Lesson

Due to some sort of human error in attempt to be organized, all of my photos prior to October 2008 have been wiped out.

I am now trying to sort through files here and there to recover a handful of photos lying around in folders.

Most importantly I will be setting aside some time this weekend to upload all photos to an online database to prevent this from happening again.

Yes, I am crying and probably won't be able to sleep tonight.

Who Dat!

I knew he had to be a Saints' fan deep down.

After his last trip to the Dome I was hesitant, but Freddie begged and pleaded, as did his Daddy. All three of us had to be there to see the Saints' go 8-0!

The camera battery was dead but there were no explosive diapers, tears, or breastfeeding in the smokey stalls. We stayed until the last five minutes of the game as the Saints' took the lead.


The headphones helped a whole lot. Charlie keeping it low key next to us helped as well. He even got to the point where he'd scream along with everyone else. And his voice could be heard by the folks in front of us who'd turn around to exchange smiles with him. But for the most part he was content to hang out on my lap or practice his standing while holing on to the seats in front of us.


That's our boy! He's a seasoned NOLA sports fan.

Knock on Wood

Waiting for breakfast after good night's sleep.
Love having a camera on my phone.

The boy slept last night.

We began sleep training, although I hadn't planned on it until next week when Charlie's schedule settled down a bit so he could be on the front line. But when your highness called at 11.30 pm on Wednesday night and kicked his legs in excitement when he laid eyes on me approaching his crib I just decided in that instant to not nurse him. Mean Mommy. It went something like this...

• Wednesday: In bed by 6.00pm. 11.30 pm crying. Scoop him up, attempt to sing and rock him to soothe him. I felt bad at first, but after the little sucker wouldn't have any of it after 20 minutes straight I felt a bit over it. He would barely even let me hold him, leaning back, squirming around. So I plopped him back in his crib with the intention of returning in 15 minutes and trying again. At 14 minutes he settled and so I just listened. And by 20 minutes he was back asleep. He didn't wake up again until 5.30 am, smiling and hungry.
• Thursday: In bed by 6.00pm. 12.00 am crying. Scoop him up and sit in the rocker. He shows no indication of expecting to nurse and puts his head on my shoulder and tucks his hands under him, an indication of his trying to get back to sleep. I rock with him for 5 minutes and put him down. He cries for five minutes and then goes to sleep. We have the same routine at 2.00 am and 3.00 am. At 4.00 am I give in, nurse him, and bring him to bed with me. I wondered if he was cold or if his tooth was finally coming through. We sleep until 6.15am.
• Friday: In bed by 6.00 pm. Sleeps all night. I hear a little cry three times during the night, but it only lasts a minute each time. I can finally here him babbling in this crib at 4.30 am so I tip toed in there and watched him for a bit. I think he would have gone back to sleep, but he saw me and was very excited. So he nursed and went back to bed with me and we slept until 7.00 am.

Really? I read all those books and just not feeding him was all it took? Sheesh.

I'm not quite declaring a victory but this is looking promising.

Research Day

It was actually more crowded than it looks for Charlie's 8am talk. He did well holding that laser pointer steady even though Bug and I, sitting in the back, knew he was nervous. We love our science guy, who interestingly enough wore the same shirt last year. This year was better though because he had on a TIE! Perhaps we need to expand that professional wardrobe just a little.

36 Weeks

Likes:

• Dancing, both on your own and with Mama or Daddy
• Standing
• Books
• Sippy
• Yogurt (Finally found some whole milk yogurt other than yobaby)
• Morning snuggles
• Kisses on your feet, and I love when you put them out for more kisses
• Exploring things with your feet, My Monkey!
• Kicking balls
• Mama's look of horror when you undo your diaper EVERY time I get it on
• Porch swing
• Hearing the front door close and your Daddy's steps make a beeline to the living room at 5:30 each day
  

Check out my snaggle teeth.
Daddy thinks one on top has come through
but Mama is yet to confirm this.

Dislikes:

• Diaper changes
• Getting dressed
• Ferber (Yes, the sleep training has begun.)

Here I go...

Wiggling to a stand

Vocabulary:

• Kisses, back and forth
  
• Mama, this may be getting specific to me!
• Yayayaya...louder and louder and louder until everyone laughs
• Jabbering before naptime while you're in the crib

Diet:

• 5 nursings per day, we won't talk about nighttime right now
• 6 oz pureed fruit mixed with oatmeal and 4 oz yogurt for breakfast
• 4-6 ounces pureed fruit or veggie with rice cereal for lunch
• 6-8 oz pureed veggie, sometimes with cereal for dinner
• Finger foods here and there, but you've figured out that handing these over to the dogs or offering them a lick of your spoon is a quick way to make friends

Hooray!

Working on:

• Sippy drinking, water and juice
• Cruising on the furniture, you've become more cautious
• Squatting and crouching
  
• Bending over while holding on to my hand

Hoping

Today our heats are with our friends in Virginia. Lesley's son, Ford, has a brain tumor and is having surgery today. He's just a few weeks younger than Freddie.

They've been through months of tests and incorrect diagnoses before finally getting the MRI results last week.

We are thinking of them and hoping today brings news of a benign tumor and the end of this roller coaster ride for them.

Finger Foods

Freddie's told me more than once that he is ready for more solid foods. So this week we are beginning to experiment with finger foods.

He's been getting bits and pieces of most of what we eat, but now in addition to his meals of pureed fruits, veggies, cereal, and oatmeal I am adding in some finger foods. I had been giving him Cheerios here and there, and while he'll pop one in his mouth every once in a while, he's really been using them to get the dogs over to his chair.

On the finger food menu this week:

• Pancakes
• Waffles
• Beans
  
• Veggie burger
• Avocado pieces
• Sticky rice and cheese
• Spiral pasta
• Ravioli
• Cheese, shredded and small cubes
• Egg yolks
• Toast
• Fish

He had a some of a cereal bar and some pancakes this weekend. He didn't feed these to the dogs as much as he just mashed them between his fingers for careful examination.


Any other suggestions would be appreciated!

Freddie's First Halloween

Love this family photo.
Forgot to take some of Freddie by himself.

Ford and Meredith had everyone over and we finally got to meet Baby Trey.

Freddie was decked in his chicken costume and we were thankful for the "fall" weather because it is quite the bundle. Charlie and I dug out some outfits of Mardi Gras past. I planned on just a black dress for the evening, but Charlie insisted that dress up. We are just that kind of family, he reminded. Thankfully the costume box had something easy that still buttoned up. Love the costume box.

Tomorrow I'll hit some sales in search of costumes for Mardi Gras and just good deals to add to the costume box. We are trying to plan some "family" themed costumes for the future, but I need to plan far in advance.

Freddie's First Hornets' Game

Opening night for the Hornets'. Where else would you expect us to be?

The boy must love basketball because he LOVED the Hornets' game. It didn't start until after his bedtime, and he was up far beyond his bedtime but was *happy* all night. We have aisle seats, and just like his mama, he liked watching everyone walk by, checking out their cocktails, dates, shoes. He's quite interested in it all.

Hornets' games are far better than Saints' games because of all the music. Freddie was wiggling and bouncing to the beat for hours. I have taken note and will get the music going at home more often.

We stayed until the 4th quarter, beat the crowd out of the arena, and the Hornets' won. It's going to be a good season for us.

Lunch

Today my sweet little Buggers took one look at my breast, placed a hand on either side, and chomped down.

Chomped.

He obviously needs more solids in his diet, because he acted as though he were sitting down to a half pound burger.

35 Weeks

Mom, can we get this over with?


Come on.


I am ready TO GO!


You are on the move, officially crawling. You've got everything in synch and moving right along. There is no holding you back. I think you'll be walking sooner than I'd like or even sooner than I think, probably. You see nothing wrong with letting go of the furniture or my hand to move right along. I suppose a few crashes and head konkers would help tame you a little but I am still catching you, when I'm quick enough.


You're back to kisses this week. We haven't heard them for a while. You also wave to every person we pass. Yesterday in the waiting room at the doctor's office you were the welcoming committee, smiling and grinning at everyone who walked through the door. Evidently you were cheesing it up in the back seat in the parking lot too because I had a group of women huddled around the car carrying on as they peered through the window. Oh my. I cannot wait to see how all of this flirting manifests itself over the next 15 years.


You're carrying on "conversations" now too. It is clearly evident that your vocalaztions are in response to ours. This pleases The Daddy to no end. He's crazy about his boy.


We visited another preschool today. It's four blocks from our house, which is nice. You loved being with the "big kids." I set you down on the floor and they pounced on you, huddled over you to check you out. You smiled and waved and crawled from under their scrutiny and they followed you around. I know you'll have a hard time leaving me when it's time for school, but I also know that you're ready to be with other kids and other people. There is so much out there for you. It is so exciting watching you discover it.

Vaccinated

Today Freddie had his flu shot booster and the H1N1 vaccine.

Charlie had his H1N1 last week and got the flu vaccine a few weeks ago.

I am searching for the H1N1 for myself and will likely get a flu shot as well. I really want to do all that I can to protect Freddie.

First Beach Trip

Sand doesn't taste so good

• Pensacola, Florida
• Sandy toes
• Sandy hair
• Sandy mouth
• Sandy diapers
• Long walk
• Collecting seashells
• Peg Leg Pete's
• Love for whip cream off the top of key lime pie
• Sweet eyes at everyone around
• New favorite: yogurt!
• Snuggling in the king sized bed
• Watching the surf from the balcony
• Hobie sailing on the sound
• Toes in the waves
• Sun kissed cheeks
• Sea salt kisses
  

34 Weeks

Peg Leg Pete's
Pensacola, Florida

Sent from my iPhone

Roasted Pumpkin Seeds

From this:


To this:


To this:


Ingredients:

• Seeds from 1 pumpkin
• Olive oil
• Salt
  
• Pepper

Directions:

1. Rinse pumpkin seeds under cold water and pick out the pulp and strings. (This is easiest just after you've removed the seeds from the pumpkin, before the pulp has dried.)
2. Place the pumpkin seeds in a single layer on an oiled baking sheet, stirring to coat. If you prefer, omit the oil and coat with non-stick cooking spray.
3. Sprinkle with salt and bake at 325 degrees F until toasted, about 25 minutes, checking and stirring after 10 minutes.
4. Let cool and store in an air-tight container.

I'd like to try some variations...perhaps a sweet variation or spicy but since I doubt we'll be doing another pumpkin carving photo shoot, it may have to wait until next year.

Happy Fall!

I knew you'd be a great pumpkin a year ago!

33 Weeks

Weekly pictures are getting tricky.


I've got to move fast because you've got other plans.


Places to go and people to see.


You really think you can walk and are letting go of the furniture more and more. And although it ain't pretty, I'm going to go ahead and say you're crawling. It's more of the worm with some arm motions involved, but you're getting places.

Three course meal: carrots and apples, acorn squash and corn, blueberries and pears. I love the colors.

Something catches your eye and you *must* have it. And within seconds you are there, grabbing, pulling up, and trying to examine it. Today I had to take a few things out of your hands and you didn't cry, but you looked at me and undid your diaper. Yep, grabbed the velcro tab and opened that diaper. Three times. I'd rather you scream and stamp those feet than go after that diaper. But I suppose you are well aware of that.


You are so stinking cute. I cannot get enough of that scrunchy nose and squinty eyes and crooked toothed grin.

Look at my teeth! Click to enlarge.

You're still very interested in people, but you've become wary of strangers. You give a coy smile, and bury your head in my chest. But you can't take it to look away for very long so you quickly whip your head back around and start the smiling and giggling exchange.




Today you made everyone, all 38 of us, in the post office smile and talk to each other about something else other than the horrendous service. Really, each and every person in line had the opportunity to interact with you as we snaked through the line. One lady even motioned to her husband waiting outside to come inside. You've got to see how happy this baby is! He had to admit, you sure were cute, but he could only shake his head at his wife.

"Reading" your books...upside down. I always think it is so funny to find you
flipping through books checking out pictures.

I'm so thankful for you, Bug. So thankful for all of the smiling we do. It feels great to be your mama.

Carmelitas Again

Remember this one?


This one is similar. It is more "substantial" and not as gooey.


Ingredients:

• 3 cups plus 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 4 sticks (1 pound) unsalted butter, softened
• 3 cups quick-cooking rolled oats
• 2 1/4 cups light brown sugar
• One 16-ounce jar caramel sauce
• 1 1/2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
• 3/4 cup chopped pecans

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350°.
   
2. Butter a 9-by-13-inch metal baking pan.
   
3. In a large bowl, whisk 3 cups of the flour with the baking soda and salt. Add the butter, oats and brown sugar and mix until combined.
   
4. In a small bowl, mix the caramel with the remaining 3 tablespoons of flour.
5. Pat half of the oat mixture into the baking pan.
   
6. Bake for 15 minutes.
   
7. Scatter half of the chocolate chips and pecans over the crust.
   
8. Dollop half of the caramel mixture on top.
   
9. Crumble the remaining oat mixture evenly into the pan.
10. Cover with the remaining chocolate chips, pecans and caramel.
    
11. Bake for about 35 minutes, or until the edges are set.
    
12. Let stand uncovered at room temperature overnight.
    
13. Cut the carmelitas into bars and serve.
14. Once cooled, the carmelitas can be kept in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or frozen for up to 1 month.
    

32 Weeks

We stayed home all day today in our pajamas. We didn't even go on a walk. You're sick for the first time and I wanted you to rest as much as possible today and I didn't want to risk exposing you to something else while your immune system was already hard at work. It makes me sad to see you feeling yucky. Your teeth situation isn't helping your mood either. We'll see how you feel tomorrow before calling Dr. J. Not sure I want you exposed to the germs at the doctor's office right now either.

Go Sooners!

And about those teeth... Is it possible that this first batch is already crooked? Those two bottoms are poking up and it looks to me like you'll definitely have an orthodontist in your
future.


Freddie, I'm sorry. I am *that* mama. I told someone, other than your father who hears it almost every time I change your diaper, how cute your poops were. I just couldn't help myself. It may have something to do with the fact that I am so very excited that your system has completely adjusted to solid foods and we are back to making diaper washing easier.


You have been running your fingers along the velcro tabs of your diapers for a while. You'll wiggle those little fingers a it around the edges of the tabs to get that nice velcro crackle sound. Yesterday you gave it a yank and opened your diaper. My eyes got as big as saucers and I quickly tightened it back up. You yanked it again and giggled as I giggled. Oh no. I am in for it.


You squinch up your nose and smile now. I love, love, love seeing that.


What is really funny is when you hear the front door open about 5.30 each evening and you stop whatever you're doing and just watch and wait for your Daddy to walk into the living room. You immediately break out into laughter and start bouncing up and down. I know it turns him to mush, Mr. Spaghetti.

Can you see my teeth? Click to enlarge.
We're working on a better picture still.

You like to stand up and hold on to the ottoman and "work" with your toys. You are getting to the point where you will let go of it and use both your hands to play with things on top and sometimes you will even let go and pivot around to hold on to something else.


It won't be long before we'll hear pitter patter through the house and I know you'll be squealing and scrunching up that nose and leaving us in the dust.

Sick

I enjoy reading through previous posts about our family and actually find myself doing so more lately. But I have also found it helpful to look back on our fertility cycles for stats and such so I will continue to use this space to document for future reference.

Freddie is sick.

The past few days he has been "playing" with the new sound he can make...rattling the congestion in his chest. It is minor congestion, but nevertheless, congestion in the chest.

Yesterday he had fever for most of the day that remained around 99-100 with Tylenol.

After he went to bed his fever increased to 103, but responded to Tylenol. He didn't sleep well and had another dose of Tylenol during the night. This morning his temp his normal as is his behavior.

I should also mention that Charlie is recovering from a bout of the sickies, the flu perhaps. And both he and the Bug had flu shots last week.