8 Months

Lennox was 8 months old on Sunday. I cannot believe how fast the time has gone. We had his pictures made that day so I'll have to post a few once they are up. He was not in the greatest mood so I'm not sure how they turned out.

Yesterday we stayed at home and played all day. He is so busy these days. It is very difficult to keep him contained! I just love to watch how quickly he is learning things. Just yesterday he pulled up to a standing position on his activity table, he learned how to push his truck back and forth and make it roll so he could chase it, he found the cubby hole on his activity table and put the tylenol bottle in there, he ate table food and actually liked it (peas, carrots, banana). Ok, for a mom these things are major, for anyone else... probably not so much. He also decided he would give the boy in the mirror kisses... he loved that. It was pretty cute! Every time I walked away from the mirror he would scream so we could go back. That boy in there was just so cute and fun to play with! He screams to go outside as well. I guess he thinks he can get what he wants if he screams... wonder who taught him that!?

Prayers

Send up your prayers for baby Stellan and Mckmama.

When you read certain blogs on a daily basis, it is hard not to get emotionally involved in the lives of these bloggers who are actually strangers but feel like close friends. Just like Kristy, I am shedding many tears for this sweet baby. I am praying for God's hand to comfort and strengthen baby Stellan and the entire Mckfamily.

My goal for the next two months is to exercise more and eat healthy so that hopefully, I will lose 10 lbs. I thought if I posted on my blog that I was doing this I might be more inclined to stick with it. Some people (named Scott) have already expressed their doubt in my ability to perform this task! Ha, I say, I can do this! I made a little wager with a co-worker to lose 10 lbs by May 15th.

Why 10 lbs? Well, 10 lbs ago I was happy with my weight. I was exercising alot and I was eating less crap and I felt good and I felt healthy. That's my goal. To feel good about my health and appearance. I had slowly gained about 5 lbs before I got pregnant by being a lazy bum. I had pretty much accepted that that was my new 'normal' weight. Now I weigh 5 lbs more than I did when I got pregnant and I had almost accepted that as my new 'normal.' Then, it suddenly occurred to me that, if I have another kid, I might just tack on 10 more lbs and get used to that. Where do you draw the line?! Well, I've drawn my line and it's 10lbs less than I am now. So... I'm running and I'm eating better and I'm crossing my fingers that that is all that's necessary to lose 10 lbs by May 15th?!

One of my major problems, besides loving to eat, is that I snack alot. There are a few of what I think are 'healthier' snacks that I really enjoy so I thought I would share:

LOVE THESE!

I make it without the booze and it's just as good and it's filling!

It does need to be diluted a little...YUM!

The first time I tried these, I actually pressed the wrong numbers on the vending machine at work and I was M-A-D because I was really looking forward to the Twix (pre goal setting). Anyway, they are surprisingly good especially the Caramel Corn.

So, if there is something really great out there that is a semi-healthy snack, fill me in... besides fruit and vegetables. I've got that covered.

My sister and her kids came for a visit the about 2 weeks ago. We had a great time but it was super busy. So many people to visit, so little time! I did a terrible job of taking pictures.

Pop is a so comfy!

I wasn't too sure when Avery would decide to jump up, thus my hand. I just wasn't quick enough though because he still landed on the floor. Oh well, he's a tough kid.

Still not a tooth in sight????

I'm such a BIG boy!

Oops! Someone got rear-ended!

Here Jenson, Let me show you how to do that...

Uh OH... Doesn't look like Jenson's breaks are working!

So those are a few pictures of Lennox lately. He's getting so big way too fast. He still has no teeth, he's crawling everywhere and he's FAST. He doesn't sit for long before he's off to find something to put in his mouth... preferrably something that isn't made for his mouth (hangers, cords, remotes, phones, trash, leaves, etc). He loves to go outside, take a bath, eat his MumMums, play with his toys. His favorite book is the Love Bug book (thanks Ginger). He reaches for it everytime and cries when you put it up and try to read a different book. He has started going to bed by himself lately. I still try to rock him but then he flips and flops and I lay him in his bed and he sings himself to sleep. Ahhh... my child is already getting to be independent :(. He has his 4th ear infection and a terrible rash. Apparently he has strep in his ear and that's causing the break out? We are heading to the ENT next week to have his ears checked. The doctor doesn't think he needs tubes but she mentioned something about glue ear. Again, something I had never heard of. I researched it a little and it doesn't sound too serious as long as we get it addressed... if that's even his problem. So... that's Lennox's life in a nutshell this week.

Mum Mum

If you have a baby who isn't quite ready for table food, try these:

Lennox loves them. They are easy to hold, dissolve quickly, improve hand-mouth coordination, and they are good tools for entertaining! It's alot easier to cook dinner since I bought these.

Do I have something on my face?

Time is a ticking

but not fast enough for me. I got up for the second morning in a row at 3:40am so I could get home from work early but I'm suffering some serious consequences right now. My head is literally bobbing. I am dying to get out of here but I have a little less than 3 hours to go... There are several reasons I need to leave:

1. I am TIRED (as previously mentioned)
2. I need to get to Walgreens and make sure my deals are still available
3. I need to see my baby
4. My sister, my niece, & my nephew just got to town and I NEED to see them so bad I can't stand it!!

If anyone cares what I need at Walgreens (and even if no one cares), this is my plan:

1. 2 tubes of Colgate Total - the price is jacked up to about $3.50 but there is a $2.50 easysaver coupon and I have a $1 coupon and a $1.50 coupon
2. 1 bottle of Suave Shampoo - I have a coupon for a free bottle
3. 1 bottle of Garnier Fructis shampoo - $2.99 but I have a $1 coupon and there is a $2 easyasaver coupon
4. 2 tins of Blue Diamond almonds - $3.49 but they are buy one get one free and I have a $1 coupon
5. 2 bottles of Coffeemate - $2.50 but are buy one get one free and I have a $1.50 coupon

So... it looks like my total should be about $3.50. I'm pretty excited about that! Does the fact that I'm excited about Walgreens mean I have no life? It's a possible indicator but it's entertainment for me and I can use all of those things :)

another note for me

7 month visit to Dr for fever: 21 lbs 1 oz

This post if pretty much just so I remember but I have been trying to teach Lennox to say "Uh Oh." Pop claims that he does say it but Pop also has a history of unbelievable claims. We won't get into that right now though. Anyway, when I say "Uh Oh," Lennox says "UHHHHhhhh" in a really low voice like he's a scary monster then he smiles really big like he's done something great. I know he's trying to say the "oh" part but it just won't come out. Is "uh oh" a word? I don't know if that can be considered his first word... although, as I mentioned before, he did call me mama. Some might also think that I am following in Pop's footsteps on that note but Lennox really said that.

I've also been trying to get Lennox to eat a little table food. So far, he hates it! I tried letting him bite a really ripe banana. He loves banana in his mesh sucky thing. Well... not without it! He stuck his tongue out almost to his feet until the tiny banana spec fell out. I let him naw on a piece of an apple. Bad idea. He broke a tiny piece off and proceeded to gag until I jerked him out of the high chair and he puked on the kitchen floor. Bad idea mom... I gave him a bite of grits. Again with the tongue out to the floor until the grits fell out. He kept smacking his gums and sticking his tongue out looking at me like I gave him poison. Mango? nope... Avocado? no thanks... although he does enjoy a little guacamole at the Mexican restaurant. I guess he's just not ready yet.

Lately, Lennox has been really loving me. Just last week I was thinking that he doesn't show any real preference toward me or Jay. If he hasn't seen one of us for a while, he is definitely excited when we show up. But, as far as being a mama's baby or daddy's baby, I didn't think he was either. This week though, he's really been loving on me and reaching for me more. Maybe it's just in my head but I like it.

I can wave "hey"

Yesterday, I took Lennox to the doctor because he had been running a fever for several days. He's fine but while I was checking in the receptionist said "hey" to Lennox and he stuck his hand up and waved. Then, another lady in the office waved at him and he waved back! He proceeded to wave at the doctor, the nurse, and the fish on the wall! YAY... my baby can wave. I guess most babies wave bye-bye but we wave "hey" at our house. I've been working on waving for a while and I thought he got it about a month ago... turns out he just wanted to grab at what other people had on.

Lennox also figured out how to reach through his crib and get the video monitor cords. Fortunately for him (and for me), I heard the monitor hit the ground and prevented a near strangulation episode! I guess we'll be mounting the monitor on the wall?!

I seem to have misplaced my camera battery charger. I guess I'm going to break down and buy a new camera altogether. Mine is pretty dated anyway. Anyone out there love their reasonably priced, compact camera? Let me know...

Maybe no one else heard it but I DID!

This morning I went to the kitchen to make a bottle and left Lennox on the living room floor. He started fussing because that's his new thing when he sees people leave the room. Anyway, I fixed the bottle and went back to get him. I picked him up and he said "MAMA". I promise he did. Of course, I was home alone but I know that's what he said. It was so sweet to hear him. He has babbled "mamamama, dadadada, heyaiosufieotj" whatever else but this was a distinct "mama." It sounded like a little baby goat. ha. I started jumping around saying, "yes, I'm mama, say mama again..." He just grabbed his bottle. Oh well, I heard it....