I'm Still Here

I haven't fallen off the blogesphere! I'm just taking some time loving every minute of our little 14-month old ball of fun. I'm also doing some rethinking about this blog, deciding about a possible direction that I might like to go in. We'll see.

One

One year ago, baby boy, you arrived! We never could have known this kind of love until we met you. You are smiles and laughter and cuddles. You are mischief and persistence and joy. This last year of our lives has, without a doubt, been the best ever. We have watched you grow and can't wait to see what you are going to do next. At one year old:

• You weight 22 lbs and are 30 inches long, 50th percentile in both.
• You are a great eater. Some favorites are blueberries, mac n cheese, ravioli, bananas, and mandarin oranges.
• You are a climber! You are lightening-quick on the stairs and you can be found pushing your trailer to climb on tables and reach things you want.
• You are not walking yet but you are cruising everywhere. 
• You have favorite books you like to read. Some of your favorites are Brown Bear, Brown Bear, Goodnight Moon, and I Am a Bunny.
• You have cut down to only 1 bottle before bedtime. 
• You play pat-a-cake and The Wheels on the Bus.
• You have 6 teeth and definitely have some more on the way.
• You are pretty consistent with two good naps a day and 10-11 hours a night.
• You give awesome cuddles. When I get you out of bed, you curl up on my chest with your head on my shoulder. These are the best times.

 

Finally Friday! (February Style)

Chris and I joined the gym last night and I was so excited, planning my workout class time for this morning and planning mine and Jackson's day in my head. Then...guess who woke up with the yuckiest nose and the crankiest disposition EVER. I would not be happy if another mother brought their child looking like that to childcare at the gym. Alas, we are at home. After putting the screeching child down for a nap I am sitting down for just a moment to collect my thoughts and try to put the last couple of hours behind us. Mama said there'd be days like this.

Anyway! It is a beautiful sunny day (although I don't think it's supposed to reach much over 30 degrees today) and I want to get some things done. I can think of about 1.5 million things I'd rather do than clean, but I love having a clean house. Therefore I must clean it.

It's February! Usually a humdrum month in my book but it's starting off bright and sunny so I have high hopes this year. We finished January with a fun birthday party for the little guy and I have to say this year has started off quite well. I'm so thankful for family and friends and God's love that surrounds us.

Welcome February. I hope you're bringing some warmer days with you (I can hope!), bountiful tax returns, and some energy and optimism. Is anyone else ready for Spring?!? 

Thank you February for letting me be random today. It's time to get up, get some work done, and enjoy a nice Friday evening with my boys. I'll leave you with a sneak peak from an upcoming birthday post. Happy weekend!

 

It's Been a Rough Week

Isn't he the sweetest in his little hospital gown!

We started off here, Saturday night, at Children's Hospital ER. I had called the doctor, explaining Jackson's symptoms, and he recommended going in because he said it was just going to get worse. True. Breathing like a freight train and struggling to get his coughs out, we took him in. He doesn't look sick, you say?? Ha! He had too much to explore. No sickness is going to get him down. He was all over that bed and would have been the floor if we had let him!

So one breathing treatment, a dose of steroids, and another dose in our pocket, we were headed home. Croup. You better know I watched him breathe all (practically) night after we put him to bed. So began our time of quarantine. Days and days in the house + days upon days of gray, rainy days = a restless baby and mommy. Then, by Wednesday, I thought he should have been better. He would be trying to play with his toys and would lay his head down on the floor. Poor baby boy. Long story short, I took him to the dr. and, yes RSV and a double ear infection to boot. Sooo, some Augmentin and probiotics later, we are finally home on a rainy night.

So here is Friday and I am praying that all of that is behind us and we have turned the corner. Cough is better, breathing is great, now we just have to deal with the rash which I presume is from the antibiotics. Does it ever end? 

Here's to a great weekend, lots of sunshine, and some good times with family. This is what we did for a couple minutes this morning.

Happy Friday! This weekend we are gearing up for the big #1 birthday party next Saturday. So fun!

Maybe It Was Memphis

We are just back from a quick trip to Memphis to see the Grizzlies play! The trip was made even better because we met Brian, Em, Stacey, and Wes to watch the game with. It was a much needed time away and we got back just in time to pick up our croupy baby. Oh well, he's going to be fine and we had a great time. Our trip in photos:

Awesome seats!

At the Germantown Commisary. Bar-b-que!

We finished off our time with a trip to Muddy's Bake Shop. This cupcake was called "Prozac"--and yes it was!

11 Months

Oh my heart, you are my 11-month-old baby who is hardly my baby anymore! There are still moments that I can steal a snuggle, a head laid on my shoulder, or brief times of sleeping in my arms. All the other times you are on the move! At 11 months:

• You are a crawling machine. You are not really even close to walking-you don't need to because you can get everywhere on your knees!
• You do stand for brief periods of time and you are good at pushing your walking toys around-no independent steps yet.
• You are still a good eater. You still love the avocado/banana combo but your new likes are Spaghetti-Os, blueberries, Goldfish, pretty much anything on Mama's plate.
• You love clapping for yourself and your accomplishments.
• You LOVE music. You love the drum at Granna's house and can be found dancing and nodding/shaking your head to your favorite beats.:)
• You are figuring out toys/shapes/pieces. For instance, you can figure out how to put the triangle into the triangle hole in the shape sorter, and you know that the cookies go in Cookie Monster's mouth.
• You are loving books, especially the ones that you can touch/feel/lift the flap. You sit independently and turn the pages of books the right direction (even though the book is sometimes upside down, haha).
• You love being chased by Mama or Daddy. It's such a fun game to you.
• You have 6 teeth!! Whoa. I wouldn't say you have had a terrible teething experience, but I know you have been uncomfortable.

You are happiness and joy and fun and laughter. You have so much ahead of you and I find it hard to imagine that I will be able to love the 1, 2, or 3 year old you as much as I love the you right now-although I know I will figure it out.:) I get you up in the morning and you look out the big window in the front of our house with eyes wide open and we say "Good morning world!" Your eyes light up as if you are imagining all the day has in store for you. I would love to be able to fill those eyes up with only good things-love, kindness, peace. I pray that God keeps you in His hands always and protects you, cares for you, and comforts you. We love you, Baby Boy!

A Christmas Open House

  My earliest Christmas memories were always centered around my Grandparents. We lived with them for a time and they were practically my second parents. Christmas was always such a big deal at their house. Everyone-aunts, uncles, and cousins would pile into their house on Christmas Eve because Santa always came to Grandmother and Granddaddy's house. I have such good memories of Christmas and its preparations. Trays and containers of baked treats would start to appear not long after Thanksgiving. The wreaths and bows would come out and the handmade stockings would be hung on the mantle. The tree was the centerpiece and always had a glamorous flair-my Grandmother was a glamorous lady! I hope to keep many of those Christmas traditions with my family and I decorated this year with my family on my mind, especially my Grandmother. She knew how to make it special.

This is me, days old, underneath the Christmas tree.

 3 or 4 years old?

I would have loved to have every single one of you over to our house this Christmas so I decided to invite you to a "virtual open house". My decorations aren't expensive or necessarily impressive but they are special to me and it's much more fun to share!

Come on in!

Here is one most recent addition:

This little guy is going to have a fun first Christmas! He can be found pulling ornaments and lights off the bottom of the tree and even getting stuck behind it occasionally. Christmas is so much more fun with him!

We can't wait to make our own family's Christmas memories and I hope that our kids have such good memories of their early Christmases.

Thank you so much for stopping by our open house and indulging me in some Christmas memories.:) I hope your Christmases are wonderful and your time with family is special!