51/52

"A portrait of my child once a week, every week, in 2014."

Here you are eating your lunch on Sunday.  Sundays are our days together since papa is at church.  Some Sundays are long and hard and frustrating, but some are wonderful.  I know in a couple of years I'm going to look back and cherish these days where its just you and me.  You make me slow down, and I am grateful for that.

50/52

"A portrait of my child once a week, every week, in 2014."

Here you are looking cute and playing at the park.

49/52

"A portrait of my child once a week, every week, in 2014."

You love being outside no matter what, and I love watching you take everything in for the first time.  You're one curious little bug!

48/52

"A portrait of my child once a week, every week, in 2014."

You are one wild, crazy, sweet, smart, lovable little boy!  You love to say "mama" and laugh hysterically when we tickle you.

47/52

"A portrait of my child once a week, every week, in 2014."

Lately, you've turned into the biggest flirt.  You smile and turn on your charm every time we go out, and you especially love the ladies.  I love seeing your little smile and squinting eyes, but I'm not ready for you to grow up so fast.

46/52

"A portrait of my child once a week, every week, in 2014."

You feel asleep in my arms the other day, and it was the sweetest thing.

45/52

"A portrait of my child once a week, every week, in 2014."

Your new favorite activity!  I let you play this game once while I was trying to fold your clothes, and now that's all you want to do.  You crawl over to your dresser like you're on a mission and just start pulling everything out.  I know you could be getting into worse things, so sometimes I let you just go at it and take as much out as your little heart desires.  You're only little once!

44/52

"A portrait of my child once a week, every week, in 2014."

Here you are trying on your beanie for your Halloween costume and not wanting to keep it on.  (Surprisingly, you left it on most of the night.)  You were the cutest little lumberjack ever!

It's so amazing seeing you grow up and discover new things and become your own little person.  I can't wait to see the boy and man you become, but I don't want this time to go by so fast.  Selfishly, I want you to stay my baby forever!  (I guess that's something all mamas struggle with.)

43/52

" A portrait of my child once a week, every week, in 2014."

How did my baby turn into a little boy overnight?!  You are getting so big and wanting to do big boy things all the time.  You love walking around the house with your push walker and climbing up on everything.  You sure do keep me on my toes, and I have a feeling that it's only going to get worse from here on out.

Even though you're my little wild child, you're the sweetest boy this mama could ever want.  You still like to play with my hair when you nurse and give lots of snuggles when you wake up from a nap.  I want to bottle those moments up!

42/52

"A portrait of my child once a week, every week, in 2014."

My little reader!  If you're not wanting to read your books, you're wanting to go over to your bookshelf and pull them all off.  You keep me busy straightening up!

41/52

"A portrait of my child once a week, every week, in 2014."

Just like your papa, you like your meat!  All gone.

40/52

"A portrait of my child once a week, every week, in 2014."

Welp, you skipped right over the bottle and now drink from a sippy cup.  I tried so hard for you to take a bottle when you were younger, and you wanted nothing to do with it.  (And still don't!)  Now you graduated to big boy status and like to drink your water out of a cup.  So much for all those "bottle training" days!  

I'm secretly glad you never liked a bottle.  Just means more nursing time!

39/52

"A portrait of my child once a week, every week, in 2014."

You are one curious little monkey as of late.  You like to crawl around and get into everything which leads to some bumps and bruises (evidenced by that one on your forehead).  Anything that you're not suppose to have, you want!

38/52

" A portrait of my child once a week, every week, in 2014."

You're such a pro at finger foods now!

37/52

"A portrait of my child once a week, every week, in 2014."

A lot has been happening for you this week, little bug.  You started pulling up on everything that will hold your weight - bookshelf, play table, cardboard box.  All you want to do is stand and move around by yourself...such a big boy!  You also started waving and saying "hi" to us.  It pretty much melts our heart!  Every morning you look over at your papa and say "hi papa!"  It makes him wake up with a smile when he's not even a morning person.  And you are still loving your bath time.  If we'd let you stay in there all night, I'm sure you would!

Even though you're growing up so fast, you still like to cuddle after nap time and sit in my lap when you play with your toys.  You are such a sweetheart! 

36/52

"A portrait of my child once a week, every week, in 2014."

You are turning into a little boy more and more every day.  Your favorite mode of transportation is "creeping" but you've been experimenting with crawling more and more.  And if I do say so myself...it's pretty darn cute.  But then again, you're always pretty darn cute!

And just look at that red hair in this pic!

35/52

"A portrait of my child once a week, every week, in 2014."

Yes, another nap time pic because it's just way too sweet and adorable.  And look at those lips!  I could kiss them every second of every day.  You're the sweetest, my Smith!

34/52

"A portrait of my child once a week, every week, in 2014."

Silly boy!  Lately you have been enjoying play time in your pack 'n play and doing all kinds of silly things for your papa and me to see.  You like to play with your beach ball (a little weird), your new remote control (which is way too loud), and smash your face against the side of the pack 'n play making the silliest faces for us to laugh at.  

PS - I realized I'm behind on my weeks (how did that happen?!) so I'm going to play catch up to get back on track.

33/52

"A portrait of my child once a week, every week, in 2014."

My sweet boy!  You have been super clingy this past week and waking up at night.  We think you're teething and going through a growth spurt so we're trying to take it all in stride.  I get frustrated sometimes when you want to be held pretty much all day, but I'm just telling myself that you aren't going to be this little and need me like this forever.  It's such a special time for me to get to be here with you all day long and see all the ups and downs.  You make my days so sweet.  And I love our afternoon naps together (pretty much my favorite part of the day!)

You are such a sweet little cuddle bug!

32/52

"A portrait of my child once a week, every week, in 2014."

You brighten all of our days with your silly looks!  You love to swim at Mimi's and Pawpaw's and play in all the new toys they get you.  This is a pretty fun stage because you are curious and wild, but then love to give cuddles and kisses.

I love you to pieces, bug!

31/52

"A portrait of my child, once a week, every week, in 2014."

Caught in the act!  You love tearing apart your play mat now that you figured out the outside edges come off.  It's pretty much your favorite thing to do, and it's giving me a glimpse into the future about how you will be demolishing all your toys.  Yikes!

I love your wildness!  I love your sweetness!  I love everything about you so much it hurts!  (I know that is so cliché to say, but its true!)

30/52

"A portrait of my child once a week, every week, in 2014."

You are just way too cute, bug!  I don't know what we are going to do with you once you really start working your charm and knowing what you are doing...we're in trouble!  

You are the sweetest, silliest, wildest and funniest baby we could have asked for, and we are grateful for you!

(And just look at your little curled toes!!!)

29/52

"A portrait of my child once a week, every week, in 2014."

My little wild man!!!  You are wild, but you are also a cat napper.  We're working on consolidating those and getting you on a 2 nap a day schedule.  (Right now you have been napping for over an hour in your room!  Yippee!!!)  Even when you don't get good naps, you are just as happy and joyful as always.  I love that about you.  (You're my little dream baby!)

This week you started sticking your tongue out at us, and it cracks your papa and me up every single time.  The best is when you smile real big and then stick the tip of your tongue out just a little bit for us to see.  I think you think it's funny too because every time you do it and see us laugh you crack up too.

I can't tell you enough how much I love getting to spend every day with you.  It makes my heart completely happy!  (Even on the rough days!)

28/52

"A portrait of my child once a week, every week, in 2014."

A day late.

The days just keep getting better and better.  You are definitely finding your voice more and more each week, and the noises are just too funny!  They range from sweet coos to crazy spits, and we love every single one of them!  You love to "sing" when we're in the car (or anywhere you hear music) and when we rock you to sleep.  It's the sweetest noise ever when I know your tired and a little fussy and then all of a sudden you start making little humming sounds.  That's a clear sign for me that you're about to fall asleep.

One of my favorite things lately is your little milk mustache after you nurse.  It only happens when you fall asleep nursing, and it has to be the cutest thing in the world!  (I know I say that about all the things you do, but this is at the top of the list.)  You just look so innocent and peaceful, and it makes my heart melt!

You make me one happy mama.  If I could have a million babies just like you I would!

27/52

"A portrait of my child once a week, every week, in 2014."

You are one good lookin' babe!  I love how your personality is coming out more and more each week.  It makes me sad to think that 6 months of your life have already gone by (and so fast), but I am so thankful that I get to stay home with you each and every day.  I'm looking forward to the days ahead because it really does get better and better.

You love to roll around on your play mat and in your crib just playing and tossing your toys around.  You are curious, wild, joyful, loud, and the biggest sweetheart I know.  You are so close to saying mama or papa, and I'm sure you're getting sick of us saying "m-a-m-a" or "p-a-p-a" to you over and over.  (Hopefully not!)

I love you to the moon and back!

26/52

"A portrait of my child once a week, every week, in 2014."

You are something else!  You've been teething this week and wanting to chew on everything...and I mean everything, including a bottle!  Yes, that's right, you finally are taking a bottle and paci but not for the obvious reasons.  You like to chew on them...not drink, not suck, just chew.  It's actually pretty hilarious; for the past 6 months (that's right too, you're 6 months old!!!) you didn't want anything to do with a bottle or paci, and then all of a sudden you LOVE them.  (Well, you know, love to chew on them.)  This teething phase must really be bad if you are resorting to a bottle to comfort you.  I sure do hope it ends soon, and we see some little white teeth in your mouth because it's so hard to see you in pain and discomfort. But the majority of the time you are happy as can be.  

This mama thing is pretty crazy because I would give absolutely anything to make you feel better.  I would take all the pain you could ever experience in your life and bear it for you and be happy doing it, but unfortunately that's not how it works.  It drives me crazy when you aren't your happy jolly little self 100% of the time.

I love you, bug! 

25/52

"A portrait of my child once a week, every week, in 2014."

My little water baby!  You have absolutely loved every time you've been in the water so far (even when you accidentally dunk your face in and scare your mama to death).  I love it that you're not scared of much and love to hang out and do the things your papa and I enjoy.

This week your "wild factor" has gone through the roof.  You are rolling and scooching all over the place.  (We found you under your crib on Friday with your head sticking out with a big smile!)  You are also talking and screaming up a storm.  (Working those vocals with papa!)  

We introduced more food this week to help fill your little tummy.  You pretty much loved everything you tried, but sweet potato and avocado are still your favorite.  Even though you're pretty messy when you eat, you are the cutest thing ever.  When you're ready for a bite you open your mouth wide and give a good raspy yell all while trying to grab the spoon.  (It makes me laugh so hard, and I almost dropped it on you a couple of times instead of getting it to your mouth.)

With all the wildness and craziness coming out, you are still one sweet and cuddly little boy who loves to be held.  I love that, and I love that you can still take naps on our chest.  Too sweet!

24/52

"A portrait of my child once a week, every week, in 2014."

Rattle, book, teething ring...my little multitasker!  You rarely want just one toy these days, most of the time it's 2 or 3.  

You had your first trip to Colorado this week.  I was so worried the altitude and time change were going to throw you off, but it didn't seem to affect you.  You were just as pleasant and easy going as ever, but with all the fun going on, you didn't seem to want to nap for very long.  (I don't blame you.)

You loved our morning walks in the mountains and would take everything in.  (You are such a curious and smart boy!)  You also loved hanging out with family and seeing your cousins.  You were a wild man at times, and I can't imagine how wild and crazy it will get when y'all are all running around in the years to come.  You will be my little nature boy!

I enjoy every second with you and miss you when you go to sleep at night.  (I know that that is such a mama thing to say, but it's true!)

23/52

"A portrait of my child once a week, every week, in 2014."

You are just plain silly sometimes, my sweet boy.  Yesterday morning you feel asleep in the swing for your morning nap, and then your papa and I looked over at you to find you like this!   You were just chilling with the pillow smashed up against your ears.  It was hilarious, and you held it there long enough for us to get this cute pic.

You are rolling like a champ now, talking and yelling most of the day away, kicking and throwing your toys around, and still giving me lots of hugs and snuggles (my favorite).  I didn't think anything could get better than that sweet newborn stage, but man oh man, it really gets better and better every day.

I love you, bug!

24/52

"A portrait of my child once a week, every week, in 2014."

This pic sums up our day to day experience perfectly.  You are rolling and moving all over the place.  I usually put you on your play mat while I make breakfast, and this week when I walked in to check on you, I found you like this.  You are a wild and crazy little one!  This 5 month mark is definitely a fun one, but you make me a tired mama some days.  (I love it though!)  

You are talking and yelling up a storm now too.  You make loud crazy noises when you are playing and after you wake up, and then you make soft sweet noises when you are tired and are trying to fall asleep.  Its pretty much the cutest thing ever.  When I'm rocking you, it almost sounds like you are singing yourself to sleep, and then it slowly trails off and your body goes limp and you fall asleep in my arms.  (And then my heart explodes!)  But then when you are awake and playing, you like to yell and grunt and make this weird raspy sound that seems to crack you up.  (It makes your mama and papa crack up too.)

As far as sleep goes, you are doing so much better.  We did some sleep training this past week, and you can now basically put yourself to sleep at  night without crying.  It's pretty awesome, and you are getting much better rest now.  We have a strict bedtime routine, and you seem to love it.  You laugh and smile the whole time we read your book and sing your songs, and then we lay you in your crib and kiss you good night, and you turn your head to the side and fall asleep.  (Some nights you fuss a little to get comfortable, but not for long.)  We are much more rested now because of this and get to enjoy our days with you more since we have some of our energy back.

We love you so much that its not even possible to put down in words.  I can't imagine you not in our lives, little bit.  You make everything better!!!

23/52

"A portrait of my child once a week, every week, in 2014."

My sweet happy baby!  You sure have changed our lives for the better.  These past couple of weeks you haven't been sleeping well at all causing your papa and me to not sleep well either.  But no matter how many hours of sleep you get, you wake up with the biggest smile and laugh, and it makes it all worth it.  We love you to the moon and back no matter how many times you make us get up at night.

22/52

"A portrait of my child once a week, every week, in 2014."

Today was your first day swimming, and you loved it!  We didn't get to stay out too long because it was hot and you needed a nap.  I'm looking forward to many more pool days this summer at Mimi and Pawpaw's house with my sweet little water baby.

21/52

"A portrait of my child once a week, every week, in 2014."

My little lion!  I fall in love with you over and over again every single day.  You are the sweetest, silliest, goofiest little one I know, and I couldn't enjoy my days with you more.  Bath time is one of your favorites.  You like to grab at the water and play with the wash cloth while we are trying to scrub you down.  You never cry or fuss when you're in the water.  (Even if we accidentally squirt you with freezing cold water.  Oops!)  I love drying you off and rubbing lotion all over that sweet, soft, little body of yours.  And after we are done with everything, I pick you up and we snuggle.  I wish I could bottle up that smell of yours and save it forever.  You make me such a happy mama!

20/52

"A portrait of my child once a week, every week, in 2014."

You are my wild man!  My new favorite thing you are doing is raising your legs straight up in the air and either holding them there for an impossible amount of time or slamming them down.  It's hilarious to us and seems to be pretty entertaining to you as well.  You are definitely working on those abs for swimsuit season!

19/52

"A portrait of my child once a week, every week, in 2014."

How stinkin' cute are you?!!  I know these pics are blurry, but I just couldn't help myself.  We finally found you a straw fedora (mama is pretty particular in what she wants for you) and now you are all ready for summer.  We are training you for the pool by taking longer and longer baths, and you love it!  You are such a happy little boy, and I am so grateful to be your mama.

18/52

"A portrait of my child once a week, every week, in 2014."

You are developing quite a personality lately.  You make me laugh with all your sounds and gurgles, and I think you love the attention you get because you just keep on going with each laugh.  You are also turning into a wiggle worm during feeding time which makes it a little difficult to get through a whole feed without a little playtime.  We think you are teething because you put everything in your mouth and chew, chew, chew.  I love you more each and every day, my sweet one!

17/52

"A portrait of my child once a week, every week, in 2014."

Smith, you've got playtime down to a science.  You love playing on your activity mat and your "piano".  You talk to your toys and kick away during awake time.  Our schedule is pretty much the norm now, and you remain the happiest baby ever.  You still don't take a bottle very well, but I guess that's ok because you're so dang cute and sweet.

16/52

"A portrait of my child once a week, every week, in 2014."

Smith, this week you have become more curious than ever.  You look around at everything and examine all your toys with such focus.  You're also becoming a little ticklish which allows us more times to hear that sweet, raspy laugh of yours.

15/52

"A portrait of my child once a week, every week, in 2014."

I have a 3 month old!  I can't believe it!  Smith, your personality is shining through more and more each day.  You like to make silly faces, suck on your hands and change up your routine right when I think I'm getting the hang of everything.  You have made my life better in so many ways!

14/52

"A portrait of my child once a week, every week, in 2014."

Smith, you are growing like a weed, and this week its really hitting me hard.  You wore your first pair of jeans, are growing out of most of your clothes, are reaching up for your toys and grabbing on to them (as well as mama's hair) and sticking out your tongue when you laugh.  I know I tell you this all the time, but you truly are a dream baby!

Little Bouquets

I'm loving this idea of little bouquets to pass out.  I think it would brighten anyone's day; I know it would mine!

via here

13/52

"A portrait of my child once a week, every week, in 2014."

This week I couldn't choose between these two adorable faces, so I had to post them both.  Smith, you make me so happy, and I love every second of every day we get to spend together.  I am so blessed God chose me to be your mama!

You started to giggle this week, and it makes your papa and me so giddy.  You also started to sleep for longer stretches at a time during the night which makes us pretty happy too.  I never thought I would be excited to have 6 hours of straight sleep, but I'll take it if it means I get you, sweet boy!

12/52

"A portrait of my child once a week, every week, in 2014."

Smith, my dream baby, you are pretty perfect except the fact that you are hating taking a bottle.  You cry for hours not wanting anything to do with it, and then you force it down with a face of disgust.  We have been doing "bottle training" all week, and it is wearing your mama and papa out.  But when it comes down to it, I'm fine with you not taking it.  I like being able to provide for your needs, and it's our special time together.  You have the sweetest face when you look up at me while you're nursing.  I'll cherish these times we have because you won't always need me in that way, and I'll probably cry when that time comes.

(This pic is a little grainy,  but I love it so much anyway.  I love your sweet smile and your little half moon eyes!)

11/52

"A portrait of my child once a week, every week, in 2014."

Smith, you are such a wiggle worm in the mornings.  You love talking, singing, marching and smiling up a storm.  (It's your papa's and my favorite time of day now thanks to you!)  We are loving this new "active" stage, but you are growing up too fast.  Two months...where has the time gone!?!

10/52

"A portrait of my child once a week, every week, in 2014."

My little one likes to nap on his stomach, and it's the sweetest thing to see his arms stretched out overhead.  (And just look at that cute bald spot on the back of his head!)  

Smith, you are so precious when you sleep, and both your papa and I could stare at you for hours marveling at how wonderful and special you are. 

Being a parent is an impossible love that is one of the best things in this world.

9/52

"A portrait of my child once a week, every week, in 2014."

Smith, you are 6 weeks old and the happiest little babe we could ask for.  Our morning play times are your favorite, but you grace me with that precious smile of yours all throughout the day.  You are a dream come true for this mama.

8/52

"A portrait of my child, once a week, every week in 2014."

Smith, you are one smiley little handsome man!  Our favorite game in the mornings is "what can we do to make you smile" and man, do we do some silly things.  You are such a happy baby and make your mama and papa so very happy!

Frayed Jeans + Heels

via here and here