Baby Dove has arrived and it's a....

GIRL! I knew it all along. I don't have much time today, since Alex is finally napping and I didn't get home from the hospital last night until 2:45 AM. But let me introduce my brand new niece to everyone:

Julia Grace Dove

July 16, 2008 @ 11:08 P.M.

7lbs. 5 oz.     18 in.

Beautiful little Julia---the first girl in the fam!

Lola with her brand new granddaughter--yawning

2008--The year of the babies!

This year has been the year for babies!! Alex kicked off the trend when he was born March 5. Now, a new 2008 baby has been welcomed to the universe. My friend and co-worker, Danielle had her healthy baby girl on July 10. Little Natalia Marie weighed in at 6lbs.  2 oz. and was 19.5 inches long! I went to the hospital yesterday with Mike and Melinda to visit D and meet Natalia for the first time. I couldn't believe how small she looked, and especially couldn't remember Alex being that tiny. But--he was only 5 oz more than Natalia, so he was that tiny once! Now at 4 months and 1 week, he about 17 lbs. a little over 2 feet long, and such a little character! He's laughing out loud,rolling over, taking an interest his toys, holding up his neck and back, and making vowel sounds, like "oooh" and "ahhh". He's also drooling buckets down his chin as we await that first tooth. It looks like it will probaby be one of his bottom two front teeth first. And he's still sleeping through the night--praise Jesus! LOL. He's also quite funny--he grunts until he falls asleep! That's how we know he's tired. He'll just start grunting and the grunting gets quieter and quieter until he's out cold. LOL. He was 2008 baby #1--what a leader! LOL. Makes you wonder who's going to be next??? LOL. I'm looking at YOU Chauncey or Laubach!

Natalia Marie--born July 10

Another pic of a very alert Natalia

Our Little Belly Man!

Alex with his Great- Grandma Glenrose!

Alex and Lexie taking a "cat nap" on our bed--literally! LOL.

In his cute hat!

Alex and Abe back home on Alex's first fourth of July

Good Morning Sunshine!

Such a happy boy in the morning!

Alex rolled over!

Okay I'll make this quick--Alex has hit a new milestone at 3 months and 23 days. On Thursday evening, I went upstairs to change my clothes and Abe was on the phone in the kitchen. He called me down because Alex had finally rolled over! I can't believe I missed it! LOL. I'm home with him all day everyday and I still missed his first roll. LOL. Anyway, he can roll from his back to his belly, but can't get back to his back from hs belly yet. So, that night I put him in is bassinett, but woke up around 4 AM because he was making noise and he had rolled in his bassinett and was face down! Yikes! So I offically moved him to his own room at 4 AM on Friday morning. He's doing fine sleeping in his room. He went to sleep around 9:30 and woke back up around 8:30, like usual. I just can't believe how fast he's growing and becoming mobile! I snapped a pic of him right after he rolled over Thursday! He looked shocked--like, how did I get HERE??? lol. It's below, along with some other cute pics of him grabbing at his toys, sleeping in his playmat and trying on his new carrier/sling at Babies R' Us. Enjoy!

               

                 

                   

Water Baby

Alex had his first swim yesterday! I have some pictures below to prove it. LOL. He didn't seem too impressed to tell you the truth. We put him into Abe's Mom's pool yesterday. We put on his little swimmers, his swim trunks, and his bucket hat and waded his feet over the side at first. Then after his Daddy took his sweet time getting in, I handed Alex to him and he held Alex in the pool for about 20 minutes. We just kept him near the side, and he kicked his little feet some, but that was about it! It only lasted until he was hungry! LOL. Also, I think out little man is going to roll over sometime in the next week or so. He's been getting closer and closer everyday and then this morning he actually got his whole pelvis all the way over, but just couldn't get his arms tucked under him. So he half-rolled over! I think he'll figure it out very soon though. In other news, our nephew Matthew, who's 2, is gearing up for his little brother or sister. He has been doing so well with Alex. He'll lay his head gently on Alex's belly to hug him and he was saying "hi" to "Ayex" as he calls him all day yesterday. He'll have his own little one at home in less than a month now. We just have to get through this week and next, and then we're going home to visit with my family for the 4th! I can't wait for them to see how Alex has grown and to spend their first holiday with him. They haven't had him at home for a holiday yet, so it's exciting! I don't think my cousins have even met him yet, so it'll be fun to see them with him. I have 5 cousins in my Dad's side and we were always very close growing up. We all lived about 5 minutes away fromeach other. In fact, 3 of my cousins grew up on the same road as me. We had lots of adventures together growing up out in the woods. They're all boys too! So I know a thing or two about boys! LOL. Anyway, I am so excited to see them and picnic out at our campsite in Garrett County. Below are some pics from this week!

Alex getting ready for the pool in his swim trunks

Getting Alex and Matthew ready for the water, but Alex is a little too short!

In the pool with his Daddy

Take a look at this crew--Dave with Matthew, Abe with Alex

Daddy's looking pretty cute in Lola's sun hat!

Alex and Auntie Maria in their matching red shirts

Alex is starting to grad into his toys and even chew on them!

Another pic of him holding his toy

Alex is riding in the forward facing side of his stroller now--he kept wiggling himself out of the carrier!

Check out my Slide Show!

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Abe's First Father's Day, Rice Cereal, and Mommy Daycare :)

So many topics to cover--so little time! First, Abe celebrated his first Father's Day yesterday! It was a lot of fun. My family came down Saturday afternoon and stayed until Sunday morning, so it was a lot of fun to see them. And the news is in on my brother--as of right now, he WILL be in the wedding! Yay! He got fitted for a tux on Saturday so now he has to be! LOL. That's what I told him at least. He doesn't often listen to his big sister, so we'll see! I gave Abe his present Sunday morning--a Wii track jacket and a necklace from Alex. We had to go search for something else, as usual ,Sunday afternoon. Abe likes to "see what else is out there" before he decides to keep gifts. Verdict--he decided to keep it! He's lucky I put up with him! LOL. Sunday afternoon, we went down to Dundalk to visit with Abe's family. The boys played in his mom's pool, which we've yet to let Alex venture in--soon though. I forgot to bring his swimmers and his trunks, so that was really the only reason we didn't put him in. We'll probably give him his first taste of the pool next week or so. Mary is getting big--in about 1 more month we'll be meeting baby Dove! Can't wait! In the magical world of Alexander, he's growing more and more everyday. He's a about 3 and half months now, and he weighs around 14 lbs. Mommy daycare is officially in session now, since I am a teacher and I am off of school for the summer. Abe and I decided that I would stay home in the summer and not work, because I saved enough throughout the year for the summer. It's a blessing to be able to be home with Alex! He's eating a little bit of rice cereal in the morning now. I give him about a tablespoon, and he started out spitting it all out, but now I've been feeding him his bottle first and then the rice cereal and he's keeping a couple bites in and even swallowing them! Oh and also, let me tell you what baby product Abe and I are LOVING! It's called a bumbo seat and it's just a little seat designed specifically to prop babies into a sitting position. It's great for feeding him his cereal and I feel like it really is strengthening his back. He's starting to pull himself into a sitting position when he's on our laps and he can sit up for about 30 seconds on his own! He's trying so hard to roll from front to back too, just hasn't been able to do that yet. He'll get up on his side and then go back to his back. He'll get it soon though!! I attached some pics below from this past week!

Alex having his first taste of rice cereal!

Alex smiling with his Nana

Uncle Brandon holding Alex

Alex Chillin' in his Bumbo seat

Alex celebrating Father's Day with his Daddy

Alex looking like a cool kid in his visor

Abe modeling his new track jacket in his Nintendo boxers

And the view from the back...

 

 

Ultimate Fitness Plan of America!!!

Okay--so my wedding dress doesn't fit! OMG..That means I need to lose some major weightage between now and August. Actually, I need to lose it between now and July 10, because that's when I go back to have my first fitting at the alterations dept. My plan is to eat very healthy, drink only water, and run everyday until I lose like 10 pounds or so. I guess it's good that I have a reason to lose the baby weight or I may not be as motivated to lose it. I know I can do it, it's just not going to be so easy! I wonder if my stomach will ever be normal again.Probably by the time it is, we'll be ready to have a second! That's usually the way it goes. LOL. Fitness plan aside, let me give everyone an Alex update. He's trying to roll over now. He hasn't quite mastered it yet, but he's trying really hard! He can make it up on his side, but then rolls back down. He's also smiling a lot and making a lot of noises. He gets his first vaccines on Friday. We're taking him to get his 3 month pictures taken afterward, so hopefully that won't be a mistake and he won't be totally fussy during his pcitures. We shall see! Okay, well here are some pictures of Alex from this weekend, when we visited my Dad, Aunt, and Grandma out in the mountains!

Such a flirty little smile!

His hair is starting to get thicker...Look at that belly! LOL.

Alex with his Pappy (My Dad)