Weekend in Hot Springs - the girls and the babies with GiGi and Pops

So, last weekend Barnes and I took our first trip together on an airplane and headed to Hot Springs to spend the weekend with my parents and my sister, Sarah and her little girl, Parker. Both of our husbands were at home working.



I have to admit I was a little nervous about traveling with Barnes. For those of you who know me well - I am a stickler about Barnes' schedule and not starting any bad habits. I don't let him fall asleep on me and always put him in his bed for naps and bedtime. I was worried he wouldn't fall asleep with me holding him. He did wonderfully. We had to change planes and on every flight he took a bottle and then went to sleep. On the last leg of our trip he got a little fussy - I think his gums must have been bothering him because after putting some oral gel on he went right to sleep. Everyone along our journey was so nice and helpful!

Well we had a quick stay with GiGi and Pops - only Friday to Sunday - but we enjoyed it all even if the weather was pretty awful! We went to dinner at our favorite Mexican Restaurant, shopped a little, visited one of my very best friends, Britani and her little girl, Avery, went to lunch and just hung around the house.



It was so fun to get Parker and Barnes together. They are so close in age (just a month apart - Parker was born Aug 28th) and yet they are so different. It is so fun to see how much they can change from one stage to the next in a month and the differences in a boy and girl. Barnes is definitely more laid back and just takes it all in. Parker is already one the go and seems to do everything early and she is LOUD! She loves to make noises! But when Barnes tried to talk to her for the first time you would have thought he hurt her feelings - she got so upset. Barnes is a flirt and loves girls! He loved to talk to Parker and watch to see what she was doing.




Sarah and I took the babies over to Britani's and they got to play with Avery. Parker was born the end of August, Avery about 2 weeks later and then Barnes about 2 weeks after that. They aren't at the age where they "play together" but they all seemed to enjoy being together. They all pretty much did their own thing. It was so much fun to seem them all together.



Sunday we finally got some family photos:





Getting together for such a short time makes me miss being close to home. Hopefully we can always make an effort to get together often - I can't wait to watch Barnes and Parker grow up together.

Time to Catch Up - St. Patrick's Day Celebration and Brunch at Erin's

The weekend after St. Patrick's Day we had our annual brunch at Erin's house. Because LJ was working, Barnes and I went over by ourselves. Tracie and Tyler came down with Laney and Megan and Will brought Sawyer over. We had fun taking photos of all of them together.










Usually we all head down to Five Points for some green beer and live music but the closer we got Tracie and I realized that it wasn't the best place for Barnes and Laney. The weather was so nice and therefore it was ridiculously crowded.

Tracie and I took the kids to Cantina 76 - they got to hang in their strollers while we had a few drinks and an appetizer. It turned into a pretty great day. LJ even made it down in time to enjoy the festivities.

What a beautiful Saturday!

Today is beautiful! What a great day to be outside. Unfortunately, LJ is now working EVERY Saturday - Yuck!!! So, Barnes and I invited Erin and Marley to go for a walk with us. We decided to walk down to Five Points and grab some lunch. We ate at Salty Nut Bar/Resturant that was always a favortie in college. What a great way to spend the day and get some exercise as well - it is a little bit of a hike from our house to Five Points and back.








Erin and Marley


This was Barnes on our way home.

And he was 5 months

So Barnes was 5 months at the end of February - so once again I waited a little over a week to post!

Barnes we can't believe how much you have changed from 4 to 5 months! You are growing like a weed and are about 15 pounds (according to our scales). You still love to smile and laugh. You have rolled over from your stomach to your back several times - I have missed every single time!

You started eating baby food and have eaten everything we have given you! We started on squash on Monday (2/21), then later we gave you sweet potatoes and then carrots. The second night you ate your squash you ate an entire jar! Friday night (2/25) we started sweet potatoes. And on Saturday night you ate an entire jar of each - squash and sweet potatoes!




Sunday night you officially "slept through the night". We put you to bed at 7:30pm woke up at 10:30pm and then slept till 6am - we are calling it! After two nights I started just picking you up and feeding you in your sleep around 10 or 10:30pm and you would sleep all night. You go down so easy. Our routine has become: eating around 2 jars of baby food, bath or just pjs, bottle, book, and bed. You definitely like to sleep and know when you are ready. Some nights I can't even get a page read to you before you start squirming and fussing a little. I know you are ready for bed. I lay you in your bed, tuck you in and you go to sleep on your own. What a blessing you are!



You are at such a fun age! We are enjoying every minute. You are so observant. You look around at your surroundings and love to watch and see what the, dogs are doing.

You are six month clothes, had your photos taken again, went on a rode trip to see mommy's cousins Libby and Emily and spent the day with them. I am trying to enjoy every minute because you are growing so fast.

We love you so much!

Starting last Sunday night

Barnes' Photos

So excited about the photos that Stacy took this past weekend. Check them out at
http://squattlebaum.photobiz.com/cart/gallery.cfm?galleryID=830438&displaystart=1

If you have trouble with the link go to naturallywonderful.com and click on galleries!

Just ordered a few frames from Pottery Barn that I found on sale - should be great to put some new photos up.

Meeting Sawyer and Ryan's Send Off

So, we have had a lot going on lately! The same weekend Barnes turned 4 months we helped our friend Erin throw a party for her husband, Ryan who is leaving this up coming week for Afganistan.

The same day our good friends Megan and Will had their baby - Sawyer on Jan 29th. We saw Sawyer last night and he got to meet Barnes. We took a few photos.


Me and Barnes - Megan and Sawyer




Amanda and Barnes


Photo of Barnes in his hat and mittens that GiGi made for him


Photo of the wall art that we finally hung up.

Lets Catch Up!

So, I am a little behind on posting. Barnes was 4 months on January 29th. We went to the doctor the day before and Barnes weighed 12lbs and 11oz and was 25 inches long, head circumference - 16 1/2 inches(the doctor said he probably lost some weight because of his double ear infection). LJ took Barnes back to the doctor yesterday to check his ears (he had another ear infection)and he was 14lbs 6ozs. He has gained quite a bit in the last 2 weeks!





Barnes is growing fast! He actually rolled over for the first time on Jan 29th - but I missed it. I had put him on his play mat on his stomach - walked out and came back in and he was on his back!

We have also started trying some rice cereal - he hasn't quite gotten the hang of it but seems interested. We are trying it off and on.



Barnes has yet to sleep through the night - he usually wakes up once to eat and goes right back to sleep. We officially stopped swaddling altogether this week. He still goes down very easily - he often doesn't make it through an entire book!

Barnes still loves to look up at his mobile and play mat. He loves to stand up on you while you hold his hands. He is making more noises and loves to move around! I can put him down in his crib one way and he will end up turning himself so his head is against one rail and feet against the other!