Sonidos Serranos: January 2011

25 January 2011

Learning together...

Today, while I was threading a needle to sew a button on a dress for Elizabeth, she noticed what I was doing, rushed over to where I was sitting, and very excitedly said to me:

I'm going to watch you work – so that someday when I'm a mother I can sew clothes for my children!

I just had to smile. She was so sweet! (But sewing on buttons is about the extent of my sewing projects these days!)

24 January 2011

How much does he weigh?

Well...

Here's how the participants in the poll voted:

0 (0%) voted: 13 lbs, 12 oz
3 (16%) voted: 14 lbs, 5 oz
9 (50%) voted: 14 lbs, 13 oz
6 (33%) voted: 15 lbs, 1 oz

Most of the participants guessed what I was guessing on the way to the doctor's office...

[Drum roll, please!]

However, DJM surprised most of us! He must've been concentrating on height instead of weight during the past month because he weighed "only" 14 lbs, 5 oz on January 18. (I'm guessing he's gained the other 8 oz and reached the 14 lbs, 13 oz weight by now, though.)

Thanks to all who participated in my little poll. (I enjoyed it!)

Stay tuned for more pictures of Chubbs – and his Best Big Sister!

18 January 2011

Still growing...

Yes! DJM is growing!

After posting early this morning, we found out at the follow-up check-up today that our "Little Man" is now 25 in long. He's at 100% on the growth chart for height. The doctor encouraged us to get a basketball into his hands ASAP!

Would you like to take a guess as to his current weight? (Please do! Vote on the poll in the upper right-hand corner. Or comment on this post.)

Just look at those chubby cheeks!

Because of DJM's alertness, (even studying the doctor from across the room with his typical, serious, "I'm-deep-in-thought" face), he also commented that, if he didn't know better, he would guess that DJM is going on eight months of age!

"Chubbs" can be so serious at times...

There really are advantages to being born so big. And there are advantages to carrying around a very smiley baby: Nobody really notices what I wear anymore!

Growing!

DJM is now two and a half months (eleven and a half weeks) old. He's a very smiley and "talkative" baby, trying out new sounds on an almost daily basis. He's a lot of fun, eagerly learning and interacting with everyone around him – especially his sister! He has, thankfully, proven to be quite flexible, adjusting to multiple (and often unpredictable) changes as we travel.

He's definitely our "Chubbs" – a nickname well-earned! He's a very good eater – and great weight loss program for his Mommy! At the seven-week check-up, he weighed 12 lbs, 12 oz and measured 24 in long. He outgrew most of his 0-3M onesies and graduated to mostly 3-6M and even some 6M outfits before Christmas!

"Chubbs" reached the two-month milestone on the evening of December 30, 2010, while we were traveling to the farm house in IN that had belonged to Grampa and Gramma. On the way there, we realized that that very night was also the fifth anniversary of Grampa's home-going...

We marked the occasion by taking Daniel James' two-month pictures in Great-Grampa's (James Joseph's) armchair:

On the Ontario leg of our trip, I took a picture of our Little Man in his Great-Grandma's rocking chair. (But I'm not sure where the big lion came from...)

We have so much to be thankful for!

11 January 2011

Siblings!

We're enjoying our little people, and they're enjoying interacting with each other!

We caught a little of the conversation in the car...

Some moments on long road trips are actually fun...

DJM is extremely pleased when we respond to him in his very own language! He gave Elizabeth his very first baby laugh while interacting with her last Sunday. I'm looking forward to capturing those musical baby laughs on video...

O Holy Night!

On Christmas Eve, we sang carols with extended family – via Skype! Some of us were in the Southeastern United States; others were in Uruguay.

Modern technology can be such a blessing!

January 11: Update on Jonatán

"Thank-you!" to all who pray for Jona and his family. I've asked him to write an update (on the medical side of his situation) for us. Meanwhile, I'm sharing several short "updates" he has shared on FaceBook.

On December 31, 2010:

God is amazing. Another year over and a new one is beginning. I'm glad that God let me live for another year.

On January 8, 2011:

God is so great. I'm glad He's my Father. I have Allstate insurance for Christians because I'm in good hands. Are you in good hands?

Travel Tips

(i.e. tidbits gathered while traveling with a pre-schooler and a two-month-old!)

Brand-name diapers really do hold more than generic store brands! (I'm more thankful than ever for coupons and diaper deals on the name brands!)
Baby wipes left in the car freeze (becoming a solid block!) when the temperatures drop to the teens.
Canned goods can become slushy at low temperatures.
Laundry detergent also becomes slushy at low temperatures.
Denim travels well – and is a huge blessing especially when you've downsized from a Suburban to a Toyota Camry, have a baby in diapers, and have to keep tabs on laundry!
McD's makes a good latte – and currently includes a coupon for a free Fruit & Maple Oatmeal on the cup!
Fixed tables in restaurant booths aren't conducive to comfortable nursing.
Babies "R" Us lives up to its name – by providing a Mother's Room!
Sleep deprivation and patience with pre-school immaturity seem to be inversely proportional.
God is good – all the time! His grace is amazing – and sufficient for every situation!