Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas everyone!

New toy...

We busted out a new toy (well, really a hand-me-down from Cousin Noah) for Aaron this week - his excersaucer. It takes up the whole living room, but he loves it and it keeps him busy!

Uncle Kyle

This is a fun week for us because Aaron's Uncle Kyle (Melissa's younger brother) is home for Christmas break from Biola University in southern California. It always feels like we can really look forward to Christmas once he is home, and this year, we have the added bonus of meeting his girlfriend, Sarah, for the first time. The good news is is that Aaron definitely approves - She put him right to sleep, (which is not always an easy task) when she held him so I took that as a good sign =) It has been fun getting to know her and have Kyle home!

He gives strength to the weary....

Okay, well I (Melissa) tend to focus on the milestones and "smiling moments" on this blog, but I have to be honest that it was one rough week around this house... I have been battling a very nasty cold and Aaron has been on a kick of waking up crying every two hours at night for well over a week (not sure if it was due to teething, shots at the doctor last week, tummy aches from the new cereal?) Yesterday both of us hit the wall, as we were both exhausted, and I honestly don't know how we managed to get through all that I had to do since one or both of us was crying on and off constantly. I consider myself a fairly strong and stable person, so I kept wondering how everyone around me seems to manage so well being a mom and staying happy and sane, as well as feeling guilty for acting like my precious boy was a burden to me that day. I literally told God that He better show up and help me if He was good and faithful as He claimed. Oddly enough, someone read aloud on the radio the end of Isaiah 40, "He gives strength to the weary... Those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength. They will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary." I am so grateful for this promise because I am merely at the beginning of this whole motherhood thing; I know that it will not be the last time that I will need God to provide the ability beyond my own to rise above what I am dealing with. And wouldn't you know it, guess who slept 8 hours last night without a peep? Psalm 105:1 "Oh give thanks to the Lord, call upon His name; make known His deeds among the peoples."

Chompers

Doesn't this guy look proud of himself? That's right.... Aaron cut not just one, but TWO bottom teeth this past week! We wondered if it was coming with all the drool and obsession to put everything in his mouth. It's considered a little early for a 4 month old to get teeth already, but I guess maybe he's a little anxious to start eating more solids? We're thinking giving him a T-bone steak next month.... =) Anyway, it's good to know there's a little explanation to the extra fussiness and waking up several times in the night....

Cereal

The pediatrician told us this week that we could start feeding Aaron cereal this week, and to do it with a spoon as it can help him develop in his coordination and even his speech. So as you can, Aaron probably ends up wearing more cereal than he can swallow, but he seems to like getting something a little different besides milk!

4 months old

Grandma Fox bought some Christmas outfits for Aaron and Brynn (Aaron's cousin) to wear for a special photo shoot (courtesy of our friend Joy Carmona). Brynn was a real professional and posed great - Aaron, however... Well, let's just say he needed more encouragement at times =) We did end up getting some great shots as Joy is a real professional. Anyway, here's some of the pics - It also happened to coincide on Aaron's 4 month old birthday!