Does it Get any Sweeter then this?

Kyle Recent Accomplishment Update!!!

He quickly passed the half-way roll and is now rolling from his back to his tummy on a regular basis! Ironic thing is we were working so hard on his right side since he exclusively preferred his left he now only rolls over to his right :)

Also we discovered a benefit of RSV... Kyle found his vocal chords! He used to make only breathy noises now he actually makes noise when he babbles!!! Wahoo Kyle!!!

Kyle's Recent Accomplishments

Besides being devastatingly cute, that is.

Kyle just turned 4 months old. He weighed 10lbs 4oz at his 4 month checkup which officially drops him off of the "typical" charts. It is a good thing they have specific growth charts for babies with Down syndrome because he falls in the 25% on those. He is overall healthy and active and getting bigger, very slowly, but surely.
Kyle sucks on his thumb, my finger, his tongue, or a new brand of pacifier that we finally found which one he'll take again!

Here he is in his new crib. He has yet to sleep in it (is still in his cradle in Mommy and Daddy's room) but at least he has one now! He is also demonstrating one of his most applauded achievements, lifting his legs and bum up off of the floor unassisted.

Turning 4 months marked eating his first solid foods. His official "first" was some mashed up asparagus from my dinner plate to see if his tongue thrust was still present. The next day I actually gave him rice cereal.

The most recent accomplishment... turning halfway over onto his side!!! We were so excited to see him do this on his own. We've been working to get him to perform the same feat on his right side but for now his left is a definite favorite.

And the Grande Finale and my personal favorite, Laughing while he is being tickled! You can just see the glee on his face in this slightly grainy photograph.

Happy Sara Birthday!!!

In her new "vroom vroom". Little Tikes fire truck with a working water pump in the back!

Holding her hair back so it doesn't get in her ice cream as she licked it off of her plate.

Too cute with her big brother and sister and her puppy cake.

Behind her balloons, I kept trying to get a picture of her with her birthday balloons. Finally when I asked if I could take her picture with them she said "Yes!" then walked over to me and posed like this "CHEESE!"

Showing off her circus tricks that come with the territory of being 2.

New Family Photos

I know I haven't posted about Christmas yet, I just got my pictures downloaded, but today I got the CD from Marilee with our newest family photos on it and I'm so excited I just had to share right away. Thank you so much Marilee. These are just amazing.

Sometimes too much stress can be a good thing...

Since Kyle has been born I have been required to do a great many things that cause me to have severe anxiety attacks. You know, really difficult things like taking phone calls from complete strangers (I sound sarcastic but this is something I struggle immensely with). One of my coping mechanisms that I have come up with over the past few years is to make something with my hands; sewing or scrap booking or drawing for example. Needless to say I have completed several projects over the last few months just to keep my sanity slightly under check. These are my latest creations, little shoes for Kyle! They are made with wool felt innards, cotton duck, corduroy and dark brown upholstery outers. The monkey and puppy faces are cotton and felt respectably and the details are hand embroidered. I've already gotten several compliments and terms of disbelief when people find out I made them.

I have been waiting for this moment

At 10 1/2weeks old I got my first social smile. I fall in love with this little boy all over again every time I am blessed with this.

Kyle's Blessing

Kyle was blessed the first Sunday in December. I made his outfit, like I've made all of my baby's blessing outfits. Here he is next to it, on the blanket my Mom crocheted for Sara, it was too beautiful to use only once...

Presto...

Change-o!!! All dressed up and ready to go!

Kyle's name was announced for the records of the church as Kyle James Anthony Anderson. In the circle with his Daddy was his Grandpa (my Dad) Big Red, and Kevin's best friends: John Alder, Alan Taylor and Keven Connelly, and our Bishop: David Ragar. My favorite part of the blessing was when he was blessed with "Strength to be able to run and not be weary" and Kevin's favorite part was when he was blessed that he would have special understanding of the spirit and that it would be clear to him.

I put a lot of work into making his outfit extra special and am very proud of how it turned out. I used men's shirting material because it was the look I wanted but also because it was washable :). The main body suit and the cap was of white pinstriped shirting and the jacket was made with plain white shirting. (My Mom made the shoes for him. She has actually made or purchased the shoes for all four of my children's blessing outfits. They fit him perfectly and matched beautifully.)

I designed and hand embroidered the jacket using white embroidery floss (so it was white on white)...

"Frogs and Snails

and Puppy Dog Tails

That's What Little Boys are Made of!"

The design down the front/middle was of a frog and snail climbing up with ivy growing.and facing each other each pocket held a "Poky Little Puppy"

I have to admit I was inspired by the beautiful hand work that my cousin, Missy, does, and I am very thankful to my Mom for teaching me when I was a girl how to sew and embroider so that I can make beautiful things like this for my children.