5 months

Kale turned 5 months old on Friday- I haven't taken any pictures of him yet. I know bad mom, I wanted to take some this morning when he was still in his "church" clothes, but I was also working on lunch and Jason told me he would be 5 months old until December 20th so I had time to get pictures. What an insightful guy!

Kale is really "talking" a lot now and in the last week or 2 has gotten his "motor running". That is what Jason calls it. He really likes to make noise and this morning while Jason & I were getting ready for lunch Kale was playing on the floor. He was really talking up a storm and moving around a lot. Jason came back in from the garage and yelled for me- Kale was on his belly. He finally rolled over from his back to his stomach!! A little while later we were watching and he flipped back over to his back and a few minutes later we looked back at him and he was on his belly again.

Friday & Saturday Jason went hunting in Illinois without any luck...he said it has run out, poor guy :(. Since Jason was going to be gone Kale & I went shopping. I found a few deals, but really was scoping it out for Black Friday. I realized tonight I haven't even been checking out the online ads this year. I started looking tonight though and can't wait to get some Christmas shopping done!

Jason's mom, dad, & grandma came over for lunch and to visit this afternoon. Kale was quite the entertainer, he talked, ran his motor, and was rolling over like crazy- showing off for them :). We had a great visit and are thankful they were able to come for the afternoon. Kale was definitely worn out and went to bed early. Thanks for making the trip over!!

Kale & Great Grandma Cile

Kale with Grandma Lola & Grandpa Ed

Green Beans...yuk!

Definitely not his favorite....peas were a little better, but sweet potatoes tonight got about the same reaction. Cereal is still the best and he really chows down on it.

Louisville

Kyle showed in Louisville this year so Kale & I caught a ride with mom, dad, & Kyle (we had quite the carload) so we could watch Kyle show Dusty & JaLeigh! Kale & I left home at 10 am and finally made it to Louisville about 3:00 that morning...we had to stop in Springfield to do some shopping and then were going to meet mom & dad in Centralia (where I used to work) so we got there early, stopped by my old work to visit and then went to dinner with Pam & her mom. We finally met mom & dad for the last half of the drive. Saturday we spent almost all day at the show hanging out, walking around, and watching the shows & sales. The crazy Belts showed up Saturday night so we all got to hang out a little before going to bed that night. Sunday we headed for the show and waited and waited and waited. We got to walk around a little bit more and hang out with the Wards while Kyle got his sheep ready and watch some of the other shows. The show started at 8am and I'm not sure what time Kyle finally showed, but I'm pretty sure it was after 5. He got 7th in both classes! Yay. We got to hang around after the show and didn't leave until almost 8, which isn't too late unless you think about the 6 hour drive home! We got back to Centralia around midnight and Kale & I headed home. We only made it half an hour before we stopped and stayed at a hotel for the night. The other crazy people drove all the way home....Kale & I finally left the hotel about 10:00 the next morning and drove the rest of the way. He was worn out and went to bed pretty early every night last week! Even though we were worn out we had a great time- thanks mom & dad for taking us along...and Kyle for letting us ride with you! :)

Jason headed back to Missouri after work on Friday to go deer hunting for the weekend. He ended up getting a nice buck on Sunday evening...he didn't have the camera because I took it to Louisville, but Justin or Megan took some pictures for him. Thanks!

Jason on Thursday night...I think he was praying for a good weekend hunting :)

Sunday waiting for the show

both little boys fell asleep...but not TJ! Kale with Grandma Mari

Kyle & Elisa showing

Kyle & Cassidy showing JaLeigh

JaLeigh again

Kyle with Dusty

Andi & TJ "showing" Dusty

Great weekend!

We had a great time this weekend hanging out at home (for the most part) and getting a few things done around the house. Jason worked Saturday so Kale & I hung out and cleaned the house for our company Saturday night :). Sunday morning was super nice and after church we headed to Springfield- a short trip to just get a few things. We got home in time to enjoy the afternoon outside- Kale got to swing in the baby swing on our swingset and then play in the leaves. And finally tonight we really had time to try cereal when Kale was not hungry or tired and.....he loved it! I was cracking up with him "slurping" it up. I really didn't think he would do very good since we tried earlier in the week and it didn't happen so I didn't make very much...well I got to hear about it while I was making more :). He is not very patient when eating!

Hangin' out Saturday morning

Standing up in dad's chair Laying in the leaves

Trying to eat them

Fritos & Facebook....what more do you need?!?

Kale took the spoon away from me....

and tried to feed himself

Not the neatest kid afterwards...in the beginning he didn't lose anything, but towards the end he started getting messy

4 months (and 2 weeks)

Today was Kale's four month check-up complete with shots. He is doing great and the doctor said he isn't having any problem gaining and we can start cereal anytime. We attempted this evening, but Kale wasn't really interested. Tonight may not have been a good time to try something new though...he didn't have a nap this afternoon and he just got three shots so he may have just been ready for bed. In fact, right after we tried cereal he went to bed (at 7:20)!

Everything checked out good at the doctor and he is doing great. He cried more with his shots this time than last, but that could be because it was past time for a nap and we couldn't find a pacifier in the diaper bag! Just as we suspected he is growing and is getting to be a big kid. He weighs 17 lbs 4 oz (75th percentile) and is 25 inches long (50th percentile).

Kale is a happy baby for the most part. He is "talking" more & more and is lots of fun to play with. He is starting to play with toys more and can occupy himself for a while, but really likes to be talked to or even just for someone to be in the room talking, though not necessarily to him. He still fights his sleep and isn't a great napper, but sleeps good at night so still no complaining from us. Kale eats really good and definitely lets you know when he is hungry. He doesn't like to wait for his bottle. He does quiet down a little when he hears his bottle being made or sees it nearby, but if you don't give it to him quick he starts back up. And if you ever have to resituate yourself or do something in the middle of feeding him, get ready because he will not be happy at all!

Kale is still as nosy as ever and does not sit or lay still which is starting to make bath time & diaper changing more interesting :). He is a lot of fun and I'm not sure what we ever did without him!

Happy Halloween

Since Halloween was on a Saturday this year we were able to go back to Missouri and see both sides of the family. Kale was a chunky monkey and did a good job (for the most part) of tolerating his costume. The Pollard family - Kale's first Halloween

The "Eckler" grandkids

Kale with Papa Harold & Grandma Mari

The Pollard grandkids

Kyle & Kale hanging out watching tv

Kale playing in the Johnny Jumper - he twirls around & bounces and really enjoyed it

This was just too cute to not share...the rapping dragon :)

Deer Hunting

Halloween weekend has historically been a good hunting weekend for Jason and this year was another one. Some say it is luck...some say it's his mad skillz :) 2009 bow kill

Deer season actually started Friday night for some. My uncle Heath got one, with his car, on his trip to bring the boys to Shelbyville for youth season. Everyone was okay, but the car...not so much. The boys practiced shooting the weekend before and were ready for their morning out in the woods. I got up early with them to make sure they didn't need any help and to capture a couple of pictures. The boys were excited...and tired. They left the house a little before six and were in the woods for about 3 1/2 hours. They saw 3 does, but didn't get to shoot at them. However, they did get a few cans with the bb gun :)! Jason had a great time and I think the boys did too.

Corbin & Preston waiting for Jason to load the truck

Jason & the boys before heading to the woods

The boys keeping warm in the box blind

They didn't get a deer, but they definitely didn't go hungry either :)

The boys went trick-or-treating Saturday night and decided they would try again in January so Jason went bow hunting Saturday night and again Sunday morning by himself. Saturday night he got a turkey, but didn't get a deer. Sunday proved to be a good morning for him as he had this nice looking buck come in. It is his 2nd largest bow kill to date and will be heading to the taxidermist...(Merry Christmas & Happy Birthday to Jason) for another wall hanger.

Jason & his 2009 bow kill

Kale's first whitetail encounter

Team Pollard Outdoors