Best Buds

Knox Christmas

Here is my 2nd cousin, Olivia, and I in a picture. She was born 8 days after me and weighs about 4 pounds less than me! What can I say...I like my food!
Some of the gang...

Zoey on Uncle Greg's back...

Torin playing with Sarah...

Bartmann Christmas

I love opening presents! Correction...I love tearing wrapping paper off of boxes and trying to eat it!
I got this cool jean jacket from my cousin Kayla who is holding me in this picture.

My cousins opening presents...you can see me sleeping with Aunt Sarah in the background. All the present opening wore me out! Mommy was surprised I could sleep through all the noise.

My 'big' present

What is it, Grandpa? I can't open it by myself.
Thanks for helping, Daddy. It is too big for me to open by myself.

Wow! Grandpa and Grandma Bartmann got me this cool farm exersaucer. It has tons of animals on it!

It has so many toys, I don't know where to look first! I love it and so do my Mom and Dad cuz it keeps me entertained for a while!

Zimmer Christmas

Here I am rocking with my Great Grandpa Zimmer. He's got a good touch because I'm getting really tired.
My Great Uncle Jeff and me...

Great Grandpa and I again...

Herding Christmas

Gamma and Gampa Herding got me a spare lovey so when my other one is in the laundry or Mommy forgets it, I have a backup just in case. Good thinking since I can't go anywhere without a lovey.
Here Daddy, you hold the present and I'll take care of the rest.

Me and Gamma hanging out on Christmas Eve.

Opening Presents...19 weeks

We are heading back to South Dakota for Christmas this year, but we decided to have a little present opening of our own with Torin this morning before we leave for SD. He loved the wrapping paper more than the presents, but it was really cute watching him tear the paper! Cooper was also a great help with opening presents.

Here are the boys watching Paul open a present. Isn't this picture adorable? They both are watching him so intently.

Latest Purchase

Here's a look at my latest little toy. (No, not the phone!) Because Carrie and I don't have our own computer, (we both use work laptops at home) I decided I needed a little insurance plan to save all our pics, videos, and music for the inevitable day when my employer realizes I don't really do anything at work and decides to take away my job, along with my computer. (Hopefully I keep them fooled for a while longer!)

I found this new portable hard drive on amazon for $89! (plus free shipping!!) It's 320 GB, and as I found out after receiving it, surprisingly small. It has all the needed software already installed, so all you need to do is plug it into any computer with the included USB cable, and your off! We will bring it back home for Christmas-Mom and Theresia-so you can steal any pics or videos of T (or your favorite son/son-in-law) you want!

Story Time

18 weeks

My baby is 18 weeks old already! This week he has really found his voice. He is talking, laughing, even screaming sometimes which makes Paul and I crack up. He had a conversation with Cooper the other day that lasted a good 10 minutes. I often wonder what he is trying to tell us, but he really had something to tell Cooper! He still is happy as can be as long as he isn't itching from his eczema flare-ups. He is growing up so fast and we are loving every minute!

Laundry Day

I was such a good helper this weekend. I not only helped wrap presents, but also helped Mommy do laundry which really piles up now days with me in the house! Between the blow-outs and drooling, I probably average two to three outfits or new shirts a day.

Jealous?

I went to change Torin's diaper on Sunday and we came back from his room to find Cooper had crawled into Torin's blankets to take a nap. I don't know if he was hoping it was his turn to be rocked to sleep or what, but he has been giving us more signs recently that he doesn't like the fact that Torin gets most of our attention now. Torin however has really started taking an interest in Cooper. He loves to grab at his fur and try to get his ears. Cooper is very good so far and just gets up and walks away when he's had enough of Torin.

Wrapping Presents

Mommy and I spent some time on Saturday wrapping presents for my cousins. She did most of the wrapping, but I really enjoyed crunching up the paper and putting it in my mouth.

Rice Cereal

I started eating rice cereal a couple of nights ago. Correction...I'm putting it in my mouth, swishing it around and then spitting onto my bib instead of eating it! Check out my brand new high chair that I got today. It is my Christmas present from Grandpa and Grandma Herding. Thanks Gamma and Gampa for the cool chair!
Daddy did such a good job putting my chair together for me. Here he is trying to figure out all the buckles that go with the chair. I didn't really want to be buckled up...I would much rather put the buckles and straps in my mouth instead.

My first stocking

I went Christmas shopping with Mom and Dad today and they bought me my first stocking. I sure hope Santa brings me some good presents this year. I've been a very good boy.

17 weeks...4 months

I love playing toys now. Mom can't believe how fast I'm growing up. Where did her infant go?

Floor Time

My little 4 month old!
I am chewing on EVERYTHING these days, especially my hands. Mommy thinks I might be teething with all the drooling I'm doing, but no teeth have poked through yet.

Here I am on my side. I am SOOOOO CLOSE to rolling over on my own. I just have to figure out how to tuck my arm in and I've got it.

Pajama Buddies

Kurt, Debbie and Ava spent the night at our house on Saturday night. Ava and I are in our matching jammies together. Here she is giving me a kiss for the cameras.
Ava - 18 months Torin - 4 months

4 Month Well-Check

We had Torin in for his 4 month check up today and here are the stats:

Height - 24 1/2 inches - 50th percentile
Weight - 15 lbs 11.5 oz - 75th percentile
Head Circumference - 17 inches - 75th percentile

He has been cleared to start rice cereal and once he is eating more than he's wearing :) we'll slowly introduce some fruits and veggies. The pediatrician also said that he shouldn't need to get up as much as he is at night to eat, so we are going to slowly start sleep training him. He should be able to sleep a five to six hour stretch at night now and he still doesn't go more than three hours at a time. At his 6 month check up the doctor will want us to have him sleep an eight to nine hour stretch. So starting tomorrow night (he had shots today so I'm not starting tonight) we will begin sticking the passy in and not feeding him at his 1:00 A.M. feeding. Here's to me hopefully sleeping more in the next week! Overall he still is very healthy other than the eczema. The doctor is still hopeful Torin will grow out of it. We are continuing the steroid cream and aquafor treatments as long as they take care of his flare-ups.

Once of my BBC friends' baby girl is extremely ill in the NICU right now. She is fighting for her life and each day is touch and go. I am so blessed to have this healthy little boy in my life and am reminded how precious life truly is. Please pray for baby Gabby and her family during this difficult time.

Baptism - 11/29/08

Grandpa's Touch

Grandpa Bartmann had the touch this week. He could always put me to sleep when I needed a nap or had to go to bed. Mommy is already missing that since I didn't want to sleep when we got home last night! She sure hopes I sleep better tonight!

Zimmer Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving was exhausting! Uncle Mike let me sit with him and take a nap for a little while. It was a little overwhelming meeting so many new family members, but I was a trooper through it all. I was passed around quite a bit since everyone wanted to hold me.

Here is Great Grandma Zimmer meeting and holding me for the first time. Here are my second cousins...Ashley, Blake and Brianna Zimmer.

Here is my second cousin Chad Zimmer.

My Babysitters

Here is Kayla taking her turn at watching me, but all of the girls (Hope, Kayla, Mesa and Zoey) did a great job of taking care of me. They are going to be great babysitters one day! Thanks girls for playing with me all week!