Bobby is 10 months old!

Our little baby boy is 10 months old!!! Oh it has been so much fun to watch him grow into the fun, sweet little boy he is. Over the past few days he has learned how to finally get around on his own. No, he is not crawling yet on his hands and knees but he is army crawling all over the house. From the second he wakes up until he closes his eyes he is wanting to be on the move. Whether it be holding your hands while he walks around to the dog bowl to splash water all over the floor, the bathroom to unroll all the toilet paper or just to see how long he can go before his legs get tired. He is just so much fun. We have also seen that he may have what my family calls "Germanize". This means he has a little bit of a temper and everything needs to go by his watch or he may start to breathe heavy and give you "the look". I don't know where he got that :).

Today was a big day for Bobby... he has figured out how to sit up on his own from laying down. He has also figured out how to stand up in his crib. Thank goodness my mother-in-law Kathy lowered the crib last night!

Another first was riding in the swing with his lovely girlfriend Nora Jewel Clarkson. You may think why is that so fun? Well just take a look...

Happy 10 months Bobby Angel! We love you so much!

Our First Family Vacation

Sanibel, FL July 25-31, 2011

Last week we went on our first family trip. Weeks before the trip I was terrified as to how Bobby would do on the plane as a 9 month old. Is he going to cry, scream, laugh, sleep or just relax? Everyone told me to chill out about it which as everyone knows, that is not really something I am good at it.
On the the flights to Florida Bobby was awake for the first half of both and fell asleep for the second half. He was a perfect angel! As we were walking towards baggage claim in Fort Meyers we spotted Nana and PopPop. I think they were wondering if Bobby would remember them, then when Bobby spotted them he was grinning ear to ear wanting to get out of his stroller and into Nana's arms. I love how he is now purposely reaching to be held by people now. Something about those sweet little arms stretching as far as they can towards you just melts your heart. Not to mention the sweet little face that is giving you puppy eyes as well.

We got to the condo and by the time I could get Bobby's diaper changed Robby walks out of the room in his swim trunks ready for the beach. The apple doesn't fall too far from the tree, our little Bobby is a little swimmer not a little sunbather. When we would step foot on the beach Bobby would just look out at the Gulf as if all he wanted to do was get in there. I would lay his towel out and sit him down while I got everything else out and ready mean while Bobby would be sitting there screaming crying reaching those arms up at me with those puppy eyes filled with tears. Daddy would then swoop him up and off they went to the water.

Almost instantly when Bobby felt the water on his toes he would start bending over trying to get his face under the water. He only lasted 20 minutes or so in with the salt water and then off we would go to the pool where he would kick, scream, laugh and play for another 30 minutes or so.

We had so much fun taking naps in the big bed together along with some nights. Having a pack and play next to a bed with a crying baby in the middle of the night does not fly with mommy. Bobby would always end up in bed between us snuggled close to mommy. Even though he woke up many times in the night it was probably my favorite way to sleep. Every time he would wake up, he would nuzzle close to me as I rocked my hips back and forth to put him back to sleep. I just loved feeling his breath on my chest and his little fingers touching my arms.

Bobby had many firsts while at the beach... his first flight, time on the beach, in the Gulf, walking while holding onto mommy or daddy's hands and his first boat ride. We took a ride on the Thriller, this took us all around Sanibel and Captiva Island. On they way back we had some friends that were having fun in the wake behind the boat.... yes they were dolphins. So Bobby got to see is first dolphin. All and all it was a great trip with Nana, PopPop, daddy, mommy and Bobby boy. Next year we will have another little one to take to the beach.

Bobby has an announcement

Bobby is proud to announce he is going to be a big brother! Baby Artie #2 should arrive around January 24, 2012.

Bobby and his girlfriend Nora

Bobby: Mom you need to let Aunt Morgan put me to sleep so I can be ready to see Nora tomorrow!
Bobby: Close your eyes while I pick out the toy we are going to play with!
Nora: Can I open my eyes yet?

Bobby: Not yet

Bobby: Hmm should I show her my favorite stuffed animal, noise maker or rings?

Nora: Pick the rings, pick the rings

Bobby: Okay Nora if we meet in the middle you have to give me a kiss!Nora: MOM is he serious?

Bobby: Chill out Nora I am only kidding we are both under 1 year of age we have to wait until we are 2 years old to have our first kiss.

Do we have a class clown on our hands?

Bobby playing with his food!

Bobby is 7 months old!

Bobby Angel is 7 months old!!! We just can not believe how much our lives have changed, for the better with our sweet boy.

Bobby and daddy on Easter Sunday. We had so much fun watching all the cousins run around the yard trying to find eggs and candy. In only a couple more years Bobby will be joining in on all the fun!

Here is the Bobsters with his "middle brother", Oliver. Bobby loves it when the dogs lick his feet and hands. When he is finished eating his breakfast and dinner he holds his hands over his highchair and reaches for the dogs so they will lick his hands clean. Don't worry, I do wash his hands after.

Bobby and Nana with his new helmet. He has a mildly flat head and the helmet will help round it out in just a few months. He doesn't seem to mind it too much, his mom on the other hand can not stand it. I can no longer kiss his sweet little head while I hold him or his round little cheeks. But I guess it is something we should do. Lets just say I make up for those kisses when his helmet is off for a couple hours a day! Isn't he just so sweet!?

Bobby is doing so much over the past few months. He is so strong that he just pulls himself right up so can see what is going on in the room. I think he really thinks he is king of the world when he stands up because the smile on his face just makes you melt!

Bobby and mommy playing before bedtime. Bobby is trying so hard to figure out how to clap his hands.
I am determined to keep everyone updated from here on out on a monthly basis or less.

Bobby is 5 months old!

I was going to start from 3 months and catch everyone up to date on what is new with Bobby. Then I decided that will take too long and I will probably never do that so now I am going to just start at 5 months. Sorry! To catch you up a little bit though... since February 15 Bobby has had a bad cold/respiratory infection. He has not really been sleeping well, getting up every 2-3 hrs at night, he also has not been eating very well. A couple days ago we went to the doctor for about the 10th time in the past 2 months and found out he has a double ear infection (this is his 4 and 5 ear infection) along with RSV. Now don't freak out, he is not in the hospital. RSV is a respiratory virus that if untreated or undetected can lead to dehydration and hospitalization. Bobby is fine, well as fine as he can be I guess. He is now receiving breathing treatments at home every 4-6 hrs and sleeping 5-7 hrs at night!!! It is amazing how great a baby can feel and sleep when he can finally breath!

I will update with more pictures this weekend!

Love you all

Bobby is 3 months old

Here is Bobby with his two doggies.. Oliver and Chuck. His shirt reads, "cuter than the dog". Of course he is!

We truly can not believe how quickly Bobby has grown up! Why can't some of the things our parents told us when we were younger not be true? I will say, we have loved every second with our sweet little boy. Just watching him smile, giggle, blow bubbles, roll over, reach for things, kick his legs, talk, yell and cry has been so much fun. The smallest things seem so amazing to us. Today he was really trying to reach for one of his toys, he was so determined to hit it that took about 3 minutes. Finally he reached it and started smiling so big ! Why can't life as an adult be this way?

Yesterday we went to see our good friend, Melissa and Chris Clarkson at the hospital. They had an adorable little girl, Nora Jewel Friday night. We joke that she and Bobby are going to be boyfriend and girlfriend... if that doesn't work out though they will be best friends. Nora weighs 7lbs 15oz, so 10oz more than Bobby weighed when he was born and I just can't believe bobby was ever that small or smaller. When we got to the hospital I just could not stop looking back and forth at this tiny little girl in my arms and the big boy bouncing on daddy's lap. It took all of my strength not to start tearing up, of course at how precious little Clarkson girl is but also that Bobby is so big now. I will post a picture of Melissa and I holding our little/big sweet bundles soon.

Now for the pictures... Here is Bobby at bath time. He just loves getting undressed and carried around naked, but when we put him in the bath his eyes just light up at the touch of the warm water on his skin. He is not yet smiling and giggling in the bath but he is concentrating on kicking his legs and splashing the water with his arms every once in a while.

GO TIGERS!

Thank you to all of you that got Bobby a Missouri Tigers shirt. He wears them for every game day and I think so far it has brought them good luck! Go Tigers!

Bobby is 2 months old!

I can hardly believe that my sweet little baby boy is two months old! It really does seem like just a week ago that we were driving to the hospital laughing and wondering if we were going to be admitted and have our baby.

The past month has been so much fun with Bobby. He started to smile consciously at us, he is talking more, holding his head up so much better and over all, starting to show his adorable personality. He has also started sleeping through the night, which means about a 6hr stretch. This is so much better than getting up every three hours. Of course he is still rolling over like a champ, but instead of having to work hard on flipping over he just gives you a look like, come on give me something a little harder to do, and just flips on over.

Over the past couple months he has had a few out of town visitors including:

His Great Aunt Ellen from Shelby, NC.

His Great Uncle John and Second Cousin, Colin from Chicago.

His Great Nana from Charlotte, NC. (Pictured below is 4 generations!)

His Great Grandma from St. Joseph, MO.

Great Aunt Patty from St. Joseph, MO.

and his Great Aunt Jani from Richmond, VA (Bobby and all of his cousins with Great Aunt Jani)

A highlight of the month includes when daddy was changing Bobby's diaper. Once daddy took the dirty diaper off, Bobby decided that would be a good time to go #2. So without even thinking, Robby put his hand right under bobby's bottom to protect his outfit. Then in the middle of all this, Bobby also decided to go #1. So now Robby is yelling for me to help, when I run in the room I see poo on one hand and the other hand covering the "fountain". Haha. This just makes me laugh thinking about it. All I can say is what a wonderful dad and husband he is!
For those of you who do not know me, I have always wanted to be a soccer mom. Well, as you will see below Robby is helping that dream come true. He surprised me on Christmas Eve with my dream car. Yes everyone, my dream car is a Toyota Sienna and oh how I love it! It has made getting Bobbby in and out of the car much easier, I feel so much safer in it and let's be honest I look so much better in it too. :)
This month we celebrated Bobby's first Christmas and his first New Years Eve celebration.

He tried to stay up and catch Santa but Santa brought him presents and had a bite of a cookie while Bobby was fast asleep. Maybe next year he will catch him.

On Christmas morning at Robby's parents' house we opened presents while Nana and PopPop passed Bobby back and forth. We enjoyed a delicious breakfast consisting of egg casserole, coffee cake and yummy cheesey potatoes. Later for dinner we had the Arthur traditional Chrismas dinner consisting of beef tenderloin, potatoes, green bean salad and asparagus with feta. Everything was delicious!

After celebrating the Arthur Christmas we heading over to celebrate the Kuechler Christmas. At my parents' house we watched 5 of the 7 grandkids rip through presents with wide smiles on their faces. The other two grandkids just sat and watched in their mommy's arms. Below is a picture of the whole Kuechler family on Christmas morning. Taking a picture on the steps has been a Kuechler tradition for as long as I can remember.

Lastly Bobby celebrated New Years Eve with his mommy, daddy and Cathy and Ted Colburn (our wonderful neighbors). We played 10 Card Pitch and the Colburns introduced us to a game called Bananagrams which is our new favorite game. At midnight I was the luckiest girl in the world. I got to kiss my two boys at midnight!

Happy New Year everyone!