10 months and ALL boy!

Wriston turned 10 months on the 1st.  He is growing up so quickly.  By the time Christmas and New Year's comes around, my baby boy will almost be a year old.  

We put up the Christmas tree right after Thanksgiving.  Despite my fears of Wriston knocking it over, he has been quite the perfect boy.  He is allowed to touch the tree.  When he goes to grab, he is told no-no and he actually listens!   He is amazed by the tree and if you ask him where the reindeer is on the tree, he points right at it.  He is so smart. 

I took him to the mall on Black Friday to start our Christmas shopping.  Santa had a short line so we decided to wait in line.  Unfortunately, Wriston was not too cooperative and cried the entire time.  I could not help but laugh because Stephen did the same thing when he 1st met Santa.  Like father, like son.

Wriston is still pulling up on EVERYTHING and graduated to holding our hands to walk.  I believe he will be walking on his own within a month.  I cannot wait! 

It's funny because I do want him to walk soon even though I realize every move he makes, every skill he learns, the less of a "baby" he becomes. 

But no matter what, my Wriston is still my baby boy.  He still wants to cuddle, he still wants his mommy to rock him to sleep or hold him while he goes to sleep, he still needs comfort when he gets hurt, he still smiles when I go to pick him up from his crib in the morning or pick him up from daycare, he still says ma-ma in the sweetest voice and still reaches for me when he wants his mommy. 

And that makes me the happiest and richest mommy in the world.  I love you Wriston!

Holidays and the final ten

The holiday season is here!  We hope everyone had a perfect Thanksgiving.  We had a nice day at the Bailey household.  We had my side of the family over for a big lunch.  We fried our turkey and had all the sides imagineable.  Everything was delicious!!  Stephen and I went out with our niece Charity at midnight to visit Target and Best Buy.  We were home by 2 am.  We slept til 445 and got up and went to Home Depot and Lowe's.  Charity, Wriston and I went out shopping again after W's morning nap and stayed til dinner time.  I did buy a few gifts for Stephen and Wriston.  Yesterday, Wriston, Charity and I went shopping with my parents at the Gaffney Outlets after I put up our Christmas tree and a few decorations. 

So, with November closing, it is time to list my final 10 items I am thankful for this year.

1. Naps!  After all that shopping, we needed a few naps!
2. Pictures with Santa.  While Wriston was NOT a fan of Santa, the picture is priceless AND looks like Stephen's 1st photo with Santa (he was a crier too) 
3. Christmas ornaments.  Each one has a special memory.
4. Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer.  Wriston's favorite song since a baby! 
5. Long weekends with the family.
6. Holidays.
7. Yesterdays, Todays and Tomorrows.
8. Smiles
9. Sunshine! 
10. Having more than 30 things to be thankful for

Guess that ends the list of 30.  I think my list could go on and on and on. 

10 more

Ten more items of which I am thankful for:

1. Amazing coworkers - they help my days go faster and have become wonderful friends!
2. My sweet Georgia Mae.  Precious puppy who came to our family 4 years ago.
3. Digital photos - great way to capture memories without having to print every single one
4. MY NEW KITCHEN - while not 100% complete, I. LOVE. LOVE. LOVE. it!
5. Redbox.  Enough said.
6. DVR.  Necessity with a child.  And even without.
7. Advancements in cancer treatment.  I pray the treatments help my uncle and dad in their battle.
8. Blogs.  Perfect to catch up on friends, find new recipes and get inspired.
9. My neices and nephew.  I cannot imagine my life without them.  I love them to pieces.
10. Christmas music.  It puts a smile on my face every single time.  By far, my favorite holiday!

I am looking forward to spending Thanksgiving with the family in a few days.  I'll be sure to post pictures!

30 Days!

So, it seems everyone on facebook started doing 30 days of thankfulness.  It's a nice concept.  With Thanksgiving fast approaching, I decided that instead of listing everything out one day at a time, I would go ahead and list 10 of my top things I am most thankful for nowadays.  10 more will come in a few days.. followed by another 10.

In no particular order:

1. I am thankful to be a mommy.  My sweet, amazing, perfect little boy Wriston Todd Bailey brings out the best in me.  Being a mom is such an honor and I am lucky God blessed us with such a precious gift.  I love my boy!
2. I am thankful to be a wife to my very best friend.  Stephen and I are lucky to still be in love almost 12 years after our first date.  We always have fun together.  I could not ask for a better friend, husband or father to Wriston.  I love you Stephen.
3. I am thankful for my family - all of you.  Being the youngest of four and the only girl had its ups and downs.  Today, I am thankful for my 3 older brothers, my fabulous parents, my inlaws and everyone else who I consider family.  You all mean the WORLD to me.  
4. I am especially thankful for my parents.  I have the best parents in the world.  They are always supportive, loving and understanding.  They let me make my own mistakes, follow my dreams and become the person I am today.  I am nothing without them. 
5. I am especially thankful to Gran and Pop Bailey.  Having lost my grandparents at an early age, I am so blessed to have them in my life.  They have never been anything but my Gran and Pop. 
6. I am thankful for my friends.  All of you accepted me for ME. You accepted my quirkiness, my loudness, my talkativeness, my ramblings, my outbursts... you loved me for who I am and who I want to be.  I could not ask for a better set of friends.  I love you all.
7. I am thankful for smiles in the morning from my sweet boy.  Nothing starts a day like seeing my baby grin. 
8. I am thankful for my remodeled kitchen.  While not completely finished, it is gorgeous and I love my house a little more than I did before.
9. I am thankful for my nephew and neices.  I am lucky.  I cannot imagine my life without them.
10. I am thankful for college football.  I love my gamecocks and the georgia dawgs :)
 

 



Taste of Charleston

Wriston just returned from his first visit to Charleston.  We took him this past weekend to attend the Taste of Charleston with my parents and Tim.  The weather was nice - cool and windy in the morning and warmer afternoon.  We toured the gardens and tasted a few samples.  I tried some Cajun Shrimp and Grits and a Crab Cake Slider.  I highly recommend everyone going next year.  It was worth the money (tickets are cheaper if bought in advance) and let's you try different area restaurants. 

Unfortunately, Wriston and I brought back a wicked cold and fever.  I stayed home with him today and we're hoping to be back to normal tomorrow.

Latest Wriston developments:

• Wriston is learning to snap.  While he does not make any sounds, he can put his fingers together like he is snapping.
• Stephen and I took Wriston to the pediatric dentist last week.  He had his teeth cleaned (remember, he has two) and we saw he has TWO new teeth making a total of FOUR.  The top two just broke the skin so it may be a week or two before you can really see them.  I cannot believe how fast he is growing.
• Wriston is starting to put his hands on the ground and straighten his legs - trying to stand on his own it seems.  

Catch up!

I am way behind on blogging!  Life has been a crazy one between work, gym and family life.  When I get home from work, I try to avoid the computer if at all possible.  Tonight, I am making an exception to get you all caught up on the Bailey's life!

Wriston talking on the "phone"

Stephen and I had a great Labor Day weekend.  We spent Saturday - Sunday in Greenwood with Gran and Pop as well as the rest of the Bailey family.  I think Wriston is such a lucky boy to be loved by so many.  When we walked in, Pop wanted to hold him immediately.  He held him and gave him several kisses.  Pop's love for him is obvious.  Moments like that are meant to be cherished forever.  Gran also spent time holding Wriston.  She sat and watched him play while he showed her his new tricks.  Last time we were up there, he was not sitting up but was rolling around.  Now, he's sitting and CRAWLING (more of an Army crawl at that point -- or "high crawl" as his Uncle Michael corrected us).  I think the highlight of his weekened - although, Stephen may disagree as Wriston was sleeping - was when he watched the Gamecocks win their first game against ECU!!  GO COCKS!  haha.   When we left on Sunday, Stephen and I talked about how blessed Wriston is to have his great grands in his life (mine passed well before I was born).  We only hope that Wriston will always know just how MUCH his great grands (especially) love him.  If Wriston grows into half the man Pop is today, he will be just fine.  He is such a special.little.boy.

So far, September has been a fabulous month.  Here are a few of his accomplishments:

• As I said earlier, Wriston began it with a high crawl, but now he is truly crawling.  While he goes faster while scooting, he can hold himself up and does at times. 
• He is also showing his curiousity.  He crawls over to drawers to open them up, he crawls to toys and under tables to pick up other toys and never seems to want to sit still (I think he inherited this from me??). 
• Furthermore, on Labor Day Monday, we went into his room and found him STANDING UP in his crib!!!  Now, Wriston pulls up on everything (or tries to) and likes to try walking.  When "walking" he does a high march with each leg.  I foresee him walking within the next few months.
• Wriston also likes to talk on the phone.  When given the phone, he says hey (or what I know is hey) and then adds some gibberish. 
• He CLAPS!  It is precious.

So, that's the gist of our life for the past few weeks.  I hope to post new pictures of Wriston soon!

Weigh In

I just started week 4 of the Biggest Loser Competition at the gym and week 1 of Weight Watchers.   As of Saturday, I am down almost 5 pounds.  I am so pleased.  I really did not expect to lose weight as I thought I would gain muscle.  Any loss is great loss.  I just want to be healthy.   It's nice to be on a new path! :)

Week 3

We made it to Week 3 of the Biggest Loser Competition at the gym!  I've kept up going to the gym 4 times a week and making it to the classes on Tuesday nights.  I made some new friends and am pleased with the progress.  I'll do a weigh in tomorrow morning.  Even if I've not lost weight, I do notice a different in my ability to lift weights.  It's nice.

I decided to join Weight Watchers.  I'm on day 3 and so far, not too bad.  I need to do a little more grocery shopping to be able to stay within the point ranges given.  I am hoping combining WW with the workouts will help me lose weight faster!

In Wriston news - he is still the most loving boy ever.  We took him to the Orthopedist Ped Dr for an x-ray on his hip.  His bones have not fully calcified so we could not see the ball where the leg goes into the hip, but based on what the Dr COULD see, he is pleased and told us to not even worry about it anymore.  We do go back when W is 1 year old.

Well, that's all for now ... off to enjoy my last weekend in my 20's!  WOW.

Day 9 - OUCH!

Just returned from my second gym nutrition and workout class for the Biggest Loser Contest.  Wow.  I really learned a lot.  We went over the harmful effects of too much sodium in food, even those hid in so called "healthy" microwaveable foods.  I was amazed to learn how much sodium and sugar are also in foods in restaurants.  It seems eating at home is really the only safe option.  We went over the top 30th saltiest foods - check out this list!  Who kne w some of the things are on there were unhealthy!  Instead of eating the daily recommended amount of 1500 mg of sodiumn/day, we'd eat three or four times that amount in ONE meal (also, notice some of these CALORIES!  WOW).  And then, once you are done there, check the sugar intake in some of these drinks!  I really am enjoying the class, the new friends and the new ME :0)

So, why OUCH?  As you are aware, this is really my first time back in the gym since having Wriston over six months ago.  I consider myself healed from the c-section even though I was advised not to have a second child til after 18 months of having Wriston (no worries there!) because of the internal healing that takes a little longer.   Until now, I never noticed any pain and all has gone smoothly.  Well, I ended up doing my exercise routine and when I got to the ab machine (w/weights), I really felt intense pain coming from my incision site.  I quit immediately and looked it up online (as it was after Dr's hours).  Everyone said they had the same issues and it was just the muscles building back up.  I decided to work out for two more days and if the pain continued, I would call the Dr. So, then yesterday, I realized that after doing the crunches/ab machine for over a week, I felt little to no pain... I even increased the weights.  YAY!  I am happy the muscles are healing now even if at a slow and slightly painful pace!

Tonight, at our bootcamp following the nutrition segment, we did continuous rotations of lunges, ab workouts, step aerobics, weight training and resistance bands and boy oh boy, I am SORE.  My abs are hurting along with my legs.  Wowzer. 

No pain, no gain... right?

Week 1 - Done!

Today is the final day of Week 1 in the Biggest Loser Competition.  I think I did fairly well this week - went to the gym 5 times, dieted nicely and learned a lot in our nutrition class.  At my weigh in this week (remember, we're required to weigh in weekly), I lost almost 1.5 lbs!  WOW!  I think that's great!  I really did not expect to lose any weight at all, so ANY weight off is welcomed.

I guess I realized this week that dieting is time consuming.  To avoid finding myself wanting something at a drive thru or giving up and hitting the vending machine, I am packing my lunch and snacks.  The lady who held our class on Tuesday (I'll call her a nutritionist even though she's not officially one - she's just an instructer with experience/knowledge on diets/plans) said we need to eat every 3 hours.  Each meal should include a protein, carb and a little fat and each meal should be the size of two fists.  I ended up going to the store and buying a lot of good proteins to help out during snack time.

Also, after talking to another training, I've decided to follow a modified Eat Clean diet.  Eat Clean basically means you avoid eating anything white -white flour, white rice, etc.  What I learned is that even if breads or foods say "whole wheat," that is not necessarily true.  I learned how to read labels and make sure I am buying foods that are "clean."  I am starting the diet with a modified approach to ease into the program and hope to eventually switch over 100%.

Overall, I am excited to see what happens over the next seven weeks!!  Keep sending positive thoughts and encouraging words my way :)  Every bit helps.

The night before our wedding!!

Noooowww... to change topics, today is my 7 year anniversary with Stephen!!   What can I say about him that you do not already know.  I absolutely lucked out when Stephen decided to come see me in Columbia back in my Columbia College days.  He has always loved me for me.  He has accepted my quirkiness, my loudness, my passion for life, friends and family and my faults.  While he is my opposite and some view him as a complete opposite, until you really get to know Stephen, see him in his quiet moments, see him when no one is looking - see what I (and a few close family and friends see), it's hard to understand how we even came to love one another.  Truth

8-7-2004

is - Stephen is just as quirky, loud, funny, opinionated and silly.  Yes, he lets things "roll off" instead of taking them so seriously, but that's what I love - he is the one to balance me out.  And having him as Wriston's dad just makes him an even better husband.  I love him more and more each day.  I love him for everything he stands for and everything he hopes to be.  I love his drive, dedication, honesty and love for knowledge.  So to sum this all up, I look forward to spending the rest of our lives together.  He is my best friend.  I love you, Stephen!

New Month = New Me w/a 6 Month old!

 
Finally August - hard to believe I have a SIX month old now!  We went on vacation a few weeks ago to Ocean Isle Beach, NC.  We (the Todd's) rented a house on the beach and it was literally right off our back porch.  We had a very relaxing trip and Wriston seemed to enjoy the beach.  He was not out too much, but was able to stick his feet in the sand, the ocean and mostly, in his mouth!  While at the beach, numerous "firsts" came - Wriston was able to sit up on his own, Wriston got in his FIRST tooth and then two days later, got his SECOND tooth!  My baby has TWO teeth!  And of course, Wriston being the sweetest baby did not seem to complain/fuss about his gums hurting.  He is a trooper! 

As we know, this month is super special for numerous reasons!  First, Stephen and I have our SEVEN year anniversary this year!  How wonderful for us!  We celebrate our anniversary this Sunday, August 7th.  No real plans at the moment and presents are being postponed.  Second, Mom celebrates her birthday on the 21st and then third, Dad and I share our birthday on the 23rd!  I will finally be (what I use to consider OLD) the big 30! 

Being a mom has really changed me and all for the better.  While Stephen may disagree, I am more patient, maybe more understanding, more loving, more family-oriented, more loyal to friends, more accepting of others, more faithful to God and a believer in myself.  With all the health issues in my family, I really want to make sure that I am the best not only for myself, not only for Stephen, but for Wriston.  He deserves me at my best.  God blessed me with him and I owe Him lots. 

So, it seemed like a twist of fate that I received an email from my gym (that I've been a member of but not visited since a little after I found out I was pregnant) for the Biggest Loser Contest.  Basically, the contestants have to be able to lose at least 15 lbs, work out at the gym 4 times a week and (while optional) attend a class that gives out nutrional info the first half and then a workout class for the second half.  The contest began on Monday, the 1st.  I weighed in and was not surprised (or pleased) with the results.  However, it is the beginning and what matters if the effort and the results at the end.  The contest last eight weeks and has weekly weigh-ins.  This week, I met with a personal trainer on Sunday go to over the exercises I needed to do and discussed diets.  Monday, I did the exercises we did on Sunday.  Tuesday, I attended the class and workout class, which ended up being Kickboxing!  Every class has a different type of exercise class at the end of it.  Today, I worked later and am taking the night off.  I will be back tomorrow and Friday. 

I will try to post pictures of me weekly so we can see if anyone notices a difference.  I am really excited about the possibilities ahead of me as well as the diet I decided to follow.  While nothing "official," I am going to try to eat "clean" as well as calorie count.  I learned a few things in class last night that I think will help put me on the right track to eating right and losing weight.  So, watch out - come October, I hope to be healthier!

Playtime, Projects and Prayers

Wriston is quite the young man.  My new favorite sound is waking up and hearing him talking in his crib.  He's quietly playing with his feet and speaking his gibberish ... and of course, throwing in a few raspberries!  I cannot help but giggle.  Being a mom is wonderful!  Our daily routines are more standard now.  Wriston is in bed by 7:30 pm and sleeping til 6:45ish.  He's eating a little food 3 - 4 times a day and loves it.  We decided to stop feeding him carrots after a few mishaps.  His favorite food seems to be bananas/apples and sweet potatoes!  He loves a new teething ring and Mom saw his little teeth under his gums - guess they will make an appearance in the next month or so.  Wow.   How adorable will he look then?!!  Precious I am sure.  He is still very well behaved and loves being talked to (takes after his momma, eh?).  He has a new high chair and exerciser at the house - both of which he loves.  Once we get back from vacation, it will be time to (*tear*) take down his baby swing as he has outgrown it.  Wriston's 6 mth appointment is scheduled for August 3rd and I am excited to see his stats!  Wriston is also trying to sit up on his own ... he can last a few seconds (maybe up to 7 now), but I think by the time we come back from vacay next weekend, he will be sitting up for a long amount of time. 

Stephen has been a hard worker.  He is in the process of fixing our back deck.  When we moved in, our deck was not in the best condition and after 2 years and some change, we decided it was time to put some effort into the back yard.  He has done a GREAT job and I am proud of him.  I'll post pictures of progress once he is done so you can see it all at once.  I think it will be finished after vacay.  Also, once it is completed, I think it will be time for a Bailey cookout :)

Vacation starts this weekend.  We're doing our annual trip with my side of the family.  Instead of going to St. Augustine, FL as usual, we're sticking it out at a house in Ocean Isle, NC.  We're Oceanfront and I am excited to put Wriston's toes in the sand for the VERY FIRST time!  We (now, speaking about the Todd side) are in need of a vacation.  We have been through quite a few rough weeks.  Perhaps you've seen me just a bit down or thought I was acting a little off (more than normal).... so here's the reason why.  Just a few days ago, it was confirmed that Dad has Prostate Cancer.  Cancer - what a powerful word.  It's so taboo.  No one ever wants to mention it or think about it.  Truth is - it is a scary word.  You cannot help but face the "what if" thoughts, but, luckily, advancements are made every day in cancer research and cancer no longer seems to be an automatic death sentence.  Luckily for him, Prostate Cancer is curable and we can only pray all goes well with treatment.  While I did not share this with everyone earlier (wanted to know results of everything first), I want to say a special thanks to those who did know, who prayed, who kept us busy/mind off things and who were just there... means a lot.  We are just in the beginning phases of this part of the journey, but I want to ask anyone and everyone who reads this blog, to put my dad (& others dealing w/prostate or other forms of cancer) into your daily prayers or on your church prayer list as it can only help!   Send positive thoughts and love our way.  I will try to keep everyone posted as we make our way through it as a family.  I look forward to one day telling everyone he is a survivor.

Letter to Gran and Pop

For the most part, the Bailey household has run smoothly this week.  Wriston is now 21 weeks old and set to officially turn FIVE months on Friday!  Even more exciting?  His harness can be burned... to ashes... never to return again... as yesterday was his last day in the darn thing.  We're excited to see him have the freedom to now sleep as he wants although now it worries me at night as he prefers sleeping on the belly.  We'll go back for an x-ray at his 6 month check up in mid-August.   The Ortho Dr is expecting to see great results and never worry about surgery or further "therapies" if we want to call it that.  We pray he is correct!

This past weekend, we went to visit Gran and Pop Bailey (Stephen's paternal grandparents) who celebrate their SEVENTIETH wedding anniversary next month.  We hoped by throwing the party earlier, we'd get more out of town guests and avoid it clashing with our schedules.  SEVENTY years of marriage - can you imagine?  Stephen and I married when I was almost 23 and he was almost 26.... at our 70th anniversary we'd be in our early to mid-90s!!  Wow.  We're hitting our seven year mark in a little over a month, but that is still far FAR away from 70!   For their anniversary, they did not want gifts.  So, we bought them two frames and filled them with pictures of Wriston and us.  Stephen and I also wrote Gran and Pop a letter to explain how much they mean to us (we wrote separate letters). While a little personal, I wanted to share my letter with all of you... and really, with all 3 of you who read this blog, it's not like it's going global :)  Here's my letter (excuse all errors as I'm no editor)

Dearest Gran and Pop,

            Happy Anniversary to two of the most wonderful people I know and love.

            It seems so long ago that you two came into my life or me into yours.  I came with Stephen to visit you almost eleven years ago Labor Day weekend 2000.  Meeting you two made me very anxious as I hoped you could see just how much I loved your grandson.   You both immediately accepted me into your home, your lives and your hearts and I am forever thankful. 

            I never knew my grandfathers as both passed away before I came into the world.  I grew up with two grandmothers, one of which passed away at two, so memories of her are very faded.  My other grandmother lived until I was in the seventh or eighth grade and passed away from pancreatic cancer.  Prior to her being diagnosed, we saw her very often.  She moved into our house every summer and took care of us while Mom and Dad worked.  She and I got along very well – we watched tv, had pretend tea parties, went down to the lake and I swam while she watched, read books together and were roomies all summer.  Even though her death ended up being somewhat expected, it was hard to go so many years without having any grandparents in my life.  I envied others who were blessed to have them. 

            Meeting Stephen and having him love me has been the best thing for me (now, this ties with having Wriston in our world).  By him bringing me into his life, he gave me another grandmother (Granny Shepherd) and the two of you.  Even though Granny passed away so unexpectedly, she is in my heart forever.  We shared a lot of memories and she will be forever missed.

            Having the two of you in my life has meant the world to me.  It is hard to explain just how much the two of you mean to me, but I want to give it a shot because I think, at times, we all need a reminder of how blessed we are to be with the ones we love. 

            Gran and Pop, there are no words to describe just how much I love and adore you.  And no words can ever describe how thankful I am that you took me in, right away and started treating me like a granddaughter.  The first day we met, you wanted to be called Gran and Pop; it is the best feeling in the world and such an honor to be able to do so, even now.  You both are so proud of your children, grandchildren and great-grands, but I wonder if you realize that they are the way they are because of you.  I really should thank you for Stephen.  He is the most gentle, loving, family-oriented, caring, God-loving man and a lot has to do with the influences of the both of you, Gene and Nancy and Granny and PawPaw Shepherd.  He is the most wonderful person who would do anything for anyone and it really has a lot to do with the two of you. 

            The two of you are the perfect couple and I can only hope we end up being the example you two are in our children and grandchildren’s lives.  You have set such an example for your family and you should be proud.  I love how we can just do nothing but sit and spend time with each other.  I love how we gather around the table to play dominos or sit and watch the girls dance and play.  I love how we can reminisce about old photos and family memories.  I love how we can go out to town and eat ice cream or visit local shops.  I will always remember when you came and spent Christmas with us a few years ago.  I love how we are still able to see each other and spend special times in our lives with one another.  I just love having the two of you to love.

            Gran and Pop, you two have always been there for us.  Even without knowing, you taught us more about love, life and the importance of family.  I realize Stephen and I took you both for granted.  We are truly blessed. 

            We are so blessed to now be parents of our own.   Having Wriston in our lives has taught us a lot more about love, understanding and again, the importance of family.  I wonder if he will ever realize how lucky he is to have such wonderful great-grandparents in his life.  At our last visit, Pop said we had a “fine” young man.  We only hope he turns out to be as fine of a man as Pop and grow up to be as strong as you, Gran.   We hope to instill him with Christian values, a love for himself and others, a sense of security and a knowing that he is always a part of something greater than himself.  Thank you for loving him as much as we do. 

            I want you both to know that I love you more than I can even begin to express.  I love having grandparents after losing the ones on my side of the family.  I wish you many more years of love and happiness.  Again, thank you for always being there, always being supportive and always loving us.  We love you and always will.

                                                                                                Mandy

So, there's my letter to them.  While maybe not written the best, it comes from the heart.  I (and the rest of the Bailey's and everyone who knows them) am blessed to have them in my life.

Below are a few pics from the weekend festivities.  Thanks to everyone for reading the blog and enjoying our journey - 21 weeks down and a lifetime to go!

TWENTY - yes, TWENTY weeks old.

I honestly cannot believe how quickly Wriston is growing.  He's TWENTY weeks old today!!  I am really trying to take advantage of all the time we spend together because I know, at some point (though hard to believe), he will not want his mommy to rock him or cuddle with him.  As of now - I consider him quite the mommy's boy - I think even Stephen would agree.  He loves his daddy bunches though. 

Wriston is a good eater.  He seems to like all the food so far except for carrots.  The Dr said it takes 15 tries at a food before knowing if a baby really dis/likes something so we will keep trying.  He likes to chew on his tongue and touch faces (which means possible hair tugging and face scratching).  He likes tummy time, but only on his terms.  He likes to sit in the tub and splash a little now.  AND, while I am hesitant to write it in his baby book, Stephen and I both believe he said "hey" the other day.  I snuck up behind Stephen and Wriston said hey!  We'll see if he can repeat it first before writing it down. 

We've had a lot going on lately, but the one constant is Wriston's ability to make everything seem better and without him even knowing.  He's just perfect.  He can do nothing and yet do everything to make a person's day better.  What power a smiling baby has on a person!!  Who knew?

It seems a lot of my friends are having babies now and what a blessing for sure.  Every birth I hear about just brings a smile to my face!  What a miracle!  I am blessed to be a mom and even more so, Wriston's mom.  And we are all lucky to have each of you take part in his life!!  Love to all!

Happy Father's Day, Daddy! Love, Wriston

Happy First Father's Day to my darling husband Stephen!  One of the best parts about being a parent is seeing your husband as a daddy.  It cannot be beat.  Stephen is a great husband - he's so laid back, easy going, non-confrontational... basically, my opposite.  As a father, he's just the same, but the best sides of him come out - the loving, caring, can't-wait-to-get-home-to-see-my-baby side!  Who knew we would race upstairs to see who Wriston smiles at first after his nap OR even who would Wriston want to rock him when he's ready for bed.  Being a father is a great role for Stephen - it fits him like a glove.  I think when we first met, I knew he was a great family man so it made sense for us to want a family.  Wriston is lucky to have him as a daddy and I cannot wait for him to say so himself.

Our weekend was a little crazy.  While Stephen was away on a fishing trip, Wriston and I decided to do some shoppping on Saturday! With his harness officially coming off in ONE WHOLE WEEK (you may recall, he's still wearing it for night/naps), I decided it was time for him to get new pajamas with feet in them.  He's been in PJs that do not have feet as the harness does not work otherwise.  We bought the 9 mth pjs and I think he'll fit into them fine.   He's a big boy! 

This morning, Father's Day started off at 6:45 am.  Wriston was talking to himself in the crib and playing with his blanket - now THAT is something wonderful to wake up to in the morning.  We fed him and put him down for a nap.  We then went to a NEW church to visit and really seemed to like it.  We visited a church about 2 weeks ago but the congregation was too small and were an older bunch.  We are really looking for a church with a decent younger adult bunch so we can meet more people our age and have Wriston around others his age.  The church today is a Presbyterian USA (that's our preference anyway) and I really liked the sermon about having hope.  Sometimes, it takes a sermon for things to just "click" in your own life.  I think we may go back there on Sunday. After church, we picked up a few items for dinner.  For dinner, we fixed some chicken kabobs, rice, baked beans and rolls.  Yum.  We cooked at mom and dad's house so Dad could enjoy a Father's Day dinner too! 

While it has been a great Father's Day for us, I cannot help but think of those who are not close to their father or have lost their father.  I think of my parents and wonder if they miss their parents.  I dread the day I face it, but hope to make many more memories with the ones I love so when the time comes, we can look back on the positive times in our lives together.  I wish everyone a peaceful day today.  We prayed for you today in church and we will do so again.  We are thinking of you all.

Ah, daycare...

I've said it before - I don't know if I could be a 24/7 stay at home mom, BUT, I do KNOW that I am SO over Wriston being sick twice in a 3 week time period and only after being there for about 5 weeks!!  BOO.  Wriston got over his HFMV, I got over my throat, bronchitus, gunk virus and NOW Wriston is dealing with a cold.  I am convinced that one of the girls in daycare got him sick.  I've made comments for the past 2-3 weeks about how one girl in particular sounded HORRIBLE when she coughed and was told "Oh, she's been to the Dr and they say she's fine..."  Sounds like she needed a different Dr.  I know we can't always medicate our children, but don't send your kid to daycare sick (if it can be avoided) AND if you're child has a horrible cough for more than a week, GO TO A DIFFERENT DR or just GO to the Dr.  I was told that his cough should last no longer than 7-10 days.  Luckily, he seems to be getting better. 

Now off that rant...

Wriston is loving to roll.  I'm glad we have him in a a harness at night to avoid him rolling completely over.  It helps me feel better to know he can't be face down in the crib.  He does love it and just grins when he rolls to the belly and looks around.  He seems to love it more after eating ... I think so he can purposely spit up on everything, but that's life.  He's still the cutest.

Our weekend festivities included seeing friends from Charleston on Friday night and Saturday for breakfast.  Wriston was in a great mood and loved the visit.  On Saturday night, we took him to a cookout for a bit and he seemed to really enjoy himself.  Now, it's about time for dinner!

Cancelled Trip!

So, right now, I should be in Charleston with the girls... getting ready to hit the beach... umbrellas and drinks in hand.  Instead, I am home and sick... life of a mom I suppose.  I've tried to kick this sickness for days now and I thought I was feeling better but then woke up yesterday to a horrible sore throat.  Therefore, the girls trip is postponed for a few more weeks.  A look at the brightside?  Spending more time with W and Stephen.  Wriston stayed out of daycare yesterday and we played!  (Note: Dr said I am no longer contagious) 

Stephen and I took Wriston to his 4 month check up on the 1st.  FOUR MONTHS!  Wow.  Turns out, Wriston weighs 15 lbs (50th percentile) and is 26 3/4 inches long (95th percentile).  He is a BIG baby!  To put this into perspective, according to Stephen's baby book, at 4 months, Stephen weighed 15 lbs, 4 oz.  His length is missing.  However, at 5 months, they wrote down Stephen was 27 1/4 in long. 

The Dr said there is a test you can do to figure out how tall your baby will be, but the accuracy varies between 6 inches - although the test is then about 90% correct.  He said the baby normally ends up in a height between the parents height.  So, Wriston can be anywhere from 5'4" to 6'6".  Let's face it - he's going to be much taller than his mommy.

Dr. B said he looks great and explained how we could start him on food.  I already explained to him a week ago (whenever we went for W's sick visit) that I started him on rice cereal at 16 wks.  Since then, Wriston ate bananas, green beans and squash (he LOVES it).  We're supposed to introduce 1 food for 3-4 days to check for any allergic reactions.  We're off to a great start.

How can you not love this 4 month, 15 lbs, 26 3/4 in boy?!!  He is AMAZING.

1st Sickness!

Wriston is now 16 weeks, 4 days old.  He officially turns 4 months on June 1st!  We've had a busy month so far!

Wriston and I took a trip to Newberry a few weeks ago to see Jennifer, a friend from law school, get married!  We went with Paige and Kendall.  Wriston was the cutest guy there if I do say so myself.  The picture on the left was taken a few minutes before deciding to sleep through the ceremony!   Jennifer looked stunning and we had a great time catching up with our friends from law school! 

The following weekend, Wriston and Stephen went to visit his Nana, Stephen's mom, as her birthday was on the 20th.  While they visited, I went to get a hair cut and color.   Much needed.  I hoped to take a picture with W afterwards, but he seemed a little "off."  Both Saturday and Sunday night, W was up every few hours - finding it difficult to sleep.

This past Sunday, Wriston ate rice cereal for the FIRST TIME!  He seemed to like it. 

 Monday, the poor guy woke up and actually did not seem to want his bottle.  Odd.  He ended up drinking but did not seem so happy.  I also noticed that what I thought might be ant bites on his legs were getting worse.  I let daycare know that if he seemed off to please call us and we would take him to the Doctor.  A few hours later, they called as he was not taking a bottle and was crying.  So, that afternoon, we found out my poor baby had Hand Mouth Foot Virus.  The "bites" were really blisters starting to form.  The Dr said it shows up because the baby is fighting the infection.  Needless to say, no meds except for Tylenol.  Really?!  Ugh.  So, we kept Wrist out of daycare for the week. 



Leaving the Dr's office!



Let me say that I hope NO ONE gets this awful virus.  Basically, it's a horrific sore throat that can cause the baby to not want to eat/drink because it hurts so bad.  I even had to leave work one day to try to get Wrist to take a bottle.  Poor guy was MISERABLE!  When he was not sleeping or doped up on Tylenol, he wimpered and cried.  He cried himself to sleep.  Having a sick baby is so hard as a parent because you can only wait it out... I rocked him, I held him, I loved on him but he was still in pain.  Luckily, by Thursday morning, he seemed a lot better, although not 100%.  We are so thankful he is back on the road to recovery!!

FIRST Mother's Day!

Wow!  I knew this year would bring about a lot of firsts - first word, first Christmas, first step - but I never really considered my first Mother's Day!  Stephen and I were blessed with being able to have Wriston after months of trying, but I cannot help but think of those who have not been as fortunate.  For the mothers out there, to the one trying to conceive or even those who one day hope to be a mother, Happy Mother's Day! 

Mom and I are really close.  She is a wonderful mother, sister, wife, grandmother and friend.. to name a few.  She taught me a lot and I really only hope that one day I can be as great of a mother to Wriston and any other children who may come our way as she is to us.  And really, for her to put up with me, well, that says a lot!

My Mother's Day weekend was perfect!  Friday night, Stephen and I, along with my parents, took Wriston to the Strawberry Festival in Fort Mill.  We saw a few of our fellow Fort Millians and ate some good food. 

Saturday, Stephen took me to buy the gift Wriston wanted to buy for me - a brand new laptop!  Wahoo!   We also went to dinner at Bonefish Grill and YUM is all I can say!  Anyway, I think Stephen let him spend more money on me becccaauuuseeee....

Today, Stephen brought home his brand new (early Father's Day gift) zero-turn riding lawn mower!  We went to buy the trailer for it today and honestly, I do not know if Stephen or the men at Home Depot were more excited!  Stephen let me drive it around the yard.  Fun times!  Also, today I received a card from Wriston that he signed himself --- hence the pen mark on his leg.  Oh boy!

So, in honor of my first Mother's Day, let's take a look at how much my lil boy has grown since his conception... the very moment that made me a mommy!

It starts at 6 wks, 4 days

If only we knew then, he was stuck like that - breached!

Thanks to my fabulous son Wriston for making today such a wonderful and special day for me!  I love you, your daddy and the rest of our family so very much! 

Where does the time go?!

I cannot believe it is already May!  I am so behind on this blog!  If I end up getting a laptop for Mother's Day (hint, hint Stephen/Wriston), I may be able to update this a little more often!

Wriston is now officially THREE MONTHS old!  Where does the time go?  I posted this on facebook but I'll reiterate here - Stephen and I MADE IT... we SURVIVED!  When Wriston first came into the world, he was having to eat every two hours.  So, by the time we changed him, possibly changed an outfit or two, fed him, rocked him and prayed he went to sleep -- it was time to eat again!   No rest for the weary!  Needless to say, we're finally at a really wonderful schedule.  Wriston is in bed between 8-830 and sleeps until 545ish - 7ish.  What a difference a few hours of sleep can be for us and Wriston! 

After a little over three months of being away from work, I am going back tomorrow.  I'm really sad to leave him.  Nothing is better than walking into his room and seeing him smile his gorgeous smile once he sees us!  I am going to miss all our conversations during the day - even if 99.97865% of it is gibberish.  I am going to miss rocking him to sleep before naps, holding him when he needs to be held and watching him develop!  I know I can still do a lot of these things after work and on the weekends, but being away from him hours at a time will be hard.  I can do it.. I can do it.  Being a full-time stay at home mommy would be wonderful, but I guess I decided I would opt out of that once I decided to spend a whole heck of a lot of money on law school.  And I guess a part of me feels like I want to contribute financially (let's keep that between us and not tell Stephen -- we know he doesn't read this blog) and continue meeting wonderful people at work and in the "outside" world.  Now, if I did not have the massive law school debt, I might feel differently!  Ah, 15 years from now... wow... Wriston may start driving before that loan is paid off.  Ok, let's not discuss debt as I do not want to depress myself.

So, a few weeks ago, Stephen and I took Wriston and had some photos made of us!  Here are three of my favorites!  I'll post the rest of them on facebook later.   Enjoy!

I really want Wriston to have a lot of pictures to look back on when he's older.  Maybe when HE has children of his own (decadeS from now), he will want to compare his baby pictures to his baby's pictures.  I really do not think I have a lot of baby pictures taken of me... which is odd considering I was the last of 4 and the only girl.  Hmm.  I feel the love.

As to update you on Wriston's development, he really loves to hold his own hands... like the "I'm plotting something" look.  He loves to play on his playmat and is still trying to sit on his own.  He has a Bumbo now and sits in that OK.  He's surely growing. 

To those unsure about whether they want kids or even want them right now... I recommend it (at least if you're willing to make sacrifices on your personal time and put someone else first)!  Do Stephen and I stay home more?  Sure.  Do we miss out on wild and crazy trips out of town?  Sure.  Is it worth it?  Absolutely.  Wriston is my heart and soul.  I don't know how Stephen and I made such a beautiful and loving baby, but he's perfect in every single way. Nothing is better than walking into a room and Wriston seeing us and grinning or being the one who he wants to hold him.  God is good. 

Weekend Reminders

Stephen, Wriston and I had a great weekend.  Except for Saturday evening, the weather was perfect!  Wriston and I were able to buy some flowers on Friday afternoon to plant over the weekend.  We are very excited for the warm weather to stay and I look forward to Wriston's first time at the beach, in the pool, in a bathing suit... all the other summer firsts!!

Friday evening, we met our friends Hope and Charlie out for dinner.  Hope and Charlie were in town for the night as they were flying out of Charlotte to visit Charlie's relatives in California.  Hope and I met in the Fall of 1999 at Columbia College.  She was my suitemate our freshman year.  We became instant friends and remained close over the past years!  It was nice to see the Cole family!

Spending time with Hope made me realize how nice it is to have such wonderful friends in our lives.  It is great being able to not talk to a friend for a while and act as if you were never apart.  I am lucky to surround myself with people who make our friendship so easy!  Life is busy with a baby and sometimes sending a text message can seem to hard to fit into my day so it is nice to be able to get together with my besties and not feel like I missed out on anything.  I think back to my middle school days -- friendships were so complicated!   I remember ending friendships and starting them back up within minutes ... how hard we made them seem!  And now, as I get older, my friends become my family.  We can talk about anything - the good and bad - and still remain the best of friends.

So, to all my friends out there -- THANK YOU for your patience, understand, love and support!  I love all of you so very much.  And thank you for playing such an important role in my family's life.

9 weeks!

WRISTON CAN WEAR PANTS!!!

I am SO extremely happy!!  With Wriston's harness, we were told he could only wear pants over the legs, but would likely need pants a size up.  I was a little skeptical.  Then, this morning after his bath, I decided to put him in his cute "I love Mommy" shirt (sized 3-6 mths) and saw it was a little big so I was curious whether the pants would fit -- and look, they do!!!  I do feel better knowing he doesn't have to show his legs when it's freezing outside.  If the weather decides to stay warm then my lil guy can wear some shorts and all will be dandy!  Until then... I at least have a few pairs of pants that will fit over his brace!!!!

We hit the 9 weeks mark today!  Unreal!  I am so lucky to be able to stay home a few more weeks and continue to watch him grow.  I think we almost have his neck in full working capacity!!  YAY!  I am not so nervous with holding him with one hand and having to reach with another --- although, I still have to be careful as his neck has a mind of its own sometimes.  Once the head is 100%, it will be time to learn to crawl and sit!  I need to talk to the Orthopedist about how we can do some tummy time on the floor... I think he can do it but I'm a little nervous to try in the harness.  Luckily, we go back to the Ortho tomorrow morning.

He is quite the ham!  He loves to talk and play and starting last week, he began sticking out his tongue at me first!  What a smart guy!  He must take after his momma parents - ha!

Going back to work in a few weeks is going to be horrible... what will I miss?  Let's hope none of his "firsts!"

As I said, tomorrow we go back to the pediatric orthopedist to have his straps tightened or redone.  I think my 24 incher may need us to cut out the toes on the little socklets attached to the brace as his feet are bigger!  I'll let you all know how the appointment goes tomorrow...

Future's so Bright I gotta wear Shades!

Well, our little (or not so little) guy is over TWO MONTHS old!  I cannot believe it!  He really has developed a lot over the past few weeks.  Here are a few of his latest developments:

• Talks a LOT -- I think he's taking after his mommy
• Wriston can hold his head up a lot more.  He looks from side to side and responds to voices
• Laughed out loud for the first time today!  I mean Laughed - chuckled - more than once.  
• Squeals and Screeches more and more
• More importantly - he LOVES being asked what sound an Owl makes!!  And even though he says more of what sounds like an "Ooowwww" noise, I am determined to put a "L" at the end for it to sound like Owl.
• He's sleeping a little longer after his nighttime feeding.  Goal for this month is to have him in bed by 7ish so he can forgo his 10-11 pm feeding and finally, FINALLY, sleep all night (Hooray!)
• He likes to face outwards so he can watch and communicate with others.  He's VERY observant (or nosey --- like his momma?)

We took him to his two month appointment on Friday.  Wriston ended up weighing a big 12 lbs, 12 oz and was 24 inches long.  His weight and head measurements put him in the 75th percentile and his length/height put him in the 90th percentile.  WHAT A BIG BOY!   Our Pediatrician was pleased with his growth.  After his exam, Wriston received three shots.  I turned my head and faced the door while Stephen held his hand.  He did not cry at the first shot but CRIED CRIED CRIED with the 2nd and 3rd ones -- which... made me cry.  Poor guy.  We had to wait 15 mins after his shots to check for reactions to the meds so I held him and he fell asleep.  We had to give him a little Tylenol later in the day but otherwise, he handled things quite well.

After finding out how big Wriston measured, I could not help but find myself looking at Stephen's baby book.  Stephen measured 12 lbs (or 12 lbs 6 oz.. depending what page of his baby book you check out) and was 23 7/8 inches long.  It will be interesting to follow Wriston's growth and compare it with Stephen.  Will Wriston end up being tall like his 6'6" daddy or short like his 5'4" mommy??  Stay tuned....

Our other weekend plans included spending time with friends of ours on Saturday evening.  We watched the Butler/VCU basketball game (Wriston raised his hand saying he was rooting for VCU -- we haven't told him they lost yet) and ordered pizza.    Today, we took Wriston to visit with his Nana and Papa Bailey then had Sunday dinner with the Todd family. 

Next weekend plans include meeting Hope and Charlie for dinner on Friday night and then playing in the yard should the weather cooperate!  We also plan to have Wriston's pictures taken as well -- again, assuming the weather cooperates!

Until next time... 

Boo...

Wriston is handling his harness pretty well.  He slept his normal longer hours at night and still naps.  He did not cry or look uncomfortable in the harness.  I am pleased.

I took him out of the harness to change him the past two mornings.  Yesterday, he cried a little when I put the harness back on -- I think mainly because he was tired, but when he cried... I cried.  Then, tonight, after his bath, he cried after having it put on.  I mean CRIED.... with tears... rolling down the face.  BOO.  And because he cried... I almost cried (thankfully, I was able to hold back).

I joined a forum for parents of children with hip dysplasia.  I realized we are blessed.  While I hate W having to wear the harness, I am so thankful he is not in a cast.  Many of the parents dealt with their child's hip dysplasia not being discovered til their child was a few months older, which meant surgery and casts for several months.  Wriston is so resilient and I am so happy to see him still smile and laugh while wearing the harness.

Now, let's hope we make it through tomorrow OK as Wriston is due for his TWO MONTH shots tomorrow.

WOW... tomorrow I will have a TWO MONTH baby boy..!!!  (where does the time go?)

Love

I am totally in love... even more so with my amazing husband - I don't even know if amazing is good enough of a word to use when describing him.  He is such a calming force in my life.  Ya know the saying "opposites attract?"  Well, it could not be more true than for Stephen and I.  I consider myself a pretty social, outgoing, very vocal person who never meets a stranger.  I also wear my heart on my sleeve and am a little tooooo sensitive.  Stephen is the more introverted person who keeps his feelings inside.  While I freaked out at Wriston's ortho appointment, Stephen kept reassuring me that things would be OK and Wriston was only going to get better.  Sometimes a little reassurance is all I need.  

Wriston and his daddy

Other times, I find myself muting the TV upstairs to listen to the conversation between Stephen and Wriston... ya know, the private moments when Stephen doesn't think anyone is listening.  I must say - NOTHING is SWEETER than to hear a daddy talk to his son.  


People always say, after children, it's hard to imagine life without them.  So SO true.  Sure, the pre-W life included more sleep and more opportunities for us to jet out of town at a moment's notice (after assuring Ga had a babysitter).... along with more time for just Stephen and I, but the post-W life is so rewarding.  Looking into his beautiful blue eyes, seeing him smile or just hearing him coo/talk back to us makes my heart melt.  


I find myself asking how in the world I was blessed with such a cute, sweet and loving baby.  He.is.my.heart!

Eight Week Update

My sweet boy is now eight weeks old!  Wow!

We spent this morning at the Pediatric Orthopedist office.  Unfortunately, the doctor decided to place him in a harness.  He will be in the harness for at least six weeks at which time another ultrasound will be done to see the progress made.  In the meantime, we have a few more doctor visits to do any adjustments on the harness.  The harness is not as bad as I originally thought - he can still move his legs inward, up and down - but is restricted on the ability to move it outwards.  Unlike his mommy, he did not cry at the news or once the harness was placed on him.  In fact, he is napping now and no complains.  I can only pray he continues to do well.  We're allowed to put pants on him as well.  The doctor said we are lucky because we can take the harness of him for one hour a day.  In more severe cases, the harness cannot be removed at all, which limits babies to sponge baths.  The harness has a 95% success rate so please pray Wriston is within that percentile.

Fun Friday!

First, congrats to Wriston's "Auntie" Linds on passing the CPA exam!! We are so proud of you! All we needed was ANOTHER CPA in our lives :).

We are planning our family vacation now. Instead of heading to FL again this year, we decided to stay on the NC coast. We wanted to save money from the rising gas prices and keep us on the road for a shorter time because of W. It seems we found a house so we are making progress!

Wriston is really growing and learning. It is so fun to watch his developmental changes. Everyday brings something new. Yesterday, he did an Elvis lip and I laughed. He really has a fantastic personality. He seems to be a people person and easy going. He loves to talk ... Like his momma... And smiles a lot. I pulled out Stephen's baby book and his hospital picture is so so similar to W's features. But, then you can see differences between W and Stephen's 17 day pic. W is blessed with my chubby cheeks and toes.

I'll post comparison pics later.