All the sudden I feel like Jack has changed so much! I know he's only 5 mths old, but he feels like such a big boy now. He is into EVERYTHING! He's quick too! We've already broken a couple of bowls and glasses...simply b/c I'm not expecting him to grab things so quickly. He rolls all over the place too! The other night I came into his room and he was on his stomach...then that morning he was facing the opposite direction that I had laid him down facing! He LOVES all of his toys, but mostly the ones with tags. I'm definitely going to be purchasing some sort or "Taggie" pretty soon. He just stares at them, and touches them very intently. It's really funny! He also loves that rattle you see in the picture. He shakes it hard and very fast! I used to be able to lay him in his play mat and when I'd come back he would still be there, but not anymore! He's all over the places reaching for new toys.

It's so much fun. Brad and I LOVE it!

As for sleeping---things have been sooooo much better! I would recommend the Ferber method to everyone! Jack only wakes up once now around 12:30/1 to nurse, and then he goes right back to sleep! I can also lay him down awake at night and he goes back to bed! Its fabulous, and it was well worth the few painful crying periods I had to go through!

"its a beautiful morning...."

Sooo the peas were a one night deal. After that first night Jack decided he didn't like peas anymore...in fact he disliked them so much he actually appeared to shiver when I'd push a bite in...then he'd go on to gag and cough. Anyways....his little cold is over, and last night I nursed him at 9:30pm and went off to bed. Ofcourse around 10:30pm he started to cry, and thats when I decided it was time for an intervention. I decided to try the Ferber method and adjusted the time frames to what was comfortable for me---3 min, 5 min. and 7 min. After going after 3 min, 5 min., 7 min., 7 min. and having a serious talk with God....then going back in after I'd waited that forever long 7 min. Jack finally fell fast asleep before another 7 min. was up. He slept through the night, and was up and happy at 6am which was fine with me because I'd finally gotten a full night of rest. I'm sure we'll have to do the Ferber method for awhile until he gets it all down. I'm just thankful that we have a plan that seems to work :)

a pea a day will keep the doctor away

Yesterday I brought Jack to the doctor because he's been having a bit of a runny nose...then he started getting a cough...and then a hoarseness/wheeziness sound that kind of bothered me. It all turned out his is absolutely fine...everything is still upper respiratory thank goodness. Anyways, I asked the doctor for suggestions about his sleeping or lack there of at night. She suggessted the "Ferber" method I believe---its when you go in at intervals while he is crying starting with what you are most comfortable with---for example 3 min., then 5 min., then 8 min. and after that every 8 min. You go in console, pat..kisses...whatever, but don't pick him up until he eventually falls asleep. You can increase the intervals over the next few days to 5 min, 10 min. then 15 min. Since he's sick I didn't want to start that right now, but I was planning on doing it when he gets better. She said he certainly doesn't need to be nursing that much at night b/c he simply doesn't need it, he just wants it. Also I need to work on putting him to bed drowsy rather than fast asleep after nursing. All of these things I know---but its just really hard! She also mentioned adding some more solid foods during the day. I was just doing rice cereal and prunes at night, but she said I could add a morning and noon feeding with some more veggies. Last night I introduced peas and totally expected a funny face, but instead he just opened his mouth up wide for another bite! He loved them! As a result of the peas....he slept from 10:30-4:30 and then went back down from 4:30-8!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Is it b/c of the peas??? I don't know, but everyone knock on wood...now.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

I LOVE some Christmas jammies!

Jack is five months old...

~we feed him rice cereal now..but we add a little prunes to keep him you know...regular

~when he eats his rice cereal he groans...like mmmmm this is sooo good

~he can roll over from front to back, but he's kind of lazy about it

~he plays a little game where he'll smile at you and then bury his head in your shoulder...then look up and smile and bury his head and it'll go one for as long as you want it to

~he doesn't sleep at night---he wakes up atleast 4 times---its fabulous and we are really proud of his accomplishment

~he follows a great schedule during the day though--wake at 7:30, nap at 9/9:30, nap at 12, sometimes a nap at 3, bath and bed at 8

~he purposefully grabs toys and plays with them...he loves crunchy ones the best

~he makes the ma ma sound

~he loves when brad plays "rough" with him

~he wears 6-12 clothes

These are from the night when we put of the tree! He loved looking at the lights!

Thank you Kelly for the adorable shirt! We've already received an acceptance letter...they just couldn't resist!

I can't post too many pics of my baby, right?

Brad was holding Jack up in the air like this, and he'd laugh and laugh! It was adorable! He just loves his daddy!

I caught Jack sucking on his toes...good thing they are still sweet baby toes! I told him we can't make a habit of this when we get older!

These boots are made for walkin....

Happy Anniversary to me! Our special day is December 17th, but this morning Brad asked me if I wanted my gift early. After much debating and a curious mind that no one can stop...I decided ofcourse I want my gift early. He asked me if I knew what you're suppossed to get for your 3rd anniversary, and of course I had no idea. Well if you don't know either...it's leather or crystal. If you know me well at all you can probably guess I could care a less about anything crystal(and if I did I would probably break it)...so I started thinking...hmmm what would he get me thats leather??? Well...it turned out to be cowboy boots and can I tell you I was so happy. I've wanted a pair of cowboy boots my whole life, but they are pretty expensive and they've been put on my after residency list for a long time. Anyways today Brad took me to go pick out cowboy or should I say cowgirl boots, and I found the perfect ones. Here's a couple of pics for your enjoyment. I think I may wear them every single day. I love them---thank you sweets.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Today we went to Kinder, LA for Thanksgiving with my Mom's family. We had a wonderful time. The food was delicious, and it was great to go back to Kinder. My mom grew up there, and as a child I spent every Sunday and many weekends at my grandparents house in Kinder. My cousins and I used to do everything from shelling peas on the front porch to catching crawfish in the ditch with a homemade fishing pole. My grandpaw taught us how to tie string to a stick with a piece of bacon on the end, but the key was to put a small rock in the middle of the bacon so it would be sure to sink to the bottom where all the crawfish were. We spent many nights standing next to bon fires and roasting marshmellows...and many days riding fourwheelers and horses down gravel roads. We went every single Sunday for "dinner"...but for most of you it would have been considered lunch. Grandma would cook a roast and rice 'n' gravy, which other than fried chicken is one of the most southern old fashioned meals you can get. It's a real treat. Thank goodness she taught my mom who I made sure taught me! It took me awhile to perfect, but I think I've finally gotten it down. Most of the time when I cook a roast Brad won't even let me invite people over because he wants to have leftovers. Anyways, we had a great time out in the country, and everyone loved seeing Jack. John Scott actually went out to my uncles garden and picked some home grown veggies...which you can't beat! Here are some pics from the day, as well as some from tonight when my mom was feeding Jack. He still loves his rice cereal! Tomorrow we'll be having a "day after" Thanksgiving meal with my immediate family...I've gotten to eat 3 Thanksgiving meals this year! Last week while Brad's parents were in town we cooked a Thanksgiving meal so Brad could have Thanksgiving too, because ofcourse he didn't have the actual Thanksgiving Day off. I hope everyone has had a wonderful day! And just for kicks----I'm thankful for...
my loving family and friends, my dad's stable health, my amazing husband who works unbelievably hard so I can live this dream life, my sweet baby Sadie baby girl, my beautiful healthy baby boy, and this beautiful earth we all get to enjoy!

4 months

Jack is becoming more fun every day. He has really started to laugh a lot, and almost everytime you look at him he smiles. I feel so lucky to have such a beautiful healthy baby boy. I can't believe I get to have more...what a blessing! I have to say thank you to everyone for all the wonderful advice and ideas for helping Jack sleep better. Some nights are better than others. I had one comment though that has stuck out in my mind...one day you will miss those late nights with Jack...so with that I've completely changed my outlook on this situation.

Brad has been working extremely hard lately. We've hardly been able to see him. His parents are in town this week. Usually he only gets one day off a week...on some random day, but this week he combined this week and next weeks days to have two days off in a row. Its such a treat. This morning he walked into the room with this little bundle saying "one fish taco coming right up!" It was hilarious. Jack seemed to enjoy every bit of it!

Jack has been sucking on his toes...literally. He's quite flexible. I was trying to catch a pic of it, but this is all I could get!

advice anyone?

For awhile Jack was only waking up once a night and it felt like Christmas. Then he started waking up like he was 4 weeks old again...3 and 4 times a night. He was getting close to being four months and I was sure rice cereal would do the trick. At four months we gave him rice cereal and he only woke up once...but it went down hill again after that. I'm not trying to complain..broken sleep eventually becomes easier but..wait...thats not a good word...maybe you get used to it...no not completely...I don't know. I guess there are no good words to describe it...I just know that I deal with it---I still go one with my day and of course I don't get frustrated with my little man who can't help it and smiles so sweetly when I go to pick him up at 2 am. I pretty much just roll with it...but I would like any advice if you've got it. I feel like I've tried everything from keeping him up later...changing his afternoon nap to earlier...letting him "cry" it out a little...rocking him back to sleep rather than nursing him...giving him formula instead of breast milk before bed...making sure he's warm...patting him rather than picking him up when he crys...changing him...pacifiers...I feel like theres nothing else, but maybe one of you experienced moms will have some other idea ;) My mom says I was like that...I guess what goes around comes around :)

Rule #1: Never open your door for strangers!

Sooo tonight Brad is on call...just like he is every fourth or fifth night depending on the rotation. This month its every fourth night also know as Q4...yuck. Anyways...if you don't know already I'm a super scardy cat...always have been and always will be. I wasn't just born this way...I've had a few significant instances in my life that have made me this way. Not only am I a super scardy cat, but I'm also extremely cautious due to the fact that I lived in Baton Rouge while a serial killer was on the loose! Anyways...tonight I was sitting on the couch watching TV and someone knocked on my door--lovely huh? I stood up and my heart sank...they knocked again just a little louder...why didn't they ring the doorbell??? not sure. I walked to the door where my sweet husband has installed a peep hole just for me...but ofcourse I have some fall decoration blocking it :) So I walk to the office window and look out to see that there is no car parked in front of my house. They knock again...only louder and don't answer me when I say...who is it? All this time I have my cellphone in my hand about to call Brad and then I say to myself...what the heck is he going to do?...so I grab the house phone insuring my address will pop up when I call 911 and dial the those three dreaded and relieving numbers 911...I was feeling pretty light headed at this point...scared to death as they knocked again. I grabbed Jack as the 911 operator answered. I told her what was going on and she said for me to go somewhere where I could lock myself in a room...so up I went with Jack and Sadie. Ofcourse Sadie is pretty pissed off at this point so she runs in the room with me and then right back out again b/c they knock again and she feels the need to bark and protect us. I just close the door without her and then ofcourse she's all talk and decides she'd rather be with me...and starts scratching at the door...so I let her in quickly b/c I'm sure no one is in the house...and relock the door. The whole time the 911 operator is talking to me and letting me know the cops are on their way. After 10 minutes...which seemed like FOREVER...she says they have arrived and I can check to make sure its them by looking out the window. I walk outside and you wanna know who had been knocking on my door???? A solicitor...trying to sell me a water softener!!!! What an idiot!!! The cop was pretty disgusted as well and told them they needed to stop knocking on peoples doors at night and leave the neighborhood. Thank goodness it was just a solicitor and not some freak. So, now its 10:43 pm and I'm still awake b/c I'm scared...not sure when or if I will go to sleep. I'm sure eventually I'll fall asleep...it was just a solicitor...but it still scared me. Just always remember to stick to those rules you learned in elementary school---Never open your door for strangers! It doesn't matter what they are selling...you don't want to buy their junk anyways.

mmmmm yummy!

To say the least...Jack is still not even close to sleeping through the night. Our neighbor is a pediatrician and said at four months you can give them a little rice cereal...and tomorrow Jack will be 4 months, so I decided what the heck...tonight we'll give it a try! I'm desperate for some kind of decent sleep, and I'm very hopeful this will help. If it doesn't I'll be okay and accept these wonderful sleep patterns God has given my child, but we'll keep our fingers crossed. Awhile back Jack was only waking up once a night, but all of the sudden he relapsed to 3 & 4 times a night. It's hard to take steps backwards after things started improving. Anyways...I guess we'll see! I was quite suprised that he did as well as he did. I think he really liked it. Here a some pics :)

oh just chillin relaxin

I laid Jack down for a few minutes while I went to make my coffee the other morning, and I came back to this sweet little guy just relaxing and watching the Today show! Sooo funny...he's as laid back as his daddy! Hopefully he stays that way!

Brace yourself

Life brings us many things we can't contol, but we can choose how we will respond. Everyone needs to take the time to watch this video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=th6Njr-qkq0&feature=related

Splish Splash...I was taking a bath!

Bathtime is always fun! Jack can be really fussy, but if you bring him into the bathroom and turn on the water he starts to smile right away!

This yellow foam bath mat is one of my favorite things! I originally thought I would need a baby bathtub...but I came across this in Target and thought I'd give it a try before buying a bulky bathtub I'd have to find some where to store when I wasn't using it.

Luckily, I love it! I just wring it out after bathtime and keep it in the tub. It's perfect and it only cost about $5 at Walmart or Target.

Halloween Night!

Halloween nights are some my favorite memories as a child. I can remember clearly the fall leaves blowing down the streets and the smell of the crisp night air. The whole day I would be so anxious to get dressed up. As soon as the sun would start to set out the door we'd be! My parents used to own a preschool, and they would throw the best Halloween Party on the block...face painting...hay mazes...bobbing for apples...it was sooo much fun! We also lived in a wonderful neighborhood in "downtown" Lake Charles. Trick or treating was a big deal..people decorated their houses/garages/backyards and usually had more than just candy to offer...I remember one house that always handed out candied apples. You didn't have to worry about only eating individually wrapped stuff because you knew your neighbors and trusted them. Myself, Jessica and a friend named Mikey had a clubhouse we built and were always improving...it was called Pete's Playhouse because Mikey had a dog named Pete. One year we decided to make it a haunted house for Halloween...we decorated it and put flyers out in the neighborhood and invited everyone. So many people showed up to walk through our haunted house. My memories from when I was a child are so wonderful...we were so imaginative and innocent.

Tonight we had trick or treaters! It was great! Brad made me dress up like a doctor..of course! All the kids were so cute. Jack was dressed up like a pumpkin...but he spent most of the night fast asleep!

He missed all the action!
Sadie and I ready for our trick or treaters!

Before he fell asleep!

HAPPY SCARY DAY!

mission accomplished...wheww!

mission get back to prepregnancy weight officially accomplished october 30, 2008.

whewww. damn it feels good.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u5HRzaOFhec

never ever thought it would happen. i owe my success to breastfeeding...and well i must admit that i do work out 3-7 days a week, but really i think breastfeeding was the secret...or no secret at all. i use to work out all the time before i was pregnant and was never as successful at losing weight.

Zoo day!

Brad was off yesterday, and since the weather was so beautiful...we decided it would be a great day to take Jack to the zoo. His favorite thing was the fish...yes out of all the animals...he liked the fish best (i think it had something to do with the glowing bright colors ;) (for maximum cuteness click on the pictures)

Jack with his favorite exhibit!

i miss the highschool days...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FydN2IhiKtc

its a zoo day---cause we on down to the audubon zoo and they all asked for you! pics later!

jacks just chillin watchin some tv on a tuesday morning. notice the thumb in the mouth. he's been successfully sucking his thumb the past few days.

looks delicious? we thought so too. thank you paula deen.
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/cinnamon-buns-recipe2/index.html

it's been chilly.

if your husband is pushing 80 hrs + a week and you need a little pick me upper"...don't stress...don't stress" and
just do it...click on the link below. you'll have fun and be glad you did. do a little dance too. you know you aren't really leavin...its the "don't stress don't stress" part thats to be emphasized.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LYMDXK9ZpxQ

winter is a time for hats

finally...its getting colder outside and with that comes a need for a hat to cover jack's little head.

my mom took this one up above...she is so creative!

Weekend with Granna & PawPaw

1st four wheeler ride!

My parents with Jack

Jack and I made our journey to Lake Charles last week to cure my homesickness. It was such a wonderful trip. Saturday we went out to my parents property in the country, then we came home to watch LSU's victory against South Carolina! Sunday my mom cooked roast and rice n gravy...which you can never get tired of. It was great to be home...I miss home...I miss Louisiana. Brad and I have decided New Orleans just might be where we settle down in 7 years 7 months...can you tell I'm counting down? Although it would be amazing to live somewhere beautiful...like in the mountains or on a beautiful lake...being close to my family is more important to me. We can most definitely retire somewhere like that, but while we are raising kids...those places will be vacation spots and most likely New Orleans will be our home. I miss the culture...Audubon Park, the French Quarter, Mardi Gras, the sound of the street car passing by,the sight of people 2nd lining through Audubon Park, the smell of Cafe Du Monde, beignets, all the amazing food, the crazy afternoons of small jazz bands walking down the street playing just because, Magazine Street and the coffee shops, all the funny costumes you see people wearing on an average day...making it a not so average day, Jazz Fest, Voodoo Fest, Goldmine...gosh everything I loved it all sooo much. I can't wait to be back one day...so my kids can experience it all too...so we can spend our afternoons feeding ducks in Audubon Park playing. I want to live right next to Audubon Park....okay....I need to stop talking about it because its making me sad. Moving on...Brad is on call tonight and I'm still awake at 10:30...usually I'm fast asleep. I'm definitely starting to see the advantage of being awake at night while Jack is sleeping. A cool front came through today, and its super windy and chilly outside. I plan on spending most of my day outside tomorrow...and maybe the next day too.