Four Months

Here a few highlights about your 4th month: 

You are a little over 16 pounds as far as we can tell. Your doctor appointment with Dr. Eisert is on December 18th, and we'll have more information then. You're ready for size 3 diapers, but we're finishing out the last few size 2s first!

You have slept completely through the night quite a few times this past month, and when you don't, you get up to eat one time at about 3am. Your bedtime is between 6 and 6:30pm. Mommy loves to get your jammies on you and put lotion on you before bedtime. You love to giggle and kick on your changing table when we tickle you. Daddy reads to you from your children's devotional books while Mommy feeds you. Then, we read our devotional together while you finish eating. One thing we love doing with you is singing about what we did that day. You seem to really enjoy music, and this calms you down. You also really love when Mommy sings you hymns at bedtime right before putting you in your crib before prayers. We always start your nighttime prayer with, "Jesus, thank you for our sweet boy..." It just happened that way; no reason. 

You are a happy guy, and we often receive compliments about how mellow and easy going you are, as well as how you're a handsome little man. Most people think you look most like your Daddy, but occasionally they mention you have Mom's nose and mouth. (You also have Mom's fingers--not thumb, though!). You love music so much, and make sounds in response to both music and talking. 

You're getting better at your hand-eye coordination, and almost can get your pacifier in and out of your mouth on your own. You're drooling like crazy, which might mean teething soon. You have also rolled over a couple of times from your back to your tummy, but aren't doing it intentionally yet. You enjoy your colorful rattling ball, your aquarium music box, and your "friends" mat. You're getting really good at grabbing things like your toys, pacifier, and mommy's hair. You turn your head and give slobbery kisses after you're done eating, and giggle when we lift you upside down, or straight up in the air. Daddy reads to you often when you're on your changing table, and you adore him and books. You grab at them, and listen and look intently when you are being read to. You turn your head toward us when we are talking, and enjoy taking everything in. 

We love watching more of your personality develop, and are excited to celebrate your first Christmas with you next month. We love you!

Samuel's Dedication

We dedicated you at our church, Faith Community, on November 26th, 2017. Pastor Jess Slusher prayed for you, and explained why we dedicate babies using the scripture we prayed while we were waiting from you from 1 Samuel 1 and 2. Our prayer for you is this scripture, chapter 2:1-10.

Your grandparents and Aunt Cassie came and we prayed that you would know the Lord and we would do our best as your parents to be a great example to you of how to read your Bible, pray, forgive, and love others unconditionally. 

Here is a video link to copy and paste into your browser of Samuel's dedication: 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1fsiERYeXdaSRzgdIo_3hBrjV_Y9Ow8U1/view?usp=sharing

3 Month Pics with Hannah

Hannah Winkler took pictures of you when you were 3 months old. We tried a few different places, and you were sweet and happy for the first part. You were not enjoying the props very much, and you were only able to stay awake for about 45 minutes before getting too tired.

October 2017

Some highlights from October:

• Met Nan (10/2)
• Had lunch with Aunt Cassie in Issaquah at Panera (10/2)
• Dinner at Kaleb and Allison's house (10/6)
• Harvest Festival at the Lavender Farm, got pumpkins and hotdogs for lunch (10/7)
• Mommy went back to work (10/9)
• First Spanish translation service at church
• Stella Slusher being born (10/24) and meeting her for the first time
• going to worship team practice with mommy
• going to work with daddy
• hanging out with Grammy K on Thursdays
• coffee and sandwiches at the Bookery in Ephrata
• stroller walks to get coffee
• weekend visits with Grammy Nette and Pops
• FaceTime on Mondays with Pops
• working in the garden and yard work

Three Months

At three months old, you are grabbing onto things more easily and sticking them in your mouth, drooling a ton, turning your head towards sounds and voices, and starting to roll onto your side. You are so close to giggling and make squeaky sounds when you are really happy and smiling. You love when mommy counts to three and lifts you in the air, and when daddy wiggles your legs and bounces your pants on you when he changes your diaper.

You love looking at faces and you stick your tongue out a lot. You are starting to imitate some sounds, and still enjoy music and reading. You are starting to play more intentionally with different toys like your soft "GG Giraffe" and musical caterpillar "worm". You are sleeping really well, usually from between 7 and 7:30 until about 2am, then again until about 6:30am. You're taking a longer morning nap, and stay awake most of the afternoon.

Mommy went back to work at the beginning of the month, and you're staying home with daddy during the day. You have a bottle around 10am when you wake up from your morning nap, then come to see mommy at school during her lunch at 12:00. You enjoy your stroller, and usually fall asleep in it as well as your carseat. On Tuesdays or Thursday mornings, Grammy K comes to play with you while daddy does some work. Grammy Nette and Pops enjoy seeing you most weekends. Grampa Dan is looking forward to giving you rides on the golf cart and his new ATV.

Milestones:

• Moved to size 2 diapers, even though we should have probably done this last month, since you're having less blow outs now!
• Started taking baths in your baby bath in the tub instead of the sink.
• Switch out of size 3 month clothes and 0-3 months and you're now wearing mostly 3-6 month and 6 month size clothes.