Been a while...

So, we made it back safely from NYC--and boy, can I just say it's good to be home!!! (And I SO mean that). The hubby and I had a good time, although we had to tough it out through a nasty cold--I had it the first few days, then I passed it off to Baby Daddy who suffered through the last half of the trip. Ugh. We still managed to walk our legs off, (I came home with some CRAZY blisters), and we saw and did everything we wanted except for walking across the Brooklyn Bridge. All things considered, we did really stinkin' good! We made appearances at the usual tourist 'hot-spots', and became old pro's at using the subway, which was actually kind of fun!

Meanwhile, back on the ranch, the muffin was keeping his Granny and Papaw on their toes. He did really well thankfully, with none of those alarming incidents that usually only happen when you are away from them. I was so glad to see him when we got back! Of course, he was asleep, and he got really mad when we woke him up and started screaming...but hey, it's the point. I didn't care what he was doing, as long as I was with him.

It's been good to get back into a routine--even good to be back at work! We just had the bebe's 9 month check-up this week--(he's in the 97th percentile for height, and the 90th percentile for weight; "a perfect ratio" says the doctor, not to be bragging mind you...). Our pediatrition gave us the go-ahead to start whole milk in his sippy. She said our 'assignment' was to have him completely weaned from his bottle by the time she saw us again in three months for his one year visit. We went over the whole, "it's a gradual process" thing, and were reminded "not to get discouraged" and "it may take a while". The next day, he went ALL DAY without a bottle. Nothing but milk in his sippy. And he acted like it was no biggie. (Apparently my husband misunderstood "gradual decrease", and told his mother "no more bottles" when he dropped the bebe' off for the day. I called the Pediatrician today to make sure this was okay, and she told me to thank my lucky stars. So I am. :) Oh--and as a sidenote, he figured out how to clap yesterday. He is now a patty-caking madman.

She is SSSOOOOooooo knocked up!

Kay, so I don't care what she says--she so has a baby bump!!

I love 'Pushing Daisies"!

I leave a week from today for NYC. I am so nervous to be away from the bebe' for such a long time! The hubby and I are in a bit of a tiff because he wants to drop the muffin off the night before we leave, due to us having to head out really early in the morning for the airport. I, of course, do not want to spend one more night away from him than I have to, so I'm pulling for just dragging him, (and the in-laws), out of bed early Wednesday morning, so I can have more time with him! I have so much to do in between now and then--I'm so anal about organization! I have compiled all our travel documents/agendas/maps into a delightful, brightly hued, organized-by-color-coded-tabs three-ring binder. The hubby was like, "You're not really planning on lugging that thing around are you??" And I was, until my street-saavy cousin, who lived in NYC for 5 years or so, kept emphasizing to NOT look like a tourist.... I guess my delightfully colored, tabbed, three-ring binder might make me stand out a bit. **Sigh** Oh well. I'll just have to buy a smaller binder... :)
Big news in the land of Baby C--first of all, (but definately not the most important), he got ANOTHER tooth today! This makes eight!! The kid has a crazy grill--most kids his age are lucky to have 1 or 2 teeth. He has a whole mouthful, and he brushes them himself! We went to the Wal-Mart, and he picked out his very own "Dora" toothbrush, which he loves to use. We brush in the mornings and in the evenings before bed. He gets so excited when we go into the bathroom and he sees me opening up the drawer...I'll ask him if he wants to brush his teeth, and he goes nuts!! Needless to say, I have a hard time prying Dora out of his little paws. And now, for the big announcement.......

HE SAID MA-MA! It happened at the in-laws' house today, before I got home from work. They reported that he said 'ma-ma' clear as a bell, three different times!! He did it once more this evening, and you could definately tell what he was saying, but I'm not sure if he really understands it yet. Although, if you ask him, "Where is Mama?", or "Where is Daddy?", he will look at the correct one of us, so I'm not sure. He didn't seem to be addressing me when he said it tonight, but then again, he was in the tub and working on prying the beak off of his rubber duckie....

And on the war front--things have calmed down greatly in the office. I'm feeling much better about the whole thing. We have a new addition to the staff, and upon my word, I have SWORN to give her a chance. I have already formed an opinion, of course, but I will not divulge here. Goodness knows who is reading this, and will run back and tattle. And YES, I do have those type of people in my company. And if you, and YOU know exactly who you are--actually it could be more than one of you, you all pretty much posess the same caliber, or lack of, character-- feel free to tattle on someone else. It's a shame that's all you have time for, but then, it's to be expected. Goodness knows you can't do your job! And by the way, if you think I don't like you, YOU ARE ABSOULUTELY CORRECT. Here's your gold star. Ugh.

Kay, back to my sunshiny self--I saw a great TV show tonight! (And it was NOT Private Practice, which I wasted another hour of my life on...). "Pushing Daisies" was perfectly scrumptious!! I loooooved it. It completely reminds me of the movie "Big Fish", which I also love. If you missed it, you should plan to catch it next week--Wednesdays at 8pm on ABC!!! (That's ITV1 for those of you in Canada.) :)

She finally lost them....

The White Trash Queen has finally done it--She was ordered to relinquish custody of her two sons today at noon.
Wow--that was pretty much anti-climactic. Kind of like the day after Christmas. (By the way, with only 85 days until Christmas 2007, my BFF and cubie-mate at work have been jammin' out to various Christmas favorites today). :)

"The best of all medicines is resting..." --Benjamin Franklin

The weekends are like an antibiotic for me. A shot of 'Saturday' and I can go again. After another tumultuous week at work, I was more than ready to spend some QT time with my family. Saturday morning, the muffin had a bottle at 6am, then we all went back to Snoozeville until 8am. The morning was spent playing in our jammies--the muffin has a new Giraffe toy that he is completely nuts about.

He is getting so close to walking--he is standing on his own for small periods of time now, although I still think it freaks him out when he realizes he's not holding on to anything! He gets this surprised look on his face and then he does this little tightrope-walker move with his arms as he keeps his balance. After standing for a bit, he looks around like he's not sure what to do next, then sits back down. I realized the other day that in only a week he'll be 9 months old! It's amazing how the nine months of my pregnancy seemed to crawl by at a snail's pace, but these past nine months felt like I flew through them at warp speed!

After lunch, we met the in-laws, along with the our nephew at a local Orchard. Our first stop was 'Barnyard Babies', where the muffin got to see baby chicks, ducklings, and rabbits. He loved the ducks!!
Then, we moved over to the Petting Zoo where the bebe' yanked the ears of various farm animals, including goats, sheep, and one very cranky llama. We had a break for apple cider and cookies, (both of which are now favorites of Baby C's), and then loaded up on the wagon for a hayride to the Corn Maze and the Pumpkin Patch. Apparently, the corn maze was pretty boring, because upon emerging from the rows, the muffin was zonked out.

Skipping over the Pumpkin Patch, we headed back in favor of being unoriginal and selecting one of the 'pre-picked' pumpkins from the shelves at the garden shop. After waking from his power nap, the bebe' was ready to run. We hit the playground, where he enjoyed both the rocking horses and the farm vehicles that he could 'steer'. (By the way, you would not believe the fit thrown when we tried to remove him from the wheel--it was catastrophic.) The hubby and I have decided to purchase one of these plastic steering wheels--I don't think we would ever have to buy another toy!

Upon finally separating Baby C from the playground, we headed through the 'Spooky Farmhouse', (probably second only to the playground--the muffin loved all the bright lights--no scaredy-cat here!), and then up to pick out our pumpkins. We headed to the grocery, and then home for a relaxing evening. I made a loaf of Raisin Banana Nut Bread, (I'm a bread-making addict now), and then went to bed.

Love Letter to My Son

Baby C:


Tonight I laid my head on your little chest while you were sleeping. I listened to you breathe in and out, and I counted the beats of your heart. I watched as you squirmed to get comfortable, your mouth smacking like an old man as you finally settled in, stretching your arms out above your head, your belly sticking out of your pajama shirt. You had a tuft of hair standing up near your ear, and I smoothed it down. As I kissed your baby hand, your eyes opened just a bit, your fingers reaching out to search for me. When your hand touched my cheek, you closed your eyes and drifted off again. Everyone says the cliche' things like, "You'll never know anything like a mother's love", and "Just wait until you have kids--then you'll understand". Even when I was still pregnant with you, I would always inwardly roll my eyes while outwardly nodding in polite agreement. But tonight, when I felt a tear brim up over the corner of my eye, and then roll down my cheek as I watched you sleeping, I knew they were right. I never knew such a small person could make such a big feeling in me. You were once a part of my body, and you will always be a part of my soul. We will always be connected, you and me, for the rest of our lives and beyond.

Daddy's Coming to Get You!

Bless his little heart, he sure squalls like a girl, but he has a lot of fun doing it!