Thursday, May 27, 2010

Happy 5 Months Baby B!




Happy Birthday sweet boy! You are growing and changing daily. This month you have come to enjoy eating cereal, and are ready to try more solid foods later this week. You have begun to sit up by yourself with your hands in front of you, and are more interested in rolling over, but your favorite activity is jumping. You jump in our arms, in your jumper, in the pool, in the exersaucer, and anywhere else it is possible. While you jump you laugh and squeal with excitement. All that jumping is making your legs very strong, and you have started to scoot around backwards. Today I left you on your playmat while I went to grab something. When I came back you were several feet away on the carpet, grinning from ear to ear. Grinning and laughing are skills you have mastered, and share often. You wooed the ladies with your big grin as we walked through Walmart today. You especially think your Daddy is hilarious, and often just look at him and laugh out loud. We started swimming this month. You love the water. As soon as you get outside you relax, and when you are in the water you sit and grin. Eating is another activity you still enjoy. We have to hide your bottle when it is empty, or you will continue to cry for it back. One of my favorite activities you started this month is singing. You start "singing" or cooing with no stopping, and will continue for several minutes at a time. You often do this when you're in the carseat, or starting to get sleepy. You love other children. Last weekend we were at a graduation party with several other children. They all gathered around you at one point. As they watched, you talked and squealed at them. When they played, you jumped and laughed beside them. I think you may be very social!

You now weigh about 17 1/2 lbs, and are around 27 inches long. You have moved to 6/9 month clothes, and size 3 diapers. I no longer carry you in your carseat, but you do now sit in the buggy when we shop and highchairs at restaurants. You still love to nap in your swing during the day, but you haven't been napping so well the last week or so. You sleep in your crib, and often wake again at least once to eat. Some mornings you come to our bed, especially if we haven't had much sleep yet for that night. You have not been sleeping as soundly, but when you wake you want to hold my hand to go back to sleep. I haven't been too successful at helping you be independent with your sleeping habits, so we'll have to work on that in the next couple of months.

Your firsts this month include: swimming, sitting alone, staying all day with Nonna while I cleaned my classroom, having lunch with Nonna and Papa at Charlie's, riding with Papa in the "Mule", sitting in a shopping buggy, sitting in a restaurant highchair, attending Emily and Lauren's graduation from UNA, seeing Leo and Una, going to several graduation parties, attending awards day at Harvest, celebrating Mother's Day, and celebrating your dedication at Fairview.

We did go to graduation at UNA. It was so crowded, and you and Maeleigh were in no mood to sit still too long. So we all went to see the lions instead. This month Uncle Ryan left for a summer in Japan. He is working for the U.S. Consulate in Nagoya. We finally finished your room I think. Nonna got the chair done, and I made a few pillows. Now we are filling it quickly with toys. We've had a few pool gatherings already, and have more planned for the summmer. I think we have a great summer ahead! I plan to enjoy every minute of it with you. I still can't stand the thought of leaving you every day to go back to work. Our time together has gone way too fast, but I think I'll look back on these months and know I've made the most of them. It's hard to believe we've only known you five months. They have been five exciting months!

Wednesday, May 26, 2010

A Relaxing Afternoon


After working in my classroom for most of the day, I came home to an exhausted, sleeping baby. He and Nonna had a busy day so he was sound asleep. I decided it was my chance to work on a few projects that I've wanted to tackle, but hadn't found my hands free enough to get done. This flag pillow is my favorite so far. I made it for a bench by the pool, but I think it found it's home in the foyer chair for now.

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

An Unexpected Guest

(FYI: This is a venting post.)
So today our not so good friend,"Murphy", showed up. He brought a lot of baggage with him! He has visited way too often over the last year, and seems to know we are trying to stick to a pretty tight budget right now. I'm pretty sure some of you know Murphy also, and while I hope he left us I hope he isn't on his way to you. I first knew he was here when I noticed that our thermostat, which was set on 73, was at 78 and the air had been running for as long as I could remember. Luckily we have a few more weeks left on our home warranty so I called them. This happened at the beginning of April also, but that was more than 30 days ago so we get to pay them again. At least it isn't a lot.

Mike came home a little while later with news that several people in his position will be cut in June. We've gone from thinking he might have the chance at a promotion, to wondering if he'll have a job. That means I've gone from thinking I might have a chance of staying home longer with Brennan, to feeling that that door was closed today but thankful I have a job to go back to. He is feeling pretty cautiously optimistic about his job at this point, and we're not terribly worried. But we will be praying and preparing for that possibility until the middle of June.

Brennan and I went to my parents for a relief from the heat, and a delicious dinner tonight. When we got home the air was working! This is exactly what happened before, and when the serviceman came he couldn't find anything wrong last time. I'm glad to have a cool house to sleep in, but I really don't want to keep paying a service call every month for "Murphy".

After I got Brennan to bed, I started getting some things together for tomorrow when I go to clean my classroom (and leave Brennan with Nonna for the longest so far). I went out to the car and noticed the tire pressure light was on. Sure enough, something is sticking out of my back right tire. I'm glad for that light, so I didn't end up with a flat tire between here and Harvest. I guess I'll start my day at Tankersley's, where they have profited from our friend "Murphy" at least three times since we moved here. Wow "Murphy", I'll stay here and you take a vacation! You're not welcome here no more!

Friday, May 14, 2010

Summer Time! Summer Time! Summer, Summer, Summer Time!



Today we started our summer a little early. With the hot days and warm nights, the pool was begging for company. We decided around lunch time that it was ready for the year's debut. Mike and I called a few friends to let them know, gathered towels and sunglasses, and then I headed to Walmart for swim diapers. It almost felt like summer was coming before it's due date and we weren't quite prepared. We were super excited to see Brennan's reaction to the pool, and wanted his first experience to be great so he would want more and more. The first swim was a great success. The water was a little chilly, but Brennan never flinched. We started at the steps with him standing and splashing his feet. He was determined to sit down and get his hands in the water. Eventually Mike took him in up to his chest. Our friends arrived a little later, and their baby had his first pool experience as well. He loved it as much as Brennan. I am so excited that it is the middle of May and it feels like summer is already here. We love to have company by the pool, so let me know if you would like to be on the call list for swim days :). Happy summer!

Sunday, May 9, 2010

Happy Mother's Day!






Happy Mother's Day to everyone! I think Mother's Day is a wonderful chance to let so many women know how special they are. While a mother will always have a special place in the heart, so many women pass through our lives and raise us to our potential. My home church, where we attended today with my mom, gives out roses on Mother's Day. They now have EVERY woman stand to be recognized and receive a rose. I think that's so fitting since several women there may not have the title Mom, but have definately worn that hat through the years.

My first official Mother's Day was a great day! Brennan sent me roses on Thursday. I thought that was my gift, and have greatly enjoyed them the last few days. Last night Mike got home a little later than expected, with a grin on his face and hand hidden behind his back. He was holding a bag containing an Originality bracelet. He had selected several very special pieces to go on it. Then this morning he got up and dressed early. I knew he was up to something because he doesn't rise early for much. He made a delicious breakfast of omelets, monkey bread, and orange julius. After breakfast we were off to church with my fabulous Mom, then to my grandparents' for lunch, and then to Guntersville to meet his family at Wenzell's. Throughout the day I got to enjoy being mommy to the happiest little boy. He seemed to know it was a special day, and loved every minute as did I. I'm convinced there is nothing better in this world than being a mom! I'm so blessed!