Slowing down the pace for 2012.... or are we?

After a busy month of visiting family,celebrating JT's first birthday and another trip to WV (to take Gran home) - we are finally starting to slow down. JT still looks at Gran's bedroom and says "Ga Ga" (his name for her) every morning.  Chris and I miss her talent for being able to get the wiggle worm dressed without having to tackle him to the ground. We did get lessons from Gran on how to get him dressed - but he just does not cooperate with us like he does Ga Ga. 

On January 5th - JT got his very first haircut!  He did much better than I thought he would and we were quite proud of him.  And yes!  I did cry when he got his hair cut - I had to admit to myself that he was no longer my baby - but a toddler - a little man....















We went to a place called Spoiled Rockin Kids in Southeast Huntsville.  It rates a 10 on the coolness scale!






Chris had some time off work, so he was "in charge" for a few days.  I have to admit, having him in charge of JT is quite entertaining.... 

First Picture ~ "Avocados for breakfast!  woo hoo!"

Second Picture ~ "When daddy feeds me breakfast, mommy gives me an extra bath!"

Third Picture ~ "Why, Yes!  Daddy did dress me.  Why do you ask?"

Fourth Picture ~ "Seriously daddy?  You have to cut up my food - ESPECIALLY if it is cantaloupe!"





Chris's vacation is over and he has gone back to work.  Today, JT got up from playing with his dinosaurs and walked over and got the phone.  He walked up to me, threw the phone at me and said "Da Da".  I could only assume that he was wanting to call Dada - so we called.  Dada was not at his desk - so we had to call twice so JT could listen to Chris' voice on his voice mail.  




It gets harder and harder for me to entertain that active little guy.  I am working on scheduling more play dates (local moms, please message me if you are interested!), we are also going to try a mommy and me class at The Little Gym next week.  Some days I wonder how in the world I can keep up with that little ball of energy that we call JT. But somehow..... I do!

New Motivation to Blog

OK - I am totally excited about blog books!  I saw one of my friends post on facebook that she had just finished her blog book.  So after stalking her blog, I googled blog book and realized it was the perfect substitute for Scrapbooking.  I figure since I have not scrapbooked in over a year, I need to do SOMETHING...  So, I have been putting together my blog books from 2008 - 2011 and I am committed to doing a better job of keeping my blog updated so I don't have to worry about scrapbooking all our memories!  I think I can.... I think I can....

The Quest for that perfect picture....

Last year, on Christmas Eve, I wanted to take a picture of JT in a Santa hat.  Chris laughed at me and said that it would be way too big for him.  I told him THAT was the point - it would be cute to see his tiny little head in the big Santa hat.  He thought it was silly, but once he saw the picture, he thought it was adorable.  But of course every picture we take, we think JT is adorable.


This year, Chris wanted to get the "exact same picture" with the same hat.  I knew this would be a challenge with an active one year old.  It seemed especially challenging when Chris informed me that JT needed to be laying down - because that is how the first picture was.

The first attempt of course was a disaster. He was not a happy camper that we laid him down AND put the hat on him.... 

So, the next thing we tried was me wearing the hat. I was singing and dancing and showing him how much fun wearing the hat was, hoping to get him to want to wear the hat...

It seemed to work - he reached out for it - but as soon as we tried to lay him down with it on him - he freaked out.  So then, I got a brilliant idea..... 

                              

A sucker!

While it is not the best picture,,,, it will do!



MERRY CHRISTMAS!

I seem to remember people telling me it gets easier.... they lied

No Problem Mon

Yes- I rember that not just one person, but many people told me  that things will get easier as JT gets older.  Liars Liars - pants on fire!  JT will be 7 months old in two days.  Although he is not crawling forward - he crawls backwards and does the "butt bounce" and other creative moves to get to where he wants to be.  Most of the time, where he wants to be is with the kitty.... or where there are electronics.  He keeps me on my toes - that's for sure.  With his increased mobility, I have had to start saying "No, No!"  At first JT just didn't seem to get the "No no", but then I said it very sternly with a "mean old mad mommy face".  The first time I did that, JT looked at me, his little bottom lip started quivering, and then he cried.  It was so pitiful.  I no longer feel that pity I felt for that brief moment, because now, when I put on that mean old mommy face and say very sternly "NO NO!"  He looks up at me and just laughs and laughs.  {{sigh}}

JT and Duchess ~ Duchess is SO patient with him

JT is not the only one that likes the teething bling ~ Duchess does too

He continues to fight sleep - both at nap times and at night.  I have resorted to putting him in the car and taking late night drives to get him to go to sleep. 
We just got back from a trip to South Carolina to visit my cousin Mike and his family.  It was an adventure..... he was pretty good, but yet he was definitely a challenge.  With two road trips under our belt, we will be taking our first plane trip soon.  I can't say I am looking forward to it, but I know it will provide me with a lifetime of memories that I will one day look back and not only cherish, but laugh about.  I must admit, that although he is more work than before, he brings more and more joy each day.  His smile brightens the room and when he giggles - you seem to forget all of your worries.  He is developing an amazing little personality.

7/2/11 ~ JT's first time on the swing at the park

Trying to get to one of his favorite toys ~ needless to say, he needed help getting out!

Playing with Mommy

Constantly climbing....

Loves his Daddy

Sitting on his new chair ~  this is the face he makes when daddy comes home

First Sucker (stolen from mommy)

Trip to South Carolina to visit mommy's cousin Mike

YES! He sleeps!

JT has slept in his crib every night since last Monday!  Woohoo!  I think he finally decided that the swing was getting a little too cramped for his growing body and once he  gave the crib a fair try, he realized he could stretch, toss, turn, roll, and just be more comfortable.  Nap times have gotten better too!  Seems like he can fall asleep anywhere now, provided he has one of his blankie babies to snuggle up with.  He continues to form his own unique personality and is keeping us pretty entertained.  We re-introduced food.  We had stopped feeding him food and went back to formula because he did not seem interested.

That's my boy!  Checking out Facebook!

Napping on the floor!

hanging out in his crib

My cute little sheik

Chris and I went on our first date alone since we brought JT home.  We are extremely grateful for Samantha for watching him so that we could go see the Musical CATS.  Now... let me tell you an awkwardly funny story about our date....  I was all dressed and ready to go out the door when I realized I had a wet spot on my chest.  I thought JT had spit up on me, but I could not seem to get it to dry.  So I rushed in the closet to find another shirt that would go with my pants - and then we were out the door.  We dropped JT off at Samanthas and headed to the VonBraun Center for the show.  I stopped at the ladies room before we went to our seats and while washing my hands, I got a glimpse of my chest in the mirror.  TWO BIG wet spots!  I nearly cried.  WHAT in the world is going on?  I tried to dry it out - but it was dry.  I was so confused.  I came out of the bathroom embarassed as can be and pointed them out to Chris who replied "Um, are you lactating?"  At this point, the show was about to start - what could I do?  I went in to the  theatre with huge wet spots on my boobs.  Luckily, the lights soon went out.  On our way back home, I was racking my brain trying to figure out what I was getting my chest in to that was causing wet looking spots.... well.... can you believe it was my BRA?!  Yep, I bought a few of those really neat gel filled bras a while back.  I have not worn them for a while, but grabbed one that afternoon when I was  getting dressed.  That darn wonderbra leaked the gel stuff ALL OVER me!  And it won't come out!  I ruined two nice shirts and a camisole before I figured it out.  grrrrrrr .  So ladies... avoid the gel filled bras.  See... it is much better when I just go braless....  {{sigh}}  Despite the embarassing moment of walking around looking like I was lactating, we both had an incredible time.  This, by the way, was Chris' Fathers Day gift.  Next year, he will probably just get a tie!  Here are pictures taken of JT while we were on our date:

Sleeping in Riley's Crib

Cam watching JT sleeping

Hanging out with Riley

Aunt Samantha and JT

I think he said "I want a doggie"

Hanging with the boys!  Uncle Jon and Cameron






And one final picture.....