Bryson: Month Seven

Weight: As of 1/23/13, you weighed 20 pounds and 12 ounces.  I think your weight gain is finally slowing some.  You've gained an average of close to 2 pounds a month since birth!

Height: At your appointment on 1/23, you were 29 inches.  You grew a whole inch in a month!  We bought a new 6-9 month wardrobe and two weeks later, had to buy longer pants!

Eating Habits: 
You went down to 4 bottles a day, but decided that wasn't enough, so we're up to 4.5 now.  You also get applesauce, fruit or yogurt in the morning and some kind of veggie or veggie and meat puree at night.  We also give you finger foods at random times.  You don't really eat much of them, but are learning to get them to your mouth and to chew.

I have waited to give you eggs for awhile, but after talking to your doctor and finding out you can have them now, I was excited to let you try them.  On January 21, my work and your school were closed, so we were home for the day.  I decided to make you scrambled eggs and toast (okay, plain bread).  You were excited when I laid the plate on your highchair, but that excitement quickly faded away at first touch.

When you touch something that's squishy, you make the same "Eww" face.  You usually give most things another shot, but not eggs.  You prefer to play with the "toast."



Milestones:

You have taken a few crawling steps, but aren't really interested in it.  You prefer to stand up.  You began to pull  yourself up and stand stick straight with no rolled feet or bent knees at about 6.5 months.  This picture is from the first weekend that you did it.  I held you up and you grabbed the crib rails and held on for dear life.  You couldn't figure out how to get down and grunted until I helped.

Now you can hold on to something, like the ottoman, your crib or our thumbs, and stand for minutes at a time and are able to figure out how to sit back down.  I think you may end up walking before you crawl.  I may need to invest in a helmet!

Your first tooth (bottom front left) appeared on January 8.  It was barely through the gum when we dropped you off with Grandmommy on January 11.  When I picked you up the next day, you had another one!  You've been awesome with teething for the most part.  Even with Tylenol or Motrin and teething tablets, you occasionally have wakeful nights.  I think you've discovered the best medicine is mommy snuggles... in her bed.
   

When you spent the night with Grandmommy, Maw Maw Kimbrell started teaching you "Bye bye."  You haven't mastered it yet, but will bend the tips of your fingers when we make the motion with our hands.  When we start saying "Byyyye bye," you laugh like it's the funniest thing you've ever heard.

On January 20, 2013, you had your first haircut.  Your hair was past your ears and halfway down your forehead.  Daddy has been trying to get me to let him do it for weeks, but I resisted.  Finally, when your hair went completely curly after a bath and wouldn't lay down, I decided we better take the plunge.  Your daddy started the cut, but gapped it above your ears, so I took over.  You were very curious about what we were doing and tried to grab everything.  If a piece of hair fell that we missed, you found it and quickly pulled it to your mouth.  You tried to grab the scissors multiple times and eventually had to be entertained with your hairbrush sword.  When we were done, you looked like a big boy and I wanted to glue it back on!

Favorite Things: 
You started blowing raspberries with your tongue a few months ago, but you've suddenly become obsessed.  You'll blow and blow and crack yourself up, especially if you happen to do it in someone's face.

In the last two weeks, you have started growling.  I don't know where it came from, but I think it's probably a spin-off of the noises we make when we play with you.  Before Daddy blows on your belly or tickles you, and when I try to make you laugh, we make a growling noise.  Your noise starts out very throaty and gets louder, then suddenly, you're laughing at yourself.  Last week, your teacher greeted you upon arrival to school and you responded with a growl and a hearty laugh.

Since you came home from the hospital, Jenna has been very protective of you, but still very hesitant.  As you get bigger, she is getting more comfortable with you and has to be wherever you are.  She lies next to your exersaucer while you jump, and if you get down in the floor, she's right next to you.  When we practice crawling, she gets next to you like she's trying to show you how to do it.

Bailey is a little more standoffish and likes to be the one to approach you.  She will let you grab her, but isn't quite as patient as Jenna and walks away pretty quickly.  She has to be in the same room as you most of the time, but would rather keep her distance.  When she sees a chance, she will sneak in a lick and get away quickly.  She won't give me enough time to get a picture of the two of you together.

You are very aware of where the dogs are and love to touch them.  Jenna doesn't care of you tug on her ears or tail, and even lets you pull her hair when you "pet" her.  We sit down together each day and have Bailey or Jenna sit next to you so I can guide your hand easily over their heads and backs.  You're learning to pet gently, but of course, like any boy has to do to his sister, you still like to pull her hair on occasion. :)

You pucker your lips a lot.  You started doing it to mimic me when I would give you kisses.  Now you do it at random times.  Last weekend, we were at a restaurant when we noticed you were doing it a lot.  We call it your Zoolander look (it's from a movie featuring Ben Stiller).  You usually follow a lip pucker by rapidly shaking your head no and laughing or giving Mommy kisses.  While the first is hilarious, I prefer the second. :)

Not-So-Favorite Things:
You were diagnosed with bronchiolitis on December 26, 2012.  Your symptoms are finally starting to subside, but in the last month, we have had to suction your nose and use saline drops before each feeding and sleep.  You can see the bulb syringe in a drawer and start shaking your head.  I think I've finally mastered the one-hand grab, but you still fight with everything you have to keep us from doing it!


Other Bryson News:
On Wednesday, January 2, your teacher in Infant 1 had to leave because she was sick.  You spent the day in Infant 2 and as we were leaving, the Director asked me if it was okay for you to move up because you had a blast.  I thought babies had to be crawling to move up since the crawlers typically bug the ones who don't, but they said you were Mr. Popular.  When I got there to get you the first day, you were sitting on a play mat with a little boy named John Weston, playing a trumpet.  They said you had a blast and played with everyone really well.

Since you sit up so well by yourself, you sit in your own big boy seat when we go out to eat.  The first time you tried the highchair, you hated it.  Now you realize you have some independence and are able to people watch.

You love to kick your legs back and forth sitting in a highchair and if you make contact with my leg, you keep doing it for fun.  You've discovered in the last week that the new angle and height gives you access to grab my food.  When we went to eat with Heather last week, I gave you my pickle to keep you entertained.  It was a hit!

You had your first business meeting this month. :)  We were at home for a holiday and Daddy had to work, so we went to visit him.  You had some pretty serious matters to discuss.  You even went on a business lunch in the break room and discussed matters with Daddy's coworkers.  Your crunchy book that makes kissy noises was the first thing on the agenda.

On January 7, 2013, the University of Alabama Crimson Tide won its 15th national championship.  You, Grandmama and I went to Tuscaloosa for the celebration parade and got to go inside the stadium.  You were enthralled by the parade and the number of people, but when we walked in the stadium, you stared in awe.  You were amazed by everything.  The first time you ever touched grass was in the Alabama endzone.  Remember that. :)

Bryson, you are seriously the most amazing little boy.  I have lived my life knowing God was in the miracle business and you are living proof.  Each day, you grow a little taller, learn something that blows my mind and capture my heart a little more.  Your daddy and I are completely head over heels in love with you.  We thought we were a great little family before, but on June 28, 2012, we realized we were missing a piece of the puzzle and only you could fill it.  We love you so much!

Bryson: Month Five

Weight: At your last appointment on 11/27, you weighed 19.6 pounds!

Height: You haven't been measured since your four month appointment, at which you were 27 inches long.

Eating Habits: 
You started eating solids this month and you love them!  You are still getting milk every 3 hours, but twice a day, get a vegetable.  So far, you have tried squash, carrots, corn, pumpkin, sweet potatoes, avocado and sweet peas.  You LOVE carrots and sweet potatoes and absolutely HATE avocado.  You're a boy after your mama's heart. :)

Accomplishments: 
I feel like I could write a novel on all you accomplish each month.  This month, your biggest accomplishment is sitting up on your own.  You're still a little wobbly when you see your feet, and can't pull yourself up to a seated position yet, but you're getting there.

You're also really trying to crawl and mommy isn't ready for it!  You don't like being on your tummy still, so you don't give crawling a try for very long, but you put the time you spend on your tummy to good use.  You are good at pushing your booty in the air and balancing on your elbows.  You can even scoot a few inches in that position.

You are really starting to like toys now, especially if they make music.  Grandmama bought you a set of keys (for Christmas and she's a sucker and you have them already) that has fob that looks like keyless entry.  It has a button that starts the music and you've figured out how to push it to make it play.

You laugh ALL. THE. TIME.  You've been giggling for awhile, but some things just make you belly laugh.  When the puppies walk by you, you grab their tails and think it's HILARIOUS.  Grandmama also plays a game with you where she pulls you across a mat by your ankles and you think that's the funnest thing.

Favorite Things:
Toys!  You love to look at yourself in the mirror on your playmat and have to have your Cookie Monster wherever you go.

Bathtime is still a lot of fun.  Since you're getting stronger, your spirited kicks usually end up in a soaked mommy and bathroom.

Carrots and sweet potatoes.  You love them and can knock them back in minutes.

Not-So-Favorite Things:
Avocados rank at the top of the things you don't like list.  Mommy and Daddy don't like avocados either, but since they're so good for you, wanted you to like them.  I wish I would have taped your reaction to the first bite.  Typically with the first bite of a new food, you make a face and let it fall out of your mouth.  With avocado, however, you projectile spit, screamed and shuddered from head to toe, then looked at me with a death glare.  I didn't even try a second bite, but don't you worry, we'll try it again in a few weeks. :)

Being on your tummy is still not fun.  You're content for about 3 minutes, then pull the familiar shove your face in the blanket and snort while trying to breathe stunt.

Other Bryson News:  You've had a lot of firsts this month:

Halloween:  You were a cute ferocious little dragon.  We didn't go anywhere, but did stand in the driveway and watched all the other kids trick or treating.  You even scared a few neighbors. ;)

Thanksgiving: On Thanksgiving Day, you got to meet the majority of the family on my side.  You loved all the attention and fought to stay awake.  You finally had enough and passed out in the middle of the living room floor at Grandmama and Granddaddy Heald's house.

Iron Bowl: It's a good year to be an Alabama fan, so I'm hoping that since you were born this year, you'll pick the right side.  This year has been a different one than I've ever experienced.  Alabama was at the top of the polls and because of some coaching issues, Auburn was winless in the SEC.  It made for a very boring Iron Bowl.  You enjoyed it though, like you do with any football game.














You saw fireworks for the first time on November 16, 2012, when they lit The Summit for Christmas.  A lot of babies and kids bigger than you were terrified of the loud noises.  You were amazed by the pops of color.  Daddy and I joke that you didn't blink for 10 minutes.  We couldn't get you to look anywhere but at the show!

On November 23, you went to your first football game.  Daddy's alma mater, Fayette County, played Leeds High School in the playoffs.  Since Leeds is just a few miles from us, he wanted to go.  It was pretty chilly outside, so we all bundled up and cheered on the Tigers.  When we got there, you were enthralled by the band.  You love music, so having real, live musicians there thrilled you.  When the football players took the field, your eyes locked on them and you watched their every move.  You hung in until the third quarter, when you got hungry, and then so sleepy you couldn't stand it.  

With each day, you are becoming more fun.  You are the happiest baby I have ever seen.  Even if your lips aren't visible, your eyes give away that you're smiling.  Your smile is the highlight of my day and I do anything necessary to see it over and over.  You're a pretty incredible little guy and Mommy loves you more than you will ever know!

14 (my new favorite number) Weeks!

On Monday, January 9, the University of Alabama Crimson Tide won its 14th national title and on Tuesday, January 10, I was officially 14 weeks pregnant. I think it's safe to say I have a new favorite number.
GROW BABY GROW
&
ROLL TIDE ROLL!

How far along? 14 weeks (and 3 days since I'm posting on Friday)

Baby's size: Roughly 3.4 inches and 1.5 ounces, comparable to a lemon!

Total weight gain/loss: Still holding at 5 pounds

Stretch marks? Nope.

Sleep? Because of all the stretching my body is doing and the cold & rainy weather, I'm soooo sore. I've been sleeping with a pillow between my knees, but it's not working. I'm getting a pregnancy pillow this weekend, so I'm hoping it will help me sleep better.

Maternity clothes? I broke down and bought some shirts last weekend, mostly so I'd have some that are long enough for leggings.

Best moment this week: This is not pregnancy related, but the highlight of the week so far was Alabama winning the national championship. I had a feeling we'd come out firing on all cylinders and that we did. So, so proud of my boys.

Worst Moment: Waking up at 3:30AM and not going back to sleep for 2 hours. I always fall asleep right before my alarm goes off.

Cravings: I can't get enough fruit. I made an awesome fruit salad with watermelon, kiwi, pineapple, grapes and strawberries last weekend and am currently halfway through my second large bowl. I'll be sad when it's all gone. Most of my other cravings are pretty suggestive and just because I see them on TV or someone mentions them.

Symptoms: Stretching pains and constant headaches. Again I say, Tylenol does not work!

Miss Anything? Hot baths. I don't like all these lukewarm ones I'm taking. :)

Movement: I thought I felt something, but I think it's still too early.

Anything making you queasy or sick? I still can't stand the idea of meat unless it's mixed in to something.

Sex: 6 more weeks!

What is baby up to? SO MUCH! He/she is probably sucking his/her thumbs and wiggling his/her toes. The kidneys are making urine and the liver and spleen are operating too! Lanugo, a peach-fuzz like hair is growing over the body to help keep him/her warm. The ears are starting to move to the side of the head and the eyes continue to get closer together. Our sweet little one is even beginning to grow eyebrows!

2011 Recap

December 31, 1989 was a bittersweet day for me. I recall asking my mom if 1989 would ever come back because it was my favorite year. I was so sad to learn that 1989 was in the books and would become my past. I feel the same way about 2011. It's been an amazing year, full of growth and changes in me and my life.

First and foremost, I married the love of my life on June 4. When I met Clay, I knew I'd marry him. Of course, my faith waned on occasion because of some issues (post 1, post 2, post 3) but in the end, God rewarded our obedience to Him and we FINALLY got hitched! Waiting on our time was hard, especially since my family always hinted that they thought I'd never get married. In the end, I'm so glad I waited on the man God had for me. I couldn't ask for anyone better!

I've spent the majority of my life with the typical girl mentality- girls are drama and guys are much easier to get along with. Until 2008, I had 2 girl friends who I knew would be there no matter what. Because I wanted to honor my relationship with Clay, I needed to rethink my friendships and began praying that God would bring me more girl friends. I now have a handful of quality girl friends- girls that pray with and for me, that I can spend countless hours with and conversation and laughter never stop. This year, I learned who my real friends are and I'm seriously blessed by them!

Through the tornadoes of April 27, I learned that a state divided by a heated football rivalry can come together in awesome ways when neighbors are in need. As I mentioned in an earlier post, my hometown, Cullman, and my college town, Tuscaloosa, were hit by catastrophic tornadoes on that day. I watched hundreds of people from all over the country pour into cities all over the state, removing debris, wiping tears, feeding babies and building houses. I saw the Auburn and Kent State football teams pitch in to help their on-the-field foes in rebuilding the lives and hope of the city. Most of all, I saw God's love poured out from stranger to stranger and people literally becoming the hands and feet of Jesus.

As I mentioned on my last post, my cousin Drew was in a horrific accident. Through what could have been a terrible tragedy, I saw my family draw closer together and Drew gain a new attitude. He knows God's hand was on Him and the plan for His life must be awesome! I love hearing his new positive outlook on life and every situation.

I thought I knew love before this year. After all, I have a relationship with God, am head over heels in love with my husband, and love my friends and family with every fiber of my being. Until I saw our sweet baby and heard his/her little heartbeat on November 28, I had never know a love so deep. I haven't met this child yet, but already love him/her so much it's unreal.

Alabama is back in the national championship game after a tough year. Sure, we won't know the outcome until 2012, but it's the 2011 season and the season is definitely worth mentioning, win or lose. Roll Tide!

Blessing Others

Somehow ESPN has the uncanny ability to make me cry, whether it's the story of a football player who fought cancer to get back to his team or the story of a father who wrote letters to his son before his football game every week. Yeah, I'm a sap. Don't even get me started on the annual Christmas Folgers commercials. Oh. My. Gosh.



I digress…

Last night, the University of Alabama Crimson Tide football team received the Disney Spirit award because of its efforts in rebuilding Tuscaloosa after the EF-4 tornado ripped through the town on April 27. Obviously, seeing images of the destruction in a town I love brings tears to my eyes; however, there is so much more to this story.

Alabama is a team full of tradition; its fans are known to be some of the most passionate in the country. The real fans support the team through losses, awful coaching decisions and even the Shula years. *shudder*



When the winds were gone and the devastation was visible, the football team put the suffering town and its people and their backs. In order to give back to the fans that had supported them for so long, they spent days upon days sorting through the rubble, recovering bodies and clearing debris. They spent countless hours rebuilding local businesses and the homes of families who were forced to begin again. They sponsored kids who had no hope and gave them something to smile about again.

As football season approached, Tuscaloosa's residents desperately needed normalcy, something to cling to when so many things were bleak. With images of the destruction and the faces of their despondent neighbors, the team set out to win. This time, they didn't work for a championship ring, but they worked for their town.

Last night, Carson Tinker, our long snapper, accepted the award on behalf of the Crimson Tide. His acceptance of the award was bittersweet. He, like so many others, lost someone he loved that day. As his house was ripped off its foundation, his girlfriend was ripped from his arms. He was thrown 100 yards, where he suffered a few injuries, including having a ligament tear from the bone in his wrist. The greatest injury of all was to his heart, when he discovered his girlfriend a few yards away, lifeless.



The point of this post isn't to highlight what my team did. I'm sure most teams around the country would do something similar in the light of tragedy. Instead, I'd like to highlight something Carson said. When asked, "What did giving back mean to you," he replied, "You know, some people asked for blessings, but we asked that we could be a blessing to the state of Alabama and the people that were affected."

There's absolutely nothing wrong with talking to God about blessing your life or the lives of those you love. For that reason, Jesus said, "So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you." (Luke 11:9 NIV) I, for one, have no problem telling God what I desire for myself, my family or my friends. What I occasionally forget is to ask God to use me, to let me be a beacon to Him.

Asking God to use me used to be a necessary in my prayer life. With the busyness of life, that tends to slip to the optional list. Carson’s message really spoke to me. Each day, I am given the opportunity to be light to someone else. I come in contact with hundreds of people a week, many of which probably need a blessing. How different would my life be if I began incorporating the invitation for God to use me in my daily prayers? How different would the world be if we all sought out people to bless instead of blessings for ourselves?

Luke 6:38: Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.