For the Grandkids

On January 25th, Steve and four friends formed a team and started a weight loss challenge. Over the course of the next 12 weeks, whichever team loses the most weight wins $10,000! They are doing the challenge through Healthy Wage (which can be found here: http://www.healthywage.com/matchup-faq I still don't know how to do links when blogging from my phone. But hey! I can blog from my phone now!).
Their team name is "For the Grandkids," because they want to make healthy choices now, so they'll be around to play with their future grandchildren.
So for ten grand, and ten+ Grandkids, they embark on this journey together, encouraging and supporting one another, working out together, and holding each other accountable.
So far, Steve has lost about ten pounds! If they win first place, Steve'll have to use his share of the money to buy some new clothes ;)
If you're on Facebook, you can like their team and vote weekly for their team picture and name. You can find it on Steve's Facebook page, I believe.
Here is a picture of the team on day one. In April we'll have to post an after picture.

4 months

On January 23rd, Lars turned 4 months old! Yesterday we had his 4 month appointment, and he has grown a bit! He is 24 and 3/4 inches tall/long, and 13 lbs, 11 ounces.  He's just a little peanut compared to other babies his age, but growing and developing and healthy nonetheless. He is fairly happy, and is getting the hang of taking a nap in the afternoon and going to bed before midnight (honestly, you'd think he was one of the college students!). He no longer dreads tummy time, and is able to roll over both ways. Still loves to kick, and has been grabbing at and putting everything into his mouth lately (feet, hands, blankets, toys, everything). He has been exercising his voice as much as possible, and talking/yelling/squealing/babbling a lot. We LOVE his cute voice! No words or anything like that yet (or, that we've been able to interpret ;). Also loves to sit on our lap and be read to. Steve can make him belly laugh, and it's too cute. Perhaps I will have to get a video of it.  He is so fun, and growing up so fast. We are thankful.

4 months old

Sweetheart

Milestones

Was just sitting here, reading a book with one eye, and with the other eye, watching Lars play on the floor (to say it any other way makes it sound like Lars was playing with my eye). Before we both knew it, he had gone from laying on his back and playing on his feet, to laying on his stomach (suddenly forgetting that he already knows how to go from tummy to back)! Woohoo for Lars! Before we know it, he will be rolling all over the apartment.

I am getting ready to give up Facebook for a while here, so I decided to post about Lars here rather than on Facebook (the actual fast won't start until Ash Wednesday, February 13th...but I am trying to ease myself into it :)

Just in case you were wondering, yep: he's still adorable.

Three Months

On December 23rd, Lars turned three months old! He weighed in at around 12 pounds as far as we could tell from home (no three month appointment to give us official measurements), and is getting more grown up each day.
He has recently started nonchalantly grabbing his feet, and loves to to chatter and coo and smile. He is getting better and better at tummy time and wants to try to sit up all by himself a lot. We were blessed to be able to go home for Thanksgiving and Christmas, and both times he was a wonderful traveller. Many of the other passengers and flight attendants complimented him on how well he did. Thankful that we can travel with Lars!

Happy New Year!

bundled up in cold Minnesota

checking out his feet

tummy time is always more fun with daddy

such a big boy already!

Merry Christmas!