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Monday, December 31, 2012

6 months

The potential possibilities of any child are the most intriguing and stimulating in all creation. ~ Ray L. Wilbur
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Half a year!  What the heck?


My little man had quite a busy sixth month. He is growing ever bigger, and more expressive.  **Update- Ephraim is 18 lbs 3.2 oz and 28.5 inches long.  That puts him in the 50th percentile for weight and the 95th percentile for height.

Ephraim is quite mobile.  He loves to army crawl and is very efficient at it. 
He's an adventurer and already wants to get all the things.  We are definitely in trouble with this one :-P.

He can sit up, but prefers to be on his tummy so he doesn't sit up for long.

He is making more sounds.  He says 'mom' when he is crying and occasionally says "dada" when he is happy.  This mama is not so sure what to think about that :-P

He's very ticklish all over, but after the initial laughter tends to get very mad when tickled.  He had better get used to the tickles though, because his daddy is not letting up any time soon (or mommy for that matter).

He's discovered blowing raspberries and does that frequently.  It's very cute.

Ephraim has two teeth now.  He handled teething pretty well, although he was a very sad baby at bed times.

Ephraim LOVES eating solid food.  That is definitely supposed to be in all caps.  He can't get enough of it.  So far we have tried oatmeal, bananas, applesauce, avacado, and sweet potatoes.  He enjoyed all of it except the avacodo.  He really didn't like the avocado.  I'm excited to start broadening my big six-month-old's horizons in the coming months.

What Ephraim loves most is people.  He especially loves to flirt with all the ladies. 
Ephraim enjoyed a visit with his Great-grandpa Davis on our Christmas road trip in December. 

Ephraim also enjoyed spending time with Grandma and Grandpa Ison and all of his Ison Uncles over Christmas.  It was an awesome first Christmas and he got very spoiled.

He especially loves bouncing in his new Jump-a-roo.

He's also experiencing his first cold weather.  He's not so sure what he thinks about that.

This child is very loved, and this mama is loving every minute of his crazy antics.  Thanks to everyone else who loves him as much as we do.


More 6 month pictures here
More Christmas pictures here

Friday, November 30, 2012

5 Months

People who say they sleep like a baby usually don't have one.  ~Leo J. Burke 
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My poor boy is sick for the first time on his 5 month birthday! He's a champ though and is being extra cuddly, which this mama is enjoying.  I just wish there was a good way to help his stuffy little nose so he could sleep better.

This boy's fifth month has been a very busy one.  Ephraim appears to grow every day, especially in personality.

This little boy loves to be naked and protests at getting dressed.

He is very strong and loves seeing new things and meeting new people.

Ephraim is extremely social, and laughs at mom and dad all the time.

He has big eyes that seem to absorb everything.  He is learning new sounds and has been heard saying "oh yeah" on several occasions by both Stephen and I.

He has finally mastered rolling from his back to front and is quite a mover.  He pushes himself up on his legs, and rolls all around.  He can sit up for short amounts of time.  His favorite thing is to stand anywhere he can be propped up.

Ephraim is very good with his hands and loves anything that he can grab and put in his mouth.

Ephraim is enjoying his adventures into the world of solid food.  He does not like plain oatmeal, but he LOVES bananas and bananas mixed with oatmeal.  He has also licked cantaloupe and mango and enjoyed both of those.


Thanksgiving brought many travels and new experiences.  Ephraim proved his flexibility throughout his adventures.

He went to Disney for the first time.  He enjoyed all the sights and sounds and especially all the smiley people.






Ephraim loved seeing the water and beaches of Florida, but did not love the wind.


Ephraim also enjoyed meeting more of his cousins and seeing all the Christmas sights.


Stephen and I are so lucky to have such a fun little boy!



Saturday, November 3, 2012

Food

Sleep 'til you're hungry, eat 'til you're sleepy.  ~Author Unknown
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Today was a momentous occasion in the Beckman household.  Ephraim ate his first "solid" food.  We chose oatmeal as Ephraim's first venture....and, well, I'll let the pictures tell the story.

Not so sure about what's about to come.
Here comes the first bite.
The initial reaction.

So... it was a new experience, that's for sure! :)  But despite all the strange faces, he did actually eat some., and we will try again tomorrow. :)

Thursday, November 1, 2012

4 months

  It kills you to see them grow up. But I guess it would kill you quicker if they didn't. ~Barbara Kingsolver, Animal Dreams
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I say this every month but I CANNOT get over how big my little guy is getting.  He is such an angel, and Stephen and I are very blessed parents.

Speaking of big boys, Ephraim continues to sit happy in the 95th percentile.  At his 4 month checkup he weighed 18 lbs 6 oz and was 27 inches long.

Ephraim's 4th month has been so much fun!  He has so much personality.  He's full of squeals, laughs, and gurgles.  He's getting ticklish on his sides and especially under his armpits.

Ephraim loves to talk with people, especially his mama.  His own voice is still very quiet right now.  It's mostly quiet coos and gurgles.  He "purrs" when he is happy.  However, when he is whining or laughing he can be quite loud.

He loves chewing on blankets and his fingers and anything else he can fit easily into his mouth.  Just in the past few days he has discovered thumb-sucking.  He is very hands-on and wants to see and get into everything (this mama is in trouble once he figures out how to move).

With that there is always a lot of drool all over everything.

Ephraim always wants to play.  He'll play with toys, and play with mama.  He loves to look at books and still enjoys his bath time.  He thinks it's fun to get changed.

Ephraim does not like to fall asleep, or sit in his stroller.  When he gets mad he spits and squeals.

He is getting very strong.  He does little baby crunches when lying on his back, and is trying his hardest to sit up.  He can stand up for a minute if he's propped up somewhere to help his balance.  His hands are getting steadier, and so is his head.

Ephraim had his first big trip, to a family reunion in Fort Scott this month.  He was a little sad on the first day and didn't sleep well, but overall, he was quite a trooper.  

He met a lot of family, including his Babcock cousins, Aunts Holly, Lindsey, and Julie, and Uncle David.

On the 15+ hour trip home he was an angel.

Ephraim has moved into his big crib and is doing wonderful.  He has trouble falling asleep, but once he's out he will sleep until 5:30 am, eat, and then go back to sleep until 8 or so.

Ephraim is having his first Halloween today.  He is the cutest Peter Pan I have ever seen.

I'm in love with his face and smiles, his chubby thighs and little tummy.  Everything about him is pretty much completely adorable.

More Pictures Here