Our precious little one has had some new discoveries this week... each day he gets better at walking around the coffee table, ottoman, sofa, me, and such. He has gotten quite fast! He gets a bit braver each day about transferring from one thing to another. He discovered the DSL cable and laptop earlier this week. This morning he realized that he could get over to his buckets of toys (holding my hands of course) and realized the world that awaits him there. He was too cute! He has also figured out how to turn himself around while sitting to get something he wants... nope, he still isn't crawling, but why try when you love to stand and walk around?!?!
He has had some new food - cheddar cheese and yogurt - and he likes them both. Selfishly, I am waiting to introduce milk until after all our July travel. Formula is easier to pack and serve on the road than milk!
Yesterday was monumental... we turned his car seat around. It is a week before his first birthday, but we head out on a long, quick car trip tomorrow. We knew the trip would be better for us all if he was facing forward, and he meets the weight requirement...weighing about 22 lbs. based on our scale at home. He was quite intrigued with his new view... and he just squealed in delight! It was quite fun.
It is hard to believe his birthday is less than a week away... how fat and miserable I was this time last year! What a joy this year has been as we have learned to be parents and watched him grow and begin to discover his world. There are still moments I just look at him in awe, amazed that God entrusted him to us. We can't wait to celebrate!
Our God is so good!
Thursday, June 29, 2006
Saturday, June 24, 2006
Lightswitch
I have determined this is my son's new nickname. "Why?," you ask. Because this is how he approaches life...he is completely off to an idea, then SWITCH! he is all about the new thing and wants nothing to do with the "old" way. He has always been one to do things in his own time and in his own way (wonder where he gets that from? HA!), and this week proved to be no different.
Several months ago, I began introducing a sippy cup. I thought this would give him a slow transition and maybe ease the pain of saying goodbye to the bottle. He didn't have much to do with it. Sure, he would play with it if he saw it on a table, but he didn't want much to do with drinking out of it. He slowly seemed to come around over a couple of weeks taking an occasional "meal" from it or having some juice during his snack. And then BAM! Sippy cup = BAD. Refusal to eat, pitching of fits, and more ensued. Mama was confused...and then it hit me: two new teeth coming in could mean pain was associated with the sippy cup. So, I waited to try again until the teeth were well established.
Then the process began again...introducing the cup during a meal, offering it instead of a bottle. He was a bit more receptive - probably because he REALLY likes V8 Splash - but formula was another issue. Being the persistent person I am (nice spin on my stubbornness, huh!?!), I kept trying and he began to get the idea. He stopped fighting me as much and eventually began drinking an entire "bottle's" worth without much fuss or mess. So, I got a little brave and decided to try it twice on Thursday. No problem...until his snack before bedtime came. Like a lightswitch, my son no longer wants a bottle...he only wants a sippy cup! Mind you, he still wants to recline a bit and have someone hold the sippy cup for him, but at least we are one step closer to his independence in this area.
He is a little lightswitch, I tell you, a lightswitch.
Several months ago, I began introducing a sippy cup. I thought this would give him a slow transition and maybe ease the pain of saying goodbye to the bottle. He didn't have much to do with it. Sure, he would play with it if he saw it on a table, but he didn't want much to do with drinking out of it. He slowly seemed to come around over a couple of weeks taking an occasional "meal" from it or having some juice during his snack. And then BAM! Sippy cup = BAD. Refusal to eat, pitching of fits, and more ensued. Mama was confused...and then it hit me: two new teeth coming in could mean pain was associated with the sippy cup. So, I waited to try again until the teeth were well established.
Then the process began again...introducing the cup during a meal, offering it instead of a bottle. He was a bit more receptive - probably because he REALLY likes V8 Splash - but formula was another issue. Being the persistent person I am (nice spin on my stubbornness, huh!?!), I kept trying and he began to get the idea. He stopped fighting me as much and eventually began drinking an entire "bottle's" worth without much fuss or mess. So, I got a little brave and decided to try it twice on Thursday. No problem...until his snack before bedtime came. Like a lightswitch, my son no longer wants a bottle...he only wants a sippy cup! Mind you, he still wants to recline a bit and have someone hold the sippy cup for him, but at least we are one step closer to his independence in this area.
He is a little lightswitch, I tell you, a lightswitch.
Wednesday, June 21, 2006
Father's Day
Father's Day was a wonderful celebration with family. Clay and I had the joy of caring for the toddlers during the worship service, our LifeGroup enjoyed breakfast together, and then we joined my parents, sister and her family for lunch. It was a great afternoon - but I didn't get a nap. What a great way to celebrate Clay's first Father's Day!
Clay is one amazing man...and a great father. Jbird lights up when the door opens each evening...he loves his daddy! I swell with pride when people talk about how beautiful Jbird is...because he is Clay's mini-me. I love watching them play together, laugh together, and cuddle. I am so thankful for a man who encourages and supports me. I am so blessed to have a man who is committed to me being at home during these formative years. Clay, you are a great father...and I look forward to watching Jbird grow up with you. I love you!
Here is Clay enjoying his Father's Day!
Here are the two boys playing together...Jbird was so intrigued with the mask Clay wore while tearing down the shed.
Pop with the grandkids... and then alone with Jbird. This is the first time Jbird ever reached toward Dylan...usually he cries when Dylan gets anywhere near his personal space!
Jbird enjoyed walking around the room with this fun toy! He is getting so fast and much braver about letting go of what he's holding on to... so walking is just around the corner!
Clay is one amazing man...and a great father. Jbird lights up when the door opens each evening...he loves his daddy! I swell with pride when people talk about how beautiful Jbird is...because he is Clay's mini-me. I love watching them play together, laugh together, and cuddle. I am so thankful for a man who encourages and supports me. I am so blessed to have a man who is committed to me being at home during these formative years. Clay, you are a great father...and I look forward to watching Jbird grow up with you. I love you!
Here is Clay enjoying his Father's Day!
Here are the two boys playing together...Jbird was so intrigued with the mask Clay wore while tearing down the shed.
Pop with the grandkids... and then alone with Jbird. This is the first time Jbird ever reached toward Dylan...usually he cries when Dylan gets anywhere near his personal space!
Jbird enjoyed walking around the room with this fun toy! He is getting so fast and much braver about letting go of what he's holding on to... so walking is just around the corner!
Wednesday, June 14, 2006
SAHM
Stay-at-home-mom or SAHM: my job title for the last year. One year ago today... I walked out of the paid working world. That seems almost unreal to me. It doesn't seem like a year ago, and yet working at the church feels like decades ago. There are pros and cons to this arrangement - as there are with most anything - and I thought I would share the few that come to mind... I am sure some will agree and some will disagree, but this is only my humble opinion!
PROS
1. Watching my son grow up - experiencing him learn about his world and getting to do most of the "firsts" with him (this is actually probably #1-30!)
2. Not having to be presentable every day (I do shower, but I don't always do hair & makeup) -and my wardrobe is always comfortable!
3. Freedom to visit with friends
4. Being able to shop while children are at school and adults are working
5. Freedom to help with things at church or other such needs
6. Learning to enjoy time by myself and the quiet
7. Being able to nap if I so need
8. Makes breastfeeding easier
9. We can take vacation whenever we desire
10. Being challenged to think outside the box to stimulate my child (and myself)
CONS
1. Not getting paid
2. Not having a real excuse not to cook dinner
3. Not having a real excuse when the house does get out of order or dirty
4. I've lost some motivation I used to have - I can now waste time like the best of them
5. It can get lonely
6. Little things around the house now bug me
7. Many days seem just like the one before
8. Fewer conversations with adults - especially those not centering around children
9. Not getting paid
10. Not getting paid
I decided to limit each list to 10 because I am sure I could go on and on. I love my new title and the responsibilities that come with it; and I am humbly grateful that I get to stay home. I am thankful for sacrifices made, but mainly for a husband who feels as strongly, if not more so, about me being home as I do.
PROS
1. Watching my son grow up - experiencing him learn about his world and getting to do most of the "firsts" with him (this is actually probably #1-30!)
2. Not having to be presentable every day (I do shower, but I don't always do hair & makeup) -and my wardrobe is always comfortable!
3. Freedom to visit with friends
4. Being able to shop while children are at school and adults are working
5. Freedom to help with things at church or other such needs
6. Learning to enjoy time by myself and the quiet
7. Being able to nap if I so need
8. Makes breastfeeding easier
9. We can take vacation whenever we desire
10. Being challenged to think outside the box to stimulate my child (and myself)
CONS
1. Not getting paid
2. Not having a real excuse not to cook dinner
3. Not having a real excuse when the house does get out of order or dirty
4. I've lost some motivation I used to have - I can now waste time like the best of them
5. It can get lonely
6. Little things around the house now bug me
7. Many days seem just like the one before
8. Fewer conversations with adults - especially those not centering around children
9. Not getting paid
10. Not getting paid
I decided to limit each list to 10 because I am sure I could go on and on. I love my new title and the responsibilities that come with it; and I am humbly grateful that I get to stay home. I am thankful for sacrifices made, but mainly for a husband who feels as strongly, if not more so, about me being home as I do.
Friday, June 09, 2006
Thursday, June 08, 2006
The big bathtub
Today Jbird experienced the biggest bathtub he has seen to date - my parents' neighborhood pool! We had a grand time - and got to share it with Grannylou, Pop, Aunt Kristi, Kadyn and Dylan. We figured Jbird would enjoy the pool since he loves bath time and his outdoor pool so much... and he didn't disappoint. He laughed, smiled and kicked his legs. He wasn't too fond of going under water, but it only took a moment to calm him back down. He really loved being pushed around in his floatie - he is a man of speed just like his father!
My son is always one to provide laughs, and today was no different. At first we all thought he was just tired of the sun in his eyes and the brightness of the day, but then we began to see the head fall. Yep, he was falling asleep in his floatie!
He finally couldn't take it anymore and the head fell completely forward...
and slowly he began to just let his whole body go.
It was quite hilarious... he might have tipped himself over if someone hadn't been holding on to the float.
He wasn't stirred by being moved around the pool, by the other children playing, or even by being lifted from the floatie. Apparently we had worn him out. He did finally stir when we laid him on his towel, but he was a happy boy.
What a great evening! I am sure he will sleep well tonight. We are so glad he likes the pool since we are planning a pool party for his birthday! More pictures were taken by Pop, and I will post those in another blog once I get them - so stay tuned!
Have I told you that he has taken to walking around the coffee table and playground table? He seems to get a bit faster each day and has even moved to other adjacent pieces of furniture. He'll be running before I know it!
My son is always one to provide laughs, and today was no different. At first we all thought he was just tired of the sun in his eyes and the brightness of the day, but then we began to see the head fall. Yep, he was falling asleep in his floatie!
He finally couldn't take it anymore and the head fell completely forward...
.jpg)
and slowly he began to just let his whole body go.
It was quite hilarious... he might have tipped himself over if someone hadn't been holding on to the float.
He wasn't stirred by being moved around the pool, by the other children playing, or even by being lifted from the floatie. Apparently we had worn him out. He did finally stir when we laid him on his towel, but he was a happy boy.
What a great evening! I am sure he will sleep well tonight. We are so glad he likes the pool since we are planning a pool party for his birthday! More pictures were taken by Pop, and I will post those in another blog once I get them - so stay tuned!
Have I told you that he has taken to walking around the coffee table and playground table? He seems to get a bit faster each day and has even moved to other adjacent pieces of furniture. He'll be running before I know it!
Wednesday, June 07, 2006
My little biter
My precious little boy has become a biter overnight! He doesn't mean to bite, but his top teeth are now in far enough that he can get a hold of a small piece of skin and OUCH! He loves to give "kisses" (an open mouth placed on some part of your face, shoulder, or neck), but hasn't realized yet that he shouldn't clamp down. He bit me a total of 5 times today... 4 of them while we were getting a tire patched at Discount Tire. The last time was after dinner at church. Then he bit his precious nursery worker! We have entered a new phase of life... yet he doesn't understand why kissing was okay yesterday (and at times today) but now sometimes it is not...nor does he quite understand the word "no". So for those of you who see him regularly... consider this fair warning... his biting hurts and will leave a mark!
Monday, June 05, 2006
A BIG DAY
Today is a BIG DAY in our home... not only is Jonathan 11 months old today, but he took a couple of steps while holding on to the coffee table!!!For those who don't know... Jonathan hasn't been mobile up to this point. No crawling, no pulling up. He loves to stand, but you have to stand him up.
This afternoon, I decided to let him play at the coffee table for a bit. He started playing with an empty bottle and then I placed it out of his reach. He took a couple of steps to get it. I was so excited... and so was he!!! This is the first time he has seen something he wants and taken steps to get it. Usually he simply leans toward it and then either falls or catches himself before falling.
I think these pictures capture his excitement well.
What a great day! The doctor said our goal for his first birthday was some form of mobility... whether crawling, walking along furniture, or walking alone. I was beginning to wonder if we would reach that goal, and now it looks like we'll get there. What a great way to celebrate 11 wonderful months...
Saturday, June 03, 2006
First you must clean out...
This is the story of the shed...the awful, eye-sore of a shed that once held residence in our backyard.
We weren't real excited about the shed when we moved in, but we never really got around to doing anything about it. It appeared to be in decent shape (although ugly) when we bought the house 4 years ago, but after a hard rain we deduced it was most likely rotting from the inside out. I am not sure how long ago we discovered the hole in the roof...the hole that just kept getting bigger and bigger thanks to a myriad of rodents we discovered were making it their permanent residence. Many a squirrel and cat used it as a bridge between trees as well as a playground.
We finally decided that the shed must go...even if it meant some animals went homeless. The first step was to acquire a permit from this grand city of ours. A permit? You might ask... yes, a permit is required to tear down a shed on our property... gotta love the gov'ment! Our fear was that the penalty on the backside would be greater than the cost of the permit... and the shed is on our survey... so I decided we needed to play by the rules (as we should do always anyway!). So Wednesday, the boy and I headed downtown to city hall. Two hours later we were finally on our way home permit in hand and $81 lighter. We left with the knowledge that an inspector would visit us the next day and give us an orange card so we could begin work. Apparently work cannot begin in this city without the precious orange card. Thursday came and went... no inspector. Clay "canceled" all the help and we began to re-plan our Friday. Friday morning I called the city's Development Department early to see what was up and had to leave a message with the head of something. I kept calling just on the chance... and finally I got someone else who proceeded to tell me that an orange card was NOT necessary for demolition - only for building. She told us to tear it on down and then call an inspector to make sure all was cleaned up properly. YEAH! But at the same time we were very frustrated because it was already 10:00 a.m. and the forecast was warm (surprise, surprise). Clay called in the troops who said they could be here after lunch... so he decided to start cleaning out the shed while he waited for reinforcements. Apparently all the guys were very excited about demolishing a building!
He began making a pile of the trash found in the shed - most of it left by the previous owners: a dresser, chairs, insulation, empty boxes, cement mix, a tub of toys, old duffle bags, small grill, shovel, garden hose, fertilizer, mulch, propane tank, lamp oil, a melted Citranella candle, half an orange cone, bed frame, broom and dustpan, boxes of screws, and more.
I think the best "find" was the origin of the fragrance that greeted you when you opened the door... two dead animals. One was a rat and we think the other was a squirrel. "We think?", you might ask. It can be hard to tell when the creature is bald and half missing! Throughout the demolition process, the guys discovered a possum had created a home for her two children. I have never seen such large guys jump back so fast! Only the mother and one baby made it out alive... the larger child apparently met bad fate with a crossbeam from the floor and he didn't make it. It was quite humorous to watch these manly men try to decide if this possum was really dead or simply playing possum... finally they moved it with a long board so it was far from any one of them. These fallen creatures were collected and removed from the premises... and I hope the possum family has found a nice, new home.
I planned to take pictures of the demolition process along the way just sure it would provide a good story... but before I knew it, one side of the roof was already gone! The boys were having too much fun - and you can see it all over their faces.
The rest of the demolition pictures are below in the following entry... too many for one blog alone. We are so thankful for friends who are willing to help work - although most of Friday's work was fun! I was amazed they both showed back up today to finish hauling off debris. We are also thankful for friends with trucks and a trailer. Our backyard has been transformed... and we think it looks great!
We weren't real excited about the shed when we moved in, but we never really got around to doing anything about it. It appeared to be in decent shape (although ugly) when we bought the house 4 years ago, but after a hard rain we deduced it was most likely rotting from the inside out. I am not sure how long ago we discovered the hole in the roof...the hole that just kept getting bigger and bigger thanks to a myriad of rodents we discovered were making it their permanent residence. Many a squirrel and cat used it as a bridge between trees as well as a playground.
We finally decided that the shed must go...even if it meant some animals went homeless. The first step was to acquire a permit from this grand city of ours. A permit? You might ask... yes, a permit is required to tear down a shed on our property... gotta love the gov'ment! Our fear was that the penalty on the backside would be greater than the cost of the permit... and the shed is on our survey... so I decided we needed to play by the rules (as we should do always anyway!). So Wednesday, the boy and I headed downtown to city hall. Two hours later we were finally on our way home permit in hand and $81 lighter. We left with the knowledge that an inspector would visit us the next day and give us an orange card so we could begin work. Apparently work cannot begin in this city without the precious orange card. Thursday came and went... no inspector. Clay "canceled" all the help and we began to re-plan our Friday. Friday morning I called the city's Development Department early to see what was up and had to leave a message with the head of something. I kept calling just on the chance... and finally I got someone else who proceeded to tell me that an orange card was NOT necessary for demolition - only for building. She told us to tear it on down and then call an inspector to make sure all was cleaned up properly. YEAH! But at the same time we were very frustrated because it was already 10:00 a.m. and the forecast was warm (surprise, surprise). Clay called in the troops who said they could be here after lunch... so he decided to start cleaning out the shed while he waited for reinforcements. Apparently all the guys were very excited about demolishing a building!
He began making a pile of the trash found in the shed - most of it left by the previous owners: a dresser, chairs, insulation, empty boxes, cement mix, a tub of toys, old duffle bags, small grill, shovel, garden hose, fertilizer, mulch, propane tank, lamp oil, a melted Citranella candle, half an orange cone, bed frame, broom and dustpan, boxes of screws, and more.
I think the best "find" was the origin of the fragrance that greeted you when you opened the door... two dead animals. One was a rat and we think the other was a squirrel. "We think?", you might ask. It can be hard to tell when the creature is bald and half missing! Throughout the demolition process, the guys discovered a possum had created a home for her two children. I have never seen such large guys jump back so fast! Only the mother and one baby made it out alive... the larger child apparently met bad fate with a crossbeam from the floor and he didn't make it. It was quite humorous to watch these manly men try to decide if this possum was really dead or simply playing possum... finally they moved it with a long board so it was far from any one of them. These fallen creatures were collected and removed from the premises... and I hope the possum family has found a nice, new home.I planned to take pictures of the demolition process along the way just sure it would provide a good story... but before I knew it, one side of the roof was already gone! The boys were having too much fun - and you can see it all over their faces.
The rest of the demolition pictures are below in the following entry... too many for one blog alone. We are so thankful for friends who are willing to help work - although most of Friday's work was fun! I was amazed they both showed back up today to finish hauling off debris. We are also thankful for friends with trucks and a trailer. Our backyard has been transformed... and we think it looks great!
then you can destroy.
Here is almost a step by step account of the demolition...
The back siding coming off...
The roof is almost gone...
Finally, air conditioning! This is not a caged animal, but one of the "moose" that helped knock out this monstrosity!
Wow, it already looks so different!
The roof collapses - with only two swings by Shad to the main post!
No more siding... are we building or tearing down?
Not too many swings later and with a big push, the entire thing collapses with much rejoicing!
The men and their "kill"
A man and his weapons of mass destruction! The king of the castle is quite proud!
Mid-way through removing the debris
While lots of leaves and some trash remain, this gives an idea of the finished product. Our yard is so HUGE now! We are all excited! What a weekend!
The back siding coming off...The roof is almost gone...
Finally, air conditioning! This is not a caged animal, but one of the "moose" that helped knock out this monstrosity!
Wow, it already looks so different!
The roof collapses - with only two swings by Shad to the main post!No more siding... are we building or tearing down?
Not too many swings later and with a big push, the entire thing collapses with much rejoicing!The men and their "kill"
A man and his weapons of mass destruction! The king of the castle is quite proud!Mid-way through removing the debris
While lots of leaves and some trash remain, this gives an idea of the finished product. Our yard is so HUGE now! We are all excited! What a weekend!
Thursday, June 01, 2006
My little "stinker"
I've heard the stories and laughed...and today, I got to experience it firsthand. My precious little "stinker" pooped in the tub! I have had several discussions with a friend about how I have escaped this experience for so long...and we determined it was because bathtime usually falls right after breakfast. Well, bathtime was after lunch today since playgroup was at the park... and I walked through the perils of a mid-day bath...
We've had a great day - it started a little earlier than I so desired, but everyone was in a good mood all day. I chose not to bathe him as usual after breakfast since I figured he would get sweaty at the park... and I'm glad I didn't because he was pretty nasty! We headed to the park to play with our friends, and Jbird had a great time swinging and watching the other children run/walk around. He finally got tired enough that he fell asleep on the sleeping bag I brought... and no noise or children could stir him! He wasn't even bothered by the transfer to the car or his crib... and he slept another hour here at the house! Lunch was fun... he made a complete mess, but he had a great time eating chicken nuggets and macaroni and cheese. So, I decided a bath was a must. Everything was just as usual - he was having a grand time splashing and playing with his toys... then I began to notice that the tub looked a little dirty. "Guess he got dirtier than I thought at the park or this tub got dirty faster," I thought. (We are still bathing in our bathroom after our weekend company!) Then I saw IT! The bits of "dirt" weren't dirt at all... they were pieces of poo that simply preceded the large piece of poo! I just stopped... what to do? I grabbed some toilet paper and tried to pick it out of the tub (I know, I know)... the toilet paper began to disintegrate while the poo began breaking apart. I got as much as I could, then I grabbed Jbird out of the tub and placed him on a towel (see, we hadn't bathed yet). I drained the water, washed all the toys off, then wiped his bath seat and the tub with a Clorox wipe. I placed all things back in the tub (son included) and began the process of filling it up again... just in time to see a stream flowing from my precious boy... NOW HE WAS PEEING!!!! We've had this experience before, but only twice (and both in his little tub)... once before water was even in the tub and once at the very end so I was finished anyway! I just laughed... stopped the water, used a cup to wash the pee down the drain and then started filling the tub again. This time, I quickly bathed him and got out. I figured the longer we stayed in the bath the more damage could be done!
Fortunately, he didn't seemed phased by one bit of this adventure... I am very thankful he didn't think the poo was a toy... and I am thankful for a good laugh and funny story. I thought you might get a laugh out of it too... so I just thought I would share!
We've had a great day - it started a little earlier than I so desired, but everyone was in a good mood all day. I chose not to bathe him as usual after breakfast since I figured he would get sweaty at the park... and I'm glad I didn't because he was pretty nasty! We headed to the park to play with our friends, and Jbird had a great time swinging and watching the other children run/walk around. He finally got tired enough that he fell asleep on the sleeping bag I brought... and no noise or children could stir him! He wasn't even bothered by the transfer to the car or his crib... and he slept another hour here at the house! Lunch was fun... he made a complete mess, but he had a great time eating chicken nuggets and macaroni and cheese. So, I decided a bath was a must. Everything was just as usual - he was having a grand time splashing and playing with his toys... then I began to notice that the tub looked a little dirty. "Guess he got dirtier than I thought at the park or this tub got dirty faster," I thought. (We are still bathing in our bathroom after our weekend company!) Then I saw IT! The bits of "dirt" weren't dirt at all... they were pieces of poo that simply preceded the large piece of poo! I just stopped... what to do? I grabbed some toilet paper and tried to pick it out of the tub (I know, I know)... the toilet paper began to disintegrate while the poo began breaking apart. I got as much as I could, then I grabbed Jbird out of the tub and placed him on a towel (see, we hadn't bathed yet). I drained the water, washed all the toys off, then wiped his bath seat and the tub with a Clorox wipe. I placed all things back in the tub (son included) and began the process of filling it up again... just in time to see a stream flowing from my precious boy... NOW HE WAS PEEING!!!! We've had this experience before, but only twice (and both in his little tub)... once before water was even in the tub and once at the very end so I was finished anyway! I just laughed... stopped the water, used a cup to wash the pee down the drain and then started filling the tub again. This time, I quickly bathed him and got out. I figured the longer we stayed in the bath the more damage could be done!
Fortunately, he didn't seemed phased by one bit of this adventure... I am very thankful he didn't think the poo was a toy... and I am thankful for a good laugh and funny story. I thought you might get a laugh out of it too... so I just thought I would share!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
