Griffin Family Pictures

 When Uncle Glenn and his family were in Houston a couple of weeks ago, we took some pictures with everyone who could be there.  The last time that we were able to take a family picture with everyone in it, I believe it was 1992. We have certainly grown in number since then! 

We are missing nine people in this picture, but it's the best we could do!

 And then we tried to take a silly picture...

We Have a Sitter!

This boy is growing too quickly! After a little practice on Friday, Belton was sitting like a pro! He fell back once and learned from it! After that, he usually tried to balance himself when he started falling.

 He does a great job! And he LOVES sitting and playing with his toys!

He even sat while we were at the park last night with some friends. Here he is with Eliza, she is 9 months old. Isn't she a doll??

You Tell Me...

What is he this time? :-)

Belton: Six Months

Happy Half Birthday, sweet Belton!!! 

We can't believe you have already gotten so big!

Six Month Stats

Weight: 17 pounds, 12 ounces, 60th percentile

Length: 26.75 inches, 70th percentile

Head: 17.50 inches, 75th percentile

1 tooth!

We get told all the time that Belton is such a happy, smiley baby. It is SO true! And so much fun for Mom and Dad! He loves sitting (with some help, usually) and playing with his toys. He really enjoys playing in his jumper. He will stay in it for a good while, if he is in a good mood! He LOVES playing with his feet and has just started getting them to his mouth a couple of times. He really likes having his socks off, that always elicits a big grin from him! Belton is ticklish and will just giggle and giggle if you tickle his tummy just right.  Belton is getting a little bit better with loud noises. It has been a while since one has caused him to burst into tears, like they used to. Now he normally just looks up with a startled look on his face and looks around. Belton can grab toys and move them from one hand to the other now. He has some little balls that he can palm pretty well, too! 

I just LOVE this toothless grin! (his tooth is a bottom tooth)

Belton now sleeps for 10-12 hours in his crib every night! He had a week or so of waking up again, but he had a cold and got a tooth during that time! Naps are still a guessing game. Sometimes they only last 20-30 minutes, but every once in a while he will sleep for 1.5 hours! I put him in his crib for a nap this morning and he slept for 45 minutes. But usually, we hold him or he is in the car seat during his naps. He has started making some very cute cooing sounds as he falls asleep. That's how you know he's almost there. It's so adorable!

Belton is using his last size 2 diapers. He has had several blow-outs lately, so I am looking forward to getting him into size 3! He wears 3-6 month clothes and 9 month pajamas.

Belton's eating hasn't changed much. He still eats 6 ounces every 3 hours or so, eating 8 ounces during his last bottle of the day usually.  He generally eats 32 ounces a day. We will start solids in the next couple of weeks! I'll let you know how that goes! 

Belton's favorites this month include: playing in his jumper, being outside, sitting up!, playing with and eating Sophie the giraffe, playing with the toys on his car seat, reading books, watching Dad jump around, kisses on his tummy and neck, having his socks OFF, playing with his feet, staring at anything that grabs his attention, scooting a little bit while on tummy time to try to get to a toy, being sung to, staring at the TV, putting things in his mouth, watching Mom and Dad eat like he wishes he could have some, standing with help, bath time, and playing on his play mat! He still really doesn't like tummy time!

We gave him a little present for his Half Birthday!

 

He loved it, even when he fell over!

 

CRIB!

Belton has FINALLY graduated to his crib!!! A couple of weeks ago, when we were in College Station, my mom tried to put Belton down for the night. He just wasn't falling asleep. She rocked him and fed him and he just kept smiling and giggling! I was afraid that we were in for a long night, since Belton had taken a VERY long nap in the car on the way to College Station. Mom decided to just put Belton down in his Rock N Play and see what he did. He grinned and giggled at her as she said goodnight and shut the door. After not hearing anything from him, we went back thirty minutes later and saw that he was sound asleep! Wow! He learned how to put himself to sleep all on his own. I was so excited and amazed! We did the same thing the next night while in CS and it worked just fine! 

On Sunday night, once we were home, Matt was feeding him his last bottle of the night. Belton fell asleep after eating less than half of what he normally eats, so Matt put him down in his crib. Up to this point, this has always caused Belton to wake up immediately. Matt's plan was to wake him up and then finish feeding him before putting him in the Rock N Play. But Belton just stayed asleep!

At around 9 am the next morning, I went to check on him, and this is what I found! Amazing! Now he sleeps in his crib every night, and we put him down awake! It is really nice, but a little bit bitter-sweet to see how fast he grows and changes. So far, I have still been rocking him and holding him for most naps. When I put him down in the crib awake, he gets mad. When I put him down in the crib asleep, he wakes up. And when I put him down in the Rock N Play, he makes me nervous when he wakes up because he wiggles so much in there now! I don't mind having some more time to just hold and snuggle on this sweet baby before he doesn't want me to anymore!

This picture is from this morning. Now, Belton wiggles and turns all around while on his back. He is put down with his head closest to the camera every night, and is an a different position every morning!

Our Week, So Far

On Monday, we went to Story Time at the library for the first time! We met a couple of friends from our ward there, and had a good time! I think Belton enjoyed himself and I think he will like it more and more as he gets older. It's a Mother Goose Story Time for kids that are 4-18 months old. There was a parachute in the middle of the circle and everything! It was great. 

Monday night, we went to Chili's because I didn't feel like cooking and we had a gift card. We tried putting Belton in the highchair for the first time, and he was a fan! Don't worry guys, we took more blankets to put behind him the next time! 

On Tuesday, we went to lunch with Chrystal! I always love when we are able to meet her during her lunch break! Don't you just love that shirt?? My mom got it for him...it's so cute!

 Wednesday morning, since it was rainy, we went to McDonald's to visit with some friends while the kids (well, not Belton) played in the play place. It was fun! I am LOVING getting out more and more!! 

We came home and Belton played and played and endured some tummy time. 

Then this afternoon, we went to Walmart and got some groceries and came home to make lots of banana bread! This is what Matt saw when he walked in the door! He is always amused when I am barefoot, cooking, wearing an apron, with Belton on my hip!

Belton's First Easter

I know, I know, how could there be MORE to blog about for Easter, right? Well, this is the last Easter post, I promise!

When Matt went to wake Belton up on Easter morning, he was SOUND ASLEEP. Now, we have to wake him up at 7:30 for 8:30 church. For my baby that usually sleeps until 9 or 10, this is definitely an early wake up call. But he usually wakes up pretty easily. Matt changed his diaper, we took this picture, and THEN I picked him up and he finally started to wake up.

Once we got him all dressed up in his Easter outfit, I set him on the couch next to his Easter basket...check out this play by play!

 (You probably can't tell, but he actually got a hold of the bunny when he fell...success!!)

 Our sweet, happy baby on his first Easter.

After he knocked over his basket, he seemed pretty unenthused.

 "How long am I stuck with this crazy guy?!"

Belton is one special, blessed boy with many people who love him! Thank you to the grandparents and aunts and uncles gifted him most of these items! We are all grateful!

And MOST of all, we are grateful for our Savior, Jesus Christ whose resurrection we are celebrating on this blessed day. 

He is risen! He is risen!
Tell it out with joyful voice.
He has burst his three days' prison;
Let the whole wide earth rejoice.
Death is conquered; man is free.
Christ has won the victory.

Come with high and holy hymning;
Chant our Lord's triumphant lay.
Not one darksome cloud is dimming
Yonder glorious morning ray,
Breaking o'er the purple east,
Symbol of our Easter feast.

He is risen! He is risen!
He hath opened heaven's gate.
We are free from sin's dark prison,
Risen to a holier state.
And a brighter Easter beam
On our longing eyes shall stream.

Easter Dinner at Grandmom and Granddad's

I guess at this point in the weekend, I was kind of tired of taking pictures! I only pulled my camera out once to get a couple of shots in!

Grandmom and Belton

Belton with his biggest cousin, Taylor

Easter with Grandma and Papaw

 After church on Sunday, we headed to Mike and Kelly's house to visit for a bit! 

Papaw and Belton

 Belton with his bunny ears and G-Mom

 Belton and Aunt Abbi

 Belton playing with Aunt Abbi and Papaw

 Belton, G-Mom and G-Dad

 Grandma and Belton

I love this one of G-Dad fixing Belton's socks! 

It was so great to see you guys! Thanks for having us over!

 And thanks for our Easter goodies!!