Angels

A year ago Friday we lost a very special little boy,









this Friday we lost a very special woman







We love you both very much.

Bubba, let Nanny hold you from time to time - she'll need some little boy hugs.

One week in . . .

Well, I made it working 2 whole days this week. Tooters seems to be doing well at the sitter's and she can't stop saying how cute he is. Next week I work 3 days, the week after that 5 . . . ugh. Oh well, unless someone we know wins the lottery and gives us some it's off to work I go. At least I like my job!

So here's what's happened in the past week:

I only cried a little when I dropped him off the first day and not at all the second.

We had our first "professional" photo shoot (Sears) and the little booger didn't smile once. We did everything but stand on our heads and he was having none of it. In fact he pooped during the session. Yet we still walked out of there with our wallets empty. When I get the CD and can upload the pics I'll show you all.

We survived the dreaded two month doctor appointment with 4 shots. He screamed his little head off and then promptly shut up as soon as I placed a bottle in his mouth. He's 13 pds. 13 oz. and 24.25 inches long - off the charts for both height and weight. At the end of February we start spoon feeding him rice cereal. The dogs will love cleaning that up.

My father, our Monday sitter, believes he and JT have a "no poop Mondays" agreement. Considering we're still working out the constipation issues, he may have something - but my money is on JT.

Jim and JT have begun communicating. It is adorable and it I can get it on tape I will share. They sit and "talk," carrying on a full conversation. I compare it to the sound of whales they have on those nature CDs, but JT loves it! He smiles and laughs and pauses to let Jim respond.

Tomorrow we're getting a second car (as my DH would be quick to point out, we currently have a car and a truck). It's Nan's Corolla, the family has been nice enough to give it to us so we have 2 cars that can have car seats. We had a little work done on it as soon as I start back full time we'll be taking turns with the JT drop-off.

When you have a second look through the Kaboodle list - I keep finding the best stuff! Feel free to express your grattitude for my humor by showering us both with gifts! :-)

With all due respect . . .

Anyone who has seen Tallidaga Nights knows there are many memorable lines that can be quoted at particular moments. One of my favorites is "With all due respect . . ." In the movie it's used as a buffer for the rest of the sentence, which is something nasty and mean.

With all due respect, I love my job - but I don't necessarily want to go back to it. I really have no choice and so I will start back next week. I'm part time for the next two weeks and then full time starting in February.

Ya'll want me to leave this?

I think my parents will suffer the worse though - I've been at their house at least 3 days a week. Once I'm back to work they may only see him one day a week. I'm not sure they'll survive.

Birth classes shmirth classes

If you refer to an earlier post (I'm not really sure which one) you'll know that we went to parenting classes. I don't think we remember a damn thing from them. If they wanted these classes to properly prepare you for being a parent I propose the following list:

- grab a bag of cement, hold it for 4 hours - while a wombat wails in your ear (I don't really know what a wombat sounds like, but I'm pretty sure they would have a high pitched annoying wail)
- attempt to dump the small formula cup into the only slightly less-small bottle opening - while holding a squirming puppy - while a wombat wails in your ear
- take a stroller and maneuver it through a minefield without waking the baby inside
- take a garden hose and attempt to block the stream of water with your hand (for those with boys)
- take one of the wet naps you get when you eat ribs and try to clean the sauce off the ribs (for the advanced class you'll attempt this while blocking the garden hose at the same time - the 400 level simultaneously includes the wombat)

That might get you slightly more prepared . . . but I doubt it

We Have Poopies!

First - happy belated to Punk Boy. JT enjoyed the party very much and is sorry he had to pass on the cake, maybe next year though! (Oh, and I'd watch him, he thinks some of those toys you got a really cool.)

As to the heading, it's amazing how quickly things change when you become a parent. A year ago I seriously doubt I would have had such a heading (although Yogi was constipated once and we had to give him something). Yesterday JT had some play-doh like poop, no big deal, just keep an eye on him. He was up most of the night with Daddy and this morning we found out why. He grunted and groaned and did his all and out came a little marble of poop. Pushed his legs up, more grunting and groaning, the vein in his forehead popped out a little - another little marble. This one had a little blood in it. We went through this for another 10 minutes with little progress and then called the doc.

His suggestion - prune juice. 1 oz. of prune juice once a day until things got moving. JT downed the juice like a champ. We continued throughout the day, anxiously checking him at every grunt-like sound. Finally one birthday party and one grandparent dinner later . . . we have poop. Regular, green, non-marble like poop. Jim said there was definitely a relieved smile on his face, I know his parents both have them.

Tomorrow JT will be 7 weeks old, almost 2 months - it always amazes me how fast time goes. I try to enjoy every minute, knowing that even when he only wants to be held and scream in my ear, there will come a time when he doesn't want to be held or even talk to me.

Doggie Time

Given the difficulties of the other day I decided we should take the dogs for a walk today. I bundled up the boy, strapped on the front carrier and grabbed the leashes. It's hard to believe that I once survived a half marathon, today just getting around the block was taxing. The dogs did well and before he fell asleep JT seemed to like it (a "different ceiling" to look at).

We came home and got settled and after dinner Daddy gave JT his bath. He seems to really like the water, I'm hoping it stays that way!

I'm with JT everyday so I don't think I see him growing, but today he looks so big. When we first brought him home we had to prop him into the swing with blanket rolls on either side. Today his feet almost hang off the bottom!

Thank you for good neighbors

They may look cute and unassuming in this outdated photo, but in truth you are looking at two criminal masterminds . . . well Yogi is the mastermind, Daisy just wiggles and looks cute. I returned home from a wonderful playdate with Mr. Jacob (he played, JT screamed) and was told by my neighbor that the dogs had somehow left our yard today. They got out not once, not twice, but three times - from two different fenced in yards.

Two of our neighbors were kind enough to round them up each time, bringing them home from as far as two blocks away. They have tags and microchips, but the thought of them running the neighborhood and standing in the street makes my heart jump to my throat.

To say thank you the dogs baked brownies and cookies and wrote a couple of very nice little notes to be delivered in the morning. It's only a small token, but it's the least they can do.

When did showering become a luxury?

Much like the title of this book http://www.amazon.com/gp/reader/0970510063/ref=sib_dp_pt/103-7692618-4895805#reader-link "Peeing in Peace" when did showering become a luxury and not a necessity? God forbid I actually have clients when I go back to work and have to meet with them in person - I'll need good scarves and more Febreze (actually none of my clothes fit so I'll have bigger issues than scarves).

The other evening he slept for 7 1/2 hours. I woke up and it was light out and I freaked. He was laying next to me in his bassinet, but still! Last night, it was more like 3 hours at a time - oh well, we'll work up to it.

I'm thinking about having professional pics taken at 2 months - any suggestions between Sears, Pennys, or Olan Mills?

I only have 2 weeks of maternity leave left - he'll be 6 weeks old tomorrow - when the heck did that happen?

The Many Faces of JT . . .

Is he the cutest little boy ever or what! Not only does he have rhythm, he has style.

Playtime!

A little snippet of the little man playing.

Happy New Year!

Believe it or not we actually made it to midnight (mainly because JT had just finished a bottle). He sadly missed the ball drop by about 2 minutes, his head hit the swing and he was out. Everyone says he's getting bigger, I guess when you're with them every day you don't see it as easily. Although the way he's eating lately I can't imagine that he's not growing!

I've reorganized the flickr photos into month folders (I figured 52 week folders would get old after awhile). Link should be the same, but here's a direct link to the month 2 pics http://flickr.com/photos/catsmine/sets/72157603612675320/

Check out my (I mean JT's) wishlist, I continue to find awesome items!