month by month

While we've been pretty good at taking pictures of Boone since he arrived, I've been pretty lousy at posting them for anyone besides ourselves to oogle over.

Sooooo..... here's a quick pictorial re-cap of our "little dude" (Dad's favorite nickname for him) over the last quarter of a year -

Turned one month while living at Mimi's.

Turned two months while living at Gramma Beanie and Chip's.

House renovations were FINALLY finished and Boone spent his three month birthday at his own house. Here, we were also joyfully celebrating the end of the monster called colic.

Just for kicks, this is one of my most favorite 3 month-ish pics.

And at four months, seriously, could this guy get any cuter? Losing his newborn hair but gaining some much-awaited-by-mom chub. Can't wait to see what the five month shot will bring...

the sweetest sound

With unseasonably mild weather in Kansas this winter, we've actually been able to spend some pleasant time outdoors - in January! It's a blessing I am soaking up.

For the past week or so, just before dusk, Boone and I have begun a simple ritual on the swing in our backyard's screened-in porch. Covering our laps with a blanket, we sit and swing and talk and sing through the last moments of the day's light. And it is beautiful.

We take the dogs with us. Part of the time they'll play outside in the grass, but when they come into the porch, Boone's eyes light up. And when they wrestle, he laughs, his joy unrestrained. Lord, thank you for sweet doggies who play. And thank you for the gift of a little boy who, at four months old, finds them funny.

4 months

(One of your 3 month pictures, taken with love by your incredible Uncle Austin.)

Oh, mister Boone.

I never imagined I could love a baby this much.

Before you were born, I was pretty intimidated at the thought of hanging out with a newborn around the clock. Now that you're here, I can't imagine my life any differently. I'm so thankful I get to be your full-time mom.

You'll never grasp the turbulence of our lives throughout 2011, the year the Lord chose for your birth. He provided you to be our shining joy, a respite in the storm.

Now that you are four months old, I feel that I can finally catch my breath. Your colic is gone at last (thanks to the amazing Dr. Scharenberg). Your poor little tummy was a source of much angst for everyone who loves you. We praise the Lord for leading us to someone who could finally relieve you from your pain.

Ever since your stomach stopped hurting, you have been an absolute delight, somehow growing more fun every. single. day. I don't think it can get any better... but then I wake up to your sweet face again.

You've recently started laughing, and every time I hear it, I think love for you might make my heart explode. You chuckle most when I'm tickling your tummy, when you watch the dogs wrestle, or when I'm giving you a bath.

You are grasping things so well now, holding on to anything and everything and then trying to put it into your mouth. You've always had great head control and you do increasingly well during tummy time or when you're sitting in your bumbo seat. You've rolled from your tummy to your back several times, and once so far I've seen you roll from your back to your side.

Very quick to smile, you do so often. Huge, wide, gummy smiles that light up your whole face and literally melt my heart. You've also started smiling more at the people you recognize.

Baths continue to be one of your favorite activities. You kick and splash and smile and talk. It is always a highlight of my day as I watch your joy in the water, simple and true.

You also get a kick out of watching yourself in the mirror. If you're fussing, usually all I have to do is put you in front of a mirror and you'll quiet down. You also love when I dance around with you or fly you like an airplane.

You're eating every 2.5-3 hours during the days, waking between 6:30-7 am and then going to bed at 9 pm. You typically wake one to five times during the night, crying out for your pacifier or for us to cover your head with your blanket.* This has always been your preferred way of sleeping!

*lightweight and with holes in it, for any concerned parents who are wondering :)

Lately you've been waking up cooing (rather than crying). It tells me that everything is right in your little world. That's all I could want for you, my precious boy.

You are so very loved, my sweet baby Boone!