Spring Break Beach Trip

With Alli and John's baby set to arrive mid-summer and Rhett being so young, we decided to take our family beach trip early this year and stay a little closer to home.  My parents treated us to a long weekend in Galveston and we had such a wonderful time!  It was different, but really great, to be at the beach when it wasn't 100 degrees outside!  The kids had a blast playing on the beach and just being with some of their favorite people.

We celebrated two birthdays while we were there!

I gave Peach a little mani/pedi. :)

Guinny stopped by to visit!  We look forward to heading back in July with her and the rest of the Prestons for our 20th annual trip!

This little guy turned 4 months old and saw the ocean for the first time!

Daddy and his mini!

We went to the Aquarium on Monday and had lunch and ice cream on the strand!  

We had a wonderful weekend and were all wiped out! 

Rhett is 4 months old!

Our baby boy is 4 months old!  Rhett is truly "our" baby.  We all love him so much!

This month Rhett started grabbing the toys on his playmat, putting weight on his legs (while I hold him, of course), and scooting around on his back.  He still hasn't rolled over from back to tummy, but the scooting gets him pretty far!  The very best part of this month was hearing Rhett "talk" more and laugh for the first time!  He has the most precious little chuckle!  All I have to do is smother him with kisses and he really gets going!  He loves when I turn on music and sing along to him.  He raises his eyebrows while I'm singing like he's waiting to hear the next part. :)  Rhett likes to be outside and watch his brother and sister play.  He has gotten to ride in the stroller like a big boy a few times and seems to really like it. 

Rhett is still taking 4 short naps a day (in his crib when we are home and in his carseat on top of the dryer when he falls asleep in the car) and sleeps in the pack and play in our room at night.  We are planning to move him to his room at night very soon.  Now that Rhett is a little older and settling into somewhat of a schedule, I'm really trying to stay home as much as we can so that he can rest.  I can tell that being the third child and "on the go" is starting to affect him and it makes me feel bad!  Rhett eats about 5 times a day and all night long (joking, kind of).  Nighttime sleep is not our strength around here, but we'll get there.   Rhett is usually very chipper in the morning, even after waking up all night.  He will just coo and talk in the pack and play for a little while until I come pick him up and then I'm  greeted with a big, sweet smile!   One of my favorite things that he always does is grabs my hand with both arms when I come in to give him his pacifier.  He's like a little koala and it's so cute!  This month we learned that Rhett has Eczema like his daddy.  I took him to the doctor after a flare up and we switched all of his soaps and lotions, so hopefully we can keep it under control.  

Baby Rhett, you add so much joy to our lives!  You are so very loved!  

4 month stats:

Weight - 17 lbs, 14 oz (87%)

Height - 27.75 inches (off the charts!)

Head Circumference - 17.25 inches (95%)

Spring School Pictures

I love a school picture. Reid was sick for Fall pictures, so I was glad we got another chance for this school year!

These are pictures of pictures, so not the best quality, but I sure do love this four year old! 

Rodeo Time!

It's Rodeo time in Houston!  This year Chris and I took Reid and Georgia Kate to the Katy Rodeo while my parents watched Rhett.  I love the Katy Rodeo because it has such a great small town feel and it's obviously much more convenient than the Houston Rodeo.  

I love this cute cowgirl and cowboy!

We met up with some of our sweet friends and had a great time looking at animals, watching some of the rodeo, eating, and of course participating in the stick horse race! 

Jillian, GK, Emery

Reid, Landon, Pierce

Reid had rodeo day at school!  He had a great time, but was not interested in wearing a cowboy hat. ;)

My serious cowboy in the parade :) 

Chris and I decided not to go to the Houston Rodeo this year with our friends like we usually do (being out late + a baby that wakes up all night = no thank you), but Grandma and Grandpa took Reid and Georgia Kate to check things out during the day yesterday!  They had lots of fun!  

Yeehaw!

Valentine's Weekend

Reid had his class Valentine's Day party on Thursday!  He had fun decorating his box and writing names on his cards for his friends.  

This girl adds sparkle to our lives!

On Saturday morning we went to the zoo with Alli and John!  This is the only picture I got, but Rhett had a great time! :)

On Sunday morning, Chris made us heart pancakes before church.

Just a little unsuccessful photo shoot before church… ;)

Chris started a new tradition this year of getting Georgia and I flowers on February 15th. :) I like this idea because the flowers are much less expensive the day after Valentine's Day.  No harm in being practical!   

Rhett is 3 months old!

Our baby boy is 3 months old!  We are able to see his personality starting to come out.  He is smiling more and showing us that sweet dimple! :) He LOVES Pat-a-cake and I almost always get a smile out of him when we sing it.  Now that he is more awake and aware, he's also very sensitive.  Loud noises (or voices) and other people holding him sometimes make him cry.  Rhett is SO snuggly.  He loves to rock and bury his face into my arm.  He can hold a rattle now and is becoming more interested in the toys on his play mat. He has started chewing on his hands a lot, which makes me wonder if he will be an early teether like his brother.  Rhett rolled from his tummy to his back one time on January 20th, but hasn't since.  There is a lot of him to roll. ;)

We've settled into a bit more of a routine this month.  I try to start Rhett's day at 7:00 and then he usually eats again around 10, 1, 4, and then Chris gives him a bottle before bed at 7:00.  Our other two never showed a preference on bottles, but Rhett made it very clear he wasn't a fan of Dr. Brown's.  We tried Tommee Tippee bottles and he has done much better.  Rhett takes 3-4 naps a day.  Usually 2 naps are in the car when we take Reid to school and pick him up.  I try to give him at least one good nap at home.  He's been taking naps in his crib, but sleeping in the pack and play in our room at night.  I just can't make myself move him yet. It's hard being the last baby. ;)  Rhett started breaking out of his swaddle, so he now sleeps with a sleep sack instead.  Nighttime sleep is still all over the place.  Some nights he will only wake up twice, other nights he will wake up 5 times.  We'll get there and until we do, I will enjoy those middle of the night snuggles.  

Rhett weighs 16 pounds, 8 ounces. He is a BIG BOY.  Cheeks, thighs, arm rolls…he has it all and I couldn't love him more.  Reid and Georgia Kate absolutely adore their baby brother.  They think everything he does is the best thing they've ever seen.  I hear a lot of squeals and "He's looking at me!  He's touching me!  He touched his toy!  He's smiling!" 

Rhett Michael, you are just the sweetest.  You bring so much happiness to our family!
We love you SO much!

For fun, here are all of our babies at 3 months old!  I think Rhett has his own look!

Sweet Rhett Smiles