Cedar Hill Farms

Lesley and I took the kids to Cedar Hill Farms for a little Easter fun. It was such a fun day and even though we were completely worn out it was worth it all.

We went on a hay ride, hunted Easter eggs, rode horses,

went on a train ride,

and even saw the Easter bunny

7 months old!

You are sitting up without falling over, eating 3 meals a day, still loving your sleep, about to start crawling, finally sitting in a high chair (mommmy was a little lazy about getting it out), loving Mum Mums and puffs, and LOVING being outside. So far you love - apples, pears, peaches, blueberries, butternut squash, zuchinni, cauliflower, oatmeal, carrots, banana, and sweet potatoes. You don't care for peas or green beans. I am still making all your food and I love it. You are the happiest in the morning and will stay in your bed and play forever if I let you. You are still in awe of your brother and if he's around you are as content as you can be. You started reaching for me when you're in somebody else's arms and that just melts me. At your 6 month appointment when you were almost 7 months old you weighed 18 pounds 13 oz and you were 28 inches long. You don't have any teeth. Every where we go people always say you are the best baby. You really are! You are loved.

last week

Last week started off like any other week.

Jackson slept most of the day on Monday...I just thought he was worn out from our weekend in Memphis, and then woke up Tuesday morning with a runny nose. By the time he woke up from his morning nap he had gone from just a little cold to full out wheezing and grunting. I called the children's clinic and got him in pretty quick. My pediatrician said the word "pneumonia" and I 'bout died! We did a breathing treatment in the clinic and then they sent us over to the hospital for a chest xray. He was so pitiful!

That afternoon my pediatrician called with the news that it looked like a mild pneumonia. We started an antibiotic, steroid, and breathing treatments.

The next morning we got the official report that showed "no pneumonia". I was thankful for that but couldn't really appreciate the good news because my baby was CRAZY!!! He was way out of character - agitated, jittery, and just plain miserable. I had to make another call to my pediatrican and she immediately took him off the steroid!! It was awful...he was so tired, but his little body would not let him rest. That afternoon he screamed for 30 solid minutes while I rocked him and then he finally gave up and crashed. No more steroids for this little boy!!

Finally by Thursday we had our happy little baby back.

Warner has never had any respiratory issues. Jackson will likely struggle with this type of thing his whole life.

We are using the clocks in our house to our advantage - "when it says 7:35 we are getting a bath", etc. It seems to be working like a charm!

I finally got smart after 3 days of breathing treatments and got out the handy portable DVD player for a little Baby Einstein to keep his attention.

This is just for me...so I'll remember what it was like shopping with these two - Jackson taking up the entire buggy in his carseat and Warner sitting in the front. Leaving very little room for groceries.

gin show 2010

We had a great time this weekend at the annual farm & gin show in Memphis. Warner was in heaven with all the tractors and farm equipment. Jackson & I were just along for the ride - we spent most of our time in the hotel room while Jackson napped. JoJo, Pops, Matthew, Madison, & Mason were also there for the weekend so we enjoyed having a little family time. Warner loves his cousins! They even got to go swimming one night!

in 10-12 years they will be forced to drive tractors...it's called free labor. They don't even know what's coming!

it is a lot of walking...and Chris & Pops have to see everything!! We all get tired!

riding on the trolley to eat lunch at Huey's...this has become a tradition.

Jackson's first trolley ride (on his 6 month birthday).

Now if I could only get rid of all the freebies & junk that my husband brought home with us!

6 months!

Jackson is 6 months old!! I don't know how that happened...it feels like he was just born, but it also feels like he's always been a part of our family. His little personality is emerging and it won't be long until he is mobile...he wants to get up and go so bad!

He still loves his sleep. If he is fussy more than likely he is tired and he wants to be put in his bed. He is so easy! Just lay him down on his tummy and cover him up and he puts his thumb in his mouth and he's out!

He sleeps so hard! A lot of times I have to go in and put my hand on his back to make sure he's breathing. I have even forgotten to give him his medicine at night and had to go in while he's sleeping, flip him on his back, give the medicine, and roll him back over. He never even moves!

He has the most beautiful big eyes...I still can't tell what color they are going to be - brown like his brothers or green like mommmy & daddy??

He loves rice cereal and will open his mouth big and wide for a bite...so far butternut squash and sweet potatoes are not his favorite, but he'll come around. He drinks 4 - 7 oz bottles a day. 6 was not enough and 8 was too much...7 is just right!

He is wearing a size 4 diaper and fits perfectly in a size 12 month clothes. He weighs 17 lbs 4 oz and is 28 inches long.

He still loves his big brother and is the happiest when he is around...most of the time Warner feels the same way.

He can get up on his knees and lifts his chest up off the floor using his hands and arms, but he hasn't put the two together. Life will get a little more interesting when he does.

He started saying da da da da...even though he has no idea that will eventually become the name he calls his daddy, it still makes us proud!

We love this baby boy and nothing he does or doesn't do will ever change that.

Jackson's new trick

First of all, thank you so much to those of you who left comments about eczema - it was so helpful!! Thankfully it is getting better...and with all the advice I hope to be able to keep it under control. I am keeping a food journal, lathering him up like a grease monkey several times a day, and changing all soap and lotions to free and clear products.

Doesn't he look like he feels better!!

This is his new trick...made daddy very happy!!

eczema

3 hours in the doctors office

2 medicines by mouth

1 antibiotic cream

my baby has ECZEMA!!!!

the worst spots are on his forehead and the back of his thighs

It all started with a little rough spot on his forehead (right at his hair line) and then I started noticing other spots - one on his eyebrow, one on his back, one on his leg. Then it went from bad to horrible - now it is all over his little body - little red bumps everywhere!!

My pediatrician looked right at him and said it's definitely eczema...she also said he must be miserable...

The worst part is it "cannot be cured. It will come and go." Now we have to change everything - soap, shampoo, laundry detergent, etc.

I just want it to go away!!

HELP!!!!

butternut squash

Jackson's first taste of vegetables was a success!! He has been eating rice cereal for almost a month, so I decided it was time to venture out into some real food. I've been making my own babyfood...and surprisingly it is very easy! Not only is it very inexpensive...it also makes me feel better to know exactly what's in the food he's eating. AND - most importantly, since chid #1 is as picky as they come, maybe making my own food will make it easier to transition into table food and therefore child #2 will be a much better eater!! So far I have a good supply of butternut squash and sweet potatoes in the freezer and next up is carrots.

still taking breaks for a little thumbsucking in between bites...

love him!!

diaper baby

There is nothing better than a baby in nothing but a diaper. I could just kiss all over this little boy - he really is such a joy!! Always happy...loves his family....loves his sleep....loves his food. He makes me smile!!

As soon as you put him down on his back now, he immediately rolls over to his tummy...and then will eventually get mad and want to be on his back.

Breaking his neck to make sure Warner is not out of his sight...he LOVES Warner more than anything!! Well, maybe he loves me just a little bit more...but I'm not as exciting as Warner.

His little personality is starting to come out...he is grabbing on to anything in sight...and he is chewing on everything.

Thank you Jennie for the cute diapers!! I had to hurry up and use them all because he was out of that size...growing up too fast!!

such a mess

things I don't want to forget:

(1) you are testing your limits these days....lots of spankings and time out! surely one day you will start to obey the first time!

(2) you can dress yourself...but it takes you a while

(3) you HATE bedtime. It use to take no time to get you in the bed at night....now you want to read 9 thousand books, want someone to lay with you, then you say, "but I'm gonna be scared."

(4) you ate bacon the other night...and LOVED it! - that is the first time you have tried something new in a very long time!!

(5) you love candy!! gum is your favorite!

and suckers!!

(6) the other morning I was in the shower and you came to the door and wanted to know if you could sit on my bed and watch cartoons and I said no I just made it up but that you could sit in your chair and watch cartoons and when I got out of the shower this is what I saw...

(7) you love to color and paint and write....you are a little sponge!

(8) you like Jackson's toys better than your own

(9) every night you say your prayers and pray for everyone in the family. A few nights ago you were saying your prayers with Kissy and you were going through the family - mommy, daddy, Jackson, Buddy, Kissy, then you said JoJo, Pops......and Robert! My mom said who is Robert?! You told her it was one of the workers (on the farm)...she wanted to know if you wanted to pray for any of the other workers and you said no, just Robert. I have laughed and laughed about that!! Robert has obviously made a big impression on you!

(10) you can make Jackson laugh harded and smile more than anybody else...I love that!