homeofthebudds

Joelbaby: the haps

Joel is super into light switches lately. If he notices one, he simply must turn it off and on. And off and on.

He loves reading books. His current favorites From Head to Toe by Eric Carle and Pat the Bunny, but really, he likes every colorful book that he can reach.

His favorite food appears to be a peanut butter and honey sandwich, followed closely by dry cereal, string cheese and fruit leathers. 

He enjoys exploring the cupboards, the kids room and the bathroom. Really anywhere we don't really want him to be.

Joel says "Hi" in an adorably cute voice while waving his fingers to us all day long. He also greets people that give him eye contact and a smile. 

Joel wants to be wherever all the rest of the kids are. Almost always. No matter what. 

The boys' regular during-the-day activities have come to an end so we've been home most days which has allowed Joel to finally show me the schedule he prefers. Two hours after he wakes up, he's ready for a two (sometimes three!) hour nap. Two (sometimes three) hours after he wakes up, he's ready for a one-and-a-half to two hour nap. About three to four hours after that he's ready for bed. He almost always sleeps 12 hours. His sleeping schedule is reminding me of Ellen's when she was a baby.

He enjoys playing peek-a-boo. (Is it obvious that he waiting for me to come out from behind the camera and "boo" him?)

In which Joelbaby may be telling us he'd enjoy a future career in the floral industry

 

(and Oh my word, I have a baby voice. I do I not know this already?)

In which Joel & Bopp smile pretty for the camera

Mom was here visiting a couple weeks ago.

My plan was to have a Bopp/grandkids photo shoot, but I forgot. And when I remembered, Joel was the only one still up.

So we had a Bopp/Joel shoot instead.

Which was fabulous.

Duh.

Joel is a fan of Bopp

...and glasses.

By request

Here's a phone video of Brennan cracking Joel up. Ignore the walls - I'm trying out colors. Still have three more to put up before we decide.

And stick with it - the best part is toward the end.

Joelbaby

I realized the other day that poor Joelbaby has not been properly documented lately.

He's been sleeping again lately...naps are not as much a challenge as they were a couple months ago.

He's been trying foods - he's sooo very interested in anything we put in our mouths - but his belly doesn't seem quite ready for them. He usually spits them back after 20 minutes or so.

(can't make them all color photos right?)

He's rolling over onto his belly all the time...and has just become okay with the idea. For a while he was rolling as he went to sleep and then keeping his nose burrowed into the mattress. Freaked me out. But now he turns his head like a professional.

He loves loves to read books. He loves loves loves music. He doesn't seem to care what it is. Anything on the radio in the car is fine. He does have a favorite going to sleep song though - Remember When by Alan Jackson. Always, no matter what, when that comes on, he stops what he's doing, focuses on the Ipod and almost always gives a grin.

He had his Dr.'s appointment today and is holding steady in the 90th percentile for height and weight.

He's got a perpetual curly faux-hawk. It doesn't lay down. (Not that I've tried super hard.)

He loves everyone in the house a ton, but most especially Brennan (who can get him to laugh the hardest) and Dave. He loves his daddy-o, more so (it seems) than any of our other babies at this age.

This is his most frequent grin - chin tucked down and in. He's very friendly - so long as I'm holding him. He does pretty well visiting other folks, but usually when he looks up and sees I'm not the one holding him he gets a bit nervous.

this boy loves loves things that light up

even more of my little bean

A fellow photographer friend came over today and I was looking at her portfolio and chatting about printers and papers and all that good stuff which inspired me to break out the camera again. It's been beautiful outside for two entire days and so it just seemed like a good time to try out the macro on little Joel-be.

I love his full little drooly lips.

A little reading time is good for the soul

Joel Baby

This Joel baby of mine is a sleeper. Most days you can count on him to be awake for 2 or 3 hours.

Yesterday he was awake for about 10 minutes. He must be growing.

He loves to say and hear the language of babies "A-goo! Aa-goo!"

He loves his bed. He can fall asleep in the car, but it's a quick and somewhat restless sleep. In his bed he can be in dreamland for six hours.

He loves to be swaddled. Tightly.

He enjoys sticking out his tongue.

He enjoys the green circle pacifier the hospital gives you. But only when he's in a pacifier sort of mood.

He enjoys looking at stripes. The ones on my duvet, the ones created by his crib bars. They make him smile daily.

You know what's funny?

After having three kids I was frequently knowingly asked if we were done.

Two weeks after having four kids, I'm already frequently asked if we wanna have four more or when they should expect number five.