a future thumb sucker?

I hope he doesn't suck his thumb to soothe himself. Lots of kids do but I'd rather he didn't. I snapped this photo of him watching tv and chewing/sucking on his thumb which he's been doing a lot more lately. I think he's probably just teething and he's never liked a pacifier so I'm hopeful this isn't a new habit.

A crawler, but not the creepy kind!

Louis has officially learned how to crawl. He's still perfecting this skill but he's come a long ways. At first he'd just get up on his knees and rock, then he would move an arm and leg forward but his head got too heavy and he'd lay down. Now, his arms and neck are strong enough that he's able to move his arms and legs several times before taking a break. It's so amazing watching him develop. Now, the hard work begins - keeping him out of everything.

Brace yourself.

Winter Break 09

Daycare has been closed all week so Louis' dad and I have split taking time off to stay home with him. Today, Louis is home with his dad. They sent me this picture of Louis playing. Looks like they're having fun while mom's hard at work.

swingin

Louis got a new swing for Christmas! He loves jumping in the doorway.

Digging for buried treasure's

Louis' new favorite thing is to dig through a basket full of toys looking for the perfect one to slobber on. It's like he's digging for a buried treasurer. He's 8 1/2 mos. old and so close to crawling. I've started rearranging furniture and moving everything up about 3 feet off the ground in anticipation of the day he takes off.

Merry Christmas

We spent quality time with family and friends and Louis got so many wonderful presents for Christmas including this BONGO! We are truly blessed. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
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It's Christmas eve....

All the stockings are hung by the chimney with care with the hopes that St. Nick will soon be here!

Merry Christmas everyone.

School

Louis' attendance at school recently has been hit or miss. It breaks my heart most days to take him to daycare but I think he really likes it and that it is good for him. As most kids do, he is beginning to get a little clingy and likes his mom to hold him which makes leaving him all the more difficult. However, I don't blame him! I remember how good it felt for my mom to hold me - so safe and comfortable perched high on her hip.

I pray that I am a consistent, loving and stable mother in every action I take. From leaving him at daycare in the morning to playing with him at home each evening -  Kids need that sense of security and compassion. I want Louis to be confident to explore the world around him and to take (safe) risks but I want him to do that on his own schedule not because the world thinks he should.

Let the Christmas Festivities Begin!

We attended the Spencer Family Christmas over the weekend in Lima. It was Louis' first experience with opening gifts. He loved the fire truck and blender his Great Grandma and Grandpa Spencer got him! We had such a lovely time with the family and ate lots and lots of good food too!

Looking forward to Christmas with the Greer's and Brown's over the coming days.

Kisses!

Louis gives the biggest, wettest, sloppiest kisses ever. Not sure that he actually knows what he's doing yet but he laughs really hard and just holds his mouth open big and wide waiting for you to lean in and get your kiss.

Stocking Stuffers

After work tonight Louis and I went to World Market to pick up stocking stuffers for his papa! We got several neat things which we're excited to give him. The best part of the trip though was being able to push Louis around in a shopping cart. Now that he sits up on his own, I can just pop him in the cart and go. While it doesn't look like it in this picture he's still pretty little and I had to stuff a blanket behind his back and really strap him in so that he stayed in place. However, he seemed to love it and I kept reminding myself to pay attention to what he was grabbing! I was so afraid he'd pull a shelf of glasses off or end up with some decorative holly berries in his mouth. We stayed safe and managed to get in and out in 30 minutes. Looking forward to a merry, merry christmas.

If you're happy and you know it -- Clap Your Hands!

Louis has learned to clap his hands! It's so cute. Sometimes he claps for no reason at all and then just laughs, other times he'll clap if you ask him to or if you start to cheer and say 'good job' to him. I love it! He is such a bright and happy boy.

Playing before bed

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Happy Holidays

Let your heart be filled with the magic of the season and may you and your loved ones enjoy peace, prosperity and good health in the new year.

Hugs,

Matt, Hanna & Louis Brown

I heart faces photo challenge - Sweet Dreams

I took this photo just a few days after bringing my first born home. Louis Michael Brown was due on Easter 2009 but happily arrived a few days early. He means the world to me and has brought so much joy to my life - frankly, more than I could have ever imagined possible. Louis is now 7 mos. old and so much fun. He keeps his dad and I laughing with all of his antics. But, I'll never forget the immense feelings of being overwhelmed those first few months, the worrying and fretting about doing everything perfect, the constant waking to feed him but, above all, the falling in love like never before and the profound sense of appreciation I developed for my husband and my family.

I am truly happy and feel blessed beyond measure. Sweet dreams my love.

Christmas Shopping with Louis

We went Christmas shopping today and Louis went too! He got lots of neat Chistmas gifts. Luckily for us he slept during the entire shopping trip so we know he wasn't peaking! He's going to have a great 1st Christmas.

Puttin up the tree

This weekend we put up the Christmas tree. This is Louis first Christmas and eventhough he'll only be 8 mos. I am really excited to share the magic of the holiday season with him. I hope he 'believes' for a long time.  

Louis' song

When Louis was an infant he would cry for hours in the evening and I would walk around the house singing and rocking him until he'd pass out from exhaustion. On one of those many nights when he was so very young I made up a song for him which, even though he's long outgrown the colic of those days, Matt and I still sing to him. He likes the rhythm and repetitiveness of the lyrics.


Louis Michael Brown
eyes so blue and hair so brown
Louis Michael Brown
cutest baby in town!

Every little baby should have their own song.

Bedtime routine

Every evening about 7:30 p.m. Louis get's his jammies on, a bottle which he drinks in his bouncy seat, a quick prayer and NickJr. cartoons on the tv. It's like a religion. The same thing every night, no deviations and it works like a charm. He'll be asleep by 8:30 p.m. He's such a good baby.

Right now I'm listening to the tail end of tonight's bedtime routine. A 'growling' baby about to doze off to sleep and the mechanical rhythm of the bouncy seat going up and down. I love those sounds :)

Thanks to a new humidifier in his room Louis has slept until 6:30 a.m. the last two nights. Fingers crossed that tonights slumber is just as long and uninterrupted. Sweet dreams my little Louis!

New Blog is Up and Running!

So excited to have a new look and feel to Louis' blog! Thanks LeeLou for working with me to design a blog that's perfect for my family to tell our stories!