We are on the mend...

From the last post, you probably got that we were a bit under the weather. We are all feeling much better now, especially Anna. Champ and I just felt a little cruddy, but she was taking the brunt of whatever that was... She has now been able to eat and venture off the couch (feeling much better).

I have historically been very resistant to getting sick. However Champ has shown me yet another joy of children - smiles, laughter, snuggling up to your shoulder when he's tired, and managing to get his cold germs transfered to you with miraculous efficiency. Although, I'm sure we all did the same for our parents at his age.

I have included some pictures from his 8 month birthday night that I have been trying to post.

He had a bath...

Then he got to walk around outside on my shoulders...


Then after some wind I realized he has my hair!

He continues to be a great kid with a mellow personality. Hope all are doing well. - jeff

a milestone

Well today has been a bit of a dreary day. It all started very early this morning when i woke up with a stomach bug. I have spent most of the day curled up on the couch. Today is not a bad day for that as a front is moving through town and it is rainy outside. Jeff has been a saint taking care of the Champ,,,if you hadn't guessed, I really love him. But on to more important things...

Champ today did a typically Champ thing, he grabbed a hold of my finger and shoved in into his mouth. Normally it's just a gum gnawing, but today...it hurt. Champ has sprouted his first tooth. It is a lower tooth on the right side. My little one is growing up. I have to say this is a very good thing. He has been teething for quite a while with no success. The other main problem is he loves to eat. His diversity in eating has been stymied by his lack of teeth. Until now he could only manage things he could mash with his toothless gums. Teeth will help that process greatly.

I will post a picture in a little while when his teeth are visible. For now it is just a hard white bump I can see when he sits still and lets me look in his mouth, which is not often.

the luck of the irish

well...give me a rainbow, a pot o'gold and call me lucky.

Happy St. Patrick's to all! (and happy birthday to mawmaw!)

It has been an eventful weekend...asian fish market, boiled crawfish with an ear infection for added memories. Jeff needs to elaborate on the first couple as only he could do them justice. We did find live crawfish in Houston and Jeff, with his new rig, treated us all to a great dinner. We had a couple of couples over for an evening that for a moment allowed us all to feel like we were back in the great state of louisiana.

Champ had the return of his ear infection, but visited the doctor this morning and the antibiotics are already working their magic. He is having a bit of a rough time, though. He has his poor ear infection, but he is also teething and he is outgrowing his pacifier. He is making it through and my little chunk weighed in today at 17 lbs 10 oz.

a view from a tall window

Today is a beautiful day; however I watch it from a high window overlooking the congested Katy Freeway. Yes, it is 1:30 and traffic is not moving...typical. I don't want to hear anyone from a small town complain of traffic, when from where I sit, I am 20 miles from the center of town and a 6 lane freeway is crawling at 1:30 on a Friday. I have given up complaining, traffic just is.

On to my original point, the weather is amazing and the minutes don't pass quick enough until I can escape to the outdoors and feel the sun and smell the un-airconditioned air. I will take a good, long run and enjoy every minute of it.

I have started again on a new mission this week, flexibility. After watching a 7 month old do all sorts of contortionist movements with his limber body, I am jealous. I don't know if I can regain that flexibility, but I want to be able to bend over and comfortably place my hands on the ground. So I have attended 3 yoga classes this week. I have found yoga to be the perfect lunch workout...get away from a monitor, clear my mind, and not break a sweat. I guess I will see if this hard work pays off. I have a long way to go, one instructor even offered to show me additional stretches after class next week. I need lots of work. All I can say is keep posted, I will either be singing the praises of yoga or I'll have to find something else to get my range of motion back.

What I am sure everyone is looking for...updated pictures of the Champ. He is doing really well: sitting up well on his own, sleeping without a pacifier, and eating like...well his father. He has yet to meet a fruit or vegetable that he doesn't like and he can still drain a bottle at will. He is growing more adorable day by day and charming everyone along the way. Jeff was commenting that he was glad Champ got his sleeping aptitude, and I replied there is not much of me in that child. There isn't...he got my last name, but I think the similarities end there. But I will never complain. I adore my husband I an couldn't have wished my son to turn out any differently. So here is the little, but not so little guy.

The picture below is included to show the resemblance of Champ to his Paw Paw...raising this little one will be fun.



I wish everyone the best Friday possible, please go and enjoy some of this beautiful weather as well.

sorry for the wait

I would like to apologize to everyone for our lack of consistency with new blog postings. We have all been quite busy in the new year adjusting to our new schedules, then I was having to chase problems with the blog and the list goes on and on.

Many thing have been changing as Champ gets older. He is just starting to eat real food, sit-up and even giggle when Jeff zerberts his stomach just the right way. Each of these developments carries stories...

Food: Well, Champ has taken a true interest in food recently. If you are eating in his presence you must endure his eyeing of every morsel you place in your mouth. Yesterday as I picked him up from school, one of his teachers stopped me and said Champ growled at me today. Puzzled, I asked what happened. She went on and said she was snacking on some gold fish and Champ was watching very intently. She told him, Champ you are not quite old enough for goldfish, yet. Well apparently not happy with the response, he growled a reply. Today he ate a very southern lunch of green beans and rice. I was impressed when after eating his bib was as clean as when we started. He didn't miss a drop.

Sitting-up: Champ has just started to sit-up well...but still has some instability. It is very funny to pull him up to a sitting position. When he realizes he is sitting up, he smiles as if he is truly proud of himself. However we must watch closely for he quickly gets distracted, reaches just a little to far for something or just forgets he is sitting up. Then, he tumbles. Padding and a watchful eye are critical.

Giggling: Within the last couple of weeks, Champ has just begun to giggle. Just as he should be winding down for sleep, Jeff gets him smiling by zerberting his tummy. He quickly figured out that Champ has some tickle spots right in his ribs. Champ almost seems like he is holding back his laugh as hard as he can but sometimes it just slips out. It's precious and great to hear.

Today we are all enjoying a Friday home together. Jeff has been taking some recent pictures and I will leave it to him to post them soon.

Our love to everyone.

6 months and again...

Three shots. Champ visited Dr. Alley today and received a clean bill of health. For 6 months he is 26 in tall (45%), 16 lbs 10 oz (30%) and a round head of 17 in (45%). So he is proving to be consistent in his growth. He also received all of his immunizations remarkably well. He only cried for only a few moments and didn't need anything but some comfort from his Dad.

He is now entertainind himself with some Mardi Gras beads from Honey and letting us get a little work finished.

Just a quick thank you to all of my family as well. It was wonderful to see everyone this weekend and appreciate everyone travelling to visit.

and the champagne flowed...

Yes, we arrived to work late today after celebrating a spectacular LSU National Championship. Yesterday was my first full day of work after returning from maternity leave and there is no better way to celebrate that than with friends at a football game. I am always greatful and proud to be from Louisiana, but glowing national victories last night always put a little more swagger in my step. I am enjoying the floating feeling for the time. I love the Tigers and it is so wonderful to see all those boys enjoying their hardwork paying off.