Jake and Roman...buddies for life!

One of my best friends, Helen, just had a baby boy, Jake Michael Lary, six weeks ago. Helen and I finally got to hang out the other night! We've been trying to get together forever and things just get crazy with babies! She brought sweet little Jake over to meet Roman. We had a great time catching up. I simply can not wait for the two of them to play together one day. It was so cute to watch Roman as he checked out baby Jake. He was very intrigued!

"Can I touch him, mommy?""This is fun!"
Captain loved baby Jake too!

"Wow, mommy, he's cute!!"

Big boy is 9 months old!!

Roman was officially 9 months old on December 12th, but we went today for his check up. He's doing great. Here are his stats:

weight: 21lb 11oz (75%)

height: 28-3/4" (85%)

head circ: 46.5 (80%)

Wow! Things are changing in the Franks household!!

Roman now crawls everywhere and is getting into everything! He walks around things like the ottoman while holding on. He definitely tests himself by standing on his own. If he falls, he just gets back up and tries again. That's my boy!

Sweet Roman is posing in front of the tree

"Is this present for me?!"

"Wow, lot's of stuff to play with..."

We now feed him 3 meals a day. Eating has been a little harder than before. Roman has gotten a little more picky with his food choices. Daddy and I make homemade soups and pastas that Roman will eat. Every day is now an adventure. The doctor just told me that he can eat pretty much anything now but honey, cow's milk, and peanut butter. Yippee! Our goal is for the family to always eat the same thing. I don't want to have to make 2 separate meals!!

Roman is getting around 30 oz of milk a day and I'm still able to nurse him in the mornings. Then he has (3) 8 oz bottles of formula. He takes 2 naps a day that are usually 1-1/2 hours long and sleeps around 11 hours at night. (Unless he's sick!)

Roman speaks!! His favorite "word" is "ba ba ba ba" and of course "da da da". I keep trying for "ma ma", but we're working on it. He gets excited and calls the dog "ba ba" and pretty much everything else that he see is "ba ba"! So cute!!

Roman is still wearing a size 4 diaper and is now in mostly size 12 month clothes. He has some 12-18 month stuff. My big boy!

He recognizes us so much better now. The other night, daddy came home from a trip and Roman, Captain, and I were on the floor waiting for him as soon as we heard the garage door open. His face lit up when he saw daddy and I swear he said, "da da" in the mist of all the "ba ba's"! It was simply adorable!! When I pick him up from school, his face lights up and he gets so happy that when I hold him, he literally squeezes his little thighs and hugs me. So cute!!

Also, when daddy is away on a trip, Roman and I will talk to him on the speaker phone. His face lights up when he hears daddy's voice. I love it!!

Roman,

You are growing so fast right before our eyes! Each day with you is a new adventure! We love you so much and treasure every moment we have together.

Love,

Mommy and Daddy

Ear infection again!

Roman turned 9 months on Saturday, December 12th! I can't believe it! He had been doing so great! He was eating, sleeping, and playing pretty normal!

He loves to sit on his car, now!
Anyways, he just seemed so fussy throughout Friday night and Saturday morning. Matt and I were exhausted from being up with him in the night! Roman barely had a slight runny nose, so I just thought it was teething that was making him cry in the night. My mom suggested that I take his temperature. Sure enough, he had a 101 fever! I couldn't believe it! He didn't feel hot. I just knew it was another ear infection if he had a fever! That's why he was crying with pain! I immediately hopped in the car and took him to the pediatrician. Poor little boy had to wait for a long time to see the doctor!! He fell asleep in my arms. That is the one good thing about babies being sick. He cuddles so much more!! The verdict - another ear infection!! Roman definitely has those Franks ear canals! Now I know to always look for the signs in the future!

Asleep in mommy's arms in the doctor's office

It's been pretty rough lately with not getting as much sleep because our sweet boy is in pain! He screamed last night a few times and Matt and I tried everything to console him! I guess that's just part of being a parent!

My poor sick boy at 9 months old!
Our little boy still enjoys bath time and the naked time that comes before. I just think this is so funny!!! You can't help but laugh at his HUGE thighs and cottage cheese butt!! Seriously, his thighs bulge out!!

Boys, Boys, Boys

Saturday night Matt and I had his friends over to watch some good football games. They all brought their wives and kiddos. It was a full house of fun! We tried so hard to get a picture of all of us moms with our boys. Yes, everyone of our children are boys! Nat's wife, Lindsay, is now pregnant with the first girl of the group. We're all so blessed to have all of these sweet boys. Hopefully they can all grow up together just our their dads did!

Reece, Cohan, and Roman waiting patiently for their picture to be taken
Okay, let's try this with the moms in the picture too...

Wait let's try again...

Almost everyone is looking!

I give up!

The Franks

Roman and Reece playing

Lindsay and Harlan Reece and Jennifer

Suzy and Roman. She got her baby fix for a couple of hours!

The guys watching football

Reece kept giving "Ro Ro" hugs
Roman and Reece had such a great time patting their hands on our ottoman and laughing. It was absolutely adorable to see Roman and Reece playing together. I've never seen Roman interact with another child like he did here. Check out this video!!

We had such a great time with everyone!! If not sooner, we'll see you all at our house for the super bowl party!!

Playdate with Chloe

Last Friday, Roman and I had Chloe and Lindsey over for a play date. They are six months apart and are just now able to start playing with each other. We had a great time! After lunch, we had craft time! They made little Christmas wreaths with their hand prints. Roman DID NOT like me holding his hand in the paint. It was hilarious because he started crying so hard that it made Chloe cry! Oh children!!

The kiddos playing!
Sweet Chloe watched Roman eat his lunch

We dressed them in Matt's old undershirts for craft time
My cutie - pre-painting time
"Hi mommy! What are we doing?!"
And the drama begins!

Poor boy! You'd think I was torturing him!!

This is before Chloe started crying too!

Naked play time makes everything better!

The finished wreaths!

Oh Christmas Tree...

Matt and I have started the tradition of getting a real Christmas tree every year. We used to go get the tree and put it on the top of the Tahoe and then go out to dinner for a little date, Griswold style! Now, we skipped the date and took two cars, one with Roman and me and Matt drove the truck. Roman was kind of tired and fussy, so we hurried and picked one of the first trees that we saw and threw it in the truck. I just LOVE having a real tree! It smells so wonderful!!

Now it feels like time to say, "Merry Christmas!!"

"Which one do we want, Roman?"

Matt and I lifted the tree on the back of the truck and then I made him pose after his hard work!

Snow day!!

It snowed today! We were so shocked! Matt and I looked out of Roman's window and saw it coming down hard. So fun! Before I left for the office, we had to capture a picture of Roman in his first snow!

And then we had to capture daddy in his robe! He was not happy that I took a picture of him!

Thanksgiving!

We spent Thanksgiving in Springfield with my family because Matt had to fly on Thanksgiving day. He met us there later that night. I had a great time spending a few days with my family!

Roman and his cousins, Caroline and Catherine

Caroline loved baby Roman!

Ashley, Roman, Caroline, Elizabeth, and Catherine

Meema with her grandchildren

Caroline tried to show Roman how to play the piano!
Amy Long, one of my best friends from Springfield, came in town and got to meet Roman!

My boys and me with Caroline
Mommy and Roman

My little cutie all dressed up for Thanksgiving!

Daddy's here!

Every year, we drive to Harrison, Arkansas for Thanksgiving with my mom's family. They live on an actual farm, so it's fun for the kids to see the farm animals. My meema got to come this year. She lives in a nursing home now and it's so sad because she has Alzheimer's and doesn't even know who I am anymore. These pictures mean a lot to me!

My brother, Andy, and me with our kiddos
Catherine and Roman loved looking out the window at the cows!

Saturday, Matt and I packed up our boys, Roman and Captain, and headed to Tulsa to spend a little time with his family. It breaks up the 6-1/2 hour drive from Springfield to Dallas. As soon as we got there, we met up with Mark and Whitney and the triplets at the park for some good times!

Thanksgiving weekend was a great time with our families! Matt and I have so much to be thankful for!! Wow, God is good!!