39 weeks!

Zeke,
It seems like you have changed more in the past several weeks than you have in your whole life.  You are one of the happiest babies I've seen, and I hear that from everyone...it's not just Mommy bias!  You are crawling with a vengeance and pulling up to stand whenever you can.  Mommy and Daddy have had to adjust certain things in the house to make sure you are safe.  Your favorite toys have become our remote control and Mommy's red exercise ball (kind of like a dodge ball).  We gave you your own remote control, but it's not as fun because it doesn't light up when you press the buttons.  You don't like being confined any more.  You'd rather be free to crawl around and explore.  This is taking some adjusting on Mommy's part!  Now that you are pulling up, you are falling more, which is also an adjustment for me.  You fell over in your crib and hit the side of the crib pretty hard one afternoon.  You had a bump and a lot of tears, but you were okay a few minutes later.  God is constantly teaching me that I am not in control.  I have seen this throughout the years, and He has blessed me with so many things in His timing, not mine.  After all, He gave us you!!!

Below you will see a couple of videos of you in action...

  

red ball



red ball



remote control



You were 9 months old AND 39 weeks on October 19th.  This was a special day to me because it marked the day you were officially here with us the same amount of time you were growing in my belly.  You were born on January 19th (a Tuesday) at 39 weeks gestation.  Your 9 month/39 week birthday also fell on a Tuesday.  I think the whole concept of you being here the same amount of time I was pregnant with you is pretty neat!

Mommy and Zeke

Chillin' with Daddy!

We got your 8 month photos back from Summer Adams, our photographer, and they were precious, of course!  Although, we learned that you do not like grass, as you'll see below!  We also had a family photo shoot with Wynna, Granddaddy, Uncle Jared, Aunt Jami, and the girls.  Fall has arrived, so I got a really cute shot of you in front of my pumpkin display at our house.  Everyone that sees it just can't help but smile because you look so happy!



Not into the grass...




Our family




My happy boy!


Next week is Halloween, then Thanksgiving, Christmas, and it will be time for your first birthday.  That is hard to believe!  I will continue to try to record all of the milestones and little details because it is all passing so quickly. 




Looking up at Daddy!


I thank God for you everyday!

I love you,

Mommy

Bye Bye Summer!

Bath time!!!

It is hard to believe that summer is officially over.  The high today was 90 degrees, which certainly doesn't feel like fall!  We have had a wonderful summer in spite of the heat.  After we got home from Hilton Head, the three of us got a cold, but thankfully Zeke's only lasted a couple of days.  We continually ask God to protect Zeke's health, and feel blessed to have a healthy baby boy. 

Mommy and her boy!

Zeke is 8 months old now.  He has mastered the army crawl, and rocks back and forth on all fours, but hasn't officially started crawling yet.  He likes to stand and hold onto things.  He seems to be sprouting teeth like crazy.  We are up to four on the top and two on the bottom! 


Stage 1: start moving



Stage 2: legs and arms moving

  

Stage 3: got it!

Look...I'm standing!

 The Florida Gators football season is in full swing, so we have had a couple of afternoons of watching daddy jump up and down and talk to the TV!  Of course we have to dress up in support of our team!

First UF game...Go Gators!!!

 

"I drool orange and blue!" (sorry Uncle Jared and Aunt Jami!)



Supporting Mommy's Alma Mater!

We were blessed to have a visit from Zeke's Uncle Gary and Aunt Stacey last week.  They were driving through Atlanta and took the time to come see us and meet Zeke.  It was really special.  He loved them, of course, and they loved him!  They gave him a little deer and owl (like Gregg's childhood toy) as you'll see below.  He had a great time "talking" to them!

 

Uncle Gary and Aunt Stacey

As fall arrives, I often become nostalgic.  I am reminded of my childhood and many special memories with my family.  This week Zeke and I are staying at my parents' house because Gregg is traveling.  My mom and I walked Zeke around the neighborhood and reminisced about the old days.  We walked by houses where old friends used to live and areas where my friends and I played for hours.  I am thankful to have such wonderful memories and look forward to being a part of the memories Zeke will create over the years. 

Now that I am a mom, I have a deeper appreciation for the sacrifices my parents made for me.  I realize how much they truly love me, which leads me back to my Heavenly Father.  He loves me even more than my parents do, which means he loves Zeke even more than I do.  That's hard to believe!  I thank Him every day for Gregg and Zeke, in addition to our extended family and friends.  I'm glad this blog will help me remember all of the little moments with Zeke because they are passing more quickly than I thought possible!



 







Water boy!

"God's love is meteoric, His loyalty astronomic, His purpose titanic, His verdicts oceanic. Yet in His largeness nothing gets lost; not a man, not a mouse, slips through the cracks." (Psalm 36:5 - The Message)

The Halls

Zeke,
       Well, we had our first family trip to Hilton Head, SC this past week.  It was a special trip because we stayed in the same rental house last year.  Granddaddy, Wynna, Uncle Jared, Aunt Jami, Kariss, Sophia, Daddy, you, and I were there.  I was pregnant with you last year when we were there, and we actually chose your name on that vacation.  I can't believe a year has gone by since that time, and you are 7 months old!  You weigh about 21 pounds and continue to develop more personality every day.

Our family in 2009

Our family in 2010

(You were in my belly!)

2009 - 17 weeks pregnant

Hilton Head 2010

(The picture is fuzzy, but it's the same suit, and you're on the outside!)

Some professional photos by 33 Park Photography:

 

Some of our snapshots:

Wynna and the grandbabies

Aunt Jami and me with you and Sophia

You love Kariss and she loves "baby Zeke!"

The cousins

"Chillaxin" with Uncle Jared

Daddy's boy

Mommy and her boy

    It rained the first few days of our trip, but you had a great time with Kariss and Sophia.  We brought your jumperoo and rented an exersaucer and pack 'n' play, so you felt right at home!  After the rain stopped, we were able to take you to the beach for the first time.  You didn't quite know what to think, but it was fun to watch you look down at the sand and water as they covered your toes.  You also went swimming in the pool for the first time.  You kicked like crazy, and loved to splash the water with your hands.

"Jumpy, jumpy, jumpy..."

Ready for the beach!

Checking out the beach...

You feeling the sand and waves for the first time

Where did your feet go?

Your more serious smile!

Enjoying the pool

    As I look back at the photos from our Hilton Head vacation last year, I am amazed at how much our life has changed.  You bless our lives every day, and I am incredibly thankful for you.  God has given us the opportunity to raise you and watch you grow into the person He created you to be....it's just amazing!  You have such a sweet spirit, and almost always have a smile on your face.  You are inquisitive and love to analyze colors, patterns, and textures.  You are still sitting up some on your own, but not for long periods of time.  You schooch around and turn in circles, but are not crawling yet.  I love sharing my days with you, and watching you explore the world.  I am thankful, also, for Granddaddy's generous heart to allow us to have family vacations like this one.  I pray that you look back on these photos and realize what a gift you are to all of us. 

I love you,

Mommy

You, Daddy, and Me