Little Man Levi! (7 Month Photos + 8 Month Update)

I got around to taking some pictures of Levi last month, so I thought I would share them and give an update now that he is eight months old and all grown up!

The past four months of this boy's life have been a little less smooth sailing than the first four. Levi started becoming a bit fussier around the same time that I learned we had another baby on the way. At around six months old, he started shaving hours off his nights and getting crankier during the day. I eventually started adding formula to supplement his diet, which really seemed to help. 

Levi wanted to help me illustrate how he felt in those days. 

He soon began to eat solid food, and it did not take long for him to learn that he liked our real food much better than that flavorless pureed goop. He now eats everything straight off our table, with a few exceptions. Since he consumes plenty of solids now, nursing seems to be sufficient and he no longer needs the extra formula. Our baby feeding bill has gone down again for now, until he gets a bit older and starts eating me out of the house!

Did I ever mention how much Levi loves his fingers? 

The past week or two, he has transformed into a very happy boy who sleeps all the way through the night again!

Levi's latest milestone has been crawling, and he gets around more every day now...to the point where I actually have to peek in on him now when things get quiet (although often he cries when he is doing something he shouldn't and is asleep on the floor when he is being quiet...what a perfect little boy ;)).

 He is so curious and energetic and loves to discover new things!

This was his "curious" pose. 

When fed and rested, Levi is usually full of smiles, loves to be around others, and knows very few strangers. He loves to make noise, read books, play the piano, play outside with the cats, dance, discover everything, learn new tricks, and EAT. He LOVES to eat.  

The best part of Levi's day is when Daddy gets home from work. Let me tell you, that moment is pure JOY for this boy. All of the clouds suddenly go away, the sun starts shining, and arms start flailing in excitement! I think it also makes Daddy pretty happy to know his little buddy is excited to see him, too! 

It is so much fun to see this boy's smiling face in the morning and watch him grow as he learns more about the world around him! We are so thankful for the joy and blessings Levi brings.

Eight months old this week...turning into a little man! 

Baker's Man!

Levi was excited last month to share the big news that he gets to be a big brother soon! Life is about to get really busy but we are so excited and thankful to welcome another addition to our family!

As mentioned in the last post, I spent much of my summer feeling nauseous again, but am now experiencing the renewed second trimester energy. Baby's official due date is February 5th, which makes me about nineteen weeks along now...and...we found out the gender this time! However, we do intend to keep the rest of the world in suspense until baby's arrival. :)

Thanks to God for His wonderful blessings!

The Fruit of August

We returned home from vacation to find an abundance of peaches and blackberries in our little orchard out back. Two weeks of picking, canning, and freezing were followed by another week of salsa and a week of grapes! We are thankful for the abundant harvest, though it is so nice to be done! Until apple season in another month, of course.

One delicious product of the blackberries: Jesse made a fresh blackberry pie! 

Three days' worth of peaches and salsa

Levi has started eating real food and he loves it! Peach season was a real treat for him! 

We got to visit (Great) Grandpa and Grandma Schulz a few weeks ago. Levi wore his "Grandpa is the Best" shirt to butter up Grandpa...it probably didn't take a special shirt to impress him, though. 

Seven months old and starting to crawl...yikes! At Levi's "six months and three weeks" check up, he weighed 15lb 9oz, which puts him in the tenth percentile for his age. Seems to be growing like a Schulz! 

We were excited to have overnight visitors when Laurie, Kyra and Garret came to visit this month. This past Sunday afternoon brought the exciting news that another boy joined their family! We are so excited to meet little Weston! 

School has already started again, and along with that came a new schedule for us with seven piano lessons fitting into the late afternoons again. Levi usually does pretty well, especially when he is getting lots of attention from the kids!

A beautiful day last week provided some nice outdoor time! 

Preparing to turn the calendar to September made me feel a little hesitant. Where has this year been going?? I quickly determined it has gone to my baby(ies). Survival mode in the newborn stage; watching Levi change, grow, and learn in the next stages; being sick and pregnant all summer (again!)...but that excitement can wait another week until my next post...

Though not always referenced in my writing, the title of this blog comes back to me often. We are so thankful for all of the precious times God gives us to enjoy one another and the Creation around us!

We Have This Moment 

Hold tight to the sound of the music of living, Happy songs from the laughter of children at play; Hold my hand as we run through the sweet fragrant meadows, Making mem'ries of what was today.

Tiny voice that I hear is my little girl calling, For Daddy to hear just what she has to say; And my little son running there by the hillside, May never be quite like today. 

Tender words, gentle touch and a good cup of coffee, And someone who loves me and wants me to stay; Hold them near while they're here and don't wait for tomorrow, To look back and wish for today.

Take the blue of the sky and the green of the forest, And the gold and the brown of the freshly mown hay; Add the pale shades of spring and the circus of autumn, And weave you a lovely today.

We have this moment to hold in our hands and to touch as it slips through our fingers like sand; Yesterday's gone and tomorrow may never come, But we have this moment today.

(Words and song by Bill & Gloria Gaither)

Michigan Vacation

We spent last week in Boyne Falls, Michigan with my family. Levi turned six months old during the trip (we took the photo a couple days early), so we obviously had to have a half-birthday celebration with everyone present! 

Everyone needs a half-birthday cake on their half birthday! Mommy couldn't watch! :) His uncles were a little jealous that he got half of the cake to himself...although they did split up the slobbered-over cake when Levi was done. 

We arrived on Saturday with enough time for supper and grocery shopping. Sunday evening we explored the area a bit. Our house was part of a ski resort, so we got to ride the chair lift to the top of the mountain! The rest of the family went disc golfing down the mountain, but we took the easier way back down the lift. :)

View from the top! 

On Monday, we visited Mackinac Island and enjoyed biking around the island. Once again, the three of us took the easy route while the rest of the family explored the hilly areas. Levi did pretty good, but enjoyed being out of his seat the best! The Island was beautiful! Of course, we had to try the famous Mackinac Island Fudge before we left...delicious! 

Ferry ride to the Island 

Enjoying the scenery! 

  

No motor vehicles are allowed on the island. We learned that this is the only state highway in Michigan where vehicles are prohibited. :) 

Tuesday was pontoon day on Lake Charlevoix! We again had beautiful weather and enjoyed our time tubing, swimming, and cruising on the lake. 

Our Chauffer

Tubing! 

Levi wan't a fan of the bulky life jacket he was required to wear all day, but he did manage to enjoy himself a little! 

We spent Wednesday enjoying activities around the resort. The boys played tennis and I took Levi swimming in the pool. Later, we visited the beach on Deer Lake. It was so shallow that we had to go a LONG way out before the water was above our knees!

This is my brothers inventing a balancing act game... 

Levi and Grandma 

Thursday we drove to Petosky State Park and went hiking and then to the beach (this time it was actually Lake Michigan, so we can say we stepped in it!). Afterward, we went to Kilwin's for a "free" chocolate tour that ended in purchases of ice cream and fudge that certainly did not qualify as free...but was quite yummy!

Hiking at Petosky

Friday was similar to Wednesday as we stayed around the resort. Tennis, kayaking, swimming, and shuffle board filled our day. 

Matt and Levi enjoyed a good nap on the beach! 

In the evening, we walked from our house to the top of the chair lift and then rode the lift down to the resort. We experienced a hay rack ride, s'mores, and ice cream before heading back to get packed for the way home!

Hay rack ride! 

As for our house, it was perfect for the week! The boys all stayed downstairs, and then the rest of us had rooms on the main floor. There was a fire pit out back where we roasted marshmallows one night, and a trail out back that headed up the mountain. We made all of our morning and evening meals, and packed lunches for the days. The beautiful weather made the trip very nice! 

The boys enjoyed their foosball games in the basement! 

...that is, until Mom turned it into her drying rack. :) 

And, obviously, Levi got spoiled. It has been an adjustment getting back to life without constant attention! 

Saturday morning, we took a couple last pictures before splitting up and heading separate ways to the same destination of Grand Rapids.

Mom and Dad and the boys went to Sleeping Bear Dunes. Assuming we could find something more baby-friendly, we headed to Grand Rapids and ended up at the zoo for the afternoon.

Yes, Levi went into the petting zoo basically just for the sake of a picture. But while he was petting the goat, another one stole the map out of Matt's back pocket and ate it! 

The final highlight of our trip was spending Saturday night with Aaron and Laura, Matt's cousin. We got to see Heidi's Farmstand and Bakery and tour their operation, and it was very interesting! They also have a little boy who is two months older than Levi. 

All dressed up for church! Kellan was feeling much more photogenic than Levi that morning. :) 

We met back up with my family at church in Alto, and were thankful for the love shown to us by the people there. We got home late Sunday night and were glad to sleep in our own bed again!

Lots of peaches, blackberries, and tomatoes welcomed us home this week, so we are getting broken back into life around here. And Levi is really struggling with the harsh reality that he isn't getting the constant attention that he enjoyed on vacation.

We were thankful for safe travels and a relaxing trip to spend time together enjoying God's creation!

Knee-High in July

Before Levi turns six months old on Monday, Matt thought I should at least post his five month picture. So here you have it...

He went through a "phase" around that time where the only way he would look halfway pleasant for a picture was if I let him stick out his tongue... 

We have kept busy, but for some reason most of my pictures indicate I have been so bored that I have resorted to only taking pictures of my baby.

My apologies. 

One highlight of our month was having Steve and Julie and their family in the area for a week. Levi was happy to meet them for the first time! We enjoyed getting together with the Schulz family, and Mom even got us a four-generation photo!

Four generations of Schulz boys! (Looks like trouble...) 

Over the Fourth of July, the Steffen family made their annual trip out to reunite with the Massners. Unfortunately, the only photo that remains of the event is this one of me with a cheesy grin on my face, so I am entirely obligated to share it with you. 

Myca and me ready for fireworks! I didn't last much past dusk due to a crying baby. 

A Corny Photoshoot: "Knee High by the Fourth of July"

I had a great idea to get a picture of the neighboring cornfield on the Fourth of July to show that our Southeast Iowa corn has exceeded the expectations this year. Not only was it me-plus-my-knee high by July 4th; but it was also beginning to tassel.

Except then I realized that I had no prior experience posing with a cornfield. And that my Sunday clothes did not fit into the scene very well.

The corn didn't do a very good job of "leaning in" for the photo... 

So I decided the hands-on-hips pose would look more natural. 

In the end, the awkward hands-at-sides stance seemed to work out best. 

And then I wonder how my son turned out to be so photogenic.

After the holiday was past, Levi finally stopped sticking out his tongue long enough for us to see two teeth poking through! 

We told him those two front teeth were an early Christmas present.  

The other day I got to work in the garden for about the first time all summer, thanks to the beautiful morning that put Levi to sleep! 

Snowbell (cat) stood guard and ended up taking a little snooze himself. 

 I know I mentioned the word "garden," but what we are really discussing right now is a "weed patch with a few random edibles." I picked enough beans for a meal, along with a few potatoes, snap peas, and onions. Our fruit (Matt's project) is looking good, though. Blackberry season will soon be upon us and we are excited for our first potentially-bountiful harvest!

Matt and Levi have formed a great guitar-piano duo and enjoyed serenading me the other night with their tunes.

Thanks to Bumbo, one no longer needs to be physically able to sit in order to play the piano.  

And now, a word of farewell from the one who made this all(most im)possible: `ghxw 37y6ijng