A Day Out

Blay and I went out today. Our main goals were 1. Buy new rugs for the kitchen and 2. to have my new tires mounted on my car. We got number 1 completed and came close to number to but we didn't make it. We did go to Wal-Mart after leaving Kohl's and after an hour of waiting (they told me 45 minutes) I went to check on the car and they couldn't do it because a lug nut is stuck and they didn't want to mess it up so they didn't put the tires on. The lug nut problem is our fault so we can't put blame on any one. John rotated the tires a month or so ago and accidentally cross threaded the lug with the stud. Now we have to get it fixed.

While at Kohl's, I looked at UT apparel, baby apparel, rugs, pictures, and decorations. I don't have a lot of harvest and Halloween and need to get new stuff other than what I have. Other than the rugs, I did buy a Halloween plaque for the front door. Isn't it cute? And only $7.



After Kohl's, we went to Wal-Mart. We got John a surprise (he'll get it Friday), a new mop, Blay a pair of new blue pants for the winter (they are 12 months but too big right now), some food for him to try, an All You magazine for me and Blay a toothbrush and toothpaste. Now that he has 6 teeth


with a new bottom one pushing through, it's time to start a good dental hygeine routine with him.

Here he is in his Diego pajamas trying to brush his teeth....





Blay played for a while outside tonight while I was watering the front yard. He likes to play in the sprinklers as I noted in the last post. I don't know what it is. He was also obsessed with carrying around his bubble wand tonight but he did not want to play with the bubbles.




Afterwards, we came in and Blay got his bath and ate his vanilla pudding. During which, he played with his ball popper among other things.



He is now peacefully sleeping and I am going to go finish cleaning things up so I can do it all over again tomorrow!!!

The DIEGO pj's are from Aunt Nicole, Uncle Willy, and Cousin Elijah
The BASEBALL outfit is from Yanna

New teeth and a Play Date

MONDAY - Sept 23rd

Well, Blay now has 6 teeth. Four of them are on top and two of them are on the bottom. His molars are bothing him, even though they are not in yet and he is trying to cut another bottom tooth. I saw the whites of it yesterday. So I'd say, in about 3 weeks, he'll have 7 teeth!!! He hurts when he bites now, I can't imagine what it is going to feel like when they're in completely. Don't worry, he bites to play, not to be mean but I am teaching him not to do that.

Also, Blay played in the sprinklers today while John was watering the yard. That has become a daily chore since aerating and sowing grass seed. Blay likes to play in the sprinklers and to watch them. He had fun with Mommy doing it this morning too.

John and Blay also took a little trip through the neighborhood in the FJ. Blay loves to drive anything with a steering wheel so John took him for a ride. John had to leave before bedtime for his ball game and left this morning to go out of town so he did something 'special' for Blay. Blay loves it when John does something like this.

What's funny about the steering wheel? After church Sunday night, we were talking with some friends in the almost empty lot and Blay followed an older lady (I had no clue of who she was) to her car, climbed in her car to try and 'drive'. I got him out and that made him mad but he is obsessed with driving and steering wheels for some reason.


SATURDAY, Sept 21st

We went to some friends house to watch the UT game after we went to Lowe's and Wal-Mart. While at Lowe's, Blay saw the Life Sized 'talking' mummy and just stared at it. He would walk away looking for John but then turned around and went back to the mummy. I don't know what was going on through his little mind but I would of loved to of known.

After Wal-Mart, off to the Quist's house we went. We went in hopes of eating some and watching the game. It ended up being more of a play date than anything else due to the score and playing of our dear Volunteers. (To Dale and all you others, yea, we were chomped...enough said.) Anyways, Blay played with one of the girls he played in the nursery with, until he moved up. Her name is Lilly and she's a fiesty red head. She's almost 11 months old. They had a good time playing together, especially since it is Blay's first true play date.

Notice, in the pics, they are both dressed in TN but it didn't seem to help!!!





THANKS TO KARA FOR THE ADORABLE TN OUTFIT!!!

PS- New August Pictures on the Picasa site to your left

My venting frustration

What is it with 1 year olds? I love him dearly but my word, he's driving me crazy since I have been back home from CA. Maybe it's the fact he spent 8 days with grandparents (nothing against you guys, I think he's doing it to get back at me for leaving him) and not mommy, but who knows. He now refuses to eat when he should be eating, even though the grandparents did a great job at keeping him pretty close to his schedule. Oatmeal ends up either in his hair or on the floor (sometimes me) while he just sits in the floor and cries because he is hungry. THat's what I don't understand. He's being offered food but he will not eat what is being offered to him. He would rather have animal crackers, graham crakers, or yogurt melts above everything else. I did get him to eat some eggs, bananas, and toast yesterday and a waffle on Tuesday. Today, I just put the bowl of oatmeal in front of him and a piece of bread and cheerios and he ate more than he did yesterday. Needless to say, I had a nice mess to clean up. That's as successful as breakfast has been this week. Lunch and dinner hasn't been any better. He refusted to eat last night so therefore, he ate 4 chicken nuggets and a little applesauce at 845 last night. I think this is affecting his sleep as well because he's now waking up at 4 or 5 am crying because (my guess is anyways) that he is hungry. In turn, this is also affecting his nap times. I am just frustrated I guess and am blaming it on myself for going out of town and leaving him for a week. Does any one have any suggestions about what I can do to get him to eat again??? Please, anyone??? Sorry, this is the best update I can give right now because this is what I've been going through all week. Maybe it will get better as the weekend progresses.

A long one

Okay, I't been a while so I have to apologize for that. We've been quite busy with family, the holiday, and travel preparation. Yes, I know, packing, YUCK!!!

FRIDAY, August 29th

John came home from Pittsburg today. Blay was very excited to see him and wouldn't let his daddy put him down. Isn't it cute???



Later that same day, John had to mow the yard. So, Blay being the little tractor man that he is, was so excited that he just had to help his daddy mow the lawn. He loves doing this. Isn't this even cutier?





SATURDAY, August 30th

Not much of an eventful day but was the true 'kickoff' day to college football. We all went shopping again and did our weekly grocery stop to Wal-Mart. We also went back to Old Navy to pick up some of the $4 tank tops and headed on home. We ate steak on our new grill!!! Yummy! Then afterwards, we watched some college football!

SUNDAY, August 31st

We did our typical Sunday morning to church and Sunday School. Then, I made part of John's favorite meal: soup beans, fried cabbage, and zuchinni. We wanted squash but they didn't look good at the farmer's market. The fried potatoes are not part of our diet so we couldn't make those and of course, I had to make his cornbread. It was a great meal!!!

On the way to church, John and I meet his dad (in from Korea) and step mom on the highway. They stayed the night with us so Pops could spend sometime with Blay before heading back to Korea.

I also made a Lemon bundt cake Sunday night. Completely from scratch, it was great. Oh did I menntion, Blay wore his self out running from his Pops!!!

MONDAY, September 1st

Should I even mention it. Tennessee played today. I didn't finish the game because I was tired and though I was going to have a long day on Tuesday. I don't want to hear any slack from you non-Tennessee fans....enough said about that.

Earlier in the day all of us, including Pops and Nanaw went to my dads for a cookout. That's what the lemon cake was for. Blay got to play with his cousins all over the house. Due to the number of people, he didn't nap was was out cold before we even got off the mountain.

Blay wore himself out eating and playing and chasing the dog around the house. He and his cousin Elijah had a blast. Elijah would pick him up and Blay would lay his head down on his shoulder has Elijah carried him around. They've never played like that before so it was sweet to watch.

Later that night, we came home and watched the game. Blay had fun playing with daddy's hats. I can't get the Tennessee hat pictures off my computer but here are some of his dadday's green hat. What makes this funny is that Blay does not like anything on his head at all.





THURSDAY, September 4th

John came home today but late. Around 9 pm. Blay and I had already walked the dog, played in the yard, and ate dinner. Blay and I also had an outing to WalMart for travel supplies for both of us, including more sippy cups for Blay.

Blay leaves tomorrow for Kingsport with my inlaws while John and I leave Saturday for California. I'e been away from him before but it doesn't get any easier. I'm sad but it'll be good for the both of us.

Blay is completely off the bottle now. I took him off cold turkey on Tuesday and he has been fine. He's had about 2 or 3 'bad' spells of about 5-10 minutes wanting a bottle while refusing the sippy cup. He's doing great.

Since he's cut back on his milk, he's consuming a lot more food at his meals and bedtime snack which is great!! Maybe this will help him grow.

Well, I need to go check on him. He's been asleep for a little over 2 hours. That doesn't happen often.

PS - The answer to his favorite bedtime snack is Applesauce. Congrats to those who guessed it correctly.

Talk with you soon!