Tuesday, December 23, 2014

18 months

Well, I am a bit late on writing this journal entry.  And let's not mention the fact that I haven't taken your 18 month pictures!!

I guess I have a pretty good excuse...we have been traveling for the month of December.  First to Georgia then to Northern Virginia.  I am hoping for some decent weather...it has been VERY rainy...so we can go ahead and get them done.  I guess I should prepare to do Sophie's five-year-old pictures while I am at it.  But I digress.

Anyways, I can't believe that you are 18 months!!!  Let me ask the question...again...WHERE HAS THE TIME GONE!?!?!  I honestly don't remember what our family was like without you.  Even though it was a seamless transition, you have added so much to our family.  You bring so much laughter to our family.  Even at the young age of 18 months, you know that you are funny.  If you do something and it brings laughter, you will do it again...and again...and again. Your brother and sisters ADORE you!!  I am so thankful for the love they have for you and the love you have for them.  It just melts this momma's heart.

Some things that make you you:

*You LOVE to eat...especially fruit, veggies and dessert.
*You have started humming songs and we know which ones they are. (Wheels on the Bus; Happy and You Know It; Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star to name a few)
*You sing the Amen Song with us
*You LOVE to wrestle and often times I am telling you to be careful with your big brother!
*You LOVE being outside
*You follow simple commands
*You are saying more words: Mama, Dada, Up, Apple, Ball, Dog, Amen, FeFe (Sophie), Brush, Bup-Bup; Bob-Bob; Lin-Lin;
*You are beginning to point out words from the "Your Baby Can Read" videos
*You LOVE a ball, rock or car to play with
*You are LOUD...VERY LOUD...when you see something you would like
*You still suck your thumb, but we are currently taping a sock over you hand so you won't suck it.  Sometimes it stays on, sometimes you take the tape and sock off.  And you have been known to pull your arm out of your sleeve to suck your thumb...just like Sophie did.
*You love to give tap,taps...you pat our backs when you give us hugs
*You are a cuddler...when you sit still long enough.

I could go on and on, but I will stop there.  One thing I want you to know is that we LOVE you so very much, Richard Tobias.  We are thankful that you are a part of our family.  We look forward to seeing how God is going to take all these things from above and grow them in yo and to see how He is going to use you to further His Kingdom. 

Tuesday, June 17, 2014

Happy 1st Birthday, Richard Tobias!


Happy 1st Birthday, Richard Tobias!!! 

Well, we survived your first year of life.  So much has happened over the last year which has made it go by so much faster.  Part of me wishes we could go back a year and start all over again, so I could cherish every moment...every last "first"...a little bit more.  But I know that isn't possible, so I will keep those memories close to my heart. 

We are so thankful for being blessed with you.  God knew exactly who we needed to complete our little family...ok, maybe little is the wrong word here! :)  We look forward to seeing who God has created you to be and the relationships you will have with your siblings.  You are very much loved by all of them...they absolutely adore you. 

Our prayer for you...that God will capture your heart and life at a young age. That He will use you in mighty ways to further His Kingdom.  That you will take your determined spirit and use it to glorify Him.  That God will use your silly spirit to attract people to Him. We pray that God will always guide us as we raise you in the years to come to point you towards Him. 

We love you and look forward to what God is going to do this coming year!!



Here are some pictures from his photo-shoot in Vienna, VA.   I can't believe that he is already one!!

Such a handsome boy

Pretty much sums up how I feel

LOVE those cheeks

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE

Found some wood to play with

There is a smile

LOVE me some baby feet

Look at those eyes!

He melts my heart

Perfect addition to our family

He is ALL boy...on the move with a rock in his hand.
 

Monday, June 9, 2014

11 months


Well, in less than a month you will be a year old!!!  I know I have said many times before that time is going by so fast, but this past year really has. 

You are really starting to show your personality, and we are really enjoying seeing who God is creating you to be.  You already love to make people laugh.  I can't wait to see how God is going to use this to bring glory to His kingdom, but I know  He will.  You also have really tried to start "playing" with your siblings.  You will crawl over to where they are playing and plop yourself right in the middle of what they are doing.  Sometimes it goes well and other times...well, let's just say that Mommy has to get involved. :)  The cutest thing right now is when you crawl over to the kitchen and start to "cook."  You bang the pots and pans together and throw food all around...it is like you are being a master chef!  The other thing you do is crawl around grunting as you clear off all the toys from the shelves.  I have started calling you "Taz" because you remind me of the Tasmanian Devil. :)  You are eating more and more table food.  For the most part, you are liking what you eat, but if there is something that you don't like...well, you purse your lips so tight that I can't get another bite in your mouth.  Sometimes bribing you with some bread or crackers work, but not very often.  You are sleeping through the night, which is something Mommy and Daddy are grateful for.  You are creeping along furniture a lot more and walking holding our hands.  You have learned how to crawl up the stairs.  You have learned to say, "more" using sign language.  So as you can see...there has been LOTS of changes in the last month. 

Well, I guess that is all.  I will be back in a month to write your first birthday entry...not at all looking forward to it. :(  But do know that we love you very much and are so thankful that God chose you to be a part of our life. 



11 months

Saturday, May 10, 2014

10 months


Well,  I am a bit late on writing this...since you are a week away from being 11 months, but better late than never.  And, let's be honest...you are technically still in the 10 month age group! :) 

Well, 10 months has been a very busy for you.  You celebrated your first Easter.  Your sweet friend, James, was baptized (on Easter Sunday). You went on your first road trip (2 weeks) to see family in NC and GA.  You went to Baltimore to ride on Thomas the Tank Engine. And I think that is about it.

You continue to grow each day.  While in GA, you met your Aunt Jenny for the first time.  She is a pediatric physical therapist.  Mommy had been trying and trying to get you to get up on all fours to crawl instead of doing the army crawl...all.the.time.  She suggested putting some pillows down and having you crawl over them.  The first few times we put them down, you army crawled...Daddy just laughed because he thought you were winning this battle, but Mommy stayed persistent.  And now?  You have begun to crawl more and more...up off the floor...no belly dragging on the ground!!!  So, YEAH, for you!!  Once we are a little more consistent, we will begin to work on walking.  Another thing you have learned? To climb the stairs...not sure how I really feel about this! :)  You are so proud of yourself when you do it...and you should be...you are by far the youngest of the four Hootie Hoos to tackle the stairs.  You also are eating more table food.  Chicken nuggets and grilled cheese are your favorites by far.  You did like the spaghetti that I made you the other night, too.  You make me smile as you try new foods and get used to the texture in your mouth.  You did AMAZING on our trip...you slept through the night while in your pack n' play.  This has helped Mommy and Daddy to feel a little more rested and normal! Your personality has really started to come out...you are quite the silly boy.  You make TONS of facial expressions that make us laugh.  You are figuring out new sounds to make...we call it you beat boxing.  And like Kyrie...your laugh is contagious. 

Richard Tobias, we are so thankful for you.  We are so glad that God chose you to be a part of our family.  We love getting to know who God created you to be.  Happy 10 months!!


10 months

Monday, March 17, 2014

9 months


Happy 9 month Birthday


Well, another month has come and gone...and I can't believe we are 3 months away from your first birthday!!  Can you please stop growing!?! 

You are getting so big and learning so much.  This month you have started really army crawling...you get around pretty fast!!  We are working on you getting up on your hands and knees to crawl.  You get up and rock back and forth, but haven't gone forward yet.  You have also learned how to sit up...going from your belly to sitting up.  You have gotten so much better at sitting up...not more getting excited and falling over! You are eating food from the table...nothing too fancy yet.  Mostly pancakes, muffins, waffles, bread, mashed potatoes, canned veggies and fruits, grilled cheese, pasta  and some chicken nuggets.  I guess that is a lot more than I realized!!

Your personality continues to blossom...you are quite the ham.  You make lots of silly faces...we laugh and then you laugh...you know you are being funny.  You are "talking" more with your siblings...it is the sweetest thing.  You also can scream really LOUD!!  We are continuing to work on sleeping at night.  We work really hard to getting up once a night and you do it for a few days and then something disrupts the schedule and you go back to getting up twice a night.  We know you will eventually get it, but we are trying to move you to your bedroom with Josiah.  He is so excited to have you in there with him. 

Well, I guess that is it for now.  We are so thankful for you and love this adventure of parenting you.  We love you, Richard Tobias!


Enjoy some pictures from our photo-shoot taken at our home in Herndon, VA.

He loves sucking his thumb

There is his BIG smile

Those eyes get me every time

Such a sweet boy




And he was done with pictures!

Thursday, February 20, 2014

Happy 8 Months to You

 Here I am writing your 8 month journal entry...why am I having a hard time believing that you are already 8 months?!?! 

Well, you are getting to be such a BIG boy.  You can now sit up on your own...you still will fall over here and there out of sheer excitement!  You have learned how to pick up your finger foods and eat the on your own.  You are rolling EVERYWHERE....from the living room to the kitchen to the playroom.  You are doing much better with sleeping at night...you were doing super well before sickness descended upon our house, but you are getting back into the swing of things. You are starting to get up on all fours...crawling should be around the corner.  You continue to be such a happy baby...you laugh A LOT!!  You are really captivated by your reading videos.  You are SO strong.  You like to jump.  And you LOVE being in water...shower or bath...it doesn't matter. 

We are so thankful for you Richard Tobias, and we are glad that God chose us to be your parents. 


Here are a couple of pictures of our big 8 month old!

I could kiss those cheeks all day long!

Playing with his blocks
 

Friday, January 17, 2014

7 months


Wow!  7 months, already?!?!  Tobias, you aren't supposed to be growing this fast!!  You have learned so much in the last month...you are rolling all over the place.  You play a cute game with your brother...you roll towards him, then he rolls towards you and then you laugh.  You are now able to sit up for a little bit with a boppy behind you.  You don't sit up quite as long when nothing is behind you...you get so excited that you throw yourself backwards!! Laughing  You now have 4 teeth...2  on the bottom and 2 on the top.  We have given you Baby Mum-Mums...and you sure do like them!  The first time you had them, you grabbed the second piece I was giving you out of my hand and put it straight in your mouth and devoured it!!  You have been in your jumperoo some and LOVE to jump up and down!! 

Tobias, we are so thankful for you...so thankful that God has blessed us with you.  Happy 7 months, Richard Tobias!  We love you so much.