It's a Sunshine Day

I think i'll go for a walk outside now
the summer sun's callin my name
(i hear ya now)
i just can't stay inside all day
i gotta get out get me some of those rays
everybody's smilin
sunshine day
everybody's laughin
sunshine day
everybody seems so happy today
it's a sunshine day

Free Rent

A little song about an event in our lives yesterday.
I'll try to post a picture of this fabulous situation soon.


There's a Hole in my Ceiling, dear Floyd, dear Floyd!
There's a Hole in my Ceiling, dear Floyd, a Hole!

What varmit made this hole? dear Evelyn, dear Evelyn!
What varmit made this hole, dear Evelyn, what varmit?

A Squirrel seeking shelter, dear Floyd, dear Floyd!
A Squirrel seeking shelter, dear Floyd, a Squirrel!

I'll duct tape this hole, dear Evelyn, dear Evelyn!
I'll duct tape this hole, dear Evelyn my dear!

An "X" marks the spot, dear Floyd, dear Floyd!
An "X" marks the spot, where our dear Squirrel hides!

shirtless in a bar

no. not me. RM.

i guess i should have expected something like this when i found out i was going to have a son. but i would have expected it at 17, 18, or 21... not 4 months.

Floyd, RM and i planned a lovely evening downtown... walking the bridge, dinner at Chicora Alley, and a stop by the new gelato place. Sounds swell, and family friendly? We thought so too. Until halfway through this family date, when a low vibration rolled on my lap... and in the seat of RM's corduroys. We were of course, at Chicora. And while this fine eating (and mostly drinking) establishment has many things, it DOES NOT have a Koala Care changing station in the bathroom. Nor does it have a large countertop. But it does have a 18" diameter three legged table... just enough space to wrestle a four month old with an exploding diaper. Trouble is, his onsie and corduroys are a yellow disaster. And while i "saved" the fleece hoodie, i also conveniently left it at the table in the bar area where Floyd still remained.

So when i do emerge from the ladies' room with a topless, rolly-polly infant, everyone at the bar managed to turn on their stools muttering about the half-dressed baby and his ne'er-do-well bar-hopping parents. Hence, our shirtless in a bar experience.

ps - don't worry, it's a smoke free bar.
pps - Schelijn, i think that JG's corduroys are going to make a full recovery.

First Cereal

yep. i went for it. he'll be five months old a week from today, and i had intented to wait until then. but last night, the little booger woke up hungry at 3am, 5:45am, 7am... i gotta tell you, that kind of growth spurt can be a very rude awakening! So, he got cereal for dinner tonight in hopes that he will sleep soundly tonight (and the next, and the next) like "normal"!!

not sure how he felt about it at first, but quickly warmed up to the idea.

after dinner smiles, after dinner thumb sucking...
and finally, this funny little maneuver. After spending 24 hrs strapped in the car next to his backwards-finger-sucking-cousin, he decided to try her trick out today. It's bizarre.

my dad is hilarious.

driving driving driving

this weekend my kid sister and i strapped the babies down for 24 hours in the car. Are we crazy? Maybe. But we took off to go see our grandfather in New Jersey who is in very poor health. It was our only chance to allow him to meet these two little great-grands of his. I've never lost a grandparent, and seeing that on the horizon now is very hard. I can see on my grandmother's face her exhaustion and fear of the unknown ahead. I can simplify the decisions in my own mind, but I cannot pretend that they are easy for her to make.

Highlights of the weekend: on a serious note, seeing my grandfather smile at his great grandchildren, and feeling him squeeze my hand. Watching my son laugh at my grandmother and give her a moment of joy in the midst of this difficult battle.

Lowlights of the weekend: did i mention we had two babies strapped in carseats for 24 hours in the car? Um... YEEEEAAAAHHHH... we survived.

we're so lame... you might just think this blog is about you

today is a special day... Hah.

Eight years ago today my husband and i had a "serious conversation about our relationship" and then literally flipped a coin to decide WE WERE AN ITEM. We're weird. But i know most of you reading this all have saved that "where is this relationship going?" discussion somewhere in your memory file.

In those first few years it was a big deal... flowers, gifts, letters, dinner!
Then you got over it or had a wedding and thus another anniversary to commemorate.

So today i said "Happy 13th" dear hubby with a small carton of Reese's Peanut Butter WHOPPERS. We have come a long way... I can't imagine how sentimental we will be in eight more years.

Vote for Oliver!

My friend (the one who rescued Jim Hargate, III) has another puppy who is up for "Best In Show" for the 'Pound-puppy' competition in Columbia, SC. So if you are able to spare 2 seconds... VOTE FOR OLIVER! It's real quick and easy... And besides, isn't he pretty?

puttin' out little fires all over the place!

These PJs are in honor of both Uncle Todd, the professional; as well as Cousin/Nephew Olice, provider of hand-me-downs. Which brings me to another fact i'd like to point out... the tag in these hand-me-downs states that they are for children around the age of "18 months" ... hmmm ... or four. I realize that SHRINKAGE is a major factor, but still... that makes me feel a little like "Honey I Blew Up the Kid" ... Only with breastmilk.

sprinkler

i guess you can tell by the title of this post that i'm going 3 for 3 on posting about my child's fascination with his digestive system... particularly the final stage of it. I figure, i'm on a roll, why deviate now?

So, have yall ever heard of "pee-pee tee-pees" ??? Because they are these hilarious and very practical little cones to prevent the exact thing that happened tonight. I let my guard down, it's true. But really, he's over four months old for crying out loud. He hasn't sprinkled outside of the tub in at least two months. But ahh, he had a special treat in mind for me tonight. Not only hitting the drapes (exhibit A), but also the wall (exhibit B). Then giving me a very cute and very guilty, "oops, was that me? Sorry mom" kind of face (Exhibit C). I added a final photo shot of the wall just so you all could get the full effect of the urination factor (exhibit D).

Lets agree, it's not really as good as the Happy Birthday Momma moment, but fun for him nonetheless. i think he might just like surprises just as much as i do.

motivation

just curious... how do babies derive motivation? is it all just a very different experience at a very different pace for each little love? I ask this now as i work at my computer, and about ten feet away my baby lies on a blanket in the living room with toys just out of arms reach. He's too content kicking and sucking his thumb and staring at the fan to think about how to get the toys just out of arms reach. His motivation is elsewhere... in the sucking and kicking and staring off into space. And...this just in... yep, into crapping his britches. Sometimes i wish i could be that carefree.

(And not that i'm over eager for my 4+ month old child to be mobile, but just intrigued as to when this will happen.)

bumbo bombs

I have recently encountered a situation with the bumbo seat that i believe warrants some kind of "disclaimer" on the bumbo box. While they are updating the packaging to remind some silly parents that these seats are not intended to be placed on elevated surfaces, they should also add a WARNING about BUMBO BOMBS. A Bumbo Bomb occurs when the child sitting in the seat becomes relaxed enough to expell waste. The design of the seat creates quite a unique opportunity for said waste to fire out of diaper with an alarming velocity. Sorry to be so graphic in my description, but it's a graphic situation to deal with. Thus, not only diaper change, but wardrobe change and bath become absolutely necessary. Please see the adjacent diagram. (No children or bumbos were harmed in the making of this diagram.)
The one redeeming factor of a bumbo bomb is that when this adventure is all said and done, the child is quite pleased with their accomplishment and will usually take a monster nap. Here he is after accomplishment.

Four Months Old

Update - the four month stats are as follows: seventeen and a half pounds, twenty-six inches tall. The boy is a bruiser.

He's four months old and looking more like a little boy everyday. Today especially I thought that this time is all just flashing before my eyes... It definitely doesn't always feel like that, and maybe more so now that i am back to work, but it's passing quickly for sure.

Mr Picasso Head

Fun, mindless entertainment... HERE.

Chub-a-love Contest

recent addition: JG, the Skinniest little love. I even hesitated to add him because of the lack of opportunity for paint-speedoing... but his little grin is just too much. These cousins are SO cute!


Which baby do you think wins the contest for most chub-a-love at three months?
Will it be G-money, G-Lou, RM, or C-love? (in order of appearance)

Moroccan Chicken with Golden Rice

I just thought i'd share this tasty recipe that i made for dinner last night, served with green beans and salad. It is from The Fresh Market Cookbook. I diced onion instead of shallots :) Everyone loved it!

Moroccan Chicken with Golden Rice
Servings: 4

Ingredients:
• 1 (7 ounce) package yellow rice
• 1 cup seasoned flour
• 3 tablespoons TFM Extra Virgin Olive Oil, divided
• 3 tablespoons butter, divided
• 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 1 tablespoon shallots, chopped
• 4 tablespoons capers
• 1 lemon, sliced into circles
• 3/4 cup coconut milk
• 1/2 teaspoon sugar

Preparation:
Prepare rice according to directions on package. When cooked, set aside and keep warm.
Preheat oven to 375°. Dredge chicken in flour. In large skillet, heat 2 tablespoons olive oil and 2 tablespoons butter over medium high heat. Add chicken breast. Brown well on both sides. Remove from pan. Set aside. Pour excess grease from skillet. Wipe clean with paper towel. Add remaining olive oil and butter to skillet. Heat over medium high heat. Add shallots and capers. Sauté for 30 seconds. Add lemons, coconut milk and sugar. Bring to a boil for about 1 minute.
Spread yellow rice in the bottom of an ovenproof dish. Place chicken on top of rice. Pour coconut milk mixture over top. Bake for about 15 minutes or until chicken is cooked through. Serve hot.

eight things...

I got tagged by Tootie to share eight things about RM, so here goes:

1. SNUGGLE BUG - this is my favorite, one i hope doesn't diminish as he grows. He'll snuggle pretty much anytime day or night.
2. THUMB SUCKER - i know i should already be curbing this habit, but it is too cute! Especially when paired with the Snuggle Bug attribute.
3. TALK TALK COO - RM has started interacting with Will and I in a very vocal way. Just yesterday at Costco he was talking to his daddy so loudly I could hear him from the restroom. He talked and cooed like that all around the store.
4. KNOWS MY VOICE - I love that he knows his momma. If he's in a room of strangers, and i start talking he looks all around until his gaze lands on me. Its like it makes him certain again that he can put up with the pass arounds.
5. CHUB-A-LUB - What can i say? He eats. He eats really well. And he doesn't skip meals.
6. SIGHS - RM already has this "sigh" that really already makes me think he might be bored. It's hilarious to watch his whole body heave with this expression.
7. SLEEPER - This boy loves his crib. And loves to sleep twelve hours at night, and take four naps a day. I know this will change soon, so i'm soaking it up :)
8. DRUMS - One of my favorite things to watch is Floyd making RM "Beat Box" with the air drums. RM's face lights up and he just looks like a bruiser playing. I think he really is a percussionist at heart.

Alright, Tricia, Lauren, Katie, Essbee, Laurie! It's your turn :)

slush and sleet make a nice southern treat

usually this much of a "wintery mix" dusting would have us all at home. But alas, my office opened on a two hour delay. So RM got to go out with his dad in the snow.

what is that kid eating?

This is a question i answer frequently. it's interesting, because he's obviously only either getting breastmilk or formula... it seems like an obvious answer. But you'd be shocked at the number of people who still feel the need to ask. Now, thanks to one of my former discipleship group girls, the answer is written across his chest. (I've told him this kind of obscene language on a shirt is really only cute for so long...)

big baby boy

Oma got a new camera for Xmas... she tried it out on Red while he was waking up from his nap at their house.

snowbaby

this is just ridiculous. RM's grandmother thought this would be a cute hat and mittens ensemble to wear at Thanksgiving when we went to "pick out the tree" that weekend. Naturally, it swallowed him at two months old. But even now, six weeks later, it's not much better. We went for a walk, but the hat definitely didn't stay.

(The hat is "3-6 months" -supposedly. Everything my son wears is 6 months, or 6-9 months... and he's only 3 months old. So it's funny to see anything look "big" on him.)

chunky monkey

really bad lighting in these shots, but some funny grins.

tee-dum, tee-dee... a tiddly dum tee day...

Back at work week one highlights:
1. Taking an inbox with 2700 e-mails down to 5 in seven days flat.
2. Introducing my boss to 75 colleagues without embarassing myself.
3. Feeling like I am productive outside of the house - gratifying for me.

Back at work week one lowlights:
1. Pumping breastmilk in the office... just weird.
2. RM's total blowout while sitting in on Floyd's tutoring session.
3. The realization that this could be the most productive week for a while?

Seriously, it's been a good experience so far. Some friends can testify to the fact that in the past, communication hasn't been the strongest for Evelyn & Floyd. As in, Floyd would call a close friend of mine to ask, "Have you seen her? Do you know if she's even in town today?" But we are learning to be better communicators, so as not to call one another during the day and say, "Where's RM? I don't know, i thought you had him... ?" We're seven days in and it hasn't happened yet.

happy new year!

yes... we rang in the new year. Missed the ball dropping by about 45 seconds. Still drank very cheap champange... it was PINK... out of tumblers.



My poor son... why do people stuff their babies into these outfits? I don't know, but i did it.



These faces are a perfect replay of the day Benjamin came home from the hospital... he's screaming and RM is VERY scared.

Xmas Smiles

Chasing Lights

Well, Floyd wrote a song for the season, and recorded it with his friend Carter Butler for the GREAT SUFJAN STEVENS XMAS SWAP competition. While they didn't win the competition, they were one of the favorite 35 out of over 600 submissions. Currently Sufjan's record label (Asthmatic Kitty) is streaming the song on their website on their AKradio player. However, if you don't want to navigate to the website and upload the player, Floyd is allowing anyone who wants the song to DOWNLOAD IT FOR FREE at his myspace page as a Holiday Blessing to you and yours. The song is called "Chasing Lights". Enjoy and be well.

here's some links:
William F. Gibbs --- come download "Chasing Lights", it's already a holiday favorite in our home. Merry Christmas!

puppy playdates... and girl talk

Well, it turns out puppies need playdates more than babies. (I suppose playdates are really for moms to catch up on gossip anyway.) But JH the third has been feeling a little neglected. After all, he has been hard at work protecting yet another member of the family, and exercising greater loyalty beside the bouncy seat by day and cribside by night. So off we went to the Plyler House for JH to get some free time in the yard with Nellie while momma here got to have coffee AND lunch with very little interuption.
RM was kind enough to take a nap.

But woke up for lunch to show off his latest tricks: smiling and standing (virtually unassisted - he's so advanced).


Also check out the new-mommy-do I am sporting these days... turns out it is much nicer to have shorter hair again and Locks of Love is grateful for the 12 inch donation.

Did we mention this was all about the dogs? See how nice it is to sit in the sun?

2.5 months...

RM is 2.5 months now... he's a whopping 14 lbs, 12 ozs.

He loves a bouncy seat (which is riding lower to the ground now)

hanging out with dad after the yard work was done on Saturday...

And drumroll please, this new little trick has attributed to his new sleeping through the night habit. Lets hear a hurrah for 8 hours of uninterrupted sleep!

adventures for me...

there are some basic skills i have acquired in the last two months that can only be gained from experience. No one tells you how to "Aspirate" your child's nasal passages, but it must be done to dislodge stubborn boogers and help them breathe. No one teaches you how to take your child's temperature rectally, but it is the most accurate way, and must be done as well. I just think nurses should tell parents these things so they don't have to learn by taking their child to the doctor unneccessarily as sometimes happens. Fortunately, i have Sister #1, Sister #2, and Sister #3 to lean on for advice in these simple tasks.

One recently acquired skill however, was not learned from these professional mommmies. They would never have gone to the mall to do Christmas shopping with only three spare diapers. But i did. And while nursing my child in the ladies' lounge at Belk, he naturally blew out a diaper. After the first change you think i would have learned. He blew out another one. AND ANOTHER ONE. So i had used up all of our diapers (and yes, they were all quite full), so the only thing left to cover his little rear was the burp cloth i had been using... a "cloth diaper" if you will. Unfortunately, i did not have these handy instructions, but i think i did an okay job of it in the pinch i was in. But even after scurrying to the car and home as quickly as possible, he was in hysterics again because he had completely soaked through this one too by the time we got home.

The moral of this story should be, always have at least four diapers in your diaper bag. But my moral is NEVER entertain the idea of using cloth diapers, no matter how environmentally friendly someone thinks they might be. There is no wicking moisture away from the body... and really, they don't work. Just keep filling up the landfills with pampers. Your sanity as a mother depends on it.


ps - i had a full unopened box of pampers in the car... realized much too late.