Can you believe it.......

Oh Yeah - LJ is 6 months old! Watching his development is fun and quite entertaining for the most part. He has grown so much in these last 6 months. Check out the size difference...

One week old

6 months old!



What a little daring! At his 6 month check up (I know.... everyone waiting for the official weight...) He was 27 1/2 inches long - and his head is so big that it's in the 97th percentile... LJ weighed a whopping 19 lbs 7 oz!!! Erica and I were closest - got ya beat Hollie! Even though Caleb is a small guy himself - he's still big enough - and LOVES - to hold LJ. Last week, he wouldn't let me go home until he got to hold him. Isn't it just adorable! (even if LJ looks a littl scared...)



On Saturday evening, to celebrate this 6 month mark, we were able to meet up with Shandy and take some very fun pictures downtown Boise, around the 8th St Marketplace... I'm excited to see them!!! LJ was such a doll - and he was VERY well behaved the entire time... but he didn't quite make it home - he was one exhausted little boy!



Sunday - we spent the day just relaxing. He was such a funny little guy sitting in the recliner by himself... What can I say, he's all ready developing his man qualities!



NOW - for the funny pictures. Last night we introduced the amazing world of food! I gave LJ some applesauce - and by some of these pictures - you'd think he was eating a sour apple! It was really funny watching him - and also seeing at the same time - he wanted to keep eating!















Check out these little video's I got of him eating his first official food - applesauce!

Time to Guess!!!

LJ will be having his 6 month check up on Monday - place your guess before then on how much this little chunk will end up... What can I say - he loves his food... Don't believe me? Just ask Hollie!!!

Finally!!!

Sorry for the delay in posting about our trip back east to New Jersey. Life has been as crazy as typical in our lives lately. But hey - I'm getting things back. Let's start out with the pictures!!! Here I am with Nathan and Bryant (and LJ on front) as we're heading to switch flights in Minnesota. They loved the moving walkways. Sitting in the airport at out layover - LJ had a great time with all the cousins and especially grandma and grandpa. He's such a good boy - and an excellent traveler! Once we got into Philly - we met up with my sister Teressa and her husband and son, Matt and Damian - for breakfast! We went to Ihop - and the waitress thought we were kidding when we said we had 17 in our party - She actually laughed at us. But she really was excellent and had fun with all the kids. After breakfast, we headed over to the Philly Zoo - and one part I love about the east coast is the historical buildings still standing. Here is grandma and grandpa with a few of the grandkids when we finally arrived at my mom's parents house in New Jersey. As we got settled into the place where we were staying in Ocean City, New Jersey - grandpa and LJ took up their places on the couch and enjoyed some down time. As LJ has begun to grow older and continually grabs at the food that he see's other people eating - my oldest sister and I decided to let him try a few things. We went and had some pretty good pizza on the boardwalk - and we let him have some pizza sauce and a couple of tiny pieces of bread. He was quite the happy camper. One of the best places to watch a sunset - on a farris wheel, on the beach!!! I love the boardwalk. And LJ and I had a great time. Check out my little sister's blog to see a few other pictures. http://bensherajem.blogspot.com/ LJ really did like it - but this was towards the end - and it was all ready past his bedtime - so the picture caught his tired face. My oldest sister, Tera, her oldest boy, Bryant, is an amazing older brother - and a great help with his cousins as well. He loves the chance to feed LJ and was always asking - so occassionaly we gave him a bottle instead of nursing him - which yes, he asked if he could nurse him too... Was pretty funny. Continuing on the food testing - it's become a little tradition with our family and giving our babies a lemon around 6 months old... LJ had his lemon a little early - 5 months - but oh well... He LOVED IT!!! He would not let go on my hand to pull the lemon away - he just kept sucking on it! Katie, here, is my little sister's darling baby. She had a little mishap with her clothes - and needed to borrow some from her cousins - and like her brother Nathan, had to be gender confused for a day and wear some boy clothes. Skylar-man and Tera were able to make the trip with us - even though Tera was 8 1/2 months pregnant, she was cleared by her doctor to go!!! It was awesome - and it was great having them with us! Here is Damian Christopher Duke - my sister Teressa's little man - and boy - has he grown. I love his hair, it went from brown to such a soft blonde. He is the fastest Army crawler I have ever seen. He just seems to prefer that method as opposed to normal crawling. Oh well - you do what you gotta do! And here is the prime example of what happens when too many Piper's get together! My dad was walking around the rental house with his pants pulled up sooooo far.... Gotta love it. And now all of you can see exactly where I get my goofy nature! Ahhhh the first 4th of July! Here's LJ's outfit, Thanks Grandma! We were able to watch fireworks on the boardwalk. Grandpa and LJ are definately very happy with each other - and I'm grateful to have such wonderful examples in our lives. Grandpa can get some of the biggest smiles out of him. I love it. It looks like they are having some fun conversations... We stayed the last night of our trip back in Philly since we needed to be at the airport by 4:30AM - and it was a LONG day.... But I was able to snap a few shots from one of our bedrooms of the kids and family swimming around in the pool. Here is my brother John, with Bryant on his shoulders. The video is not as good as in person - but my brother does an awesome Donald Duck. He's singing "I'm a little teapot" to Bryant...


Here is a little video of the fireworks on the boardwalk - I just love it - and having the ocean right there as well!!!

Been a while...

So - obviously I did not post anything while I was back east in New Jersey. But not that we're home... I'll get all the pictures uploaded on my computer and get working on it.

We had a good time - some rough spots - but overall - fun time!

Here's a good picture my sister got of me and my main man!

Growing each day

Picking up the basic needs at the store last night - LJ and I decided to try on the different hats at Walmart - ya know - that one size fits all.... I don't think LJ was very excited about them! An evening of splishing and splashing... and loving being wrapped up afterwards... Last picture before I put a few videos up - LJ wanted to be a little cuddlebug last night and woke up every time I tried to lay him down. So instead of fighting with him - I caved in and just laid him in bed with me - yeah - he stayed asleep the whole night - right beside me. Each time I tried to move away from the little heater box - he would wiggle his way back over to me. By morning - he had taken my spot! The little turkey. And he had nothing but smiles about it all! LJ has been getting closer to actually crawling - but most of the time he'll either push himself backwards, or put his head down - stick his butt up - and push off his feet to go a little forward. Especially when you put his toys just out of reach!
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Life's little helpers

Last week was a wonderful break of stress as my dad was able to stay for 8 days and watch LJ throughout the day - and we'd end most of our days by taking a walk and playing some frisbee. My dad was also able to occupy LJ while I got some homework done which allowed me to spend Saturday and Sunday playing with my little man (still doing homework while he took his naps, though) - instead of having to take LJ somewhere else.




It was a really awesome break and my dad and I were able to spend some time together as well. I'm really blessed to have such wonderful parents that are so willing to help with just about anything.

And more blessings come from those friends that surround me. Since Hollie is on vacation to Vegas (YEAH - hope they're having a good time) Becky is able to watch LJ during the day. Can I first just say AMAZING! Her little man just turned 1 year old - and she's still willing and able to watch my little guy - 4 1/2 months old. When I went to pick him up yesterday - here's what I found....







LJ must've had a funfilled day - because he fell asleep early last night - hardly woke up at his normal time of 5AM to eat (which is right when I get up for work anyway - I love our schedule most days!) - and then he was right back asleep until I had to put him in his car seat.






I'm so thankful for all the little blessings that I have received in my life over the last year. It definately has not been an easy year - but it has completely been a learning one. A year full of patience, endurance, spiritual growth, understanding, service, tears, and joy. And even though I struggle each day, I get myself out of bed and put on every shield possible to make it through each step of each day.

So thank you to all who help me out - even if it's just a smile as you pass. I'm grateful for all that you do and that Heavenly Father has blessed my life with you.

Grandpa Time!!!

When I started talking to LJ about Grandpa coming down for drill and staying the whole week for my Annual Training - he was more than just a little excited...




But have no fear - this little guy gets tuckered out from all his activity. I'm sure he misses his day filled with Caleb and Hollie... And I'm so thankful for having such a wonderful little boy that loves his sleep just as much as I do!




On last friday afternoon/evening before my dad arrived at my house, LJ and I were just cuddling on the bed and before I knew it - here's what I saw... He's going through a growth spurt and sleeping and eating so much more... :)




Time with grandpa! First off, this is one of the outfits that grandma bought for LJ just because she liked what it said...




Can you tell that LJ loves his grandpa?






And here's just a little funny face picture that I just couldn't help myself but posting...




I know there's not a whole lot of new information in this blog - but let's just face it - not much new goes on in my life - and it's really all about this little guy. He's now 4 months old and enjoying his new found abilities - aka - his voice :)