Sims Barbecue

When we first moved here, the Morgans recommended we check out a place called Sims Barbecue. It sounded like fun, so we checked it out when Pop and Nana came into town this weekend.

It did not disappoint! This place is one of kind! First off, you drive to the middle of nowhere. Pretty much a barn in a field down a dirt road. Then you pay for a barbecue buffet and sit yourself down on a wooden bench to enjoy. The food was OK, but the atmosphere was just amazing.

At the front is a true bluegrass band. For the first part of the evening, a local clogging group performs, but then they all change into casual gear and everyone just dances the night away.

Josiah loved it. He just ran around and tried to imitate the dancing he saw and do-si-do-ed with all the kiddos.

All the pictures are blurry, but you get the picture. Jonathan said, "This is a really interesting cultural experience. I just can't believe it's where I live."

Micah was pretty mesmerized, but eventually faded.

A few videos of Josiah kicking up his heels.

Micah's Dedication to the Lord

On Sunday, we dedicated Micah to the Lord and vowed before Trinity Fellowship that we would raise him in the knowledge of Jesus Christ.

Pastor Dodd praying for Micah.

Jonathan opened a joke, "Well Micah hasn't accomplished much in his life yet." He did go on to recount Micah's time in the NICU and how it reminded us from the beginning that he is in God's hands, which are much better than ours.

Our verse for Micah is Micah 6:8:

"He has told you, O man, what is good;

And what does the LORD require of you

but to do justice, and to love kindness,

and to walk humbly with your God?"

Our family after the service.

And the video, for those interested.

Micah's 7-month Stats

I know, 7-month stats? We tried to get to his 6-month appointment. The first time my car battery was dead. Then because of the holidays it was three weeks until we could reschedule! Then that appointment got cancelled because of the snow. So alas, we finally made it on Friday.

Weight: 20 lbs. 13 oz. (75-90 percentile)

Height: 28.25 inches (75-90 percentile)

Head: 46 cm (90 percentile)

We received some counsel about what to do for his dry skin/persistent cradle cap, discussed solids and his need for more iron, yada yada, oh look, he has an ear infection. Serious? The child is too sweet for his own good. No fever. He might have been slightly less chipper than normal. Runny nose. Not sure how I'm going to tell when this kid is really in pain! Poor kid.

Growing Up Too Fast!

Micah is growing up awfully quick these days!

Um, close to crawling? Please say no!

He's definitely getting more mobile these days.

Finally getting some solids in this kid. He happened to like this flavor somewhat: apple/butternut squash. I also warmed it quite a bit, so that might be a factor.

Avocado in the mesh feeder. "Like" is a relative term; he didn't seem repulsed.

But he's digging the Cheerios and has had some success getting them in his mouth.

More sticky grasp than pincer grasp.

So proud of himself!

Mama's Little Helper

Micah has been helping out a lot around the house lately.

Doing the laundry.

With some "help" from brother (who never had the slightest interest in helping with laundry until I praised Micah for helping).

And rearranging Mama's plastic storage containers each night. I love that he's content, even excited, to play there at this phase.

More Snow!

Two weeks ago, we had another bout of winter weather. It's fun the first day, but I was going a little nuts by the end of the week. They closed schools all week, despite the fact the roads were very manageable by Wednesday.

Josiah enjoyed making footprints.

But this was his favorite: playing with our sandbox dump trucks in the snow (and creating a Thomas the Train narrative the whole time). It was one of my better mom-suggestions.

The Outtakes

Josiah had to join in the fun.

So sweet. It really is the most precious thing to watch these brothers interact. Josiah will encourage Micah ("You ate your Cheerios! I'm so proud of you!) and sometimes scold him ("No, no, Micah. That's not a good toy for you.")

Micah watches him all the time and is always smiling at his brother.

Maddie's Birthday Party

Maddie Morgan was so sweet to invite Josiah to a princess tea party for her 5th birthday (even though he is a boy).

Playing pin Cinderella in the castle window.

The pretty party table. Great job, Amy!

Decorating cookies and looking desperately for a truck or train or something :)

He's a little anti-social at parties anyways. He and Kallie hung out with the toys in the back.

Micah at 7 Months

Micah turned 7 months last Friday!

He was a little droopy for these pictures, but still sweet. That's been one interesting observation this month: the child still can be cheerful without a nap. I know he still needs them, but he functions so nicely without them that I sometimes take advantage of it.

Two other acquisitions this month: His first tooth came in on New Year's Day. It's his bottom left, and the right one is close behind, but hasn't broken the surface yet.

His other acquisition: an opinion! He's still very easygoing, but he'll let you know when he'd rather keep that toy (no matter how dangerous or dirty it might be).

He's doing pretty well at sleeping. We're doing better at putting him in bed awake. He's good at going to sleep at bed time, but we're still battling naps quite a bit.

Micah has also refused pureed baby food of all kinds. Nothing doing. He'll try a bite, make a terrible face and politely decline anything else. I hoping this means he's just independent and not picky. I've been giving him food in his mesh feeder and Baby Mum-mums and even a whole banana or an apple or pear slice (he just sucks on them and we keep an eye on him). Hopefully he'll master his pincer grasp soon, so we can just start feeding him table food.

He's playing with lots more toys and is enjoying the tractor, emptying any kind of box/basket, and cleaning out Mama's Tupperware cabinet.

And We Celebrated Jesus' Birthday

Christmas Day

Christmas morning began with just our family. We read the Christmas story, acted out part of it (Micah was Baby Jesus, Jonathan was a wise man, Mama was Mary and Josiah was a donkey), and put the last piece - Jesus - on our Advent calendar.

Then presents of course! Josiah received Legos (also known as choking hazards; we'll be careful about keeping them away from Micah), lots of books, and a cool garbage truck from Mom and Dad.

Nana and Pop had been staying at the Grove Park Inn and traveled over to join us in the morning.

Mama and Micah opening one of our favorite gifts - an Ergo. We've already used in quite a bit, and it's much easier on Mama's back carrying around this hunk of boy everywhere a preschooler goes.

Micah preferred to eat his gifts and would have devoured all the wrapping paper as well!