, we don't hold him while he is sleeping all the time (11/26/11)

getting bigger!  (12/3/11)

everyone in stripes!!!  (12/10/11)

bundled up and braving the cold (mild cold compared to other years!) to "watch" his first Hollidazzle (12/11/11)

seriously, the boy can give us the best faces, but I am always a second late with the camera  (12/13/11)

"opening" Christmas presents - of course H needs a snoedel like the other kids!  (12/25/11)

Christmas jammy photo shoot - H is rockin' the holiday red and snuggled by big sis  (12/30/11)

kid feet!!!  (12/30/11)

H in the family bassinet - he is the 3rd generation and our 4th child to use it  (1/2/12)

"can we please take a picture with H?" - H wasn't as excited as the other two  (1/5/12)

C talking with H  (1/7/12)

konked out in the katan  (1/7/12)

cuddles with Aahma B!  (1/14/12)

"so big!"  (1/16/12)

smiles and wiggles!  (1/24/12)

W hanging out and talking with H  (1/26/12)

filling out his bouncy chair at almost 3 months (1/28/12)