All smiles Loving cousin Amy
Can't get enough of his smiles!

Chilling on our new couch

Visit with Brad's Cousin Amy

Last night, we were excited to have Brad's cousin Amy here for a visit. Amy is in DC on a business trip but lives in Kentucky. We were thrilled to introduce her to Baker and crazy enough, I had never met her in person, only talked over the phone. So, we ordered in Mexican and had a little picnic in our living room while we watched Baker play on his floor gym. It was a great visit and we know there are a few envious family members in the Blackmon family because Amy got to meet Baker in person and no one other than Brad's parents have. So, sorry you guys but it was a great visit and Baker greeted her with plenty of smiles! Oh, and we were also thrilled to get our new couch in yesterday! We got a new chair delivered on Monday so we are set!

Sitting proudly for Dr. Fleming

Getting weighed by nurse Karen

He's happy now before the appointment. Things surely changed soon after!

2 Month Doctor's Appointment with Shots Included!

Today was a HUGE day for the Blackmons. It was the dreaded 2 month appointment with Baker's pediatrician for his immunizations. We went to bed dreading it and woke up feeling the same way! There are so many controversial issues out there right now with shots and autism but Brad and I know that the benefits of them outweigh the risks. We just prayed over him before the appointment for God to protect him. We know that he is in God's hands and that we can't control it. They saved the shots for last and did all of the 2 month check-up stuff beforehand. We are pleased to announce that Baker is by no means hurting in the weight gain department. He weighs 12.8 lbs (75%ile), he is 23 3/4 inches long (90%ile, so he is a long baby) and his head circ is 15.5 (65%ile). Baker is our little chunky monkey!

He did so great through the whole check-up, smiling and talking at the nurse and doctor. The doctor said that his neck was strong, right where it should be, and that he is flipping over already because he is building so much strength during his tummy time. She was impressed that he is sleeping through the night already and said that he has proved he can go without feedings in the night. She warned us that he might try to wake up in the middle of the night one of these days but told us not to feed him, just soothe him. He's just trying to trick us!! The little trickster! He hasn't tried to pull that over on us yet but I'm sure he'll try one of these days. After all the good news, it was time for the shots. So, we braced ourself and him. The nurse had to give him 4 shots in his thighs and one oral. Needless to say, he was NOT happy when she stuck him and screamed the most pitiful cry. Then I started crying but Brad and I just tried comfort him. In a flash it was over and he whimpered a bit but overall, he was a champ! Now we feel so much better that he is protected from the icky things out there! Enjoy the pics.

We couldn't leave out little Bleeker!! He's part of the family too!
One More Picture

Our little family...couldn't be happier!
Baker in his Easter duds.

A perfect trio!

At the other Nicole's house for Easter dinner.

Baker loves his pastor Dale!

Baker and his new friend Grayson

Kelly and Nicole with Grayson and Baker

Lauren and Brandon - Baker is very relaxed when Lauren holds him!

Happy Easter From the Blackmons!!

Celebrating Easter this year was particularly special for Brad and I. Having our little Baker to share it with made it so incredible that it's hard to put it into words. We put him in his little Easter outfit and off to church we went for the first time since he arrived. It was so nice to go back after all this time and introduce him to those that had not had the chance to meet him yet. He was just a dream during the service. We had to feed him once because his feeding time was at 11:30 but he didn't care as long as he got food! After the service, he was introduced to another little friend, Grayson, that was born just a few weeks after. So of course we all had to take pictures! After church, we went home but later met up at a friends' house for an Easter dinner with a few different couples from church. We had a great time! Overall, our Easter was awesome and we can't wait for next year and especially for an Easter when he can partake in the Easter egg hunt! Hope yours was just as great!

Maybe he'll like hats as much as his mommy! Snuggling with his lamb...thank you Aunt Nancy!
In a 12 month onesie - we'll watch how he grows each month in it!
He's getting so strong and chubby...love those rolls!

With all of his Easter pals.

From the top

2 Month Photo Shoot

As always, I am very camera happy but even more so now that he is 2 months old! So, of course I set up a photo shoot and took a million pictures, most of them looking the same, of the baby. He's just so darn precious that I can't help myself. Enjoy!

Delphi and Keith with Baker

Falling asleep during tummy time...must be comfortable!

Charlie holding Baker. He was so happy and had the sweetest look on his face.

Anna and I with the boys.

Happy 2 Month Birthday Baker!

Well, yesterday was the big 2 month birthday for our baby boy and we are in shock! It's SO hard to believe that 8 weeks have already gone by with him and that we're still alive but it feels so great! He has certainly filled our lives with so much more joy than we thought was possible. Our family is most definitely complete now that Baker is in it.

This week, we had our friends Jeff, Anna and Charlie in town. Anna had to come for work but while they were here on Tues, they looked for a place to live since they are moving in 8 weeks! We cannot wait to be neighbors again like we were in NY. We were able to join in on some of the house hunting fun and then later met up for dinner. Then on Wed, while Brad was out of town, they came over to our place along with some other friends from Richmond, Joanie and Keith and their 2 kids. They hadn't met Baker yet so it was a lot of fun to introduce him. There will most certainly be more fun to come in the next few months!

Flipping Out Because Baker Just Flipped Over!

Okay, so I was just videotaping Baker on his tummy time mat because he started cooing so loudly! It was just precious! He was just talking away to me. Of course, as soon as I broke out the camera, he just grunted a lot. BUT as I was recording him, just hoping he would coo again, he started getting really irritated at being on his tummy and next thing you know, he flipped over and I just happened to have it on video! How great is that? I tried to see if he would do it again and he did it 2 more times. So it's official...he's a genius! Ha! Enjoy the video.

Never seen anything more precious!
We love to watch him sleep. He looks so peaceful.

All wrapped up after his bath.

Getting some sugar.

Just hanging with his duckie.

Geez, give me some privacy will ya?

Tough guy...looks like a future Harley man. He better not be!

Baker is getting so long that we actually had to take out the head support cushion in his carseat!

Bathtime and Naptime

I've been wanting to take some more pictures of Baker during bathtime but we always forget. He's getting to the place where he really seems to enjoy it now as opposed to the first pictures we posted on here after his first few days home. He just relaxes and lets us do our thing so I wanted to capture it all on film. He likes to wee during most baths so we have to be careful not to rinse him in his pee pee water! However, last night's bath was wee wee free!

Just a few moments ago, I laid him down on the bed to swaddle him for his morning nap and of course he fell sound asleep. He was just so peaceful that I had to take some pictures, of course! I'm very camera happy with this baby. Plus, he was laying right next to his Easter bunny that his Nana and Papa gave him so I thought it was a perfect photo moment. Since I brought the bunny up, I might as well tell you that his Nana and Papa sent over a Christmas sized box full of Easter happies (that's what we call fun gifts in the Blackmon family) - crinkle books, sunglasses, two DVDs (Praise Baby and God Made Animals), bottle cozy, Boo-bunny icepak, Halo sleepsack and more stuff that I can't even remember! Thank you Nana and Papa Blackmon!

A bit more exciting news for us...Brad and I bought our very first couch as a couple yesterday!! We have been wanting a couch for some time now but had a hard time getting rid of the current furniture that he got from Pottery Barn before we were married. It's great furniture but we just needed a change, not to mention that Bleeker has dug a few small holes on one of the cushions. During the last few weeks of the pregnancy, he became very anxious and seemed to get really nervous every time we would leave the house. We peeked in the window once after we left and there he was, digging his way through our sofa! He looked like a mad dog, bless his heart. So, this put the nail in the coffin for the sofa and we decided it was due time. Bleeker is doing so much better now that the baby is here so there should hopefully be no more digging! Our new sofa will arrive from Crate and Barrel on the 25th of this month, next week, and we are going to donate our current one to the Salvation Army!! Can't wait!

We're free!

Snug as a bug in a rug

Sara Beth and Jamey, Carolyn and Ed, Mila and Ramon

Sarah, Aaron and Addy (Nicole's fellow Tarheels)

Double trouble - Baker and Noah.

Baker and his new friend Claire

Chip, Molly and cutie Claire

New mommies

Our pastor and his family - Dale, Mary Susan and Carla Seley

He looks happy now but it doesn't take long before he is over tummy time!

Baker on his new tummy time mat

Saturday, More Like Friend Day

Yesterday was a busy day filled with visits from friends. Brad and I feel so blessed with the friends that we've made in DC...it really feels like home to us. After lunch, we were thrilled to have our pastor Dale, and his wife Mary Susan and their daughter Carla over for a visit to see us and Baker. Who am I kidding? We know everyone comes to see Baker these days! Ha! They are so much fun and we always enjoy being in their company. You're guaranteed a good laugh when they are around.

Soon after they left, we were so excited to see our new friends Molly and Chip and their 3 week old daughter Claire. Crazy enough, these are friends that we met them in our childbirthing class. It's great because we all have a common bond...parenthood, but before this it was all about preparing for labor and delivery! They are a lot of fun to hang out with and the babies seemed to enjoy each other's company too. You can imagine that we all had our cameras out taking tons of pictures and videos of them...we're such new parents!

After they left, we had dinner plans with some other friends from church, once again at Sara Beth and Jamey's house in Capitol Hill...they're such great hosts. It was Italian night for us so we ate Paula Dean's lasagna, salad, ciabatta and Italian desserts...yum! It was great to get Baker together again with Carolyn and Ed's new baby Noah and see how much they have grown since last weekend. It's amazing how many friends we have with new babies, not just in DC but all over, from NC to Boston. They're are a lot of us out there! We had a wonderful day full of friends and we wouldn't have it any other way!

"I didn't do it."

"Okay, maybe I did!"

"I know I'm funny!"

Just Some Cute Snapshots