Merry Christmas Everyone! This year has brought our little family many blessings. Memories via pictures (pretty obvious theme here):
Last year at this time.
2011 was family meeting Ariy. He is so blessed to have so many people who love him so well.
April 20th, 2011 was the day we finally met our little guy. If you don't know the birth story adventure, it will be one we always remember.
2011 meant for lots of daddy son bonding. Rick became a full-time stay at home dad in September when I made the decision to go back to work.
We love our Grandparents. Grandma aka Super G in particular has been an angel. She has made some of the harder days much easier. We are very blessed to have her in Ariy's life.
2011 was also the year of friends - friends being pregnant and having babies too. We can't wait to meet PJ and Brenna's little girl Caroline in the new year.
2011 was when I attended my first marathon purely as a spectator. Our good friend Mandee Wilmot was a superstar running in the Portland Marathon.
2011 meant wedding time and Ariy's first try at being the ring bearer.
The happy couple was the one and only Randy McNeal and his beautiful bride Aubrie. We are excited to have the family feel more "complete" now.
So if isn't obvious enough, the excitement of 2011 was meeting Ariy Allan McNeal. We love him so much and are so blessed to have a healthy happy little man. I am so thankful for an amazing year and I am looking forward to upcoming transitions in 2012 including becoming a more full-time mommy. Peace and Joy.
If you haven't heard, we are switching things up over here in the McNeal household. Rick did a great job explaining this important life update over at Rickloveschristine. Check it out!
I am currently sitting alone in a cold school hallway. The school has decided to block facebook so I am sharing my current status via the blog. I can't even tell "you" how excited I am to be home, to see my husband, to have a fire and to sleep in my own bed. This afternoon can't come fast enough.
Time flies when your having fun. We love Ariy. His personality is shining through more and more. October 20th was his 6 month birthday. I can't believe it. A few things to remember about this age:
He loves to laugh especially when he is "flying."
He is learning to yell both when he is excited or wants our attention or is mad
75% in weight (18 lb 13 oz), 90% in height (27.5 inches)
He sleeps a lot. I actually asked our pediatrician if he can sleep too much.
He likes loves bananas and oatmeal. He hates avocado and sweet potatoes.
His favorite activity is jumping and screaming and new people (usually).
He can sit up with help.
Family pic at Randy & Aubrie's party
I love banana!
Ariy loved hanging out with PJ especially his nightly high five.
Passed out on the way from Aubrie and Randy's party
Our little man is 5.5 months old, soon to be 6 months old on October 20th. The biggest change during this month has been my transition back into full-time+ work. Travel season can be a bit crazy and I am trying to do my best to balance everything. Some days are great some days are incredibly hard. Ariy has done so great and has grown SO much.
5 months marked:
His first 2 bottom teeth popping up
Mastering the skill of rolling over on both sides
Sleeping 12 hours at night
Still a big napper and struggles when he misses any naps
Ariy turned four months this past weekend. I can't believe it. I have really enjoyed every month and the progress, growth and personality that comes from that but so far 4 months has been the best maybe. He is definitely gaining personalty while really settling into a routine which I have enjoyed.
Highlights from the past month (really I write these so I will remember them as I know a lot of people really don't care for these baby details):
He has learned to roll from tummy to back and back to tummy.
Gaining control with hands and stronger ability to reach out and grab things.
He gets frustrated when he can't reach something and get it where he wants it which is usually his mouth.
This month may have been the possible onset of "teething" as he has started drooling and munching or biting down on things.
He has officially found his thumb and enjoyed sucking it during naptime.
He has started babbling and talking pre and post nap. He seems to love the quiet time to test out his new found voice.
He still loves new people and places and really loves to take it all in.
He really loves going to bed - we even try hard to keep him up later but he just loves it. Sometimes once we start the bedtime process, he obviously gets excited.
He consistently is sleeping through the night and his longest stretch being 10 hours.
He is getting to be a little bit of a more consistent napper. His first awake period is really short (45 minutes) and then he goes back to sleep for 1.5 - 3 hours. Usually its around 2 hours. The second two naps are anywhere from 1.5-2 hours. He has officially dropped the 4th nap unless its been a busy day.
His longest stretch of being awake is before bedtime which adds up to 2-3 hours. This can also be his fussiest time of the day so we work to stay busy and entertained.
He is officially weaned of the swaddle - so happy. It took some time to get him to sleep soundly unswaddled but now he sleeps better.
Ariy has graduated from 3 month clothes. He now wears anything from 6-9 months. He is in th 90%+ for weight and head size and 75% or so for height. Our big guy.
I have yet to do a photoshoot for 4 months old so I thought I would share a video from bedtime last night. I love this little guy and enjoy his pre-bedtime talking.
