babywebbsite.com

Grandpa and Greens

Due to my lack of picture taking yesterday (tsk-tsk), I compensated by taking several pics today. Walker enjoyed one of his favorite pastimes - a morning walk with Grandpa (my dad). They cavorted around the subdivision, taking note of the hyper dogs and neighbors on their way to work/retrieving their papers/watering their flowers. Dad always has good stories when he gets back. My dad is actually staining our deck this week because he is off work. I think he's really doing it for an excuse to come see his grandson every day;). Which is super sweet.

Walker also found a new favorite pastime - eating greens. I was afraid of collard greens before I started dating Lee, but he has turned me on to them and we eat them frequently. I wasn't sure how Walker would respond when I offered him a few bites on his highchair tray. He gobbled them up! In fact, he had strawberries (which I just read should be held off until one year old in case they have allergies- yikes!!!) and greens in front of him and he chose the greens. I was so proud. He proceeded to eat greens until there were none left. This is the kid who hates green baby food, so I am relieved to find out that he actually likes green veggies when they are in their original, non-mushy form.

 

Might-Y Monday

One of my dear friends and ADPi pledge sisters, Babbling Abby, has started a "Might-y Monday" and I think it "might" actually be freeing to just let it all hang out in a tentative kind of way.

I might have woken up in a grouchy mood today due to the recent lack of sleep accumulating in our household. And I might have used that as an excuse to go back down with Walker for his morning nap. But who knows, I might have woken up early from the nap refreshed and stared back and forth at him and the clock wondering if it was worth it to try to make myself fall back asleep or just lay there really still until he woke up. I might have fallen back asleep for another 15 minutes and woke up even grouchier because I was enjoying the ZZZZZ's.

But his sweet smile and bedhead might have made me forget my exhaustion.

I might have forgotten to eat lunch (which is a RARITY for me) and made up for it by consuming three big bowls of cereal to get my energy back at 3:00 p.m. - all while responding to e-mails and phone messages.

I might have gotten ready to head out the door for a bike ride with my husband only to realize that my spandex rear-padded biker shorts were see through in the evening sun at the right angle. My husband might have pointed that out to me in the middle of our ride. And I might have thought it was cute that he was checking me out during our ride. I just might love that man.

I might have made him stop in the middle of our ride through the park to look at three geese - a mommy, daddy and baby. We might have shared a sentimental moment. I might have felt like an old person on a rocking chair thinking back on their long life.

I might have gotten some stomach issues when we got back to the house. But I might have mustered the strength to eat an egg roll and a blueberry muffin. That might be the last time I attempt that combo.

I might be sitting here with a blanket wrapped around my shoulders thinking that I really should go to bed so I'm not exhausted for work tomorrow. But then again, I might check out a few more of my friend's blogs before retiring for the evening.

I might feel bad for not taking any pictures of Walker today, but I might be willing to take a look back to compensate. I might even be willing to embarrass myself by posting this picture from when Walker was a teeny tiny babe and I was trying to get a milk collection going and I went in to put these bags in the bottom of the freezer and fell over and could not stop laughing, so they took my picture. I might be wearing the strangest outfit you have ever seen - pearls and pajama pants. And that might be why I have never wanted you to see this photo. But I might not care anymore.


Goodnight! I might talk to y'all tomorrow.

Henry's Party

We partied it up in Columbus, OH last night in honor of Baby Henry Isaac Perkins and his glowing mommy, Lindsey "Shubie" Perkins. "HIP" is due in August, so Lindz is getting super close to meeting him face-to-face. And you should see all of the fun monkey stuff that she is accumulating for his arrival. Bunnies/Walker = Monkeys/Henry. You can check out her blog to read more about her and her hubby Colin and their journey to become parents- which I know they will knock out of the ballpark!!!

Love you, Aunt Shubz, and can't wait to cuddle that sweet boy.

More Teething Angst

I am riding in the car. In the backseat. All Driving Mrs. Dasiyish. Making this post. Praying for my child's rootin rootin teeth to just leave him alone for five minutes so he can fall asleep. I know it must seem like the subject of teeth is dominating my posts. But I can't help it y'all. They are dominating my every waking and non-sleeping moment. I will post a pic of his pitiful face. I will spare you the one of him sobbing because I am not that cruel. And I'm still kinda in a good mood from seeing a glowing eight month pregnant Mrs. Perkins at her shower in Columbus. But, really. Can any mommies out there relate to my teething angst?

Let it Shine at Nine

When you bring your newborn home from the hospital, you are amazed at how much you adore the little creature sleeping in your arms. But at some point you start to look forward to the days when they smile back and give you a smidgen of affirmation that they are glad you're their mommy.

Before you know it, that delicate infant turns into a chubby dude or dudette that eats sweet potatoes and hugs your neck.

And then, one day, you realize that there is a full-blown person in that miniature body - complete with distinct preferences and a personality all their own. Which is pretty cool. 

I have picked up on bits and pieces of Walker's personality since he was conceived (a miracle journey that proved he was a fighter), but I am just now starting to get the full picture of what makes my guy tick. His personality shines in everything he does!

Maybe it's the fact that he's dances almost every time he hears fast music. Or it could be that devious smile that he flashes just before he does something that he knows he shouldn't. But it's probably the way he notices details, like eyelashes and screws on the chair.

Here are some things that I don't want to forget about this stage -

Walker loves to explore. Cabinets. Drawers. Tables. Baskets. The Pantry. You name it.
He hates, hates, hates to be restrained (ie. carseats, changing table, high chair)
He loves to cuddle. And swing at the park. And watch Hip Hop Harry.
He will go to most anybody anytime. But he prefers daddy right now.
We still take baths together every night. He took his first shower last week.
He still sleeps with a sound machine. And he usually sleeps on his tummy.
He's starting to show interest in stacking and crashing his blocks.
He gets a new bump on his head every day.
He's working on four teeth at once - OUCH!
He likes books, but he wants to crawl around while I read them. His favorite is still the Veggie Tales book - "God Made Me Special."
He can chow down on some Wagon Wheels.
He doesn't like to be spoon fed baby food - especially green beans. He prefers finger foods any day.
He's still not sure whether he likes sippie cups. But he likes to chew on them.
He only wants Avent pacis.
He knows his closest family members.
Dirty diapers don't bother him - which means potty training might be tough!
He is a very happy boy. He smiles all the time.
His hair is getting long and thicker (light brown). And the bald spot is finally gone.
His eyes are still blue and he has long, dark eye lashes.
He won't sleep at church anymore, so he's always exhausted on Sunday afternoons.
His birthmark on his arm seems to be getting darker.
He loves to play chase, especially with Aunt Annie.
He wants to grab the camera when I pull it out (pic above).
He loves the fridge and dishwasher.
He is 20 pounds, 5 ounces and 30 inches long.
He is a light in our lives!!!

Poor teddy is an afterthought...

  

But I managed to convince the two of them to reunite for this one -

  

And these are just precious - look at those sweet leggies.

Parenting is a Process

I am exhausted. Pooped. Tuckered. Wiped. Tired. Y'all get the point.

Walker has not let us sleep much over the past week, thanks to the excruciating pain that he seems to be experiencing as a result of his budding teeth. Lee and I are like walking zombies. It really is like having a 6 week old all over again. I thought I had this whole sleep thing (which has been a major issue for us) figured out, then BAM!

That brings me to the thought that keeps striking me tonight - parenting is two steps forward, one step back. Just when you think you've got it figured out (ha!) something happens to remind you that you really don't.

And heaven forbid you start to get on your high horse and judge another momma...

I would never _________.

I'm glad my child doesn't _________like _________.

My child is so much more _________ than her child.

They really need to __________.

If you are a mom, you have no doubt let one of the sentences above slip. And even if you didn't say it out loud, you thought it. And eventually (if it hasn't already) those words come back to bite us in the rear. So I try my darndest not to let pride slip in when something is going really well or defeat creep in when things are a hot mess.

After all, parenting is a process.

Can't leave you without some pics of my little work in progress:).

 

Three Steps

Walker took his first (3) sTePs two days ago.

I don't have a picture yet because it wasn't a planned, official, let's walk moment. It was just an ordinary, hmmmm, wonder if I can make it from the green bench to the couch without sitting down or holding on to anything type of moment. Of course I screamed. Way to affirm the kid, huh? He actually walked 2 1/2 steps to Leedle last night after work, which made me feel better b/c he wasn't home the first time.

This picture highlights the equipment that has given him the practice and courage to step out. He pushes his musical table all around the house. Actually, sometimes he runs. And falls on his knees once he hits the slick hardwood. But he gets back up and keeps truckin'.

I have a feeling that my life is about to change EVEN MORE.

Best of Intentions

 

There is so much in life that I aspire to do that I never do. In fact, if I did all of the things that I “intend” to do, I would be quite impressive – a maternal monument, a Stepford Wife, the friend you think of when you hear the song “Lean on Me”…the perfect woman. The one that haunts us but doesn't really exist.

Here are just a few of the things that I intend to do that often slip through the cracks -

 

- Learn how to use my camera so I can take abstract snapshots of Walker, my nieces & our friends’ kiddos.

- Write notes to my favorite teachers to tell them how they affected my life.

- Pray first thing when I wake up before my feet hit the floor every single day (what a difference that would make!).

- Write a living will.

- Scrapbook trips, holidays, birthdays and those teeny tiny moments that I just know I’ll forget someday. Or at least order the pictures stored on my computer and put them into albums.

- Organize my basement – it is scary, y’all. Piles and piles of boxes. Makes me nervous just thinking about it.

- Drive to Lexington to see my old colleagues and hear what is going on in their lives.

- Write a book…a fiction novel. So strange, but this has always been a dream of mine. I wrote quite a bit to help cope with my parents' divorce (4th grade), but I have not taken the time to write much fiction since then.

- Change the air conditioning filter (some of this is mundane).

- Apologize to my mom (for the 100^th time) for telling her that I hated her once when I was 10, and more importantly, thank her for showing me unconditional love. She always says that she doesn’t remember me saying that. My mom is awesome.

- Plan my menus every week like Ang.

- Go swimming. This makes me feel so relaxed.

- Stop worrying about what other people think about how I raise my child/keep my house/fix my hair/praise my God...

- Make an SEC cross stitch belt for Leedle.

- Interview my grandparents about their lives and document it on video camera.

- Clean out my e-mail inbox and keep it that way for at least a week.

- Take Walker to the nursing home so he can entertain some of the folks who don’t have visitors very often.

 

This list could seriously be five miles long, but I'm getting sleepy so I'm going to stop:).

 

Stay tuned tomorrow b/c I have some exciting news for y'all...[No, I'm not pregnant. I promise:)]

I want to follow in your footsteps

Dear Daddy,

Mommy told me that it's your special day so I decided to use my growing hand/eye coordination to type this post. Impressive, huh?

In honor of your coolness, we went to this place in the city with lots of stuff that Mommy wouldn't let me touch and I let her put blue paint on my feet (it tickled!) and put them on this plate. I told her exactly what I wanted her to write (bbbaa, daaa, maaa, laaa, naaa) and she translated it into big people works and painted it for me (I was too busy eating wagon wheels). My best friends Jonathan and Jacob went with me and made "pretties"for their daddy and grandaddies too.

I know my feet aren't as big as yours yet, but I'm getting there. And I'm learning to do other stuff like you too. Like play with the remote. And bang on the computer keyboard. And eat hot dogs. And unload the dishwasher (which drives Mommy crazy). And clap my hands. And dance. And pet dogs and cats. And kiss Mommy.

I really do think you're the best dad out there. Mostly because you spend time with me. Like when you feed me chunks of bananas in the morning, dry me off after my bath, bounce the ball back and forth, hold my hands and let me run between your legs, pray with me, change my diaper, clean my pacis, sweep my hair out of my face and tickle my underarms. I can't tell you this just yet because you can't understand Gibberish, but I love you. I really do. But you know that. My smile gives it away.

Well, I've got to go play with my blocks and drool on the ottoman.

I sure am glad that Jesus picked you to be my daddy...

XO and all that mushy stuff,

"The Boy"

p.s. Next year I'll get you something way cooler than a plate, like a riding mower or a puppet

p.s.s. Or a snake if mommy will let me bring it in the house

Ride to Conquer Cancer

I waited to tell y'all about my latest adventure because I wanted to hold off until I started training.

Lee and I are riding in the US' inaugural Ride to Conquer Cancer - a bike ride from Louisville to Lexington and back over two days to raise money for cancer prevention and treatment.

That's 150 miles round trip - just to save you a click on mapquest:).

This will be a HUGE/MONUMENTAL/ASTRONOMICAL physical challenge for me. Not only did I spend nearly 10 weeks on bedrest (grrrr...muscle loss), but I have also been slack about getting back into a solid exercise routine. So it will do my body good.

Much more importantly, it's for a cause that is near to my heart.

I have lost friends and family to cancer. And there are many times that I think about the fact that my grandmother passed away from breast cancer, look at Walker and imagine how scary it would be to find a lump one day. After all, we never know when it could be us or a loved one who faces this scary disease.

Because of the size of the task at hand, I have set a lofty goal to raise $2,500. I want to make a BIG difference! If you feel inspired to support me in my ride (which would be GREATLY APPRECIATED), you can click here to visit my personal page and make a donation. You can also send me an email at webbrachel@yahoo.com if you would rather get my address and send a check.

Just $25 will sponsor one mile of my trip. No matter the size of your gift (1 cent to $2,500), I will write your name on my jersey. I would also love to write the names of friends and/or family members who have faced cancer if you tell me. Who knows - maybe some of you reading this blog have experienced cancer. I RIDE FOR YOU!!! 

The picture above was taken before our ride this morning. And here is what was waiting for me when I came home...

 

*Don't worry, I don't let him play with plastic bags typically.