The Meuniers

Long Time, No Write!

2011-12-27T18:46:00.000-05:00

Life has been wonderfully crazy and there has been no time to blog. Since my last post, Michael has turned three! And, we have two new additions to our family - Andrew and Emmett. I am wanting to start fresh with my blogging in the new year, so I've decided to start a new blog. I am going to leave this one up because there are so many wonderful pictures and videos of Michael, but I'm not going to post here any longer. Our new blog is http://meunierfamily2012.blogspot.com/ Please follow us there!

Michael spells K-I-R-B-Y

2010-09-29T13:27:00.002-04:00

Michael says Happy Birthday

2010-09-29T08:38:00.001-04:00

Lovin' the Kitty

2010-06-15T21:22:00.003-04:00

Michael loves Oscar soooo much :)

Whee!!!

2010-06-04T21:55:00.002-04:00

Turkey!!!

2010-06-04T21:51:00.001-04:00

We've got some turkey lovers in our house!

2010-05-25T21:46:00.003-04:00

I dreamed of you last night
You were so beautiful and so content...
Thank you, Lord, for the reminder that
Those sweet angels who are no longer with us
Are in your arms.

Today's Special: Oiled Shrimp

2010-05-21T20:56:00.002-04:00

Ahem... let me just climb up on my soapbox here. I may live in Ohio, but I am a SOUTHERN girl at heart, and I always will be. I grew up on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. I wept after Katrina nearly destroyed it. I weep now as I watch "big oil" doing it's best to finish the job. I am an engineer by training and I studied environmental sciences in grad school. So, I know the issues BP is facing in this disaster.

And I say, "YOU ARE NOT DOING A GOOD ENOUGH JOB!" I say that you've lied since Day 1 about the scale of this disaster. You've bought our politicians and even our local tv station. Excuse me, Gene Taylor, this is NOT chocolate milk. And, WLO-BP, yes, I think it is safe to say that the oil and the dead dolphins and turtles and wreckage are from the Deepwater Horizon.

I resent that the scale of this disaster is being under-reported. I resent that you have made this worse by using a dispersant whose by-products are more toxic than the oil. I resent that the EPA won't let us take steps to protect the wetlands because of the time it takes to get permits. I resent that Mississippi is opening up shrimping season next week. Really, do we need to eat toxic seafood? Is it not enough that our whole ecosystem is being trashed? And the SMELL, I RESENT that God-awful smell! What will it take to wake us up, people?

Walk Around Landen Lake

2010-05-21T20:49:00.003-04:00

Yesterday, Michael and I went for a walk around Lake Landen. I pass by it frequently and I thought it'd be a fun outing on such a beautiful, sunny day. Michael really enjoyed the change of scenery (I think he's getting a little bored with our neighborhood). It was a much longer walk than we thought and the trail isn't well marked in some spots, but we made our way around in about an hour. We saw lots of wildlife: geese with goslings, ducks with ducklings, turtles, cranes, and a very surprised cat that was lounging on a tree branch as we came barreling down the hill (Michael thought that was lots of fun).

It's Not Your Turn

2010-05-19T21:53:00.002-04:00

Today I took Michael to StoryTime at our local library. He has so much fun! They have a play time after the librarian finishes her program. There are so many kids, and Michael just kind of takes it all in. Today, there were several of those large beach balls in the room for the kids to play with. He was interested in those and went up to this one little girl who had her arms wrapped around a big purple and white beach ball. She started to turn away from him, and I said, "No, Michael, it's not your turn to play with that ball." Well, the lip started to quiver and before I could blink, we had waterworks. I picked him up and he just cried and cried. He was so heartbroken, as was I. I was just telling a friend about that, and it occurred to me that we, as God's children, are often in this same situation. It's not our turn yet, for whatever it is our heart desires, and we are so heartbroken. What a comfort to know that He holds us in his arms tightly as we cry and His heart breaks with ours.

A Few Photos from Mother's Day

2010-05-18T21:12:00.002-04:00

Michael had so much fun with his grandma and grandpa!

Here he is playing trains with Mommy. Poor little guy woke up sick, so there was no dressing up or going out. We did have a really nice time just hanging out at home, though! Michael gave Mommy a beautiful set of pearl earrings (Dad did a very nice job of helping Michael!).

Helping Out Around the House

2010-05-18T20:58:00.001-04:00

I adore the dimple on his left cheek.

Michael is a huge help around the house. Look how well he handles the laundry basket!

Is This Seat Taken?

2010-05-18T20:48:00.002-04:00

Is it just me, or is this rocking chair getting a little crowded? Michael's grandparents got him this beautiful chair for his first birthday. He loves to sit in it every day, particularly when we let him watch a Baby Signing Time video (which is really the only tv we allow him to watch). He has recently taken to sharing his chair with his buddies. There is a green frog that Elizabeth gave him and Scout the talking dog. He usually also has his sippy cup with him, too. He watches tv in style, that is for sure!

A Mother's Day Prayer

2010-05-07T07:41:00.001-04:00

Mother's Day has been a bittersweet day for me over the last several years. Losing my mom, struggling to become a mom, having a child, and losing 2 children have made this day an emotional one for me. In praying about Mother's Day this year, I asked God to give me the strength to celebrate what is good and honor what is gone. He gave me this poem, so I wrote it. I am by no means a creative writer, so it's not exactly artistic, but it is from my heart and what God gave me to say. I feel a little vulnerable sharing this, but it occurred to me that God never wastes anything and maybe someone else needs to read this. So here it is...

Lord, Can You Be a Mother, Too?

Dear Lord, I know your Word says that you are our heavenly father,
And, I cling to that, I do, but today I need you to be more than my father,
Can you be a mother, too?

Lord, you knew my earthly mom so well, so I know it's not news to you. She was so sad, her heart forever broken. There were many happy times, that's true, but she hurt too much, to give praise to you. I wished, forever hopeful, that your love would break through, but I never saw it... so, now, I hold to hope that she's at peace with you. I miss her so much. I miss the promise of the bond I wished we could share. I feel so lonely in that spot where a mother's love should be.
Lord, can you be my mother, please?

Lord, I wanted so much to be a mommy, and I felt that's what you were calling me to be. I wanted so much to give my children the mother's love that never came to me. But, months went by, and no blessings.
And I asked Lord, can you make me a mother, too?

Lord, you answered, and I gave praise to the heavens for the gift you have given me. My son is the greatest joy I have ever known. Sometimes I doubt that I'm doing a good job.
Lord, can you show me how to be a mother, please?

Lord, I asked again for a child. You answered with twins, but then they were gone in the blink of an eye. I miss the feel of them inside of me. I am so broken.
Who will hold them and love them?
Lord, can you be their mother, too?

.

18 Month Checkup

2010-05-03T21:26:00.002-04:00

Michael had his 18 month check up today with Dr. Evans. He was a champ and didn't fuss at all until it was time for his vaccination. He is continuing pretty much on his same growth track. He weighs 27 pounds, 10 ounces (75%); he is 32.5 inches tall (52% - really? He seems really tall to me), and of course his head circumference has continued to track above the curve (>95%). Our next frontier will be getting ready for potty training. I'm debating whether to get him his own potty or one of those little ring things you attach to the adult potty. His ears looked better (we've been battling an ear infection for a month!). :)

Happy 18 Months, Michael!

2010-05-02T21:39:00.006-04:00

In honor of Michael turning 18 months, I thought I'd put together this slide show with a picture from each month. I still look at him and I'm absolutely amazed by him.

-

Eight Months Old Already!

2009-07-01T15:31:00.003-04:00

Today Michael is eight months old! Where has the time gone? He is doing so many new things now. His latest trick is to sit himself up and to rock back and forth on all fours (so close to crawling!). He's also trying to pull up on everything and get into anything! We have now lowered his crib mattress so we don't have any unplanned exits! He is quite a talker and has lots to babble about! He is also eating a variety of solids now including rice cereal, squash, carrots (yuck), sweet potatoes (yum), peas (yuck), bananas, and pears. He is also very interested in drinking out of a big boy cup, so we are working with him on that, too. Michael now has 3 teeth (the two bottom and one on top) with two more looking ready to come in. He recently had a fun visit out to Oklahoma to see family. I'll have those pictures up soon. :)

Catching up - Photos from Mother's Day

2009-06-13T21:45:00.001-04:00

Here's our little guy all ready for his first Mother's Day.

Our church had a public baby dedication. Michael was teething, so we were nervous to bring him up on the stage.

He was a champ and even wanted to help Daddy with the mic!

Father and son - what a pair!

Mommy and son - the sweetest Mother's Day gift I could ask for!

Catching Up - Photos from 5/8

2009-06-11T21:53:00.001-04:00

I have a spatula, and I've no idea what to do with it!

I've got you now, Dad!

I'll eat you!

With Mommy and Dangles the Monkey

I love my mommy!

Catching Up - Photos from 5/7

2009-06-11T21:41:00.000-04:00

So far behind on posting pictures of my little guy! Here are a few from May 7th. Here he's just playing with Daddy. Notice the grip he has on Jason's hair! He (Michael) does that to me all the time and adds in a big, slobbery open-mouth kiss. He' so sweet!

This Could Be the Beginning of a Beautiful Friendship

2009-06-10T22:50:00.002-04:00

Humm... what's that?

Daddy, I want it!

It's so pretty...

It's mine!!!

I shall eat it!

I see remote control wars in our future...

Michael Meets the High Chair

2009-06-10T22:40:00.003-04:00

This was Michael's first day in his high chair. We wanted to let him get used to it before we tried to feed him in it. He thought it was quite interesting.

I think he got a little unsettled when we snapped the tray on. He was like, what are you people doing to me?

But, all was well once we put a few toys on it for him to play with.

Wrestlin' with Daddy

2009-06-10T16:59:00.001-04:00

Michael loves to sit on Daddy's chest. He strains to touch Daddy's face and giggles hysterically.

Having Fun at Home

2009-06-10T16:54:00.002-04:00

Here's our boy having a fun day at home. He loves to read books with mommy. He also loved when our good friend, Missy, came by for a visit. Missy just moved to Salt Lake City to do her residency in pediatrics. We'll miss having Missy in Cincy, but we know she's going to have a great time out West!

First Babysitter

2009-06-10T16:50:00.002-04:00

Here is Michael with his first official babysitter, Elizabeth. We had a yard sale, so we decided to have Elizabeth come to watch him so we could focus on getting rid of some junk! Elizabeth did a great job and Michael had a very fun time playing!

Cute

2009-06-10T16:48:00.001-04:00

This cute boy has something to say and he's determined to say it!

Busted! I'm not sure what they were up to, but they sure seem surprised to see me!

Sweet Dreams

2009-06-10T16:44:00.002-04:00

Jason caught Michael and I napping. I just loved the way he melts into me with complete disregard to the outside world. There is nothing more peaceful and sweet than a baby's contented sighs.

A Thought to Ponder on this Beautiful Day!

2009-05-22T16:16:00.000-04:00

"Quit living as if the purpose of life is to arrive safely at death. Grab life by the mane. Set God-sized goals. Pursue God-ordained passions. Go after a dream that is destined to fail without divine intervention. Keep asking questions. Keep making mistakes. Keep seeking God. Stop pointing out problems and become part of the solution. Stop repeating the past and start creating the future. Stop playing it safe and start taking risks. Expand your horizons. Accumulate experiences. Consider the lilies. Enjoy the journey. Find every excuse you can to celebrate everything you can. Live like today is the first day and last day of your life. Don't let what's wrong with you keep you from worshiping what's right with God. Burn sinful bridges. Blaze a new trail. Criticize by creating. Worry less about what people think and more about what God thinks. Don't try to be who you're not. Be yourself. Laugh at yourself. Quit holding out. Quit holding back. Quit running away. Chase the lion."

- Mark Batterson

Playing Hard with Daddy

2009-05-20T21:54:00.003-04:00

Michael loves this toy! It's supposed to fit onto his swing, but he doesn't like the swing anymore - just the toy. It was one of the first toys he began to interact with and he just has the best time with it. Now that he's sitting up a little more, he can really make it go!

Blast from the Past

2009-05-19T22:24:00.006-04:00

A friend posted some old photos on Facebook recently - talk about a blast from the past! These photos were taken in April of 2000. I was finishing up my dissertation at Tulane and had gone to Houston for a weekend trip to see some MSU buddies of mine. That's me on the far left with some really short hair! Jason and I had not started dating quite yet. Next to me is my wonderful friends Derek and Lisa. Next comes Lauri and Ernie (they were dating and that weekend was the first time I met her - such a sweet girl!) and then on the far right is my dear friend Tim (who is now married to his own Lisa). With the exception of Lauri, I met this crew freshman year when we all lived in Garner Hall on MSU campus. We had lots of fun times at State, especially our senior year! Wish we all lived closer together so our families could spend more time together!

Our Boy

2009-05-18T16:25:00.002-04:00

These are two photos that Michael's Grandma took while she was here for his dedication. I love these two because they show two very different shades of Michael. The picture above may seem at first to be a bad shot because Michael is crying. In color, his face is bright red, so I filtered it into black and white. I love this photo because it shows Michael being comforted by Mommy. These are the moments that I know I am a mom. I can't tell where I stop and he begins - we are one in these moments and my heart breaks with his.

I love the photo below because it shows how Daddy feels about Michael - shear adoration. I love the look on Michael's face - reminds me of that saying "butter wouldn't melt in his mouth".

Life's Been a Little Crazy

2009-05-14T09:21:00.003-04:00

I realize there has been a lack of posts here lately. A very dear friend of mine from when I was living in New Orleans has been diagnosed with lymphoma. I've been working on a prayer blog for her in my "computer time", thus no cute Michael pictures have been appearing here of late. The good news is that now that I have her blog up and running, it'll be easy to maintain. So, I can begin creating on this blog again. :) Please check out my friend Kristi's blog http://prayingforkristi.blogspot.com/ and please remember her in your prayers.

Things here are going well, other than me being worried for my friend (but worrying doesn't help and praying is the thing to do!). Michael is so much fun right now (he always is, but especially right now). He has one sharp little tooth on his bottom gum. He's quite proud of it and loves to chomp on my finger if it's close enough to pull into his mouth! He is getting more mobile. He's been rolling for quite a while now but has recently discovered how to use this "trick" to get to the things he's interested in.

We had a good Mother's Day. It was my first with Michael and my sixth without my mother. Michael was publicly dedicated at church and we had a nice lunch at the house afterward. I still missed my mom - guess I always will! One thing is certain - I love being Michael's mommy.

I'll try to get some new pictures up soon. I feel inspired to begin writing more - up 'til now this has mostly been a picture blog. So, yall keep me accountable to that, ok? :)

Reading Dr. Suess with Grandma

2009-04-29T09:32:00.000-04:00

Celebration at Graeter's Ice Cream Shop

2009-04-29T09:27:00.002-04:00

Michael was exhausted after his big day, but the rest of us were in the mood for some ice cream!

The chocolate chip ice cream is the best!

Hope thought it was yummy!

Mr. Blue Eyes decides to awaken and join the party :)

I can't have ice cream yet, so I'll chew on this toy :)

Michael's Dedication

2009-04-29T09:20:00.002-04:00

Here we all are with Pastor Butch. The verse we chose for Michael was 1 Samuel 1:27-28.
I prayed for this child, and the LORD has granted me what I asked of him. So now I give him to the LORD. For his whole life he will be given over to the LORD." And he worshiped the LORD there.

With Grandma and Grandpa

With the Johnsons

Outside of our church

Getting Ready for Michael's Dedication

2009-04-29T09:12:00.002-04:00

Michael is wondering what all the excitement is about!

We were so happy to have Jason's parents and our friends the Johnsons at Michael's dedication.

Poor little guy was teething, and he was not feeling well.

A Beautiful Day Outside

2009-04-29T09:09:00.000-04:00

Visiting with Grandma and Grandpa

2009-04-28T16:48:00.000-04:00

Chewing, chewing all day long

2009-04-28T16:21:00.001-04:00

Teething is in full force. We love to chew on everything, even Mommy's hair.

Look Who!

2009-04-28T13:09:00.002-04:00

It took him 5 months, but Oscar finally figured out how to get into the pack 'n play. We got a good laugh out of it. Oscar seemed content, so we let him stay a while. Unfortunately for him, we forgot he was in there and went to bed. We heard him howling in the middle of the night and had to go rescue him.

Smiley Boy

2009-04-28T13:07:00.000-04:00

Michael's smiles melt the heart!

Michael and His Little Buddy Evan

2009-04-28T13:00:00.002-04:00

Our Little Bunny Friend

2009-04-28T12:55:00.002-04:00

Here's our little Easter bunny. We first saw him last year, and he now visits us frequently. He is becoming quite brave. We wonder if he has any rabbit friends but we haven't seen any.

A few recent pics of Michael boy

2009-04-27T22:02:00.002-04:00

I love my boy's blue eyes, so expressive. What is he thinking here?

Big boy wearing Daddy's hat!

He's getting so strong... he can prop himself up higher and higher.

He is doing the Dr. Evil finger here :)

Don't you just love me?

Michael Is Going to Be Dedicated This Sunday

2009-04-19T19:07:00.002-04:00

I'm so excited to share that our sweet baby boy is going to be dedicated next Sunday. Jason's parents are traveling to be here for it, and it's going to be a very special time. One of the things we need to do to get ready is to choose a Scripture verse for Michael. Michael is such a precious gift, and I hardly know how to express all that I feel about him and about God for sending him into our lives. Here are a few we are considering:

Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.

"As surely as you live, my lord, I am the woman who stood here beside you praying to the LORD. I prayed for this child, and the LORD has granted me what I asked of him. So now I give him to the LORD. For his whole life he will be given over to the LORD." And he worshiped the LORD there. 1 Samuel 1:26-28 (NIV) *I'm thinking of just using the part in bold, as Jason will be the one to say the verse*

Psalm 127:3-5 Sons are a heritage from the LORD, children a reward from him.Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are sons born in one's youth. Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them.

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

I need feedback! I can't decide which one to choose and maybe there's another verse out there I should consider that I haven't thought of. Suggestions and thoughts are welcome!

Easter - Playing in the Jumperoo

2009-04-14T16:06:00.000-04:00

Easter

2009-04-14T16:02:00.001-04:00

Easter

2009-04-14T15:58:00.000-04:00

Easter - Playing with Daddy

2009-04-14T15:55:00.000-04:00

Easter - Getting Ready for Church Service

2009-04-14T15:53:00.000-04:00

Easter - Baskets

2009-04-14T15:44:00.002-04:00

We had a lot of fun making Easter baskets this year! Michael, of course, had a frog Easter basket complete with toys, bibs, and Mr. Brown Can Moo, Can You? Jason got chocolate and Phineas & Ferb DVDs. I got a stuffed bunny and a Charlotte's Web DVD.

Oscar didn't get a basket, but he had a great time with his catnip.

Easter - Oscar Loves Catnip!

2009-04-14T15:42:00.000-04:00

Easter - Good Morning

2009-04-14T15:39:00.000-04:00

I can almost get my whole foot in my mouth!!!

Just a Saturday Night...

2009-04-14T13:09:00.000-04:00

Daddy Don't Go... Stay home and play!

2009-04-14T13:04:00.001-04:00

Ribbit-ing along

2009-04-14T13:01:00.001-04:00

Michael is developing a more skilled grasp, as he is demonstrating here on Ponder the frog and Mommy's finger. He's also good a gripping Mommy's hair.

Reaching....

5 Months Old

2009-04-06T16:37:00.002-04:00

It's now April, and that means our boy is 5 months old. Here's what he's up to now:

* He is really rolling well, especially onto his tummy.
* He sleeps on his tummy (with his bottom up in the air).
* On his tummy, he lifts his head up so he can see over the crib bumper to greet us in the morning.
* He can sort of sit up.
* He's great at spinning or pressing buttons on toys.
* He's a wiggle worm when you feed him.
* He loves to smile and laugh. He especially loves to laugh with mommy - it doesn't matter what we are laughing at.
* He recognizes the sound of daddy coming home.

He continues to amaze us, and we are totally smitten with him!

2009-04-06T16:32:00.002-04:00

Michael has really been enjoying the Jumperoo this week!

Springtime

2009-04-06T16:26:00.002-04:00

It seems like everything was in bloom last week. Michael and I had several fantastic walks.

So Big

2009-03-31T06:38:00.002-04:00

Michael is very interested in holding his own bottle now.

Daddy loves him so!

Mommy does, too!

The Many Faces of Michael

2009-03-31T06:35:00.001-04:00

Precious Boy

2009-03-31T06:28:00.001-04:00

Exersaucer Fun

2009-03-31T06:23:00.002-04:00

Michael continues to amaze us with each new skill he learns! He is getting very good at playing with his toys. He has figured out buttons and how to spin things. He is always looking for something "new" to do and gets frustrated if he cannot master a new skill immediately. Kind of sounds like his parents... :)

Dangerous Liaisons

2009-03-30T17:06:00.002-04:00

Oscar insists on laying on Michael's blankets when I spread them out on the floor. On this particular day, I move Oscar to one end and the baby to the other. Well, of course, Michael rolled onto his tummy and was "in range" of Oscar. I told Oscar he was in a perilous position. He just waved his tail in Michael's face. Can you guess what happened next? Let's just say Oscar exited the scene abruptly!

Feeding the Backyard Geese

2009-03-30T17:02:00.002-04:00

Now that spring is here, the geese and ducks have gotten quite active. They love for the residents on the lake to feed them, and they will come right up to our deck.

It's mating season for the geese, and they've been REALLY loud (we can hear them quite clearly from our bedroom at night)! We haven't seen any of them sitting on nests, but we hope to see some goslings at some point this spring.

Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue?

2009-03-30T16:59:00.001-04:00

There's something about dressing Michael is blue and brown they really brings out the blue in his eyes!

This Is How the Eskimos Kiss

2009-03-30T16:51:00.003-04:00

The oddest things make Michael laugh. The tummy monster has been a favorite of his for a while now. Recently, I started showing him Eskimo kisses and he thinks they're great!

He Keeps on Growing!

2009-03-30T16:48:00.002-04:00

Michael has moved up yet another size in clothes and diapers. He's wearing size 3 in Pampers now (I remember putting those tiny newborn size on him!) and he's wearing mostly 6 month clothes now (some of his 3 to 6 stuff still fits).

Bumbo Time

2009-03-30T16:44:00.002-04:00

Here's Michael in his Bumbo baby seat. He likes to be "up" and to be able to see the whole room, but he only wants to sit in it in short increments.

I love the look on his face here. I can imagine him saying, "You see, it's like this..."

I Found My Feet

2009-03-23T20:49:00.004-04:00

Situp with Daddy

2009-03-23T20:39:00.005-04:00

Playtime with Daddy

2009-03-23T20:33:00.001-04:00

Michael loves spending time with his daddy!

A Walk on the First Day of Spring

2009-03-23T19:59:00.002-04:00

Michael and Missy in front of our flowering bush that I can't remember the name of.

Heather, Hope, and Will joined us. This is Hope making friends with a neighborhood kitty cat.

Michael is wondering why I've brought the camera.

Will was excited to have his picture taken. After our walk, we went down to the lake to feed the ducks and geese. It was a great walk!

Big Boy

2009-03-17T13:39:00.002-04:00

Michael had his 4 month checkup today. He is 27 inches long (off the growth chart) and 18 pounds 3 ounces (95%). His head circumference was also off the chart. What a big boy we have! We are so thankful he is thriving! He's feeling a little better now, so we hope to be over these colds soon!

A Few Pics from the Past Week...

2009-03-16T16:03:00.001-04:00

He Did It!

2009-03-16T15:29:00.003-04:00

Michael has been rolling over alot today, and I finally caught him on video :) Poor sweetie isn't very happy when he finally manages to roll over - I guess he really isn't sure what to do next!

We Are Sick

2009-03-14T19:45:00.002-04:00

I'm sorry for the lack of posts, but all three of us are sick.

Jason and I woke up with sore throats on Wednesday and have had the "ick" ever since. We took Michael to the doctor on Thursday because we could tell he was coming down with a cold, too. He also has an ear infection (poor guy!). So, we are doing the pink antibiotic thing with him. As a result, I've changed many more dirty diapers in the last few days than you could possibly imagine. I would love to know how a baby can get more poop on the outside of a diaper than inside it, but let me assure you, mine can!

We started him on probiotics today to help counteract the antibiotics but he hates how they taste... so, I'm off to figure out how to sneak them by him.

Michael has his 4 month well child visit on Tuesday (he's not exactly well, but okay) so we will post how that goes. In the meantime, I'll try to capture a few good photos, but it's doubtful given that we are all living in our pjs.

One other bit of news, we were able to chat with my dad on Skype today. It was great to be able to "see" him and for him to "see" Michael.

A Few More...

2009-03-10T13:23:00.000-04:00

Bathtime Fun

2009-03-10T13:16:00.001-04:00

Playing in the Jumperoo

2009-03-10T13:10:00.002-04:00

Oh, this is fun!!!

Okay, Mommy, I'm ready to get out!

I can roll over!

2009-03-10T13:00:00.002-04:00

He did it! Still can't get that arm untucked, but he's getting better all the time!

It still freaks him out a little. He usually needs some comfort after he gets back onto his back.

Trying to roll over...

2009-03-09T20:49:00.003-04:00

We haven't caught Michael rolling over on camera yet, but here is a little video of him trying :)

Look Ma, I can use my hands... and my feet!

2009-03-09T20:36:00.003-04:00

In this video, Michael has been delighted to learn that when he hits the puppy and the kitty on this activity toy, music will play. He has also discovered that feet work pretty well, too!

Elmo

2009-03-09T19:54:00.002-04:00

Michael has a big stuffed Elmo. This is what happened the first time Michael met Elmo. At first, they were friends...

Then, not so much... actually Michael likes the bright red color that Elmo is. Elmo is not my personal favorite... I wish we had a great big Oscar the Grouch or even a snuffalufagus.

Here he is kicking back, "What's up, Mom?"

He has something very important to say in this one... when I figure out what it is, I'll let yall know :)

Michael Has Something to Say!

2009-03-07T19:48:00.003-05:00

Michael started jabbering today after we returned home from the grocery store. I'm assuming he's telling us about all the neat things he saw. Whatever he was saying, he really felt strongly about!

Coach Michael

2009-03-03T16:10:00.002-05:00

Michael loves to help Mommy do sit-ups...

2009-03-03T15:20:00.003-05:00

Just Playing Around

2009-03-03T13:23:00.003-05:00

These are videos of Michael playing on his activity mat. The quality on one of them is really bad, but if you look closely, you can see Oscar moving in and out of the frame :)

Little and Big

2009-03-03T13:05:00.002-05:00

Our friends Jen and Randy recently had twin boys, Mark and Ryan. We went to visit them last Sunday. The boys are adorable! We were amazed how little they seemed. Michael came out at nearly 10 pounds, so he was never that tiny! The top pictures shows Jen and Mark, and the bottom picture shows Jason and Randy holding Michael and "Big R". Kinda reminds me of David and Goliath!

4 Months Old!

2009-03-03T12:56:00.002-05:00

It's been 4 months already... my, how time flies! Michael's newest accomplishment is rolling from his back to his belly. He's slowly getting better at it, but he gets so upset to do all that work only to end up on his tummy, his least favorite position!

His dexterity is rapidly improving. He's especially good at grabbing Mommy's hair.

Look how big! He used to look so little on that brown blanket...

Happy Mardi Gras from Us!

2009-02-24T09:55:00.000-05:00

Even More from Mardi Gras

2009-02-24T09:51:00.001-05:00

Tuckered out after the party...

I made King Cake for the party, but I also made one for auction at a benefit for Abby.

You know Oscar had to find the feathers...

My sister Becky sent us some great Mardi Gras decorations!

More Mardi Gras Fun

2009-02-24T09:46:00.000-05:00

Laissez Les Bon Temps Roulez!!!

2009-02-24T09:37:00.002-05:00

Mardi Gras Party at the Balestra's

Hangin' Out with Daddy on a Saturday

2009-02-24T09:25:00.003-05:00

Michael is developing quite a grip! He's a strong boy!

He has a great time with his bear wrist rattle!

Yes, we are having a chat!

Who me? I didn't do anything!

I Love Woof Woof!

2009-02-23T16:28:00.000-05:00

A Valentine from Grandma & Grandpa

2009-02-23T16:24:00.002-05:00

Michael was so excited to get his first ever Valentine from his Grandma & Grandpa!

Tummy Time on the Boppy

2009-02-18T16:16:00.001-05:00

Yes! We may have found a solution for tummy time! Michael hates it, but if we prop him up on a boppy pillow, he'll actually tolerate it for a little while. It amazes me how strong he is becoming.

A Few Shots from Valentine's Weekend

2009-02-16T15:54:00.002-05:00

Michael and Daddy reading a story.

Jason brought me some BEAUTIFUL roses!!!

Oscar hangin' with me and the baby.

Handsome Oscar basking in a sun beam.

The Cat in the Hat Comes Back

2009-02-16T12:57:00.002-05:00