Christopher's First Christmas

Christopher's first Christmas!! What a great time we had at Christmas. Christopher loved all the excitement and all the visiting. He really loves playing with other kids. Christopher figured out "opening" the presents at the end of the day - on the very last present he did it by himself. Christopher and I went to see Santa 2 times - both times he was very afraid of that scarry man and cried. Maybe next year.



Angela bought Christopher and Olivia matching PJs for Christmas Eve - they were so cute - Christopher is almost as big as Liv even though she is 8 months older than him.



Christmas morning we opened stockings at home. Christopher was a little scared to stick his hand into his stocking -but figured it out with some help. He took this hat out of daddy's stocking.


He loved his matchbox car. It tasted great.


It is amazing to watch him learn -from the time he opens a toy until he masters which buttons do what. He pushing cars around and makes a Vroom sound - where did he learn that?

Christopher relaxing in his new chair.



Christopher received so many wonderful gifts. We are so blessed to have family and friends that love our son so much. Hope everyone had a great Christmas and has a safe New Year.

Growing so fast - 11 months old.

Christopher is growing so fast. He is trying to eat with a spoon by himself. He gets mad if I help him - he also wants to hold a spoon in each hand. He makes quite a mess - but the dogs love that.


Christopher is getting such a personality of his own. He loves to play - he would rather play with us than the toys - but some of his favorite toys keep him entertained too. He loves to stick his tounge out and is showing off 2 of his 4 teeth. I can't believe how big he is already.



He is so cute. He doesn't bother the Christmas presents - but wants to play with the paper as I wrap them. He is going to have fun when he realizes how to open gifts. Tony and I are thinking about Christopher's 1st Birthday - not sure what we will plan but something will be in the works soon.


We are so thankful and happy to have such a wonderful little boy. He are looking forward to the holidays and time off with our family this year. I hope everyone has a great Christmas.
Kennita - Tony - Christopher

Nine Months Old Already

We had our pictures taken over the weekend. Christopher was a good sport and did a great job - no tears. While we were taking his 9 months pictures, I talked Tony into doing a family shot.



Christopher looks so cute in this Halloween Costume as he crawls around. I told you he was a good sport - even with the costume on.





The family

Hard day at work

Christopher was sitting on daddys lap on the back porch and talking up a storm - until the sudden urge to take a nap hit him. Uncle Chris had to take a picture.

Christopher is Growing So Fast!

Christopher is crawling all over. He has been rocking for awhile. But he is now moving all around. The dogs are not too happy because he can follow them now. He loves his new freedom. His favorite thing to try to get is the TV remote. We lay it and a toy down and he always crawls to the remote. He is growing so fast. He is 22 lbs and 30 inches. He is also trying to pull himself to a standing position. Yes, I had to lower his crib. He has changed so much in the last week.

All of the extra floor time has caused extra bath time. Christopher loves the water - he doesn't seem to care about the water he is sitting in - but loves the water as it comes out of the faucet. Even as we brush our teeth- he tries to jump at the running water. Or should I say Tooth! - He also has 1 tooth and a second that is pushing through.

Christopher was sick earlier this week. He had a skin rash around his eye. When we took him to the doctor I was expecting them to roll their eyes at the first time parents bringing their kid in for a rash. But, he was admitted into the hospital, required a CAT scan and had to spend the night. He had to have IV antibiotics. It is called Optical cellulitus. It seems to be common but pretty serious especially since it was around his eye. He is on an oral antibiotic now and is OK. He did get a black eye from the swelling. You can see a little of it in his picture.

This week was my birthday. I am 34. I went out to dinner at the winery with my 2 favorite boys. They both looked so handsome. Christopher bought me a cute card and even signed it with some scribbles.

News from Ukraine

A few people have asked me if I still sponsor kids through L2O (life2orphans.org). The answer is yes. I have 4 kids. Three sisters (16,17,18) at one orphanage and 1 boy (14) at another. I wanted to share photos of the gifts the kids have sent me. The youngest girl, Alla, sent me a beautifully handmade broom. It is meant to bring happiness and good luck to our home. If you look closely you can see - the decorations are made of seeds and rocks that she painted.

The boy, Oleg, sent me a picture he drew with a 2 page English written letter. This is amazing since most kids in Ukraine do not know English.

Here is a exert from his letter "I always remember about you in my prayers with gratitude.... I am in 8th grade. I like algebra and physics. I am so well at playing soccer.....I like to sing and listen to Christian songs. I would like our God bless me with ability to sing, worshiping Him. I pray God to bless me with wisdom and good knowledges. I love you and kiss you many times" About celebrating Christmas in Ukraine "It was so great, We prayed a lot, had joy, wishing good to one another."

Our new house - well not so new.

We bought a house a this summer on Broadway street, here in Greensburg. We originally looked at it as an investment property, but I really liked it. So our plan is to move into it when it is completed and keep the North street house as an investment. Well our new house is definitely a "fixer upper". We spent a lot of time at the house cleaning and demolishing. The Broadway house has a big yard with a huge tree, a 2 car garage, 5 bedrooms and I will finally have a room for a kitchen table. But it will take a lot of work - and I am very little help - because I am spending all of my time with Christopher. I am posting a few pictures before we did any work. It already looks so much better and it will look great soon.

Christopher and Olivia

Angela and I took the kids (Hannah, Jim, Lindsey, Olivia and Christopher) to the mall. While we were eating lunch the babies reached toward each other and held hands. So cute. We did not prompt this picture. I had to use my cellphone for the picture - it was so sweet. Christopher was so good at the mall. He rode around in his stroller and went for a ride on the carousel. On the carousel he sat on the horse and held onto the pole - Olivia was scared of the animals. She also called them all DOGGIES.

I am sitting like a big boy.

I can't believe Christopher is 29 weeks old. 7 months old! We keep reminding ourselves that at Christmas he will be almost 1 year old. Time moves so much quicker since we have had him. I really love to spend time with him. I get very little else accomplished during his awake hours - yes he is napping now.

Christopher has been working on his independent sitting. I think we can call him a sitter now. He can sit for long periods of time before he falls over. He really likes the new view.

It has been so hot!!! We have been staying indoors as much as possible. Tony buys us Popsicles - Christopher and I both enjoy them.

I just gave Christopher a bath - I now bath him sitting up and not in a baby tub - he is so tall his head was growing out of the baby tub. He doesn't cry or complain about bathing -- but doesn't love it either. I think he will begin liking it when he learns the splashing technique.

I have been very busy at work. Hill-Rom and Batesville Casket are separating into 2 independent companies - so I am working on many projects. Thankfully my office is air conditioned though the factory is not and I spend a majority of my time on the production line. In a few weeks I will be complaining about my freezing office -- but not this week.

On the road again.

This weekend we went to a birthday party. Christopher and daddy borrowed this car from his cousin. I thought he was too little to ride in it by himself. But he showed me! He really enjoyed it. I think we will have to buy him one of these.

Night on the town

We went out to dinner with our friends Dave and Juanita. They bought Christopher this tie-dyed shirt in March when we all went on vacation. It is a size 12M and I thought it was so big. Now it fits great.

Luau! Luau!

Our friend Jennifer Meyer had a Luau last weekend. Christopher looked cool in his Hawaiian shirt. Mommy opted for her regular black shirt.

My Nieces and Nephews

We went to my moms yesterday. My brother Bill cooked out. The kids played in the creek. At dark Grandma and Grandpa had a firework display. Christopher only liked the fireworks for a few minutes. The kids had a great time. Here is a picture of the gang. Olivia (Ang's baby) is not in the picture- she was taking a nap.

Brito, Christopher and Mason

Christopher likes the dogs. The dogs are very good with him - Tony has trained them well. This is what our living room is like - baby toys and dogs everywhere. Daisy is here but is not in the picture - she has been trained by me - therefore doesn't listen very well.

I'm a little Fire Cracker

Tony's aunt Debbie brought Christopher a cute outfit for Independence Day. We went to Paige and Dwayne's for a cookout and a few fireworks. We only did a few before the rain started. Christopher really enjoys watching the big kids play. Christopher and Mommy reading a book. I read my books out loud to him. He likes to turn the pages. Listening is hard work - he had to take a nap during this chapter.

The World Looks Different From Way Up Here

Paige brought Christopher a highchair home from Dorel Juvenile Group. My old company. He really likes to sit up high while momma is in the kichen. When it is time to eat he opens his mouth like a litte bird.

Christopher 5 months pictures

Here are Christopher's 5 month pictures. He is so cute.

He is wearing his Reds Shirt - Supporting the Team!

He really likes to stand and jump - he is very strong already.

He is such a happy baby - we are so blessed.

In the Begining

Hello All - I thought this would be an easy effective way to communicate with everyone with our ever changing lives here is the Dobbs-Mains Household. I hope to post photos and updates frequently - so check back often.

The pictures I will post now- Tony and I had a beautiful baby boy in January (1-21-07 on my Dad's birthday) - Christopher Donn Mains -- he is 5 months old already - I can't believe how fast he has grown. He still looks just like Tony- but has very blue eyes???

Christopher at 1 month

Christopher at 4 months old

Christopher at 4 Months old

Tony and I were married in March (3-27-07 on my friend - Jen Hoover's Bday). We were married in Florida on the Gulf of Mexico - it was a beautiful sunset - I really enjoyed the causal setting and the low stress of the event - but I still missed not having my family and friends close. Married life has not really changed us too much - OK not really at all.