Merry Christmas Eve from Mississippi

Well, we have now been here a week and having loads of fun. Cousin Emma turned ONE, we have been shopping, brother Ethan has been to visit and hanging out with Titi. We also took some family photos that we will post later. Here are just a few favorites.

Very Merry Christmas from the Kellums

Our favorite Christmas present so far

 HAPPY BABY

BROTHERS

Have a great Christmas and we hope Santa is good to you.

Just a lazy Saturday morning...

Connor goes from one set of PJs to another on a very LAZY Saturday....

 Dad, your embarrasing me!

 Hmmm. Is that Coffee I taste??

 YAY!!!! ME!!!!!

 Should I put this in my mouth or read it????

 Abby is NOT impressed

 "Mom what are you doing??"

Splish Splash We Are Taking a Bath

Connor has recently started to love his baths. I typically give him a bath in the kitchen sink so I don't have to bend over the tub. I had to buy another baby sponge for him to sit on so he doesn't slip around and go swimming. He figured out how to reach for the water and splash. My kitchen doesn't need a bath, but he gives it one anyway. After several nights of splashing he decided to chill. I don't know if you can tell, but he has his legs propped up.

 Getting his hair washed. LOVE that RED hair!!!!

Still have Carrots on our face.


And last but  not least.... a little splish splashing

"They're cutting down trees, putting up reindeer and singing songs of Joy and Peace"

 Connor's First Christmas

 Every year we go to the same place to pick our tree. This year we had a little extra help.

Did I mention he was sitting??

Another Kellum Family Tradition is the lighting of Union Station and The City and County Building. This year we went to Union Station since I am Co-Chair of the LoDo Young Professional's Committee and this was put on by the LoDo District. Ps. "LoDo" means Lower Downtown.

And Last, but certainly not Least...after all of the Thanksgiving festivities...Connor just can't take anymore and falls alseep in his highchair for the first time. What else would you do Thanksgiving??

It's coming on Christmas....

Stay tuned for the "...they're cutting down trees" segment. Connor got to pick out his first Christmas Tree.

Babies on the Block

There is something in the Denver water. Starting May 7th all the way until July 15th, there were 5 babies born within 5 houses of my house (one direction or another). All of us parents try to get together every other month or so to see how they are growing and compare stories. This was the first gathering. Connor was 2 months old here.

Elliot (May 7th), Leah (May 15th), Calliope (June 5th), Connor (June 17th) & Joel (July 15th)

This past weekend (and way overdue) we finally got everyone together. We attempted it last month, but only three of us were able to get together. Connor is 5 months old this week so, it has been three months since the last picture and I am glad to report that the other babies are catching up with him. HAHA

Again in age order...

They were just so cute this past weekend. They are actually trying to sit up and play with each other. Elliot was sitting all by himself and reaching for the others. Everyone else was sitting with a little help from Mommy, Daddy or the Boppy. Can't wait for our next get together in December. Hopefully everyone can come.

ps. None of us knew the others were pregnant. It came out one by one by one last spring and needless to say we were shocked!

Roll Baby Roll

Connor started rolling over this past weekend and I finally caught it on video. This little guy is just too cute.

And so it continues.... "Connor, please be still". Needless-to-say we have our hands full

And so it continues....

"Connor, be still"

Ps I am trying to post from my phone, so bare with me.

"Connor, NO. Sit Down" and so it starts....

4 Months, an Ear Infection, and taking BIG BITES

So, on Friday we went to the doctor for CK's 4 month check-up.

Local Stats on the Big Man:
16lbs 13ozs - 85%
26 1/2 Inches Long - 92%
Head was about 16 something and in the 80 something %, but it is in the car, I don't feel like going to get it and I don't remember.

I am just thankful he didn't weigh in at 17 or 18lbs. He is a big boy, but hopefully slowing down some...otherwise I may have standing appointments with the chiropractor from now on.

So, instead of getting our 4 month shots, the doctor gives us the news that CK has his first ear infection. We were home in Mississippi last weekend and his nose and eye started running. He still had the wonderful disposition that he always has, ate up a storm, and never ran a fever. How was I to know he had an ear infection?? I felt like a bad Mommy, but with such a wonderful baby it was hard to tell he felt bad.

So we started him on the "pink stuff". The antibiotic we all loved as a child (amoxacillin). Aunt Annie and I confirmed we both loved it and so does Connor. Needless-to-say it has lead to a few dirty diapers and the doc telling us to start him on Rice Cereal to help out his digestive system.

Now, I must tell you. I thought for the past few weeks CK was ready for Cereal, but the doc we saw on Friday (not our regular doc) REFUSED to talk to me about solid foods until he was 6 months. Wouldn't even let me tell him why I thought he was ready. When the diarrhea set in, another doc recommended cereal which only made me more mad from my appointment on Friday. (nothing like two docs from your clinic telling you two different things) Now, YOU tell me if he wasn't ready for cereal....

Don't underestimate the power of "The Mommy" and her intuition. He has been eating like a champ since Sunday. He was ready to eat and I WAS RIGHT! EAT IT DR GENRICH! We won't be going back to you!

You can't even tell from my pics this baby boy is even sick ;-)
I just love him!

Rocking chairs, rocking babies...

Connor has never been a "rock me" kind of baby. He would always fuss and move around in your lap just wanting to be laid down in his crib and swaddled. He would then turn his little head and go straight to sleep. This was the case up until about a week ago. He then decided he no longer wanted to be swaddled because his hands were way to much fun to put in his mouth and rub his eyes, yet he couldn't get comfortable enough to fall asleep quickly.

This weekend we were having one of our fits where I would put him down and he would move around until the paci fell out, cry, I would put it back in and then put this on repeat. So finally I just picked him up and rocked him. And what do you know... we have been rocking since. Now, I know everyone says "don't start rocking them, you will never be able to stop". Even I said that when he was little. But my heart started hurting a bit when every night I would just go put him down and he didn't want me to hold him. So, I guess it's a delicate balance but I loved rocking him this weekend and I hope we continue to do that. I always wanted a bedtime ritual of reading and tucking my kids in, but that really starts with Rocking, doesn't it?!


"Rocking chairs, rocking babies, rock-a-bye, rock of ages. Side by side we'll be together always" Dolly Parton

16lbs 6oz

No, that is not the size of the pumpkins we bought. That is the weight of my 3 1/2 month old son. I must say though that he balances some of that weight with his height. He is roughly 25 inches long already. I am thinking quarter back in the SEC one day.

Here is my handsome fella all dressed up for dinner Friday night. (Please excuse the drool, it will be present in almost all of his future pics)

Ps. Although I put the socks on him, his Dad pulled them up to his knees so you could see the planes.

The Aspens...they are a changing

For Connor's three month birthday we went to the mountains for the weekend. It also happens to be the same weekend we have our time share in Granby. It always amazes me that it is still hot here in Denver and just into the mountains, the weather is not only cooler, but there is an amazing display of color. I LOVE FALL! Football, leaves, pumpkins, Football...

Here is a little pic before our journey began.

On Saturday we started our adventure early around 8am. We decided we were going to take a new path through Empire and over a new pass called Jones Pass. Empire is famous for a little restaurant called Jenny's. The best pie Andrea and I have ever had. Little did we know they also serve breakfast. Had we known that fact, we would have bypassed McDonald's and went straight to Jenny's...oh well.

Here are some of the views from Jones Pass

So, as our adventure continues we get to the other side of the mountain in a cool valley, but soon realize there is no way out. The roads are closed to the campsites that lead to the main road on the other side of the pass. Here is me studying the map and feeding little dude trying to figure out if there is another off road adventure we could take without driving the hour back to the other side....

There wasn't, and so after a little time stretching our legs...

We made it back over and to a little site were we stopped and cooked hot dogs and chilled on a blanket by the river.

Connor got several new hats before we left.... Here is one of our favorites!

We finally made it to Granby, just in time to relax a bit, have some dinner and late night cocktail on the balcony ;-)

The next morning, Connor and I decided we would sit outside for coffee and milk, but it was a little chilly. So we tried on Hat #2 and we loved it. READY FOR WINTER!

Joey headed out fishing early so it was just me, little guy and Abby. Although it wasn't freezing, we couldn't resist putting on our bear suit that NaNa and Granddaddy gave us so we could take Abby for a walk. I think he liked it. The only things he couldn't figure out was where his hands were inside the mits.

Sunday afternoon we spent in Grand Lake, CO. It is always just so beautiful there.

 Connor is just learning to stand, so I imagine he is saying..,"ooo what is this stuff on my feet"

Great Ending to a wonderful weekend getaway...