Week 27

Happy birthday, Onnie!

I'm approaching this post a little backwards, 

since today is my mom's birthday, 

which always falls right around Mother's Day,

as well as my sister's birthday, which was last week,

so Mother's Day weekend is a special celebration 

of the most important ladies in my life!

After wrapping up Teacher Appreciation week

with little gifts and puns each day, similar to this one...

We took a trip to Spartanburg. 

Friday night was all about Allison,

since her birthday was Thursday.

My stepsister, sister, and their families, 

came to my mom's for steak night,

and it was great fun to be with all of them.

The big event on Saturday was Ellie's dance recital! 

She did great! And fortunately only had one dance this year,

to "my tippy tap shoes". Precious! 

She had lots of support in the audience from the 3 of us,

her mom & dad, Granddaddy, Onnie & Papa, 

her Nana and her Aunt Tammy. 

 

 

 

My 1st Mother's Day was Sunday, 

and you and your daddy gave me a sweet card,

as well as the new book by my favorite author David Sedaris.

There was also a gift certificate for a 60-minute massage 

and 30-minute facial slipped in there!

Can't wait to use those!!

(Guess I need to get busy on Father's Day!)

Onnie had helped you make a card with your handprints for me, as well!

We went to church with the family, 

and then all of us went out to lunch at our favorite 

Upstate restaurant, Wade's!

Once we were back at Onnie's house, 

we went on a long walk

(one of several over the course of the weekend).

In other news, the past 48 hours has looked like this...

although with a lot more screaming, kicking, and arm-flailing.

You've been coughing since last week, 

and I took you to the doctor on Monday, 

only to find out that your respiratory issues have resurfaced. 

They prescribed that you do breathing treatments every 4 hours 

(even through the night), as well as a steroid for 5 days.

We stayed home sick yesterday.

We had a follow-up appointment today, 

and you are sounding better, but your oxygen levels are still low.

We have to continue with the treatments (although less frequently),

most likely through next week.

I just want you to get better, sweet girl!
I do love the bonding time though,
because as much as you HATE the mask of the breathing machine,
you love to cuddle up afterwards for the calm down.

Developmentally, you are doing great!

You LOVE to sit up on your own and play.

You grab for EVERYTHING.

You have a healthy appetite and love bath time.

You've started sitting up in the baby tub, 

splashing and playing with toys.

I love watching you discover new things and be so curious.

A blog that I just started reading called Design for Minikind,

made a good point in one of her posts...

"I think the reason God doesn’t let six month old babies speak yet is because there aren’t enough exclamation points allotted in the English dictionary to properly illustrate your excitement for the sheer amount of things you discover daily."

I think this is so true because I can tell that your mind is racing 

so much so that your mouth wouldn't be able to keep up!

Week 26

In this 26th week of your life,

Daddy and I were able to get out again to another concert.

Jeff & Katie were kind enough to babysit, 

while we went to the Daniel Island Tennis Center to see...

Dawes + Bob Dylan

We had such a good time!

While Bob had mirrors and low lights and all kinds of tricks for preventing photography, 

we did manage to snap this photo while Dawes was on stage.

You can see our proximity to the stage (about 10' from it), 

but of course the crowd was much more dense once Dylan took the stage!

As I mentioned in your 6 month post,

you've started this funny little clap this week,

which I LOVE!

As promised, I got it on video...

This week has been "teacher appreciation week" at daycare.

I've been so excited to take little treats each day to your teachers.

Today had a cut-out of your handprint tied to little bottles of hand sanitizer,
with a note that read "you deserve a hand".
Gotta love Pinterest!

Hard to believe that 6 months have gone by!

Month 6

Happy 6-month birthday!

 

At 6 months old, you are starting to enjoy your exersaucer more,

which is a big improvement over last month.

You actually play with the toys, and like sitting.

You've moved into an umbrella stroller

for our walks around the neighborhood.

Mainly because I hate keeping you strapped into your carseat,

and you love sitting up so much!

New tricks include:
the cutest little clap (that I'm going to have to get on video),
basically you slap the back of your hands,
one after the other.
You love sticking your tongue out
(see top photo).

And you are kind of sitting... 

although I don't quite trust you on your own yet.

Again, you've filled out a little more since the previous month!

Food: Breastmilk, a formula bottle (or two) per day, 

one meal in the morning... sweet potatoes, peas, or carrots.
We've added prunes to help with your bowels!
And you are also eating squash, green beans,
and your first fruit... pears!

Sleep: You were sleeping through the night (for about 3 weeks),
but now you are back to waking up at least once to eat,
usually around 5am :(

You have a new sound machine called the Dohm,
which is basically just white noise, sounds like a fan.
It works great!

Clothing size: You are wearing size 6 month,
but weighing in at 17 pounds, you could probably stand to go up a size!

Toys: You still love playing with the farm animals in the morning,
And you love pulling on your tiger toy
on the carseat on your way to and from daycare.
A set of plastic keys are perfect to distract you in the highchair,
and you love this thing...

Anything that will go in your mouth,
is pretty much your favorite thing right now.

Book of the Month:  Your favorites are still...
My Farm Friends and Around the Farm 

But we've also added Goodnight Moon to the rotation.

Week 25

Almost a week late, 

but better late than never, right?

The week was pretty quiet actually.

We did travel to Spartanburg 

for a surprise party for  Papa Gene,

which happened to be on 

Uncle Brad's birthday!

So there was some celebrating going on!

Most importantly, we got to hang out with Ellie!

Of course, traveling didn't seem to help with your sleep schedule.

It's the first time you've slept in your own room at Onnie's, 

and it didn't seem to work for you.

I think you were just overly tired from the trip, 

or who knows!

I don't even pretend to understand!

Seems that even though you were sleeping 

through the night for about three weeks, 

 you are now starting to wake up again 

to feed at least once a night.

On a brighter note, 

you had "picture day" 

at school!!!

Can't wait to get the photos back!

Week 24

This week, we took you out and about to the

Charleston County Annual Earth Day Festival.

It was kind of cloudy and overcast,

and there were puddles and mud everywhere,

but the air felt cleaner because of the recent rain,

and we noticed it more because of the theme of the festival I guess!

We were overlooking the Cooper River,

there was bluegrass from The Bluestone Ramblers, 

and a reptile demonstration from the folks out at Kiawah,

we actually pet an alligator (!),

and then storytelling from Hawk Hurst 

(Brian was convinced that I'm related). 

 Afterwards, we took you to happy hour

at the Tattooed Moose.

Daddy dubbed it BYO(Baby).

And although you've been to church in both Monroe & Spartanburg,

we never had the guts to take you to our own church here in Charleston.

But now that you are old enough for nursery, 

we felt it was high time we got our butts back to church!

You did well, and it gave us to the courage to get back into it!

Sunday afternoon, we went to the driving range,

but it was so windy that it wasn't very enjoyable.

We did manage to get a bucket of balls in, 

but will have to try again when the weather cooperates!

The most exciting news of the week 

is that we are starting to plan your christening!

We had lunch with the minister yesterday,

for a little getting-to-know-you-better session,

since he is fairly new to our congregation. 

It got me to thinking about what I want for your life.

I came across this poem, that I think would be the ideal.

I have been panicking over how messy our house is, 

and this helps me to realize that this is probably why...

A Mother's Wish:
I hope my child looks back on today

And sees a mother who had time to play.

There will be years for cleaning and cooking,
But children grow up when you're not looking.
Tomorrow I'll do all the chores you can mention
But today, my baby needs time and attention.
So settle down cobwebs; dust go to sleep,
I'm cuddling my baby, and babies don't keep.
~Anon

And to honor Earth Day once again, and in keeping with the spirit of religion and reflection,

our minister writes a blog, and his post today was in regards to Earth Day. 

I really liked this portion of Robert Aitken’s “Verses for Environmental Practice” that he posted...

Looking up at the sky

I vow with all beings

to remember this infinite ceiling

in every room of my life.

He invited us to write our own 4-line poem,
but I think I'll have to ponder this a while.

Baby Shower - Under Construc[tion]

This past weekend, I helped to throw a baby shower for my dear friend Katie. 

She is having a baby boy in June, and we are all excited for his arrival!

Five of us hosted the shower at a new restaurant in town called The Grocery.

Actually, one of the host's husbands designed it, so that was exciting!

Early on, we decided the theme would be

"Under Construction",

for many reasons...

1. Katie and her husband are both architects,

2. their house is soon to be renovated (adding a master suite) to make room for baby,

3. the baby is in fact, under construction,

and 4. little boys love trucks!

Our super-talented friend Mary Mac designed the invitations, 

and all the other printables for the party,

including signage, menu cards/game cards, cupcake toppers, & note cards, 

as well as five onesies with the 'logos' printed on them. 

The little blue trucks, orange hardhats, and yellow baby carriage construction signs 

were the cupcake toppers, for the delicious cupcakes that Sara made...

See that little crocheted hard hat? 

That also doubled as a gift for Katie's new baby,

and I found it on Etsy, here.

The menu was printed on the front of a sheet with a game printed on the back.

We passed around 5 brown paper bags, each one containing a hard-to-guess baby item, 

and you had to feel them and write down your best guess on the sheet.

The smaller white cards were the 'best wishes' for the parents-to-be, 

and they were sitting next to a plant that had the little orange sign in it...

"how to manage when things get dirty! (and other parenting advice)"

The yellow sign hung on a vintage toolbox that Amelia brought,

and she had made homemade chocolates in the shape of construction vehicles 
to display in the toolbox...

"thanks for digging in today! please haul your favor away!"

The onesies were hung on the gift table...

Lauren had made table runners out of blue burlap, 

and Amelia did little 'scenes' for the centerpieces 

using toy trucks that also double as gifts for baby.

It was a great afternoon for catching up with dear friends, 
and we were all excited to honor Katie! 

Week 23

Mommy had a busy week!

I helped to host a baby shower for my dear friend Katie

(more to come on that in another post),

and I helped with a party for my Grandmama's 85th birthday...

Her name is Betty, so it was a Betty Boop themed party!

I made the centerpieces, 

and Ellie & your Granddaddy helped to 

blow up lots and lots of balloons!

Dare I say it aloud, 

but you are sleeping through the night!

It's been almost a full week,

so I feel pretty comfortable saying it!

You'll go 10 hours some nights without a peep!

This morning I woke up to sounds of you laughing in your crib,

over the baby monitor.

I just let you lay there, playing and having a grand ole time.

You just smile and smile when we come greet you for the morning.

We are so lucky!

Generally I'll let you play while I get ready, 

then it's your turn.

This morning you had your first fruit! Pears!

Not sure you liked it, since the texture is a little funny.

Spring is in full force here in Charleston!

I'm sure it may be a fluke,
but it's happened on more than one occasion in the past few days...
I waved to you in the mirror yesterday, and you waved back.
I was saying "wave, wave".
Well this morning when I took you to daycare,
Miss Rebecca held you as another baby & mom came in the room,
and she said "wave hello to ____"
and you actually waved!

Growing up!