Needed Update

Yes, I know it has been a while since I've updated the blog. We have been pretty busy lately.

Here's a quick recap: Alex is now a busy boy. He is constantly rolling over from his back to his stomach and from his stomach to his back. He LOVES spending time in his doorway jumper. He laughs and laughs and laughs...which is contagious. We go in rounds. He is such a happy little guy and getting so big! We bought a high chair and he loves it! He is also eating solids and loves green beans, carrots and sweet potatoes. Pictures will be posted soon...I promise!

He had his six month check up yesterday and he is growing right on track! Our doctor informed me that now is the time to CIO (for those not familiar with the mommy lingo...it means Cry It Out). Alex is now mature enough to be able to sleep through the night without eating. SO, I was debating on giving it a try last night. Market starts today so this is going to be an extremely long week since I'm working this weekend and next weekend without a day off. IF we get him to CIO at the beginning then it should be smooth sailing next week when I'm especially worn out and tired. OR, I could just wait until these two markets are over with. WELL, I gave it a shot last night. I say "I" because Bill can sleep through anything! I was prepared for a really long night when I crawled in to bed around 9:30pm. Thank goodness we never had to use the earplugs we planned to pass out on the plane if Alex started screaming. I plugged my ears and feel asleep and woke up to a very sleepy cry at 10:46. I stayed in bed still half asleep myself and tried not to pay much attention to it. The crying all of a sudden stopped. I looked at the clock and it had only been seven minutes! I had to peek in the hall to make sure Bill didn't go in the nursery to help calm Alex down. NOPE! Bill was snoring in the living room. Yea! I went back to sleep and Bill came to bed close to midnight. He said that he checked on Alex and thankfully he was still breathing. Guess I'm not the only one a little paranoid about Alex sleeping through the night! Alex cried a little more between 2:30 am and 3:00 am but it didn't last longer than seven minutes. When I woke this morning he was sound asleep! I hope we have a repeat again tonight because I think it was a pretty successful night!

In other news, I am wearing a pair of pants that I bought in 2003 that were a little tight when I bought them! Yes, and I have to brag that they are a little big! Not sure if it has to do with breastfeeding, having the stomach bug for a day and a half or both. Needless to say, I have a spring in my step having slept for almost 8 HOURS without having to feed baby and wearing some pants that I have never been able to wear! IT IS GOING TO BE A GOOD DAY! Now only if my stomach would get rid of this horrible gurgle and rumble! (Not completely healed just yet)

December Videos

Here are two videos taken last month.
I was packing Alex's bag for our trip to Indianapolis and every time I placed him on his stomach he rolled over.


Alex is a pretty happy baby and loves "kisses" on his stomach.

New Year's

We spent New Year's down at the deer lease. Bill had invited my parents which I was very thankful for. Keeping up with a 10 yr old and a 5 month old and cooking dinner every night is tough stuff...especially since we were away from home! It was nice to have my parents help with holding Alex and helping put him to bed. (There's really no good place to lay down a 5 month old a the lease.) Nothing outrageous happened. We celebrated New Year's Eve East Coast time...threw a few black cats and smoke bombs into the camp fire and played with sparklers.

Bathing Alex in the trailer sink

Mom, Alex and Missy Anne

Looks like I will be getting Alex a swing for the porch...he LOVED it!

Christmas Adventure

Flight to Indy

Christmas Eve: Tyler & Haylee in the Christmas Jammies

Christmas morning

Dec. 26 before the adventure

Bill and I survived our first Christmas as parents. For those who may not already know, this year Bill and I found out that we have a 10 yr old son...for me a step son. 2010 brought us 2 sons which we are thrilled and blessed to have. Tyler is 10 and Alex is 5 months.

We spent our first Christmas with our sons in Indianapolis with David and Raina (my brother-in-law and sister-in-law). They have a 4 year old daughter Haylee. Nonnie, my mother-in-law flew up from McAllen. (I was a little nervous about flying with Alex but he could not have done better...he slept the majority of the flight.) This was the first time for Tyler to meet his uncle, aunt and cousin. He took to them very quick and even spent the two nights we were at the hotel sharing a bed with his Nonnie and Haylee. They made a Tyler sandwich!

We had a lovely time in Indy...we went to Christmas Eve service at David & Raina's church then ate at a delicious Italian restaurant. We spent Christmas day at David & Raina's opening stockings and presents. Raina made a wonderful Christmas lunch/dinner for everyone. Tyler and Haylee spent the majority of the time following each other around. They had a really good time! Sunday...this is when the adventure started. We were to fly back to DFW at 3 but at 3:30 we were still on the plane. To make a long story short, our flight got cancelled because the defrosting gauge on the plane was broken and the part was going to have to be flown in. Hmm...can you imagine what it is like to deboard a full plane and get everyone rebooked on another flight especially with all of the cancelled flights in the NE? CRAZY! Bill waited at the gate counter for about an hour for them to tell him that the next flight we could get on was at 7:35pm the next night. Yep, our flight wasn't for another 27 hours. We couldn't go anywhere b/c we checked our luggage and car seat. Luckily, David and Raina drove back to the airport to get us. I was able to get us $40 in meal vouchers and a free night at a nearby Hampton Inn. Thank goodness we have a sweet family to cart us around. (Both David and Raina had to bring their cars b/c all of us no longer fit in one car) Needless to say, we made it home safely last night at 9:30 pm. It was a great trip, and could have been better without the adventure at the end.

(I had my doubts about flying with a 5 month old but people were surprisingly very helpful when they saw us coming...)

SANTA

Alex's school had Santa pictures one day. I didn't sign him up for pictures because I didn't think the Santa and set would be good...well, I have to eat my words. He was a great Santa. If I knew it was going to be a good Santa then I would have signed up for pictures and would have set out an outfit for Bill to dress Alex in. Bill gets him ready for school everyday...don't you love the blue socks!

Santa?

No, it's not Santa...its Alex waiting for his second course during dinner. His Nonnie gave him this cute Christmas bib. So, of course it was another good picture opportunity!

Brrr.....

It was really cold this morning...my car read 27 degrees. So, I bundled Alex up in a fleece that Grandmom and Paw Paw sent him. I couldn't resist taking a picture...or two!

He is getting so big. It is so fun to watch him take everything in. He can now sit up on his own IF proped up against someone/something. He still loves to stand on laps and has really found his laugh.