Three month pictures

We had Zane's three month pictures taken a few weeks ago. Click here if you'd like to see them.
I'm gonna go broke buying pictures because he's so darn cute!

Today was his four month check up. I'll update later with a four month pic....promise!

the potato head can roll!

Sixteen weeks and three days. That's how old Zane is today. And guess what the little monkey decided he could do......roll from back to tummy! I left him playing in the floor, looking at his Baby Einstein toy. I noticed that he couldn't see me well from where he was laying, and he was straining his little head back trying to look at me. Guess he'd rather look at me....maybe I'm a little more entertaining than Einstein....my mom says he thinks I'm a movie star....but, anyway, that's beside the point....I think the way he had his head turned, and the fact that if he's laying flat on his back his feet must be either held straight up in the air or kicking like crazy, helped him to roll. I tried to document with the camera, but he wasn't having as much luck. I still think it's a cute video and I love hearing him "talk"; however, I hate having to hear myself talk!

Hoppy Easter!

Hoppy Easter to everyone from the Bell family! Although it was quite a yucky day outside, we had a great Easter Sunday. We got up three hours before church started and made it just in time! Things sure do change when you have a baby. He was such a good baby during church, too. We made a quick exit toward the end of the service.....one whole hour is a lot to expect out of a 3 month old. I must say, he looked Aaaaaa-dorable in his Easter outfit. Check him out!

I'm sure he'll hate these pictures when he's older, but I couldn't resist....

We had our annual Easter egg hunt, but due to rain, it took place inside KayeKaye's house. There were nine of us kids (yes, Matt and I are still kids) that participated in the hunt. Here we are (minus me because I was taking the picture) waiting on the 'adults' to hide the eggs.

I had a poor performance. There were 161 eggs hidden. Guess how many I found?

Yes, FIVE! I must be getting too old for egg hunts...

Zane got a few goodies from multiple Easter bunnies. See for yourself....spoiled?

Can you believe his DeeDee found him an Easter Mr. Potato Head and cousin Kara found him an Easter monkey...or monkey bunny, as we've been calling it! Two must-haves for this little guy!

His Papa Skeet has a very calming effect on Zane-O. He got him to sleep after all of the excitement. I'd just bet he was singing to him....

We had a great time visiting with family and enjoyed some great food, but I do want to mention that Easter had a more powerful meaning to me this year as I thought about the true meaning, about how my God allowed his only son to die on the cross for me and three days later he arose from the dead! I can't begin to fathom God's love for us, but having a son of my own....and knowing how much I love him.....well, that's one great God we serve!

my trip to hampton

(Narrated by Zane)

Hey there. Sit back and I'll tell you about my trip I took down south last weekend to see my Nana Beth and Pops. First, my Pops said it was time for me to meet my horse, Valentine. You know, the manly one? I wanted to be properly dressed for the occasion, so I put on my cowboy hat onesie. My Pops likes to call me "Cowboy".


Once I had on the proper attire, Pops took me to the barn. He said I'm not quite big enough to ride yet.

Mom showed me the horseys. It's pretty cool that I already have my own horse, huh?

And I figured out why my manly horse is named 'Valentine'. He has a heart-shaped marking on his booty! This is the best picture I could get of the heart.


Then we went to sit on the John Deere tractor, because all little boys love tractors, right? My mom says she used to spend a lot of time on one of these during the summer....cutting, raking, and moving hay. I'm not really sure I believe her, but she did look pretty natural up there.



I was pretty worn out after so much excitement on the farm, so I took a little nap.

Later, mom stripped off all of my clothes, but she was NOT gonna get my diaper. I held on for dear life!

Just in case she didn't believe me, I gave her my mean face and shook my fist at her. (It's all an act, but don't let her know.)

Happy Anniversary, Nana Beth and Pops! Thanks for a fun trip!

Three months old

Friday was Zane's three month birthday and, to make it memorable, he slept EIGHT hours! This is a first....hope it's not the last! Guess he thinks he's a big boy now! Of course, I woke up at 1 and checked on him, went back to sleep, and woke up at 4 to find that he was STILL asleep! And then I couldn't go back to sleep, of course. Maybe he liked the sound of the storms? He woke up at 6, ate, and went right back to sleep......I kinda miss the little guy. Should I go wake him up? No way!

I couldn't get a great picture of him in his chair, but I'm posting one anyway because I like having the chair and monkey as a reference for his growth.


I love this little outfit! I bought it at Janie and Jack soon after I found out that I was having a little boy. He wore it Saturday night to his first wedding reception. Well, I should say that he wore it for about, oh, 15 minutes before we had to do a...ahem.....wardrobe change.....if you get my drift. He was the hit of the party! Hope he didn't steal too much attention from the bride ;)

He discovered that he can get his fists to his mouth about two weeks ago. His current ambition in life is to get the whole thing in his mouth. He's pretty close!




Mornings are his prime time. He is always in a great mood. That's when he likes to smile, laugh, and "talk", but first he has to do lots of stretching!



Even when sleep deprived, how can you not be happy to see this precious face?! I can't believe he's already three months old. It really has gone by so fast. I find myself turning off the tv and not answering the phone more and more, just so that I can be in Zane's world. Sometimes when he's sleeping he makes all kinds of faces, one after the other. Smile, poke out his lips, frown, pucker up, squeeze his eyes shut tight....he's so funny to watch. I could stare at him for hours and never get bored. And I love the way he smells.....wonder how long you can say that about a little boy? I even love to breathe in the smell of his breath. Ok, ok....you get the picture....I love my sweet little boy! Happy 3 month birthday, Stinky Face!

angels' wings

Nope. No way, no how. Nu-uh. Not gonna do it. Digging in my heels. Kickin' and screamin'. Not gonna go...except that I have to. Somehow, tomorrow morning I have to look into those beautiful brown eyes and say goodbye as I go back to work....for a long, long, long 12 hour shift. I just can't stand even thinking about it. About how badly I'm gonna miss him. How my arms are gonna ache to hold him. I'll want to sniff his little head. And kiss his neck. and his mouth. Cause I'm his mom. I've been with him every single day for 12 weeks. I know him.

I remember going to get pictures made when he was just a few weeks old. I don't remember much from the first, oh, six weeks...seems like such a blur, like I was in a fog that wouldn't lift. But I remember the photographer asking me how he liked to be held. Was there a certain side he preferred? We were still getting to know each other and I didn't know. I thought, "How will I ever know?"

Well, now I know. I know that he likes his bouncy seat, but only while the vibrations are on. And he likes his play mat for a little while, but only with the music and lights on. He likes to sleep propped up in his boppy. I know that when he gets sleepy his little eyebrows turn red. And that's the only time he wants his paci, and to be cradled like a baby, and swayed from side to side. Not bounced. Bouncing is for when he's fussy. And I know his sounds, his different cries. I can tell when he's hungry or fussy. I know that he loves his feet rubbed, but not his head. Sometimes when he's nursing, I'll rub his soft, little feet. And if I stop before he's ready, he'll make a little whimper. And he'll pick that little foot up and plop it right back down in my hand. No lie. He already knows how to get what he wants. He likes to hold hands....well, his whole, tiny little hand, and my finger. I know that he knows that I'm his momma.

But will he understand tomorrow when his momma leaves? It's gonna be THE-HARDEST-THING that I have ever done in my entire life. How am I going to make myself walk out that door? And I know that he'll be SO LOVED and taken care of while I'm away. I'm a very lucky girl in the fact that I have family taking care of him. He'll actually be spoiled rotten. And I'm also grateful that I have a good job to go back to. I never thought I'd not want to go back to work. I mean, I got a bachelor's degree and a doctorate so that I could work, so I could help people....and I've got the student loan payment to prove it. But I'd rather get paid to be a mommy :)

So, if you're reading this, say a prayer for me. Actually, say two. I'm going to need angels' wings to carry me out the door.

Daffodils

Matt and I took advantage of yesterday's perfect weather and drove to Wye Mountain to see the daffodils. We had high hopes of getting some great pictures; however, Zane had other plans. He never seems to be in a great mood when the camera comes out! We were also battling his fist that always seems to be in his mouth and the sun being in our eyes, but we got a few good ones!