Thomas Showing Off His Skills

The purpose of this video was to show Thomas' newest skill: rolling and small scoots to get where he wants. However, he decided  that he would perform all his tricks for you, the lucky viewer. He screeches, blows bubbles, rolls, and just looks darn cute! Enjoy!

22 Week Photo Session Out-takes

So Daddy was here to help with the pictures for Thomas' 22 week photo session (shh...don't tell but we were a day late!). Thomas LOVES his Daddy as the pictures show. I think his Daddy loves him too! The picture on the bottom right just kills me!

Where's Thomas?

Thomas loves to play Where's Thomas? Yesterday, I would put his taggie over his head, and he would lean down so it would fall! Fun stuff. Here's a video:

Thomas and Luke

Luke spent last week with us. (Stephen came too.) Ashley was in Houston for a work thing, and Stephen needed some work done on their car, so they spent the week with us. I didn't take a bunch of pictures, but here is a series I thought was typical of the week:

I'm gonna get you!

No, I'm gonna get YOU! I'm bigger and faster!

Okay, we will play nice for the picture!

Thomas says "Dadadadadada"

Okay, so I've taken human growth and development and I read stuff about childhood development online. And I know that a 5 month old supposedly does not connect words with their actual meanings yet. However, I can only report what I observe. My son says "dadadada", and he generally only says this when his father is around. Also, I will say, "Thomas, say mama" and he says, "dadada". 

I think its a conspiracy. 

PS: If you enjoyed the high quality of this video, we accept all donations of iPhone 4s or any other higher grade recording equipment than my silly app on my iPhone 3G. (This was taken using my mom's iPhone 4)

Fourth of July

We had an AWESOME time over the Fourth of July weekend at Michael's parent's house. Its hard to believe that it was this weekend last year that we told everyone about Mr. Thomas! So much has changed in one year!

Thomas relaxing before all the cousins arrived.

Nana bought the kids an inflatable water slide to play on. They really enjoyed it! Thomas got to test it out the day before all the other cousins came when Michael and Pops put it up. He enjoyed it. He also did good sitting in it with Michael while they other big kids played! He even slid down the slide with us!

His first trip down the slide!

Just chillin'!

Clara Beth

Kaylea

Matthew a.k.a. the Daredevil. He would jump and bounce before he came racing down the slide.
It was hard for me to get his picture!

Joseph relaxing in his bouncer!

Andrew coming down the slide with his Daddy!

Sitting and Shrieking!

Here are some videos of Thomas sitting up and Thomas shrieking. A 4th of July post is coming soon!

Watch Me Grow!!

Wow! My little man is growing WAY too fast! FIVE months! How did that happen?
So what can Thomas do at 5 months:

• Shriek at the top of his lungs. He's been doing this for awhile, but lately he finds it highly amusing. He will shriek and then stop and look around to see if anyone is noticing or laughing at him.
• SIT UP! As you can see, he is sitting up! Since about 20 weeks. He still slouches a bit, but he gets better every day!
• Scoot backwards. This is a bit non-productive for him as he scoots himself AWAY from his toys, but whatever. I try to line them up beside him, so there is something new as he scoots.
• He is now sleeping in the baby bed. This is new as in just the last few days. Today we have digressed back to the yellow sleeper because his tummy is hurting, but hopefully that will only be today.
• We transitioned him to a convertible car seat, which he likes so much better than the bucket seat. He can see out the window, and its much easier to get him in and out. My shoulder thanks me for that decision.
• He is grabbing EVERYTHING! We now have to watch what we put on the table near him. And he grabs anything in my hands when I'm holding him.
• Along with grabbing things, everything is briefly inspected before being placed directly in his mouth for a closer inspection. 
• He can pass objects back and forth between his hands. He is still a little unsteady at this and it requires much concentration.
• He is bathing in the big bath tub. We got him one of the little seats and he loves it! I put him in the tub with me one day before we got the seat and filled it with bubbles for him. He just looked at me in amazement!
• He loves being spooked by his daddy. Michael can jump out from anywhere and say BOO! and Thomas will jump and then giggle. 
• I'm guessing he weighs around 18 pounds.

To update everyone on us, we are settling in well in Mississippi. Michael is enjoying his job, and I am in the process of getting some part-time counseling lined up for myself. I hope to take the NCE soon and start attaining hours towards my LPC (license). Thomas will start Mothers Morning Out at FUMC in Starkville in August. I am both excited and nervous! He will go three mornings a week. We are still house hunting. We are supposed to meet with a contractor next week about possibly building a house in a subdivision he is developing. I will keep you posted!

Thomas Meets Bryson

This weekend my friend, Amy (Gillis) Bogue, was in town for a family reunion, so we got together Saturday morning. Bryson was born exactly (almost to the minute) two weeks before Thomas. Amy and I have been texting and comparing notes since the kids arrived, so we were excited to meet them in person! Getting a picture of them together was too funny:

Bryson says: "oooo this bib is tasty!"

Thomas says: "If you're gonna eat my bib, I'm gonna eat your arm!"

Hey everybody look at the camera!

I suppose that's the best you get with two 5 month olds!!

Michael's Father's Day Gift

We did home-made Father's Day gifts this year. This is what Thomas made. If you can't tell, its his handprint facing down and it reads "Hands Down You're the BEST Daddy in the world!". Cute huh? I got the idea online. I have absolutely zero creativity. He also made one for his Poppa (my daddy), Pops (Michael's daddy), and Pa (my paternal grandfather). Thomas was not a big fan of the finger paint! Hence the reason why his handprints really look more like orange blobs, but hey, its the thought that counts right!?

Story time with Grammy

Daddy says I'm smart because Mom read to me all the time when I was in utero and out! So I suppose a little story time with Grammy won't hurt the kid!

Reading Panda Bear Panda Bear by Eric Carle!

Thomas Meets Martin (and Bryan and Becca...)

Bryan and Becca were in town for a family reunion on Bryan's dad's side of the family. They stayed with Nanny and Pa, so we stopped by for a quick visit to introduce the kiddos to each other!

A poor attempt at a group shot! Hey you get what you get with two little ones!

Thomas and Martin playing with Scout. Thomas decided that he really needs one of those!

Happy 30th Uncle Fatty!

My brother's 30th birthday was June 30, so the weekend before we went to his house for a little family celebration. Here are some photos from the evening.

Luke showing Thomas how to work the toys on the Jumperoo. It was so cute. Thomas had never been in one before so he was just sitting there. Luke crawled over and stood up next to it. Then he started bouncing to show Thomas what to do. Sweet boys.

Uuuhhhh...I'm not sure what you want me to do here, but I'm having fun just relaxing!

Stephen made cookies from scratch. The one on top was dubbed "perfect" by Stephen, and no one was allowed to eat it.

Stephen rocking Thomas to sleep. When he got ready to swaddle Thomas, he said,  "Hold on boy, you ain't never been swaddled by yo uncle!" Thomas feel right to sleep on Stephen. The trouble was with putting him down...

Snoozing away.

Thomas Gets "Up Close and Personal" with Beau

Grammy is in Hog Heaven

Since Luke came to visit, Grammy had BOTH grandboys in the house. AND she got to babysit them all by herself Sunday night. She was just delighted!

You get both babies quasi smiling, and Grammy is closing her eyes!

And they are all looking the other direction.

I suppose this is as good as it gets!

Luke Comes to Visit Thomas

Luke's Mommy had to go on a trip for work that lasted a week, so Stephen and Luke came to visit us at Grammy and Poppa's for a few days. They had lots of fun. Here are some pictures:

When Luke arrived, we discovered that they had the same outfit! Perfect photo op!

Sharing already! Ha! That won't last long!

Luke thinks "w"s are yummy!