We're ALL IN.... again!

I've been involved with AdvoCare for over 3 years and still get excited about every cleanse/challenge I do. In 2015, over 70,000 people started the 24 Day Challenge together.  This year, over 128,000 jumped in to start the year off on the best foot. Clay and I are two of them!

2015 was a crazy year for us with selling our house quickly and moving to a temporary place, designing and building a house, moving again and of course, having a baby. Needless to say, it was often tough to focus on ourselves, so we're ready to take back control and get off this fluff!

I decided to do something a little different when we began planning our challenges- I am going to blog through it in addition to using my Instagram account.

Clay is doing the regular challenge with no modifications. He did add on ThermoPlus and Crave Check.

Since I am breastfeeding, I elected to change up the products I use to ensure Riley is safe and put together a program that's similar to the challenge. I will be using the peaches n cream Fiber Drink, Probiotic Restore Ultra, OmegaPlex, Spsrk, meal replacement shakes, Catalyst and Muscle Gain. I will also use the Post Workout Recovery.

I put together our meal plans and spent an hour or so prepping on Sunday. I like to chop veggies once, put together salads in mason jars and bag dinners to make things easier and prevent excuses.

Clay has eggs and reduced sodium turkey bacon every morning, and grilled chicken and green beans/blackeye peas every day, even off the challenge. I make them and put them in bowls to grab and go every week.

I also build mason jar salads.  Put dressing on the bottom if you want, softer veggies (bell peppers, tomatoes, cucumbers) next, then harder veggies (carrots, onions). Top with protein and then add your greens. These hold for 5 days or so if in mason jars and make life so much easier. Just shake it up to coat with dressing and you can even eat from the jar!

I seasoned the pork chops and put them in a bag. We were having boiled cabbage with it, so I chopped it and put it in its own bag.

Clay is having cheesesteak (with no cheese. Ha) one night, so I browned the beef and put it in a bag with sliced onions and green bell pepper after it cooled.  I can pour the bag in the skillet when it's time to cook and only have to clean one dish.

I also put together overnight oats in mason jars - just the dry ingredients: steel cut oats, flavor god gingerbread cookie, cinnamon, vanilla Muscle Gain, flaxseed. I only made three because some mornings, I'll have a shake. I'll add unsweetened almond milk to a jar the day before I plan to eat it. Prep only requires a good shake and about a minute in the microwave. Another eat from the jar meal!

I cut bell peppers into strip and bagged them, as well as carrot sticks. Snack size bags are perfect and being portioned makes it easy to eat while I'm nursing. I also bagged frozen mixed berries, spinach and chopped radishes to mix with Muscle Gain and almond milk for smoothies.

I am a firm believer in prepping for the challenge and beyond. I started this a few years ago and have done it almost weekly since. With the busyness of life, it's easy to find excuses to eat for convenience instead of health, but when I do, I feel TERRIBLE. Plus I mean, who wants to wash dishes daily? This helps eliminate some of the chores that come with cooking, and I'm all for that!

Baby 2.0: Fifteen weeks (and a gender reveal!!!!!!!)

Well, hey there, belly!  Where did that thing come from??

How far along? 15 weeks
Baby's size: Approximately 4 inches from head to booty and about 2.5 ounces.  

Total weight gain/loss: Two pounds.

Stretch marks? I am appalled to say I think I see some around my belly button.  Pretty sure this baby is higher and pushing out above my belly button.
Sleep? Thankfully it has improved a lot and I'm sleeping again!  

Maternity clothes? I can still wear my regular clothes, but have switched for the most part because it's more comfortable.
Best moment this week: Finding out what the baby is!!

Worst Moment: We went to our appointment determined to find out what the baby is and had our families and the Facebook world all excited about finding out the sex.  Well, the little stinker sat Indian style and had the cord between its legs for 15 minutes.  We had to leave the ultrasound room and see the doctor.  I spent a lot of time hopping up and down and considered standing on my head to get it to move, but fortunately, it moved its legs just enough to get a shot!  
Symptoms: I have had a lot of pain in my lower left abdomen and my back feels like it's in knots (but that's probably from all the coughing and sneezing I've done)

Miss Anything? Ummm don't think so.
Movement: I feel strong, strong pressure hard up against my skin next to my belly button. It's harder than flutters, but lighter than kicks.
Anything making you queasy or sick? Chicken.  Well, meat in general. 

Gender: It's a..................................................

GIRL!

What is baby up to? Amniotic fluid continuously moves through her nose and upper respiratory tract, helping the air sacs in her lungs develop.  Her legs are longer than her arms, and she can move all of her limbs.  Her eyelids are still fused shut for a while, but she can sense light and will likely move away from direct light that is shined on my belly.  She is also forming tastebuds for that first taste of milk! 

Meet Miss Riley!  I think she's already beautiful and so perfect!

Baby 2.0: Twelve Weeks (and life update)!

Maaaan, how life has changed since my last post in February 2014.

Shortly after my last post, Clay and I attended a marriage conference at Church of the Highlands.  It really opened our eyes to the lives we had been living for the last year and a half.  After Bryson was born, our lives changed more than we could have ever imagined.  When I went back to work, I left the house at 6:40 AM to drop him off at daycare and get to work by 7:30.  I often worked through lunch, and got home at 5:30-5:40 PM.  My nightly to do list was full, but the time to accomplish it was limited.

By the time I crossed everything off the list, Clay was often asleep.  We went weeks without spending any quality time together.  Even on weekends, we didn't want to let Bryson stay with grandparents because that was our best shot at real time with him.  Our marriage was fine, and we weren't having any problems, but with the way we had been living, it couldn't have continued.  As Clay says it, we were living each day for the next and that's no way to live.

Seriously, being a working mom is not for the feint of heart.  It takes a great deal of emotional strength, endurance and mental toughness.

At the conference, Clay felt as though God was telling him to trust that He had a plan for us.  We began discussing it and decided that it was time for me to walk away from the Corporate world and put my all into my AdvoCare business.  Making that change has been nothing short of amazing for us.  Not only is my business thriving, but our family is flourishing.  It moves me to tears to think of what it's done for us.  I get to live in the present now and really slow down and enjoy Bryson.  I don't live my life based off what the clock says any longer AND I finally get to make a difference with the work I do.

I know that what I do isn't for everybody, but it is for me, and I LOVE it.  I finally feel like I'm really working for something and not just doing a job for a paycheck.

 ________________________________________

Earlier this year, we decided to go ahead and put our house back on the market.  In April, we got an offer and had to move pretty quickly as she wanted to close and take possession in three weeks!  We said goodbye for the very last time on May 4.

We are currently renting a townhouse while we wait on our new home to be built.  I am anxiously awaiting the amazing kitchen, incredible bathroom, huge laundry room and maaaassive bonus space!  Eek!  

 ________________________________________

Before we got the offer on our house, we got two pink lines on a pregnancy test on our second month of trying.  Moving during first trimester nausea and fatigue was a whoooole lot of fun!  

We got to see him/her for the first time on April 22.  That little heartbeat was just as amazing as Bryson's always was.  Best sound in the world.  

We have A LOT of people on Team Girl - I guess since we already have a boy.  

How far along? 12 weeks
Baby's size: The baby is roughly the size of a plum (2.1 inches long and .49 ounces)
Total weight gain/loss: So far, 2 pounds.

Stretch marks? So far, so good.
Sleep? With so much going on in our lives right now, my mind doesn't want to turn off.  I fall asleep fine, but if I wake up for anything, I'm up for 2-3 hours at a time.  The crazy thing is that I'm not even thinking about the baby, but things we need for the new house, how to make moving easier with a new baby either almost here or a braaaand new baby.  

Maternity clothes? Since I wear elastic pants all the time now (SAHM uniform, you know?!), I'm in my regular clothes.  Even my tighter AdvoGear fits, but there's a definite bump. 
Best moment this week: At our 12-week appointment, I got to record the heartbeat.  He/She swam away every time I hit record.  Little stinker.  Nice and strong at 156!

Worst Moment: Nerves.  Not being able to feel the baby always makes me really nervous.  I try to believe that all is okay, but it's tough!
Symptoms: I'm following the same path I did with Bryson.  As most of the nausea passed and energy came back, I started getting more frequent headaches.  Two Tylenol and half a Spark actually help a lot.  I've also been sick with some sinus junk I can't get over.  Thanks, baby, for stealing my immune system.  

Miss Anything? Sleeping all night and liking vegetables.   
Movement: I felt flutters remarkably early.  No real movement yet, but I can feel bubbles right under my belly button a lot.
Anything making you queasy or sick? Chicken.  Well, meat in general.

Gender: Absolutely no idea.

What is baby up to? Most of the vital body systems are formed, and will begin maturing, meaning the organs and tissues will grow and develop quickly. His/her reflexes are developing, and (s)he's curling her fingers and toes AND (s)he's making the sucking motion with his/her mouth. The brain and kidneys are developing rapidly; (s)he's even beginning to teetee! With Bryson, I thought that was cute, but now all I can think is that (s)he's peeing in the water she breathes in.  Gross.  

Here is Bryson's 12-week post for comparison.

Oops, we did it again!

Hey there, blog land.  It's been a while since I've posted anything.  I've written a
few posts and never published, or decided to keep them private, but I'm back.... and for good reason!

WE DID IT AGAIN!

Baby #2 is ready to make his/her appearance in December! 

My Forever Valentine

I'm THAT girl.

You know the one- the child who cooks supper in her plastic kitchen and sets the table for two: herself and her imaginary husband.  The little girl who cradles her baby doll while singing it it sleep and telling her imaginary husband how perfect it is.

I knew at an early age that love was something I wanted.   I often had daydreams of what my adult life would look like.  I pictured the adoring husband, happy kids, loyal dog and white picket fence. I could never see my husband or children's faces, but they were always so beautiful.

Growing up in church, I learned what true love is.  When you first hear the story of Jesus and what He did for us, you know what love is.  When God's sacrifice truly hits home and touches your heart, you know what love is.  When the magnitude of that sacrifice truly touched me for the first time, it changed the way I thought about everything, including my future family.

The older I got, the more mature my fantasies became.  I still imagined my family, but those dreams became more realistic.  One Sunday evening at youth group, we divided into male and female groups and discussed finding the person God made for each of us.  That night, reality hit me like a ton of bricks and my view of my future husband changed completely.

That night, I wrote a letter to my future husband.   I can see it in my mind- purple ink on unlined paper, and well, slanted because who can write on unlined paper??  That night, I began to pray for my future husband- not that God would bring him to me because I knew He would, but that He would protect him in the trying teenager years and would mold him into  the man He intended him to be.  I was only in 7th grade, but had a clear perspective.

A few years later, I kissed dating goodbye.  Reading the book changed my dating life.  Throughout the remainder of my school years, I was very picky about who I dated.  That meant most weekends were spent at home while my friends were at the movies with new guys, but to me, dating just to have something to do wasn't worth it.  I dated sporadically, and at one point, thought briefly that I had found a potential match.  He wasn't who God had in mind.  While that realization hurt at the time, God gently reminded me that His plan is ALWAYS better than mine.  Boy, was he right!

At times, pledging myself to a man that still had no face in my dreams and whose name I didn't know was HARD.  When it got tough, I found myself cuddling up with a [lined] piece of paper and penning another letter.

March 8, 2008 was a day that changed my life, and the day that God showed me His promises are good, even if they seem to take forever to come to fruition.  That's the day I met the man God had created with me in mind, the man who would give me the most beautiful baby boy ever (totally not biased) and who would love me the way God intended me to be loved.

March 17, 2008

I can remember that night in vivid detail.  I was with my friend, Shannon, eating dessert pizza and drinking chocolate martinis (hello, sugar high!).  I walked outside and saw Clay against the rail.  He was in jeans and a dark purple Polo.  I should have noticed his eyes or smile first, but his arms caught my eye immediately.

As I typed that, I felt like God laughed.  He built Clay and put those guns on him for me.  Bwahaha.

Memorial Day 2008

My relationship with Clay blossomed quickly and was always so easy.  Conversation flowed with no awkward pauses and we had a lot in common.  (Too bad football loyalty is not one of them)  He kept me laughing and on my toes. I could let my guard down and just be myself.  He held my hand when we walked beside each other, and his hugs made me feel more secure than any ever had.  I missed him when we weren't together and wanted time with him daily.  Seeing him gave me butterflies, and even a kiss on the forehead left me breathless.  He became my sounding board and a shoulder to lean on.  Even though his Facebook-appointed title was boyfriend, it was far too shallow to describe what he was to me.  He was so much more- he was my best friend.  Within weeks, I knew that He was the one I had been praying so long for.

And then trouble hit.

Less than 5 months in, our relationship turned rocky overnight.  The next 16 months were tough.  We spent days arguing through text and nights fighting in person.  We broke up, got back together, broke up then hung out as "friends."  That always resulted in getting back together and repeating the vicious cycle many times over.  There were hurt feelings, lies, tears, anger, disappointment and distrust on both sides.  Through it all, we both felt like we were supposed to be together, but just could not make it work.  In November 2009, we called it quits for good.

(Yeah right.  Try to tell God you're changing His plan and see how He works.)

For the next month, we barely spoke.  We didn't see each other.  At all.

I jumped into two small groups and immersed myself in God and new friends.  I opened up about our issues to people I could trust so I could get clarity on the situation and to allow my heart to heal.  I specifically remember telling my friend, Amanda, about it.  While I don't remember the words she spoke, I remember the feeling that came over me.  Her words were divinely chosen and breathed new life into me.  A weight was immediately lifted from my shoulders and the hard shell around my heart began to crack and fall off.  When the conversation ended, I felt renewed, which is something I had wanted for so long.

Just two weeks after talking with Amanda, I saw Clay again.  The love I had for him was still there, but I was surprised that none of the other feelings- resentment, anger, distrust, sadness, guilt- were.  We spent the next year rebuilding our relationship.  God confirmed many times what we had known all along- that we were right where we belonged.  He used whatever means necessary to speak to us: friends, family and even movies.  Thinking back, I am so amazed at how quickly God was able to mend us when we just gave up and laid our problems at His feet.  What we couldn't resolve in 16 months took him no time.

In May 2011, I wrote to my future husband one more time.  I bundled it with the letters I had written previously, and on June 4, 2011, he finally got to read them right before I walked down to the aisle to become his wife.





We've been married for over 2.5 years now.  Our lives have changed so much since the day we met.  College classes have been replaced with jobs, and crazy professors with crazy coworkers.  Afternoons at the pool are now spent with floaties and squirt toys.  Date night conversation usually centers around the funny things Bryson did that day and how much we miss him already.  I still set the table for 2, but also pull up a highchair and we arm ourselves against food flying from all directions.  If we stay in for a movie night, it's usually produced by Disney and is interrupted by milk runs and diaper changes.  

Through all the change, a lot has remained the same.  I still get butterflies when I see him, especially when he's playing with our son.  His arms are still the safest place to be.  I miss him when we aren't together and anxiously await the end of the day when we're reunited.  He's still the first person I run to when I need to talk or need help.  Unfortunately, he's also still an Auburn fan.  Above all, he is still my best friend, my soulmate and the answer to hundreds of prayers.

Looking back at the fantasies of my childhood, my life doesn't compare.  I didn't get the things I daydreamed about, wished upon stars for, or the things I prayed about.  I got abundantly more.  Those elaborate childhood fantasies pale in comparison to reality.

Clay, 

I thank God for loving me more than I deserve, and for giving me more than I could have ever imagined.  You are so much more than I could have even asked for- I never would have even been able to dream up someone so perfect for me.  I am so thankful that it's you that God chose to be my partner in life.  We've been through so much already and I'm looking forward to many more years of adventures, firsts, lasts and everything in between.  I love you so much.  U=my<3

Goodbye, My Girl.

"Dogs aren't our whole life, but they make our lives whole.” 

Monday started just like any other day.  I snoozed my alarm the  typical 30+ minutes and stumbled out of bed groggily to take the girls out.  We reached the door and the cold air hit me like a ton of bricks.  After Bailey and Jenna were outside, I turned around to begin to get ready for the day.

As usual, five minutes later, the girls weren’t quite ready to come in, but Jenna came running when she heard the food hit the bowl.  She rushed past me, but Bailey was still taking her merry time, as usual.  I turned around to head back to our bedroom, but decided to peek out and see where Bailey was.

That’s how some of the worst few hours of my life began.

As I peered out in the yard, I spotted Bailey on her side in the wet grass.  This is a dog that doesn’t like to step on wet grass, so I knew she wasn’t lying there willingly.  I ran out there, scooped her up and ran in, screaming to Clay to close the door so Jenna wouldn’t get out.  My heart simultaneously raced and jumped into my throat.

As she lay on the bedroom floor, I sobbed and shook and watched in horror as her breathing slowed down and became more labored.  I called the vet to figure out where to take her, and within minutes, had her on a blanket in my Jeep and was flying down the road, hazard lights.

I kept one hand on her the whole time and she lifted her head often, thankful for my touch.  As we neared Birmingham, she regained some energy and stood up to look out the window.  We flew into the emergency clinic parking lot and I ran in carrying her.  I had called to let them know we were on the way, so they were waiting to grab her from me.

I alternated between sitting and standing in the waiting room until they called me back.  The veterinarian said she was stable, her heart rate was normal and she was standing.  They were closing in less than an hour, and since she wasn’t in critical condition, decided to just keep on eye on her until our vet opened.

At 7:40, she was still doing well.  She was rather lethargic, but still looked more like herself, so we drove to her regular vet.  They had also been informed that we were coming, so we were ushered back quickly.  Upon arrival, her temperature was only 98 degrees, which is pretty low for a canine, so she was placed on a heating pad.

The doctor came in roughly 30 minutes later.  My first concern was when she listened to Bailey’s heart.  She didn’t say a word.  After the initial exam, she took her for x-rays, bloodwork and an ultrasound.  After nearly an hour, Bailey was back in the room, but I hadn’t seen the vet.  That’s when I looked up and saw her with a doctor on each side discussing something on the papers in her hand.  All three had looks of concern on their faces.  I tried to steady myself for the news to come, but nothing could have prepared me.

When the vet entered the room, she closed the doors that had been open the whole time.  She began telling me the prognosis.  She had a very large mass on the left side.  It was so big that it was pushing her stomach and spleen entirely to the right.  She also had fluid around her heart.  Once I was able to calm myself and really absorb what she was saying, we began to discuss treatment options.

While we were there, they could drain the fluid around her heart and do an echo to determine the cause, whether it was a tumor or heart disease.  Depending on the outcome of the echo, we may have been able to schedule a rather lengthy surgery to remove the mass. 

I spoke to the doctor in length about the potential dangers and effectiveness of surgery.  We discussed in great detail what the procedure would consist of, and what the long-term treatment would require.  I wanted to be fully informed so I could call Clay to fill him in, but mostly, to ensure we made the right decision regarding her care.  The echo would tell us what we were dealing with, but it could be painful to remove the fluid.  If we did the surgery to remove the mass, she may not even make it through the anesthesia because of her age, and if she did make it through surgery, it may not be successful, again because of her age.

When I called Clay, he made it clear that it was my decision to make and that if I chose to go through with the treatment, we would do whatever it took to get her well.  Together, we made the hardest decision I have ever had to make.  I had to decide to let my longtime companion go to Doggy Heaven. 

“Petting, scratching, and cuddling a dog could be as soothing to the mind and heart as
 deep meditation and almost as good for the soul as prayer.”

Upon making the decision, Clay left work to be with me.  My mom left work as well to say her goodbyes.  On her way, she stopped and got Bailey her favorite snack, a rotisserie chicken.  After getting off the phone with them, I pulled Bailey and her towel to the floor and laid down with her.  We spent the next few minutes “talking” about the things she had done to get Jenna in trouble and reminiscing over our time together.  I went from crying to laughing at things she had done. 

My mom arrived first and I explained the situation.  She had a few minutes with Bailey, then we got out the chicken.  As lethargic as Bailey was, she knew when I had opened the chicken.  She’s never been the most patient thing in the world.  I’m surprised she didn’t take a finger off!  She usually has to share the skin of the chicken with Jenna, but got every morsel to herself, and even got some of the meat Daddy never shares!

Clay arrived while she was enjoying her snack, and he spent a few minutes with her.  We called the doctor in and within a minute or two, she slipped through the pearly doggy door. 

From the time I found her in the yard to the time we left with her in a casket was less than 5 hours.  It hit me like a Mack truck: hard and with no warning.  The day before, she ate like normal and showed no signs of distress.

We went home and Clay brought her bed in and I grabbed one of her blankets.  We went outside and Jenna and I supervised as Clay dug a hole.  We put the bed in, then covered her with her pink paw print blankie.  Before we covered the grave, we sat around it in silence.  Jenna sniffed the box and scooted over to sit in my lap. 

It’s now Friday and we’ve made it through our first few days.  I’ve had meltdowns when I’ve gotten two snacks out of habit, and when I noticed a framed picture on my desk at work.  I even cried when Clay took his shirt off to get in bed and it stayed there instead of being made into a bed.  Each time Bryson calls out “Baaaaailey,” my heart breaks a little.  I know he’s actually calling Jenna because she’s his BFF and he thinks all dogs are Baileys, but knowing that doesn’t make it hurt any less.  Yesterday, I realized that Bryson wouldn't remember Bailey, so now when he calls her name, I tell him something about her.  It's been great therapy to my heart to share her quirks, silly behavior, smart things she's done and even what a brat she was at times.

“If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went.” 

Bay has been my constant companion for over 12 years.  She’s licked away many tears and kept me company when I’ve moved to a new city.  She’s made me laugh with her hyper running and jumping, and has amazed me with how incredibly intelligent she was.  She's cracked me up when she did her prairie dog sit in front of an unsuspecting person with food... and weaseled a bite every time.  I've been amazed at her skill to do the "Bailey Curse" and make a team lose to Alabama (ask the '09 Tennessee team- that was all her). She’s been an important part of my life, but also of Jenna’s. They didn't hit it off immediately, but eventually, loved each other like they were really sisters. 

Jenna has never really been alone, but has done great this week while we've been at work.  She seems to be very sad, but is getting the royal treatment.  Bailey even sent the remainder of her chicken home to her. 

When my first dog passed away, I said I would never get another one.  I think the same thing now, but I know deep down that the pain I feel right now pales in comparison to the joy Bailey brought to my life.  She will be dearly missed, but my memories are strong and will last longer than the pain.  One day, I will look at a picture and laugh about her excited expression instead of burst out in tears.  One day, I will tell Bryson about his oldest sister and how excited she was to meet him.  One day, I’ll be covered in sloppy wet kisses and rub her hairy little belly when we meet again at the Rainbow Bridge.

"Such short little lives our pets have to spend with us, and they spend most of it waiting for us to come home each day.  It is amazing how much love and laughter they bring into our lives and even how much closer we become with each other because of them." - John Grogan, Marley and Me: Life and Love with the World's Worst Dog

Bryson: One Year

 

Weight: Your 12-month appointment was on 7/5.  At the appointment, you weighed 24.5 pounds.

Height:  On 7/5/13, you were 30.5 inches long.

Eating Habits: You, sir, make this parenting thing easy *knock on wood*.  I had been very concerned about ditching the bottle, but you did it by yourself.  You began playing with the bottle more than drinking it, so I started putting your formula in your favorite sippy cups.  You still wouldn't drink it, so we switched to milk and you chugged it.  You weaned yourself off bottles and formula right after turning 11 months.

You're so funny about food.  You won't eat certain things if they're in small baby-sized pieces.  You're great about not biting off more than you can chew... except bananas.  You would shove a whole banana in your mouth if we'd let you.

Favorite Foods: There's not really much that you don't like.  I think if you had to choose anything, you'd eat a banana.  You also really like pasta with tomato sauce.  You eat grilled cheese sandwiches, homemade chicken nuggets, yogurt, waffles with peanut butter, ravioli and chicken often.  You also discovered that you LOVE baked beans this month.  They end up all over your face because you pop them in your mouth by the handful.


Least Favorite Foods:  You've lost your affinity for blueberries and sweet potatoes along the way.  When I try to give you sweet potato, you make a face when it squishes in your fingers.  You don't like anything vinegary, like coleslaw, and refuse to eat anything green that isn't mixed into a sauce.  I'm sneaky, though, and hide broccoli or green beans in your pasta.  Bwahahaha.

Milestones: You have EIGHT teeth now!  One popped up overnight on May 30.  I didn't see it when we brushed your teeth before bed, but the next morning when we brushed them, there it was!

You've started brushing your own teeth!  I actually brush them first and you love it, but after we're done, you want a turn.  You put the toothbrush in your mouth and shake your head "no."  It's hilarious, but shows that you understand how it's done, you smart little cookie!







Favorite Things: 
You love to play tug-of-war with Jenna.  She's great with you and usually doesn't pull too hard.  I'm always so afraid you're going to tug as hard as you can and she's going to let go and send you flying.  Somehow you always end up doing it near the ceramic tile floor.

You love to play "Where's Bryson."  You do it frequently with your bath towel or blankets we use in the living room or in your crib.  You've even done it with the blankets on the dog beds (eww) and just your fingers.  You cover your eyes and we say "Wheeeeere's Bryson?"  You pull whatever is covering your eyes down and we exclaim, "There him is!"  You LOVE it and will do it forever.  We were in the Jeep for 5 hours on the way to the beach and I sat in the back with you for awhile.  We played it for at least 30 minutes. Your hiding place was behind the head rest on your car seat.

You have picked up this new face that we're pretty sure Aunt Christa taught you.  You do it ALL. THE. TIME.  It's funny until you do it when you get in trouble.  Okay, I'm lying.  It's funny then too, but we can't laugh then.  We've tried to get you to stop doing it, so when you make the face, we grin like idiots.  All that's done is change how you do the face.  Now you make it, then immediately grin really big, showing all your teeth.  You're a little nut!

Not-So-Favorite Things: You're going through separation anxiety again.   Fortunately, you're fine when I drop you off at daycare.  You've only cried twice when I've left you.  At home, it's a different story.  You can be playing contentedly, but if you catch us walking out of the room, you go to pieces.  You even do it sometimes when one of us is still with you.  You're really bad about abandoning Daddy in the floor to follow me from room to room.  You do it to me sometimes too, especially if Daddy is just getting home.  You have to follow him to our room when he changes clothes and always to the bathroom.  haha

You've also started wanting to be held more.  If we're holding you and try to put you down, you stiffen your legs so they won't bend for you to sit on the ground.  Both of these make getting things done pretty difficult.  I'm a sucker, though, and love the extra cuddles.

The bubbles weren't really working.

Other Bryson News: On Monday, June 3, you got tubes put in your ears.  You didn't get to eat anything after you went to sleep the night before until about 9:30 AM, but it didn't really faze you.  What did bother you, though, was the nurse trying to take your vitals.  She had to distract you with bubbles.  From the time I handed you over to the nurse to the time you were back in our room was 22 minutes, so obviously it wasn't invasive, but I'm not a fan of you going through that stuff.  You handled it like a champ, so we got a free day of playing when we got home.

We went to the beach on Thursday, May 30.  You absolutely LOVED it.  When we got to Florida, our room wasn't ready, so we went grocery shopping.  When we got back, our room was ready, so we checked in and went in to unpack and change clothes.   You went straight to the balcony door to look outside. You kept turning around to look at us like you were asking if we were seeing this too.  I loved watching the wonder on your face.



We went down to the beach quickly and you showed us you're a beach bum like us immediately.  You've never really liked wind blowing on your face, but as soon as the ocean breeze hit you, you lit up and started clapping.  At first, you weren't too sure about the water hitting your feet, but it didn't last long because you started slapping and kicking the waves as they rolled in.  Each wave made you laugh, which of course, cracked us up.  You loved to get out deeper in the water and let the waves hit you and Daddy.  You were immediately enamored with the sand, as you can tell by the bottom right picture.  You hadn't been sitting there for more than 10 seconds when I took that picture.  As per typical Bryson fashion, you had lots of snacks on the beach.  All that fun in the sun made you hungry!

Before we left on our trip, I was worried that you would either skip naps and be over-tired or we would spend the whole day in the hotel room.  Neither happened.  You took naps at your normal time and were perfectly content doing so on the lounge chair or a blanket on the sand.

Daddy and I started a tradition on our first beach trip together.  On the last night, we take a walk on the beach and pick up shells.  At first, we were going to choose just one, but I can't narrow it down.  We have a vase full of shells from our trips, even from our honeymoon in Jamaica.  On the last night of our first trip as a family, we went shell hunting.  You dug up a perfect shell with your toes, so we kept it as your shell.  I even labeled it with a Sharpie, so years from now when you go through my treasure box, you will find your very first shell!  (Yes, I'm a sap and potentially a hoarder)

You and I like to play a game where we make silly faces.  We do it all the time, but when we go out to eat, especially if it's just the two of us, we have to play.  Both of us will lower our heads and look up at each other then crack up laughing.  I have a hard time getting a picture because you crack yourself up so quickly, but I was able to get one picture.  I laugh every time I see it.  You're so silly!


You are such a joy and incredible blessing, my little stinky Stinkbug.  My life was forever changed when you entered it and I wouldn't have it any other way.  Your Daddy and I love you more than you can possibly ever imagine.

Love always, Mommy

Bryson: Eleven Months

Weight: 24.5 pounds.

Height: You haven't been measured since your 9-month appointment, at which you were 29 3/4 inches.  I would just about bet you're over 31 now.  Your 12-month jeans are a good inch too short.

Eating Habits:  You're down to 2 small bottles a day, once when you wake up and one right before bed.  You're getting the majority of your calories from real food and are a master at feeding yourself.  You are also getting diluted juice, which you LOVE.

Favorite Foods: You're definitely your Mama's boy because you LOVE spaghetti.  I make it with whole wheat elbow noodles because they're easier to hold than regular spaghetti and you absolutely go to town on it!

You eat bananas like they're going out of style.  Each morning, you have a whole banana and a waffle.  You always go for the banana first.  You have figured out how to peel them, but if you hold the whole banana, you shove it in your mouth and take a huge bite.  I'm talking a bite so big that you look like a squirrel with a mouth full of nuts- cheeks fully extended and banana hanging out of your mouth.  You think it's hilarious too because you always crack up.

Chicken, ribs, cheese, grilled cheese sandwiches and macaroni and cheese also top the list.

Least Favorite Foods: The only thing you refuse to eat is peaches.  I just don't get how you don't love them.  You're also not a big fan of most green things, but will occasionally tolerate a few small pieces of broccoli or green beans.

Notice the spaghetti face? :)

Milestones:
You, sir, are a tooth-making machine.  You have SEVEN now.  So far, teething has basically been a breeze.  You're a tough little cookie and don't cry when they're coming in.  On every tooth except one, you've gone to sleep and woken up with a new tooth. Daddy says nature is just taking care of you because you need all those teeth for all the meat you eat!

It probably seems like an odd place to put this, but as a boy, the first time you touch a frog is definitely a milestone.

We went to Aunt Sandy and Uncle David's house for Maw Maw Hill's 93rd birthday party and there was a big tree frog on the side of the house. I picked it up and held it in front of you so you could see it.  I kept it enclosed in my hand with just its head peeking out so it wouldn't jump on your face, but you wanted it!  You immediately reached for it.  When its head popped out, you did your excited dance, then started poking at its eyes.  I didn't want you to hurt it, so I let it go quickly.  We'll play with frogs again when you're big enough to touch and not to gouge eyes.  Ha.

You are a crawling master now.  You army crawled for about a month, then lifted yourself to your knees and hands.  I have to tell you how this happened because it's too funny not to share.  You LOVE to have some naked time after your bath each night, so I give you about 5 minutes to let the lotion absorb in your skin.  You usually stay in your room and pull all the books off the shelf, but one night, you decided to venture next door to your play room.  I tried to stop you, but you were persistent.  I knew the ceramic tile would be cold on your tummy, etc., but I thought it might make you give up the belly crawling, so I let you do it.  The floor wasn't that cold on your belly, but as soon as your weewee touched, you shot up like a rocket and haven't army crawled since.  I don't think I've ever laughed so hard in my life.


Favorite Things: You love to sit at the front door and watch what's going on outside.  When we open the door, you take off with a shot and join Jenna on watch.  This is the only time when you are truly still and don't need a toy.  We live on the main road of the neighborhood and are in an intersection, so you see a lot of cars, puppies, kitties and people.

I have a full-length mirror in our bedroom that I sit in front of to get ready.  You make your way to it often and carry on conversations with the boy in there for minutes at a time.  He must be absolutely hilarious because you crack up mid-sentence.

If you pass a mirror, you always have to look at yourself, and you usually smile.  I guess if I was that adorable, I'd smile at my reflection too. :)









Since you've been crawling, you've discovered a whole new world.  Our house has some super fun things in it, one of which is the dryer.  If it's on and you're passing by the laundry room, you sit in the hall in a trance.  I started turning the drum light on and now you have to make your way into the laundry room to watch it spin.  I love to watch your wide-eyed curiosity as you discover these new things.  You're so intrigued by so much and learn so much from your exploration.



We took you to the outdoor pool at the gym and you absolutely loved it.  You have been in the pool before, but this time, it was PACKED and there were tons of fun people to watch... and splash.  You got splashed a time or two and didn't miss a beat.  The pool is a walk-in, so it starts at about 1/2 an inch deep and gets deeper the further you walk.  We sat you down at about the 6-inch mark and you immediately start slapping the water and even tried to lay back and kick your feet.  You totally ignored your water toys and just wanted to splash.  Everyone had to get out for a 30 minutes, so Daddy and I found some loungers and in a minute or two, you were sound asleep on my chest.  You didn't move a muscle when Daddy lifted you off of me or on the walk to the Jeep.  When I put you in your carseat, you immediately slumped over, sound asleep.  The pool wore you out!

For the longest time, you didn't move in your sleep, but now you're all over the place! Each morning, I like to peek in on you and see how you're sleeping.  Sometimes it's on your side with your hands under your cheek; on other days, you're sprawled out on your book with your hands are behind your head.  My favorite, which happens most often, is when you're on your belly, hands tucked under you and booty straight in the air!










In your exploring around the house, you have discovered door stoppers.  You slap them and the springs make a noise you love!  With the way our house  is designed, the sound echoes all over, so when you get going and hit it fast, it sounds like a machine gun is going off in the hall.

Not-So-Favorite Things: At times, you don't like being put down.  If we start bending to put you in your walker, you lift your legs so they're parallel to the floor and won't go in the walker.  If we're intending to sit you on the floor, you stiffen your legs so they won't bend and we can't get you to sit down.  Seriously, kid?  You're a stinker!

You have developed a serious attitude when you don't like something.  You do this weird scream/screech/squawk noise and throw your hands in the air to tell us you're displeased.  You really only do this if you're hungry or sleepy and aren't entertained by what we give you or you are being put down against your will.  Otherwise, you're pretty content.

Other Bryson News:
May 11, 2013 was our first Mother's Day together.  I have been blessed to be surrounded by incredible role models in your grandmothers and great grandmothers, so this day is full of celebration.  We went to Cullman to see Grandmama Heald, and as usual, you were the life of the party.  Fortunately, it was a nice day, so we got to play outside for awhile.  Granddaddy Heald, Aunt Christa and Daddy were playing washers, and you were so curious as to what they were doing, so you spent a lot of time belly crawling in the grass.  You eventually fell asleep on my shoulder, which is one of my favorite times of the day.  I love Bryson snuggles.

You may have your Grandmama Heald wrapped around your little finger.  You took a nap after just about everyone had left, and when you woke up, were still a little grumpy, so Grandmama held you.  You played with her necklace and laid on her shoulder, very contentedly.














On May 18, we went to Holly Pond for Maw Maw Hill's birthday party.  We currently have 5 generations living on my dad's side, which is incredible!  Maw Maw Hill is an amazing woman and I'm so glad you've been able to spend some time with her.  She just loves you to pieces.  As soon as she sees you, she holds her arms up so I'll hand you over and she smothers you in kisses. I know your great great grandfather, Papa, loves you too, and is watching you from his perch in Heaven.

While we were at Aunt Sandy and Uncle David's for the party, Grammy T took you to see the cows.  They weren't very enthused to see you, but you were amazed by them.  You stared with wide eyes for a long time, then looked at me to see if I was seeing them too!

Bryson Reed, I've said this so many times, but I love you so much.  There isn't a day that goes by that Daddy and I don't tell you that and we try very hard to make sure you know it by our actions as well.  At this point, it's hard to remember life without you, and almost inconceivable that life was happy without you in it because you fill us with so much joy now.  You are the greatest thing that either of us have ever done and are so incredibly proud of you.  You amaze us day in and day out and we feel so blessed that God chose us to be your parents.  We love you, Stinkbug, more today than yesterday and less than tomorrow!

- Mommy