I am thankful

...that my son isn't so dehydrated from his illness that he needs to go the ER to get IV fluids
...that my blood pressure is so high that I can't catch my breath
...that my 3 1/2 week old son doesn't have seizures from a congenital disease
...that I didn't break my leg while trying to roller blade
...that I'm not in acute congestive heart failure while visiting family in another state
...that I'm not in acute kidney failure from powerful antibiotics that I needed for my infection
...that my husband is not so delirious from his pneumonia that he requires 4 point leather restraints to protect him from hurting himself and others

...that I'm not working in the ER today like I was yesterday

1 year checkup

Matthew's one year checkup turned out to be his 1 year plus a sick checkup. He's had fevers off and on since Saturday and nothing to tie it to. With that, his doctor is assuming that it's a simple viral infection that we'll just have to wait out - blood work was fine except for his hemoglobin being a tad low - so we'll start him on some multi-vitamin with iron in it.

With no other symptoms to explain - my natural tendency is to assume the worst - leukemia, I know this is crazy - but HIV - somehow from me since I'm a nurse, been in Haiti, etc.......... let's see - anything that's horrible, I can imagine it - if I allow myself to go there. I suppose that's a "normal" new mom thing - at least that's what I'm assuming ;o) It's another opportunity to trust God for Matthew's protection and safety - and that' not a bad thing to work on - I seem to need that more than I think ;o)

Apart from that, Matthew is in the 90% for his height - 31+" and 75% for his weight - 24+#. We do love our little monkey(as Mark calls him).

Other new accomplishments are waving bye-bye and hello consistently, showing us where our noses are and stacking a block. :o)

our Christmas

We were in Dallas the first part of the week and had lots of fun - though, as everyone knows - expectations are different with children. Mark was gracious enough to stay at the hotel with Matthew in the mornings so Dad, Mom and I could run around - IKEA, Dealey Plaza, Whole Foods, etc... We did make it to The Cheesecake Factory(we went at an off time) and Red Hot & Blue for barbque and had some Chinese.

Matthew was a little off - as anticipated - our hotel room wasn't as spacious as we had expected it to be - so, Matthew was a bit limited in getting around for play. I think that's when he started getting sick, maybe?

It was great having my parents along with - it made the drive soooooo much easier with Mom in the back to "entertain" him when needed - and watching her knit mesmerized him to sleep when it was nap time :o)

I love to watch him sleep

I like to check on Matthew at least once before I go to bed - I just think it's so cute when he sleeps like this! He loves his "ellie" elephant - it's my fault for putting it in bed with him(we did get a backup "ellie" at IKEA).
He seems to have the virus that's going around now - poor little guy. He has his 1 year checkup on Tuesday. Since I have to work dayshift tomorrow, Mark is going to call and see if they want him to come in a day early.

My birthday

I had my first birthday party on Saturday. Uncle Steve and Grandma & Grandpa E. joined the singing via telephone. I was not impressed with my cupcake. I was more than happy to share it with one of our cats, however - and Mackey was quite happy to eat the half of the cupcake that I immediately threw on the floor. The sugar cookie that Grandma made for me was better - and the ice cream that I was given at the BarBQue restaurant the next night - on my actual birthday - was even better.

I liked the paper on my gifts. Daddy wasn't too pleased with my Colts jersey, though. I loved all of my gifts - even the socks. Thank you to everyone!!

One year old

I'm one year old - tomorrow!! Mommy asked me to do the blog entry today since we're planning on heading to Dallas tomorrow morning with Grandma and Grandpa H.

I'm not walking on my own quite yet. I still like to hold on to the furniture. Daddy doesn't think I'll be walking on my own til February, Mommy thinks it will be mid-late January. We'll see who is right.... I can sit up from laying down now and I can actually crawl on my hands and knees - but it's just so much easier and faster on my belly.

I jabber lots. I like to put things in boxes and bowls. I can stack one two blocks. I tend to get frustrated when I'm tired cause I know how things work - but I just can't manage to do it on my own. I don't mind getting my diaper changed like I used to, and getting dressed isn't quite as bad. I love to open and close doors. I also hold out my hand so I can touch things - I like to touch everything!

Daddy does a good job with brushing my teeth - but I think I do a better job myself. I'm still fascinated with watching Daddy get ready for work.

Mommy and Daddy are only giving me a sippy cup at snack time for right now - I like my apple and pear juice. Some days I like to eat more than others. I'm doing a better job at eating things with my fingers - just last month I wouldn't touch bananas or carrots - but I'm okay with them now. My favorite foods are fruits and breads. I do like carrots and sweet potatoes, though. I heard I was getting a cupcake today - I'll let you know what I think of that!!

I love to be around people and watch what's going on. I still get up around 6am, nap at 9:30ish and another nap around 2ish - although, it's not uncommon for me to just play in bed and forgo that nap. Mommy wants to know if anyone thinks I'm trying to go to one nap a day??? I go to bed at 8pm - 7:30ish if I didn't take a nap.

My favorite shows are the intros to Curious George, Sid the Science Kid, Reading Rainbow and Between the Lions. All I like to watch is the openings to shows - that's okay with Mommy and Daddy. I love my books! I like to "dance" to music. And I think Mommy and Daddy can be awfully funny sometimes.

I love my Mommy and Daddy lots. I also love having Grandma and Grandpa H. here, too - they're lots of fun!!

destroyer of towers

this will be in his resume`, I'm sure

because he can...........

Candy cane reindeer

I've been making these little reindeer for eons, now. I think I was given one in high school?? It's been so long that I don't remember - I just think they're cute to give out with gifts.

Milestones

This may be the last can of formula that we will buy for Matthew! It would be great to not have to spend that $25/can anymore.

We also put Matthew's front facing car seat in this weekend. He meets the criteria by height and weight - just not age(should be one year old). We decided to install it a week early since, Lord willing, we'll be heading down to Dallas on Sunday. We didn't want to "break him in" on a four hour trip. We went 40 minutes up the road to Target. He seems to enjoy the novelty of it, so far. We'll see how long that lasts :o)

Yesterday, Mark said that Matthew said "bye" to great grandma on the phone, too. I think he waved to me and said "bye" when I said I was leaving the room and said "bye-bye" to him. I guess I'm skeptical of him saying any of those things purposefully. He does know my name. Last Sunday, when Mark asked MTE where Mommy was, he looked and me, smiled and patted my arm. :o)

Finally!

It took an hour of quietly playing in his crib - but, Matthew finally fell asleep. Who knew you had to work so hard to take a nap - it's worth it!!

Our little candycane!

Such sweetness - most of the time ;o)

Because sometimes I forget...........

Psalm 62:5-8

My soul, wait in silence for God only, for my help is from Him.
He only is my rock and my salvation, my stronghold; I shall not be shaken.
On God my salvation and my glory rest; the rock of my strength, my refuge is in God.
Trust in Him at all times, O people; pour your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us.

Perils of bathtime

Mornings are loud around here

Matthew screams when he is happy - and he's usually happiest in the mornings. This morning in particular was loud with Grandma and Grandpa here to entertain - and be entertained! :o)

Matthew is thankful for Grandma and Grandpa!!

So, are Mommy and Daddy!!!!!!!

Pumpkin Parfaits

Okay, I know this isn't the best shot - but, I did want to share this low fat, yummy recipe.

I saw Rachel Ray make this pumpkin stuff and decided to modify it a little -

1 can pumpkin
1 can fat free sweetened condensed milk
1 box instant vanilla pudding
2 small containers of low fat Cool Whip - thawed
1 box of Ginger Snap cookies - crumble about 1/2 the box of g.s.'s in a food processor.

Just mix the pumpkin, condensed milk and pudding mix all together and add the Cool Whip. In my glasses, I put in a few spoonfuls of the pumpkin stuff, then a few spoonfuls of the crumbled ginger snaps and then a few spoonfuls of some more Cool Whip - and then did it all again. Lots of sugar - but low fat - :o)

None of RR's was low fat or fat free and she used the real deal whipped cream.

Watching over his kingdom

eleven months old

I'm eleven months old today!! Time flies - it's hard to remember what all I've done this month cause I'm just soooooo busy.

I work really hard at standing up all the time. Of course, I haven't quite figured out how to get down once I've stood up - I guess that's what Mommy and Daddy are here for. I like to check out what's in cabinets and drawers.

I'm especially fascinated with watching Daddy get ready for work every morning.

I take my two naps every day. I usually know that I'll sleep really well for my morning nap. My afternoon nap is a little less predictable on how long I'll sleep.

I like my walks outside - I do like to look around at everything.

Mommy and Daddy give me a sippy cup for lunch and dinner - I can't say that I'm too thrilled with it - but, I guess that's the only way I'm getting my formula. As for food - I'm not very fond of eating with my fingers unless it's Cheerios/puffs, cheese quesadillas, cheese from pizza or crackers.

I heard that Grandma and Grandpa E. bought my new car seat. I haven't used it yet, evidently, I'm getting too tall for my current one - even though I'm well within the weight range.

I need a haircut, but Mommy can't bring herself to get me one til I'm a year old - that's coming up soon, though.

I liked playing peek-a-boo a lot til I started standing - I would crawl underneath my exersaucer and play it with Mommy. I think my favorite toy is my barn that Grandma and Grandpa H. gave me. That and the shape sorter - I could play with those all day.

I love my Mommy and Daddy a lot, and I know they love me!

He's cruisin'

Matthew is seriously on his way to walking. He started cruising between the recliner and end table today. Funny - I couldn't have told you what "cruising" in babies was six months ago.

An official parent....

I went to Walmart specifically to buy diapers and coffee!

My weekend with Reba, Kelly, and Bond, James Bond

Okay, can you believe that I went to the Reba McIntyre/Kelly Clarkson concert last night??!! My friend, Guyla, asked me if I wanted to go. It was a lot of fun - as you can imagine - there was a big mix of people there. It's always fun just to people watch, too. I seriously forgot to bring my ear plugs, though. I was planning on bringing them and just plain forgot. I think I would have felt like a big nerd sticking them in my ears - boy, I'm getting too old for those loud concerts ;o)

Today, we went with our friends, Steven and Summer, to see the new James Bond movie. We enjoyed it. Reviews have been mixed - apart from the action scenes - which are a little too close and disorienting - it was good.

Easter egg hunts in our house

For the past several months, Matthew has been carrying around his toys and putting them in usual places - and leaving them there. Thankfully, Mark watched him put his little golf ball in the hollow leg of his exersaucer or I don't think I would have ever found it.

I found some toys in one of our kitchen cabinets today. The dryer ball was on a shelf in his bedroom. I don't have pictures of when he would bring his toys over to the pop can containers next to the dryer(which is off the kitchen).

We sure are thankful for our busy little guy!!

s'mores

I'm trynig out homemade s'mores. Homemade marshmallows and homemade graham crackers and some yummy chocolate bars - dark chocolate for me and milk chocolate for Mark - not homemade ;o) We'll see.

I call her Big Bertha

I think that's the name of a golf club - but to see this elliptical in comaprison to our previous one..........she IS Big Bertha!!! She didn't even fit in the back of my RAV. We(okay, the three men who helped me) had to break the box down and put the parts in. Thankfully, the nice strong men loaded it all up - it was very heavy! I love it already!

And, a bonus for me ('cause Mark experienced all of the headache on this) - they're sending us over $150 worth of iFit programs because the part they sold us to repair our old elliptcal was actually not even possible to fix. They didn't tell Mark that til - hmmmm - how many phone calls and e-mails later?

The devolution of a teething biscuit

Gone are the days of relatively "clean" meals. Yes, he got a bath right after this :o)

Battle of the Ravine

Every year we go to the big tailgate party before the football game between the two universities(which are, interestingly enough, right across the street from each other). Matthew wasn't too sure what to think of the band. By the end, he was kind of beebopping along to the music, though.

We didn't go to the game - too late for Matthew. We watched some of it on tv - we won!

**you can't tell it by the pictures - but there really were a lot of people there. As true Edwards's - we go early and beat the crowds ;o)