The Still Family

Tick, tock.

2012-02-07T07:50:00.000-08:00

This time next week, we'll be a family of four. EEEKKKK!!!! It is a bizarre feeling knowing this...not like I didn't know that this pregnancy would end (even though at times it did feel that way) but knowing exactly when it's coming to an end is just strange! I am scheduled to go in next Monday for the section. So far, this week has not gone as expected. I had imagined doing lots of fun things "one last time" with my little man, running lots of last minute errands and having the house spotless. Instead, we've been on lock down since Saturday because Banks has the stomach virus. Therefore, I have spent my time washing sheets, cleaning up poo and vomit and disinfecting every inch of this TTT. I spend my time agonizing over whether I'll get it or not and Banks spends his time parked in front of the TV with his cup of Gatoraid. Like I said, not exactly how I'd imagined it going.

I will say that this morning, he woke up and said, "momma, can I go and play at someones house today?" He's so over me. I'm thinking that we've made it over the hump if he's feeling good enough to request a playdate. We'll see what the day holds.

We are all ready for Andrew's arrival. His bag is packed, my bag is semi-packed and the "nursery" is all ready. Poor Andrew. There's no space for him in the TTT so he's sleeping in this bassinet in the corner of the downstairs. Yep, I'm serious. I love this wicker bassinet and Matt's Aunt Frances put a new ribbon and bow on it for us BUT I don't love that I just have to park it by the bathroom downstairs. However, hopefully it will just be for 1 1/2 months...we have a contract on a house!!! We have yet to have the inspection, etc so fingers crossed that all works out for us this time. Just knowing that there's an end in sight makes bringing Andrew home to the TTT much more manageable.

I'll do my best to update the blog after Andrew arrives!!

Half Birthday!

2012-01-30T17:57:00.000-08:00

As you know, we make it a point to celebrate half birthdays around here. We went all out for Banks' first half birthday and now we've toned it way down. This year, I decided to ask him a few questions that we can look back on one day.

What is your favorite color: red
Who is your best friend: Lightning A-Queen
What is your favorite thing to eat: muffins
What is your favorite thing to drink: juice
What is your favorite thing to play: Percy (this is a Thomas the Train thing for those non-boy readers) and projects (he's really into art projects these days)
What is your favorite tv show: I don't know (I didn't ask him twice because asking once caused a major meltdown about wanting to watch tv)
What is your favorite book: Everyone Poops (and yes, he was serious about that)
What is your favorite song: Rudolph (somebody can't quite get over the fact that Christmas has passed)
What is your favorite animal: Giraffe
What do you want to be when you grow up: "Be two"...I guess he wants to be two forever.

At 2 1/2 Banks is going through a very picky phase. Matt is concerned that he might be a vegetarian (hehe). I think it is more a texture thing than anything else. For example, he will spit out the skin of a grape or blueberry (lots of work, right?) but will still eat cauliflower and raw bell pepper. It's really just hit or miss. He'll tell me he doesn't want something, I put it on his plate regardless and then he eats every bite.

He's a smart little kid (don't all parents think that about their little ones???)...he can count to 30 sometimes, 20 all the time. He can identify most of his letters and just a few numbers. If you ask him what his name is he'll tell you "Banks Still, S-T-I-L-L." The first time he spelled our last name out I about passed out. It's not something we've been working on but I guess he has overheard us spell it out so many times (because everyone wants us to be Steele, not Still) that he just picked up on it. He can tell you his birthday is "July sirdy-eth" and can name the days of the week (just not in order).

He is becoming more creative...making up words to familiar tunes and wanting to do art projects all the time. He still loves reading books, playing with trains and cars/trucks. He's not so big on playing by himself. He has become very particular about some things...especially his nighttime routine. He's doing wonderfully in his big boy bed (after three weeks of struggling) but wants to be covered up by his blanket, have his lovie laid out next to him (and covered up) and his stuffed bunny propped up in the corner of the bed. Seriously, where do they come up with this stuff???

Not happy about waking up to the camera in his face. His new thing...unzipping his pj's. He just wants to show off his chest hair.

He's still all boy. He's rough, plows his toys into everything, breaks a good many of his toys and throws things. He tests every boundary. The "sad spoon" has become my best friend...we have one down stairs, one upstairs and one in the car. He is deathly afraid of the thing and just the threat of it gives me the result I'm looking for. And bless his heart when I have to use it...he just dissolves into a pitiful mess!

Digging in the sand:

We are trying to soak up every minute of him...two weeks from today he'll have a brother with which to share his time! Happy half-birthday to Banks!

Opening his half-birthday present:

Have you been worried?

2012-01-19T18:47:00.000-08:00

I went back and read my last post and got to thinking that some of you might be concerned that I was depressed. Fear not, followers, it's been a great week. My friends gave me a sweet shower for Andrew, I had a great girls night out, and Banks has been MUCH more agreeable this week. I'm feeling like I can do this. I am also feeling like I am carrying around a 15 pound baby. A lady at the doctors office yesterday told me I was "tiny." Extremely sweet of her but she was full of bull. She knew it and I knew it. At this point in pregnancy, I wouldn't even describe my pinky toe as tiny.

The excitement is starting to mount...what will he look like, how fun it'll be snuggling with a sweet smelling little bebe, how great it'll be to feel like my stomach skin isn't about to catch on fire every night. Just a little over three weeks to go and I really can't believe it. Grunting every time I move and taking Tums twice daily just about summarizes my life these days and I've only got three more weeks of it. Then it'll be poopy diapers, washing teeny-tiny clothes, and sleepless nights!!! And I can't wait!!!

Here are just a couple of pics from the shower. Only a couple as someone forgot to tell me that I can't just perch myself on the edge of a chair anymore and take a flattering picture.

Sweet Oxford friends: Leslie Ann, me, Jill, Beth, Mary Beth

The Aunts: Carol, Frances, me, Meb and Mitzi (Matt's mom)

Momma guilt

2012-01-09T17:25:00.000-08:00

Thank goodness someone said what I was thinking:
http://momastery.com/blog/2012/01/04/2011-lesson-2-dont-carpe-diem/

It feels good to know that I'm not alone. That finally someones not giving the "everything's great" response to how motherhood is. If I'm completely honest, I've been struggling lately. Banks is at a hard age for me...defiant, rough and rowdy, yet completely dependent and needy. He hits, he throws, he bit me twice, he chases the dog, he's decided he doesn't like most foods. He refuses to play by himself and instead follows me around saying, "Momma, will you play with me?" over and over and over again. When I say no, I feel guilty. When I say yes, I am annoyed. I hate alternating between annoyance and guilt. It's not a great way to spend your day. Then there's the dread I feel...dreading the next meltdown, dreading having to play cars for the billionth time that day, dreading mealtime because I know it will be a battle. I feel guilty that the highlights of my day include nap time and bed time. And one of the sweetest sounds? Hearing the floors upstairs creak around 5:00 pm because I know Matt is about to walk down the stairs and rescue me.

I'm hoping that this is just a phase with me. That I am ginormously pregnant, tired and irritable. I'm hoping this doesn't mean I'm a sucky mom; a failure. I know I'm a sinner and this is one way my sin is showing itself...I'm selfish with my time. I know I'm not perfect...in fact, I've found myself acting much like a two year old lately. I know I'm insecure and struggle with making parenting decisions. I know I'm scared because I'm struggling this much right now and am about to add a newborn to the mix. And most importantly, I know that my intuitive two year old can pick up on all of these things. Thus, the momma guilt arises again.

So thank the Lord for Kairos time. I'm glad ole girl put a name to it. I cherish those moments. When I've got myself in check and actually enjoy my child for everything he is. I love those little curls of his. It is sweet that he wants me to play with him and sees me as his everything. I love listening to him sing. I love watching him learn. I love so many things; they just get clouded by guilt and annoyance. In addition to appreciating my Kairos moments, I'm also reading Loving the Little Years. And boy, has it put me in check. I HIGHLY recommend it to any mom. It's all about reframing the way we see mothering...really taking the "me" out of the situation and focusing on the "child" of the moment. It's about remembering that most storms in the day pass in twenty minutes and that my job is to take care of that needy, rough little boy. He is the apple to my tree and I am to nurture to him until he is ripe.

Whew, it feels good to vent. Although I'm sure some of you might be considering calling DHS or suggesting something like Lexapro or Prozac. For now, I'm just going to continue praying, take some Tums and drink a Diet Coke. It's about all I got in my back pocket. The hubs is putting the kid down for the night and I'm very much enjoying this Kairos moment...

10 facts you could care less about knowing:

2012-01-05T17:29:00.000-08:00

1. Everyone else is skinnier than I am.
2. Pinterest will make you fat. I just made a Cinnamon Roll Cake that is three-sticks-of-butter-heaven.
3. I broke out the spanking spoon. We call it the "sad spoon" because I drew a frowny face on it. That joker is working wonders so far.
4. I have officially washed my first load of baby clothes and even put them in a drawer. Oh yes, he may not have his own room but he has his very own drawer. Maybe even two if he gets lucky.
5. I have four things that still fit.
6. The wedding edition of Mississippi Magazine will be my entertainment for the next few weeks.
7. Paper cuts made by cardboard books hurt like the dickens.
8. Everything makes me out of breath.
9. I have the most awesome friends ever...some are giving me a luncheon to celebrate baby Andrew and one sent me a box full of diapers and baby clothes!!!
10. I need to be a better friend.

2012

2012-01-01T12:07:00.000-08:00

It's a new year and that means one thing in this household: time to get ready for baby. We had a wonderful Christmas filled with family, fun, removal of stitches, food, more food and lots and lots of toys!

Here are all the kiddos from our annual Jones/Berry/Still Christmas get-together.

(Will and Maggie Jones, Banks, Baylor and Charlie Berry)

My favorite part of this Christmas was on Christmas Eve when Matt and I read Banks 'Twas the Night Before Christmas and the story of Jesus' birth from Luke. Once we were done and saying our prayers, Banks wanted to hold both of our hands. Melt me. Then I'm sure he slapped me in the face. Another blog post all together but we're really struggling with some negative behaviors over here.

Banks really had a blast with Christmas this year. I'm not quite sure he understands it's over. He keeps wanting to listen to his Christmas music, sing Christmas songs and open presents. Check back with me in May...we might still be listening to his Christmas CD's. Maybe it's because we have like 100 Christmases around here...seriously, we have one more tonight with my Aunt and Uncle in Memphis.

So now that Christmas is (almost) behind us and in order to get ready for baby, we moved Banks into his big boy bed.

Last time waking up in his crib:

It was such a sad time for me...I know he's growing up but he's still my baby!!! And while he looked SO big in his crib, he now looks SO small in his big boy bed.

First time in the big boy bed:

It's hard for me to imagine that in 6 weeks we'll have another little person living with us and how tiny (even though that joker feels like he weighs 10 pounds already and is ready to rip open my stomach skin at any moment to come on out) he'll feel compared to Banks. So, 2012 should be an exciting year for us! We're looking forward to some sweet lasts with Banks, meeting Andrew and seeing what he'll look like, and hopefully finding a house and getting out of the TTT. Here's to the new year!!!

Pizza and ice cream

2011-12-18T17:22:00.000-08:00

Sounds like a pretty dern good meal to this pregnant lady but it is exactly what Banks wanted when we told him he could have whatever he wanted after he got these:

"You talkin to me?"

He looks so hard doesn't he? Poor baby got stitches yesterday...five to be exact...after he split his chin open on the corner of some brick stairs. He was SO good at the Urgent Care Clinic and didn't even flinch when he was getting his stitches. I'd say that Matt and I were more traumatized than he was!

Tis the Season!

2011-12-12T13:22:00.000-08:00

As promised, here is our finished DIY tree. Banks had a great time with the glitter and sequins. He had an equally great time decorating with (and mostly eating) the marshmallows. I was able to (for the most part) put my Type A/perfectionist personality to the side so that we could both have fun with it.

Boy, we are really soaking up the holiday spirit this year. We have seen Santa more times than I can count, been to a Christmas parade on the Square and had a pajama cookie swap!

SUPER excited about the parade!!!

My friend Jill's husband works on the Square and we watched the parade from his balcony. It was the way to go. We had hot chocolate and cookies and could go inside anytime to warm up! Please note that I can only button the top two buttons of my coat these days. And that second button is

s-t-r-u-g-g-l-i-n-g.

Banks is absolutely obsessed with Santa. He seriously can't get enough. Santa came to his school today and his teachers told me that he had a ball and had all the teachers cracking up (no telling what he was doing/saying).

My friend Molly had Santa come to her house to read a story and the kids had milk and cookies. Seriously the cutest party ever. Banks loved getting to see his friend Charlie too!!!

We also have an elf that hangs out at our house! Banks has had a tough time coming up with a name for him. For the longest he just kept saying that his name was "not Buford" and now he calls him "Alf." Our elf brought a North Pole breakfast the morning he showed up. It might have been the most sugar Banks has ever had before 8:00 a.m. I mean, why not have marshmallows and white chocolate chips for breakfast?!

And, what would any Christmas season be without a stressful Christmas card photo session? This year, we used marshmallows (notice a theme here?) as a bribery tool and got lots of good pics...including this one of him hamming it up. Little stinker.

Children are good for...

2011-11-29T18:37:00.000-08:00

I always said my parents had me just so they could make me do chores. Not that they really made me do that much, but at the time it felt like a lot. I think I had to rake leaves once when I got in trouble and I know I had to clean my room. Oh, the insanity. It's one perk of having children, right? Making them do the stuff you don't want to do? I think one of the first things Matt said when we found out Banks was a boy was that he was excited about teaching him to rake the leaves. Banks is still a bit too young to clean the toilets for me, but his day is coming, don't you worry. He is good for a few things already:

-eating the hard and end pieces of bread (Matt and I used to fight over who had to eat the first two pieces of bread in the loaf, since they are harder than the rest. I'm telling you blog world, have a kid and all your problems will be solved.)

-eating the really over-ripe bananas

-throwing things in the trash

-shredding things

-walking the dog

-fetching things (might come in handy once the new babe gets here)

We'll be working on increasing his list of know-hows. Pretty soon he'll be serving me breakfast in bed. All joking aside, he is good for more than the list above. One favorite: he's good for a laugh. That guy says some of the craziest things. I know it happens with all children...they overhear something and then repeat the phrase at just the right moment. And he knows he's funny too. He cracks himself up and says "dat funny" or "I be silly."

He's also soaking up the Christmas spirit. He can already sing "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer", "Frosty the Snowman", and "Jingle Bells". He knows about baby Jesus, Mary and Joseph, the manger and the donkey. He knows all about Santa's "alfs" that help him in his shop. Banks doesn't know it yet but an "alf" is going to be coming to his house very soon. He also says he's going to ask Santa for a fire truck, some trucks and some tractors.

This year, since we're in the TTT (teeny-tiny townhouse), we're scaling WAY back on the Christmas decorations. Banks and I are making all the ornaments and decorations for the tree. I think it will be so sweet to look back on our last Christmas with just the three of us and remember making all the decorations together! I can't say that I'm not sad about not doing it up big this year, but we just don't have the space. Plus, our stuff is spread out all over the world and I'm not sure which storage unit has which decorations. Wish us luck!

Stringing the cranberries. We only knotted the string 257 times.

Glitter. I hate glitter. Toddlers and glitter do not mix well. See how neat it all looks in the picture? He was just getting started. But the snowflake sure turned out pretty!

Also on tap for this week: stringing popcorn, salt dough ornaments, and something involving sequins. I'll post pictures once we actually get a tree on which to hang all our ornaments!

I'm exhausted!

2011-11-17T17:18:00.000-08:00

Banks' style of play these days is very active. Lots of chasing, flipping upside down, hide-and-seek. He starts one thing, plays with it for 10 minutes or less and then moves on to the next thing. He plays very loudly and he's bossy. "No, mommy, drive the trains ober he-ah", "no, mommy, run", or "mommy, get up!" If I am doing ANYTHING in the kitchen, he drags our little step ladder in there and wants to help. I even tried to get him to sit still and watch TV the other day and he wouldn't do it. What??? Needless to say, I'm exhausted from playing with my child! I am super thankful that he's active, healthy and wants to run and play all the time, but whew! I'm worn out at the end of the day.

I'm also worn out from trying to discipline him. He is pushing EVERY boundary, EVERY limit and even breaking some rules willingly and accepting his punishment without a second thought. As an example, Banks has learned to lock/unlock our front door. We have sent him to time out or spanked when he does this since, you know, there's a certain level of danger there. Well, yesterday I was putting some things in the car and came back to open the door and he had locked me out of the house! Little stinker. There are some days when I feel like he can do nothing right; I am on him ALL DAY LONG. "Banks, don't put your feet on the table." "Banks, don't feed the dog your grapes." "Don't throw." "Hurry up." "Don't lock me out of the house." "No, no, no!" And, there are some days when I can't do anything right. "NO, mommy, I was going to do that" is what I hear when I try to put his shoes on, help him into the car, carry him up the stairs, and on and on and on I can go.

We all know that doing the right thing is usually the more difficult choice. Disciplining, or molding your child into making the right choices, is definitely difficult. There are some days when I just want to close my eyes and pretend that I don't see him hit the dog or spit his food out or unroll the toilet paper but I heave myself up and discipline even though it's not easy.

Banks is not a "bad" child; very far from it. He's caring, comes up and hugs my legs all the time and tells me "I lub you, mom", and very smart. He's energetic, creative and thoughtful in his play. He's observant and insightful (as insightful as a two year old can get). He is the love of my life and I can't imagine loving anything more and at the same time I can't imagine being this exhausted and having someone else for which to care.

Speaking of that someone else, he finally has a name! We're going to name him Andrew Phillips and call him Andrew. Andrew is from Matt's side and I couldn't tell you how they are related. All I know is it's on the family tree so that counts! Phillips is my maternal grandmother's maiden name. My pregnancy is flying by and I'll be in the third trimester before I know it. My belly button is trying to turn itself inside-out. I've never run more than three miles in my life but I'd imagine my belly button feels like that of a marathon runner. It is so sore and sensitive. My shirt rubs it all day everyday and it certainly doesn't help that a little two year old punches, rubs, pushes, etc on my belly everyday.

Enough of belly button grossness. Here's a picture of my little Indian from his MMO Thanksgiving feast. He made sure to skip the green beans and corn and opted for two cookies and two juice boxes. Lunch of champions.

I just don't know what to do with myself...

2011-11-13T17:27:00.000-08:00

Matt is going out of town for a few days this week and for the week after Thanksgiving. Bummer. However, wasn't there a Sex and the City episode where the girls talked about "single girl behavior"? Plucking things, shaving things, etc. Things that you just can't do with a man around. There are a few things I can assure you will happen while Matt is gone.
1. I will shower less. I won't be gross, I'll just be less clean.
2. I will get in the bed earlier than I'd like to admit. And I'll be SUPER happy about it.
3. I will go to bed with the t.v. OFF. Something that rarely happens with Matt around.
4. I will watch ridiculous girl t.v. with no shame. There will be no ESPN this week.
5. I will make (and most likely eat the whole thing as to leave no evidence) some fabulous chocolate cake/pie/cookie. I will eat all of it with little to no shame (until I go to my next doctor's appointment and wonder why I gained so much weight this month).
6. I will let my child watch more t.v than usual. Give me a break here, I'm pregnant.
7. I will give the dog water. I forgot to do this last time Matt went out of town until I found Buford crying at the toilet (3 days after Matt left).
8. I will get bored and lonely and wish my husband would hurry up and get home so I can have someone to talk to.

Randomness.

2011-11-05T19:08:00.000-07:00

I am so behind on my blogging. I planned on doing a Fall recap to cover all the fun things we've done so far this fall but the thought of wading through all the pictures to cover it all seems overwhelming right now. So, I'm just going to type and see what comes out of the ole brain and then I'll throw in some completely random pictures so you can see if you remember what we look like.

Something you may have forgotten is that we're having another baby. In fact, I kind of forgot myself until I tried to bend straight over last week and about squished the poor kid to death. Somewhere between weeks 22 and now (almost 25) the belly just poked itself right on out there. I had a moment of panic in the middle of the night last week that I really have just about 3 months until this bambino gets here. And, I haven't done ONE thing to get prepared. Not that there's much to do since we're still in the TTT (teeny-tiny townhouse) and there's really no place for him to go anyway so we'll just put him in a bassinet in the corner somewhere. Do I feel some momma guilt about that? Absolutely. I also realized that with Banks we borrowed almost everything...swing, bouncy seat, bathtub, bumbo (really any baby item that starts with a "b"), snap and go, etc. We might as well just borrowed a baby at the rate we were going. So, there are some major things we need to buy and if you know Matt, the accountant husband, that really excites him.

And speaking of the TTT, the walls seem to be closing in on me. Seriously, my kid might be the loudest kid in America. He just can't help but yell all the time. He hits the ground running (literally) and doesn't stop until he's forced into his crib. He can be awake for 12 minutes and have pulled every toy out of every bin. It's a wonder I don't break my neck with the amount of debris through which I have to maneuver. We're super ready to be in a house. So much so that we're even entertaining the idea of building. I just almost choked while typing that.

Let's see, what else? All the Halloween festivities seemed to fly by and we are really looking forward to Thanksgiving and Christmas. I just love this time of year and it's even more special this year knowing it'll be our last with just Banks. Santa might just have to be extra good to him for that reason!

So sorry for all the randomness but it's an update, right??? As promised, here are a few pictures. I'm off to bed. Yes, I know it's only 9:00 and yes, I know there's a great football game on, but let's be honest here. About the only thing that gets me excited this time of night is a brownie and a bowl of ice cream and getting in the bed. Night all!

Banks the Witch at his school Halloween party.

Proud of his pumpkin!

My little froggy at the Fall Festival:

Having a ball at the Zoo today:

The Grove

2011-10-19T14:40:00.000-07:00

We took Banks to the Grove for the first time this season and he. had. a. ball. It was a little boy heaven. No joke. He might have been the dirtiest he's ever been at the end of the day. Thank the Lord for Oxyclean or his outfit might have never been the same. I consider our trip to be a success for a few reasons:

Reason #1: He didn't get lost.

This is not necessarily due to my awesome parenting skills but more to the food table. He didn't get more than 50 steps away from the table all day.

Just helping himself...

I know for a fact he ate at least 4 of these rolls, a sandwich, some fruit, hand fulls of chips, two (maybe more?) cookies, carrots and no telling what else.

Reason #2:

I didn't have to entertain him. He had lots of friends to do that for me.

Will and Maggie Jones with Banks (note that he is still eating here)

And with June Perkins

In addition to lots of friends, he had lots of boy stuff with which to play.

He dug in the dirt and pulled up the grass.

He played football.

He wrestled.

Reason #3: He was exhausted by the end of the day. He had no nap and pretty much went this speed all day (only stopping to eat, of course):

Finally, he became quite the ladies man that day. He's quite the charmer anyway, but really took to a few of the "older" ladies. Here he is telling me to stop taking his picture because I'm embarrassing him in front of his lady friends:

The anatomy of a tantrum

2011-10-05T18:46:00.000-07:00

Stage 1: They all begin the same way. With a simple request. "Can I watch ah-nudah show", "can we go outside", "can I have a cookie?" It is difficult to document this stage as one never knows when such questions will be asked. Today I captured the moment perfectly:

Stage 2: Simple request is denied. Regular sounding crying ensues.

Stage 3: He crumples to the floor and thinks about writhing about. The regular sounding crying is starting to escalate into some sort of pterodactyl (yes, that's the spelling...I had to google it) scream. Things that do not help during this stage: shhh-ing, laughing, taking photos.

Stage 4: Writhing about ensues. There is rolling around, leg kicking, and thrashing about all while pterodactyl scream continues.

Stage 5: I leave the room. He picks himself up and follows me. Repeat stages 3 and 4.

Stage 6: Things begin to de-escalate and he picks himself up off the ground. He declares "my nose" refering to the large stream of slime coming out of his nose. He runs off to play with something, let's say, for 15 minutes or so before Stage 1 rolls around again. Oh, the joys of a two year old.

Grown-ups and pretending

2011-09-27T13:32:00.000-07:00

I'm about to do something I may not have done since Banks was born: post pictures of something other than him. Last weekend we had a grown-up weekend in Oxford for the Ole Miss/Georgia game. I made a point to take pictures to document the weekend since I NEVER take pictures of things other than Banks these days. I took four whole pictures. Well, guess that's better than nothing! We had a blast-catching up, talking about things other than our kids, and staying up way past my bedtime. This was one tired pregnant lady come Sunday. It was fun pretending that we didn't have any responsibilities!!! I forgot how easy it is to just take care of myself for a few days!!!

The girls from the weekend: Lauren, Ashleigh, me, Molly and Ashely

Rare pic of me and the hubs

And speaking of pretending, I've been told that most toddlers don't begin really engaging in make-believe until closer to the age of three but I've been noticing Banks pretending more and more. He pretended to call some folks on the phone last night and I heard him say "oh, I just doing a puzzle. Mommy and Daddy almost all gone with dinner." He's also started to pretend with his toys some. He likes to pretend they're eating a snack. The other day he told me "Lightening Queen make a mess." And he had. Apparently, Lightening doesn't know how to swallow apple sauce.

The lawn mower was really hungry for a Cheez-It

Not to say that he's pretender extraordinaire...when we ask him what we should name his brother, he says names like "donk" (short for donkey???) and "outside." Outside Still has a nice ring to it, eh? Much better than Donk Still for sure. Poor Donk. He's already getting the shaft as the second kid. With Banks I documented (for our eyes only) my belly growth every week. I'm doing good to remember to do it once a month this time around. And we can't decide on a real name for Donk. I don't remember it being this hard to decide with Banks. I guess because we always knew if we had a boy he would be Banks. This time we're going WAY back in the family trees to figure out what Donk should be named. Wish us luck!!!

It's a....

2011-09-14T15:43:00.000-07:00

One of the main questions people ask when you announce a pregnancy is "will you find out what you're having?" The answer for me will always be a resounding YES! I even fudged a little this time and told the doctor I was going to be out of town last week (I was out of town for part of the week) so that I could schedule my appointment for this week to find out what we were having. Finding out boy or girl is always so fun to me. It makes it that much more real for me and I can begin identifying and picturing myself with this bambino. More importantly than finding out the sex, we get to see the baby and all its parts. It is so very reassuring to see the heart, stomach, arms and legs, brain and spine. Today we got to see our little bebe and it was perfect. The ultrasound tech asked if we wanted to know the sex. You know our answer. She put the wand up to my stomach and what did we see? Penis. Right off the bat. We are super thrilled that we're having another BOY!!!

All I could envision was these two boys getting stitches together, getting into lots of trouble together, and doing lots of rough-housing. AM I UP FOR THIS??? Being an only child, I can't identify with what it's like to have a sibling. However, I can only imagine that Banks and unnamed baby boy will have the closest of relationships. They'll love each other and may even love to hate each other. They'll play sports together. Banks will teach him all about frogs and other yucky animals. Matt will take them to sporting events together (leaving me at the spa, right?). It's just going to be so much fun. Lots of dirt and bloody knees but so much fun!

Just checking in!

2011-09-06T12:33:00.000-07:00

I refuse to acknowledge reality. Just a quick check-in and then I'm off to the beach again for a bachelorette party! Good thing I won't be driving home in Tropical Storm Lee this go-around.

We had a blast at the beach last week. It is amazing how it seems to take forever for vacation to get here and then a week flies by and it's back to business as usual before you know it! We go to the beach every year with two of our couple friends and their children. The boys are very close in age so I fully expected to do a lot of fight breaking up, however, they all played surprisingly well. I also feel confident that Banks can be around an infant without me needing to fear for that infants life. That's good news for our #2.

Banks had a ball on the beach. He was very interested in "catching whales" (unfortunately we didn't see any this year), seeing crabs and catching seaweed. He loved building "can-castles", eating lots of snacks, and digging holes. There was a monster game of monkey-see-monkey-do going on this week. Charlie had ketchup, Banks had to have ketchup too. Banks had a waffle, Charlie needed a waffle too. Banks and Charlie were born only a day apart so it is no surprise to me that they were two peas in a pod. Will was pretty confident in doing his own thing...pooping in the potty and playing with "his" iPod. Such a big kid...

Will, Banks, Charlie

All the young-uns: Banks, Maggie and Will Jones, Baylor and Charlie Berry

My next post will be about whether Banks is having a BROTHER or a SISTER!!! We find out next week!

They're Baaaaaaaaccccccccckkkkkk!

2011-08-19T11:52:00.000-07:00

First of all, let me say that I hate Walmart. Seriously. Aside from their sub-par products, their layout is terrible. I attempt to be smart and park on the one side-either pharmacy or grocery-that I know I will spend the majority of my time in. What I have now learned is that it doesn't matter where I park. Because of their crappy layout, I drive my cart all over the store looking for something that should be in a very obvious place only to find it in an obscure place. I have to ask for help a lot. Target, I miss you.

Banks and I ran to Walmart yesterday to get three things. It took us an hour (and not because I had to ask 100 times where something was). We could barely navigate the cart for the futons, mini-fridges, and microwaves that occupied the isles. It can only mean one thing...the students are back. The store was filled with doe-eyed freshman and their parents with carts full of stackable drawers, full length mirrors and irons. The parking lot was pure madness. I had to park a mile away and the freshman, or their parents, do not know how to drive.

I can't help but remember my own move in experience with my mom in the bathroom crying, my dad dragging all my clothes across the parking lot, and my roommate and I just dying for our parents to hurry up and get out of there so we could start our lives as "grown-ups." In our little neighborhood of townhouses, the ones that have been vacant all summer are now filled with partying college kids. Matt and I can only look at each other and say "remember how easy it was then?"

Life did seem so complicated then but we didn't know any better. Life seems complicated now and I'm hoping that looking back I'll just say that I didn't know any better. I want a house. I want my stuff to be unpacked and for my pictures to be hanging on the wall. I want (and need) my bella bands but I don't know in which storage place my maternity clothes are. People keep asking if we're settled and I have to answer "yes, no, then yes again." We moved from Memphis and got as settled as we were going to be in our townhouse. We put a contract on a house that we were very excited about only to find out two weeks before closing that it was in the worst flood zone and we would be advised to back out of the contract. We backed out of the contract. Two weeks later we had to move to another rental as we had told our first landlord that we had a house and he rented out the townhouse to someone else. So, no. We weren't settled. Now, we're in another townhouse in the same complex. It looks just the same. We attempted to arrange it somewhat differently so that I wouldn't feel like I was in Groundhog's Day. This time we moved ourselves. One word: miserable. But, we're in. The boxes are unpacked again so yes, we're settled...until we find another house and move yet again. It makes my head hurt just thinking about packing again.

Banks has done amazingly well with the moves. He's at a perfect age for it. Aware that his surroundings are different, but not yet apprehensive about the changes. People keep telling me that two is such a fun age. It is in some senses...I love listening to him sing his ABC's and read books to me. He can count to 20, loves to dribble and shoot his basketball, and play soccer. I love that we can communicate and that he is more independent. I am trusting him with more responsibility. I do not love the tantrums and that he never seems to know what he really wants. He cries for milk, I give it to him, he cries because he wanted juice. It's exhausting. He also hasn't been to MMO all summer and his attachment to me is growing stronger and stronger. When we're at home, he very rarely plays independently which is so funny to me because when we're out anywhere he takes off and plays all by himself for hours. He doesn't want Matt to do anything for him and when I attempt to force him to let Matt change his diaper, etc...well, you can just imagine.

The good news is I'm starting to come out of that first trimester slump. Banks and I may survive each other yet. I still have no patience, but I'm starting to have more energy and just feel like a normal human being all the way around. We're getting geared up for going to the beach next week and it really couldn't come at a more opportune time! We go with two other couples and their children so I know Banks will have so much fun playing with them and it will be a nice change of pace for all of us. So, here's to holding out for the beach and for hoping that these students learn to drive by the time we get back!

Banks has an announcement!

2011-08-12T20:22:00.000-07:00

He's going to be a BIG BROTHER!!!

I will say for sure that this pregnancy has so far been very different from my first. With Banks, I never really felt sick. I was tired as all get-out but never sick. This pregnancy has been a different story. I spent most of the first trimester nauseous. Granted, I really cannot complain since vomit never came out of my mouth (and I hate to throw up more than anything else in this world) but I felt like it could at any minute. And the tiredness. Wow. Poor Banks has been subject to much more T.V. lately-not that he minds in the least. It's all I can do at 10 a.m. (yes, I meant to type a.m.) to keep my eyes open. I am also extremely dumb. Pregnancy brain has already set in...well, I even wonder if it ever left. We drove to Hernando for a birthday party that wasn't until the next day, Matt asked me to buy him some Coors Light at the grocery store and I bought Bud Select without even noticing the difference (in my defense they both have silver boxes), and it took me 20 minutes the other day to find the keys and they were in the door.

I am grateful to say that I'm starting to feel like a normal human being again. I'm ever more thankful that the news is finally out and I don't have to pretend-when it's a billion degrees outside-that I feel great and am not the least bit pregnant. And, let me be very honest. I couldn't have pretended much longer anyway. There is a definite pooch ALREADY. I was like six months pregnant with Banks before I had to move over to maternity clothes. This go-round I'll be lucky to make it to next week!

We are all very excited to add to our little family.

Banks gets it as much as a two year old can. He, for the longest, would say every time that he wanted a baby sister. Now he goes back in forth between wanting a sister and a brother. Good news for him is he'll be getting one or the other. We'll find out at our next appointment and it can't come soon enough for me!

First Haircut and Sass

2011-08-08T11:56:00.000-07:00

We finally took Banks to get his hair cut! I've been so resistant...wanting to wait until we had his two year pictures made...but it had gotten a little out of control. He had a little flap in the back that went from the crown of his head down the back of his neck and it was nothing but a big rats nest every morning. The sweet girl who cut his hair did a great job of shaping up the back and just trimming a little off the front and sides. Honestly, he needs a little more off the front and sides but I was so scared it'd be too short!

Banks has also turned into a big stinker. He is too funny with some of the things he says! My mother-in-law kept him last weekend and he told one of the nursery workers at her church that he wanted two hotdogs and no bread for lunch! Where do they come up with this stuff? He also likes to say things like "no talking, mommy," "my do it," and my personal favorite "why?". With an increase in sass, I am required, as a parent, to say a lot of things I've been dying to say, such as "don't sass me" or "because I told you so." He really responds to such sayings.

And then he was TWO!!!

2011-07-31T09:54:00.000-07:00

We had such a fun day yesterday! It was fun to celebrate his birthday on the same day that we had his party. Since we're renting a townhouse and there's not much space here, we decided to have his party at Holli's Sweet Tooth and it was perfect! All week whenever we talked about his party he's say "Carter, Cooper comin?" It really is sweet how he's gotten to love his friends here and was excited for them to celebrate his big day with him. Not that he wasn't excited about the food. He kept saying he wanted to eat cupcakes, cake and ice cream. And he succeeded.

We started off the day singing and eating a big fat cinnamon roll donut. Nothing but sugar for the birthday boy!

Because the party was at lunch time, we had some food for the kiddos. I made candy-shop themed food like Lollipops:

and gumballs. They also had Starbursts (star shaped PB & J), Caramels (cheese cubes), and Ice Cream cones filled with goldfish.

I think the cake turned out quite cute considering when I went to pick it up (30 minutes before the party) they told me they didn't have our order. Although it doesn't look like the original that I ordered I think it turned out great for a rush order!!!

And, in case cake and ice cream weren't enough, I added some cupcakes to the mix.

Holli's provided the candy bag favors for the kids and I had some "thanks for making my party so SWEET" tags made for them.

Kids table

Having a little pre-party snack:

He absolutely loved it when everyone sang Happy Birthday to him and was so proud that he was able to blow out the candles himself!

What a sugar high looks like:

One happy birthday boy

After the party, and a much needed nap, we set out to open his presents!

Mimi and Grumps were there to help.

His favorite toy? A Cars racing track complete with "a-queen" (Lightening McQueen) and another car that I'll have to learn who it is. Next up on the favorite list is his new four wheeler!

"Get you!"

Learning to ride his new tricycle.

At the end of the day, it's much easier to just get pushed by Gram!

Last night I asked him what his favorite part of the day was and he said "my birthday party!" Melts my heart that he had so much fun on his special day!

"Boo-bee" Farm

2011-07-16T20:10:00.000-07:00

Well, it's not quite what it sounds like but this morning, while everyone else was retreating to their air conditioners, we set out to the blueberry farm for some pickin'! I had been dead set on picking blueberries this summer-partly because I love blueberries and blueberry baked goodies and partly because I knew Banks would have a blast. And he did. He picked, he ran, picked and ran. I highly recommend taking your toddler, sunscreen-coated of course, for a morning of fun! We picked a gallon for only nine dollars and the fun we had picking was worth every penny.

You have to hold your tongue juuuuust right!

Serious about picking those blueberries!

Banks loves fresh "boo-bees" and especially loves "boo-bee" muffins. Tonight I made a fabulously dense blueberry pound cake (thanks to Mary Beth for the recipe). I had a slice fresh out of the oven and it was melt-in-your-mouth good. It's a good thing since I had already made the batter, went to get my bundt pan only to realize that it was packed up somewhere and my hard-headed self went through ten boxes before I found it.

Blueberry Cream Cheese Pound Cake

2 sticks butter (!!)

1 stick margarine (!!!)

1 (8 oz) package cream cheese

3 cups sugar

6 eggs

3 cups flour

1 Tbsp vanilla

1 Tbsp almond extract

1 cup fresh blueberries (I used more)

Cream butter, margarine, and cream cheese. Gradually add sugar. Add eggs one by one alternating with flour. Add flavoring. Fold in blueberries and bake at 350 for 1 1/2 hours.

The Fourth!

2011-07-05T16:30:00.000-07:00

We had a great Fourth; our first in Oxford. We loved all the small town festivities! I'd say this Fourth was pretty run of the mill. There were parades, friends, llamas, turtle races, fireworks. We sweat. We stayed up way past our bedtimes. Banks ate more junk than any child ever should. We met up with some friends in Batesville and ate every type of pork you can imagine in one sitting. There were stomach aches, plenty of desserts, balloons. Banks played in the sprinkler, played in the Grove and on the Square. He ran away from me more times that I can count and at least three times Granny's would chase after him sure that he was unattended. He might as well been unattended. We sweat some more.

Fear not, dear blog reader(s), I had my camera and the weekend was well documented (well, all was documented but the petting zoo, as I needed to protect the poor animals from Banks' choke-hold lest they call PETA on me).

Despite the fact that I look like a drowned rat, I thought I'd put a picture of the three of us on here.

Someone remind me of the rules...it is or isn't safe to let your toddler play with firey items?

Chillin in the Grove

Waving to the folks in the parade

I need...

2011-06-27T15:00:00.000-07:00

Banks' most recent thing is to say "I need..." for everything he wants.

"I need walk, momma."

"I need truck white he-ah, momma."

"I need twac-tor tee-bee, momma."

"I need weed dis book, momma."

He likes to add in the Momma part every time in case I forget that he's talking to me. Today, after he slept for precisely one hour and fifteen minutes and then cried for the next 45, I decided that we needed to make some cookies.

Puffy-eyed from all the crying but ready for some cookies!

Even Daddy needed to get in on the action. Aren't you proud of me for putting my Type A personality aside and letting him dump the flour???

After two mini Snickers and an inability to understand the need for waiting for the cookies to bake we resorted to a banana-tizer.

A little stirring action

Even an expert baker gets a little bored in the kitchen and needs some "momo-cycle" action. Looking sick from all the Snickers he ate.

Salmonella, shalmonella. Licking the spoon. My mom is cringing right now.

I'd say he enjoyed the finished product!

And if you're feeling baker-ish, here's the recipe:

Candy Bar-Peanut Butter Cookies

1 cup butter, softened

1 cup sugar

1 cup firmly packed brown sugar

1 cup creamy peanut butter

2 large eggs

1 tsp vanilla

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

36 mini-Snickers

Beat first four ingredients at medium speed with mixer until smooth. Add eggs and vanilla, and beat until blended. Stir together flour and next two ingredients in a small bowl.
Add to butter mixture beating until blended. Cover and chill for 30 minutes.

Preheat oven to 350. Shape 2 Tbsp dough around each Snickers using lightly floured hands and roll into balls. Place 3 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 350 for 13-14 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool for 5 minutes or, if you're like me, burn your mouth on them as soon as they come out of the oven because you just can't stand it any longer.

Oh Lawdy...

2011-06-21T19:45:00.000-07:00

Being a parent is tough! There are some days, like today, where it's all I can do to keep from ringing Banks' neck. He's not happy with any of his toys, is whiny, and the only word he knows is "no." Tonight, we were at dinner with friends and it was all I could do to keep him from a complete melt-down. I even gave him my iPhone to do whatever he wanted to do with it and even that led to tears when he wanted "uh-nudder one"-meaning another game, picture, or whatever in the world he wanted to look at that would appease him. I couldn't get him to bed fast enough. There has been only one other incident where I considered leaving him in public so that I could dig a hole and poke my head down in it. I am seriously dreading the two's if it is anything like the little taste I've been getting of it lately. We might not leave the house for that year and I am serious. We've become pro's at time out. He's been to time out at every friend's house and most recently went to time out in the Grove. He even sent himself to time out today for hitting me. It may be necessary to graduate from time out soon. I need one of those little frowny face wooden spoons that I can pull out of my purse, say in instances like at the restaurant tonight, that will put the fear of God in him with its very presence.

Then, there are other days when all I do is laugh because he keeps me on my toes and he is a funny little boy! I overheard him, pretending to be on the phone, say "Hey baby. What's up? Not much. Bye-bye." and about fell out of my seat. Hey, baby???? A few days ago we were playing with the sidewalk chalk and he put his little chalky finger on my sunglasses. It left a little white smudge and he told me it was "bird poo-poo." His little mind is so inquisitive and he talks ALL. THE. TIME. He especially likes to announce what he's doing "I runnin!" or "I sit white he-uh." He is funny about his play these days, too. I came downstairs today to find some of his vehicles lined up just right. And the cell phone is there too, just in case he needs to call his baby again.

And, reading an Easter book in the blow-up pool in the middle of the den just because...

And when I see that little face that looks like he got busted doing a big no-no it makes me want to run up the stairs and wake him up and give him a big squeeze and forget all about the teeth grinding he made me do today. That little stinker...

Bye-bye paci!

2011-06-14T19:00:00.000-07:00

I have been dreading and dreading it but we finally gave up the paci last weekend. And we survived!!! We have a nest on our front porch and ever since we moved here we've been talking about the baby birds, the mommy and daddy birds and how they feed the babies worms. So, we decided that the birds needed the paci's since they were babies. It worked like a charm. He says, "baby birds, paci's?" everyday but understands that they're gone and he has to go to sleep without them. You know, I felt bad taking his paci's away from him. He was REALLY attached to them and I felt like I was depriving him of something he loved! Not the last time I'll feel that way, I'm sure.

Having a final moment with them:

"Let's see if I can get two in my mouth at the same time"

And, saying goodbye forever! Leaving them on the porch for the baby birds.

Things I've learned...

2011-06-07T18:55:00.000-07:00

We've been in Oxford for a little over a week now and so far we're loving it! I will say that I am totally out of my comfort zone as far as friends go. I am having to put myself out there (read: I keep inviting myself places) and it is a really foreign feeling for me! I guess I'm just wishing I had some ready-made best friends! Banks and I have been getting out and doing something everyday-going to the park, playing at Square Books Jr, going for a walk on the Square, running errands. It helps me to feel like I'm a part of the community that way. I'm sure all two of my readers are laughing hysterically right now because I know I make it sound like we moved to Iceland and not just an hour down the road!
In our short time here I've learned a few things:

people do not scoop poop here like they did in Memphis.
it only took me four days to get "small-towners" where I complained about having to drive ALL the way across town to go to Kroger (all the way across town is like five miles).
I miss the familiarity of Memphis and my Memphis friends.
things go at a much slower pace here than they did in Memphis and I LOVE that.
my Target withdrawals have not been nearly as bad as I thought they would be.
there are tan, skinny college girls everywhere. Not good for the ole self-esteem.
I need to go on a diet. I need a better tan.

Banks has been making the most of his time here at the new house:

Making sure he's close enough to see the "tee-bee"

Laughing it up...

Perfecting his golf swing

It's done.

2011-05-29T11:36:00.000-07:00

But it wasn't pretty. After a long moving day, most of our items were delivered to our new town house. I say most because we had to leave a few outdoor items behind at our neighbor's house (which calls for another trip to Memphis to retrieve said items). I think we may need to be on Intervention or Hoarders based on the amount of stuff we have. I asked a friend who has moved several times if she had any advice for me before the move. She said, "throw away as much as possible, drink heavily and try not to divorce Matt." Can I get an Amen? Best advice I've ever gotten and most applicable when it comes to a move.

Leaving our house was harder than I'd imagined it'd be. Do you recall those high school days when you dumped the person you were dating and then got mad when they went on a date with someone else? You didn't want the person, but you didn't want the person to have anyone else. That's exactly how I felt about our house. We were ready to move on, but I didn't like the idea of someone else moving in, changing things, and making it their own. It was ours. It especially didn't jive with me when the girl started getting mail at the house. How dare she. But, it is now theirs and we're in this town house that makes me feel like we're living at the beach. Just minus the sand and beautiful water.

We're all adjusting well. I'm not sure that Banks even knows we've moved. He doesn't care about anything except the stairs. Buford, on the other hand, has been one big stress ball. If we had a vet here I'd be tempted to get the guy some doggie Prozac or a mild tranquilizer. But soon enough he'll settle down and stop freaking out that he's going to get left every time the door opens. It has yet to feel real for me. Most of the town houses next to us are vacant...either for sale or their owners just come down during football season. For that reason, I've yet to meet a neighbor and make a connection. Once that happens, I think the rental will feel a bit more homey. That and maybe if I'd stop calling it "the rental" or "the town house" and start calling it home. But, nonetheless, it is home and we're loving Oxford life so far. I'm looking forward to this week and getting together with some other moms and their children. I need to get out, get accustomed to things here and get comfortable with my new little life!

The toys are unpacked and this little guy sure is happy about it. Here he's showing me his truck. We told him it was a monster truck, he calls it his "cookie mah-stah truck".

Playing out in the new front "yard".

Remember the stairs I was telling you about? He loves to go up them and throw something down them. He does not love to get in trouble for doing that.

A week of lasts...

2011-05-18T17:58:00.000-07:00

Nine days. That's all the time we've got left here in Memphis. People keep asking me if I'm sad and honestly, I haven't been the least bit sad until this week. Prior to this week, we were fully engulfed in getting our house sold. Once we accomplished that, we focused on trying to find a house to buy in Oxford. And when that didn't work out, we spent all our time and energy finding a rental. Now, we're packing and cancelling services and setting up new services and making sure my favorite catalogs get sent to the new town house. You get it...we've been so busy looking to the future that I hadn't taken the time to stop and think about what I'm leaving behind.

So this week is all about our favorites. Banks and I have been hitting up all our favorite parks, having picnics, going to the zoo and to My Big Backyard, playing in our own backyard, taking walks around the neighborhood, and seeing all the people that have mattered the most to us. Our friends had a great "going away" dinner for us last weekend, our Sunday school class is having a lunch for us this weekend, we spent some QT with Banks' cousins, and we're seeing all his/our friends one last time before we hit the road.

It's all making me a bit sad. It's not that we won't ever go to another park or have another picnic, but it'll be different. Not necessarily different bad, but it'll be different and that makes me nervous. I'm getting sad about leaving our friends here. It's comfortable, our kids play well together (for the most part!!!), and it's easy. I'm getting sad about leaving our house. We came home from our honeymoon to this house, brought Banks home from the hospital here and had many a good cookout here. I learned to cook here, how to plant my own herb garden, and how to raise a child here (since he's so grown and all but you catch my drift). Our home is filled with memories and I guess I'm getting nervous that leaving here means leaving those memories.

Part of me has yet to accept that this is really happening. I'm not sure how that's really happening since everywhere I look I see a box or bubble wrap and my home is in complete disarray but because we're moving to a rental and not into our next home, I feel a little as if I'm going on vacation. So if you call me mid-afternoon and I'm drinking a fruity adult bevo you may need to come to Oxford and slap a little reality into me.

Now, don't be fooled. This move to Oxford is not a bad thing. It's what Matt and I have always wanted to do. It's just now that it's here, it's a little scary. You know the whole thing...change is good but it's just scary. So bare with me while I make the adjustment. I'm so excited to stroll around the Square, to be able to leave something in my car and not have a panic attack that it'll get stolen, and most importantly...be there during football season!!!

This picture has absolutely nothing to do with lasts. However, it may be the last time I allow Banks to pick what he's going to wear. He was dead set on the pj's and boots and because Daddy was wearing a hat, Banks had to as well. Such a nice ensemble.

Enjoying his last trip to the zoo for a while.

Yo mamma...

2011-05-14T23:06:00.000-07:00

We had a great Mother's Day today. We went to early church, had brunch and (some much needed after getting up early for church) mimosas in Oxford, secured a place to rent (hallelujah), and enjoyed an afternoon in the back yard cooking out!!!

I had full intentions of having a photo shoot in the Grove. We walked in, Matt snapped this shot, and the camera battery died. Amazing.

Packing can be fun???

2011-05-14T23:05:00.000-07:00

As long as you get to play in the boxes!!!

I'm sorry for my lack of posting and it probably won't get much better over the next few weeks. I'm using every nap or spare moment to pack a box or two. While it has been stressful for me, Banks has been having a ball climbing into boxes, scaling boxes, and pretending to go "nigh-nigh" in the boxes (which is a bit freaky to me as he likes to lay down in there and close himself up like he's in a coffin or something). Hopefully once we get settled down in Oxford, I'll be better about my posting!!!

Easter picture overload

2011-04-25T12:12:00.000-07:00

Before I get started on Easter, Banks wants to make sure you know how strong and tough he is. Especially since he wore lace on Easter and his Daddy says lace is for lingere and girls only. Whatever. See, big muscles and nothing but toughness.

Easter egg hunt #1. It was fah-reezing but I insisted on having him in a short all. It's the price you have to pay for cuteness.

His new favorite saying? "I gog ick!" (I got it!)

Making sure his cookies had plenty of icing and sprinkles.The egg dying went differently than I had imagined (as with most things kid related). There was lots of crying because there was lots of waiting-on the eggs to boil, on the eggs to cool off, on the eggs to sit in the dye and get all purty. There was no gentleness so most of the eggs were nice and cracked but again, whatever.
BAM!

Egg hunt #2 came with a MUCH warmer day and lots of melted chocolate. I believe he is enjoying some Nerds here but smiling, which is a huge accomplishment for us these days.He really enjoyed the bounce house/slide thingy. No fear.
Sittin pretty for the pictures Easter morning!

We managed to get a smile out of Banks for this one. Good thing the rest of us were ready for it. Wait, now that I'm looking at it is that a smile or a cry? Great family photo nonetheless.

Loot.

Gram and Grumps brought up some super fun colored sand to play with.

Hope you all had a great Easter!

Another post on love...

2011-04-11T09:35:00.000-07:00

...and yes, I know Valentine's Day is over. Matt and I went to a wedding in Austin last weekend. First off, Austin is a great city. There was lots of great shopping and tons of fun places to eat. We did lots of walking and my legs are feeling it even today. There also happened to be a huge track and field event going on that weekend which brought tons of high school and college athletes to the area. Which means it also brought a Beale Street feel to some parts of the city so we felt right at home.

With any wedding I attend, I end up thinking back to my own wedding. Much like when I go to funerals I end up wondering what my own funeral will be like...and most importantly, if anyone will come. But, back to the wedding. You know, it's all bout love. Loving one another; loving Christ more than yourself or your spouse. And seeing the love that the bride and groom have for one another almost always makes me misty eyed. I cry almost every time the bride walks down the isle. At this wedding I cried...in my usual fashion, however the cause was much different. Although the root of it was the same: love.

There was one couple at the wedding who came all the way from small town Mississippi. Which wouldn't seem such a big deal (we all had to travel, right?) if she weren't wheelchair-bound after having had a stroke. I bawled like a baby when I saw her husband, who is constantly by her side and tending to EVERY SINGLE need, lift her from her chair and dance to At Last with her. Granted, she didn't do much dancing, and the dancing didn't last long, but I was lucky enough to have witnessed the moment and am forever changed by it. It was such an in-your-face demonstration of his love for her. Gah, it makes me tear up even now thinking about it. You know you really love someone when you make it through the tough-very tough-times and still want to dance with them at a wedding. It was just the sweetest thing I have ever seen. I immediately wanted to tell everyone I knew how much I loved them and cared for them. And it makes me want to live my life differently...being more honest with people about how we really feel about them. So, if I happen to run into you and give you a big hug and tell you I love you I promise I'm not going crazy. I just want you to know how I feel so that you never have to wonder...

Now, on to some pictures of one little boy who will never have to wonder if he is loved:

"Mom, did you know you were letting me drink out of this cup???"

He kept wanting to sit in the flower pot (notice his bottom). SUCH a boy!!!

Pretty sure his finger is telling me what he thinks about me wanting him to get out of the flower pot:

Impressionable minds...

2011-04-06T09:53:00.000-07:00

Warning: this post is just words...no pictures today. So I understand if you want to take your blog stalking elsewhere...

I'm learning that you can teach a kid just about anything. Especially at this age, his little mind is like a sponge. Not that you should teach them whatever you wanted, but you could if you wanted. Matt has seized the opportunity and taught Banks the words to Kings of Leon songs as well as many a ridiculous phrase from some swamp/logging/gold mining/fish getting show that he watches. As for me, I've taught him to "bounce wit me" and get low. It's hilarious what he picks up on. The other day he pinched me and I screamed "ouch, you just pinched my boob!" The rest of the day he walked around saying "boob?", boob?"

And, it's not that we only teach Banks nonsense and how to walk with a gangsta lean. Oh no. He also knows his numbers. Six through ten only. The boy refuses to say one, combines two and three into "twee", and omits four and five all together. He knows all his shapes and a few colors. He also knows some of his ABC's and thanks to Hadley's birthday party last weekend he sings "birthday to you" incessantly. If I'm singing a song to him and pause, he can always tell me the word at the end of the line and most times can fill in the blank anywhere along the song line. I'm amazed at what he's taking in. So, the pressure is on to teach him the right things. My mom said I might regret teaching him things like "ice, ice, baby" and maybe one day I will but for not it's great fun teaching him things that might mortify me one day. I can't wait for him to get low at church or ask his teacher at school to bounce with him. Maybe they'll have a sense of humor about it as well...

Friends...

2011-03-29T09:03:00.000-07:00

My friends are of utmost importance to me. I've been thinking a lot lately about my friends since we'll be moving soon and I'll have to start the process of making some new friends. Let me be honest...I hate making new friends. It takes A LOT of work and it's harder to do now that I'm older than it was when I was in college. Plus, you have to go through a lot of fakeness before you get to be "real" with a friend.

Last weekend Banks and I drove down to the Mississippi Gulf Coast to spend the weekend with one of my best friends. As I was driving, wondering why I thought it was a good idea to drive six hours with a toddler by myself, I realized that none of the difficulties of the trip mattered because I was going to see a friend. And sometimes, you do whatever you have to do to be with a friend. Well, a good friend.

My good friends have been with me through many phases of my life: high school, college, marriage, and now babies. Several friends have sloughed off during various phases, but most of us still keep in touch. I have those friends that I talk to almost everyday and the friends that I can go months without talking to but pick right back up with them like we never left off. Recently, the mother of a college friend of mine died and all of us mounted up-planes, trains, and automobiles-to get to be with her for the funeral. It's at those times that I really realize how fortunate I am to have the friends I do. Gah, and now I'm getting all misty-eyed about leaving my friends in Memphis.

So, enough about me and how much I love my friends. I was attempting to work on Banks' baby book and one of the pages was about his first best friend. Hands down, it's our neighbor's son, AJ, with whom Banks is obsessed. Banks is really starting to interact more with his friends and asks and talks about them when they're not around. I hope he'll be as fortunate as I am to have great friends. Banks had a great time this weekend with June and of course, I have the pictures to prove it!

Just checking each other out:

Playing outside:Banks was obsessed with grabbing June's hand and "alk" (walking) her around. He pretty much dragged her all over the house all weekend but she seemed to tolerate it pretty well!Ok, this might be my ALL TIME favorite picture. Banks, being a wild-man and June covering her mouth giggling at him. Such the demonstration of the difference between boys and girls!

Our weekend

2011-03-21T18:55:00.000-07:00

The best way to describe how it feels having your house on the market? See below:

I liken it to those last few weeks of pregnancy where you have the constant "is today the day?" feeling. So far, no baby, er...no bites on the house. In two weeks, we've had two showings. Granted, they've been to the same person, but alas, our house is still for sale. In those two weeks, I've convinced myself twice that our house was about to sell and stayed awake for hours in the middle of the night worrying/daydreaming/agonizing over the details of this supposed sale. WHY DO I DO THIS TO MYSELF???

In between my constant tidying up and cleaning-in case the house does show-we've managed to have a great time outside. Thank the Lord the weather has been nice. I even broke out B's seersucker bloomer shorts. I know what you're thinking...tisk, tisk, it's not even Easter yet. Banks is very interested in "durt". Especially the digging in and moving of said dirt. Here he and Buford are taking a break from such hard dirt moving work.

Enjoying our weekend at Big Backyard

And, being forced into taking a picture in front of the "petty fowahs." He was especially thrilled about this picture as you can tell.

Music!

2011-03-13T17:33:00.001-07:00

Banks is obsessed with listening to music...and he doesn't care if it's kids music or Matt's music. So, Matt taught Banks to play the air guitar! It's very serious business...

What type of mom are you???

2011-03-06T19:28:00.000-08:00

Sounds like one of those quiz type emails that you get forwarded, doesn't it? But, last week, I began to actually ponder the question "what type of mom am I?" You know, some moms just make being a mom look easy. Take my neighbor for example. Last week we took our kids to the park to play and have a picnic. While we were playing, a boy, close to five years old, comes up and asks us if we can watch him while his grandfather takes a walk. Wha?? As I am trying to pick my jaw up off the ground, the grandfather approaches, asks the same question and takes off after my neighbor politely tells him we'd be happy to watch his grandson. I had no words. And let me not fail to mention that this "walk" of the grandfather lasted thirty minutes. I could barely manage to watch my own child for the panic I was experiencing thinking that this man had run for the hills leaving his grandson for us to permanently care for. You know, like a park version of leaving a baby on someones door step. My neighbor handled the situation perfectly...correcting the child when needed but in a very diplomatic way so that he didn't feel he'd been scolded. I think she used "sweetie" or some other name a lot. I should have taken notes. Really.

My neighbor just knows how to handle mom situations. While I'm waving my white flag she is calmly dealing with her screaming baby and four year old (and mind you she's pregnant with her third). She's creative in her language, calm and direct. She knows the "right" things to say while I'm still trying to figure out how to say what I want to say so an 18 month old can understand it.

And, whatever type of mom I was before, let's say, four days ago, is completely different from the mom I am now. I'm not sure what has happened but someone crept in in the middle of the night Thursday night and replaced my loving, social toddler with a demon. It is officially safe to say that the terrible two's have hit and WOW was I under prepared. He asks for milk. I give it to him. He stomps and cries. For twenty minutes. Then I take the milk away and he stomps and cries for twenty minutes. Rinse and repeat with various scenarios. At first, since my parents were here, I tried frantically (and to no avail) to please him: here's this puzzle, let's read a book, let's play with your barn. Nothing worked. The word "no" prevails at our house. So now I'm just ignoring him, but let's be honest, there's just so much wailing this mom can listen to before she feels the need to guzzle a whole bottle of wine. Ugh, so not the mom I wanted to be...the one who just does whatever she has to do to make it through the day. But realistically, that's the name of the game for now. I keep reminding myself that "this too shall pass." Let's just pray it passes quickly.

Pre-demon possession showing off his new face:

He requested to wear this particular hat and boots. Whatever keeps the peace at this point.

The only picture of my parents with Banks I was able to get the entire weekend.

Calm before the storm...

2011-02-23T12:19:00.000-08:00

It's supposed to rain today and tomorrow. All day. I love storms, not so much now that I have an energy filled toddler, but there's just something magical and awe-inspiring about a good storm. I've been racking my brain lately about what to blog about next. I checked the memory card on my camera, NO new pictures since Valentine's Day...what??? So we obviously haven't been up to much and I realized that we are in the calm before the storm.

We just had a garage sale last weekend. I must admit that I love having garage sales. It feels great to get rid of stuff, it amazes me what people will actually buy for real money, and I love striking up conversations with random people about random things. To most, a garage sale is just that, but for us, this one signifies the beginning of something.

We're getting ready to put our house on the market and hoping to move to Oxford. My heart is racing just typing those words. I feel like we've been talking about it for FOREVER and it's always seemed like something that was just going to happen in the future but the future is now. I'm scared to say that we're selling our house and moving because I guess I think that once I say it out loud it won't actually happen. Even though it's something we desperately want, it's a change, and frankly that is scary for me. It's not that we hate Memphis or anything like that. It's just that we love Oxford and all that it brings...PUBLIC schools, small town, Ole Miss sports, the Square, and much, much more. I'm scared to leave my Targets behind and all the things we've grown accustomed to here. I'm scared to have to make new friends. I'm scared we won't sell our house and can't afford one in Oxford. I'm scared to find a new church, scared I won't have as many choices for entertaining Banks as I do in Memphis. I guess I'm just a weenie.

When I put all my fears aside, I know that moving is the right decision for us. It makes sense, especially when I think about a future there. I've been praying everyday for God to take all my anxieties away, provide a clear path for us, and for me to trust in his plan. Back when I was a working woman, I talked to my clients about changing their perspective about things, since in most instances we can't change the event itself. I am hoping to view our "storm" of showing the house and moving as something as magical as the rain we're supposed to get over the next two days. I also hope our storm comes and goes quickly (is that even possible anymore??) but trust that God has all the details already worked out for us. In about a month or two, could someone please remind me that I wanted to view showing our house as magical??? I'm laughing at myself right now. Regardless, change is a-coming, so I guess I'll enjoy our no pictures, nothing to blog about moments for the time being...

Love.

2011-02-14T13:25:00.001-08:00

Valentine's Day is sooo much fun with a child. We had a blast doing lots of V-day arts and crafts. We made a heart for all of Banks' friends and he really enjoyed coloring and putting stickers on each of them! Showing me where his heart is.
I was super excited about his Valentine's Day party at school. I feel confident he ate lots of sugar and had lots of fun. He came home with a little bag filled with Valentine cards from all his friends...isn't it great??? Since it was a special day he got a little treat when he came home from school:And, the most precious things of all? For the last month or so when we tell Banks "I love you" he says "ove" back to us. Oh, be still my heart.

Trip to Jackson

2011-02-07T14:50:00.001-08:00

Last week Banks and I went to Jackson to meet Baylor Berry and to spend some QT with Gram and Grumps. I have mentioned on the blog before that Molly and Sarah, both high school friends, had babies around the same time that I had Banks. It's not that I didn't get to enjoy their babies, but I was so consumed by my own baby and the sleeplessness that I didn't truly get to appreciate their babiness. Needless to say, it was so much fun getting to meet Baylor. He is just the most precious little golden nugget you ever saw. He's precious and Molly makes having two kids look like a breeze. See what a cutie he is???

While we were in Jackson we went the the new Children's Museum. Worth. Every. Penny. Banks had a blast. He literally ran around from one thing to the next for two hours. I'd like to say that he took a stellar nap that day but he prefers to boycott long naps these days so the most we can squeeze out of him is an hour and a half.

Matt loves all those Swamp Loggers shows...this picture makes him proud:

Throwing his fish back

Having a ball!

18 months!

2011-01-31T11:56:00.000-08:00

I just cannot believe that Banks is 18 months old! He is just so much fun these days. He's really into books again...which is great, however, I am VERY tired of reading his favorites over and over again. He is also into music. And asks to listen to it. Matt has been dreading this day since before Banks was born, but I will say that Banks is just as happy to jam out to Kings of Leon as he is to his children's CD's! He loves animals and farmers and tractors. And Sesame Street. We have a few Sesame Street books and Banks managed to learn the names of all the characters. So I TiVo'd a few episodes and he loves them...you know, all five seconds of what he'll sit through. He's saying pretty much anything we ask him to say...just in his own little way. We were all under the weather last week and Matt told Banks he was supposed to say "bless you" after someone sneezed. Sweet thing says "bess you" now after anyone coughs, clears their throat or sneezes. He's got the bases covered!

I've made it a tradition to celebrate half birthdays! Last year, we had a big family get together to celebrate his first half birthday. This year it was just us but we made the day special.

Opening presents:

We got him a new pop-up book (his latest obsession) and a puzzle. He's totally mastered all his other puzzles so I thought I was buying one that was a little more challenging. Not so much. He got it right the very first time.

Reading his new book with Daddy.

Big Day

2011-01-27T08:19:00.000-08:00

Monday Banks had his first day of Parents Day Out. He's going where we go to church, so I like that his surroundings and even some people are familiar to him. I know it seems like a trivial thing. Mothers who are unable to stay at home with their children take their babies to day care at 6 weeks and most of my friends have had their children involved in some kind of PDO for months now, but it is a big deal when it's your first child and your first day...no matter how old the child is. I have been SO excited for him to start. So excited to get his little "report cards" each day and for all the crafts that I will likely struggle with keeping or throwing away. Excited to pack his lunch and "talk" about his day when I pick him up.

I was explaining to his teacher, as we were dropping him off, that he'd probably cry when we left. He didn't. He basically jumped out of Matt's arms and wouldn't even let me kiss him goodbye. All day I had the "oh-no-I-left-my-kid-in-the-car" feeling. Either that or the "he's-napping-so-I-need-to-be-quiet" feeling. Although, I will say that six hours never passed so quickly. It was great for both of us. I think he really enjoyed himself. His report said that he learned about "the Lord is my helper." How great is that??? I love that he'll go to chapel and have little lessons about Jesus. His note also said that he "slept" for almost two hours. His teacher, Ms. Brenda, said that he cried a good bit trying to go to sleep...poor thing was probably confused as to why he was having to sleep on a mat on the floor! Ms. Brenda is apparently the fairy god-mother of mat napping and can make the sandman visit any nap-refusing toddler. And boy, was he exhausted when we got home. All afternoon he kept lying on the floor asking "night, night?" Wonder how many times Ms. Brenda told him "night, night" to get him to go to sleep?!?So, all in all, I'd say his first day was a successful one. Until he woke up yesterday with pink eye. Guess it's the price I pay for a few hours of freedom. This picture doesn't quite do the redness justice. It's pretty pitiful looking.

But don't let the sad eyes fool you...it hasn't slowed him down one bit.

Family dinner = DEE-saster

2011-01-21T15:22:00.000-08:00

When Banks turned one I decided that I wanted to start doing dinners together as a family. Usually, Banks eats at 6:00 and with Matt and I liking to eat later, we would put him down and then eat after he went to bed. It worked perfectly...why in the world I wanted to complicate that I'll never know. Soooo, we tried it. And it was miserable. I couldn't get dinner together in time, he wouldn't eat what we were eating, he was having to go to bed later, etc and it just didn't work. After about a week of that I let it go and we went back to our old ways. Now here we are six months later and we're trying it again. And guess what? It's a disaster.

I'm dead set on eating as a family because I feel like it's the "right" thing to do. We can pray together, talk about our days, maybe do a little devotional on down the road, and just set the tone for sitting and staying at the table. Sounds Utopian, right? Well, here's how it actually goes down.

The minute my big toe steps into the kitchen to start cooking Banks begins chanting "pate" (plate) and "nin-ah" (dinner). This lasts the duration. He also wedges himself between me and the cabinets and uses his head to push my legs back. I move, he moves. He enjoys bringing truck loads of toys and insisting "up" for each of them so that by the end of my cooking the little counter space I have is now lined with "marmers" (farmers), blocks, balls, and so forth. When he's not terrorizing me, he is trying to climb into his high chair which usually requires a rescue of some sort. Don't forget about the incessant chanting. Once I am finally able to finish cooking we get the table set and say our blessing. I will say it is precious to see him make his prayer hands and yell "amen" at the end of the prayer. Although he did yell amen at the end of my singing Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star last night...maybe it was a rather motivating rendition of Twinkle, Twinkle.

Anyway, plates are on the table. Matt and I are struggling to get a word in among making sure Banks doesn't feed his food to Buford, getting him more "gook" (milk), crackers, and cleaning his hands. He's finished by the time I've taken three bites of my food. So, we let him down while we finish and he will play independently for about .3 seconds and then he's bringing toys into the dining room, wanting to play "hut, hut" (football), or whatever else might suit his fancy. Last night I had terrible indigestion because I was trying to scarf my food down before a ball got launched into my salad. Needless to say, it's just not turning out how I'd imagined.

Now, if you'll recall, I'm attempting to simplify. Sounds like it, doesn't it??? So, I've decided yet again to postpone the family dinner. Maybe at two we can make it work. For now, I'd like to be able to enjoy my food, for Matt and I to be able to talk, and for Banks to be asleep while all that happens. So there. Does that make me a terrible mom? I mean, I just don't get how other people make family dinners work. I must really be missing something. Maybe one day we'll obtain the allusive family dinner. Til then, it's lights out for Banks, enjoyable cooking for me, and a peaceful dinner for the grown-ups. Sounds pretty simple.

Grandparents

2011-01-18T07:26:00.000-08:00

There's something awesome about grandparents and it's not just that they're free babysitters. It's just amazing to see them love your child just as much as you do. They love them when they're screaming their heads off and they love them when they're sweet little angels. And, they're much more patient and give presents and candy which will win over ANY child I know. Matt's mom, known to Banks as Mimi, came to stay with us this weekend, and while she was here I realized that grandparents are just about the only people you can brag to without modesty, feeling guilty or like you're, well, bragging. And it's awesome. Grandparents will watch your child perform every trick he knows, say every word he knows and sit through hours of home videos without so much as a single yawn. Grandparents are every bit as proud as we are and that's just fun to watch...and something worth bragging about!!

Here we were able to catch a snippet of Banks' new trick, counting. He's really got the hang of it, I'd say...

Back to Basics

2011-01-11T06:36:00.000-08:00

Everyone is talking about getting back to the basics. Well, at least Ina Garten and Sandy Wilson (our Pastor) are, and two is everybody, isn't it? In thinking about this principle, I realized that while parenting is the most difficult thing I've done, all our children really ask of us are the basics: love, food, shelter. Should be pretty simple, huh? It's why our children prefer the wrapping paper and boxes at Christmas over their actual toys. Well, as anyone who's ever had a child, been around a child or parent, or been a child should know that it's not quite that simple. And why is that? Are we making things harder than they have to be? For me, the simple answer is yes. I have always been an over-thinker...able to read WAY more into a situation than was actually there. Unfortunately, this didn't stop once I entered motherhood...it magnified. If he's fussy I'm trying to figure out why...is he teething, is he tired, is he hungry (to which the answer would always be yes), etc. News flash: it's next to impossible to figure out. Why all my rambling? I've decided to simplify. I don't make New Years resolutions but in 2011 I would like to make things a little less complicated for myself. Like how vague I am? That way I can't fail. Anyway, enough contemplation and on to some pictures of Banks being just the way he should be: childlike and simple.

Playing peek-a-boo in Matt's shirts.

Nearly-naked and on a ladder...

"Poo-poo. Bye-bye, choo-choo."

2011-01-06T09:29:00.000-08:00

Davis Kidd, our local bookstore, has a fantastic kids area complete with two train tables and more toys than any kid could ever ask for. We love going there to play, however, we had quite a rocky start. One of our first visits, Banks had a dirty diaper. When I went to the car to change him, the poop smooshed all the way up his back. I gave him the keys to play with while I cleaned him up, stripped him down to his diaper and Keds and went to throw the diaper in the trash can. Little did I know that he had locked the doors and my purse, phone and keys were now locked in the car. Soooo, I had to take my little nekkid baby back into the bookstore and borrow another mom's phone to call Matt. Strike one.

After that incident, I was a little embarassed about going back so we took a month off and finally I had enough courage to try again. This time, we went and played and decided to stay for story time. Ms. Marjorie, the storytime leader hadn't gotten to page two before Banks PROJECTILE vomits across the room. I was mortified, you hear me? There was just so much of it and it was so smelly. Ms. Marjorie continued to read, the other moms inched their babies away from our mess, and everyone continued on about their business while I worked feverishly to clean it up. Thank the Lord a friend was there with his son and was able to help me out. Strike two. My mom said I'd better be careful or they'd put up a picture of us like they do the bad check writers.

Now, let me back up for a second. About a month ago, we started talking to Banks about tee-tee and poo-poo. I figured it couldn't hurt to start talking about that stuff early on. He's very interested in it. You can't go to the bathroom around here without Banks following you in there to say "tee-tee?, poo-poo?" And more recently, he started saying poo-poo to us either before or after he actually poo-pooed. I have been amazed...not that we're heading to potty training or anthing like that, but it's a good sign, right?

So, today we're back at Davis Kidd playing-they were having Kindermusik this week but we opted out today after Banks' disasterous performance there on Tuesday-and he tells me "poo-poo." My nose confirms it and I tell him we have to go home so we can change his diaper. No more car diaper changing...remember strike one...so he declares to all the other moms "Poo-poo. Bye-bye, choo-choo." Strike three? Nah. Another bodily function at the book store? Yes, but this one pales in comparison.

Bossy

2011-01-02T20:40:00.001-08:00

Molly, my friend who does not have a blog (ahem), tells me that I do not update my blog frequently enough. So, to please my readers I'm going to try to be more on the ball about posting. We'll see how that goes.

I'm not quite sure when the terrible two's actually start, even though the answer seems obvious. Some have told me the very day their toddler turned two he/she became a terror and others have said it starts around 18 months. Oh, it is nearing my friends. Banks has gotten very good at telling me what to do. "Mommy, gook (milk)", "mommy, sit", mommy, boot (book)". Every now and then he'll use his manners and say "up, peas" but he prefers to boss me around. It's pretty amusing to see him being so directive and whenever he does say "peas" I can't help but do whatever it is he's demanded of me. He hasn't gotten to the phase where he wants to do things all on his own or everything is "mine" although he has been going around the house saying "my daddy" lately. Most friends recommend time out for dealing with the terrible two's...well, that and a spanking spoon. You know, I just have a hard time seeing how it'll work...whether he'll understand why he's being put in a corner and if he'll EVER stay put but I guess I'll give it a try. Either that or he'll be bossing me around for the rest of my life. Not that time out will stop me from catering to him...he is my little bebe, after all.

A non-bossy moment this morning: creating his masterpiece.

He loves these little crayons that Santa brought.

I'd also like to take a moment to advertise for my new favorite product. Banks got some flash cards for Christmas this year that both he and I are obsessed with. So far he has learned "sir-kul", "heart", and "stah", can point out objects that are squares and can identify almost every picture. I'm convinced they're making him a smarty. They're durable and touch-and-feel so he has fun playing with, stacking and sorting them too. So for today's public service announcement: go to Borders and buy your kid some flash cards now!!!

Whew!

2010-12-27T13:28:00.000-08:00

After being away from home for 9 days we're finally back!!! Let the post-holiday meltdowns occur! Banks is overstimulated...he just runs from one toy to the next playing with each for only a few minutes before getting distracted by the next. Add a little over-tiredness (I know it exists, not sure if it is a word or not though) into the mix and it's meltdown central at our house. You can also consider that Banks' response to most things us "unh, unh" which is most frustrating. It doesn't matter what I'm asking him, he's pretty sure he doesn't want to do it. Even if I ask if he wants a cookie he tells me "unh, unh" and then cries because he doesn't get one. Oh, the joys!

It took me all day yesterday to unload all the "trucks", "trah-tuhs", "cahs" and "choo-choos" that he got for Christmas. We definitely have a boy on our hands. While we were gone from home for a long time, it was worth it! We got to visit with both sets of grandparents (Mimi, I promise I have pictures), hang out with many a cousin, see lots of friends, and have lots of playdates. As is my usual style, I will now nauseate you with more pictures than you'd ever want to see...

The annual Jones-Berry-Still get together. Maggie and Will Jones, Banks, Charlie Berry

Maggie was our newest addition. They were brave enough to put her in Banks' lap for a picture. Thankfully he didn't bite her or throw her on the floor. In fact, I think he was petrified. He didn't move a muscle.

The mommas and the babies. Next year we'll have another baby in the mix...Baylor Berry!

Making Christmas cookies with Gram for the first time! The apron he's wearing was mine when I was little!

Decorating one for Santa:

Christmas morning when he first spotted his loot. I think I enjoyed it just as much as he did. I loved seeing the pure joy on his face.

The boy with his choo-choo's and rain boots.

And the excitement of seeing the cars go down the track.

I have an elf...

2010-12-09T12:32:00.000-08:00

...who does not live on the shelf. He may look angelic: But he is very mischevious. He does things like unlock the stall door of a public bathroom and run out only to leave his mother half-clothed and helpless. He likes to touch lots of things: The elf also loves to hide things from his momma. He leaves them in random places only to be found later in the day when said item is no longer needed. Everyday this elf gets into some kind of trouble. And he doesn't care if you say you're going to tell Santa cause he loves Santa...

"Coo!"

2010-11-30T12:46:00.000-08:00

Somewhere along the line Banks picked up on the word cool. Lots of things have been "coo" to him lately.

It's coo to play with your friends, especially if one lives way far away now.

It's coo to throw balls. Especially if you throw them at peoples faces.

It's coo to hang out with your Gram and Grumps and eat lots of crackers.
Christmas trees are coo.

Playing with ornaments is coo (for me, not for my mom). This one is my favorite so far. My mom thinks it's coo that at least it's not breakable.

Age of The No's

2010-11-13T07:38:00.000-08:00

My mom loves to tell the story of the time, after being told no less than a million times to say thank you, that I asked "when am I going to know all my manners?" As a parent, it's our responisbility to teach and mold our children into being polite, other-minded little beings. I'm learning that this training cannot begin too soon.

We all know that Banks loves to eat. They guy seriously is never NOT hungry. If he sees you eating, he'll steal whatever it is you have in your hand. The ladies in the nursery at the Y have dubbed him as "the snack theif." In Memphis, this has yet to become problematic. You see, most of Banks' friends here are older. Their parents tell their children to share, be nice, and all the other good manners stuff because Banks is "the baby." During a recent trip home, in which Banks played with other toddlers his age, I became aware that Banks is a brute. He stole many "cah-kuh's" (crackers) and even PUSHED another baby (sorry June). Not that I think he was being malicious, it's just that I'm realizing now is the time to start teaching the boy some manners!

This has led to what I am calling The Age of the No's. Everything in our house right now is a "no." No hitting, no biting, no throwing food. Don't touch that, don't rip your book up, stop throwing your spoon. Quit whining, be sweet to Buford, stop climbing on the fire place. He just can't win. I feel terrible for always saying no. But I would feel even more terrible if my child was the one pushing WHEN HE KNEW BETTER. It's right from wrong at our house. And I'm ready for him to hurry up and learn all his manners. This molding and teaching bit is exhausting!

It's not that we don't have any fun around here. There's a good balance. Banks loves his mobility and is happy just making laps around the house. He is talking up a storm and adds new words to his vocabulary everyday. Yesterday he said "peas" (please)-see we're learning a manner or two-for the first time. I am amazed at his vocabulary, honestly. He loves to be "side" (outside) collecting sticks. We walk around the block, pick up sticks out of the neighbors yard and then leave them in a pile outside the back door for him to return to at our next outing. We are always on the go. You know, I was so antsy for Banks to hurry up and start walking. Everybody I talked to said I would regret it once he did. But, honestly, I love him walking! It makes it so much more fun being outside, going to the park and opens up the door for so many childrens activities for him...Big Backyard, Childrens Museam, etc. I can let him out of the stroller at the Zoo and he can burn off as much energy as he wants! Not that I don't do a lot of chasing, I do, but in my opinion, it's way better than when he was in the crawling stage.

I have been terrible about taking pictures lately but here are a few from the last week:

Stunna Shades

Charlie, June and Banks playing

June and Banks

Matt was in charge of Banks the other day while I ran an errand. He said he turned his head for two seconds and found Banks like this.

Halloween!

2010-11-01T09:44:00.000-07:00

Pumpkin carving! He was great at helping get the goo out.And was very interested in what was going on inside. He kept saying "hot" because he saw the candle!
Pleased with his finished product.

Still intrigued by what was inside there:

It was so much fun that he was walking in time for Halloween!

He was a trick or treating machine

Although Banks never misses a meal, he doesn't get to eat sweets all that often. Since it was Halloween, I let him go at it with the candy. He picked out all the M & M's and Oreos and threw the popcorn on the floor.

Triumph!!!!!!

Pictures!

2010-10-25T12:37:00.001-07:00

Recent trip to the zoo...first time on the carousel. Not thrilled about it...He's walking now! It's so funny to see him just cruising across the room. He's so pleased with himself!

Banks loves driving his trucks around the house.

Naked man on the loose! He walks with one arm up in the air...for balance, I guess? Perhaps he's getting ready for a one-handed cartwheel or round-off.
Saturday we went to the pumpkin patch! He had a blast riding the horse, petting the animals and picking out his pumpkin!
Pre-church photo op:

Posing:

Preparing to launch out. It takes concentration and perfect tongue placement:

And, what most of my pictures look like these days:

No pictures, just words

2010-10-19T21:07:00.000-07:00

So, I totally understand if you just want to skip over this post. Our computer is on it's last leg...it only took me three hours to connect to the Internet just now and it won't let me upload any pictures.

What many of you know about me is I like to be right which often comes with pretending that I know everything. Here, in a blog exclusive, I am admitting that I am not always right nor do I know everything. For example, I do not know how to unattach Banks from my side. Last week he came down with Rotavirus. Well, let me clarify, the Urgent Care doctor told us it was Rotavirus. We're waiting on the poo analysis (technical term) to come back to tell us what it was for sure. Not that it matters now that he's all better. Better but still attached to my hip. HELP ME. I come near to losing my mind everyday.

And while he's driving me crazy, he's still as charming as can be. His vocabulary is increasing every day. New words are "bus", "tru" (truck), "buh" (book), "mommy", "daddy", "cat", "dis" (this), "ba" (ball). He is getting better at "telling" us what he wants/needs. Yesterday I guess he was hungry so he crawled into the kitchen, got his bib and brought it to me. He is also getting better at pitching a fit when a) we don't understand what he's trying to say and b) he doesn't get whatever it is that he wants. He's silly, likes for us to chase him, and likes to dip his finger into something, lick it clean and say "mmmmm." He's learning to eat off a plate and drink from a sippy cup without handles. I'm nervous about trying the spoon...I can see the mess now.

He's becoming more brave with his walking. Just in the last day or so, I've noticed that he'll let go and walk over to something without our coaxing him to do so. He's able to go further and further each day! He can point out several body parts but refuses to learn any new animal sounds. He's getting better at directives. Soon enough I'll have him folding clothes and putting them away. He seems to be hungry all the time, still boycotts most veggies and loves all fruits. Loves sticks, balls and tractors. He loves to go head first down the slide. He loves books. Can destroy a room in two seconds flat. He can make me sooo mad and then melt my heart the very next second. He gives great hugs and can blow a kiss. Makes me feel loved when he calls "mommy, mommy, mommy!!!"

Someone at the park told me yesterday that 15 months was her most favorite age. I haven't been able to pick a favorite. All the stages are hard in their own way and fun in their own way. The I-won't-leave-your-side phase is growing a bit old but hopefully it'll be over soon and we'll be on to a new phase. As for (almost) 15 months...we're enjoying it too...now if only I could upload some pictures to prove it to you!!!

He's a boy...

2010-10-05T09:24:00.000-07:00

Not that you've forgotten or anything. And I am proud to say that many, many trips to the grocery store have been logged without someone calling Banks "she." However, I'm noticing that all the gender neutral baby toys are slowly being replaced with trains, trucks, and balls. Banks is starting to prefer boy stuff over girl stuff...which means that we cannot be outside for more than .5 seconds before he's found a stick and a dirt pile in which to dig. He's especially fond of rubbing his hands around in the dirt, picking up a huge pile of it and throwing it up in the air. It proceedes to fall directly in his hair/really cute smocked outfit and I bite my tongue. You know, I want him to be cute, but I want him to enjoy being a boy more. Oxyclean is my best friend; we go throug about a bottle a week. So play on, brother.

Yesterday, I put him in a new fall outfit, brand new pair of white lace-up Keds (WHAT WAS I THINKING???) and took him outside for a photo op. See above if you want to know what happened. Photo op didn't work out so well, but I did get a few shots of him getting dirty.

Big boy digging around in my compost

And digging in the dirt

Just because he can take a few steps doesn't mean he does all the time...still loving his lion!

And totally unrelated but totally cute!

Big things...

2010-09-21T09:35:00.000-07:00

...are happening at our house. Banks took his first steps yesterday!!! He's still wobbly and unsure but soooo proud of his new skill. It's hilarious to me to see him standing there. I think in my mind I still view him as a little baby, not someone who should be standing up, smiling at me! I still think it will be a while before he actually takes off but it is so fun to see him learning to walk. He started off by just taking one step and then by the end of the day he was taking three! He still prefers to crawl or walk behind his push toy but will take steps with some coaxing.

In other news, we had a baby extravaganza in the Grove last weekend. Yes, we got Banks, Charlie and Will matching outfits. Yes, people asked if they were triplets. And tons of people asked if Banks and Charlie were brothers! So funny because I've never thought of them looking alike. Interesting what a little matching outfit will do...

Anyway, they had a big ole time. Lots of crawling, snack eating, sweating and playing. It was way easier than I thought it would be. I envisioned constant baby chasing, fishing chicken bones out of his mouth and dirtyness. Well, they were definitely dirty. Crawling in a dusty grove will do that to a baby, I guess. And Matt was a big help too...I think he was trying to make up for a lack luster performance when we took Banks to the grove last year. I will now let that story die since he was such a help this time.

Banks petting Will

HOT!

Banks, me, Molly, Charlie

Nothingness

2010-09-10T13:11:00.000-07:00

It's official. My life is boring. I have nothing riveting about which to write. I doubt how you want to hear that as I type Banks is throwing pieces of grape over his tray while I shout "no throwing!". And there went the sippy cup. He says "uh oh" like he didn't mean to do it on purpose. That little rascal. Is it possible for a 13 month old to be starting the terrible twos? Banks has just started to pitch mini-fits-complete with wailing, leg kicking, and limpness-when I tell him no or when he wants to go outside (he "tells" me this by ramming his push toy into the back door OVER and OVER again) and I don't.

Here's an example. This time he wanted to go into Matt's office while he was on a conference call. That is a no-go, Banks couldn't understand: cue meltdown.

And I can't stay mad for long cause then he gets all sweet and innocent looking. I had to sneak in and steal this photo one night. I kept singing "fat guy in a little coat" to myself as I was taking the picture.

Some new fun things about Banks...he LOVES to climb and sit Indian-style (usually not together). This guy is busy, busy. I seriously can't take my eyes off of him for one second or he's into something. Man, have I got my hands full!

I'd also like to report that Banks and Buford or as Banks calls him, "Oh-ford", are making progress. Buford nipped at Banks a few times and I threatened to give him away but seems like the two are getting along better these days. Nothing like a little lawn spraying to bring the two together:

Tug-of-war

Banks' vocabulary is growing by the day. Most popular are bay-bee, uh-oh, mommy (no longer mama) and Oh-ford. New additions are ewwww (what the cow says), ba (what the sheep says), and arrrrrrr (what the lion says). I'm hoping he's going to be a smarty. Recently, he has started to love books! He will pull every single board book out of his basket for me to read. EVERY time we have to read the bubbles book. EVERY time. I'm tempted to hide that thing.

Making the selection and whadda you know...the bubbles book!

Read it mommy. And hopefully this will leave you with a smile. Post mud-hole playing:

Beach, babies, and besties

2010-08-29T19:36:00.000-07:00

Last week we traveled to Sea Grove, FL for a week-long trip to the beach with some of our best friends and their children. Lauren and Wes have a son, Will, who is about 4 months older than Banks. Molly and Garner's son, Charlie, is only a day older than Banks. It must be known that I am officially a grown-up. Packing used to include swim suits and a cooler (for water, of course). Packing with a baby includes diapers, Dreft, sippy cups and grits (among 100 other MUST HAVE items). I washed clothes at the beach. Do you hear me? I packed detergent and actually washed several loads of clothes. I washed dishes, unloaded the dishwasher and even thought about sweeping but thankfully Molly came to the rescue and saved me from that travesty. When they tell you life really changes once you have a baby they mean it!

Aside from doing lots of grown-up things we had tons of fun! Charlie, Banks and Will had the best time playing together!! I think it is amazing that these little boys will grow up together! I hope they will have as much fun together as all of the parents do!! It's hilarious to me that out of 7 days all three boys were never on the beach at the same time. Someone was always sleeping or eating or crying. There was poop galore and lots of snack eating. I'm talking about the kids here in case you've gotten lost.

This week was also a learning experience for me. Here's a run down of what I've learned about Banks:

He is a snack thief and isn't scared to knock a baby down to get to some food.
He eats WAY more than other babies. I'm thinking I should put him on a diet.
Banks feels that everybody elses toys are way cooler than his own and again, isn't scared to knock another kid down to swipe his toy.
Everyone is a "bay-bee." We laughed so hard at Banks calling Charlie and Will "bay-bee's" in his deep man voice. Rest assured, if you are under 5 feet he'll probably call you a baby.
Banks is an explorer...the guy is not scared to crawl away on the beach.
Banks hates riding in the car. Out of 9 hours travelled in the car Saturday he slept for 1. O.N.E. Which means he pretty much cried for the other 8. Miserable.

And, without further adieu, here are a few pictures from the week!

The lap of luxury:

It only took 79 trips with that tiny bucket to fill up the baby pool

Bath time! Daddies bathing the babies

Big highlight of the week for Banks: pushing Will around on the fire truck

Rare photo of all three boys together

Bribing them to get together with a snack. They were like the sea gulls flocking to bread.

Banks and Charlie

You know how you get an idea of something in your head? I had envisioned Christmas-card like pictures of our family and of Banks on the beach. Instead I get this: eyes closed. Way to go Kyle and Matt.

Group shot. Lots of closed eyes, again. Sigh...

And a few of my beach bunny:

What we've been doing

2010-08-16T14:54:00.000-07:00

Lately, we've been doing a lot of this...

And stopping to look at things like this...

And taking lots of breaks for this (cause who doesn't want nice thick milk when it's 1,000 degrees outside?)...

He's not afraid to conqueor the hills...

And has learned to semi-steer his rig but does lots of this when he can't...

Banks is ONE!!!!

2010-08-01T19:42:00.001-07:00

On Friday Banks turned one. It is so odd to me to say that I have a one year old. It was a day filled with such a mix of emotions. I am SO thankful that God has allowed Banks to be in our lives for a year; entrusting his care to us. I am so grateful that he is healthy and happy; growing, getting into trouble and learning new things everyday. I wouldn't want it to be any other way, but when I got my weekly email that said "your TODDLER, week one" I just about fell apart. Toddler????? Where has the last year gone?

The first few months of his life are still a fog. Many of our friends are on their way to having their second children and I find it hard to recollect what it was like having a newborn...and it was only a year ago! It saddens me how quickly I've forgotten things but I'm so grateful that my camera has basically been glued to my eye and we've got lots of pictures to prove that he was actually that small. We spent his actual birthday playing the "this-time-last-year" game. It was fun to recollect the days events and hear everyones perspectives. It was a whirlwind day...full of tornadoes, three hours of pushing, a c-section and a complicated recovery but I WOULD NOT CHANGE A THING (well, maybe next time I'll just go straight for the section). My mom and I have talked several times about whether we feel Banks has been an easy baby. I usually say no. He had reflux and as the doctor put it "a touch of colic." He cried a lot, spit up a lot, woke up 45 minutes into every nap until he was about 6 months old, likes to be under foot, and doesn't like leaving my side. My mom says he's a very easy baby...but she's comparing him to me and I'm an only child for a reason!!!

The last few months have been full of change...dropping bottles, drinking from a sippy cup, finishing up with baby food, learning to take steps and SAYING HIS FIRST WORDS!!! I've been thinking that he was saying "Boof" for Buford but I'm not 100% because he won't say it on command. However, last week he said "uh-oh" for the first time and now says it a million times a day (especially when he purposefully drops his food and sippy cup over the side of his tray) and "bye-bye" or "bye." His "bye" is very southern sounding and it's almost as if he's demanding you to go ahead and leave!!!

So, we celebrated his actual birthday by taking him to Gibsons for his first donut (and first taste of sugar). He was so excited!

"You're really letting me have this?!?!" He's not so good on the taking a bite thing so he pretty much shoved the entire thing in his mouth.
We had a low key day, went out for dinner that night and ordered from the kids menu for him for the first time, and opened a few presents when we got home. If you didn't know he'd just turned one you'd think he was an old man by the gifts he got: a car, a lawn mower, a tool bench, and a cell phone! "Hey girl, can I hit you back?"
Me and the birthday boy (notice the new kicks)
Our fam!

We had his party on Saturday and it was SO much fun! I think he was a little overwhelmed at first but warmed up and had a big ole time. Aside from the fact that it was hot as fire in our house I think the party was a success! Here are just a few of the almost 300 pictures I took that day!

His smash cake
Front door

Close up of the door hanger Anna made

Food table

Back yard with riding toys and ballsThe balls were favors that said "thanks for having a ball with me"Also, cookie favors
We had the most fun watching him dig into his smash cake. He was not timid about it one bit! I stripped him down and just let him dig in!

"Here Daddy, you have some"
Banks really racked up in the gift department. Aside from the things I mentioned above, he got tools, a farm, blocks, keys, a shape sorter, a fire truck, dump truck, tons of books, puzzles, bath toys and the list goes on and on! He had a lot of fun opening presents and was more interested in the actual present than I thought he'd be.
First ride in the wagon
His ADORABLE back pack

In amazement at how fun his new ride is...he wants me to push him around the house everyday now.
His other new ride
My dad's rocking chair that we gave to Banks. He loves to sit in it...if only for a minute.

He's going to kill me for this one day. He's working really hard here on something. Any guesses as to what?!?!And finally, on Sunday we had to get the wagon out for it's first lap around the block:Thanks Gram for my wagon!

Randomness...

2010-07-12T06:45:00.000-07:00

I have nothing to blog about. I don't want to write about how I just turned THIRTY....shhhhh. Although, I will say Matt made it a great day and even had a surprise dinner for me Saturday night! I also don't want to write about how our friends the Darby's are currently packing up their house so they can move to Chicago this week. Sadness. So...since there's nothing to write about I thought I'd just show you some recent pictures!
Finally walking behind the lion:

First go with Spaghetti-O's. He looks so pleased with himself...

ALL boy...what else can I say?
Proving that real men wear pink: We went ahead and moved Banks to his forward facing car seat. He LOVES it and likes to point at things as we drive by them. Doesn't he look like a big boy???

Straight chillin...

Eleven months!!!

2010-07-01T13:44:00.000-07:00

What am I typing? ELEVEN months? Yowza. Banks is looking more and more like a toddler these days. I'm thinking it's mostly because he has a mouth full of teeth but he's just not my little baby anymore! We had some fun trying to get his 11 month shot!

Where's Banks?

"Hmmm...I might have to touch this."

Got it!

Finally!

Outta here...

Here are some amazing baby things he's been doing:

"talking" up a storm...we even swear he's saying Buford (although it sounds more like "Boof" or "Boo Foo") and bye bye
exploring...I don't think there's an inch he hasn't crawled over/under/through
claps when we say "Can you patty-cake?" or "yeah!"
when asked "where's mommy's nose" or "where's Banks' nose" he'll point to it...occasionally
Loves riding things
loves putting balls, toys, etc inside things (like the trash can for example)
opening and closing all doors
He especially loves to play the game where he closes the door, I knock and he opens it up. He's excited every time to find it's me that's been knocking. It never gets old...for me or for him!
hitting and biting (that's right...he likes to slap me in the face and take a chunk out of me every now and then)
He likes to charge with his head down (usually toward Buford) and give a head-butt
Loves to give a high-five
Loves to "read" his books
Likes to sit on his knees
He has learned to turn his noise-maker on. You'll note in the picture that area has several "no touch" items, all of which he ignores and touches anyway. I'd like to say he turns the noise-maker on to indicate that he's ready for bed, but that's not the case. He only wants to turn it on because I don't want him to.
Crawls around making kissing noises
And his newest-as in while I'm trying to update the blog new-is splashing around in the toilet. Gross.

Way-back Wednesday

2010-06-17T17:24:00.000-07:00

First off, I know it's Thursday, but just go with it people. When Matt "comes home for lunch" (for those who don't know he works from home so coming home for lunch means he just walks into the den) he always turns on ESPN and because I'm busying around it stays there until 3:00 or so when I realize what's happening. Anyway, I heard the ESPN people talking the other day, the other Wednesday, about way-back Wednesday. They talked of all things past sports. With Banks' first birthday rapidly approaching I find myself thinking of way-back. It seems like an eternity ago when I was pregnant and the memories I have of his newborn days are fleeting. I can't even remember what it's like to have a little tiny baby until I hold someone elses. How is it that you forget so quickly? How is it that my "little" baby went from this... to this????

I have been planning his first birthday party and it is so bittersweet. I am thankful that the Lord has allowed Banks to be in our lives for almost a whole year. So thankful. But, once he's one he's no longer a baby!!! I've caught myself trying to hold him like a baby lately when giving him his bottle. He looks at me like "seriously???"

He's just growing and developing so quickly and I love watching him learn and study things. He crawls like he's on a mission and boy, is he persistent (just like his mommy). He is more and more verbal everyday. I love listening to him...he just has little conversations with himself all day long. It's like he's really trying to communicate something to me and he just can't understand why I'm not getting the message. He loves to play this game where he says "ah", then I say "ah", then he says "ah" and so on and so forth. Here he is mid-"ah": He and Buford are learning to get along with one another. Well, rather, Buford is learning to tolerate Banks. I caught them in a brief moment of tug-of-war togetherness yesterday.

He's still loving bath time and loves splashing and making some serious waves:

He may also be growing weary of always having the camera in his face.

"No more pictures, please"

The beach!

2010-06-06T08:08:00.000-07:00

Beach baby!!! We just got back from our first vacay with Banks and it couldn't have been more perfect. We went to Orange Beach with all of Matt's family (there's like 20 of them) so we had LOTS of help from Matt's mom and all of Matt's cousins. Pre-trip I had visions of spending hours in the condo waiting for Banks to get up from naps, a baby who hated the sand and only wanted to be at the pool, and constant lathering of SPF 85. Well, the SPF part was true. I am happy to say that Banks may have come back from the beach more white than he went. I'm all about the skin protection...his, not mine. I'm a sun worshiper.

First look at the sand...

And...first taste of sand only minutes later. Mind you, he ate GALLONS of sand. Didn't seem to phase him one bit...

My little crab man

How could I have been worried that he wouldn't like the sand??? He let the other kids bury him and make him into a merman. All the while he was dipping his wheat thin in the sand and eating it.
While he loved the beach he was even more happy at the pool. Our condo had a lazy river and we would just all float around and around. He is truly a water baby...I kept having to remind myself that I couldn't let him go because he was acting like he'd just swim off!
When he was in his float he would just kick his legs like crazy and splash, splash!
Best attempt at a family photo...

Almost 10 months!

2010-05-26T09:49:00.000-07:00

I cannot believe Banks is almost 10 months old. He's been alive for as long as he was in my belly. It's almost impossible to compare the two because it felt like I was pregnant for forever and it doesn't seem like he's been a part of our lives for long at all!

He's really so much fun now. I love watching him explore all over the house. It's like I can see the wheels in his head just turning and learning. He loves to play peek-a-boo, loves standing on his tip-toes, loves cruising around the furniture, and loves opening and closing any door. We're still working on "no" because he also loves the plants, the fire place tools, Buford's bowls and the wireless router. When I catch him about to do something I don't want him to do I'll say "Banks, don't touch that." He stops (probably because he hears me call his name), looks at me, and then touches whatever it is I don't want him to touch. I can't tell if he just doesn't gets what "no" means yet or if he gets it but doesn't care.

What happens if he doesn't get his way...

His little personality is really showing and he's developing preferences. He does not like sleeping in as of late. We've resorted to old school fraternity style in his room; hanging a blanket over the window to block out the early morning sun. So far our little experiment is working and he slept til 7:45 yesterday morning! We're really working on introducing all kinds of pick-up foods and have completely cut out baby food at breakfast. It's fun to see what he likes/dislikes in the food world, although I must say that he'll eat just about anything I put on his tray.

Just getting a taste of some grass. He looks like a good ole country boy to me in this picture... He's really developed a close relationship with his hair brush, measuring spoon and mixing spoon. They go with him just about anywhere he goes and how dare I try to use one of them for their intended purpose! He loves to crawl around with the brush and spoon in his hands. And I love seeing him crawl and then sit, crawl and sit, crawl and sit. It's like he needs to take a rest or something.

He "talks" up a storm and FINALLY said ma-ma last week. Music to my ears. Not that he knows that I'm ma-ma or anything but, hey, it's a step closer. He's got SIX teeth (4 are in the process of coming in at the same time) which I think makes him look so much older. We're heading to the beach Saturday and I can't wait to see what he thinks. I really feel like he may just take off crawling and never look back. Well, that and eat a boat-load of sand. I'll post some pictures when we get back!

Weekend

2010-05-17T12:49:00.000-07:00

We went to Nashville this weekend to see our friends Lauren, Wes and Will. We had a great time seeing them and letting the boys play. I was able to make several observations while we were there. The first being it is nearly impossible to get a decent picture of two on-the-move boys. Most of my pictures look like this. Someone was always blurred.Or this: Banks with something in or going into his mouth. And yes, the matching pj's were planned. And we loved it.
Second, I feel like we spent the majority of our time fixing their meals or letting them eat their meals. It seems like to me one of the boys was eating something the entire time we were there. That can also be said for napping...on Saturday one or both of them were asleep from like 9-3 with a small window around noon when we all ran out to eat some lunch (again, with the eating). Here I have captured a rare moment from the weekend when the kiddos weren't sleeping or eating.
Again with something in his mouth. When does this stop????

Mother's Day Weekend

2010-05-10T13:15:00.000-07:00

We celebrated my first Mother's Day with my mom and Matt's mom. It was so special spending it with our moms! We played, ate ourselves silly and had a big ole time watching Banks. I realized after they left Sunday (and I put Banks down on the floor to play and he commenced to screaming bloody murder) that someone was either holding or playing with him the entire time they were here! He's one spoiled little boy and is climbing up my leg as I type because he wants me to hold him! He's in for a rude awakening getting back to our routine! We took advantage of the beautiful weather and got some great pictures.

Mimi (Matt's mom), Banks, Matt Gram (my mom), Banks, me
Saturday we went to the park and Banks went down the slide for the first time!Swinging with Mimi and Gram
We also tried out the baby pool for the first time! He loved it but I think he spent more time climbing in and out than actually playing in it. By the time we were through ,the water was full of grass and mud.

Mr. Big Stuff

2010-05-03T05:52:00.000-07:00

What's in a name? A lot, actually. Before we knew we were having a boy we agonized over what to name our baby. We studied the family trees because we knew we wanted to do something family. We had numerous phone conversations with our mothers about family names. Man, we have some strange ones. Hortense, Muncie and Estelle to name a few. Although I must admit I like Estelle...we could have called her Stella...but somehow Stella Still seemed cruel. The girl names were hard. Really hard. But we found out we were having a boy and that name came quite easy. Michael Banks. Michael after my dad and Banks is Matt's middle name and his mom's maiden name.

Now, you must know that just because Micheal Banks is his name doesn't mean that we actually call him that. My family is known for having an obscene amount of nicknames for each other. Growing up we had a dog, Lucy. At one point, Lucy had THIRTEEN nicknames. And she was just the dog. My favorite is one that my dad gave her: Louis Earl Kimbriel Junior the Third. I didn't say that the names had to make sense, now did I? And so the tradition continues with Banks. Most of his nicknames make zero sense and I'm sure if I thought long and hard I could track way back to figure out how we ended up with the ones we have but that would take too much time! And, not that we call him any of these in public. We'll save the public humiliation for when he's older. So without further adieu here's a list of what we've got so far:

Banksy

Banksy poo

Banksta

Beezer

Biz

Mister

Mister Pister

Biddle

Tooker

Tooker B

Little Took Took

Little Tiddle

Babykins

and the most recent addition to the list: Mr. Big Stuff

I just can't help but sing the song when I see Banks doing all this big boy stuff lately! He's pulling up to his feet on everything, we're trying the sippy cup, and he's eating like a man. He waves hello and bye-bye. He's such a mama's boy and I love it when he crawls up to me, climbs up my legs and stands there wanting me to pick him up. Oh, it just melts my heart. We have to say "no" a lot now. He only has a bazillion toys but thinks it's much more fun to play in Buford's water or in the magazine rack. His favorite "toys" right now are his plastic clothes hangers, a measuring spoon and a metal mixing bowl. Right. If I'm going into a different room I'll say "come on" and he'll follow me into the other room...Mr. Big Stuff, right? I told Matt the other day that I just didn't think he was old enough to be doing some of these things but reality is that he is NINE months and will be a year before I know it!

We had his nine month check up today and here are his stats:

weight: 21.12-75%

height: 29-75%

head: 47-92% (wowza)

So, here he is doing some Mr. Big Stuff stuff:
looking out the window
Only holding on with one hand (while perfecting the over-the-shoulder-am-I-in-trouble look)!
Again with the window and now attempting to pull down the curtains. Check out those chunky legs!
Climbing into the dishwasher
Climbing over the pack and play (or is it pack n play?)
Eating plenty of leafy greens

And loving this maneuver whatever it's called!

Banks and Charlie

2010-04-27T12:36:00.000-07:00

Banks just can't help it but he's popular already. Our friends have lots of babies so Banks was born with a whole bunch of ready made friends! Don't be mistaken...I'm not above forcing his friendships. Anyway, we were in Jackson last week and Banks got to hang out with one of his very best friends, Charlie. They were born only one day apart so it really is mandatory that they love each other...

"What?"

the activity of choice: chewing toys

"Oh, Charlie! You're hilarious!"

Warning:

2010-04-19T09:42:00.000-07:00

No babies were harmed in the taking of these pictures.

As you are about to see, Banks is in to EVERYTHING these days. About three weeks ago he discovered he could pull up on his knees and hasn't stopped doing it since. It makes me very nervous as he's had a few spills trying to get back to the ground.

Opening and closing the drawer. Over and over and over again.

A plethora of no-no's on the coffee table. Don't worry...the candle wasn't lit.

A man on a mission. See the determination in his eyes???

Pulling up on the coffee table yet again...

And now pulling up on the chair.

Into the plant...

Into Buford's food bowl...

Under the baby gate...

Under the chair. Looks like he got busted, doesn't it?

He also thinks it's hilarious to pull up in the crib and throw his paci's over the side. I don't think it's that funny. Notice we had to lower the mattress to the lowest setting...sad!

Baby jail...

And, so you don't think I spent all my time the last few days taking pictures of things my child shouldn't be doing here are a few pics of his first time in the swing at the park. He loved it!

Ole Miss Baseball!

2010-04-14T12:40:00.000-07:00

Banks went to his first Ole Miss baseball game last night! The weather was perfect and we had a blast. We went with the Darbys and the Sorrells and Banks had a great time with his friends Emerson and Mimi.

The Ladies Man... All decked out in their Ole Miss attire...
And I must say that I am dying to have a girl one of these days. Mimi and Emerson had a mad game of Ring Around the Rosey going and you have to see how cute they were!
Ring around the rosey... Pocket full of poseys...
And Mimi falling down!
Banks was so sleepy when we left. I think he was out before we got out of the parking garage! I always like to tip-toe in his room before I go to bed to check on him and this is what I found. The picture is a bit blurry...I rushed in, snapped the picture, and ran out!

Both paci's...with one resting on his cheek!!!

Outside!

2010-04-11T19:11:00.000-07:00

Since the weather has been so nice we've been spending LOTS of time outside. B loves to chill in his bouncer on the patio! You'll notice his irresponsible parents let him get a little too much sun Saturday...tisk, tisk.Gram and Grumps came to visit last week and we had a shrimp boil one night. Here's Gram and Banks pre-boil.

Banks LOVES riding on anyones shoulders! In an attempt to prevent further burn I made a trip to Target today to get baby sunscreen and a hat. Couldn't you just eat him up???

Easter

2010-04-05T15:09:00.001-07:00

We went to Batesville this year for Easter to be with Matt's mom. Banks had a great first Easter with family!

Mimi and Banks

Mimi, Matt, Banks, me

Loving the eggs...

Checking out the loot

Getting a family picture is MUCH harder these days. Banks is really interested in looking at everything and wants to check it all out.
Strike one...

Strike two (man I need a tan)

Better but still not looking at the camera...

Boys...

2010-04-01T06:59:00.000-07:00

Apparently there is something difficult about raising boys. There are a bazillion books dedicated to the subject and endless amounts of advice to be offered regarding rearing boys. At this point in Banks' life, it doesn't matter much. If I laid a Barbie and a truck out for him to play with I think he might actually go for the Barbie but in a time period shorter than I'd like to admit he will become more boy-like and I could use some guidance on the subject!

Boys really are a different breed. And I'm not just saying this because I'm an only child and really only know the world of girl. They're just different. For example (and Matt, I love you and please don't hate me for posting this), Matt comes in yesterday with his chest puffed out-so proud of himself and props his foot up on the arm of the chair. He proceeds to point out his crazily long toenails and states that he had been trying to "see how long he could get them to grow out before flip flop season." Seriously??? Who thinks of this stuff??? It's gotta be a guy thing. I'd like to say that he succeeded and those things were gold-metal-award-winning-long. Which reminds me that Matt may have some bizarre infatuation with long toenails because last summer he gouged my ankle with one of his long toenails and it LEFT A SCAR. Anyway, back to the point...what am I to do with a BOY??? My grandmother predicted that I would have a house full of "grubby little boys" and so far her prediction has come true. So, if I'm going to have a house full of long toenail growing boys I've gotta learn how to raise 'em right!

Our church is offering a parenting series on nurturing boys. I'm getting the book (Wild Things: The Art of Nurturing Boys) ASAP and planning on attending the series in September. Surely I can manage to read a book by then!!! And thankfully, Clint and Jeri Anne found out they're having a little boy in August so Banks will FINALLY have a boy to play with around here!!! We're so excited that they can beat each other up one day!

And, on to what you really want to see...some pictures of Banks! He's eight months old now which is just crazy to me. He's eating all kinds of bits of food, dragging (not crawling yet) himself all over the place, and talking up a storm (new sounds are ta, fa, da, sh...but no ma). It just gets more and more fun everyday!

Pulling all the toys out of the basket

This is a picture of a picture so it's not that great...here's his first visit with the Easter bunny!

Working on the crawl...check out those cheeks!!!

A little play time with my daddy!

Pictures

2010-03-24T18:49:00.000-07:00

We had some pictures made of Banks at 6 months and these are a couple of my favorites. The chair he is sitting in the the bottom picture is over 115 years old and was made by Banks' great-great-great grandfather for his grandson, Dudy Noble. You Mississippi State folks out there should recognize that name...the baseball field is named after him! I just think the picture is so sweet with him in the little chair!

So serious...

"Hmmm...what's this?"

2010-03-16T07:08:00.000-07:00

I've always said that I wish I knew what Banks was thinking. I feel confident that now I know exactly what he's thinking: what's that? He is constantly reaching for things...usually things we don't want him to have like remotes or phones and if there's a pile of toys on the floor for him to play with he'll roll across the room to get to some wires or any other baby no-no. Why do they always want what they're not supposed to have?

On his way to see what's going on in the hall...

The weather was so nice last week so we had a picnic in the back yard. Note all the toys. What did he play with? Dead grass and leaves.

Me and B

And, my friends, it's about to get a lot worse. Banks is getting ready to crawl. He's mastered the backwards scoot and now is working on moving forward. He can get himself into this herky-like position but then takes a face plant when he tries to crawl forward...

And on another note...what up with all the scratching? Banks likes to scratch his fingernails across things...walls, the leather chair, jeans, etc. It. drives. me. nuts. Nuts, do you hear me? I can't stand the sound of fingernails scratching on things and he does it all the time. Probably just to spite me.

We've also been working on introducing finger foods. I've tried giving him little pieces of things like banana and pears but I finally got him some puffs today and they're the biggest hit of them all! He can pick them up much more easily than the sticky fruit. Plus it doesn't make near as much of a mess...I think here I see some banana, sweet potato and avocado...

And finally, we're gearing up for the Easter bunny to make his first visit. Banks wanted me to make sure the Easter bunny saw how much he loves his bunny...

What's fun...

2010-03-02T16:05:00.001-08:00

What's fun: With Matt working from home, he often gets to spend a little extra time with Banks during his lunch break. The other day, Matt got out the balls that we gave him at his half birthday party and taught him a thing or two about curve balls...

What's fun: Belly laughs.

Shoot...I had a really cute video I was trying to upload but it won't work...not sure why. Guess you'll just have to take my word for it...

What's not fun: Poop in the tub. Yes, you read that correctly. Do not continue reading if you have a queasy stomach...I'm warning you. THREE times in the last two weeks Banks has pooped in the tub. I mean, seriously, what is it???? The first time I was completely unaware and bathed him in the poop water only to realize it was poop water at the very end. I dumped said poop water down the sink so I had to disinfect the sink and the tub and then rewash Banks. The second time it happened I had a knee-jerk reaction and grabbed the poop with my hand and threw it in the toilet. Then I poured the poop water down the drain in the tub. So, once again, I had to disinfect his tub, the big tub and wash Banks again. The third time, we (Matt and I tag-teamed this one) wisened up. Once we noticed the floater we took Banks out of the tub and Matt and I carried the poop water filled tub outside where we dumped it...poop and all in the side yard. I know this is totally disgusting. We felt it was genius. I'm sure there's some law about human feces being outdoors but I'm just considering it extra fertilizer for the rose bush. If you're coming over, please don't play near the roses...if you step in poop it might not be Bufords...

What's fun: I'm heading to the beach Thursday for a bachelorette party with my friends! I am so excited to have some serious girl time...even if I'm going to miss my boys!

What's fun: Banks is rolling all over the place now and he's learned to pivot on his stomach so he can really get anywhere he wants. Once he sets his sight on something he'll get to it through rolling and inching on his stomach. It's so cute to watch his determination and how proud he is of himself once he gets what he's after!! I keep catching him pulling things off the bottom shelf of the coffee table so looks like I'll be clearing that off shortly.

What's not fun: Seeing my post-baby body in a three-way mirror at Target last week. Yikes. Nobody tells you that once you have a baby your butt turns into your legs. When did that happen??? And how do I get it back up where it's supposed to be? I set out on a mission the very next day...I walked/ran (ok, mostly walked) and man did it hurt. I am soooo out of shape. And, it's extremely hard to run pushing a stroller. It involves some sort of coordination that I must not have. I've got to keep it up though...beach trips this summer are on the horizon and I really don't want people looking at my butt-legs.

What's fun: Banks is 7 months! The sign picture is getting increasingly more difficult. He grabbed it immediately after I put him in the chair so I had to get Matt to help and finally we were able to distract him long enough to put the sign in the chair and snap a picture or two.

"Wait...what's this? Can I have it?"

"Let me see if this is any good"

Matt's attempt at holding the sign...

Finally...

Easy peasy

2010-02-24T14:10:00.000-08:00

There's nothing like a little pork-on-pork action. Am I right or am I right? I haven't posted any recipes in a long time so I figured I'd try something new this week and we really liked it! Not to mention it was very simple...

Bacon-wrapped pork tenderloin with creamy cheese grits and spinach

(from Southern Living)

for pork:

1 1-lb pork tenderloin

1 tsp steak seasoning

3 bacon slices, cut in half crosswise

Preheat oven to 425. Sprinkle seasoning over pork and wrap pork with bacon slices, securing with wooden picks. Place pork on a lightly greased wire rack in an aluminum foil-lined roasting pan. Bake at 425 for 25 minutes or until a meat thermometer inserted into thickest portion registers 155. Increase oven temp to broil. Broil 5 inches from heat for 3-5 minutes or until bacon is crisp. Let stand for 10 minutes before serving.

for cheese grits:

1 5-oz package fresh baby spinach, washed

1 cup quick cooking grits

1 1/2 cups vegetable broth

1 cup milk

1/2 tsp salt

1/8 tsp garlic powder

4 oz shredded mozzarella-provolone cheese blend

Coarsely chop spinach. Bring grits and next 4 ingredients to a boil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat; reduce heat to low, and simmer, stirring occasionally, 10-12 minutes or until thickened. Stir in spinach and cheese until well blended and cheese is melted. Serve immediately.

Banks got an F in nursery

2010-02-14T20:17:00.000-08:00

Sunday Banks got kicked out of the church nursery. It's only the second time we've sent him. The first was traumatic because it was "the first." That and when I rounded to corner to pick him up I could hear him screaming bloody murder. The lady said he has slept really well...over an hour past his feeding time and the boy was seriously hungry. Today, a friend of ours went to pick up her little one and noticed that Banks was quite distressed. She suggested that I go check on him. Which I did. Promptly. He was red-faced crying and the man told me that he had been doing so for 20 minutes. He then proceeded to go and get his diaper bag and send us packing!!! And we hadn't even been to church yet! I know we can't be the first to have trouble dropping their kid off at the nursery. You see, trouble is that church falls directly during nap time. B has some flexabilty but skipping a morning nap all together just is a no-go at this point. So, when he gets tired, he cries. Hence his failure at nursery today. Poor guy. The minute we put him in his car seat he was out like a light.

I'm also guessing that my outfit choice that morning did not help. I was dead set on him wearing this little Feltman outfit...size 12 months mind you...that was ENTIRELY too small. He'd never worn it so I was determined that I'd get at least one wear out of it. The thing was so tight that when I went to put him in his car seat to come home a button popped off and went flying across the room. If you look closely, you can see a button missing. I had to take the bottom portion of the outfit off because it was cutting off his circulation.

Now, these guys could have been the culprit for an extra fussy morning. Check out these chompers...

And, just because he's a big boy and moved to the big boy tub I had to post this picture. The bath toys are a big hit and he loves his duck tub even if it does look a bit too small...

Half birthday!

2010-02-01T17:40:00.000-08:00

We had Banks' half birthday Saturday and it was so fun getting all the family together. Well, almost all...Matt's dad wasn't able to make it because of the icy weather so we were sad he wasn't there. Matt was super pumped to be cooking out in 20 degree weather!

Here are the pictures I mentioned in the previous post. Each family member got one as their invitation and then I hung them on the mantle as our decoration. I think it turned out pretty cute!He even had presents to open! We got him these balls that he'll most likely just chew on for the next several months but Matt's excited for him to be getting some sports toys.

Banks has been the most fun baby lately. His personality is really starting to come out and he's very social. He loves being around lots of people and flirts up a storm with the ladies! He also likes to pout. I can't help but laugh when I see this face!!! He's started bouncing all the time...in his exersaucer, in your lap, when you're holding him. He's also started doing this thing where he quenches up his nose and breathes in and out really fast. It's hilarious with the lips. And...he's got his first tooth coming in! I noticed it this morning. It doesn't seem to be bothering him and he's been drooling like crazy for the last two months so it's about time one popped through! We went for his six month check up today and his stats are:

Weight: 19.4--80%

Height: 27--72%

Head: 45--83%

He's rolling everywhere now...and sporting his I love Mom onesie!

He's getting good at sitting up...

He's been enjoying fruits so far. I started him on bananas...just mashing them up and he loves them. I baked some apples for him last week and froze them so we'll try those next. I bought pears today so I'll prepare them this week to have on deck. I'm still loving making his baby food and am ready to try some new combos with him. I got the go-ahead at the doctor today to try some new things so I'm hoping Banks will enjoy them! We also broke out the high chair and he really liked being in it. I feel like he looks like such a big boy now!

I really cannot believe that Banks is halfway to being a year old. I want to savor every moment that we have with him. It took a long time to get him here and I do not want to ever take a moment for granted. It's so easy when I've had a long day to get frustrated with him but when I pick him up and he puts his arms around me and nestles his face in my neck it all melts away and I remember how precious he is. I love his hugs and his smile just lights up my life. Of course we think he's just the most amazing, beautiful gift from God!!!

The week in pics

2010-01-21T09:49:00.000-08:00

We read:

We played:We had our 1,593rd photo shoot:

We laughed:
We cried:

And we let Daddy get us dressed one day:

(FYI: that hat is supposed to fit a one year old child! Give it up for that noggin!)

5 1/2 month update

2010-01-12T14:57:00.000-08:00

I can't believe Banks is almost 6 months old. I know "they" say it all the time but time really is flying by. I am really liking this age. He's so interactive, laughs and smiles all the time, and is really starting to show his personality. He's working on sitting up by himself; we practice all the time. He's gotten to where he'll watch me walk out of the room and start crying when he can no longer see me. Then when I come back in he's fine! Maybe the start of separation anxiety? He still hasn't rolled from back to front but he tries a lot. I made a MAJOR mistake the other day and left him unattended in his boppy on the couch. I turned my head for like two minutes and he had rolled off the couch onto the floor and was screaming bloody murder. I ran over to him, crying myself, and scooped him up. He was absolutely fine. I think it just scared him (and me) more than anything. Consider that a lesson learned. Here he is attempting another send-me-to-the-hospital maneuver. No worries...he's strapped in at all times now.

He's doing great sleeping on his stomach and it's the cutest thing when I go in and get him and he's pushed up on his arms peering over the crib smiling at me to come and get him!

"Is it time to get up yet?"

"Come and get me!!!"

He sleeps with his knees pulled up and his little booty up in the air. It's precious. And during the night he inches his way along until his head is in the upper left corner of the crib. It's how we find him EVERY morning!

He's making so many new noises and has started to mimic noises we make. I'd swear the other day he said "hi" back to me. We're on a definite four hour schedule and it's making things so much easier! He's taking two 2-hour naps and I'm loving having some extra time to get things done! He's sleeping 12 hours at night now. Some of his favorites include: the song The Wheels on the Bus, playing with his feet (and pulling his left sock off), pulling my hair, and putting his own paci in his mouth (this one I'm very excited about...now if only he could find it on his own to put in his mouth). Since my last post, he's mastered the green beans and now peas. I just made sweet potatoes and I think we'll try them next. Then I'm planning on trying avocados with him. I know it's not your standard baby food but I've been reading how healthy they are for bambinos and all I have to do is mash it up for him.

I'm planning a half birthday party for Mister. I mean, you only turn a half of a year old once...why not celebrate!?!?! We're just inviting a few of our family members over for a Cookout and Cupcakes. A LONG time ago my mom gave me a make your own postcard kit (you affix a picture to the front of the postcard) and I had never used it but I had this great idea to get pictures of him with a cupcake to send out as the invitation. If only things would work out like I have them planned in my head. He immediately demolished the cupcake. It went straight to his mouth and Matt and I had to do a quick sweeping out of his mouth or he would have surely chewed and swallowed the bite he got. Either that or save it in his cheeks until he is the cupcake-ready age! I didn't get a picture that suited me so I ended up picking a favorite picture from each month and sending one to each family member. Then I'll use the pictures as decoration for the party.

"I know you don't think that's going to stay there, do you?"

"Hmmm...what is this thing?"

Getting closer...

Jackpot!

I told you he demolished it! Matt and I enjoyed cleaning up this mess!

Adventures in baby food making...

2010-01-07T08:34:00.001-08:00

It's been a while since I made a post about cooking. Honestly, I just haven't done too much of it, you know, with the holidays and all. I started off the new year with a new challenge...making baby food. I decided when I was pregnant that I wanted to make Banks' baby food when the time came. I don't know...it just seemed like a homemakery thing to do. I almost feel like Diane Keeton in that movie where she makes baby applesauce. I decided to start him on Butternut Squash. First of all, I've never purchased a butternut squash much less eaten one. I cut it in half and put about an inch of water in a Pyrex and baked it until the skin was puckered looking. Then all you do is scoop the meat out and puree the you-know-what out of it. I feel pretty confident that it was a success though! The carrots, on the other hand, were not. I steamed them and accidentally forgot about them until I smelled this terrible burning smell and realized all the water had steamed out of the pan and burned everything up. So aside from my little mess up making baby food has been pretty fun! Not to mention it's cheap!

Butternut Squash

Carrots-take two

I made green beans yesterday and it was a bit more of a process; mostly because I had to strain them. Somehow, chunks of pureed green bean ended up in my hair and I wore them to Bible Study that night. Oh they joys of motherhood. Banks seems to like his veggies. His tummy seemed to have a little more trouble with the carrots. I'm not sure if he spit up more (it's still a HUGE issue for us) or if it just annoyed me more because it's now BRIGHT orange. And that's not the only thing that is now orange but for his sake and yours I won't discuss that grossness.
Green Beans And just because I think this picture is funny...Banks has started turning his paci on it's side and chewing on it. If he's not teething then I don't know. He constantly wants something hard to chew on. Well, really he wants to chew on anything...including the side of my face and my neck!
Anyway, if you're interested in making baby food just know it's easy and cheap! I've been using a webiste for guidance and there are some fun food combos for when Banks is a little older. You can check it out at http://www.wholesomebabyfood.com/

Banks' first Christmas!

2009-12-27T19:36:00.000-08:00

Here's his first Christmas via a few (of the 100 I took) pictures:

"Shut yo mouth...this Santa guy really comes down the chimney and leaves presents??? Awesome..."

We spent the week in Jackson at Gram and Grumps house and had the opportunity to get together with a few friends while we were there. Banks exchanged gifts with his two best buds Charlie and Will. Charlie is only one day older than Banks (although you wouldn't guess it) and Will is a few months older than Banks. I forget that Banks is Baby Giant until I get him around another baby his age!! It was too funny trying to get a picture of all three of them. Banks kept taking headers into the presents, Charlie just chilled and Will was all over the place.

Me and Banks, Lauren and Will, Molly and Charlie
Banks and Charlie shaking on a bet to see who can cause their momma a nervous breakdown first. Oh those cheeks...

His loot from Santa:

Santa baby...

Soooo tired after all his Christmas fun

And finally, we put together his exersaucer when we got home and he was super pumped and a little overwhelmed. After just a few minutes he had figured out how to spin the froggy around and was pretty much obsessed with the thing. Hopefully this will be his new source of entertainment so that his momma can get Christmas put up!!!

I fought the swaddle blanket and I won!

2009-12-16T07:00:00.000-08:00

This post will be nothing short of boring for most but I sit here this morning in victory and can't wait to post about it. You see, two weeks ago when we went to Banks' four month appointment the doctor mentioned that we should start "thinking" about moving away from the swaddle blanket. My interpretation: cold turkey that thing. Man, was I mistaken. For the last two weeks (minus two random nights of sleepfulness) Banks has been waking almost every hour on the hour crying. At first I thought he'd love his new found freedom from the straight jacket but it seems that his arms are his own worst enemies. They flail around causing him to startle. He scratches his face. I mentioned to someone that it was a good thing I took his Christmas card pictures before this venture because he was starting to look like Scarface. He knocks his paci out and then gets really mad that he's done that. It's like his hands have a mind of their own and he can't control them. I even got weak and tried to go back to the swaddle blanket but it was like he knew there was another arm-free world out there and he kept busting out of the blanket. Freedom!

So, I talked to everyone and anyone that would listen. The consensus: put him to sleep on his stomach. Noooo, I thought. I can't. He'll suffocate. He's not old enough for that. And last night, when he cried out for the third time in one hour, I did it. In one fell swoop I flipped him to his stomach and didn't hear a peep from him until 5 this morning. Now, not that I actually slept much last night. I must have checked the monitor 100 times watching for his back to rise and fall just so I could make sure he was ok. And not that 5 am is when we would like to start our day (I actually just put the paci in and he slept until 7) but this is a major improvement from the hour on the hour wake up calls we've been having!

As I type, mister is sound asleep on his stomach in his crib. He fought it a little this morning; thinking that I was engaging him in some torturous tummy time activity in his crib, but eventually went on to sleep. Ahhhh...success. For now at least. I've learned you can't revel too long because just when you think you've got it figured out babies will go and change on you and the whole process begins again.

But for now, here's mister...swaddle free and proud of it!

He's a loser...

2009-12-09T07:17:00.000-08:00

but not the winner. Saturday we had Bufords Biggest Loser Finale and all the contestants showed up. It was a fun get together for the pups. They even had a photographer taking pictures of the newly made over dogs!!! While Buford did lose 12 % of his body weight he was not the big winner. He did get a fabulous consolation prize full of healthy doggie treats, new toys and even a gift card for a spa day. He's really excited about the spa package.
Here are most of the contestants after trying to get a group photo. It was like herding cats to get everyone and their dogs together.

My VERY favorite prize Buford got was a sweat band with his name on it. He looks mighty sporty when he wears it. This picture is hysterical to me...note Bufords eye.

Four months!!!

2009-12-01T11:26:00.000-08:00

My not so little baby is FOUR months old! It really is hard to believe. He's really so much fun and definitely runs the show at our house. All those things I said I'd never do, I do. Man, I hate eating my words. We went to the doctor yesterday for his 4 month check up and shots and here are his stats:

Weight: 16 pounds 14 ounces (90th percentlie)

Height: 25 1/2 inches (84th percentile)

Head: 44 inches (96th percentile)

He's constantly "talking" and making lots of new noises. He especially loves a high pitch squeal that might break glass one of these days. He's drooling up a storm and constantly has fingers in his mouth. He's reaching for toys and when he grabs them they go straight to the mouth. I'd swear he's teething. He gets tickled at Matt and me and does this cute little laugh. Of course we think it's adorable. He's been rolling from front to back for a while now but is SOOOOO close to rolling back to front. Here's an attempt:He loves "standing" up.

We started rice cereal last night. Not a big hit. Here's the only picture I could snap in between major meltdowns.

"Seriously, you're taking a picture now??"
Finally, we spent ALL day yesterday trying to get a picture for the Christmas card. Sheesh. I got some pretty funny bloopers that I'll post when I have more time!

Banks' Baptism!

2009-11-23T12:38:00.000-08:00

We had Banks baptized Sunday and it was wonderful. I was really worried about him acting up in church but he was perfect! He didn't make a peep. When our preacher took him from Matt to baptize him he said "we need a forklift for this one!!" It was too funny...Banks was two months younger than the other two boys baptized that day but definitely had them beat in the size department. We had almost 20 of our family members to our house after church for lunch. It was so fun having everyone here for Banks' big day! Here are some pics from his special day.

Sweet face

Some of our friends from church also had their son, James, baptized the same day.

Matt, Banks, James, Justin

Grumps, Banks, Gram

His beautiful cake!

Banks and Mimi

Tired little boy after a long day!

Throwback

2009-11-16T14:26:00.001-08:00

Look at how itty bitty (and tan) Banks used to be!!! I can't believe how quickly he's growing up. Matt thought Banks had a 5 o'clock shadow the other day. Seriously? He might be a bit young for that just yet but he is getting so big! I thought this picture of the two of them was too sweet...

3 1/2 months...almost

2009-11-08T19:21:00.000-08:00

Mister, as we like to call him, is 3 1/2 months old. I am working feverishly to update his baby book lest I forget some major milestone that he's met in his tiny life thus far. As mentioned in the last post he's rolling over and it's tons of fun...mostly for me than for him. I'm constantly tormenting him with tummy time just to see him roll over. He's all smiles (except when the photographer was at our house getting pictures of him and I was sweating profusely trying to get him to smile to no avail...I'm convinced he knew there was money on the line). He coos up a storm and even gets tickled sometimes. Mister is a baby giant...he's weighing in as a heavy weight at 15 pounds 10.5 ounces. He's OBSESSED with his hands and it's quite comical to watch him work on getting them to his mouth:

He's found his tongue. He looks like a little froggy!

Again with the tongue:
And he got to meet a future girlfriend, June Perkins

He had a play date with June and Charlie:

Finally, for those of you who haven't forgotten about our 4-legged baby get excited! The Biggest Loser comp is coming to an end this month. There's a big celebration for all the losers (winners) at the beginning of next month. Fingers crossed Buford is the Biggest Loser! We're doing some last chance workouts before his final weigh in next week. Ugh, the pressure. Buford is really hoping for a big prize.

Daydreaming about his big winnings.

Halloween!!!

2009-10-31T20:25:00.000-07:00

"Halloween??? Scary!!!"Ok, not really. I'd say that we had a collection of animals from the zoo rather than a scary Halloween this year. Which suits Matt just fine. He still tells the story of how he was scarred for life after seeing a KISS poster as a child. He even covered Banks' eyes when scary trick-or-treaters came to the door. Guess parents really do pass things down to their children. Banks will never be allowed to have a KISS poster in his room and that suits Matt just fine!

My little monkey!Emerson the puppy dog, Banks, and Mimi the pig

Banks and his older woman, Hadley the lady bug. He's checking her out. Banks had a great first Halloween! We had several people over to cook out and trick or treat. Sweet Anna even volunteered to take Buford trick or treating! Of course, he was all about the treats!

And Banks is all about the tricks...he rolled over!!! He's done it twice and we've been able to get it on video. It's too funny...he goes in slow motion and is then so proud of himself when he's finished! I'll try to get some pictures of him in action so I can put them on here.

Fish Tacos

2009-10-26T07:49:00.001-07:00

So, I have to be honest...there's something about fish tacos that just grosses me out. I think it's because when I think of fish tacos it reminds me of the Fillet O Fish sandwich which then reminds me of the McRib sandwich and then I'm totally disgusted. I decided to give them a go and I think they were great! I like the spiciness of the fish combined with the coolness of the cilantro sauce. Matt and I give these an A+!!

Fish Tacos

For the fish:

2 tilapia fillets

paprika to taste

salt to taste

cayenne pepper to taste

dill to taste

juice of one lime

olive oil

You also need:

half a head of cabbage-thinly chopped

4 flour tortillas

white sauce

For the white sauce:

1 1/2 tablespoon minced cilantro

3 tablespoons mayo

1 tablespoon sour cream

1 tablespoon lime juice

Heat a couple of tablespoons of olive oil in a skillet over medium heat; season fillets with paprika, salt, cayenne, and dill and place in skillet. Cook for about 3 minutes on each side or until cooked though and flaky. While fish is cooking, squeeze lime juice over each fillet. Once cooked, flake fish to put on tacos.

To make the white sauce, mix all ingredients in a small bowl and refrigerate until needed.

To assemble tacos spread generous amount of white sauce on each tortilla, top with flaked fish and cabbage. Serve with a big margarita and enjoy!

I lied.

2009-10-23T06:54:00.000-07:00

I'm supposed to be posting pictures of Banks in his Halloween costume but I'm not...yet. We went to Zoo Boo with Emerson Sorrells and Reese Tomlinson but I couldn't get a good picture of all three of them so you'll just have to wait to see what Banks is going as this year. I know, I know, the suspense is killing you. Instead, you get some pictures of Banks at the pumpkin patch!

Not really feeling the pumpkins...

And here's my little punkin with his first pumpkin!!