Bananas for Soccer

I usually have a banana in the morning. I've tried to give Levi some of my banana on other mornings, but he never liked it. He seemed to really dislike the texture. This morning was a different story.

Kevin joined an amateur soccer league. Today was his first game, and therefore Levi's first opportunity to watch his daddy play. Levi and I had a fun (but VERY hot) time.

Peas and Carrots

Both of Levi's front teeth have broken through. They are rather large teeth - and yes he definitely inherited the gap between them.


I've started to give Levi peas and carrots after his dinner to practice with his fine motor skills. He really seems to love them.

Naps and Rainbows

I got home from work to find my men taking a "quick nap". Levi apparently wasn't ready to wake up or show off his new 'do.

Kevin had a church softball game. Before he headed out, he saw a rainbow and came to get Levi. Unfortunately, Levi was more taken with his daddy's cell phone than in looking at the rainbow or smiling for the camera.

Praying for Their Footsteps

Father, thank you for Levi. Please call him into Your fellowship through Jesus Christ, Your Son. Please give Levi the strength to serve You with gladness and come before You with joyful singing. May he know that You are God and that You made him.
1 Corinthians 1:9, Psalm 100:2-3

Thank you for Your faithfulness and lovingkindness. Please let Your faithfulness and lovingkindness be with Levi.
Psalm 89:24

Thank you for the grace that You have given to him through Jesus Christ. As he grows, please enrich him in all speech and knowledge.
1 Corinthians 1:4-5

The Pool

Kevin and I bought Levi a pool a week ago, but this weekend was Levi's first adventure into the water. We decided to try it yesterday afternoon. Levi was in the water for maybe fifteen seconds before it started raining. Kevin thought it would be a quick summer storm, and so the boys stayed outside for a few minutes in the rain. It started raining a bit harder, and the boys moved under the overhang. It continued to rain, and they finally called it quits. When the rain finally quit about three hours later, we decided that we'd just try it again today.

Today, Kevin filled the pool and put Levi's feet into the water. Well, he attempted to put Levi's feet in the water. Levi kept pulling them up in front of him like he was trying to sit down. Apparently the water was VERY cold. So, while the second time in his pool lasted longer than the first, it wasn't much longer. I think we're going to have to wait a little while until the water can be warmed a little more by the sun.

Levi also started waving hello today fairly consistently.

Visitors

Levi had visitors this weekend. His grandparents Rains, great-grandmother Rains, and great-grandmother Greer all made the long trip to see how "their" boy has been growing!





We had a nice weekend visiting together; I wish it could be more often.



Q heard that the "Qu" sound is one of the last sounds a child learns. He was trying to teach Levi how to say "Q" at any available moment.








Levi loved it when Q pretended that his box was a race car. Q helped Levi go much faster than Mama does!










Q hung a blind for me and Levi in Levi's playroom. Levi was fascinated with the process.

Levi played until he zonked out in Mama K's arms Sunday morning. I don't think she minded too much.
Mama K and Q wanted to show Mama Rains one of the things that always makes Levi laugh.

Check-up

Levi went to the doctor today for his "9-month" check-up. He weighed in at 21 pounds, 11.5 ounces (50th percentile). He was 29.5 inches long (80th percentile). His head measured 18 inches in circumference (60th percentile).

Levi had his finger pricked for the first time to have his hemoglobin checked. He just sat there without even a whimper. While we were waiting for the doctor in the room, he was enthralled with the band aid the nurse had put around his finger.

The doctor was impressed with all that Levi could "do" and told us that we needn't be concerned about his choice to commando crawl rather than crawl on all fours. Levi has started getting up on all fours the past few days. He'll crawl a few strides that way and than flatten out like a pancake. I guess he figures why change something that works so well! Levi is beginning to pull up more and more often - and he's starting to take steps while holding on to things also.

Praying for Their Footsteps

Sorry that this blog didn't happen on Monday. The computer hasn't even been turned on since this weekend.

Father, I praise You for Your creation. I thank You for Levi. I entrust Levi to You and ask that he would come to know you as Savior early in his life.

Please comfort and strengthen Levi. As he grows in wisdom, give him the courage to fight the good fight, keeping faith and a good conscience. May he be filled with the Holy Spirit and walk by the Spirit, so that he will demonstrate the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.
2 Thessalonians 2:17, 1 Timothy 1:18-19, Galatians 5:22-25

Father, please strengthen me to provide instruction to Levi with the goal of love from a pure heart, a good conscience, and a sincere faith. 1 Timothy 1:5

Reading

Levi loves to read, and he also loves to talk. He also enjoys whispering and moving his mouth like he's just practicing. Watch and listen closely.

Tupperware

Who knew Tupperware was so entertaining?

A Few Updates

Levi had a great time at church. He has started to be a little more wary of people he doesn't see on a regular basis. This shyness started the day after he turned 10 months old. Up until that point, he'd basically go to anyone. Now, if he's not sure about whoever is trying to take him, he buries his face in my or Kevin's shoulder. But, he'll still go to the person without a fight.

We tried to watch Kevin play a soccer game on Sunday afternoon, but the weather wouldn't cooperate. So, Levi and I played at home - until he zonked out for an afternoon nap.

Levi still loves to eat. He's moved to stage 3 foods, and he still enjoys his puffs. Levi his "9-month appointment" on Friday, and I'm going to ask the doctor what other types of food are okay for him now. His previous doctor has said, "No table food until he is a year old." I want to know if this doctor has the same philosophy, and if that literally means "no table food" or just means "no table food with extra salt, sugar, or fat".



A friend of mine from work mentioned that she had read that even natural sugars can increase mucous production. I gave Levi some food with bananas in it (they are high in natural sugar), the weekend after she told me that. The second day of eating it, his nose started running and getting a little stuffy. I've avoided giving him anything with that much sugar in it since then, and he's been clear of the stuffiness. (Thanks for the advice, Nicolle!!) But even that change hasn't affected his cough. Levi is still coughing a little bit and is still taking a breathing treatment twice a day. This is something else that I'll be talking to the doctor about.

Check It Out!

Kevin and I believe that Levi might have inherited two things from my side of the family. The first is that Levi has slightly bigger eyes than Kevin did as a baby. The second has to do with Levi's top teeth. His top left tooth has broken through, and we can tell where his right tooth is heading. Well, this second thing is that Levi has inherited a big space between his top two teeth. My papa Rains had a gap between his two front teeth, and my youngest sister had one growing up, too. It looks like Levi's going to have it, as well. Can you tell from this picture??


Levi has started pulling up more, and he is really trying to reach for things.

Really?!?

Levi and Kevin played with Levi's new favorite toy for a little while this evening. Levi thought it was funny when Kevin put the box on top of him.

Levi found the "toy" later tonight after Kevin had left for his softball game and entertained himself for quite a while, putting it on its edges and playing with the finger holds.

Before the softball game and while I cooked dinner, Levi and Kevin played in the family room with one of Levi's other favorite toys, the remote control. They were working on Levi's standing up and cruising, too. Eventually, Levi started wearing down. The following pictures are not a joke. This is really how I found him.

Who needs a teddy bear when you have a remote control??

Ten Months

Today Levi turns 10 months.








Besides those things from yesterday's blog, Levi still loves to read. He also still loves Veggie Tales. He isn't as partial to Laura Carrot anymore. He seems to enjoy all the characters.

A Few of Levi's Favorite Things

Levi loves the computer. He loves to "type". He will at times pitch a fit if he sees his daddy working on the laptop and is not allowed to get to it. I can successfully divert his attention most of the time, but now that he's pulling up so well, it is getting harder...

Levi has figured out how to open and close doors. Well, he can't close the doors completely yet, thank goodness, but he's made a game out of the doors. It is Levi's version of peek-a-boo.

I guess I am going to have to invest in some of those finger pinch guard.

The other day I put Levi inside an open box and scooted him around, pretending like he was in a train. He thinks it is fun to be pushed or pulled in his "train".

Levi also just loves to look cute and show off his teeth. He worked hard to get them, so I guess I can't blame him!

Praying for Their Footsteps

I have made a commitment to join my bf and prayer partner from college in her journey of praying for our little ones. She has decided to blog every Monday to "remind and encourage one other to pray for our children and to do so using Scripture". I am as excited to join her in this journey now as I was when we first became prayer partners almost 13 years ago.

I pray that Levi will come to know Jesus as Savior at an early age. I pray that Levi will be rooted and grounded in love and that he may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge. I also pray that Levi will be filled up to all the fullness of God. I pray also that he will seek the Lord with all of his heart and lean not on his own understanding. I pray that he will look to the Lord and His strength. I pray that he will seek His face always.
Taken from Proverbs 3:5; Ephesians 3:17-19; Psalm 105:4

I pray that as Levi grows he will dwell on whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise and not on the worries of the world.
Taken from Phillipians 4:8

My First

Last year's Mother's Day was amazing knowing that I had a little boy growing inside me, but this year was even more special. Today was my first Mother's Day with Levi here. Every time I see him or think about him, I am amazed at this precious gift God has given me. I am in awe of God's creation. I am honored and humbled that God entrusted me with such a precious gift. I am often also overwhelmed by that trust, and I am so thankful that God is with me each step of the way.

My sisters and brother-in-law, my in-laws, and my boys gave me such sweet gifts for my first Mother's Day; I had to share.
I can only pray that God will move me aside so that He can truly use me to be the best mother for Levi, so that one day Levi will know Jesus as his Lord and Savior and that he will then seek to honor God with his life through obedience to His will and not man's. Long run-on sentence, but well - that's my heart.

Mama's Helper

Levi loves the vacuum cleaner. I started vacuuming in his playroom and moved around the house, ending in the dining room. He followed the vacuum cleaner the whole way. He was such a big helper! ;-)

I thought this picture was really precious. It shows how he looked from my angle pushing the vacuum cleaner - but it also shows his two bottom teeth and his bulging top left gum / tooth really well.

When Levi was born, it looked like his feet had been in the butterfly position in the womb. I thought he had moved past trying to put his feet like that. When I saw how he has started sitting "Indian style", though... I guess we really do like to be in our womb position.

Random Stories

Yesterday, Kevin didn't have soccer practice after school or a faculty meeting, so he picked up Levi from school. When I got home, Kevin had a story to share, of course. Kevin and Levi were in the sunroom (i.e. Levi's playroom). Levi was playing well by himself, so Kevin decided to check his e-mail on the laptop. Kevin looks back up and finds that Levi has crawled into the breakfast room and has helped himself to some banana puffs he had thrown onto the floor that morning! Kevin thought he remembered at least five having been on the floor - and all of them were gone. Guess I need to make sure the floors are really clean enough to eat off of! ;-)

Levi found the dining room window yesterday. Usually as he crawls through the house, he crawls through one end of the dining room, making a beeline from the kitchen to the foyer and then to his daddy's office. Yesterday, though, he made his own obstacle course by climbing under the dining room bench and one of the chairs. He looked up - and saw the window. I quickly pulled up the blinds, and he quickly started telling me what he saw outside - or rather what he wanted to see outside. "Dadadadadadada..." You get the idea. He was also trying to pull up using the window sill. He successfully accomplished that task and then even straightened out to "bang" on the window, all the while either squealing or saying, "Dadadadadada". With him being so active though near that window sill, I was afraid to leave him to get the camera. I just hoped he'd do it again today.

He didn't get quite as straight, but I thought I'd share.

Levi also made it through his obstacle course again.

Tonight is Kevin's last soccer game for the high school season. Kevin will probably have more opportunities now to take and pick up Levi from school. Perhaps I should ban the banana puffs in the morning, just in case Levi decides he wants to use the floor as a plate again in the afternoon!

First Sunday

The first Sunday in May... Levi experienced other firsts today, too. He had his first picnic. He rode down the slide for the first time. Unfortunately, I forgot my camera. Kevin had his, and I took several pictures. However, Kevin is not as prompt about downloading them as I am. If I ever get a chance to "borrow" them from him, I'll post them.

I usually give Levi a few banana puffs after he eats, just to let him play (i.e. practice some with his pincer grasp). I have put a banana puff or two in his mouth, but he wouldn't like it. He couldn't quite grasp that he was supposed to try to chew the banana puff to keep himself from choking. I think the teething biscuit yesterday helped him, because Levi (for the first time) actually put the banana puffs in his mouth and chewed them.

Levi pulled himself to the standing position on his own initiative for the first time. Usually, I have to be right behind him giving him an incentive to pull up. But not today. Well, he was pulling up to see his daddy (and his daddy's wii remote), but I wasn't even close to being behind him.

I believe I already confessed to reading "silly Christian romance novels", so I will try to hide our embarrassment at this next picture. Levi also decided to "read" one of my books. He was just so proud of this first, I couldn't resist taking the picture...

Obstacle Course

Levi crawled through the exersaucer for the first time today. It took him a while, so I just took a few snapshots.

He ended up doing it twice. The second time he was playing with Kevin's cell phone while he was crawling. You may notice light coming from the cell phone capturing his attention - it is actually his picture that he is trying to see. He knows that if he keeps pushing buttons he'll see his picture on the wallpaper for Kevin's cell phone. What a smart boy!

Levi played with a teething biscuit after lunch. After dinner, he ate his first biscuit and really seemed to like it.

Fun Friday

Levi's grandparents have been watching him for the past two weeks because of his runny / stuffy nose and cough. The doctor had recommended trying to get rid of his runny / stuffy nose before putting him back in school, if at all possible. Thankfully, Levi's grandparents have been willing to watch him - even though he's had a couple of rough days this week. He's still trying to adjust to not getting a 4 am nursing time. I had decided that he needed to nurse and have breakfast when he woke up for the day, not have a 4 am nursing time and then go back to sleep and then have breakfast. Anyway, he's adjusting, but Wednesday was terrible. I had training at work, so I had to be there by a certain time. Levi didn't wake up before I needed to leave, so I pumped and left milk for his breakfast. He apparently did NOT like not having that time with me.

The past two days, Levi has not had a runny or stuffy nose at all. His cough still sounds horrible, but at least we're not having to swipe his nose continuously. Now that he doesn't have the runny nose, I'm praying that the cough will leave soon also. We decided, though, that it would be best to keep Levi out of school through the rest of the week. So, I gave Levi's grandparents a reprieve for the day and stayed home with him. What a fun day! Levi and I crawled all over the house, banged on tupperware, opened and closed doors, stacked rings, read books, blew bubbles, banged his remote control on the ground, stacked tupperware, drank water and milk, and ATE. Levi had a VERY hungry day today. He ate strawberries for the first time (in baby food, mixed with apples). I won't bore you with a rundown of everything he ate, but it was a bunch of food. We'll see if he eats as much tomorrow. I'm guessing he won't...

I LOVE being at home with my little man. He is just such fun, so precious, such a gift from God. I am so thankful for him.