Walker Newborn Photos

**warning--lotsa pictures**
Here are some of my favorites from our "newborn" photo shoot with Christen Byrd (Walker was actually a little over 2 months here, but had just come home about a week or two before)

[Christmas Card picture above!]

I could have picked about 20 more favorites but then I'd have no one still reading this blog! Hah!

Walker at 5 months

Walker, you are growing like a WEED.  Dude! You're 15 pounds (maybe an ounce or two shy.  maybe), wearing 3-6 and 6 month clothing, and just a hunk of loving! You are such a sweet and smiley baby and love to smile at everybody who looks at you, give little winks and flirt all the time.  You take about 6 ounces of milk every 2 or 3 hours during the day and generally sleep for 12 straight hours at night.  What an easy baby you are. You take a few 30 minute naps in the morning and usually a big 2 or 3 hour nap in the afternoon, and sometimes another catnap 30 minutes or less in the evening before bed.  You go to bed about 9. Your daddy and I have a checklist of 4 things to look for if you are crying because it is only 1 of the 4 things.  (need a diaper change, ready for your bottle, want to be held and talked to, or want your paci)

You are rolling both ways still, and starting to really move around this month.  We put you down in your crib in one spot and 12 hours later we go and get you and you've done at least a 180 degree turn, and you do the same thing on your beloved playmat.  I had you on the floor on a blanket in my office (more on that later) and I turned around after typing an email and you were completely off the mat and on your belly, holding yourself up with your arms.  I was so surprised!  You also started laughing a day before you turned 5 months and it is so precious! I think you haven't quite figured out exactly how to let go and really laugh yet, because you stop yourself before you really get a good belly laugh in.  You want to belly laugh, though.  You are ticklish under your arms and on your neck.  So cute. 

About a week ago, you started taking 1 or 2 bottles of formula (Similac) per day.  As I noted above, you're eating like a crazy man and mama just can't keep up with the demands, so we are supplementing.  We skated right through a deep freezer FULL of frozen milk from when you were in the NICU over the past 2 months and now we are out so we are supplementing with the formula.  You don't seem to mind a bit. You didn't even blink when I gave you the formula, so I don't know if you even noticed. You're still taking the Zantac for acid reflux twice a day and it really helps you.  Seriously you almost never cry.  

Walker, our time together all day every day is coming to an end.  This is my last week of part-time maternity leave and I am so sad! I will really miss having you with me all day long.  (I've been taking him to work with me and only working a half day since he was born, and now 23 weeks later I have to go back full time)   CC to the rescue, though! CC will be here to keep you during the week for about 11 weeks until there's a spot for you at the Savannah's school in May.  We are all lucky to have CC (and Grandad, who's willing to let CC come live with us while he's all alone in Searcy! Poor Grandad!)  It will be a big change for us to be apart for so many hours.  I'm sure you'll do better than me.  

Walker, we love you more than words can say and are so proud of all you have overcome and dealt with since you were born.  You are such a strong and resilient and adorable baby.  I love you sweet boy.  

[You got baptized on your 5-month birthday so you are in your little outfit (well, you were baptized in a gown, but we changed your clothes for lunchtime) plus your sticker for your monthly pictures.  It was white and I just didn't feel the need to change you to a onesie!]

Recap:: Birc's Birthday and CC's Birthday

I've got lots to blog about, we've been so busy! CC's birthday, Birc's birthday, Walker at 5 months, and Walker's baptism this past weekend.  I could probably fit in another photo dump as well.  I also have never shared Walker's newborn pictures, have I??  We just had his 4 month session last week. Hah!

I'll start with Birc's birthday! He turned 34 last Saturday and we celebrated with my family twice, once at dinner with my parents at Corky's and a trip to Best Buy to get a new Blu-Ray player for his birthday  present, and another time with my parents and Anna and Aaron at our house, after picking up Papa Murphy's pizza.  (If you haven't had it, we really enjoyed our pizzas-you go there, pick out what kind of pizzas you want or build your own, and they send it home with you to bake it yourself.) It's nice for a different thing.  I still love my US Pizza and Dominos and our own homemade pizzas though.  Then we celebrated with his family on his actual birthday with a delicious homemade meal of Chicken Parmesan and I made a homemade skillet apple pie (Southern Living).  Yum!

My mom turned 29 again on Feb 1, but we had to put off celebrating for a little while as Aaron got the flu and he didn't want to expose the rest of us.  We just had a quick dessert over at my house before all going to Soup Sunday, a local non-profit fundraiser.  She got a new mat for her kitchen floor and some workout clothes.  She also got a ladybug charm from Savannah for her Pandora bracelet, that Savannah picked out herself and was SO very proud and excited to give it to CC.  It was adorable.  We saw mama on her birthday and since Savannah had already picked out the present, we figured she couldn't hold in the secret so we gave her that a few weeks back (that's why everyone is in different clothing, in case you were wondering).

Valentine's Day Fun

Birc took me to a local hibachi restaurant for an early Valentine celebration (I've been craving it for quite a while) and we took Savannah along as we thought she'd like the show they do.  I was wrong, it scared her so badly.  She wouldn't even return to the table after the big fire intro until the chef left. :)  Anyway, Savannah had a little party at school and took valentines, and Birc and I got the kid some little Valentine treats as well.  Savannah's bag was filled with a few Target $1 aisle Hello Kitty things, and Walker's bag had a new sippy cup he can use in a few months, and a balloon.  They also got some cute plates.  Birc also treated me to a very tasty meal he cooked for me at home! It was so nice! We even made chocolate covered strawberries for dessert, and Savannah strongly approved.  (Also, the "I heart Pre-K" pictures are from Valentine's Day, my sister's work was sending picture "valentines" to our legislators to encourage them to keep public pre-k funded in Arkansas. So of course she asked Savannah to send a valentine. :) adorbs)

Her friend valentines say, "I'm a sucker for you" and a sucker is attached, her teacher valentines say "here's some choc-o-late, for my teacher who I like a lot" with a lindt truffle attached, and her director valentines say "You're spicy and sweet and we're "mint" to be" with a cinnamon peppermint attached.  :) I made them without her too. I know, fail, but we ran out of time and I had to do them after she went to bed!