The West Coast Reynolds: September 2016

Wednesday, September 14, 2016

Elijah 6 Months Old!

Height
Weight
Clothes size- 3M
Shoe size- 1
Diaper size- 2
Teeth- 2

Likes: watching kids, baby cereal, milk any way he can get it, riding in the stroller, toys that make noise

Dislikes: skipping a nap for church, sitting in a carseat while the family eats out, wearing socks, bath time

This has been a pretty fussy month for Elijah and we finally know why! 2 teeth have come in. They came in within about 48 hours of each other. Once they broke the surface he turned back to his normally chilled out self! Thank goodness!!

First Easter: This year we decided to go all out for Easter. We had a long talk that it is odd to us that the most excitement falls at Christmas with children instead of Easter. We are trying to reverse that in our house making Easter the most anticipated event. We had a truly blessed day full of presents (not just baskets), Worship, Community egg hunts, and mini golf. Praise the Lord He is Risen!

First visit to Chuckie Cheese- Nana and Pops came for Ruth's birthday and treated us all to Chuck E Cheese. Elijah enjoyed all the lights and hanging with his Pops. We are pretty sure he's going to grow into enjoying this place as much as his sister.

First visit to the park- We also were able to get to the park while the Reynolds visited. This was his first official park visit as he was born just in time for it to get cold! He loved swinging and playing in the grass. (A treat as we have next to none in Cuba.) Ruth received a bubble gun as a gift and he enjoyed watching the bubbles as much as she enjoyed making them! It is clear he loves the great outdoors!

We have moved to a 2 nap a day schedule and He is still wonderfully flexible. Elijah can easily transfer around in the carseat and still doesn't wake all the time if we have to run into a store. I am so thankful as school days are errand days for the little man and Me!

Riding in a 6K for World Vision

Brett and Alison came to Cuba!

New Easter goodies!

Caption this

Ruth's Birthday with Nana and Pops

I love grass!

Sometime playing is hard work

Sunday, September 11, 2016

Elijah 5 months

Weight
Height:
Clothes size: 0-3 and 3M
Shoe size:1
Diaper size: 2

Likes: Milk, watching Ruth, being held!, grass, family, playing outside, rice cereal,

Dislikes: bath, the jumper, nursing under a cover, being put down when wanting to be held,

Milestones: We have a Roller!!! I was surprised to walk in to find Elijah laying on his tummy at the end of a nap. It took me a few seconds to realize what had happened and then run to get the camera. No more swaddles for our big boy!!

Eating: We decided along with the pediatriton that it was fine to introduce rice cereal this month. We have a little tiny might who weighs in as a 1% baby. We are hoping to add a little meat to his bones (Though his doctor is not at all concerned) and tip the scales at 2% next month! So far he loves the cereal and getting to hold a spoon.

Dedication: This month we dedicated Elijah's life publicly to God. It was so special to have our church family commit to coming along side us to pointing him in that direction. He wore his great grandfather Wayne Griffin's christening gown for the service. Real life, however, is when your Dad is the pastor and your sister is rolling all over the floor and talking loudly in the prayer because said Dad is preaching the dedication and mom is arms full with a baby. You have landed yourself in a a wild family sweet son!

Our Routine has formed to mostly a 2-3 nap day. He continues to sleep through the night and is fairly flexible with our unpredictable life.

Best Friends in the making

A sweet outfit from Gammy

Already showing his distaste for pictures?? OH NO!

Elijah rolls over!

First time trying cereal

Dedication Sunday

A bottle before the service to keep him happy

Winter and Elijah find each other fascinating

Elijah 4 Months Old

Month 4 has been a roller coaster! Disney, Road trips, first time to Mississippi, and meeting lots of new family!

Weight:
Height:
Clothes size: 0-3 month
Shoe size: 1
Diaper size: 1 or 2

Likes: Mickey Mouse, Riding in the stroller, being held in the carrier, Ruth, attention from all his family, formula

Dislikes: being cold, nursing under a cover, bottles when he wants to nurse,

First flight: We typically give our children a grade for flying and while Ruth was our A+ girl at his age, Elijah ranks somewhere in the B-C range. He insisted on staying awake the whole trip and was not as happy to be held. The long wait to be picked up at the end didn't help the situation. We were all happy to be at our hotel once we finally arrived!!!

First Disney trip: Elijah was a trooper at Disney! He seemed to enjoy the characters and was even big enough to ride many of the rides with Mama! He will obviously not remember this adventure so we will have to make another trip in a few years so he can enjoy all the magic that Ruth did.

First time being sick: Elijah started out our trip to Disney with a little cold. It progressively got worse throughout the trip and turned to a hacking cough. After checking in with several medical professionals they told us he was doing ok. It's bark was worse than it's bite. It was still enough to put these parents into a nervous state! The little guy stayed mostly bundled for the second half of the trip.

First Road trip: After Disney Laura and the kids headed back to Mississippi with the Bullock family. He did pretty good for the 15 hour drive. Our kids know their way around a carseat since they ride for an hour at a time to go anywhere.

Mississippi: Elijah met most of his extended family and friends in Mississippi for the first time this month. We were able to spend time in Jackson with the Bagwells, the Bullocks, and the Fosters. In Columbus we spent time with the other Bullocks, Simpons, Blaney's, and the Reynolds. Everyone loved our charmer and he adjusted so well to being out of his normal routine. We believe he may have a little of his Uncle Mike and Papaw Bagwell's calm personality.

First Ears

Nap time at Disney

Our little Tigger

So happy to be out of the car

at Gammy's house!

Meeting Papaw Bagel

Mamaw and Papaw Bagwell's House

Visiting the Foster House

First visit to Mama Griffin's House

Chick-fil-a fun with the Blaney crew

Meeting Aunt Kayla and Uncle Mike

Happy Valentines Day!

Saturday, September 10, 2016

Ruth 3 Years Old

Wow 3 years!!! How has our little tiny bundle of joy turned 3? Personality may be one word to describe this tiny diva. She continues to help us see life as new and exciting every day. Her enthusiasm is contagious. It's hard not to smile and laugh when she's around. She is also a very stubborn girl. (She may have a bit of her Aunt Becca in her.) As we try not to pull our hair out at moments, we try to remind ourselves that her personality driven in the right direction will be one of a leader who is not easily shaken.

weight: 28 lbs
height: 32 inches
Clothes size: 2T/3T
Shoe size: 7
Diapers: NONE!!!

Likes: Church, making pallets in the floor, pink and purple, her middle name, anything soft, school, playing with her friends (Abi, Ellie, Olivia, Azariah, and Aliyah,) candy and food treats, Chick-Fil-A, knowing the plan, Disney anything, making (pretend) cakes, Chuckie her imaginary friend, french fries, being a big sister, Junie B. Jones books, helping in the kitchen.

Dislikes: Cleaning up toys, spicy foods, having to wait, putting on her clothes by herself when she's tired, home days, green beans

School: Ruth goes to Noah's Ark Preschool twice a week in Rio Rancho, About an hour and 15 minutes from our house. It is so worth the drive and early mornings with how she enjoys it and is thriving there. She has several special school friends (Jade and Kinley) who she talks of often. She also loves to share about what the misbehaving boys do haha. Her vocabulary has exploded thanks to all the hard work her two teachers Mrs. Pineda and Mrs. Ellis put in.

Gymnastics: She gets to start back to this fun activity now that she's 3 and can go to class without me!!! This Mama can't get over how she's big enough to go to her class by herself!