Kiss the Cook

Carter got to help in the kitchen the other day!

He got to get his hands, arms, shirt, face, whole self dirty - inside! He got to eat the dough...

We worked really hard to cook something just for daddy!

What do little boys cook? 

Biscuits...

DOG BONE Biscuits!

Getting them all lined up just right.

My little perfectionist :)

YUMMY!

Talking with My Hands

Hello, Friends, 

It's me, Miles! 

Have you discovered your hands yet? I have, and boy are they interesting!!! 

I'm here to show you some important hand signals.

Talking on the phone...

"Yes, this is Miles Watts. Yes, my mommy and daddy take good care of me. No, my brother is not abusive, that's just the way he shows love. Alright. Ok. Thanks, Bu-bye!"

Need a drink?  

"I'm thirsty, mom!"

Don't forget to say your prayers tonight...

"Thanks you, Jesus for my crazy family! Amen." 

Hope you have a great Friday!

Miles's Dedication

This past weekend, we were able to dedicate our sweet baby Miles to the Lord in front of our church family. Our parents were able to come join us for this special service. What an honor and challenge to stand in front of the church family and our family and vow to raise our children in a Christian home and teach them to know and love the Lord! When I was searching for verses for this day, I found this prayer. I couldn't have said it better if I tried, so here you go - my prayer for Miles...

On a funny side note: My precious Carter was whispering in my ear "Wook, Mommy - Blue People!"
I love him.

Our Pastor - Dr. Mark McClelland

Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for this treasured child of mine. Although you have entrusted him to me, I know he belongs to you. Like Hannah offered Samuel, I dedicate my child to you, Lord. I recognize that he is always in your care.

Help me as a parent, Lord, with my weaknesses and imperfections. Give me strength and godly wisdom to raise this child after your Holy Word. Please supply what I lack. Keep my child walking on the path that leads to eternal life. Help him to overcome the temptations in this world and the sin that would so easily entangle him.

Dear God, send your Holy Spirit daily to lead and guide him. Ever assist him to grow in wisdom and stature, in grace and knowledge, in kindness, compassion and love. May he serve you faithfully with his whole heart devoted to you. May he discover the joy of your presence through daily relationship with your Son, Jesus.

Help me never to hold on too tightly to this child, nor neglect my responsibilities before you as a parent. Lord, let my committment to raise this child for the glory of your name cause his life to forever testify of your faithfulness.

In Jesus' name I pray,
Amen.

"Jesus said, Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, 

for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." 

Matthew 19:14 

Family Beach Trip

We went to Panama City Beach with Kevin's parents at the end of August. For my future reference we stayed in the Aqua Condo on the 4th floor and loved it! Here's some of the highlights...

Family of 4 on the beach!

It rained 2 of 4 days (thus the dark skies behind us). We were able to spend at least an hour each day on the beach though which is more than enough for a 3 month old and 2 year old!

On the rainy days, we enjoyed the "hot pool" :)

The rain brought waves...huge waves!!!

Baby on the beach...

Toddler on the beach...

Nana and Papa J were a HUGE help! I highly recommend taking grandparents on vacation :)
I even got some time alone on the beach, and got to go on a date with the hubby!!!

This little guy loved his first beach trip!


His brother also loved every minute of it!


This was his #1 favorite thing to do...


He also really enjoyed burying his legs. He wouldn't let us bury anything except his legs, but we did this over and over again!


His other favorite activities were:
Building Sandcastles
Burying Daddy
Chasing SeaGulls
Looking at Boats

Digging / Playing in Holes
More Sea-Do Driving
Picking up Shells


It was a wonderful vacation...even if we did have a bout of the stomach virus the last night there.
That just made it an all-around complete family vacation :)



Thank you for making the trip with us Nana and Papa J!
We can't wait to go back.

4 Months Old

Dear Miles,
You are four months old! Just 2 more of those, and you'll be a year old. That's pretty hard for your mama to believe. You are crying yourself to sleep as I write this. You love to take naps - you get really cranky when you don't get them, but you still haven't figured out how to go to sleep without a few minutes of crying. We'll get there, but for now, this works. I promise that you aren't missing out on anything. You are getting to be really playful, and we have all been enjoying that. Carter tries to include you on things by handing you cars and toys. You love to watch him. I'm pretty sure that he is the most interesting thing you've ever seen. You are figuring out that your carseat isn't your very worst enemy - although you still put up some good fights!!! You smile, laugh and coo a lot now. The sound of your sweet giggle is music to my ears. I love to hear you talk to the toys in your play gym. You tell them all kinds of stories.

Here are your 4 month pictures: 

You are now officially bigger than your dog. That didn't take long :)

You absolutely love your brother. He is 25 month-old free entertainment as far as you are concerned...

Here are some of the fun things we did this month: 

• We went to the beach with Nana and Papa J (blog yet to come)!
• We spent a lot of time playing - you can read below to find out the kinds of things we do when we play! 
• We made dog biscuits (blog yet to come).
• We got to watch the first football games of the season - even though they didn't go our way - WAR EAGLE anyway!
• Carter had his first days of Mother's Day Out. You know this as grocery shopping day :)
• We had a very special dedication weekend just for you! All your grandparents came (blog yet to come). 

Here are some things you are doing now: 

• You weigh 15lbs. 2oz. (50th percentile) and you are 25 1/2 inches (75th percentile). You're definitely growing!
• You eat 6 times a day for about 30 minutes. Althought sometimes you are much to busy to eat. You will not let me eat or talk to other people while I'm feeding you.
• You sleep 8-10 hours at night! 
• You take 2-3 good naps a day (1-4 hours)
• You have good control of your head. You can lift it up all the way now when you're on your tummy. 

• You can sit in a bumbo seat for longer periods of time now. You also hold onto toys while you are sitting in the seat. 
• You are starting to reach for things. You sometimes get them, but most of the time right now you miss. It's fun to watch you develop your eye hand coordination. 
• You have rolled from your front to back a few times. You can also roll from side to side when you are on your back....usually because you draw your legs toward your chest and tip over :)
• We put you in your bouncer, and you liked it. I think Carter may have liked it more though. He got to push you and let you swing. 

• You have discovered your hands! You look at them, touch them together, and most of all you chew on them ALL THE TIME! Every now and them you'll get a thumb or a finger and really work on that. You have not got a favorite finger as of right now though. They are all good!

Love those eyes & lashes!!!

• You smile, coo, and laugh a lot. 
• You are extremely ticklish just like your mama!
• You talk to people and the animals hanging in your play gym and swing.

 

• You watch your brother as he plays. 
• You love to read books! Your brother always wants to be included when we read you books. You look at all the pictures with wide eyes.

• You put your weight on your feet when held in a standing position.
• You have a permanent "startled" look on your face when you aren't making some other expression. It's a pretty crazy house around you - better watch out!

Here is your typical schedule...this month you have been extremely hungry and wanting to eat every 2 hours (or less!). The doctor said you get to start rice cereal and baby food this month because you're such a hungry boy!!! 

5:30am - You've been wanting to nurse around this time in the mornings, but you go back to bed afterward.
7:30am - Mealtime (you nurse), then you are always ready to go right back to bed exactly 1 hour after you get up. Everyday does not start at 7 - I'm just using it as an example :)
8:30am - Naptime
10:00am - Mealtime then Waketime
11:00am - Naptime 
12:30pm - Mealtime then Waketime 
1:30pm - Naptime
4:00pm - Mealtime then Waketime (sometimes you take a nap here, but not usually...you just want to be held - while mommy tries to get dinner ready).
6:00pm - Mealtime then Waketime
7:30pm - Mealtime / Bathtime (on bath nights) / Bed
REPEAT...

We are having fun watching your little personality develop. You and your brother are just starting to realize the other one is playful, and I just know the two of you are going to be inseperable! He loves you so much already, and you just think the world of him! I can't wait to see what you'll learn next month! 

Love,
Mommy

PS. This is what your brother was up to when he was 4 months old.