5 Months!

It has been a while since I have updated my blog, but my husband just walked in and said, "why don't you update the Hall Herold? It's still on four months." I think I have been avoiding it because SO much has happened in the past few months. I think I may try to tackle this in seperate blogs instead of one massive blog. We'll start with Reese's big accomplishment for his fifth month... baby food! I started him off at about 5 and a half months with organic sweet potatoes. He loved them! I have added a vegtable every week since. Most people don't start until 6 months, but he was ready. I have decided to make all of his baby food because 1) it's cheaper than buying the jars, 2) it's very good for them, and 3) it's so easy! Infact, here is a quick lesson for all of you moms (or dads) incase you ever want to make your own food for your baby. You literally steam whatever you are making, puree it, put it through a strainer, allow it to cool for a few hours, transfer to ice cube trays and cover, and store in gallon size freezer bags. That's it. I make it in bulk b/c most of the foods are good for 2-3 months. My freezer is now full tons of different types of baby foods.

The sweet potatoes after they had been pureed and cooled.

In the ice cube trays.

Reese loves them!

Sometimes Mommy and Daddy like to hold you through your naps instead of laying you down

Your five month picture!

Here are some random things that were going on with Reese at 5 months:

• still in size 3 diapers.
• Rocking back and forth on his hands and knees
• rolling everywhere!
• sleeping through the night until 5:30ish most nights
• began to sleep on his side sometimes, but mostly still sleeps on his belly
• had his first ear infection
• Weight = 16 lbs. 10 oz
• His feet are his best friends. He talks to them and grabs them the entire time that he is in the car on our way to wherever we are going.
• still teething, but nothing has broke through yet
• sitting up on his own, but will fall after a while and start rolling around
• still not liking being put in his car seat, but is able to be soothed with toys.

4 Months

Reese turned 4 months on March 10, 2010. Here are some things that are going on with Reese at 4 months:

- You are in size 3 diapers.

- You rolled over for the first time from belly to back on March 14th.

- You love to grab the toys on your bouncy seat, and you are now playing with all of your rattles and stuffed animals.

- You are almost sleeping through the night. You go to bed at 7:30, wake up at 2:15 to eat, and sleep till 6 am.

- You still sleep on your tummy.

- Weight = 12 lbs. 12 oz

- Height = 24 inches

- You have started rice cereal mixed with your mommy's milk. You are still nursing all the time.

- can grab and hold onto your feet

- either suck your thumb or two fingers all the time

- starting to teeth

- had your first flu (terrible experience)!

- Mommy can make you laugh so hard that she gives you the hiccups.

- can almost sit up by yourself

- you've started "scooting" when we put you on your belly.

- you have started crying when we put you in your car seat and arch your back

- starting to grab the books when Mommy reads to you.

- You still love to sleep on your Daddy's chest and grab his chin when he talks to you.

You still don't like it when Mommy puts him down for a photo session.

You quickly get happy though

Such a sweet, happy boy!

You are babbling away these days

That's all folks...

3 Months

Reese turned three months on February 10, 2010. Here are some things he was doing at 3 months:
- Wearing a size 2 diaper
- He's still in 6 month onesies, and has now moved up to 3-6 month pants/shorts.
- He is almost rolling over.
- He is still nursing only.
- Loves it when Mommy reads to him.
- Starting to sleep better at night
- Laughing and smiling all the time
- LOVES to stand
- Holding his head up and looking around
- Likes his carseat as long as we are moving.

Sweet face

Trying to talk

Those precious feet


Sleeping on his Uncle Justin

Enjoying his Bumbo SeatBeginning to hold his own bottleWhen he had the flu. He loves "lamb chops"
Sucking his two fingers
happy boy

I'm Alive!!!

I have decided that I am officially a "binge blogger." I have tried to only allow myself to get onto facebook about 30 min/day so that I can spend more time with my precious boys. I think technology can sometimes be too addicting so I have tried to take a small technology break. Facebook seems to be the easiest way for our friends/family that live out to town to keep up with Reese. I'll usually upload a few pictures at a time and then go play with Reese while they upload. I am trying to ensure that my blogging/facebook does not take time away from my boys so I usually wait until they are both asleep to blog. I started back to work when Reese was 14 weeks old so I have been waking up at 5:15 every morning to get ready and feed Reese while I'm putting on my makeup. I thought being a stay at home mom was busy. Being a working mom is a whole new level of busy! Not even a comparison. Since I wake up at 5:15, I usually go to bed with the boys these days instead of night owling like I used to. Work is going great! The first two weeks were hard to get adjusted to a new schedule for us and getting into a rythym of packing us all, but the schedule has been great for us. I enjoy getting to teach with my friends, and still be home everyday by 2:45 with my baby boy. I'm on a two week Spring Break right now and will be on my summer break in 8 weeks. Not a bad deal. I thought that I would only want to work until we have our 2nd child, but being able to choose ANY school in Sumner County PLUS pick Reese's teachers is a pretty good reason to keep teaching. If I had a terrible schedule, I couldn't do it, but my schedule is perfect. Reese and I are leaving tomorrow for Daniel Island, SC to go visit my aunt with my mom. I can not wait to have a small vacation! Get ready for a "blog roll." I've been keeping notes on what all is going on with Reese so I am going to try to do a few blogs tonight before we leave.

Nursery Pictures

Our nursery was finished before Reese actually arrived, but I'm just now getting a chance to post pictures. The only thing that I didn't get in the nursery was his chandelier. Reese came 3 weeks early and there simply was not enough time. I have yet get it at Lowes and probably won't. I got his changing table and armoire at the flea market. The armoire was $85 and the changing table (buffet server) was $120. My dad bought us the crib. My mom's friend did our bedding. My parents gave us the ottoman, and we splurged on the glider. We stayed on budget, and still achieved our goal. Reese's room is mainly baby blues, silvers, and creams. I wanted it to be elegant, but still have a boyish feel to it.

My mom came over and helped us paint the room.

This is what it looked like before we painted

Rich doing some painting.

I was in the garage painting the changing table.Here is the before

And the after!

The armoire before

And after!

The crib before

and after!

My Dad and Rich getting the chair set up.

Finished product

The drapes

This is hanging over his changing table.

A mirror I got at the flea market that I painted.

Frames that I got and painted.

Reese's first snow

Reese's first snow was a few weeks back. We just got a little bit, but then the next week we got TONS of snow. I didn't take him out the second time, but here is a picture of us in his first snow.

TWO Months (a little late)

So I am a little late in adding Reese's two month updates. He will actually be THREE months on February 10th. Time is going by so fast, and I am making sure to take in every moment. There are times that I don't even lay him down for his nap. I just hold him. I am cherishing every second with him! Here are some things that are going on in Reese's life right now. He is in a size one diaper. He is in 3-6 month onesies and 0-3 month jeans and cacky pants. Reese is smiling all the time and giving us tons of baby talk. He gets so excited after he talks. It's almost like he is so proud of the sounds he is making. We go walk all the time with Gramps at Rivergate mall, and he loves getting wheeled around there in his stroller. He also loves watching the TV. I try not to let him watch too much of it, but he will strain to get to it. He is almost rolling over, and is holding his head up for long periods of time. He LOVES it when I give him his bath. I also put him in his bumbo seat, and he sat there for about 15 minutes the other day. He looked like such a big boy sitting there. He likes going to the nursery at church and is always very well-behaved in there. He got sick for the first time a few weeks back. He had bronchiolitis, and was so pitiful. I hated seeing him so sick. Last, but not least... He is spoiled rotten! It is our fault because we love holding him so much. We figure that one day he isn't going to want us to hold him so we are trying to savor these special moments with him. Here are Reese's two month pictures.