Sitting up at 4 month's old!

Oliver turned 4 month's old last week and he is sitting up on his own. It seems like he is learning and doing so much lately. He loves to laugh at people and he just watches in amazement of the things that are going on around him. You can tell that he is really taking it all in! He is such a little flirt and he smiles all the time(unless you are taking a picture of him...then he gets a serious look on his face). His motor skills are blowing us away and he loves to mimic your facial expressions. His latest trick is sticking his tongue out and making it vibrate which of course makes a funny sound and bubbles form. It cracks him up every time. He is such a joy to be around and we feel so blessed as parents that God would entrust him to us. You can truly see God's love and awesome grace through Oliver's eyes. Here a few things that Oliver is doing at 4 month's old!

* Weight: 17.5 lbs

* Height: 25.5 inches

* sitting up on his own

* mimics facial expressions

* loves to eat baby food

* plays with his feet

* chews on his fingers

* teething....oh the joys;)

* talks up a storm

* loves to play with his musical ducky on his floor mat

* grabs his paci and puts it in his mouth

* sleeping through the night

* grabs Daddy's nose

* he has almost conquered rolling over from his back to his stomach

* grabs Mommy's necklace's and bracelet's

* turns himself in circles when you lay him on his stomach

* watch Grayson and Noah play the Wii

* play "peek-a-boo"

* dance.....especially the "sprinkler", "shopping cart", "lawn mower" and the "wave"

* try to hold his own bottle when you feed him

* snuggle up to your neck when he gets tired

* loves playing in water

* loves to be outside

* he loves to be NAKED

What's on the menu Oliver?

Our chunky monkey, as we sometimes call him, has started eating solid foods at night and he LOVES it. His little tongue and lips cannot consume the baby food in fast enough....especially when it comes to sweet potatoes. Matt and I have found that if you do not shovel it to him fast enough he will get upset with you which regularly means he huffs and puffs and blows the food all over you. It is too funny and too cute!!! He gets so excited now when we sit him in his little bumbo seat because he knows that means DINNER TIME. We strip him down to just his diaper because he is a very messy eater and it gets all over the place and all over himself. I will have to admit that one of the great perks to Oliver eating baby food is that he is now SLEEPING THROUGH THE NIGHT. Praise the Lord above!!! It has definitely been a blessing for me and Matt to get some sleep at night.

Oliver's Menu:
Sweet Potatoes
Bananas

Sweet Peas
Green Beans
Pears
Carrots
Apple Sauce
Oatmeal

"Why is there always a camera around to catch my every move!?!"

He loves to get his fingers in it!

"Why are you feeding me the green stuff mom?"

He really loves sweet potatoes!

BAYLER'S first pitch......

Bayler throwing the first pitch in!!!

Oliver is all decked out in his Carolina gear

was Oliver's very first USC baseball game!!! How many 7 year old kids can say that their first pitch came at a college baseball game!?! Well, Oliver's cousin Bayler can say that with great pride and a twinkle in his eye. The USC Gamecocks have taken quite a liking to our Bayler bean and it means the world to him and us. They recently called Bayler up and asked him to throw out the first pitch at the USC vs Brown baseball game and Bayler ecstatically said "YES!" I will admit that I was a little nervous for the little fella but he did an AMAZING job and the USC fans were so proud of him. It brought tears to my eyes when everyone stood up and cheered for Bayler and shouted "way to go Bayler", "be brave" and "we love you Bayler". The USC athletes and community have been so encouraging to Bayler as he has been battling cancer. They have gone above and beyond in keeping his spirit's high as he continues to fight. If you would like to keep up with Bayler's journey then you can visit his CaringBridge site: www.caringbridge/visit/baylerteal.

Bayler and Bridges warming up on the field!

Oliver sleeping in his Daddy's arms...so sweet!

Oliver was very excited to go see Bay throw in the first pitch but when we got there it got a little chilly and Oliver is NOT a fan of chilly/cold weather at all. So, we bundled him up with his baseball outfit on, USC bib and hoodie and went in to experience the action at one of the most beautiful college baseball stadiums ever. He did great until the announcer startled him and then the tears started flowing. He stopped crying long enough to get his picture taken with his daddy for the Spurs & Feathers magazine and to see Bay throw the ball. After that he lasted a few innings but between the noise, needing a nap and chilly weather Oliver was ready to head home. So, we headed to the warmth of Groucho's where we had a family lunch that made daddy very, very happy. It was a great day at the ole' ballpark and we can't wait to experience more USC baseball games when it gets warmer. GO GAMECOCKS!!!

Random Pictures!!!

Here are some random pictures of Oliver. He is getting so big and just blowing our minds. We are so in love with this little man!!!

"Make the cold go away mommy!".....

Oliver HATED the snow but we made him experience it for a few minutes. Despite how cute he looked all bundled up and how excited his daddy was about the incredible six inches we got he SCREAMED his head off and wanted nothing at all to do with it. We definitely have a true southern boy on our hands. Here are a few picture of Oliver's very first snow!

Our house.....so pretty in the snow!

"Mommy why are you making me freeze out here?"

Daddy's snowman!!!

This was the best picture we could get of Ollie because he literally screamed his head off!

In the Beginning.....

Since I am just now getting to a point in our new lives to start blogging here are some pictures to just kind of catch you up on the past few months of Ollie's life. Hope you enjoy!!!

Our first family photo!

Oliver with his GAMECOCK cap!

The day that we brought Oliver home!

Ollie playing in his diaper on the floor!

The cutest little elf you have ever seen.

GROWING SO FAST!

It seems like it was just yesterday when our little miracle came into the world. But as the months have come and gone Oliver has grown so quickly. We are AMAZED!!! It seems like on some mornings when he wakes up he has grown in weight and height or when we pick him up from the sitter he has learned more motor skills. Each night when he falls asleep in my arms I cannot help but to stare at his angelic face and PRAISE GOD for blessing us with such an amazing son. Oliver is 3 months old now and he is keeping extremely busy during the day and sometimes at night. Here are a few things that Oliver is doing at this stage in his life!



Oliver loves to:

*talk & sing....he is learning the different levels of his voice and it just cracks him, and us, up

*blow bubbles with his spit

*be pushed around in his walker

*chew on his hands and bib

*watch Glenn Beck with daddy in the afternoons

*give you BIG wet kisses

*play peek-a-boo, patty-cake and "How Big Is Oliver?"

*pull himself up and stand in your lap or on the couch

*try to hold his bottle when you are feeding him

*hold/play with your hand....hands(including his own)fascinate him

*look at himself in the mirror

*splash the water in his tub during bath time

*spit his pacy out and then smile after he does it

*wiggle his arms free from his swaddle at night

*listen to PASSION and HILLSONG with mommy in the mornings on the way to the sitter's house

*fall asleep in mommy's arms

*stare at fans

*watch ESPN Sports Center

*play in his bouncy seat because he has figured out that when he moves his legs and arms it makes his hanging animal friends move all around



There are so many things that change about him daily but the one thing that never changes is that constant sparkle of love and joy in his eyes that can only come from God.