Firsts

We’ve been busy in the Halman house.  I like to celebrate “First” time events.  And that’s because you can only have ONE first time for every event in your life.  First smile, first steps, first time riding a bicycle with no training wheels, first kiss, first heartbreak, first child.  Your “firsts” change you and you always remember your first everything.  That’s why this post is dedicated to all the firsts that have been happening in our neck of the woods lately. 

We’ll start with a first date night we’ve had in a while.  We plan to make it a weekly or biweekly event from now on.  When you have children, be it one or 10, it’s hard to find time for just the two of you.  But we’ve made a promise to have “our” time and to not forget the feelings we first had for each other.  It’s what made us who we are today and gave us this awesome family of ours.  If the mommy and daddy aren’t happy and on the same page, no one in the family is happy.  Well, we are happy!!! 

First day of Pre-K.  Am I really typing this?  I can’t believe little angel, Isla Shea, is in pre-k.  We went shopping together, just she and I, and she picked out every article of clothing on her little self.  Hot pink Hello Kitty shirt, check!  Hot pink glittery tutu skirt, check!  Sparkly leopard print shoes, check!  I’m ready, mom!

Not really a first but I had to throw in these two pictures…I mean can it get any sweeter?  (Even if Palmer is crying in the second one)

First rice cereal.  The boy was hungry!  Palmer was like a little bird in the nest opening his mouth and waiting for the worm to drop in.  He loves it!  Especially if it’s mixed with bananas or sweet potatoes.  He can’t stand peas…but who can blame him.  Palmer still wakes up twice a night for feedings so it doesn’t fill his little belly up as much as I’d like, but I’m happy he likes it. 

First picture of John carrying Palmer in the baby Bjorn.  It’s the nightly ritual.  The witching hour starts at 5:00pm in our house.  Cue Isla, Leo, and Palmer either whining, crying, or being too wild and crazy.  And they all do this at the same time.  After John walks in the door and dresses out of his work clothes, he straps the baby Bjorn on and in goes Palmer.  Then we have only two children left to tame.  Meanwhile I cook dinner, fix the plates, pour the drinks and we finally get to sit down and talk about the day (whiny baby still in our laps or strapped to John.)  Then it’s bath time and bedtime for the P-nut.  Isla and Leo aren’t far behind. 

First Gator game of the season.  And Palmer’s first gator game ever.  John and I got a babysitter and went up to Dick’s Wings to watch our team in action.  We may have left at halftime to go dance at the Ritz.  :)  GO GATORS!

First time sleeping arrangements.  It broke my heart to have to move my precious Palmer out of the bassinet and into his crib.  I wanted to have him sleeping next to me forever but it was time.  He was waking up every hour all through the night.  After crying my eyes out I put him to sleep in his crib in his owl themed nursery.  He slept like a rock!  This meant Leo had to move out of the crib and into a big boy bed.  And not just any bed, a bunk bed with his sister sleeping on top.  I was really nervous that they would talk and play with each other till midnight before falling asleep.  Surprisingly they were asleep by 9.  Leo only cried once to go back to the nursery but we told him this was his new bed and thanked him for sharing his crib with Palmer and he said, “Okay.”  Such a sweet heart he is.  They absolutely love sharing a room together and they sleep better than before.  Isla used to walk into our room at least twice a night because of nightmares but she hasn’t at all now that she has Leo to keep her safe.  I hear them talking, laughing and singing to each other behind the door and it makes me so happy that they are so close.  So the First that I was dreading most turned out to be wonderful for everyone!  And a great nights sleep makes for a happy baby in the morning: 

(Last time in his crib…my baby boy is growing up)

This little one is 4 months old and continues to melt our hearts with his sweeter-than-candy smiles.  He smiles at anyone who talks to him, he giggles and even let out a belly laugh today, he grabs at anything within his grasp; including my hair, he loves to play with his feet when he’s lying on his back, he also loves to roll to his side but hasn’t quite made it all the way over yet.  Palmer is a precious little p-nut and we are so complete!  Time to go capture some more firsts on film…