I'm A Cowboy, Baby!

Ok, sorry, but ever since we decided that we were going to do a cowboy theme for Steven's birthday that Kid Rock song has been playing in my head. It's totally inappropriate for a kid's birthday party and he really gives me the creeps, but I guess it's because the words "baby" and "cowboy" are both in the chorus. I'm a dork...so moving on....

These pictures were my favorites and runners-up to making the invitation. In other Steven news:

• His naps are going very well and he is still taking two naps (one morn and one afternoon); we have just pushed them a little later.
  
• We have successfully made the switch from formula to whole milk. There were a few rough times but it wasn't too bad. He actually drinks the milk better than he did the formula; however, we've learned the hard way that he only wants it warm and in his bottle. With the party coming up, I decided that we'll keep the bottle for now and try again to switch over to all sippy cup at a later time. He was VERY upset that someone put formula/milk in his sippy cup...because EVERYONE knows sippy cups are only for water.


• He is getting two more teeth in- numbers 6 and 7. He hasn't had two teeth come in at the same time since his first two at 6 months. And they're coming in the week of the party...lucky us!
• Steven got a haircut Saturday. We think it looks cute long but when it starts getting in his eyes, it starts to really bother him. This was his fourth haircut!


• Three days until Steven's turns one year old...but only two days until his party!

The Invitation

This is Steven's first birthday invitation. I promised Charlton to keep the party as small as possible so we only invited family and friends that Steven plays with on a weekly basis. I would have liked to have been able to invite everyone but I kept my promise. I still want everyone to be able to share in the celebration though. Please excuse the simple way I'm posting this and blocking out our address and phone number. =) Isn't his invitation adorable?! Aunt Cheryl made them.

Update: Steven was sleeping while I was posting yesterday. Yea!! He slept at least an hour and a half yesterday afternoon so that plan seem to work well. I'm keeping him up longer to make sure he's really tired (good advice, moms). I've also decided to do better at posting responses to comments so you can look for those now as well.

Adventures in Mommyhood

This pic is from this week when Steven and his buddy Jackson were playing. It has nothing to do with this post but I figured you wouldn't read my story if it didn't have a pic. Aren't they cute?! They're only serious once the camera comes out.

In the last month or so, everything about Steven has changed and that includes his naps. He is a good napper and has been going down at 9am for about 2 hours and again at 1pm for another 2 hours for a while. I knew enough from friends and books to really enjoy this since I know that we are going to be dropping to one nap soon. And I think that time has come. Lately he's been taking super long naps in the morning, but then, of course is not tired enough to nap again in the afternoons. I started waking him up after two hours the last couple of days to try to protect the afternoon nap and that worked a few days until YESTERDAY.

I put him down about 1pm as usual because he was acting tired. He was quiet for 15 min or so and then talked and played for an hour in his crib. I've been leaving him because he's not crying and usually falls asleep and although I feel a little bad leaving him in there I know it's for his best interest if eventually he falls asleep. After the hour of playing, he got quiet for another 20 min and but then started making noise again. He does this off and on for a while before he starts to get fussy, but then he only fusses for a few min. It's now been an hour and a half since I put him down and I'm watching the clock. Then he starts crying hard. It's been a while since this has happened so I'm a little panicked if I should go in and get him (my first instinct) or give him a little while (thinking maybe this is the last show before he falls asleep).

So what do I do? I give him a few minutes (that's all I could muster after him being in there for so long and not asleep) and go in to get him. I walk in to him standing in his crib fussy but not hysterical. I reach in to pick him up and noticed a huge wet ring (about a foot in circumference) in the corner of his crib. My first response is horror..."No wonder he's being crying. My poor Baby!" But then I start thinking..."what caused that ring? It's not from tears, drool, or snot, so it must be pee." I share this because I think that this is a regular thought process for a mom. Then I think that his diaper must have leaked (that's been happening lately too) until I notice that there's another ring in the other front corner of the crib. And I realize that there's no way his diaper could have leaked that much. Puzzled, I pick him up and realized he doesn't have a diaper on!!!!! OH MY GOODNESS!!!!!

He took his diaper off, chucked it out of the crib with his stuffed animals, and then peed in both front corners of his crib. Thankfully, the bumper (which was also soaked) saved the carpet. Maybe I should write Pottery Barn and let them know that they left off a key selling point for their bumpers. I can just read the catalog line now: Shields your carpet from pee when your baby takes his diaper off! Oh well, it was time to wash his crib sheet anyway.

So I'm open to any advice moms might have on making the transition from two naps to one. Our next plan of action, I'm trying right now as I type: For his morning nap, I kept him up longer this morning until 9:30am and let him sleep an hour to hour and half before waking him. Then I put him in his crib about 1:15pm when I noticed him getting tired. He has being making noise playing in his crib but is now quiet, so we'll see. He could be taking an awesome nap...or he could be putting off his diaper so that mom has to wash his entire bedding set again.

Happy Birthday to Pappaw who will no doubt find this story very funny!

Moments At Home I Love

So as it turns out, Hurricane Dean is not going to hit Houston. We did go get gas and groceries on Saturday and when we got to Wal-Mart, the aisles with bottled water, bread, etc. were cleared out. We did get alot of things "just in case"- better safe than sorry I always say.

Steven and I have been having a good time playing at home. Here are some pics from this morning (the above pics are from last week). The older he gets, the more fun it is, and I realize just how blessed I am to be able to stay home with him and share moments like this.

Dean

"Hurricane forming near Gulf. Keep your gas tanks full."

This is the message that now reads on the electronic signs on Houston freeways. I saw it at the beginning of the summer (which is the beginning of hurricane season) and then it has reappeared in the last few days. We have had some serious showers end of this week, but nothing too bad in our area. Please pray for safety as this hurricane gets closer. We are not too concerned right now since we live pretty far inland but we did decide that we are going to fill up our gas tanks and go buy more groceries today. After Rita, people down here start getting anxious so I have to admit that when I was driving through a rainstorm yesterday with Steven in the backseat and saw the above message flashing, I had a slight desire to pack up with my men and head for the hill country.

7 is the number of perfection

Today is our 7th wedding anniversary. Yes, you read that right...7! Yes, you are remembering right...I just turned 27 in July. Yes...we were young. It's been a wonderful seven years and I am constantly reminded even seven years later what a blessed woman I am to have such a wonderful husband. These are just a few of the reasons that I love him so much:

1 He thinks Legally Blonde (one of my favorites) is funny.
2 He’ll quote movie lines back and forth with me.
3 He introduced me to Patty Griffin (and all types of other music).
4 He brags on my cooking.
5 His mischievous chuckle when he knows he’s been caught at something.
6 He has introduced me to all sorts of things that I would have in no way found funny before we were married- for example: Stephen Colbert
7 He’ll help me put together a play list and glue Oprah faces on a stick for his sister’s bachorette party.
8 He consistently shows that Steven and I come first before his career.
9 He was as excited about Harry Potter Book 7 coming out as I was.
10 He has been diligently seeking how to create an environment of grace and family worship in our home.
11 He patiently waited in College Station, TX before moving ahead with his career so that I could finish my BA.
12 He offers to pick something up for dinner on his way home if he knows I’ve had a long, hard day with Steven.
13 He asks what needs to be done around the house and yard even after all the long hours he puts in at work.
14 He brainstorms ideas with me for Steven’s birthday and help me find the perfect (and easy) cake design online.
15 He encourages me to read more and suggests that I read books he enjoyed so that we can discuss them.
16 He notices everything…haircuts, new clothes, jewelry, even different make-up.
17 He tells me I look good and means it.
18 He tells me what a good mom I am and how impressed he is with the job I’m doing with Steven.
19 He points out when I’m being too critical and hard on myself- a constant struggle for me.
20 He asks me what I think about scripture, books, financial decisions, entertainment, and news and cares what I think.
21 He unfailing desire to learn about anything/everything.
22 He gets excited planning vacations and dates for us and is really good at it.
23 He can tell when I’m at my breaking point and says,” I’ll put Steven to bed, why don’t you get out for a while.”
24 He has stacks of books that he has yet to read, but he’ll order more anyway saying that he’ll read them one day when he has time. He’ll probably still have books in our study he hasn’t read when he retires and hopefully by then he’ll have time.
25 He loves Harry Potter as much as I do.
26 He loves God, Steven and I, his family, and friends in that order.
27 After seven years of marriage, Charlton knows me better than anyone else. He is my best friend, my most trusted advisor, and the love of my life.

Happy 7th Anniversary, Charlton!

Mom's Haircut

This post is for my sister who is dying to see pics of my new haircut. Well, maybe not dying....but she did ask for pics.

Overnight trip

Charlton is out-of-town for a few days on business so Steven and I went to spend last night at my parents house. We went to see Gama's new place which I must say is very swanky and beautiful (and right down the street from my parents), before we settled at Mammaw and Pappaw's house for the evening. Steven was very happy to have all the attention and new places to explore. It was a short trip since we are already home again but fun. Charlton gets in tonight and we're excited that we'll have him home again.

Reading a book with Pappaw

Mammaw teaching Steven a new home-made game (rolling a golf ball down the tube). He laughed when it came out the other side.

His favorite thing to do with Pappaw














Sitting with Gama

Everything's Changed at 11 Months

I know I keep saying this but I can't believe how old Steven has gotten. Man, time flies! The first six months of his life seem to creep by and now I can't believe that less than a year ago he was so little he couldn't even lift his own head. I find this crazy speed of development just one example of God's amazing creation. It is clear that Steven is learning and developing everyday which makes him a very busy little guy. He now has 4 teeth that you can see in this first picture- it has totally changed his look and I can't help but smile back when I see that big toothy grin. He's around 22 pounds and words I would use to describe Steven are active, fun, vibrant, determined; he's my man-on-a mission and we have a lot of fun together. I took these following pictures yesterday morning. He's in my favorite pjs and up to his usual activities. His favorite thing to do for the past month has been to push all the chairs out from under the table (breakfast and dining).

Several weeks ago he started to really lay down and peer under furniture as opposed to repeatedly head-butt it before giving up. This week he's discovered if he lays flat enough he can actually get under things and he attempted to get under a breakfast room chair in this pic- he got about halfway.

He also loves to push around his dump truck- Daddy picked it out and also showed him how he can put other toys in it the back. Tupperware is his favorite to haul right now- ironic isn't it? He's a full blown walker now that he walks across rooms and from one to another. And even at 11 months our boy is a climber. We really have to watch him if we put him on the couch- he's been known to climb over the arm rests onto the end tables and then stand straight up (no kidding). The other day I was washing dishes while Steven was playing in the living room (about 10 feet away) with his activity table. I got lost in my

thoughts since I figured that he was fine...right...wrong. He pulled his Bumbo (that was also in the living room) up to his activity table and in seconds used it to climb on top of the table. I looked up because he was suspiciously quiet and saw him squatting on the top of the table like a little frog looking around...hmm, so that's what it looks like from up here. The Bumbo is in the closet now that I know it's become a step ladder. And needless to say, I've been very busy lately too.

First Steps

Steven's walking and we just can't get enough of it. He took 4 steps together on the Fourth of July (very appropriate and easy for me to remember) and then a few days later walked about 6 or 7. At that time, he would take them when he thought no one was watching and would sit down if we tried to get him to walk to us- he was doing it on the sly for practice I guess. Then he started getting more bold and taking a few steps between furniture. But now he's a crazy man on the loose and it's really cute. Of course, we get really excited when he walks so now he looks at us for a reaction every time. It kills us because he gets excited and claps for himself (a recent development) sometimes in the middle of walking. He's getting to be a really good little walker. He also learned this weekend how to give us "five." He gets excited about that too. Usually we say, "Steven give Daddy five," he does and then we all laugh, cheer "yea", and clap. We do it over and over again. I keep thinking he's going to get tired of it but it's our new favorite game.

Happy 1st Birthday to Saige!

My little niece turned ONE yesterday! I can't believe how old she is! Cheryl and Patrick had a family party for her at their house that was a lot of fun with lots of sentimental value. She is so sweet. I love having a niece and it's fun to watch her grow because Steven and her are so different. I love all the noises and gestures she makes- they just exude girliness. I switched to Cheryl and Patrick camera after a few pictures so this is the only one I have from yesterday (I'd like to say that Saige is thinking "Hey that's my ball...it's pink...you can't play with that."). I'll add more pics of them below from a few weeks ago that I never posted. I'm so excited to add another niece to our family (Cheryl's due Nov 19 with #2)- it's good for Steven is learn how he needs to play gently with girls and fun for me! Reality Check: Steven and Saige are exactly 5 weeks apart, so that means my baby is turning one in 5 weeks and I don't know if I can handle it!

Our Weekend with Harry

I usually would have done this post already but I've had a few distractions this week. Steven woke up Monday with a very mild case of pink eye; thankfully, it was very minor so the drops had completely taken care of it by the next day. However, this morning he woke up with a runny nose so we'll see if that amounts to anything- my poor kid! I guess that's what happens when you party hard all weekend. =)


The Harry Potter festivities began on Friday afternoon. My in-laws had planned on watching Steven while we went to dinner and see HP movie 5. When Brenda came to pick the little guy up, she suggested he spend the night. I was a little hesitant (not sure if I was ready for that "big step") and then it hit me how perfect it would work out (i.e. allow for more reading tim eon Sat morning). So, Steven spent his first night away at Mimi and Popo's Friday night. I was feeling slightly (or extremely) emotional and freaked out as I watched my baby being driven off to his first sleepover. These emotions in no way are a comment on my in-laws, I know that he's in very wonderful, caring, and capable hands when he's with them, but I've started to get a little emotional thinking about his one year old birthday being just around the corner anyway. He's not a little baby anymore- harsh reality but true.

BUT THEN, I started getting really excited about our weekend with Harry. I picked Charlton up from work. We stayed downtown to eat out and then hit the Angelika theatre for Order of the Phoenix. It was so good...great acting, camera shots, and summary of a info-packed book. We love the movies but they just don't compare to the creative grandeur of the books. We went home, but first Charlton wanted to stop at Wal-Mart and see if he could finagle a copy out of some HP-ignorant clerk who didn't know they couldn't sell them before midnight. He had no luck- they were prepared. (Charlton conveniently left this out of his version of the weekend) He then woke up at 5:30 Sat morning and promptly drove back to Wal-Mart to secure two copies of Book 7. I woke up shortly after he got home and we started reading them around 6:30. We got a good 2 hours of reading in before Steven returned home. Steven did beautifully at Mimi's, and though I did think of him often, HP had enough of my attention that I didn't allow myself to worry if he was ok (I did check in after the movie Friday night and twice on Sat morn though). We pretty much read all day, taking breaks when Steven was awake and then immediately starting up again when he napped. Steven took long naps this weekend so that was a wonderful thing; although, it was good to have an excuse to take breaks since I can get a little too into it sometimes. That's all I will say about the book so that I don't give anything away. Book 7 is awesome and that's an understatement. I do have to set the record straight though...my husband said in his post that I was at one point sobbing and that is definitely an exaggeration. I was terrified the whole time, emotional a few, and one time had a few tears slide down the side of my face. But I NEVER sobbed. I might would have but I was trying not to give too much away since we were reading in the same room. I'd love to email with anyone who wants to discuss the book but I promised I wouldn't stay anything that happens...right now. The pictures are of Steven playing with the HP balloons that Aunt Cheryl gave us to celebrate our fun weekend! And in response to Aunt Lindsay's comment, I did not pick that onesie to put on Steven because it matched the book, but the thought did cross my mind after I was already putting it on him, so there. Satisfied?!

Parenting Style

I have purposefully tried to keep silent on my chosen parenting style on my blog so as not to exclude other moms. I would never pretend to act superior because I don't think I have at all "arrived" in that arena. On the contrary, I have said before that I know now that being a mom is extremely difficult and although I have become much more confident as a mom as Steven approaches 1, I still sometimes have to throw up my hands and say "God help me...I don't know what I'm doing." This is why it makes me angry (ok, down right furious) when one parent attacks another...especially when it's two Christian parents. If we can't build each other up then who can?

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Charlton is in a google group chat with friends from college. Somehow a discussion on parenting styles (i.e. babywisers vs. demand-feeders) came up. Some on the other side (demand-feeders) got a little nasty so Charlton wrote a response (with some input from me) and posted it on his blog. I wanted to link it to my blog so that any who were curious about our parenting style could do away with any assumptions out there about babywise and here it from our own mouths. I would like to say that although I strongly believe and advocate our style, I know many mommies that come from all spectrum's of parenting style and all of them I know to be wonderful moms. Also, no two mom's styles are alike just because they follow the same general idea. If we truly believe in the grace of God then we need to start passing that grace onto other believers and a good place for us parents to start is with each other. Every mom I know despite style and method is sacrificial and loving (two things babywisers were accused to NOT be in the discussion). I'll leave my comments at that and let you read our very purposefully (and calmly, thanks to Charlton) written post; although, as you can imagine I had some other "choice words" to say to one person from the previous discussion in particular. My husband wisely deemed them as inappropriate and unedifying for other ears. However, if that someone attacks my mommy character again I might not be so nice. No matter what your parenting style is, Mom, you are welcome here.

502

That's the page I am on...pretty amazing since this is the first (newly released) HP book I've read with Steven at home...and so we have only read while he is sleeping. He took very long naps today for us...the little Darling (check out his new top tooth- there are two now)! I have been terrified out of my wits the whole book but am enjoying the plot and series unfold. Now it is time for bed...will post about our great weekend and HP more when...you got it...I'm done. =)

Wedding Pictures Preview

Several people have already asked if I have wedding pics up from Saturday so here is a quick post of our favorites from our camera. I am going to do a montage with music and the works but I am trying to decide if I want to hold off a few weeks until I have the prof ones too since there are holes (no ceremony pics- we were all busy!) in our personal pics.

Steven and Saige were fantastic- they smiled and laughed all the way down the aisle- despite Saige having a little cold and Steven was still teething (he's chewing on his shirt in most pics). The wedding was beautiful and went wonderfully...more pics to come.