More Pupdates.

Toe kisses from my big brudder are the best.



The absolute best.



At least I think so!

Women of Faith.

This past weekend my mom, Silly and I went to the Women of Faith Conference. This was my 7th year in a row to attend but it was my mom's 2nd and Silly's 1st! The sweet Mister put us up in a hotel for the night on Friday which was super fun. I always love staying in hotels even if it's in the same city where I live. It just makes me feel like I'm on vacation. I won't lie though, I couldn't WAIT to get home to my boys the next day, ESPECIALLY since the Mister had been out of town since Monday.






Sweet Patsy Clairmont. My FAVORITE!



The Lord has truly blessed me through these conferences and I highly recommend you check them out if they come to your area. You can find out more here. Thanks to the Mister for taking over for me while I was gone!

Typical Sunday.

Just a little fantasy football, my team is going to WIN this year!


Then maybe a little TV, to catch up on Sports Center of course.


Typical Sunday 'round these parts ...


I hope y'all had a great weekend and, for those of you that it pertains to, that y'all made it safely through Irene!

Happy Sunday!!!

Pupdates.

Watch out Koda bear!

Under the Weather ...

We've had a little bout with teething this week, which is mascarading itself in cold-like symptoms.  So this momma's been a little MIA the last few days.  Because of that, all I have for you is some fun I had playing on Picnik while little man was resting.  I hope you enjoy!  And if you've never played on Picnik and have some free time I HIGHLY suggest it.  It's like free photoshop for amateurs.

I think the symptoms are calming themselves which means momma can calm HERSELF.  I promise to return soon!  Until then, happy Thursday!!! 

We've Been Busy ...

Playing with ourselves in the mirror ...



Having playdates ...



And hanging out with our cousins who are in town from Arizona!



You know, pretty much just takin' care of business. I hope y'all have fabulous weekends, who knows maybe it'll get below triple digits this weekend? This is where if I was a tweeter I'd do a #probablynotgoingtohappen. Or does the pound sign go at the end? Obviously I don't tweet.

Happy weekend everyone!!!

Can I Pull This Off?

I think not. So many girls can rock the cute "wearing the headband the wrong way" thing. I just don't think I'm one of them. Do I care? Not at all since I have a little one that has napped all of 30 minutes this morning and we have a playdate in about 30 minutes. All this = I needed to get ready quick! And yes, I'm aware my roots are HORRIBLE, it's being taken care of Friday. But apparently grown out roots are all the rage in Hollywood. We'll just go with I'm doing it for Hollywood's sake. Yeah. We'll go with that.

WARNING: For New Parents ...

If you're a new parent you know that you spend the 1st year of your bundle of joy's life at the doctor. Two days after you get home from the hospital, then two weeks, then a month, then three months. And so on and so forth. By the nine month appointment you pretty much know the drill. Come in, measure the head, height, weight and then wait for the doc to come in and ask you all the usual questions. "Is he doing this? Is he doing that? How's he sleeping? How's he eating?" Do you have any questions?" And so on and so forth. At the six month appointment we got something that we hadn't gotten before. A check list, or questionnaire I guess you would call it. I think we just lucked out that time, C had been doing most if not all of the things they were touching upon so naturally I didn't think any different about this one (to be honest I straight up forgot about the pop quiz they sprung on us for the six month visit and the thought never crossed my mind that there could be one for the nine month visit, way to go mom). After we had the little guy's noggin' measured (well hello 90th percentile), length (29 inches: 75th - 90th percentile!?! WHAT?!? Seriously, whose kid is this?) and weight (21 lbs 2 oz.: 50th - 75th percentile - now that is DEFINITELY my child) they handed us the book with the pop quiz. We looked at it, SURE that our little man would ace every question and started through the list. It starts out pretty reasonable. Please keep in mind the possible answers are "yes", "sometimes" and "not yet":

1. Does your baby make sounds like "da, ba, ga and ka"? Yep. Check. Our kid can da da and ga ga with the best of 'em.

Followed by a few more questions about his da-ing and ga-ing abilities. We're good. Check, check.

4. If you ask him to, does your baby play at least one nursery game, even if you don't show him the activity yourself (i.e. "peek-a-boo, clap your hands, bye bye")? Must I torture you all and post the video again? The one with me making sounds only dogs can hear? Hopefully not. And yes, we've got a seasoned peek-a-boo'er on our hands.

5. Does your baby follow one simple command (such as "come here", "give it back" or "give it to me") WITHOUT your using gestures? Ahem, does he KNOW them or does he FOLLOW them? These are two very different questions. He SCREAMS whenever you take something away from him that he had/still wants, so momma hasn't really "experimented" with this task. First time to answer the dreaded "NOT YET" ...

6. If you hold both hands to support your baby, does he support his own weight while standing? Dangit, I don't know. Me: Sugar, hold C up and let's see if he supports his weight. Mister: Not while the doctor's RIGHT THERE. Crap. "NOT YET" ...

7. When sitting on the floor, does your baby sit up straight for several minutes WITHOUT using his hands for support? Yes! Awesome. And we're back in the game!

8. When you stand your baby next to furniture or the crib rail, does he hold on without leaning his chest against the furniture for support? When I STAND MY BABY UP!?!? Are you insane??? I spend every day trying to make sure he isn't in any POSSIBLE situation where he could sustain a head injury. STAND MY BABY UP?!?! Have you people lost your minds? "NOT YET" ...

9. While holding onto furniture, does your baby bend down to pick up a toy and then return to a standing position? I'll just skip a reoccurrance of my previous panic attack reaction of an answer and go straight to the "NOT YET" ...

10. Does your baby walk beside furniture while holding on with only one hand? Oh for heaven's sake. WILL HE?!? Ugh. "NOT YET" ...

11. Does your baby pick up a small toy with only one hand? Yes. Oh wait. Is he supposed to do it with two? Maybe that's what he does. Sometimes? Dadgummit I'm starting to sweat.

12. Does your baby successfully pick up a crumb or Cheerio by using his thumb and all his fingers in a raking motion? We're supposed to be giving him CHEERIOS?!? Freakin' A. "NOT YET" ...

13. Does your baby pick up a toy between the tips of his thumb and fingers? Phew. Yes. I'm starting to regain feeling in my hands.

14. After a few tries, does your baby pick up a piece of string with his first finger and thumb? Well, I don't know. We've been so consumed with giving him sharp objects to play with that we haven't given him the choking hazards yet. WHAT?!? Geez. "NOT YET" ...

15. Does your baby put a small toy down, without dropping it, and then take his hand off the toy? We are currently in a "banging things on other things" phase soooo ... "NOT YET" ...

Please note that this next section is called PROBLEM SOLVING. Just pointing that out. PROBLEM SOLVING. At nine months? Alright ...

16. Does your baby pass a toy back and forth from one hand to another? Yep. Check. SCORE. Next?

17. Does your baby pick up two small toys, one in each hand, and hold onto them for about one minute? Is this before or after he's banged them together? Sure. What the hay.

18. When holding a toy in his hand, does your baby bang it against another toy on the table? Oh heck yes. He's got this one DOWN. BOOYAH problem solving! Problem. SOLVED. Calm down momma ...

19. While holding a small toy in each hand, does your baby bang them together ("like patty cake")? Yes but I'm not sure he thinks it's ... we'll just go with yes.

20. Does your baby poke at or try to get a Cheerio that is inside a clear bottle (such as a plastic baby bottle)? The next time I decide to tease my baby I'll let you know. "NOT YET" ...

21. After watching you hide a small toy under a piece of paper or cloth, does your baby find it? Again, the next time I feel the urge to tease my baby. "NOT YET" ...

22. While your baby is on his back, does he put his foot in his mouth? Pssshhhhh. Oh yeah. He did that at like 4 months old. Bring it.

23. Does your baby drink water, juice or formula from a cup while you hold it? When you say DRINK, that infers actually getting some in his mouth, right? Poo. "NOT YET" ...

24. Does your baby feed himself a cracker or a cookie? Does his mommy GIVE him a cracker or a cookie? That's the real question here. FARFIGNUGEN . "NOT YET" ...

25. When you hold out your hand for a toy, does your baby offer it to you even if he doesn't let go? I'm not in the habit of taking toys from babies. "NOT YET" ...

26. When you dress your baby, does he push his arm through the sleeve once his arm is started through the hole? YES! YES! YES! He does do this! Ohmygosh I'm so excited!!!

27. When you hold out your hand for a toy, does your baby let go of it into your hand? Please refer to my non-habit of taking toys away from babies. "NOT YET" ...

And all at once, we were done. Phew. The Mister and I looked at each other with I'm pretty sure the same thought running through our heads ...

"Really? Are we on candid camera? Are we SUPPOSED to be doing these things at home with our child? DADGUMMITTYGUMMIT. Why didn't someone give us this sheet at the last appointment!?!? WE COULD'VE BEEN IN TRAINING!!!"

... and left carrying our happy, healthy (did I mention chubby and TALL!?!) baby boy, not really caring. We did get a few giggles together about it. Oh and of course, as soon as we got home he checked the majority of them off the list. Go figure. So parents of almost nine month olds, YOU'VE BEEN WARNED! Watch out 18 month questionnaire, we're ready for you!!! (or we will be ... when we're 18 months old)

"The Help."

I just had to write about this. For many reasons. Because I loved the book. Because the movie was just as wonderful. And because of the experience I had last night after seeing it.

I set out last night for a girls movie night that I was excited about. The reason being that I read the 525 page book the movie was made after, about 3 weeks ago. Actually, to go in a bit more detail, I read it in 3 days. 3 days. That's when you know a book is good, at least in my opinion. When you can't wait to pick it up the MINUTE you have any amount of free time. And for a busy mommy that doesn't get much of it, that's saying something.

The theater was packed last night. With mostly women, I'd say pretty much an equal amount of African American and white. The movie, as I expected, was fantastic. I cried several times and laughed as well. The humor was perfectly placed and the actresses fit their roles to a T. At the end, the whole theater clapped, a sure sign it touched the audience's emotions. However, what surprised me the most was my OVERWHELMING desire to hug and apologize to every African American person in the theater as well as apologize for the ignorance of my race. But, of course, I kept this desire to myself thinking I might offend someone and walked out of the theater, my eyes still glistening from tears cried.

As my friend and I were talking on our way out an African American woman looked at us and said, "Are you girls crying?" to which we both replied, "Yes." She then proceeded to come over and hug us which, of course, made us cry even more. She told us the movie was America's history and that it was good that the story was being told. She told us that the fact that President Obama is in the White House is proof of the progress our country had made. And she told us to see us both crying moved her. I responded by telling her that I was so very GLAD it IS history and that I felt the need to apologize for the fact that the movie we had just seen was just a portion of the horrors that actually occurred. She told us it wasn't our fault. She said a lot of other beautiful and wise things and ended the conversation with a hug, again, for both of us. I walked away with the same tears in my eyes that I had left the theater with, but this time with a smile on my face. As I looked around I saw several women hugging and wiping away tears having what I can only imagine was a similar experience to mine.

This has, without a doubt, been one of my favorite movie theater experiences. And if I can convince the CPA (i.e. the Mister) that paying $9.50 to go again is an okay idea, I will most definitely see it a second time. I 100% recommend that you do the same. If you do, leave the eye makeup at home and bring your tissues!

Nine Months!

I say it every month.  Might as well say it this one.  I can't believe I have a nine month old.  I remember thinking, when I first came home from the hospital and was still am anxiety ridden, "Oh my gosh he's so tiny, I just feel like he's SO tiny" and was afraid anything and everything would hurt him still am.  I couldn't IMAGINE him being even six months at the time but NINE MONTHS?  We ALMOST have a one year old!  I'm going to have to start already have planning his first birthday party soon!  What tha?  I can't even handle how much of a mom I feel like saying "Where does the time go?" but let's face it, I couldn't be any more of a mom if I tried.  I virtually slap you all in the face with a stack of my child's pictures every time I post.  So seriously, where does the time go?

Alright I'll stop blubbering (apparently I've picked up the mom long-windedness habit as well, sorry 'bout that) and get to the chair pics.  I like to call this set "we have a nine month old so we have to give him a prop so he doesn't LAUNCH himself off the chair mid-shoot" set.

{"HEY now, lookie HERE!  We get props this time!  And not just ANY prop, my favorite thing in the world, that thing they point at that big box with the colorful pictures on it!"}

{"Let's see, maybe if I push this button here it'll make her stop with the picture taking ..."}

{"I love this thing.  Maybe I can figure out how to turn on closed captioning again.  That was sure funny to watch her try and figure out how to turn off."}

{"I think it was this button here ..."}

{"Nothing's happening.  I'm not sure if this thing's working?"}

{"OH MY GOODNESS LOOK AT THAT SWIRLY THING ON THE CEILING!"}

{"Wait a second, maybe this thing controls that swirly thing on the ceiling!"}

{"NOW I'm on to something, let's give it a swirl ..."}

{"Hey.  Hey you.  Swirly thing.  Go faster."}

{"Did you hear me, I said GO. FASTER.  Dadgum buttons."}

{"I guess not.  But either way you're pretty funny swirly thing.  You make me laugh."}

{"MAYBE it controls that thing over there with the big long cords that look like so much fun ..."}

{"I BET I'M RIGHT,  I BET IT DOES!  LET'S DO THE CELEBRATION SPAZZ DANCE!"}

{"Well dangit nothing's happening there either.  Talk to the hand thing with the big long cords.  I wouldn't pull your cords if they were the last cords on earth!"}

{"Um, please pardon me while I take care of some ... "}

{"... manly business ..."}

{"Pardon me ... just a second."}

{"My mom calls this my "workin' on a poo" face.  I have no idea what that means ..."}

 

{"Alright.  Business taken care of.  I'm pooped.  No pun intended."}

{"HEYYYYY!  WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME THIS CHAIR ROCKED!?!?  WAHOOOOO!!!"}

{"Let's see how hard I can make it rock ..."}

And this is when mommy cut off the shoot.  The vision of baby lurching forward like a rocket in my camera's view finder pretty much put an end to the modeling sesh STAT.  But I did manage to get one smiling, non rocketing, non pant's filling face, non channel changer holding picture.  On my iPhone.  Of course.

Happy nine months to my love.  Oh how mommy loves you!

Pupdates.

It's not just us humans that are affected by the 100+ degree heat. It puts a pretty big damper on Koda bear's outdoor playtime. So how do we beat the heat and still wear the pup out at the same time?




Indoor fetch, that's how. 15 minutes later and I now have one pooped pup.

Need Y'all's Help!

I know you all remember sweet James. A lot of you probably still follow along with his blog. Please go visit his blog and read the last two entries ...

http://jamescamdensikes.blogspot.com

Let's help put a smile back on this precious family's face and get the baby giraffe at the Dallas Zoo named after Jamesie! Please feel free to post this on your blogs, Facebook pages, Twitter account and any other social media you may use. What an EASY way to bless this family! Thanks everyone in advance!!!

Oh and thank you everyone on the sweet comments on my hair! Y'all made my day! I had to giggle because it made me realize that SOMEONE'S pictures must monopolize my blog. It's obviously not mine because my hair has been this short for over a month, ha! Shame on me for not informing y'all of my new do :-)

Little White Lie ...

So I told a fib. Just a little one. I did actually leave on a plane, just not on a blog one. On Wednesday we left for Grand Haven, MI to go to my stepdad's lake house on Lake Michigan! My whole family went which obviously means C! And let me tell you, little man did GREAT on the plane! As we were taking off, he literally fell asleep and slept for an hour. Once he woke up, he played, laughed and was in a precious mood the whole time.







I was so proud of my boy. And even BETTER, he did the same on the flight home. Prayers were definitely answered. Once we arrived to the 80 degree highs and 60 degree lows we relaxed and enjoyed the GORGEOUS surroundings.



















And had ourselves a wonderful time together.





















































































We got home last night and C settled right back into his routine (after being a bit off while out of town). Such a good boy. I hope you all had good weeks and for those of you Texans that were suffering in the 110 degree weather, I was thinking of you while enjoying the 80 degree breezy weather! Now, if we can just make it through August ...

Happy Monday and happy Bachelor Pad tonight!