6 months and loving my first food: AVOCADO!

I can't believe 6 months has passed so quickly, yet in the midst of a recent HORRIBLE week of sleep, it seems so long!!  Isn't it crazy how they both can co-exist?

We go Tuesday for Jackson's 6 month well-child check!  I am anxious to get all his stats, but mostly his length!  This boy is already busting out of the 9 month outfits.  I need to cut out holes for his feet! Ha!!

Tonight we enjoyed a 3 mile walk with Jackson!   We lost Sophie the Giraffe during out walk and didn't realize she was missing until we were packing up!  We had to retrace all of our steps which was a LOT!  However, no worries, I found her on one of the last trails we walked.  Thank heavens b/c Sophie is part of this family!! Ha!!  She has probably been the favorite toy of both kids and cousin Hannah!  Looking for a good baby shower gift, give the gift of Sophie the Giraffe!!

Once we got home, we decided to take the plunge and give Jackson his first food!!  I wanted so badly to exclusively breastfeed for the first 6 months with baby #2 and I MADE IT!!  Woot Woot!!  Such a big accomplishment for myself, considering my many struggles with Sophia! I always skip cereal (if you would like to know my reasons, don't hesitate to contact me or leave a blog comment!), so we started with avocado!  This boy could stand to have a little more fat in his thighs and tummy!  Plus avocado is very easy to digest and loaded with healthy fats and protein!!  I mixed it with a little breast milk and Jackson went to town!!  He LOVED it!!  He actually started fussing for more!!  It is amazing the difference in how well a 6 month old can handle a spoon vs a 4 1/2 month old (when we started with Sophia!)  This KID loves to eat.  By the way he handled the spoon and the food, you would have thought he had been eating for the past month!!  I see why they recommend you try to wait till 6 months for food!  I am excited to start making his food again and explore many options!  I love feeding my babies real food!!   Check out the video!!

YUM!!!  

I quickly learned how to lick my lips!! Ha!

One final, but VERY important special event today was Jackson's baby dedication at church!  This was a very special time for our family!  My parents, Nate's parents, Sarah, Brandon, and Hannah all were there to witness this act before the Lord!!  My father-in-law reminded me of this awesome verse in 1 Samuel 1:27-28.
²⁷ For this boy I prayed, and the LORD has given me my petition which I asked of Him.²⁸So I have also dedicated him to the LORD; as long as he lives he is dedicated to the LORD.” And he worshiped the LORD there. 
Oh this is a perfect description of our hearts!!  Let us remember these all the days of our life!  How we pray that our children will grow strong in the Lord and serve them all the days of their lives as well!!

Papa and Jax were twins today!  (This was totally not planned!)

Grandpa Long, Sophia, Jax, and Grandma Long

Love my "little man" outfit from our friend Erin!

Yes, this was the best picture of all three grandkids out of 10 that were taken!  Oh what did parents do in the days of film? Waste tons of money on horrible pictures .... that's what!

Enjoy this beautiful week of weather that is ahead and join me in THANKFULNESS for the goodness of our GOD!  

Spring Fun!

All I have to say is this has been THE.BEST.WINTER.EVER in Indiana!!  I am so grateful for this mild winter so my hubby doesn't have to face horrible weather in his 120 mile daily commute!!  It has allowed us more family time and less stress for Nate!  Praise God!!  

We celebrated Leap Day by heading to the park in 61 degree weather!!!  It was VERY windy, but so mild outside!!  I put Jackson in the swing at the park for the first time ever and he LOVED it!  Sophia did an awesome job pushing him!  He would giggle and cackle at her each time she gave him a little push!! 

It was hard to get a good picture due to the crazy wind, but I am not complaining!!

I'm a big boy now!  Look at me!

We were so blessed with this adorable Adias track suit from our dear friends in Russia, Jeff and Amy!!  I am so glad Jackson can now fit into it!  I have to say, he is one heart breaker, huh?

Doesn't my smile melt your heart?

Yesterday, March came in like a lamb ... Sunny and 54 degrees!  I will take that!!  We headed to the park again for more swinging and also walking with friends!

Sophia is such a good big sister!

heart breaker ... dream maker ...

The group of kids after our walk ....

Isaiah, Andrew, Jackson, Sophia, and Josiah

She really wouldn't look at the camera ... ugh!!

I hope you have been enjoying this MILD winter!!  Bring on spring, bulbs, flowers, and warm evening weather for park trips and walks!!!  

What have we been up to?

I honestly think I get the biggest slacker blogger award of the year!  So sorry!!! I am now 21 weeks along and STILL feeling sick at times, mostly in the evenings which cuts down on my blogging!!  I really am alive and Sophia is still growing and changing each and every day!  I wish I could get the energy to get back to my 2-3x/wk blogging!!  Maybe soon? 

Here are a few pictures of our past month ....

Playing at the park with Isaiah! :)  

Asking mommy and daddy to take my picture ... (Sometimes!)

Helping mommy prepare for Easter Brunch

Sitting on the Big Girl Potty all by myself ... We might be onto something ... she has FINALLY pooped in the toilet for 6 days in a row with clean/dry diapers at nap!!  Would would have thought it would take 5 months to get her to start going #2 on the pot?  Ahhhhh ... what a sigh of relief!!

Showing off the Easter eggs she colored with Mimi and Papa

Babysitting baby Hannah 

Listening for bowel sounds?  Ha!!  Most normal people would look and see this picture as a hug .. medical people think of bowel sounds! 

We had a very blessed Easter and celebrated with family!  What an awesome time to reflect on Christ's death, burial, and RESURRECTION!  He is Alive INDEED!!

I hope you had a very wonderful Easter!!

Fun at the Park with Grandma and Grandpa Long!

Yesterday was a special day in the Long household!  Sophia got to go to the Washington Township Park with Grandma and Grandpa Long for the first time!  Here are a few pictures of our time together!  We also celebrated Aunt Rhoda's homecoming from Germany and the UK!  It was great to see Aunt Ro-Ro!

Grandma, Sophia, and Grandpa

Shotzi (Aunt Ro-Ro's "dog"hter)!

Grandma coaching Sophia on how to drive!

Sophia, Aunt Ro-Ro, and Shotzi!

Fun at the Park with Isaiah!

We have really enjoyed meeting Jenn and Isaiah at the park the past few Wednesday's after Jenn gets out of school! It has been awesome watching them grow up together and really learn to "play together" as opposed to "alongside" of one another!! Such a sweet family, we just LOVE them!

Both kids stoic ... cracks us up!

Actually smiling for a picture ... too bad she isn't looking at the camera!

Her first time down the tube slide!

Here comes Isaiah!! He was a pro!

Jenn and her little man!

I sure miss those days of the tire swing! Although, YIKES,

my rear was killing me when I got off!

Hugs for everyone!

"Look at me, Look at me!"

Some serious static!!

Allyson