Not completely boring

Well, it wasn't another completely boring day in the house. I had to get out today before I went insane. I haven't been out of the house since Sunday night church.

After Blay's morning nap (waking at 1245)I wanted him to eat and then we were going to leave. That didn't work as planned because he got spaghetti and spaghetti o's (yes, he had both) all over him. He's discovered his got hair so he plays with it constantly, even while eating. So, I had to give him a bath. That ate up about an hour of his between nap time, which is usually 2 - 3 hours. We left the house at 210 and returned home at 415. We weren't out long but it was such a relief to just get out.

Our first stop was to the Samaritan Center in Ooltewah to drop off the stuff we didn't sell in the yard sale for donation. Then we were on our way to the YMCA, the back way. I wanted to enjoy this time out. I am still looking for a kid friendly gym and checked them out and their prices. A little high but I've got to do something and quick. Blay loved looking at the pool. I am going to check into swim lessons for him. I don't want him to be afraid of the 'big' pool as he kind of is now.

Our next to last stop was to Lowe's to find a curtain rod for our bathroom. I am trying to add some 'spice' to our house on some of the bare walls and rooms. We are really neutral so I am slowly adding color and pictures where ever possible. Room #1 is our bathroom and it's almost done. Next, either the kitchen or our bedroom. That'll be in a month or so though.

Our last stop was a definite mommy stop. Sonic. 1/2 price drinks from 2-4pm so I got a cherry coke and a chocolate shake, which I shared with Blay whenever possible. He got a lot when we got stopped by the train.

I was hoping for a nap when we returned home but that didn't happen until 6 and for only about 45 minutes. Mommy napped to because Blay was up for a while at 430 am this morning so I was up listening to him and then up before he was this morning. I've now got to go pick up his toys, do the dishes, and vacuum.

John will be home tomorrow and with a new toy, a grill! Ours kind of caught fire about 2 months ago. Oops.

I will try to take some pictures tomorrow to post of John and Blay mowing the yard. Seems weird to say that because it's not been done in almost a month due to lack of rain. Thank you Faye!!!

The same

Okay, two days in a row but nothing to report. I did forget yesterday to let you know that Blay now has 5 teeth. Three on top and two on bottom. He's about to have 4 on top and two on bottom.

John is gone again so it is just Blay and me. I'm lonely when he's sleeping, etc. I have most of the housework done. It's bad at night because I have no one to talk to but he'll be home on Friday around lunch so it won't be long.

Only a little over a week before John and I leave for California!! I am looking forward to it. Don't worry, I'm going to miss my little guy, a lot but John and I need some time for ourselves.

Not much

I haven't written in a few days because not much has been going on. Blay stayed with my dad on Saturday so John and I had a date day. We did too much shopping, movie, dinner, and then more shopping. Have you seen Dark Knight yet? If not, you gotta go!! If so, what did you think?

We got Blay back at the hospital Sunday while visiting my grandmother. She's having stomach pain and they have not determined what if andthing is causing it. So please just pray for her.

Blay and I have been couped up in the house all week. It has been raining since Monday morning thanks to Tropical Storm Faye. I'm not complaining though, our grass actually is green today and all my flowers are beautiful. Thank you Lord! Now, if we can just get more rain after this within a week. I don't think I can take another 3 week drought.

Blay and I may go out tomorrow. I am going to join a gym this week. I'm determined to get my body back in shape. I hate huffing and puffing when I didn't before. I am also going to go and look for a curtain rod for our bathroom. The one I bought was too short. I'm finally getting around to do some more decorating. I'm tired of seeing bare walls.

Also, pray for John. He's leaving tomorrow for another trip. He's going to Pittsburg but will be back on Friday around lunch. He'll be home until Tuesday morning and then, off we go to California!!!

Don't forget to check out the quiz!

More of the birthday

There's not been a whole lot going on. John is home all week this week!!! Yahoo!!! Oh yeah, that's one of Blay's new words! It's so funny watching him say that. He's also back to laughing at the deer hanging on the wall. Maybe it's because he was away from home for a couple of days.

On Sunday, we stayed at Black Bear Cove with John's mom and step dad. Blay didn't do to well that night so I didn't sleep very good at all. When Blay went down for his first nap (only and hour) I slept with him. His second nap that afternoon was great, it was almost 3 hours long. He also went swimming a couple times. He didn't care for it at all the second day. He got back on track very easily Monday night and slept all night long.

Last night he woke up crying and then again at 6 am this morning. I feed him at 6 and he went back bed (not peacefully) until 815 or so. He easily went back down for a nap a few minutes after 11.

Thanks to all of you who made Blay's birthday so special. We love you all and thank you very much!

Enjoy part 2 of Blay eating his birthday cake and a couple more pictures, including the one at the top. Looks like a good future Volunteer don't you think?

PS - The answer to the quiz is: Blay still wears some 0-3 through 6-9 months but mainly 6-9 months. He can wear some 9-12 months but not a lot. He's still to small for 12 months up. Congrats to those of you who got the correct answer.

Also, check out the updated information and the new quiz. AND, I've added new pictures to Blay's picasa web page. You can access it to the left.

Past to Present

Saturday, August 16th

Well, today was the BIG day! The 1st Birthday Party for Blay. The party was successful thanks to all of our friends and family. A special thanks to Stef, Heather, and Deb for helping me clean up, set up, and everything else you did to help with the day. I couldn't of done it without you!

So, we ended up with right at or more than 40 guests. It was held at the Riverpark in Chattanooga by the playground. We had sub sandwiches (people made themselves) with all the sides, drinks, cakes, and ice cream! Of course, Blay had his own little cake. Here you can see a picture and a video of him enjoying it!

Cousin's Ashton and Elijah went fishing during the party and caught a fish. Blay held the little guy for a few seconds before he tried to put it in his mouth! Momma stopped that one!


Blay finally went to sleep this afternoon around 430. He came home wired from all the chocolate cake and icing. He was tired when we were leaving but got his second wind when he came home. He played with some of his new toys and got a sponge bath from his Nanaw to help him wind down for bed. He's sleeping peacefully and hopefully for a while.

I can't believe it's all over and done with. My, how fast the first year has gone by!

Friday, August 15th

So, today, at 4:01 to be exact, Blay turns ONE year old!!! I can't believe the year has come and gone already. It seems like yesterday I was still pregnant and bringing him home from the hospital. We've had our ups and downs (there's a lot more to this parenting thing than I thought) and changes in all our lives since he arrived. I never knew I could love someone so much and a different love than what I love John with. Here's some more pictures from the past...

Blay also went to the doctor today for his 1 year check up. I know, I know, on his birthday? I mean, what kind of mom am I? He got his meningitis booster and his first shot in the Hep A series. He also got a finger prick for his iron check. While he cried out on the shots, he didn't shed a tear. He didn't do either on the finger prick. He just looked at the nurse like 'what are you doing'? He was a big boy!

Blay weighed 20.5 lbs, was 28 1/2 inches, and a head measurement of 18 1/2. He's still in the 15th percentile on weight and height but growing at a good an normal pace.

Before the big event

Well, Blay slept better all night. He was asleep by 930 pm and slept until 750 am this morning. While he just cried out a couple times, we did not have a repeat of last night. Blay is a little 'sick'. He's got the snotty nose and the sneezies. Since we go to the doctor tomorrow for the 1 year check up, we'll check him out then, just before more shots.

We met John last night in Ooltewah for dinner and a quick Walmart trip before he took off again. He went to Kingsport but will be home tonight for a few days at least!!!! Yea! I am excited and I know Blay will be.

The 'back in time' for today is baby shower pics. I was going to try to get some from each but I don't have all the pics. Some are on a disc with John. The ones I am attaching are from work and from the family shower here in Chattanooga 1 1/2 weeks before Blay arrived. I don't miss this, especially since it was in the hottest August I think I've ever been in...

The one on the left is the shower we were given at work and the picture on the left is a picture from the family shower at the Ronald McDonald house....wow, was I big or what!

Back in Time

Okay, since I really don't have a whole lot to report. We're going to go back in time in just a moment.

Blay woke me up at 5 am this morning screaming and crying. After about 20 minutes, I got a bottle for him, and rocked him for a few minutes then put him back in bed. Again, the screaming and crying began. I let him do it for about 20 minutes (he was only off and on this time before being completely on the last couple minutes) before I went back in there this time. Again, I got him up and rocked him. Within minutes he was asleep. So I laid him back down, he woke up, of course, and started crying. He cried about 30 secs and was out cold until 915 this morning! No, I didn't sleep until 915. I got up at 630 to check on him and covered him up and went back to bed until 750. It felt good to 'sleep in' a little.

We are going to meet John in a little bit on his way thru town. He's coming thru town from Bear Creek, Alabama (aka The Boonies) to Kingsport for more work. We're going to meet him for dinner and then a Wal-Mart trip before we come back home. We'll see him again tomorrow when he's supposed to be home for a few days! Yea!

Okay, now back in time. The video I'm posting is from my dad's birthday last February (2007) when we let him in that I was having a baby. I was ten weeks when this took place at my grandparents house. I hope you enjoy!

PS--This is the first time any one's seen this. We weren't able to figure out how to send it (file is too big) for family to see. This seems like yesterday and to think, it's been a year and a half!

Early present

Well, 4 more days until my baby is no longer a baby. That's right, the big 1 is coming on Friday. I'm happy and sad. I know I'll cry so I'll go ahead and tell everyone I did. Everything is pretty much planned for his party on Saturday. It'll be a long day but it will be worth it for my little one.

John came home on Friday evening and kept Blay and I went for a girls night out with some other girls from our church. We ate very bad food and played Cranium. I've never played it before. It was fun.

Saturday we went shopping for a little bit and did yesterday. Blay got two more birthday presents yesterday from John. One is a ball gym and the other was a new pool with a roof.

Here's the gym, I don't have one of the pool, yet.

He likes the gym mainly because of all the balls that are with it.

He loves balls. We'd go by them at Walmart and he'd go crazy saying ball and waving his arms. It's soo cute!

John is out of town again this week so Blay and I will have fun with his new birthday gifts until John gets home on Thursday to play with him. Then he gets even more on Saturday. Where we're going to put all of them I don't know.

Well, I guess I'll go. Not much going on at the moment. I'll let you know if that changes any.

It's been a while

Okay, so don't kill me. I know it's been a while since I've posted anything but I've been busy chasing an almost one year old around the house and up and down the stairs. His former all time favorite thing to do. We've stopped that now thanks to Nae Nae. We borrowed a gate so now he can't climb the stairs. Since then, he just likes playing in the dirt in my potted plants around the house. Speaking of, I have some to sweep up!!!

Last week was an exciting week. We decided to take a trip with John to Alabama. His oh so favorite work spot right now. He's doing a project near Russellville, Alabama. Never heard of it? It's about an hour west of Muscle Shoals, Alabama. Yes, out in the boonies!!! There is absolutley nothing down there but the land is pretty.

Blay and I went swimming on Thursday at the hotel after his first nap time. He was timid of the water at first but then he got used to it. He's never been in a big pool so I think that is why. He warmed up to it eventually but then got tired and was ready to get out. We went back to the room, took a shower and a nap and then tried to go shopping. Ever been shopping with a newly walking 1 year old??? It's NOT FUN!!! I could not do much shopping because someone wanted to walk around and play with stuff. Even in a forward facing buggy at Kohl's. He didn't even like being held at Kirkland's and he could not get down and play there. I'd have a big bill with broken stuff....

Blay didn't sleep to well down there. Other than a fact we were in a strange place, he doesn't sleep much in a pack n play. He ended up in the bed with John and myself both mornings. He even cried when his daddy left to go to work. He did better Thursday night than he did Wednesday night. Traveling through him off schedule some on Friday night but he's doing better.


This is Blay and his new car seat, it's a Britax Diplomat.







These pictures are courtesy of Aunt Tigger. We are on the way to a consignment sale. I thought Blay would enjoy riding face forward since he likes to see what's going on all the time but he fussed some in the seat. I took out the back support and he seemed to be more comfortable. Maybe that is what it was, I'm not sure. He's doing better in it now though. He even went to sleep in it Sunday so he's getting used to it.


Today was kind of a sad day. Today is the first real boo-boo Blay has ever had that involved blood. He's been a little wobbly the past couple of days walking (I think it is his sinus/ears) and he wobbled forward onto an end table in the den this morning and busted his lip pretty good. I didn't panic or freak out or anything. I was too worried about what to do. I had him bite on my shirt (I know but it's just blood) to calm down and control the bleeding then I gave him a cold wash rag. It helped catch the blood and with the swelling. I don't think it looks as bad as it could have.

He didn't sleep well today so he's sleeping now. I am going to try to clean up his dirt and animal crackers before I myself go hit the hay. We miss you John and be safe!!!

PS - The answer to the trivia question is punkin. Congrats to who guessed it correctly! Also, I know I said I'd have another video up of him walking. I have a good one, as soon as I can find John's camera, it'll be posted....