Rice Cereal

Here we are trying the rice cereal with a spoon again...

Don't worry, Mom!
I can do it fine by myself!

At least, I think this is how mom was doing it...

Kind of a gooey texture, but all in all,
I'd give it a four and a half star rating.

Success!
Daddy, looks like you'll have to start
sharing your steak and potatoes!

The World Is My Toy Box

Mom and I both are finding out exactly how long my reach is getting!
Everything I can reach I just know was put there for me
and that means it's mine!

Hmm... I just know I left my lion
- or something -
in Mom's purse... I'm sure of it!

Hey - Mom's ipod!
I'm sure my lion would love to listen to it too!

What's this?
Must be a new a chew toy for me...
(At least I thought it was but Mom took
it away right before I got it in my mouth.)

Yummy!
I love grapes...
At least I'm sure I will when I get some teeth.

I'm sure that I've heard of edible flowers before...
Yuck!
Those flowers must not be made of plastic!

I think I'll give Daddy a call at work...
MOM? What's the number??

Just wait until my arms get a little bit longer
and my legs get a little stronger...
Watch out world!!!

I Have Another Adventure and Mom Forgets the Camera

I had such a good adventure with my
Aunt Elece and Uncle Steve yesterday!
I took them plus Mom and Daddy to the river
and we had a cookout with
Memaw and Grandad on the big boat!
It was lots and lots of fun, but GUESS WHAT???!!!
Mom forgot my camera!!!
Please! Please! Please!
Don't ever do that again, Mom!!

Thanks Uncle Steve and Aunt Elece for coming to play with me!
Next time, I promise I'll make sure Mom has the camera!

My First Haircut

Guess what this is?

It's my HAIR!!
Daddy played barber when Mom went out for a little while.
Boy was she surprised when she got home!!

I almost made it 5 months without a haircut,
but it was getting in my eyes and I didn't like that!

Just as cute as ever, aren't I??
Daddy did a great job!

Everyday Is An Adventure

The day started with Memaw coming over to play and play
with me while Mom went out for a while.

I'd had so much fun in the morning,
I decided to take an afternoon nap.

The only thing about afternoon naps though,
is sometimes I wake up in a different place than where I fell asleep.

But it turned out to be great because
I was with Memaw, Grandad and Mom
and we all got to eat lunch on the river.

Boy, it was so hot, my hair went totally flat!
Mom even took my shirt off and let me go almost nakee butt!

Lunch was definitely the highlight of the day because after that,
we went shopping.
I kept asking Mom:
Are we done yet?
How about now?
Where's Dad?
Are we done?
How much longer?
When are we leaving?
When's Dad coming home?
When are WE going home?
Can I have something?
When are we going home?
Can we go now?
Will Dad be home when we get there?
Are we done yet?
>SIGH<

All that running around makes a fellow tired...

But sometimes, it can make a fellow very MAD!!!
I wanted to stay up and watch American Idol too...

Well... maybe I'll just have a little snack...
and rock for a little bit....
and... ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

Happy Mother's Day!

Good Morning and Happy Mother's Day!

Mom and Daddy loaded me up and we went
to see Grandma Joyce and the whole big family.
I had lots of fun, but was a little camera shy so no pics this time!

We went to the Watts Next later on to see Memaw and Grandad.

I just KNOW I'm gonna drive this boat one day!!!
Get ready, Ohio River! Here I come...

But for now,
I'll just hang out and relax!

Happy Mother's Day to all the Mommies out there!

My First Race (Outside of Mom's Belly...)

>YAWN!!<
Mom and Daddy woke me up early on Saturday morning.

They told me about a race through the Louisville Zoo.
Maybe I'll get to see a real live lion!

Wait a second!! A race?!
Wow! Better start stretching....

One of my friends from UPS where Daddy works was there too.
I told Keiran I would keep her fingers for her while she ran the race.

Mom told me that next time, I'll be able to run with them.
Apparently, my current wheels aren't rated for such high speeds.
But Daddy said he was going to get me a new stroller that can handle these races!

While Mom, Daddy and Keiran were running,
I got to hang out with my Aunt Elece.
She sure is lots and lots of fun!

After they won the race, we got to see some of the animals
but I started to get a little sleepy and hungry so we left the zoo.
I know I'll be able to play with the lions next time.

What a good day that was!
Can't wait 'til I can be part of the action too!
Thanks to Keiran and Aunt E for coming to see me!!

To my mother on my first mother’s day

I’ve just finished feeding my son and my thoughts turn to you, as they so often do nowadays. I had been late giving him his bottle and he alternately screamed at and pleaded with me to do what he wanted. What I thought would be comforting words to him, weren’t. But a four month old doesn’t understand words, he understands actions. The louder and more insistently he screamed, the more flustered I got and the more I fumbled with the bottle and the longer it took. I would offer more words of comfort and he would reply with more screams and more pleading looks and, worst of all, more tears.

When I finally was able to give him his feast, he looked up at me with the most adoring eyes that said one thing. “I love you.” His eyes didn’t say, “What took you so long?” Or “You did it wrong.” Or “Don’t you have any clue what you’re doing?” Or “I bet other Moms are better than you at this.” They just said, “I love you.” And as you read this right now, you would see that in my eyes as well. But hopefully you’d see one more thing too. “I’m beginning to understand.”

I think of my brother three years my senior born in 1972, then I think of the first six weeks with my son born in 2006 and I know that the last peaceful, worry free night of sleep you ever got was probably sometime in 1971 – if ever.

You and my father were much younger than my husband and I when you started your family and I don’t know how you did it. You were ten years younger than I am now when you gave birth to my brother and seven years younger than I when you had me. At 25 years old, you had two babies in diapers and at 25 years old, I was selfishly partying like a rockstar, never looking back. At 32 now, there are still times I feel helplessly inadequate and I keep wondering when my son’s instruction book will show up in the mail. I wonder if at times in my childhood, you felt the same as I feel now.

I think of my son’s face again and I have to go check on him to make sure he’s alright. He had flipped over on to his tummy, which I know is not the best position for him to sleep in, so I turned him over. Of course, this woke him and we engaged in a short battle of wills at midnight. I worry so much that if sleeps on his belly, he won’t be able to breathe as he should but apparently, he is most comfortable this way. I wonder how many nights you stood at my crib and watched me sleep and listened to me breathe. And how many nights you rushed to my cribside because I was crying, and then the nights you rushed to my crib because I wasn’t.

Looking at my sweet baby, I know that I want the world for him. And I hope I have the strength to accept that what he wants may not be what I want. I know there will be times when he breaks my heart, as I’ve broken yours and I wonder how I will be able to stand it. I know there are so many more battles ahead for us and I hope my son and I can fight the battles without starting a war. So many times when I shut the door on you, you patiently waited outside until I opened it again. I hope I have your strength. I know you did everything you can to give it to me.

I look down at my once flat belly and see stretch marks and a seemingly everlasting mound of flesh there. I remember the long scar down your abdomen from the c-section you had with me – a memento of my birth as I didn’t cooperate from day one. I know you’ll never show me or speak to me of all the scars I’ve given you, but I know they’re there just the same.

So to you, my mother and the most wonderful woman I know, on my first Mother’s Day, I want to say I love you and I’m beginning to understand. I also want to say thank you. Thank you for your grace, your humor, your patience, your love and for helping me as I tackle the most rewarding and most daunting job in my life: motherhood.

Bath Time Fun

Is YOUR bath this much fun?

Daddy pulled me from the water just in time!
My toes were turning all wrinkly!...

Dining Al Fresco

I've already been to restaurants lots and lots.
In fact, I've been going to restaurants before I was even born,
but this was my first time to sit outside
AND to use their utensils.
This sure is a shiny toy!

Memaw tried to read to me...

But I just wanted to chill out in the warm spring air and RELAX!
This is the life...

My future's so bright...

I gotta wear shades.....

Captain Riley

It's been so nice outside, so Mom and Daddy
took me to see Memaw and Grandad on the Watts Next.
Here I am as my alter ego, Captain Riley!

I like eating - I mean reading my charts.....
Hmm... there's a bend in the river just south of here....
All hands on deck!!

It sure is fun to be Captain Riley....