6 month checkup

As you can see, we still have a bit of work to do with chop stick skills :o)

Dr. K. was pleased with Matthew's checkup. He weighed 19# 2.8oz - with a dry diaper - 75%. He measured 27.5" - also 75%.

Yesterday was the best eating day he had had in over three weeks!! He consumed 22ounces - including what was used for his cereals! The Mylanta did help the eating - not necessarily more - but at least it was easier - he was only on it for a few days. He sounds a little gurgly again with more coughing. He has gotten that way right before every increase in his Zantac - so, she did increase his med a little. Lord willing, by his 9 month checkup - he will be growing out of this yukky reflux.

We did just one shot today. We'll go back next month for one shot, as well. Thankfully, MTE's dr. is very easy going when it comes to parents' preferences. We have switched to the Dr. Sears' alternative vaccine schedule and I'm glad for that.

As for Matthew's opinion of avacados? The first couple of times - he made lots of funny faces with some shivering action - like we had just given him a lemon - but not so much anymore. He's a funny guy!

A thing of beauty....

...is a joy forever! Or at least until it breaks.

Yes, Gaylene, the espresso maker you gave me bit the dust :o( That was four years ago - that's pretty good - don't you think?

So this is espresso maker #3 - isn't she beautiful and shiny!!??

Six months old

I'm six months old today! It's been a busy month for me! I started eating oatmeal and barley. I heard that Mom and Dad were going to try me on avacodos and sweet potatoes soon - I'll be sure to let you know what I think. I am curious about what the grown ups eat, though. I like my high chair to play, I'm not quite strong enough to just sit and eat - that still annoys me.

I've got my first two teeth on the bottom - that wasn't much fun. After that, I got a sore throat and then after that, my reflux acted up. Mom and Dad (mostly Mom since Daddy comes back today!) have been having quite the time getting me to eat around 20 ounces a day for the past three weeks. Mommy took me to the doctor Thursday - and my doctor thought the reason for my still not wanting to eat was my reflux acting up after being sick. She wasn't quite sure - but she started me on Mylanta every six hours for four or five days. It has really helped me out.
I don't go back for my six month checkup til next Thursday - but I weighed 19# 6 ounces on Thursday!

The good thing about me getting a sore throat has been that they leave me alone once I go to bed now - no more late night feedings! I was waking up at those feedings and not eating - just crying. So, now I wake up between 6:30 and 7am and then go to bed at 9pm. I usually don't wake up at all through the night anymore - that makes Mommy and Daddy really happy!

I'm trying to figure how to crawl - I rock back and forth on hands and knees - I don't really go anywhere, yet. If I do move - I go backwards. I like to "jump" up and down when I'm on someone's lap.

I can sit for a few seconds on my own. Mommy usually puts me in the middle of the bed to try that.

I'm not talking very much, yet. I like to screech - I think it's funny.

Grandma and Grandpa H. were down for a week while Daddy has been gone. Mommy and I really liked having them here! I look forward to seeing them in August!

High chair

We're getting MTE accustomed to a high chair - he seems to enjoy sitting at the table while we're eating. I tried giving him his cereal in the chair yesterday - it annoyed him a bit.
With the travelling we're planning on later this summer, we opted for a folding high chair that attatches to a chair - it was actually cheaper than the Fisher Price one we were looking at.

stained glass windows

I bought these at an estate sale - they ended up being my Mother's Day gift - even better bcause I know that I'm hard to buy for. I was super excited to see them. I had been wanting some stained glass for a while, too.
I painted the frames - they were unfinished. Supposedly, they are European. They hang in our bedroom - thanks dad for hanging them for me - they're heavy!

Coordinating a get together in Lafayette

So, you tell me - what's the best way we can all get together in August?? I want to see EVERYONE - but to see everyone one-on-one is not going to be possible :o(

I'm excited because friends of ours are going to let us use their house - they'll be out of town that while we're there. While I'm sorry that we'll not be able to see Darren and Debra - I am very happy that we'll have a "home base".

I certainly want to meet for lunch/coffee/brunch, etc...... It would also be possible to have friends over to "our" house - I'm thinking that might be a better option over all - considering Matthew will need to nap - and so will other little ones :o)

I'm just throwing all of this "out there" in the blogasphere so I can know how we can work this out and have something tentatively planned - since we are pathetically behind the technological world and don't have a laptop to tote around. :o)

Let me know what you think/if you'll be around sometime that week, etc......

Lord willing..........

I thought I would share our summer plans. At the end of July, we're heading to Dallas for a couple of days to meet up with Matt and Marci and Elizabeth - our little Matthew's namesake - a long with Mark's brother. They live in southern TX but will be in Dallas for a few days.
The next week - first week in August - we're heading to Indiana!!! Mark is a groomsman in Keith and Sarah's wedding on the 9th. Lord willing, we'll head up to IN on Mon - spend the night at my parents and then head up to Lafayette on Tuesday. We're planning on staying until the next Sun/Mon and then head back to my parents for a couple of days. :o) It will be here soon!!

Grandma time

Not to be left out :o)

hangin' with Grandpa

It's been wonderful having my parents here. Matthew is enjoying the extra lovin'. Thankfully, as of today, he finally seems to be getting over his sore throat. All is not back to normal - but today, he's eaten the most in one day with still one feeding to go - in a week.

A sore throat for our little Colt

It's been a week and a half since MTE's teeth started erupting and we've been having lots of feeding issues. Monday, for example, I could only get 16ounces in. The past two days have been at 20ounces. Feedings have been taking about an hour to get through - the poor guy would be obviously hungry, eat an ounce or two then be done. I would execute plans B, C and D to get as much in as I could. We had been attributing all of this to teething - until the past couple of days - this just seemed a bit excessive this far out.
I talked with his doctor's office and they agreed that he might have something else going on. I took him in this morning - and what do you know - his throat was red. (Mark had a sore throat last week.) The nurse took a little blood just to confirm that it was a virus - and voila - it is.
I feel so bad for the poor little guy - but truth be told - I was almost giddy leaving the doctor's office. Maybe relieved is more the word. I just didn't think that teething would cause this much trouble - and to know that there is an explanation for his not wanting to eat.
I was so happy that I went to McD's for an iced coffee afterwards - I don't remember the last time I had one of those.
MTE was asleep by the time we got home - it was nap time, anyway. If you look at his little right thumb in the pic where he is in his crib - you can see his blue camo bandaid.

***btw - he weighed in at 19#1oz with his Colts outfit on

third time's a charm!

the last pic shows MTE's teeth :o)

***he's sitting up with a little assisstance, there - he can sit on his own for just a few seconds :o)

5:45AM

Ready to take Daddy to the airport.

Ready to go with Daddy

Somehow, I don't think he would fit with 2 weeks worth of clothes, but he tried to sneak in :o)

my other favorite

Okay, this my other favorite romper :o) I got this at DDG, too.

my favorite

I think that this little romper with bugs all over it is my favorite!! I've been patiently waiting for the time when MTE could wear it :o) I got it at the big consignment sale in Little Rock - Duck Duck Goose!

How's this for small town living??!!

This came in the mail today.

Encouraged

Mark just got an e-mail this morning from a reputable press saying that they are interested in his book!!! What a praise!! We just hope that it all ends in a book deal - that will be known way down the line :o) Keep praying!

moody

I really believe - and Mark would heartily agree(because I asked), as well - that I am more moody as a non pregnant person than I ever was as a pregnant person. It's certainly not an excuse for my sin - trust me, it's not - it's just something that I've noticed. Poor Mark. Maybe that was the perk of being pregnant - their certainly didn't seem to be many for me.

happenings here

First off - I'd been waiting for this outfit to go on clearance from Old Navy - I think it's just too cute. It's not that Matthew is wanting for clothes, at all. Thankfully, I don't need to buy him any clothes at this point.

Monday was really his roughest day on the teeth front. Yesterday wasn't too bad, at all. We're thankful for that!!

He's eating oatmeal now - two days in a row. He takes it fine.

This picture was taken right after he rolled onto his back - he still does it while trying to get to sleep - still hasn't figured out how to roll back. I just checked on him in his crib for his nap and - yes - he's rolled over. He's quite content right now, though. One other time, he just fell asleep on his back - I'm hoping that the same happens - we'll see.

Our biggest thing - he's starting to "lunge" crawl. We just noticed it last night -and we're scared. :o) Once he starts going.............we think he'll be everywhere!! He's not very effective at it, yet. It will be interesting to see how much he's progressed when Mark comes back(he's leaving on Monday the 9th) on the 21st.

*****about the blog change - i had tried to import a layout from another website. i ended up not liking it - difficult to view the pictures. i thought that i had saved the original blog properly - evidently, i hadn't. i figured it was a good time to simplify it and see if a new template would be a good change - i haven't decided if this one will stay.

addendum

Matthew is now cutting two teeth - we have loss of hearing to prove his discomfort with the whole situation.

attitude of gratitude

I wanted to take a minute to share some things I've been thankful for.

#1 - a loving and patient God - I'm so thankful for His goodness in our lives - knowing that He is good and is working out everything for my good - even when I don't interpret "it" as good right now - I have to remember that it's not about me - thank you Mark for a good discussion and reminder in our Sunday school class yesterday.

#2 - a wonderful husband - I could give lots of examples - but won't bore you with them :o)

#3 - a healthy little boy - it's time once again to sort through his clothes - I had to bring out three boxes of new clothes in this age range to go through - I confess that I do get a little sad putting away the smaller sizes - but, I'm very thankful to be getting out lots of bigger clothes.

#4 - my job - I am so happy to be done with orientation - from the standpoint of not working as much as I had been - even though the paycheck was very pretty. I am scared to be one of two nurses and off orientation - there is just sooooo much to learn. The mundane stuff doesn't scare me (you know, the kid that came in to the ER for an ingrown toenail - what an abuse of the system!!). It's the life threatening stuff that rolls through the doors - and by life threatening - I mean my life, too, at times.

#5 - my extended family and friends - I just can't say enough how thankful I am for all of you - even though we may not talk or see each other much.

#6 - Mark's job - I would still rather be living here than us having to move every year for temporary positions in cities that I love.

First tooth

You can't see it here - but Matthew is cutting his first tooth. I was expecting this - he's had a little diarrhea, a little fever here and there and a little fussiness.

I first noticed it on Saturday. It's hard to get a good look at his gums - everytime I try to check, he sticks his tongue out. But, chomping down on my finger when I put it in his mouth quite confirmed it yesterday :o)