My First Thanksgiving

"My first Thanksgiving was so much fun! I was able to spend a week with my Granny and Uncles. We played A LOT, and I didn't want to take any naps because I wanted to spend as much time with them as I could. I showed everyone how I can walk, play, laugh, and most of all eat! I thought that the food my mom and Granny made was very good. I ate mashed potatoes, carrots, dressing, and sweet potatoes. Later on Thanksgiving Day, my Aunt Liz and cousins Logan and Brittany came over to visit. I had a lot of fun with them too. I can't wait for Christmas!"

**Pictures of him eating are coming soon!

Martez is walking!!!

Martez has finally started walking! We were at JCPenny's this evening getting Christmas pictures, and Martez decided he wanted to start walking. Luckily we got every step of it recorded :). "Look out Granny, I'm gonna be running circles around you when you get here in 2 days!" Check out the video...he is so cute!

9 Month update

I can't believe 9 months has already gone by! Martez is setting new milestones every month. He finally cut his first tooth about 6 weeks ago and now has 4. He started with the 2 bottom teeth in the middle and then decided to cut his 2 canine teeth at the top. He won't sit still long enough for me to get a good picture of it, but it looks quite funny. I just went to the dentist yesterday, and he said he has never heard of this before...usually they cut the 2 top middle teeth first and the canines don't come in until about 15 months. He told me I might want to have any x-ray done if the middle teeth don't come in the next couple of months...what a little stinker. Martez is closer and closer to walking. He plays this fun game with himself where he will let go of whatever he is holding on to and see how long he can stand (smiling and laughing the entire time). He gets so excited the longer he stands...so cute! He also rocks back and forth while he is holding on to something and lifts up his leg like he wants to take a step, but he just can't get the coordination to do it. I will have to post a video of it so you all can see. I am sure he will be running all over the place before we know it. He has finally expanded his vocabulary from DADA to NANA and then BABA and finally MAMA!!!! I thought mama would never come, but I guess he was saving the best for last :). Martez also loves to eat. Anytime he sees us eating he is at our feet begging for a bite regardless of the last time he ate. I can't really say if there is something that he likes to eat the most, because he eats anything and we haven't found anything he doesn't like...oink oink! He goes for his 9 month appointment next Monday, so I will update you all on his measurements.

Trick-or-Treat!!!

Martez had a little fever yesterday morning, so we weren't sure if he was going to be able to go trick or treating. But, by the evening his fever was gone, and it wasn't that cold outside, so went went around the block. Everyone thought he was the cutest lion :)

This is when we got home from trick or treating. He got his first sucker...what a sticky mess!

Martez & Isaac

Katie and Eric brought Isaac over to play with Martez, and they had so much fun. Martez was a little rough at first, but once Isaac got warmed up they had a great time. I can't wait to get them together again!

Go ILL-INI!!!

Hangin with Daddy

Martez loves being up high!

"Look out Dada"

Martez just got his bath and was getting ready to bed. That big smile is the first thing we see in the morning and the last thing we see at night...what a happy baby!

Precious

I am still searching for something more precious than a sleeping baby. I always wondered why parents say they just stand by their baby's crib and watch them sleep. For those parents...I now understand completely. For those yet to be parents, I will try to put it into words. I have never seen anything more peaceful than Martez sleeping. I stare at his innocent face and wonder what dreams he is having. Once in awhile I will see a little smile come on his face without him knowing it. I watch his stomach slowly rise and fall as his healthy body works to rejuvenate. I am not sure how this is different than watching any other human being or adult sleep, but it is. Maybe it's because of his petite body, or his innocence, or his unconditional love, or maybe it is knowing I had something to do with creating something so wonderful. Whatever it is, it's difficult to put into words. I had to capture this wonderful moment and share it with you.

Bath Time!

Helping mommy cook

Standing already!!!!

I cannot belive that Martez is already pulling himself up on stuff! He is pulling up on everything, and as you can see, he can even stand against something and hold on with only one hand! I am sure that he will be walking before we know it.

He is crawling around, but only crawls when he is not in a hurry. If he gets in a hurry to get somewhere, he reverts back to scooting. I will give him another week before he has the crawling thing down pat.

No teeth yet, but he has really been working at it this week. He is chewing, rubbing, and sucking on about anything he can get his mouth on. Stay tuned...

Martez and his best friend

Martez and Aiden had so much fun together over the weekend of our housewarming party. They are going to get to spend this weekend together again while the parents go to the Illini football game, so they should have a lot of fun.

Yes, we had our hands full!!!!


They are already getting introduced the video games :)

6 MONTHS!

I cannot believe that Martez has been here for half a year already! Before you know it he will be looking me in the face. At his 6 month appointment, his Doctor said that he is very advanced for his age. She could not believe that he is already sitting up on his own, scooting very easily, and getting up on his hands and knees. While she was trying to check him out, he was into EVERYTHING! He was grabbing her hair, stethoscope, papers, pen, flash light, trying to scoot off the table...He just would not sit still. She said "no wonder he is crawling already...he doesn't sit still!"

Dr. Kelley said that Martez is in perfect health (despite the terrible cold he had that day). He is short and chunky weighing in at 17.5 lbs and 26 in. long. The Dr. said that she thinks he should have a tooth coming through in the next couple of weeks.

Martez is doing very well with eating baby food. He loves every fruit and veggie that I have given him thus far. He also started eating banana flavored puffs yesterday, and he loves those too. As you can tell by looking at him, he does not miss any feedings. He is doing much better sleeping at night. This past month he is sleeping at least 6 hours a night, and we had a few 8-9 hour nights in there too. His scooting abilities have become a true talent. Yesterday I sat him up in the living room as I went to the kitchen. Not 2 minutes later I felt something at my feet. I looked down and sure enough there was little Martez on the hard tile floor. I just love them at this age!

This boy can sleep anywhere

Virgil Look-alike Meter

FOR ONCE...Someone thinks Martez looks more like me!!!

My first swim!!!

We are finally all moved into our beautiful new house, and we actually got to enjoy ourselves at the pool yesterday. Martez loved getting in the kiddy pool. Here are some pics of him in the water, and you can click on the video to see him in action!!!!

Working out and on the move!

Check out the video of Martez getting his workout on.
Yes, he is already doing planks. He is a strong little guy :)


Here is Martez on the move...isn't it a little early for this?!?!?

Martez started daycare...

This is Martez's 4th week at daycare, and he absolutely loves it. This is a picture of him asleep in the swing when Morris went to pick him up today...HOW CUTE! I can't wait to get home and love all over him :).

Look everybody, I can sit up!

I can't believe how fast he is growing up! It seems like yesterday that he was just born and learning all about this new thing called "LIFE". Now it seems like he has it all pretty much figured out and is reaching new milestones right before our eyes. I love watching this process happen. Everyday I look at him, and I think "I cannot believe we did this!". I have had a lot of accomplishments in my short life, but I must say that none of them amount to this one. We have brought a beautiful, healthy, happy person into this world, and I could not be more proud. Martez means the world to us, and we will do everything we can to make sure he thrives into a perfect gentleman.








Aiden had this toy at his house, and Martez loved it. So, we had to get one when we got home. THANKS UNCLE JOE!

MY FIRST 4th OF JULY

Martez just had his very first 4th of July. He watched some fireworks with Granny and fell asleep even with the loud noises. I can't wait to take him to watch the real fireworks next year when he will really enjoy them. Martez also met his Uncle Joe for the very first time, and of course they hit it off. I was a little worried that he was going to take him back to Mississippi with him! More pictures from the 4th to come!

Martez's first slumber party!!!

Martez spent the night with his new friend Aiden while Morris and I went to a Wedding two weekends ago. Aiden is 9 1/2 months old, and they were so cute together! Martez kept smiling at him when they first met. Aiden is crawling around, so I think Martez got some pointers from him, because the weekend they were together was when Martez started sitting up on his own! Here is one picture of them together, and as you can see Martez LOVES Aiden. There will be more pics of them together coming soon :). THANK YOU TRAVIS AND AUTUMN!

How time flies!

I cannot believe it has already been a month since I made my last post...actually I can, because everyone is telling me that they want to see new pics of Martez!!! I do apologize for my inability to post more frequently. We currently do not have the internet, but will as soon as we move into the new house. Martez is already 4 months old, and he weighed 14lbs 8oz and was 24 3/4 in. long. He is getting much bigger and doing new things all the time. He is rolling over much better, he does A LOT of talking, and just recently has learned how to get his way (he cries anytime someone other than mom holds him). He is a very happy baby and such a joy to be around. His joy is contagious, because no one can get enough of him. Here are the most recent pictures of him.



"Look mom, I'm doing it!!"



"Look at my muscles!"

He rolled over right after i took this picture :)



Now if this isn't cute. We were just getting ready to go for a walk in the nice weather.


I laid him down for 10 seconds and found him sound asleep next to daddy.

Thats right everyone...he is a momma's boy!

Can I get a little bit of credit?

ok...maybe not!

Martez LOVES to stand up. I can't wait to get him a walker

The love of our lives

As you can see, Martez is getting a little personality. He smiles all the time and is such a joy to be around. We cannot imagine our lives without him. It's funny because every time Morris and I get some time together without the baby the only thing we talk about his HIM!!! We laugh and say "why are we talking about him again" and before you know it we start talking about something else that has to do with Martez. He is on our minds every second of everyday. This is the type of baby that you just want to show off to the world. We always look forward to taking him places and showing off pictures to everyone we pass (family, friends, or strangers). It is amazing to think that we created such a perfect human being. I thank God everyday for such a happy, healthy baby.