Oliver Russell - 4 months

My little Ollie boy is growing so fast!  Thanks to trying rice cereal he is finally starting to chunk up a bit.  Nothing I love more than some baby rolls!

Look at those thighs!!!!

Oliver loves looking in the mirror, playing with his toes and biting on his hands.

Of course Elle wanted to jump in and participate in the picture fun.  I know she's mine but I just think this little lady is the cutest girl ever...and is the sweetest (90% of the time :).  That other 10% will hit you like a tornado though...2 1/2 is no joke.

We had his 4 month checkup where they gave us the clear to start rice cereal...it was love at first bite!

The 4 month checkup was basically hell.  Elle went as well for her 2 1/2 year checkup and girlfriend was in a MOOD.  I was by myself which made everything so much more fun. #sarcasm  

I learned a very important lesson that day...always schedule separate check-ups for them...also, cakepop bribes don't always work. :)  We definitely still went to Starbucks after (mama needed a coffee after that madness but the little girl in the backseat left empty handed).  Oliver once again had a rough afternoon after his shots so this has me dreading his 6 month checkup. :(

Back to Ollie and his squishy, 4 month old, cuteness.  I could seriously eat this boy up.  The amount of kisses he receives in 1 day has to be some sort of world record.

Oliver Russell - 3 months

We have been blessed with such an easy, happy-go-lucky baby boy.

Oliver has such a laid back attitude and is (almost) always happy...especially if being held!

I think I am turning him into a mama's boy!  

This go around on the monthly photos I have a little assistant each month.  She ALWAYS wants to help write the chalkboard (if you look closely most months you can see little scribbles in the corners) and helps with photo set up and tries to rip the monthly sticker off him every chance she gets because she wants it. :)  Usually she is satisfied with getting it at the end (along with photos of her in the crib) but sometimes she wants a completely different monthly sticker so that always makes things fun and interesting. :)

Oliver adores Eleanor, he loves to watch her play and always has the biggest smile on his face when watching her.  

Oliver has some big eyes, since the night he was born he has been a wide-eyed little babe!  His eyes are still blue as can be...hoping they stay that way!  Elle has Eric's eyes so I would love for Ollie to have mine.

Rascals Game

For the Rascals home opener they had scheduled Fredbird to make an appearance so Mary and I decided to take all the babes to the game.  Elle has developed a love for sports mascots so she was pretty excited!

We got to the stadium early, we read online that Fredbird would be greeting fans as they arrived and we wanted lots of time for the kids to see him...well ol' Fredbird didn't show up until the 7th inning.  That's a really long wait and a lot of asking "when's Fredbird gonna get here?" from a 3 and 2 year old. :)  So we spent some time at the playground...

and did a little bit of running/dancing.

Then we found Ruffy the Rascal!  Henry and Elle were SO EXCITED!  Just last year Elle was terrified of him, crazy the difference a year makes.  Bear was not a fan...at all. 

Elle and Henry spent the rest of the time border line stalking Ruffy.  They would just hover around him asking for high-fives.

We watched a teensy-tiny bit of the game in the grass by the bullpen.  Henry was star-struck by the players and desperately wanted a high-five from one of them but was too shy to ask.

Finally Fred Bird arrived...and it was pandemonium!  For kids, Fredbird is a true celebrity, it was hard to even make your way through the crowd to him...but our kiddos managed.

  

Again with the high-fives! 

Elle just stood next him poking him, trying to get his attention.

After the game we all came back to our house for a slumber party to watch one of Elle's favorite movies, Paddington.  You give this girl popcorn and a good movie and she's in heaven. :)

Ollie's First Zoo Trip & Shark Encounters

We took Eleanor and Oliver to the zoo one day in April.  I came across the pictures in Shutterfly and realized I never shared them.  Gotta document baby's first trip to the zoo!!

Well, Ollie slept 95% of the time but big sissy enjoyed the day!

The train is one of Elle's favorite parts of the zoo.  She (we) loves screaming in the dark tunnels.

This trip was the first time we ever stopped at the stingray exhibit.  Going on a Saturday this area is usually packed but this particular weekday we practically had the zoo to ourselves.

I was hovering pretty closely over Elle and Eric during this.  One of the workers could sense my anxiety and reassured me the stingrays were fine...she did warn to pull Elle's hand up if a shark went by.  Wait, what? Sharks!??! 

They were small, bull sharks maybe?  I even asked if the sharks teeth were removed so they couldn't bite :) :)....still have all their chompers but they kept trying to reassure me that everything would be fine.

Just when I started to get on board they announced it was the stingrays feeding time.  You could buy a little cup of fish for $1 so Eric went to grab one for Elle.  I (still asking all the questions) asked if the sharks are blocked off during the feeding time...nope!  They just stressed to make sure and pull your hand (holding a fish) out of the water if a shark approaches because they will try to grab it.  I felt like I was the only one who thought this whole process was bizarre...and dangerous.  

Mama bear was on the LOOK-OUT! This is the look Eric was giving me as I would yell "shark, shark, SHAAAARRRRK!!!" to Eric for him to pull Elle's teeny tiny hand out of the water.

Needless to say I'm ok with skipping this section on future zoo trips.