After Bath Exercises

Mercy has been working on her arm strength during tummy time after her baths.  She gets really vocal when she is on her tummy. She makes loud sounds that sound like a mix of effort and frustration. I guess that means she is putting all her energy into it. I'm sure she will be crawling soon once she learns to move her arms forward along with her legs.

All Aboard the Daddy Train

Well here's the after I get home from work setup.  Mercy loves being outside and looking at all my junk in the garage as I try to sort through it.  I put her in the carrier in the mornings before work too.  We've managed to put away most everything left in the center of the garage from the move into the shelving units. Thanks for the moral support Mercy! (I don't usually walk around with Mercy wearing a headband and glittery shoes like you'll see below.  That was her mother's idea.)

In addition to this little outfit, I have been shopping for a shotgun. No seriously, I am gonna buy a shotgun and polish it for the next 16 years.

Look at the family resemblance. From birth Mercy has looked a lot like Sara's baby pictures.  She is starting to show a little more "Sandoval" now too.

Coolest shoes ever. Thanks Trish. Mercy can't keep her balance on her own yet but she stands and supports her own weight.  Maybe the shoes will motivate her.

Mercy's World

Dad's Birthday Gift

I received some very nice birthday cards and gifts today.  A much needed new wallet, some winning lottery tickets and gift cards were among the swag. As nice as these all were I must say that the absolute best gift, something I have been looking forward to for several months now came from my daughter. We were playing near and far where I made her run away from me and then back to me. After a couple of times she really liked it and gave me her very first giggle. I kept doing it and got about four giggles out of her. It's hard to describe why but it made me so happy. In the past I was somewhat apprehensive about fatherhood but moments like this really throw all your doubt out the window.

Single White Babe...y

Name: Mercy Elizabeth

Age: Almost 4 months

Favorite color: Pink

Hobbies and interests: Sucking on my hands, taking naps in the swing, babbling, being happy in the morning, going for rides in daddy's baby carrier, smiling at mommy, nursing incessantly

Everybody Duck!

As you can see Mercy has been working the delts and biceps extensively. Can you see the look of fear in the yellow ducky's eyes? She does have German ancestry on my side so I have taken to calling her Der Poopenstein. Ya, das est gud der poopenstein! We ran into a friend from church at the uptown wednesday night festival who prayed for us as a family.  His prayer was a big reminder that we have the charge of raising her to understand the things of the Lord. She did extremely well walking around the festival.  I carried her in the strap on carrier which seemed to keep her content more than the stroller.  It was really fun to be so festive together as a family with a happy child. Whenever I walk around with her everyone looks at us. When I say "us" of course I mean her. I can't blame them.

How to Dress a Baby

I found out it works better to put the collar on from the back of the neck first otherwise you get astronaut baby. I decided to walk her to church in the stroller this morning which worked fine for about half of the trip and then I had to take her out and carry her to keep her from fussing. I made it with a little extra effort and handed her off to the nursery ladies but I missed playing the first song. Sorry worship band but baby Mercy had other ideas.

Mercy has some of her best vocal practice during tummy time and when she is crying.  We're still waiting for her first giggle. We commented again today that the happy times make it all worth it.