furry friends

Let me preface this post by saying: I love our dogs. They are very special to us. They are important members of our family, our true first children.

Having a dog like Jake is challenging. In many ways it is like having two husbands. He is messy, obstinate, and hairy. There is dog hair littering every surface of our house; it is impossible to keep it cleaned up. That dog hair FREQUENTLY finds itself in the mouth of my very curious little boy. Eww.

I have entertained you previously with tales of Jake's anxiety, the shredding of his VERY expensive bed, and his odd addiction to bakery bread. We have reached a new low, my friends.

Monday night, I had open house at school. Lofton promised to be home in time for me to leave. He broke his promise. So at 5:30, when I realized that my husband was no where to be found, I threw some dinner into Reese's bag and loaded him in to the car.

I was infuriated. I know that isn't a nice word, but I was way more than mad. My job is important to me and I cannot fully do my job while holding and feeding an almost thirty pound child.

The ladies I work with are fabulous though and they quickly stepped in to help me. Lofton showed up in the knick of time-- literally one minute before I was to be introduced on stage.

All of this to say--I left the house in a hurry that night. Did I leave the cabinet door open? Maybe. Could Jake have opened the cabinet himself? Most definitely. So really that is a moot point.

The point IS Lofton returned home to this disaster.

Wheat flour. EVERYWHERE. White paw prints through our entire house.

Oh the joys of parenting a Labrador.

(new post below)

sips and strokes

I had a date night with some girl friends on Friday night. We all left the kiddos at home and headed to a place called Sips and Strokes in Auburn.

It's a paint studio where you can take wine (or other libations) and they teach you to paint a specific picture. Ours was a retro cross. I am not a painter. I have no creative or crafty blood running through my body. Whomever said that people who are left handed are creative, lied. I am a lefty with no artistic talent.

That being said, I was super excited about the sipping part of the evening.

We had a blast! Our teacher was fabulous, the whole thing was tons of fun-- and I'm hooked. My painting isn't half bad either.

This was our goal, keep in mind it was done by a professional artist!

This is my painting:

I changed the colors to better fit our house. And we are actually going to hang it in the bathroom. Just call me Picasso.

(new post below)

circus animal

In the past, I always found it amusing that when children learn new tricks, their parents always insist they put on a show for random strangers.

Lofton and I have become those parents.

We went to Chuck's barbecue yesterday for a quick lunch and a woman stopped to talk to Reese. She said, as most people do, he is the most beautiful baby. Yes ma'am, we know.

He had on his Auburn gear in preparation for next weeks kickoff game and she said she loved his shirt. To which I replied, "Show her touchdown, Reese. Tell her Touchdown Auburn!"

Of course he ignored me and laughed. In his head he was thinking, "What do you think I am Mama, a dog? I don't do tricks on cue."

He has been mastering new tricks, though. Aside from the usual "Touchdown Auburn", he has also been waving hello and goodbye, clapping, and playing peek-a-boo. We are SOOOOO close to walking. He takes about eight or nine steps before he decides crawling would be the quicker method of moving.

Yesterday he took some steps in the dining room and then fell into a chair. It was not pleasant, although the bruise above his eye has faded considerably. Somewhere, my dad is reading this and thinking I need to do a better job of parenting! Can you bubble wrap your house?

tuesday tidings

Although this week has not started well {for reasons I won't elaborate}, I am thankful this Tuesday for two very important things.

One, I have a great family. My parents are my very best friends and number one supporters. My mom came this weekend and took me to my favorite restaurant to eat, brought a huge gift to Reese, and helped me take care of the little stinker all weekend.

And, although my husband does not always make me a happy wife, I love him with all my being. I am actively praying for God to work on softening my heart. Literally, that has what I've been praying for. I am far from perfect, therefore I cannot expect my mirror {Lofton, in this case} to be perfect either. Soften, Lord, soften.

Two, I have wonderful friends who help to ground me, point me in the right direction, turn negatives into positives, and basically "keep it real" for me. Though their advice is not always what I want to hear, it is most certainly what I NEED to hear. Thanks girls.

Would you like a little humor to start your downward roll toward Friday? My sweet baby boy has mastered the art of raising his arms when we say, "Touchdown Auburn." He has mastered it so well, that he now does it whenever we ask him to point to his nose, give us a kiss, or go get his ball.

Reflecting on how many days are left until Friday--

Update

Sorry for the lack of blog posts. When I said I was in for a roller coaster of a year, I wasn't kidding. These kids have me running in circles all day. And then when I get home-- more circles.

I composed a picture montage for your viewing pleasure.

"If I can't see Mama, then surely she can't see me!"

"Maybe if I play dead she won't hurt me."

"Or I could impress her with my touchdown trick."

"Damn I'm cute."

puny

Puny. That defines my little man today. He is totally under the weather and out of sorts. His tummy is UPSET. We started him on full lactose formula Sunday and it has not been kind to him. Diarrhea, vomit, and grouchiness have plagued us for days.

Lofton played stay at home Dad yesterday, which I am oh so thankful for. I could not miss work during the first week of school. He carted little man to Dr. Greer, who gave us permission to go back to mixing his lactose free formula with the regular formula.

Dr. Greer was really great about explaining the in and outs of lactose processing, but truthfully, I don’t care. I just want Reese to feel better.

He went to sleep last night without taking a bottle. It was a first in his short ten month life. I should say he refused the bottle. He started gagging as soon as it touched his lips. I didn’t push him to drink it, but thought that he’d certainly wake up during the night starving. Nope. He slept til six this morning.

There is only one positive to him feeling bad. Cuddle time. We have rocked and cuddled lots during the past few times. I selfishly LOVE it. Now that he’s mobile, cuddling is on the back burner.

We are going to try to fill him up with something tonight. Lofton just went on a Kroger run and brought home jello, applesauce, pound cake, and Gatorade. Yummy. I’m hoping Reese will be tempted to eat something. At this point I’m worried about keeping him hydrated.

We’ll check in later! Happy Friday.

one day down

... only 179 more to go!

We made it. Both Reese and I survived our day. His day was MUCH better than any of the days last week. He only cried a few times; no hysterical fits. And he even napped. He was playing with his back to me when I got there to pick him up-- and if you could have seen his face light up when he heard me say his name! You would have cried. I did. I do love this child.

My day? Well, let's just say I'm in for a roller coaster of a year. I have lots of little boys, with lots of personality. I love little boys, and I certainly can appreciate personality, but it was coming out in droves on the first day. Usually not a good sign. I'm going to try and reel them in tomorrow.

In other BIG news.....

My parents came this weekend. We had a fabulous weekend. Reese kept everyone entertained with his antics. Bless him. I hope he outgrows this phase of making crazy faces all the time. He looks like a nut.

He has gotten cruising on his feet, while holding on to furniture, down pat. He's a fast little stinker for such a heavy weight.

And for the big, BIG news....

Last night he took 3 unassisted steps! He was so proud of himself. I think we may have a walker soon. Batten down the hatches and secure your valuables. This new phase is going to be a doozy.

achy breaky heart

This week has been a tough one, y'all. And I hate to say it, but it's gonna get worse before it gets better.

I'm obviously back to the world of the working this week, which means little man is back to school as well. That in itself is not the problem. The issue is that not ONLY is he back to school, he is MOVING to a new classroom. This was transition week at daycare and Reese has made it very clear; Transitions are not his thing.

We {and by we I really mean ALL of us} are super attached to his teacher at school, Ms. Maureen. Like super glue attached. Reese loves her as much as she loves him. It has always been such a comfort to know that he is happy and LOVED at school.

That being said, I know he will love and BE loved by his new teachers as well. I have met them and they are both kind and wonderful ladies. They are just unfamiliar to us and we are creatures of habit.

It breaks my heart to pick him up from school in the afternoon and hear that he cried {loud and hard} the WHOLE time he visited his new room. I have cried, too. Everyday this week. At daycare-- in front of people. If you know me, you know I am NOT an attractive crier.

Lee, the director of the daycare, called and left me a message today. It went something like, "Today was a better day. Yes he cried, but not as long. It's going to get better. I promise."

My head knows she's right, but my heart is a different story.

So Monday, while I'm off to greet a new flock of third graders, Lofton will take Reese to school and deposit him in a new room. It's not going to be pretty, but somebody has to take him, and I'm oh so glad it isn't me.

gotham city

There was a bat in my classroom today. A real, wing-fluttering, fur-covered, flying bat.

I probably would have peed in my pants, if not for the fact that I was running like Marion Jones on steroids.

Dr. Dark, my principal, happened to be coming down the hall towards me as I yelled, "THERE'S A BAT IN MY ROOM!!!! And it's alive!" He jokingly asked me if it was real.

{Sidenote: We have a bat problem at school, though it is usually contained upstairs. Last year, I walked into my room and accidentally confused the projector hanging from my ceiling with a bat. I was preggo. Honest mistake.}

I, not so jokingly, told him to get in my room and kill the bat. He obliged. Armed with a broom, he entered my room and the bat met a swift demise. Please don't call PETA.

And the kids haven't even come to school yet. I hope this isn't a sign of things to come.

ten months

Reese is ten months old today!

I found him in the hall yesterday morning, one second away from putting the night light in his mouth. He had been out of my sight for less than ten seconds. That pretty much sums up what's going on in our life right now!

I chase this little boy around the house from sun up to sun down {minus the small snippet of time he naps}. He LOVES for us to chase him. He giggles uncontrollably as he crawls as fast as possible under tables, around corners, and into the bathrooms. I can only imagine the exercise we'll be getting when he starts walking.

The older he gets, the more of Lofton I see in his personality. He is such a funny little man. Sassy like his Mama, yes! But also funny and so ACTIVE! He loves to play-- and play rough. Swing him higher, tickle him over and over, and bounce him harder. He'll laugh til he can't breathe.

I suppose this is what being a boy is all about. And I've learned that being the Mama of a little boy is about kissing boo-boo's and holding my breath. I can't protect him from every little bump and bruise, and that's okay. Band aids and stitches were created for a reason!

So happy ten months, baby boy. You keep me on my toes. And I love every minute of it!