ONE month!

Happy ONE month, sweet boy! This has been the most incredible month of my life; it's been exhausting, joyful, busy, and even a little scary at times, but it has been a dream come true. You are eating like a champ and gaining weight. You are so calm and happy. You laugh in your sleep and it's my favorite thing in the WORLD! Even though you sometimes have your days and nights mixed up, you're happy when you're awake so it makes it easier to deal with it. You do sometimes cry when you're super tired (it's rare, but it has happened) but the sound of running water works every time. We'll go in the bathroom or the kitchen and I'll hold you and sing or hum to you with the water running and you'll drift right off to sleep. Speaking of water, you also love bath time! We can even pour the water over your face and you just lay there and enjoy it. You love to be swaddled when you sleep. You sleep in a bed next to mommy's side of the bed and every single night before I go to sleep I just stare at you and thank God for giving you to me and I pray for great health and happiness for your entire life.

Here's a brief recap of all the fun things we did this past month:

You had newborn pictures and did SO GREAT. These are pictures that we will cherish forever. When you're in high school you might not appreciate the fact that I will have naked baby pictures of you on the walls, but I'm not sure I'll ever be able to take them down! (just kidding!... maybe.)

Grandmom stayed with us until December 16. We were so incredibly lucky to have this time with her! I don't know what we'd ever do without her. She was here to help and keep us company while Daddy finished his semester and she loved every single second she got to love on you. While she was here we had your first thunderstorm; crazy weather for OK in December... Mommy probably overreacted by being so scared but you slept through all of it while Henry went crazy! 

Nana came to stay with us 12/18-12/21! She gave you so many snuggles and you loved every bit of it! We enjoyed some delicious dinners, some visiting with Jeremiah and Cynthia, and some relaxing time just hanging out with her. We were so happy to have her here. She even kept you for an afternoon while Daddy and I did some Christmas shopping. 

Daddy finished his semester on 12/19! This was a really hard semester, especially this last class, but he did a great job. The very last week, he got great news regarding the final (the test could only help not hurt students' grades) so it meant a little less studying than he had expected.

Then we were off to Tulsa for all the fun Christmas festivities! You had so many family and friends anxiously waiting to meet you! You did so great through all of it! You got to meet so many aunts, uncles,your Great-Great Uncle Buzz, lots of cousins, Grandad, Great-Grandmom, some of Mommy's best friends... even Santa!

Sunday, 12/28, you were baptized by your Opa. This was a special day for us! We chose your Uncle Tim (he was out of town and couldn't be there) and Aunt Rachel to be your Godfather and Godmother. We wanted both our families to be represented as people you have in your life who will love you, pray for you, be an example for you, and always be there for you when you need guidance and support as you grow. We admire, love, and respect them both for how much they love Jesus, love their children, and love others.

12/29 and you're one month old! (It's also your cousin Christopher's big 21st birthday today!!)

PS- Isn't my "push present" pretty?! I'll be honest, I used to think the idea was kinda dumb... But a birthstone ring to say "good job" is loved and appreciated. Thank you, Tony!

Some of my favorite pictures from the past month: