Our First Christmas!

This weekend was Talent's first Christmas. It was pretty jam packed with places to go and people to see. We started with our usual tradition of going to my parents on Christmas Eve afternoon. My whole family was there. We had a great time and Talent was beyond blessed. He got a lot of nice things. My grandparents gave him a recordable book which made me tear up. They read it & recorded their voices for him and he will always have it. It's the story of Christmas so it will become a big part of our Christmas tradition.

After our time at Mom and Dad's we went to Seth's Aunt Billie's. By this time T was very sleepy and pretty clingy. He stuck to me and Seth for the most part and woke up long enough to open presents.

On Christmas day we opened presents at home before we went to church. Talent seemed very excited by his big gift. After church we went to Seth's parents and opened gifts with them. We had a good time and were blessed with more than we could have ever expected.

Our Christmas was pretty amazing. I don't think we could have had a better first for Talent.

Christmas Time is HERE!!!!

So this weekend is going to be a big one for Talent. It's his first Christmas! And while I know he isn't quite old enough to understand what all the fuss is about, I can't wait to teach him about the meaning of Christmas. I've already been telling him all about the manger and baby Jesus. I know he doesn't know what in the heck I'm talking about but, I feel like you can never start too early.

Saturday we will be going to my Mom & Dad's for our usual Christmas Eve present opening and dinner. Then Saturday night we will be going to Seth's Aunt Billie's house for all the festivities there. I have a feeling my boy will be exhausted and cranky by then. And then Sunday we will be going to church with my father in law and then doing Christmas with Seth's parents afterwards. We are going to get up early Sunday and do our first Christmas as a family of 3 before we go to church. I'm excited! I can't wait to start the traditions with my little guy!

I love Christmas time and look forward to it every year. It's one of the few times that we have almost all of my family together in one spot. I love having my family together. It makes me happy. So Merry Christmas to everyone! I hope you are as blessed this year as I have been.

Talent pulling on Santa's beard....

On the move....

Well it looks like Talent may crawl after all! He's been trying so hard this week to get up on his knees and get moving. Yesterday he took two "steps" and then belly flopped. But it's progress. He still prefers to stand and try to walk but I will take any kind of progress I can get! This week he also started feeding himself little snack foods. I call them crunchies. They are these little Gerber snacks that they make for babies and some look like cheetos and some look like little stars. He loves them. He is so proud of himself for being able to get them in his own mouth! Now he still makes a big mess and Redick & Riley probably end up eating more crunchies than Talent does but at least he is learning! I'm proud of him. It seems like he just started doing so many things all at once. He's just growing so fast. 8 months has gone by so fast.

Teething sucks....

Well today I'm writing from an exhausted state of mind. Talent is still teething. He has at least two coming in that I can see...one on top, one on bottom. The little turkey sticks his tongue out when you try and stick your finger in there to feel or when you try and pull his lip down to look. So you don't get much of a chance to see anything. I only know about those two because I can see them when he laughs. And I tickle him a lot so he laughs a lot.

Last night we were up all night because the one on the bottom is just about to bust through. I wish it would already. He was cranky all day yesterday and then all night. Hopefully once these teeth all come in he will be happier. He is usually just the sweetest little thing ever....

We've started trying some finger foods. He makes the funniest faces. He is curious but the textures really throw him off. I don't know what I'm going to do with this ornery kid. He loves fruit and veggies and is learning to like the meat purees that they have in baby food. So far I think turkey is his favorite.

Talent is a funny kid. Even though he kept me up all night I still love him to pieces. We are going to have a lazy day today though.....with a long nap in there somewhere. I deserve it! I also deserve to not leave the house and to stay in "soft pants" all day.....so that's our plan for the day. I've cleaned house all week and don't have much left to get done so I figure it can wait a day....it's not going anywhere, right?

We have a tooth.....and other exciting things.....

So this week Talent's tooth FINALLY broke through his gums! He isn't quite sure what to think of it and he keeps running his tongue over it. It's pretty funny to watch. He is just the cutest thing with that one little tooth poking through!

Also he's pulling up in his crib and standing in it on his very own! He walked from one end to the other today holding on to the side of the crib while he babbled to me. He's getting SO big! I just don't know what I'm going to do. Time is going by in a flash.

He's also learning that there are other babies in the world. He found a girl at church that he wanted to hold hands with. She's about 5 months younger than he is but he wanted to "hold her hand" at church Sunday. He reached out and touched her little hand so sweetly. Then later as we were sitting across the room from each other he kept smiling at Lily and she looked at him and batted her eyes and smiled back. It was the cutest thing ever. Lily's mom & I thought it was great. We are good friends and wouldn't mind our babies growing up & falling in love. 

Talent also got a new baby cousin this last week. On November 20th my baby brother had his first child, a son, Flynn Bazil. I'm not sure where they came up with Flynn but Bazil was our Pawpaw's name. Talent wasn't real sure what to think of Flynn so he pretty much just ignored him. I'm sure one of these days they will be good friends and and Rhyan (my sis in law) and I will be in big trouble.

Here are a few pics of Talent and then one of my new nephew, Flynn. I will try to update more often. With the Teething it has been a little hectic around here.

7 months and a big boy seat....

Today my baby is 7 months old. I still can't believe how fast this year seems to be flying by. It seems like just yesterday we were meeting him for the first time and now here we are watching him grow like crazy.

Talent is pulling up on anything and everything right now. He wants to walk so bad. He isn't interested in crawling at all. I am amazed at how strong he is. He grabs my shirt when we sit in the floor to play and he's able to pull himself to a standing position with NO help from me! Makes me so proud but so sad....he's getting big!

Today he got his big boy car seat. He is way too tall for the infant carrier we brought him home in 7 months ago so I ordered him a new seat and it arrived today. He loved it! He gets to sit up and he can see out the windows of the car. He just kept grinning while we drove to his grandparents house tonight. He was digging his new seat! Oh the exciting world of a 7 month old!

I am so happy to be a mom....have I mentioned that? Even with him Teething and waking up because his little mouth hurts....I love being his mom. It really is a joy I never expected. And I think Seth is enjoying being a daddy too. He's been really playing and snuggling with him lately. I think this parenting thing has been a blessing for us both.

Just Pictures....

I didn't get the chance to take any pictures today of my sweet boy. We had a busy day since it was Seth's last day home with us before he goes back to work. We hung out with him instead and went out to eat together in Chickasha. It was nice to get to be together as a family. We don't get to always spend tons of time doing things together because of Seth's crazy schedule.

This week has been a full one for Talent. He has gotten to spend some quality time with people that we love and I know he will once he is old enough to realize just how wonderful they are. We went Monday and had lunch with my father in law and also went to visit my Mom at her office. And Monday night we went and saw my Mammaw & Pawpaw because they came home early from Texas....they missed me that much. (I am their favorite!) Then Tuesday we went to the doctor and had my Daddy tag along with us to help me. After that we went to see my mother in law so she could see Talent before she left to go on her girls trip to a casino somewhere in Oklahoma. Yesterday we loaded up one more time and went out to the lake to see my sweet Uncle Joe. That man loves me and I never in a million years would have believed he would love my baby as much as he does.....but he does. He sent me a message on my phone late last night telling me he was glad we came out and that it made his day. I am so glad that Talent is so loved. All of these people love seeing my kid and they love getting to spend time with him. I just am so thankful he has such wonderful people in his life. I know he will never be without love.

Anyway, here are some pictures that I took last week and the week before. I thought I'd post them since I didn't get the chance to take any pictures today. Enjoy!

A growing boy!

So yesterday we had Talent's 6 month check up. I can't believe how much he has grown. He weighed 18lbs 11oz and was 29 inches long.....which means he's too long for his current car seat! It's time for a big boy seat! I can't believe we are already to a new car seat! My doctor said he's in the 75 to 80 percentile of his age range. And he also said that he's growing and absolutely perfect! Talent got to see Stacie, the doctor who did my c-section, and he just flirted like a little player! He's just too cute and funny! He flirted with all the nurses and showed off just how well he was sitting up. He did get a little bit cranky and was getting tired by the time it was time for shots. He's been running a fever today because of the shots but all in all he's doing pretty good.

I love being a mommy. He's the sweetest thing ever and I love waking up to hear his little giggles and see his little smiles. Yesterday Seth and I were outside sitting on the patio with him and our dogs were wrestling and playing. Talent thought that was just the most hilarious thing ever. He sat in Seth's lap and just cackled! That sound really makes my heart melt. I just love this child. Anyway, I will be attempting to take some pictures of him tomorrow if he will cooperate. I will post them as soon as I get them done!

All better!

Well after two very long weeks, and 10 full days of antibiotics, Talent is finally well. I am so glad to finally have my healthy & happy baby boy back!

This week we have had a trying week because Seth has been putting a metal roof on our house with the help of some friends and family. Heck I even chipped in one day. It has been a long week with lots of banging noises....we are looking forward to a few days of quiet. During the process of the roof getting put on Talent has gotten to see lots of people. He was able to see all of his grandparents, his Aunt Boo, Brendon & Trista and their boys, and he even got to see his Mammaw and Pawpaw before they left to go see his new cousin, Jackson. He has had a full week of being loved on and spoiled. He's enjoyed it though.

Next week we go back to the doctor for his 6 month check up. So we'll see how much he's grown and where we go from here. I can't believe how big he's getting. This sitting up thing is just the beginning of the craziness that is about to be my life.....and I can't wait!

Until next time.....

The last 6 months....

Okay so I thought I would do the last 6 months "in pictures"....

Now I realize I've done this type thing before. It's fun to look back and see how much he's changed. I did include a picture of my brother in law, Chase, in this round of photos. If he ever finds out about it, I'm dead meat! Oh well. I want him to be included in the fun of being part of Talent's life. He lives about 25 minutes away and doesn't get to see T very often. So when I was given the oppurtunity to snap this picture I took it. I was allowed ONE picture and he made me promise not to put it on facebook.....this isn't facebook, right???

Anyway.....here's to another fun 6 months ahead!

Sick Baby!

Well this weekend has been a tiring one. Seth has been sick all weekend. He has been running a low grade fever and sneezing his head off. He's had congestion, runny nose, and a cough. He's been miserable. This morning Talent woke up with it. He couldn't breathe through his tiny little nose. I got up, called my Mom, and got around. Mom came and got me and we took Talent in to get him check out. My poor little guy has an upper respritory infection. There isn't really anything they can do for it. They said to watch him and make sure his fever stays below 101 because he could easily get an ear infection. He has felt so bad today. Mom took him for a little while so I could get a little rest since I haven't gotten much the last few days and I'm so exhausted. When I picked him up he had watery eyes and his poor little nose was running. He will probably have to sleep with me in the chair tonight because every time you lay him down he can't breathe. I hate it. I feel helpless. So tonight will probably be a long one.....

On an unrelated note...he's growing like a weed. Today when we took him in he weighed 18 lbs 3.5 oz. They didn't measure him to see how long he was but I know he's grown since the last time we were there. I'm going to talk Seth into measuring him in a few days. I can't believe how big he's getting. The doctor gave me the okay to start solids. He said he's pretty positive that the eczema/rash he has is not a food allergy. So we're going full force into the food now.....we already were trudging along but now we can try more things. I know Talent will be excited...he likes to eat! He wants to take my silverware when I'm eating. He's so fun.

Anyway, here's a sneak peek from our photo session with Ashley's husband JJay. She was unable to do it because of an injury to her back so her husband came out and took pics of us. These are the only ones we have so far....I'm already in love!

My beautiful boy!

Talent standing on his daddy's feet....

Reach out and touch someone.....

So this last week my sweet boy started reaching for people. My husband thinks I'm nuts but it's true. He reaches for me when I go to pick him up from his high chair or out of someone else's arms. He is doing this with my parents too. Yesterday at church a friend of mine was holding him and my daddy walked up and Talent reached for him and wouldn't stop until his Poppy had him safely in his arms. I love this stage.

He also will sit and just touch my face while he is eating his bottle or trying to go to sleep.....well anytime he is snuggling with me. He is reaching up and petting Seth's beard....it is the sweetest thing. I love it! He loves his daddy! He's just such a sweet baby!

This weekend was pastor appreciation day at church so my whole family was there. Talent got to spend some time with my Uncle Joe and he really ate that up. I have a feeling my Uncle Joe is going to teach him so many fun things....how to shoot a bow and a gun, how to fish, and how to ride jet skis. I know that relationship is going to be a very special one.

My kid is so blessed with wonderful people in his life. Both my family and Seth's families are pretty great and one day when Talent is old enough, he is going to really appreciate how blessed he is.

5 months old!

Well, today I am the proud mommy of a 5 month old. It seems like just yesterday I was pregnant and could feel him squirming around in my tummy and now today I get to feel him squirm around in my arms. Talent has been such a blessing to my life. So much has changed since he entered it 5 months ago. I don't have much time to keep up with things that once seemed so important....like Facebook or email. I only read books when I'm trying to get him down for a nap and most of the time they are parenting books instead of the usual mystery book I loved to read. I don't get to listen to my "mad" music because truth be told....if I need something to put me in a better mood now all it takes is one smile from that sweet boy. We do listen to music quite often and Talent loves it. I dance and sing to him while I cook and he laughs at me because, well, let's face it that has to be a pretty hilarious sight! The last 5 months have been a great adventure for our little family. I'm looking forward to what the rest of the year has to offer.

What a Beautiful Day

There's a song by Chris Cagle that I have always loved. It reminds me of my husband. It's called "What A Beautiful Day" and it's about a relationship from day one all the way through to day 18,263 (50 years). It talks about the day he met his wife, the day he proposed, the day she gave him a son.....it's a beautiful song.

I was reminded of this song yesterday while we were at my parents house for a cookout. We were trying to get our things together to leave and Talent was throwing a nice little fit. Screaming and crying as loud as he could. I couldn't get him calmed down so Seth took him. He walked him and talked with him and got him calmed down so quick. He stood at the back door of my parents house just talking to him and I sat and watched this man and fell more in love. He is such a wonderful daddy. He loves this little boy as much as I do. Seeing Seth with our son makes me look forward to our years ahead even more than I did before we had Talent. I never in a million years thought I could be more in love with this man I married but seeing him with our child and the way he interacts with him just makes me fall more in love every day.

I have been blessed with this life of mine. First I was given this wonderful husband and now I've been blessed with this sweet baby boy. I don't think my life could be much better!

Amazed....

As I type this I'm sitting in the big fluffy rocker recliner, rocking this sweet little boy to sleep. I know it's been almost 5 months since I brought him into the world but there are still nights that I just sit here and look at his precious face as he sleeps. Everything about him is so mesmerizing to me still. I just can't help it, I'm so amazed that Seth and I made such a beautiful and perfect thing! I just love being a mom. I know that sometimes the late nights are a little rough and I get so sleepy.....but I wouldn't trade this for the world. I love Talent. Being a mom is just an amazing job and I never knew how much I was going to love it until I became one.

Take a shot.....or 4!

So this last week we took Talent to the doctor for his 4 month check up. He weighed 16 lbs and was 25 inches long! Such a big boy! I just can't believe how big he is getting! He got 4 shots in his little legs and broke my heart and the nurses who gave him the shots because he screamed so much. I hate the shots but I like getting to see his progress and knowing he's growing and reaching all his milestones. I also love when his doctor tells me I'm doing a great job. Being a new mom you get a lot of advice on how to do things. It's nice to hear that you are doing a good job every once in a while.
Last night Talent woke me up because he was hungry. While trying to get him back down after he ate he rolled himself over in bed. Then he woke me up again at around 3 because he had turned himself over again and it startled him! It won't be long before he is crawling and walking and chasing my pups around everywhere!
Today he went shopping with Mom, Mammaw, & me in Lawton. When we came home he was still hungry despite the bottle he had on the way home so I fed him some baby food. We've been experimenting with baby food for a few weeks now and so far he's decided he likes green beans, apples, & prunes. His favorite is prunes. So today I took a picture of him being a messy eater. He's still the cutest thing in the world even with food coming out of his mouth!

The past 4 months....

So today I thought I would post a few pictures from today and also some of the last 4 months. Our lives have changed so much in the last year. And these last 4 months have just flown by so quickly. If you are just starting to read this blog, something you should know is that I pretty much live my life through music. The last 4 months going so fast have made me go back to that Kenny Chesney song...."Don't Blink". You know, before we had Talent, well actually before I was pregnant, I loved that song. But I honestly never thought about it quite like I think about it now that he's here. It seems like he changes so much every single day and if I blink I will miss something. I am so glad that I get to stay home with him. I am so blessed to have such a wonderful husband to allow me this chance to see my child grow each day. So for those of you who don't live here, here's some pictures of what the last 4 months have consisted of in our world.

Time with Grandma!

Today we went and spent a little time with my sweet mother in law, Veldean. I always have such a great time when we get together. Today was no exception. She made lunch and we got the chance to sit and visit for a little while.

She loves getting to spend time with my sweet little guy. I'm sure some day he's going to love going over there and having her read to him and tell him fun stories.

My kid has been blessed with some pretty awesome grandparents on both sides. He just doesn't realize yet just how lucky he is.

My big boy!

Well this is going to be a very quick post. I just had to share that after months of trying......we finally slept without being swaddled for the first time last night! I know that seems like no big deal. But if you lived in my house and went through all that we have to get Talent to sleep at night, you'd totally see the victory here! So just wanted to share my excitement! Now here's a picture of the sweet boy snoozing in his Poppy's lap today! As you can see the child isn't spoiled at all!

4 months already!

So today my sweet baby boy turns 4 months old! He's growing so fast and time seems to be just wizzing by! I thought I'd post a few pictures of him from this morning and let you see how big he's getting!