Merry Christmas baby boy

Although this was technically Jareth's second Christmas, we celebrated it like it was his first. Last year he noticed the lights on the tree but otherwise wasn't much interested. This year however, he was in awe of the brightly colored wrapping paper, the light up snow village, the musical train he had recieved last year, and all the sparkly ornaments on the tree. He watched with the wonder only a one year old can have while I wrapped presents. He wanted so badly to "help" and didn't understand why he wasn't allowed to touch the scissors. I couldn't help but laugh at him. He also couldn't understand why he wasn't allowed to play with the pretty ornaments. I quickly moved them up the tree after finding one in the floor with its hook missing. I did buy and set aside a few pieces of decoration that he could play with. He was given a musical snoopy and piano last year so that was put in his room where he could get to it and push the button that made it play. He loved to dance to the music. I also put a little table tree in his room with a few hardy disney ornaments on it that he could reach. The family tree however was only allowed to be touched when mommy and daddy were right with him because of the hooks and them being breakable. He was really into the decor.

The weekend before Christmas we went to Alabama to visit nana and popaw, Jareth's great grandparents. Everyone was there but one. Aunt Lynne passed away just before Thanksgiving and it was hard not to have her with us. She had gotten Jareth one of those farm sounds toys. I'm glad he has something from her.
We had a great weekend! The food was amazing as always. There was Turkey and dressing, nana's giblet gravy, dana's deviled eggs, mom made sweet potato casserole, mashed potatoes, and mac and cheese. Jareth enjoyed the sweet potatoes most along with the mac and cheese. After dinner we opened gifts. The river of presents seemed never ending. Jareth is one spoiled little boy! I don't know what in the world I'm going to do with all these toys! If we weren't planning to sell the house I would turn one of the rooms into a massive play room. After gifts were done Jareth and Evan played in the new Toy Story ball pit that Evan got. They were so funny in it! And boy, did they play rough! We had a really good time. The weekend ended with Jon's and my trip to Nashville to see Garth Brooks. GREAT weekend.

Fast forward a week to Christmas. We spent Christmas Eve and Day in Athens at Jon's parents house. I ended up cooking Christmas dinner. It was good practice. I have a feeling it will fall into my hands from here on out unless we want take out. We had glazed ham, corn casserole, squash casserole, green beans, smashed potatoes a la Liz, and rolls. For dessert I made a yummy crock pot cake. Jareth loved the corn casserole! Then it was time for gifts. Jareth got legos, a bear and embroidered blanket, some light up Pumas!, coloring books, and blue jean diapers. : ) He spent most of his time playing in his toy box but he did help open his presents. The next morning we woke up to a white Christmas! It was beautiful and of course after breakfast we took Jareth outside. Then we went to the Walker family brunch. We celebrated Danyell's birthday and ate, again. They are a really fun bunch to be around. They are basically family to me. It was nice to spend a little bit of Christmas with them.

To sum it up we had a wonderful holiday. Jareth had a Christmas that I for one will never forget.

Re-Post from Pregnancy Blog

Going back for a moment. This was written August 2009 on Musingsofapregnantlady.blogspot.com

Something Sweet


Jareth has been very active the past couple of days and yesterday the sweetest thing happened. He rolled in my stomach putting his entire back out front and pushed so hard that I could feel him top to bottom. Using my fingers I traced up and down his back and gently rubbed him. He stayed there for about a minute and then rolled away. his back seemed to be about the size of my hand. :O)

Hello Russia!

According to my stats, someone in Russia viewed my blog! That's exciting! At least to me anyway. : )

Have I said lately...

how much I adore and apreciate my husband? I mean he's handsome, sweet, strong, giving, funny, and intelligent. And after 4 1/2 years of marriage and 10 1/2 of being together he still calls everyday to see how my day is going. It's such a simple act but it means so much. He stays incredibly busy at work but when he has to run an errand or has a second to spare, he calls me. He could take that time for himself but instead he wants to see how I am and tell me he loves me. It just proves even further that he's the one. He will always be the one.  I could keep going but it may nauseate those who read this.

A Memorable Thanksgiving

Memorable for two reasons. My sweet Aunt Lynne passed away sometime monday evening before Thanksgiving. My sister called me Tuesday morning to give me the news that she had died. I was in shock. I couldn't believe it. She was a very sweet and kind woman and will be greatly missed. She was just 42 years old. Another reason this will be a memorable holiday is because I got to introduce Jareth to my great aunt and my great, great aunt. Other than my grandfather, my great aunt Jan is the closest thing I have to my grandmother who passed away and will never meet her great-grandson. It was an emotional reunion. It was so nice to spend Thanksgiving day with her.
The holidays can be a happy time and also rough time for families. We mourn the loss of loved ones and wish they could be with us. But this too brings us a chance to remember the good times we shared with them. This honors them more than anything. This Thanksgiving I am most thankful for the memories I have of holidays with my family and also the memories yet to be made.

Enjoy each moment.

Remember how time used to drag on in grade school? It always seemed like summer would never get here. A year seemed so long, too long. Now, it's much too short. Jareth is already one and I'm about to start pulling out Christmas decorations. Two years ago I was waiting to get pregnant. Then I was waiting for the baby to come. Then it was Thanksgiving, followed by Christmas, birthdays, and vacation. I think of Dr. Suess' "Oh, The Places You'll Go." It seems that life revolves around events and has become a waiting game. A year seems to be summed up in birthdays, holidays, and summer vacations. As soon as one event passes we count down the days 'til the next. It's easy to forget how precious the days in between are. Everyday there are precious moments to be seen. Like right now, Jareth is asleep on the living room floor. He laid down on a blanket we keep on a chair in the corner and fell asleep watching the electric fireplace. I watched as his little body went from restless to still and his breath went from sporadic to regular. Such a sweet moment that could have easily been overlooked. Time won't wait for you to catch up. We have to learn to enjoy every moment, not just the big events in life.

Jareth's Big First Down!

Jareth's 1st birthday party was awesome! It was so much fun getting to celebrate with our friends and family. The party was held in the backyard and was UT football themed. We put up posters that read things like "Go Jareth!" all over the yard and we even created a small football field with yard paint. There were orange and white pom poms all around the cakes were of course UT themed. One was an orange teddy bear wearing a white jersey with a 1 on it and the other looked like a field with a power T in the middle and checkerboard icing on the sides. Jareth got a ton of great gifts including all kinds of toys, books, a power wheels Lightning McQueen car, an upholstered chair, and a slide and climb castle. We ate hotdogs and chili, chips, pasta salad, and cookies. Jareth really enjoyed his cake! He had to have a wardrobe change after he ate. After the party we built a fire and watched the football game outside. We had boiled peanuts, smore's, and hot apple cider. YUM. It was a great day!

Jareth's Birthday

At 3:15 on Tuesday, Jareth officially turned 1 year old. He was napping at the time so I sat by his crib and when the clock struck 3:15 I started singing "Happy Birthday" to him. He woke up happy and I scooped him up and showed him his newborn pictures. A few minutes later Jon came home early from work. We took Jareth to a pumpkin patch where we found a great pumpkin that we are going to carve a 1 on. We also bought fried pies and petted some goats. Afterward we went to a duck pond and a playground. Jareth loved it. That night we gave him cheese pizza for the first time and put a candle in a donut. It was a perfect day. His party is Saturday and I'm sure there will be plenty to write about it! Right now he is sitting beside me as I type just watching me with his hand on mine. LOVE

We Made It!

Tomorrow Jareth Grae will be a year old. I sit here, watching him play and I go back to the instant I found out he was coming. Sitting with Jon in the little green room of my doctor's office anxiously waiting to talk with Dr. Walker about fertility treatments. I was scared that I would never carry a child, that I would never experience motherhood. Then, the impossible happened. When we were called back we were told that my urine test came back positive for pregnancy. Shock and awe, we were in disbelief. An ultrasound confirmed we were 5weeks and 5days pregnant.

The next two months were torture. But soon the first trimester passed and each day I felt a little less anxiety. And then the day came when I looked into the mirror and really noticed the new shape my stomach was taking. There was a soft curve to my abdomen and I was overjoyed. I was given a new hat to wear that day, mother.

Fast Forward to October 19th, 2009 at 5:00am. We called the hospital to make sure we could come in for my induction. The nurse says, "yes" and we realize that today we will become a family of three. My family is there and Jon's is too. We wait patiently until the nurse says it's time. Everyone is rushed out and into the waiting room and I begin to push.

I remember growing up wondering what my children would look like.Would they take on my dad's side of the family and have sandy blonde hair with blue eyes? Would they be tall like my mother's side with brown eyes? Would they look like my husband or would they look like me? I have to admit I always fantasized about blonde hair, freckles, and big blue eyes for my kids.

At 3:15pm, Jareth emerged and those daydreams became reality. My child has wispy hair like my grandfathers. It's blonde like mine and my husband's but with a little bit of strawberry in the sunshine. That comes from his great-grandmother. His eyes remind me of his father's and so do his lips. When he yawns it reminds us of Jon's mother. He has my chin, which came from my grandmother and a soft face like mine, my cheeks for now. And yet he is all his own. We can't decide where he got his nose and most of his expressions belong to him. He is perfection. From his fat big toe to his long lashes, he is the most beautiful child I have ever seen.

Just a blink or two later, it's been a year since I have held him in my arms for the first time. I have nursed him, fed him, and played with him. I've rocked him to sleep, washed his hair and between his toes. I've taught him where to find his nose and that dog ears aren't for pulling. I have sang to him and danced with him all over this house. I've picked him up when he's fallen and ran to his rescue during the night. I've told him, "No" a thousand times and a thousand more said, "I love you."

When you are pregnant with your first child it's hard to fathom that one day you will be reminiscing about the first time you got to bathe them or the first time they ate solid food. Maybe most of all, the first time they utter, "momma" and you know they mean you. But here I am all nostalgic so soon over his newborn photos and the little outfits he has outgrown. Tears fill my eyes when I think that I will never get that back, not with him. It's a beautiful and bittersweet part of motherhood. Oh, how amazing life is.

So finally, it's been a year. We made it! And little boy, you are the best gift I've ever had. A child's birthday is an anniversary shared between him and his mother. Happy Anniversary Jareth Grae! Here's to many more.

1st year pictures

Last friday we had Jareth's one year photo shoot with Cayci Hawn in Athens. She is just lovely. Only a few hours after the session she already had pictures up on facebook for us to view. The pictures turned out adorable! We are very happy with them. I just can't believe our little man is about to be 1! This time last year I was a hippo, praying he would come on time. Just look at him now!

Smash!

Cake. Jareth has his 1 year pictures on Friday *faint* and we are going to do a smash session. Basically at the end of the photo shoot we are going to strip him down to his diaper, hand him a cake, and let him go nuts. I can't wait to see how this goes. I think it will be fantastic. This is the first time I've tried to decorate a cake. Usually I just slather on some icing and throw on some sprinkles. I'm proud of it. : ) I'm planning to make him a UT jersey cake for his birthday party.

Wish me luck on that one!

Teeth! and more

Over the past couple of weeks Jareth has been cutting a bottom tooth. He has had a little pain with it but he hasn't been too miserable. It seems to bother him more at night than during the day. But we have been so preoccupied with his little bottom tooth that we have neglected to notice the FOUR top teeth that are coming in! He has two that have broken through and two more on their way fast. He was kind of a late bloomer with cutting his teeth but as soon as one started to come in, several more followed quickly. His gummy grin is soon to change.
Jareth is also starting to talk a little more. He now says "Stop" which is more like "Dop" and he is trying to say "Hello" which sounds like "Yeh-yo." He will pick up a cell phone, put it up to his ear, and say "Yeh-yo!" Its pretty darn cute.
In other news the house has been on the market for about a month now and we have had a grand total of one viewing. We aren't in a hurry but would like to see more people come through. We are very excited about moving back to Athens.

It's All About the Baby!

Jareth is over 10 months old now! I know! I can't believe it either. But it's true. He is a 22 lb butter ball full of energy. He is getting so big and does more each day. Right now he is really into mocking us. If we cough, he coughs. If we snarl our nose, he snarls his nose. If we are eating, he has to eat too. He is hilarious, a ham really. He definitely knows how to get attention. Oh, and his newest thing is doing somersaults. He loves for me to roll him, head over feet. He will bend over and wait until I roll him. Gosh I love him so much. What was life like before him? Pretty boring I think!

What is a Temper Tantrum?

If it consists of kicking, screaming, and throwing one's arms and head onto the floor, then Jareth had his first temper tantrum last night. I was already having a hard time going to sleep last night and found myself watching Romeo and Julet on TCM at 11:30 in the living room while Jon and Jareth laid fast asleep (or so I thought) in their beds. Then I heard my little man flopping around restlessly followed by a faint cry. I went back to see what I could do. (Perhaps a missing paci was the cause or a wet diaper.) As soon as Jareth saw me his little cry erupted into a scream. I found the paci and changed his diaper and covered him up and rubbed his head. The screaming didn't stop. Then he proceeded to arch his back and hit his bed with his tiny little fists, spitting out his paci. I picked him up, still crying, and sat in the glider. I tried rocking, singing, and even reading a book. He wouldn't stop. And it wasn't just crying I mean he was SCREAMING! I thought maybe his tummy hurt so I rubbed it and gave him some mylicon....He started kicking me and arching his back as if he didn't want to be held so I put him in the floor. While on his back he started kicking the floor and then he sat up and threw his head onto the carpet and banged on the floor! WHAT IN THE WORLD??? This is not my sweet child!! This is some other kid!!! I picked him back up. At this point Jon got up and came in the room. He took Jareth from me and in an effort to calm him started walking him up and down the hall. Nope. It didn't help. More screaming. So Jon brought him back to me and went back to bed. I gave up and put Jareth in his crib, still kicking and screaming, and kissed him goodnight. Then I went to the guest room. I laid on the bed for a while hoping he would "cry it out." That lasted about 2o minutes. Finally I decided it was time to get up. I went and got Jareth, turned on the lights, sat him in the living room floor (still crying and trying to catch his breath), and dumped out a tote of toys. He stopped crying and stared at the toys. Sweet relief for my ears! His Lambchop puppet "read" him a book and we rolled the soccer ball back and forth. Then I laid in the floor and he crawled back and forth over me. He was happy as could be. After about an hour he started rubbing his eyes and crawled into my lap. I got up and took him to bed. He began to whimper... I told Jon that I was NOT getting up again! The last time I remember looking at the clock it was about 3:30am. I'm really hoping this was a one time thing. But I doubt it. Next time I may go straight to playing.

A Day in the Life of a SAHM

I am so blessed to be a stay at home mom. Don't get me wrong, being a single income household is pretty tough at times. We have had to scale back on what we now call "luxuries." DVR, high priced hair cuts and coloring, going out for drinks at the drop of a hat, shopping on a whim, and a few other things have taken a back seat to diapers, wipes, formula, and pediatrician co-pays. But I look at other women with their nice highlights, manicured fingers, and designer bags and think to myself, "they don't know what they are missing." Staying home with Jareth is the best job I have ever had. Here is what my average day looks like.

Jareth gets up with a big smile and an excited "pick me up" wave of his arms

After a diaper, outfit change, and a bottle I feed Jareth some fruit/yogurt/cereal

I put on some music, put in a load of laundry, straighten up the kitchen, and if needed clean the bathroom, dust, or change the sheets

Then I eat breakfast while Jareth plays in the floor

I get in the floor too.

Another diaper change, a snack of cheerios or arrowroot cookies, and some juice in a sippy cup

I vacuum, fold and put away clothes, and make my bed while Jareth plays in his excersaucer

We run any errands that need to be ran and come home for lunch with daddy

After lunch is naptime

While Jareth sleeps I work out and work on Thirty-One

After nap its another diaper change, another bottle, and more play time with me on the floor in his room

After a walk to the mailbox and sitting on our little porch for a few minutes, we go inside to start on dinner

While I cook Jareth crawls around the livingroom and plays with his "upstairs" toys

Then daddy comes home and scoops Jareth up in his arms and they have daddy-son time

Jareth eats, we eat, daddy helps with the dishes, and we all get in the floor to play

The TV comes on, the computer is pulled out, and we "veg"

Around 8:30 its Jareth's bedtime

Then it is mommy-daddy time

Sure beats working in an office or some retail job!

Dada is in the Dog House

A week ago Jon set Jareth down in the livingroom and went to get a drink from the kitchen. He neglected to put the babygate up so Jareth decided to follow him.However instead of following him into the kitchen, he decided to check out the stairs. I heard a thump, thump, cry!!! Little man was laying on his back on the tile of our foyer. We both raced down to him and I picked him up. We took him to our bed, stripped off all of his clothing, and looked over every inch of his body. After a few minutes he went back to playing. We didn't think he had been hurt but kept him up for a while before bed worried about a head injury. He slept alright and he slept with us but he was a little fussy in the middle of the night. The next morning he woke up happy and we started our feeding routine. Afterward I put him in his exersaucer to play and he stayed there for about 30 minutes. Then I put him in the floor and that's when it happened. He tried to crawl and bless his heart he face planted. He couldn't put any weight on his left arm. I tried to get him to play pat a cake and he tried but couldn't. One phone call to his pediatrition, one trip to Children's Hospital ER, and one trip to an orthodic surgen later he has a bright orange, and thankfully water proof, cast. It really hasn't slowed him down. He can crawl with it, play pat a cake, eat, hold a bottle, and anything else he wants to do. Right now he is bangin a drum. (The cast makes lots of noise!) As for daddy being in the dog house, he feels awful and I try not to give him a hard time about it.

Pour Some Sugar On Me Baby!

My little man gives the best kisses!!! He has finally figured out how to kiss back. Well, he has his own ways of doing it. I can say "Can I have a kiss?" And he leans in, open mouthed of course, and gives me a wet one right on the lips. It's precious, just precious. And sometimes I don't even have to ask for one. He just leans in on his own. He makes me want like 4 more just like him. Children are fantastic. I highly recommend them. : )

Change in Character; My New Cuddler

Up until about a month ago Jareth was not one to cuddle. He was too interested in everything going on around him to lay down with mommy or sit in her lap for very long. I tried and tried to get him to cuddle with me on the couch or in the rocking chair but he wasn't having it. I had to sneak it in when he slept. Then one day, while on a trip to the lake with some friends, I picked Jareth up, sat him in my lap, and he laid his head against my chest. He just laid there staring off in the distance, completely content. I was so excited and suprised! Ever since then he has wanted to cuddle. Now that he can crawl, he will race over to me and climb up my chest and hold on to my neck to lay his head against me. It is so sweet! He still spends the majority of his time playing and exploring but every now and then he is my little cuddle bug. There is nothing like it!

Another baby in Andersonland?

It seems that the closer Jareth gets to one year old the more I get asked if we are planning to have another baby soon. I have thoroughly enjoyed the past nine months with Jareth and I admit that I already miss his newborn stage. He is getting big super fast and each day he seems to be doing something new. And yes, I have contemplated having another baby. I have counted the months to see when the new baby would be here. I have done the math to see how far apart the siblings would be. I have weighed the financial responsibility and figured we could handle it. However, I or should I say we have come to the conclusion that we aren't ready for a foursome.
Another baby would be wonderful but we really want to spend more time with Jareth before having to focus on another child. Tobe honest I don't think we will have another one for several years. We are very happy right now and don't feel like anything or anyone is missing. We think we will wait until Jareth is 2 1/2 or 3 to start trying for another baby. But we will just have to wait and see. Right now we are having a blast!

"Da-da" and "Mom-ma"; What a sweet sound!

Jareth has been saying Dada for several months now. Just recently he has been saying Momma! And I'm pretty sure he knows what they mean now. He will say "momma" as he is crawling into my lap or when he is crying for me to pick him up. It probably has helped that we look at pictures and point to "momma" and "daddy." And that is another thing, he loves looking at pictures. He definitley recognizes me and Jon. He gets a huge smile on his face when I show him a picture of us. He likes to look back and forth at the two of us. Now I'm working on "baby" and "Jareth" when I show him pictures of himself

Jareth Crawls!

On June 10th Jareth crawled for the first time! (Correctly anyway) We were at my uncle's and aunt's house in Cookeville. Jareth saw a dog toy on the floor and just went for it. Of course I didn't allow him to actually get to the toy but using my cell phone I coaxed him into crawling across the floor. Now he crawls everywhere! We got a baby gate to block him from getting to the staircase but he is trying desperately to get to the dining room so we are going to have to do something about that. He really likes to get to the dog's bowl. So I suppose everything will change now....I'm used to that. Its something new with him every week. Jareth is my greatest adventure.

Family

A definition of family by Michelle Gottlieb:

Family consists of those people who are supportive, nurturing and accepting of you. Family is made up of the people that you go to when you have a problem and who will always help you. Family is compised of the people that you would support no matter what is happening in your life.

The business of parenting; what I have learned thus far.

What does it mean to be a parent? Does it mean to provide shelter, clothing, food? At the very least. Does it extend to love and protection? Of course. Even further, does it require patience, understanding, and acts of selflessness? Hopefully so.
True parenting requires each of these and much, much more. Your child should be your number one priority. That isn't to say you shouldn't take care of yourself too, for in doing so you also take care of your child. And that isn't to say that the needs of your spouse should be put aside, for that would do your child no good. What I mean to say is that children are in the greatest need of care at any moment. Their aches and pains, misgivings, boredoms, and tantrums are unscheduled and require the utmost attention and in a reasonable amount of time. Their schedule for learning is well, quite disorganized. You must be able to put everything aside at the drop of a hat when you become a parent. This makes your child your number one priority. It is not a job for the uptight, the rigid, or the self pleasing.
This is what I have learned about parenting over the past 8 months.

Cough, Cough, Sniff, Sniff

There should be a natural law that babies are never sick. Little Jareth has been puny all week. Bless his heart, he has been coughing so hard he gags. He isn't sleeping well which means mommy and daddy aren't sleeping well and he isn't very interested in eating. It makes me feel helpless not to be able to make him feel better. I worried so much over him while he was in my tummy and now it seems that it was the safest place for him to be. So now I can only hold him close and hope he feels better soon.

Our Family Vacation

We just took our first family vacation! We went on a cruise to Cozumel and Playa del Carmen. It was so much fun. Jareth was wonderful. I didn't know what to expect with him but he was a champ. Everyone we came in contact with gushed over how good he was. He was a perfect angel.

My uncle, aunt, and their two kiddos came with us along with Jon's brother and sister-in-law. So we had plenty of help with Jareth and both sides took him for a little while so that we had a break. That was super nice.

We sailed on the Carnival Fantasy May 3rd-8th. We visited Cozumel on Cinco de Mayo. Instead of doing an excursion via Carvival we got a taxi to Paradise beach. At the beach we rented some chairs and pretty much just relaxed all day. We found a hammock in the shade, ate yummy guacamole, had delicious drinks, and played in the water. The next day we were in Playa del Carmen. We got day passes to Playacar Palace, an all inclusive resort right on the beach. It was beautiful! Jon and I went to Moon Palace on our honeymoon so we were excited to visit one of their sister resorts. Nora was our server while we were there. She ran back and forth for us all day long. The resort had a beautiful fresh water pool which was very much appreciated since the pool on the ship was saltwater. It was right on the beach and the water was gorgeous. I did a little snorkleing and brought back some shells and coral. It was our favorite day. Jareth loved the water. He had a little float to sit in and he loved splashing.

The planned activities on the ship were quite lacking. They had bingo and trivia games but there were so many people playing that the odds of winning were very low. They also had random contests each day which were fun but they pre picked the contestents. So, if you wanted to play you just had to be at the right place at the right time. We did have some fun in the casino. But of course thats because we won about $200! I used half to get a massage and facial. It was bliss. We also went to one of the variety shows. They did a Beatles tribute. The music was good. Jareth went with us and was in awe of the bright colors, lights, and music. Another night we went to the comedy show. It was hilarious, vulgar, but hilarious!

Overall we had a great time. And I am so glad we took Jareth with us. He did great and he really made the trip even more enjoyable. We can't wait to do another cruise! Greece anyone?

*Inspired*

I have met many amazing women through my Thirty-One business. Thirty-One itself is made up of a wonderful community of women who have been so helpful and encouraging in starting my own business. They have given me such great advice and help and they have uplifted me so much in such a short amount of time. I have also gotten to know some really inspiring women at the parties I have held. The women I have met are from all different walks of life. The one thing they have in common is their active lifestyles and their nature to give back. Each of these women have a cause. From walking for alzheimers, to leading youth groups, to taking care of children with special needs, to forming bicycling and hiking groups, to fundraising for Susan G. Komen, these women are involved. They have insipred me to take a look at my life and see where I can give back and how I can be more active. I haven't found exactly what my calling will be, but I am actively searching. I want to thank Thirty-One for giving me such a gateway into the lives of such amazing women.

Six Months Old!!

Jareth has been here half a year. Man, does time fly by! "It seems like yesterday" that we were bringing him home and all he could do was poop, pee, cry, and eat. But not anymore! He is doing so much now. On the day of his half birthday he decided it was time to sit-up. But that wasn't good enough. He reached several milestones that week. He learned how to stand while holding on to something and he can now clap! He LOVES to play Pat-a-Cake. And apparently he also enjoys hitting the keyboard as you can see below. Well, I would write more but Jareth isn't having it.
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Where do we belong?

Jon and I have been struggling for several months over where we want to plant our roots. We have loved Knoxville and it has been our home for seven years. It is hard to imagine living elsewhere. But because we have started a family we are worried about not being closer to our relatives. Jon was born in and grew up in Athens. I also lived there for several years. Both of our parents are there along with my siblings. We visit Athens often but we miss out on a lot that goes on. Jareth doesn't get to see his grandparents as often as we would like and since my sister also has kids we would like him to be close with his cousins. Now on the flip side, as I said, we love Knoxville. The city feels like our home. We love that there is so much to do here and it has a lot of the perks of a big city yet it's not a big city and there is a real sense of community here. Also, Jon's job is here and he would have a 45 minute commute if we moved to Athens. If we moved to Athens it wouldn't be for the town. It would be for the people living there. And if we stay in Knoxville it would be more for the city. We have some amazing friends here but we don't see them as often as we would like due to conflicting schedules and since we don't have babysitters ($$$) we don't do as much as we would like. However, in Athens we would have babysitters so we would be able to come to Knoxville to visit with friends. Then there is the issue of church. We have been going to a new church for several months now and we really enjoy it. It has a great children's program, great missions, and we have made friends there. I would hate to leave it. I don't know if we could find the same thing in Athens. But I haven't really done my research.
So what do we do? There are many other things to consider but the main things are Family, Church, and Work. Possibly in that order.
We have decided however that regardless of where we are we want out of our mortgage. We have enjoyed our first home but we have found that owning is highly overrated. At least for now. We do well. We pay all of our bills on time and have minimal debt. Each paycheck puts a little money into savings and we always have a little extra spending money left over. But since I am staying home for the next few years we know it will be increasingly harder for us to go on the vacations we want, enjoy nice cars, and buy the things we want. So we have decided the best thing for us is to rent until I am working again and we can buy/build the house we want. Athens would be more affordable to do this. There are more affordable options there. But I think as long as we can forego some luxuries we can make it work in Knoxville too.
Sooooo much to think about! It really should be easier than this. Lord, tell us what to do! I think I need to put it in His hands or we will never make a decision. I can't think anymore. : )

My Big Boy!

Jareth is almost 6 months old and it shows! He is getting so big. And he is doing so much now. He rolls back and forth, reaches and grasps his toys, "talks" all the time, is trying to sit up, can put his weight on his legs, holds his own bottle, and oh so much more. He loves eating his baby food and loves trying to drink from a cup. Best of all, he has such a good temperment. He is always happy and wears the biggest gummy grin. Everyone just adores him. We are so blessed!!

An Awesome Thursday

Yesterday was beautiful. The sun was out and shining brilliantly, there was no laundry or dishes to do, Jareth was in a fantastic mood, and I had a Thirty-One party that night at a friend's house. After piddling around the house for a while Jareth and I met daddy for lunch. We went to one of my favorite places in Knoxville, Nama!!! They have the best sushi I have ever had. After lunch I took Jareth to the park where we took a walk and then spread out a blanket in the shade. Jareth ran his fingers across the grass and took a little nap. Afterward I took him on another stroller ride and then we went home. Once home Jareth decided to take an extra long nap so mommy took an extra long bath. He slept until daddy got home and woke him up by peeking at him on the bed. Once he was up it was daddy's turn to take care of him while I went and did a Thirty-One party. It was an awesome party! The ladies were so much fun and my friend Heather was a great hostess. I made well over $100 in just a few hours. It's going to be a great month for my thirty-one business. I have seven parties booked! I could make our mortgage payment!
It was a very nice and successful day for being a Thursday. Life is golden!

If I Had a Million Dollars

Who hasn't fantasized about what they would do with $100,000,000? I know I have many times. But over the years my ideas of what I would do with that money have drastically changed. I used to imagine a beachfront mansion, designer clothes, and lambos before I knew or understood how much a million is really worth. Now I imagine a five bedroom, four bath, Colonial home with a wrap around porch surrounded by a couple of acres backed up to the woods. I envision a Saturday sitting on the porch swing with Jack under my feet, Jareth playing in the dirt with one of his cousins or godbrother, and Jon snoring in a rocking chair. Security, safety, and stress free. Not too far from the city but a retreat for Jon and a sanctuary for me. Wide open space for July 4th bbqs and just enough room for overnight guests. Simple and beautiful. So if anyone would like to hand over the cash I have it all planned out ; )

Big Fat Negative

I was almost three weeks late so I went to the drugstore to buy a pregnancy test. I had been putting it off because I figured my hormones were still out of whack from being pregnant with Jareth. But after a while Jon and I figured we better check to make sure. I had to get the girl at the register to get the test for me from behind the counter. When she handed to me she said good luck. I just smiled. Then she said she didn't have any kids and didn't want any, any time soon. I told her I had a five month old. She said something to the effect of "Oh man, are you going to cry if it's positive?" I thought about it for a second and said that I wouldn't.
On the way home I thought about her question. Jon and I of course weren't trying for another baby and if given the choice we would wait a few years but I don't think I would be sad if the test were positive. I remembered what it felt like when I saw my first positive pregnancy test. I was ecstatic. Then we lost that baby and I was beside myself with saddness. The second time I had a positive test was with Jareth and I was riddled with anxiety, afraid we would lose him. So, no I wouldn't cry if I had a positive result. I would be happy, nervous, but happy.
When I got home I found Jon snuggled up in the bed with Jareth taking a nap thus confirming my decision. I woke up Jon and let him know that I was about to take the test. He made me promise not to look at the result without him. Three minutes later it was negative.
That same day I made an appointment with my drs office to get back on birth control. Although a new baby would have been welcomed, I wasn't exactly ready to be pregnant again. As far as birth control goes, we have decided to do the Mirena IUD. It lasts for five years. That gives us plenty of time to prepare for another baby and give Jareth all the attention we want. And if we decide to have a baby sooner it can easily be removed. So, we remain a family of three for now....and for several years to come. Besides I don't think Jack could handle another baby right now. : )

Update on Everything!

I certainly don't have as much time as I would like to sit down and blog anymore! Jareth keeps me very busy these days. The sleepy baby days are over and this little guy needs to be entertained! Jareth is now four months old. He is rolling over, noticing absolutely everything, playing harder each day, and growing a temper. One thing is for certain, when he wants something he has to have it then and there! No patience here! Also, his quiet ooohs and aaaahs have turned into high pitched squeals and deep gurgles. He has quite the set of lungs. He is also developing more mature facial expressions, furrowing and raising his brow and smiling shyly. I may sound like a broken record but I will say it one more time and probably not the last time, he is amazing!

Update on me: I am proud to say that I comfortably fit in a size 6! And the other day I somehow forced myself into a 4! I've been pretty faithful about doing pilates everyday and I am really watching what I eat. I'm learning to look at food differently. Instead of seeing a yummy piece of chocoloate cake I see my daily allowance of sugar and fat. Not to say I don't indulge sometimes. But I really weigh the costs now when I choose my foods.

Also, as of today I am a consultant for the company Thirty-One! I'm very excited about it. I will be selling unique and stylish bags, totes, stationary, organizers, and etc through home shows, online sales, and catalog sales. If anyone out there is reading this, book a party!!!

My Jeans Search

I finally went shopping for a pair of jeans a few weeks ago. I had said I wouldn't buy any "fat jeans" because I didn't want to spend money on something I didn't plan to wear very long. However, my husband was really tired of my sagging maternity jeans and pajama pants. So, off I went to the mall. First stop Express. I have always loved Express jeans. They had always given me the best fit and made my previously non-existent booty suddenly appear and at a great cost. So it was much to my dismay when I tried on a cute pair of boot cuts that made me look two sizes bigger than I actually am and gave me a horendous "muffin top." Ultra low rise jeans are not for those larger than a size four. So I went back to the shelves to find a pair of low rise or mid rise jeans perhaps with a little more stretch. Now I've always had a hard time finding good fitting pants/jeans and I am very particular about what I buy. I'm 5'4 and have short legs but a not so short torso. I can't always wear petite sizes but regular pants are always too long. I don't like jeans with big holes and tears in them. I leave those for the teenagers. And I'm pretty particular about the wash of my jeans. Not too blue and not too light. Express boot cut jeans size 4 short were always a perfect fit, they had a great wash, and I could get away with ultra low rise. But I am no longer a size 4. I was sad to find that they didn't have any low rise or mid rise boot cut jeans larger than a 4 in a short length in stock. I left slightly stung and missing my old body. Defeated I pushed Jareth through the mall trying to decide where I could get a pair of good fitting jeans for less than $60. I wasn't about to invest more than that on a pair of jeans that wouldn't fit (I hoped) for more than a month. Then I ran into a woman that I went to highschool with. She works at Dillard's so I asked her if she recommended any of the jeans they sell. She said no but she said that she always wears American Eagle jeans. I kind of furrowed my brow at the thought of American Eagle. I hadn't shopped there since highschool and just new it would be filled with teeny boppers complaining that the size 0 jeans they were trying on were too loose. But I decided to go anyway. I went straight to the first jeans section I found: Ultra low rise skinny jeans. Nope. Second section: Baggy Boyfriend jeans. Nope. Then I round the corner and there they are; boot cut mid rise jeans in a nice medium wash. I'm not sure what size to get so I pick up a 6, 8, and 10 in short length. Hopeful I headed to the dressing room. Thank goodness I tried on the 10 first and not the 6! I ended up in the middle with the 8 short. And guess what! They were only $40! It made me feel good to have a pair of jeans that fit. It's funny how something as simple as a pair of jeans can either ruin your day or give you a good boost of confidence. Oh, and guess what else...... those size 8s are getting loose! Time for another shopping trip.

Mr. Manning

Jareth has a favorite toy. It is a bright blue elephant made by Bright Starts that makes a crinkle sound when you touch it and rattles when you shake it. It also has teethers for feet. His name is Manning and Jareth absolutely loves him. He has learned how to hold the elephant and chews on his trunk and ears and he smiles so big when I bring it to him. He has also started to "talk" to his new friend and he gets so excited that he shoves his face into it and squeals! It's adorable. Thanks to Erin and Mike who got it for him. I think every baby should have a Manning.

Three Months and Amazed

My little cricket has turned three months old today. I can't believe that at this very time three months ago I was waiting for the doctor to break my water and begin the labor process. I have found motherhood to be the most amazing experience I have ever had. Watching him grow is wonderful. He changes so much with each passing week and each tiny milestone absolutely facinates me. I never knew I would be so giddy about seeing my child discover his feet or hold his paci. I had no idea that my heart would explode with his gummy grins or that I would tear up just because he tangled his fingers in my hair while falling asleep on my shoulder. And its only been three months. He can't sit up on his own, crawl, talk, or much less walk and I'm already amazed by him. What's funny is that this is one of the most natural things there is. The birth and growth of a child is a natural process that occurs worldwide. It's hard to believe that Jareth isn't a phenomenon; I sure treat him like one!
Three months down and a thousand to go!

What I Couldn't Live Without

Someone asked me what items I have found to be essential for baby care. There are several things that have made my life easier when it comes to taking care of Jareth. Some I have used from the very first day and others I have picked up along the way.

1. The Boppy: It not only gives my arms a rest from holding Jareth while I nurse him but it came in handy when he had a viral infection and was spitting up mucus. He was able to sleep in bed with us, elevated on the boppy without fear of us rolling onto him. We also used it for tummy time so that he wouldn't face-plant the floor when he got tired of holding his head up.
2. The Nipple Shield: I desperately wanted to nurse Jareth but the first few days were a little rough. It took a little while for him to learn how to latch properly and before he did I became quite blistered.
3. Recieving Blankets: Jareth loves to be swaddled up and oftentimes he has trouble falling asleep with out it. I think there would have been many sleepless nights without them.
4. Basinette: There is no way I would have let Jareth sleep in his crib away from us for the first three months. My sister let us use her basinette. It comes right up to the bed and I can easily see the baby and reach into it to help him with his pacifier or blanket.
5. Pacifiers: I had said I wouldn't use them but the first day Jareth was home he was inconsolable and I gave in. Sometimes babies just need to suck even when they aren't hungry.
6. Light-up Toys: Great for distraction, toys that play music and light up have become very useful.
7. Chocolate: Okay, this one is for mommy. When Jareth just can't seem to be satisfied mommy eats a piece of chocolate. It makes me feel better at least. ; )