4 Months old

This goofy boy is 4 months old!

14 pounds and 25 inches with a head in the 84th percentile 

It has been quite the month in Russell world. He has been busy growing and learning! It was also the first full month of Stephen working and Russell being stuck with me all day long. I think he gets tired of seeing my face because he has the biggest smiles when people start coming home. 

This month has been a month of sleeping phases. We've gone through a 'needs to be actively rocked back to sleep after nightly wakings/feedings ' phase, a 'nursing every 2 hours' phase, and are currently battling the 'needs a swaddle so I don't punch myself awake, but keep breaking out of them' phase. It has been a very tiring month. Luckily he has been napping better so I get some down time during the day!

  

Reason we need a swaddle still- wakes him up every time!

Tummy time is still not a favorite activity in Russell world. Everyone in the house knows when he is doing tummy time. His screams and grunts are very loud. He is getting in pretty good head lifts when he isn't too busy sucking on his fist. He also rolled over for the first time the day after his 4 month birthday! He is far from mastering the skill, but will be very happy when he can end tummy time himself. (Now three days later he has mastered the skills and tummy time lasts about 3 seconds before he rolls over...)

He is getting more and more control over his body! He prefers to be standing until his legs get really tired. He also enjoys sitting on his own (with support). He has been actively reaching for things and picking up some of his toys.

Sitting on the couch

Sitting on the pew at church

Playing with his toy

Reaching for Mr. Frog and the leaves

This has been the month of the tongue as well. He has his tongue sticking out most of the time. He thinks he is so funny!

As his personality develops, we have started to discover things that he likes and things that he hates.

Likes:

Being naked... (he will chat your ear off while he is naked during a diaper change)

Along the same note; Tubs- he kicks and splashes away

Music- "Wheels on the Bus" and "Patty Cake" for entertainment, "All About That Bass" when he is really angry to calm him down, and "The Russell Song" to calm when he is irritated and at night to put him to sleep.

Being around the action- we brought out his high chair so he could join us during dinner

Chewing/ licking things- if it can easily reach his mouth, it will be covered in saliva

Dislikes:

Being at church for 3 hours... 1st picture is hour 1, 2nd picture is hour 3

 Walking down the stairs- he will tense up and grunt the whole trip down. Scared of heights? He does the same thing if he is outside in the cold wind...

Putting clothes over his head- maybe because his head is large, but if it takes longer than 2 seconds to get it over, he starts to scream.

His skin- poor guy is battling cradle cap and eczema on his face. he tries to scratch it, so his dad put mitten on him which also go in the dislikes category.

We are still waiting for a real laugh from Mr. Russell. Either we just aren't funny enough for him or he is just a squealer when happy. His noises are pretty dang cute though. 

It has been such a fun month watching him grow and learn so much. We know that he is only going to get smarter and more entertaining every day!

Bear Update

Last Month in Provo

After we got back from Tucson we just had a few weeks left in Utah before the big move to Texas. Stephen had school and finals to study for, but we still made some time to have a little bit of fun before we moved.

The week we got back our ward had a Christmas party. There were pounds of ham, potatoes, and desserts. Russell wore his first Christmas outfit, complete with a cute reindeer hat!

We also went to the aquarium in Draper. We had been amazed by it when we went at the old location and were super excited to see the new and improved facilities. We were not disappointed! It was beautiful inside. We were kind of surprised by how much Russell enjoyed it too. I'm not sure he could actually see the fish, but he liked the lights and glow at least. 

                                                                     Sharks are Scary!!

Russell and I also went to Barnett Elementary for me to say goodbye and for them to meet Russell. I helped in Lynette's classroom as they decorated gingerbread houses. We spent recess surrounded by my students from last year. It was fun to see everyone and kind of sad saying goodbye again. 

Our last few days were spend packing and cleaning. So fun! Russell was not very helpful and decided to be a terrible napper, so I couldn't do much when Stephen wasn't home. Luckily Alex was able to help Stephen load up the truck!

After living in Provo for over 5 years it was sad but exciting to finally leave!

TUCSON!- 3 months later

We were lucky enough to be able to spend a week in Tucson for Thanksgiving! We hadn't been there since Thanksgiving two years ago. We were extra excited because the WHOLE family was going to be there, plus most of Stephen's family too!

I was a little nervous to be taking a not even 2 month old on an airplane. I didn't want to have a screaming baby that everyone on the flight was annoyed with. Luckily since we were flying Southwest, which means you get to pick your own seat, and our flights were not full, Russell got to have his own seat for 3 of the 4 legs of our plane travel for the holiday. It was wonderful. We were all comfortable in our own space and Russell slept 90% of the flight. He had a harder time when he was in our arms and cried during landing.

Happy Traveler!

Our time in Tucson went by very quickly and was packed with tons of fun events and family time! Some of the little events included bonding with the cousins (well with Catherine because she was the only one not sick), napping on Grandpa, picking out a Christmas tree, and Mikesell family gift exchange.

Breakfast for all!

Sick babies on the counter

Russell Naptime

R2 and Luna

Adleigh checking out Russell & Catherine

Stephen & Russell opening gifts

Family Gift Exchange

  

 

Sleepy Santa getting a Christmas Tree

We were lucky enough to have not one, but two, days of lots of yummy food. My dad wanted to share some of his Hawaiian cruise experience with us, so he cooked up a luau feast complete with three Flaming Alaskas. Then the next day we had a delicious Thanksgiving dinner with a crowd of family and friends. Russell didn't get to enjoy any of the shirt making or food eating, but lots of cuddles with Grandma Koford!

Baked Alaskas- complete with Star Wars insides

Festive Thanksgiving Cousins

Best way to spend the holiday!

With this being the first time everyone has been together for a long time, and not knowing when the next will be, Mom decided to take advantage and schedule family pictures. We got a real photographer for the first time in forever and set out to the Pecan Orchard that know one knew existed. It was quite the event to get all the children to cooperate. Luckily Russell slept most of the time and the older ones were bribed with ice cream! They turned out pretty cute!

 

The next big event was a Star Wars baby shower for Russell. It had to be the best decorated baby shower I have ever attended. There were Star Wars food, drinks, desserts, decorations, games, and even some costumes. It was fun to see people from Tucson that we haven't seen in years. Plus Russell was very spoiled with attention and gifts!

          

 

                        

 

             

 

            

 

                            

The last big event, and the main reason for sooo many people being in Tucson, was Russell's baby blessing. This is the first baby blessing that my grandparents have been able to attend and the first one since Seth that all my siblings have been at. We were really lucky! My mom found Russell an adorable white outfit that he managed to keep clean the whole time! Russell had lots of family in the blessing circle with his dad: Great Grandpa Mikesell, Grandpa Mikesell, Grandpa Koford, Uncle Brian and Uncle Jon. Stephen gave a beautiful blessing and Russell didn't cry during it thanks to a bottle of milk his Grandpa Koford was holding for him!

                       

 

It was such a fun trip! I am excited for the next time that we get to see everyone. Hopefully we wont all get sick next time!