A dedication, birthday and a first meal.

My sweet Fenix is 4 months old today! I know I say this way too often but he is growing up too fast! It seems like yesterday he was a tiny, itty-bitty newborn and now he is so big that he weighs as much as an 8 month old! Yep, he weighs 19 pounds and is 25 3 /4 inches. He is HUGE!!

This past month he has learned so much that it blows me away. He is now able to move around in his walker. In a matter of seconds he can turn completely around, mostly to stare at the television (which he isn't allowed to watch, the little stinker). He also learned to grasp things. Anything that comes in his reach is fair game: my food, phone and his personal favorite, water bottles. We have bought him so many toys yet the water bottle fascinates and entertains him just as much if not more! He is also way more vocal and loves to have conversations, blow raspberries and yell for no apparent reason. 

He is still sleeping fantastic. He falls asleep at 7-7:30, wakes up a few times and officially is out around 10. Then he wakes up once or twice to eat and goes right back to sleep until 6-7. Then he stays up for an hour or so and goes back down for his big morning nap which last 2-3 hours.

Afternoon naps are still the same. He takes 2 naps and they never last more than 45 minutes. The only difference compared to last month is that he will let me put him down in his swing to nap which is UHmazing. 

We also had his dedication on January 29th. For those who don't know, we as Christians don't baptize our babies like Catholics do. We believe that all babies/children go to heaven and that being baptized is a personal decision. Instead we make a promise that we will raise him in accordance to God's word until he is old enough to make a decision to follow God.

The day was completely perfect and also beyond tiring. Planning parties and being a mom will leave you feeling exhausted like you have never known. 

The service started at 11am and our entire family came! We went on stage in front of everyone and my high school pastor Chad (he also married us) lead the prayer for Fenix. 

I can never convey how much of an honor and privilege it is to be a mother to Fenix. God chose us to raise, love and teach this sweet little baby. When we dedicated Fenix we took a vow before our family and God, much like our marriage vows. They are both promises that I take very seriously. 

We only got a few pictures at the church but majority were taken at the after party! There are a lot!

Seeing if Fenix would go to Chad.

Fenix absolutely loved him!

Oh and it was my 25th birthday! Best. Birthday. Ever.

This was my second favorite.

As you can see, Fenix is LOVED. I really can't imagine raising my son without God's help or our families.

To celebrate being a whole 4 months old, Fenix got to try rice cereal for the first time!! I have been DYING for Fenix to try food. My guy has one hearty appetite and I sometimes can't keep up. He also meets almost all of the milestones that babies should reach before they start food. I know some people say 6 months or longer if they are breastfed but when it comes to Fenix, I research everything and always go with my gut. You can start as early as 4 months and I know that he is ready. I am only going to feed him once a day to get him used to eating food. In a week I will introduce sweet potato, wait a few days and then try squash. After those veggies I will give him bananas and pears. I am also starting him on all organic food. Happybaby, Plum Organics, Earth's Best & Ella's Kitchen will be what I buy him. Every decision I make I wonder, "How will this impact Fenix?" I have to set a good example in everything I do and that includes good eating habits. 

This was his first official meal.

And here he is trying to figure out what the heck I am putting in his mouth.

First bite.

Whaaaat.

Still not sure.

mmmm.

I think he likes it.

Fingers taste better with cereal on them, duh.

Blowing raspberries.

...And he is done!

Overall he took to cereal really well. Within a few bites he knew what to do when the spoon came near. His grandmas and great-grandma were there to watch him. We were all laughing and ooh-ing and ahh-ing at him. Every little thing he does we celebrate!

So January and the first two days of February have been amazing. As cheesy as it sounds, every day with Fenix is a new adventure. I love being a mom and I am learning so much thanks to my son. I am proud of who I am today and it took me almost 25 years to get this point and I couldn't be happier!

"As surely as you live, my lord, I am the woman who stood here beside you praying to the LORD. I prayed for this child, and the LORD has granted me what I asked of him. So now I give him to the LORD. For his whole life he will be given over to the LORD." And he worshiped the LORD there. 1 Samuel 1:26-28

So brown eyes I hold you near...

...cause you're the only song I want to hear.

I am still in shock that it has been three whole months since Fenix has been born. In just a month he has changed SO much and is doing so many new things.

The newest and most hilarious is his voice. He has found it and.. 

He.Won't.Stop.Yelling.

He has also discovered his feet, hands, tongue and his toys are now fascinating to him. He is teething and drooling like crazy. I always have drool on my shirts, it's way cute.

Fenix is now getting stranger anxiety and we are having a hard time leaving him with anyone other than Matt and I. We went to lunch and a movie a few days ago and we left him with his Grandma and Great Grandma and he basically cried the whole time and napped only for a few minutes. As soon as we got home and he saw us, he was completely fine. I know it is just a phase but it still is stressful and I hate knowing that I am leaving my screaming baby with someone.

Today we started putting him in his crib for naps and he is currently crying his head off. Fenix is a champ when it comes to sleeping at night. We have got night time down like clockwork. He also takes his morning nap in his swing for 2-3 hours and always goes down without one peep. When it comes to afternoon naps, if we try and put him in his swing, bouncer or anywhere other than my arms he flips out. So for basically a month his naps are taken on me. I know it is our fault but we can only tackle so many things at once. Nighttime sleep was a huge adjustment and now that it is under control we have to focus on naps and it is going to be tough. It is our job as parents to make those hard decisions because we know what is best for that little stinker. 

On a happier note, my sweet baby boy is being dedicated at WACC on January 29th. My heart beams with joy every time I think about it. That day holds lots of meaning: it's my birthday and I will be turning 25 and last year on my birthday we announced that we were expecting! WACC is also so special to us. I was saved there, the first time I met Matt was there and we got married there. Our little family has so much history with that church and now we will be raising our boy in the church. I can't wait for his dedication and I know I am going to be one proud mama.

On an even happier note, Fenix finally fell asleep as I was typing this. It only took 30 minutes of crying but he has now been asleep for 25 minutes! That is a record for napping on his own. 

This year is definitely starting off splendidly! I get to spend everyday with my little man, what more can I ask for?