4 months

Dear Seth-
Wow, as of March 4th you are now 4 months old...it seems like only yesterday I wrote about you being 3 months old, time is really flying! You had your 4th month checkup at the dr. today but we took you to Einsteins Bagels before your appt. so mommy and daddy could have breakfast...we are trying to socialize you more and get you out in public to see and hear new things. Even though all of this was during your scheduled naptime time, you did really well. You now weigh 15lbs 11oz (75%) and are 26 1/4 inches long (90%)--we think you may be tall like your daddy. You also got 4 shots today which has made you sleepy and a little cranky and you just want mommy and daddy to cuddle with you. You also tried mashed bananas today, you didn't really know what to do with it, but you eventually figured it out and you loved it! You only eat solids once a day and still take a bottle at the other feedings--where sometimes you like to grab the bottle. We will try something different next week, maybe sweet potatoes.

You are a very curious little boy who really likes to look around at everything and see whats going on. So that means you are usually happiest when you are sitting up playing or playing in your excersaucer. You like try to stand on your feet (with the help of mommy or daddy) I guess it makes you feel like a big boy...maybe thats why you like your excersaucer so much, you can practice pushing down on your feet. You cant roll over yet, but the dr. said its ok and we don't need to worry for another couple of months or so. You can sit up unsupported for maybe a split second before falling over or falling forward. But you are also just content to sit in our lap and read a book or look out the window. Right now we are reading "where's baby's belly button?" and books about shapes and colors, as well as your baby Bible. We cant wait for the weather to get warmer so we can go for more walks in our stroller. You don't mind being in your car seat as long as you have your stuffed animal, "Patch." You are really cooing and babbling alot more and are making consonant sounds like "ba", "ma" and "da"--we hear this especially when you are playing with your toys, or when you are fussing. You are also very talkative when mommy changes your diaper, you also like to kick your legs alot when you're on the changing table. Your sweet smile warms our heart, especially when we hold you in front of our mirror, but sometimes you turn your head away or you bury your head in our chest like you are being bashful.

As for sleeping, you are doing great! Mommy and Daddy put you to bed awake but very tired anywhere from 6-7:30pm every night and you usually fall asleep pretty quickly and wake up one time anywhere between midnight to 3am then eat and then back to bed until 6:30am or 7am. You always take 3 naps a day which range from 1 hour to 3 hours! You still like to be swaddled to start off...everytime we go in to feed you or to wake up for the day, you have pretty muched ripped your miracle blanket to shreds by getting your arms and legs out. So for now we will keep swaddling you.

You can definitely recognize mommy and daddy's faces. And I will have to admit that I love when you follow me with your eyes when I move around the room or when you look for me when someone else is holding you...makes mama feel special! You get scared and start to cry at really loud and unexpected noises. You can also get overwhelmed easily, especially on Sunday mornings if I take you to see all the college students because there is just so much going on. You stick out your bottom lip and starting whining so thats mommy's cue to take you down to the nursery to have your sweet Sunday School teachers love on you for about an hour. You also met your second friend this week, Hope. She is about 5 months older than you. You didn't quite know what to think or do at first and sometimes when you started to pout so did Hope. But you quickly got over it and were content just to watch her play with her toys and explore the living room. You would study her a little when she came and pulled up on my leg to see what you were doing. She's going to be a fun play friend! You are such a sweet spirited little boy who is growing so fast! And we are excited to see the young godly man you are going to become! Mommy and Daddy love you!! Below are some pictures of you so far at 4 months!

Our traditional monthly birthday picture-this time with our friend 'Patch'
In our little hat

Hands and toys are going straight to the mouth

He really wanted to look out!

trying to stand like a big boy

trying to be independent and feed himself

eating mashed bananas!

he loves to look outside

such a happy baby!

got our 4 month shots- so sad!

Buddies

Seth met his first friend yesterday, Ethan Eaves who was born Feb. 8th! Neither one really had any idea what was going on but it was still cute! I will say that Seth was kind of cranky the whole time except for when I would hold him in front of the mirror and he would laugh, so that kept him pretty occupied. Spencer and I think its because he doesn't get out much around other people and places, so my new goal is to socialize him more! This Wed. he's going to meet Hope Spellman who is 7 months old. Last time Hope came to visit, Seth was asleep the whole time, so we are going to try again this week.

Adventures of Seth Plumlee

Seth's life can get pretty exciting from day to day. So here are a few pictures of some of our fun times together! I just love this little boy!
he's such a snuggily baby!

he's actually yawning in this picture, not screaming

ready for summer...it reminds me of Gilligan

morning playtime with Daddy before he goes to work

sweet morning face

just before church

his new little friend

peek-a-boo

trying to wake up daddy

so happy after bathtime

off to church on a cold morning

sweet playtime with our little friend 'patch'

Thanks JBF!

Twice a year I look forward to a huge consignment sale in Fort Worth called 'Just Between Friends' (JBF). Its for moms who want to buy or sell gently used kids items--everything from clothes to toys, books and even maternity clothes. Last year we got so many great things for Seth at a really deep discount! This year I found some real steals! I got some clothes that he will def. have to grow into (which wont take long), some new toys, books and a 2 big items- an excersaucer and a playmat! Below is Seth enjoying his new toys! The next big sale is in late summer/early fall so hopefully he will be starting to pull up on stuff and then I can get him so bigger toys and maybe even some shoes!

"Cotton"

"Cotton" was the nickname my memaw had from the time she was a little girl...and it stuck with her for her entire life. In fact we used to call her Memaw Cotton. She got this name because she used to have really blonde hair when she was little, so blonde in fact that it looked as white as cotton! She was born Dec. 12, 1920 as one of 8 children and entered into the presence of Christ Feb. 24, 2010...almost exactly 6 years after her husband...my papaw Joe, after which she was never really the same. Its hard to imagine life now without any grandparents. Beginning in 2004 I've lost a grandparent every other year up until now. I loved growing up with 4 grandparents who were always so loving and set such an amazing example of what godly people should be. When I was growing up my grandparents lived about 5 minutes apart which made it really easy to visit both of them pretty easily each time we drove down to see them...not to mention the good times at Thanksgiving and Christmas! My memaw would always make too much food and was such a servant anytime anyone needed more :) I remember she always had her fridge stocked with yummy stuff like sweet tea (which was amazing)and homemade cookie dough! When I was growing up she was such a good buddy! Whenever I would spend a week at her house she would always be such a good sport and play whatever I wanted. She would even let me bandage her up with ace bandages when I wanted to play dr. She never hesitated to get down on the floor with us kids and play just like she was one of us, she even jumped on my trampoline at the age of 70 when I got one for Christmas... I think that is a testimony to her adventurous/tom-boy like personality...yet she carried herself like such a lady! She also had an amazing sense of humor which is probably one of the best things I will miss about her. I am sad that she is no longer here, but also kind of jealous that she gets to be with Christ right now and worshipping him forever! Below is a picture of me when I was about 2 or 3 with my Memaw Cotton.

Texas "Snow" Day

This morning the Texas Plumlees woke up to snow! So by Texas standards we have a 'snow day.' We ask that all of our northern native friends not pass judgement on our TX snow day, we take what we can get. Strangely enough the Forth Worth and Dallas school districts did not close their schools, but alot of the other smaller districts did as well as TCU and Southwestern Seminary...so no class for Spencer today! But he did have to go into work but maybe he will get to come home early! We are supposed to get even more snow this afternoon and tonight! We took advantage of the snow and bundled up Seth and took pictures! He is not quite sure of it yet, but Im betting this time next year he will love it!

3 Months

Dear Seth,
Mommy and Daddy cant believe you are already 3 months old! You are growing so fast right before our eyes. When we look back at pictures of you its just amazing how time is really flying by so quickly. In fact your 3-6 mo. onesie outfits are getting really snug and almost too short to fit you! You are gonna be long and tall like your daddy! You still like to be swaddled in your miracle blanket for naps and at nighttime. You are a little boy who loves his sleep, especially on your stomach...just like your mommy! You are successful at soothing yourself to sleep really quickly! You take about 3 naps a day or 2 if one is extra long. You are only able to stay awake for about an hour at a time before you start getting pretty sleepy. Your bedtime schedule is pretty strict and you are usually in bed between 6 and 7pm every night. We love it when you greet us with a smile and a giggle when you wake up, it truly melts mommy and daddys heart! You also love bathtime, especially putting your feet under the running water. You are a very hearty eater, right now you eat about 6 oz at every feeding time and an extra 4oz before your final bedtime to help you sleep a little longer. You only wake about about 1 to 2 times at night, usually at midnight and then again around 4am or 5am and start your day at 7am or 8am. Daddy loves to make you smile in the mornings and at night when he plays with you, I know he really treasures this time! You are not able to roll over yet, but you can successfully lift your legs and chest off the ground during tummytime, which you are not too fond of right now. You can really hold your head up for long time that is until it gets too heavy. Your back muscles are getting stronger too, pretty soon you will be able to sit up! You love to kick your legs while youre playing on your back, guess youre getting your crawling muscles ready! During playtime you love to play under your jungle gym and you can also grasp on to toys if we put them in your hand...you are also a pro and grabbing mommys hair! Speaking of your hands, this has been your most recent discovery. You put your hands in your mouth every chance you get, especially your right hand, so your daddy thinks you are going to be right-handed, but we will see. We are not sure how much you weigh but Im guessing it is close to 14 to 15 pounds. You definitely know who mommy and daddy are now and you smile at us whenever we come into your view. You can now follow us around the room with your eyes if we get up and move around. You like it when mommy sings and acts silly for you just to get you to smile and laugh. You are cooing more and more which brings us so much joy. We cannot wait to see how much you're going to change over the next few months to come. And before we know it we will be celebrating your first birthday...mommy will probably cry. Happy 3 month birthday Seth! We love you!

playing with daddy

bundled up before church

playtime with mommy

sweet sleeping baby

in our Sunday best

strong boy

he likes to be fed this way sometimes

he loves his daddy!

ready for naptime in our miracle blanket

tummytime

we love that sweet smile

we found our hands!

Mr. Sandman...bring me a dream....

Spencer doing the 'father Abraham' song with Seth
About to go outside

not quite sure about that purple bird

He loves to stick his foot in the running water

I got this picture idea from a girl at our church- Mandy Moots

Good news! Seth can now soothe himself to sleep at night as well as at naptime if I put him down awake but sleepy. I still hold him and soothe him for awhile before I put him in his crib to help him wind down. But he's pretty much put himself on a schedule of bedtime between 6-6:30pm, sleep for 5-6 hours, eat, sleep for 3-4 hours, eat, sleep for 3-4 hours usually for a total of 12-13 hours a night with 3 naps a day all while in the comfort of his 'miracle blanket.' The scariest part of all is that Seth absolutely WILL NOT sleep on his back or his side but his stomach! He is a stomach sleeper which scares me so much, but I also keep a fan running in his room to keep the air circulating. But he is able to successfully turn is head back and forth easily so that makes us feel a little bit better. He has become such a good sleeper now that we ventured to put him on his stomach. I know it goes against everything that they say now days, but my mom put us on our stomachs along with the rest of the moms of that generation. This is what works best for him, so we are going with it.

At our last Dr. appointment he weighed in at 12 lbs. 7 oz and was 24 in. long! So he's a growing boy! Even though he has been out of newborn clothes for a few weeks, I finally put them away and it made me sad to think how fast he is growing right before our eyes! He is now 0-3 month clothes and can also fit in some 3-6 month clothes as well!

Spencer is in the final home stretch of his actual classes for his PhD at seminary. He will offically be finished with classes in Dec 2010 and will then move on to taking his comprehensives and writing his dissertation! The college ministry is amazing! We have average about 100 every Sunday and we took 60 leaders to Great Wolf Lodge for a leadership conference last weekend which was incredible! I definitely recommend Great Wolf Lodge if you have kids, you can go on a vacation there and never have to leave the hotel, there's just so much to do!

In a few short weeks Spencer will be taking a group of about 30 college students to Domincan Republic on a mission trip. While our other adult leaders David and Lynn will be taking a group of about 60 to Panama City, FL to Beach Reach. Keep these groups in your prayers over the next couple of months as God prepares their hearts!