Sunday, August 26, 2012

Let's Get Real: Jill Edition

I really have no clue who all reads my blog.  I look on the side at the tracker and wonder who in Texas, Alabama, and California etc. are reading about the Lamar’s.  Sometimes I wonder if people have a false sense of who I am and who we are.  This blog isn’t going to be about my boys, this part at least, but about me.  I honestly need to know if I am the only wife/momma who is like this or if other people are in my same boat.
Now I have always been a pretty structured person.  I like a schedule, plan, being on time, and all that good stuff.  I need all of my ducks in a row to function happily if you know what I mean.  Being a “new” stay at home mom has taken this to an entirely new level.  One would think that since I am at home I have ALL the time in the world.  WRONG!  My day starts around 5:00 A.M.  Sometimes it’s by choice (I need a shower) or other times it’s because John Brantley is up and ready to eat.  After I shower and fix my hair into my signature pony tail, I start on my chore list.  I can create a ridiculous list in my head.  It’s a problem people!  And I CAN’T rest until it’s done.  I think I need to unload the dishwasher (which I run every single night), take out the trash, sweep the floor, dust, vacuum the rugs, change the sheets on the bed, wash towels, wash white clothes, wash dark clothes, wash the boys’ stuff in Dreft, wash Trey’s clothes, wash my clothes, water the plants, clean off the bar, bake something sweet, prepare a grocery list, organize the mess in the pantry, Swiffer the floor, wash the bath mats, cut Ford’s fingernails, feed John Brantley (which I sit in his rocker approximately 4 hours a day feeding), fill the bird feeders with food, go to the bank, post office, grocery store, cleaners, etc!  I do all that kind of stuff and more every single day.  The bad thing is if you came to my house it’s still a mess.  Before I sat down to write this I folded a load of JB’s clothes, Ford’s clothes, started a load of my clothes, and Swiffered my kitchen floor.  I think it made me feel better to Swiffer it, but there isn’t one person I America who would walk in my house and think, “WOW, she just Swiffered her floor”.  No one would notice, but I think they would!!!
What I am getting at is… that I wear myself OUT!  I am NOT the perfect wife, mom, daughter, sister, aunt, cousin, friend etc.  I currently feel like a crazy woman who is sleep deprived and trying to keep her head on straight.  I rarely sit down to rest which drives Trey insane.  Today I was running on low fuel and we all 4 took a nap.  I usually can’t take a nap because I feel guilty.  I have “stuff” to do and I can do it while everyone else naps.  I honestly need to slow down and concentrate on what is important to me.  Do my boys care that I Swiffered the floor.  NOPE!
I started a new Bible study and I really think it’s going to help me out a lot.  So far it’s really good…
Restore My Heart Denise Glenn Kardo
 
Playing in the park by our house
 
JB was along for the ride
 
So one day last week Ford decided he wasn’t going to take a nap.  After we read books, played tractors, did some puzzles, practiced writing his name, and colored I was out of ideas.  I decided to google “making slime”.  Ford didn’t know what slime was, but he was all for it.  We tried to make slime, but I didn’t have the right ingredients. 

 
Thursday our friend Leland came over to play 
 
And my dear Ford turned the water hose on.  Needless to say, we had to put on dry clothes before his momma came back to get him! 

I have started making John Brantley a quilt.  I made Ford a quilt last summer and swore I’d never do it again.  But, I don’t want my first child to have things that my second child didn’t have so I have begun the tedious task.  It’s going a lot smoother this time since I actually have my own sewing machine and can work on it at home! 
 
Ford had a birthday party on Saturday… 
 
The happiest baby on the block… He seriously is thanks to ZANTAC!! 

 
After 10 weeks I have gotten John Brantley on somewhat of a schedule.  He still wakes up various times of the night to eat (which is killing me), but we have a daytime feeding schedule that I have stuck with for a week now.  He eats at 8:00, 10:30ish, 12:30-1:00ish, 4:00 and 7:00.  Last night he woke up to eat at 1:15 and 5:30.  I can’t schedule the middle of the night feedings, but during the day has worked out nicely.  I got up at 5:00 A.M. this morning to get ready for church.  Early church seems to fit John Brantley’s schedule the best so we are trying to get there on time!  Trying was the key word.  Before church I took a few pictures of my boys…. 



 
And this picture is for my family…. Do you like the shirts!!!!!!??????? 

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

They look alike

I think it is important to write down stuff about my boys that I “think” I will remember, but in all actuality I won’t.  I print out my blog books each year and love looking back at all the sweet memories.  There are so many things that I wrote about and pictures that I took that have faded from my memory.  So, to some this stuff won’t mean much and you might want to skip right over the typing and just look at the pictures.



Things about John Brantley....
He goes to bed at 7:00 P.M. by his own choice.
When he gets tired or upset his eye lids turn red.
He isn’t sleeping through the night.  He “normally” wakes up once, but lately it’s been 2 times (since his shots last week).
John Brantley LOVES to cuddle and be held.  If I would walk around holding him all day or just rock him he would be so happy.
He HATES tummy time and riding in the car.  Maybe one day we can ride more than 5 minutes before he screams like a mad man.
When something doesn’t go his way he pouts.  I do mean it too.  He sticks that little bottom lip out and it’s the most pitiful, yet precious thing I have ever seen.  I imagine he will be getting his way a lot using that bottom lip like that!
He hated the swing the first few weeks of life, but fortunately he tolerates it now and will actually nap in there on occasion. 
We have had major issues with his skin peeling off on his head.  It looks like dandruff.  I am constantly brushing or picking it out.  I remember Ford went through this for several weeks as well.
The doctor finally gave John Brantley some Zantac.  He has had a lot of problems with spitting up and going to the bathroom.  I pray it works.
He is a major flirt!!!  If you talk to him he will smile and coo back at you.  He gets teased and will put his head on my shoulder when we talk some too.

John Brantley has several nicknames:  Toto, Chevy, Little Flirt, Little Dude, JB
He loves to grab my shirt or hair.  I guess I am going to have to be careful with my big earrings.
He constantly has the hiccups.
He found his hands a few weeks ago and constantly eats them.  He might be a thumb sucker.
Delta seems to like JB.  She lies outside his door most of the day.  If I am feeding John Brantley she is on the rug guarding the door.
He has blue eyes.


 
Doing his homework…

Things about Ford….
He has begun to claim he is scared of the dark and is afraid to sleep in his bed.  This is a new development that began after our vacation to the beach.  I am assuming since he slept in the bed with us it has ruined him.
Ford can write his first and last name and say the pledge of allegiance.  He messes up a few words here and there in the pledge but it’s so cute!
He has been trying to cut out taking naps lately and I don’t approve one bit!  It’s easier to get him to bed at night, but during the week this momma needs some alone time. 
He loves to eat shredded cheddar cheese from the bag, lunchables, and the squeeze apple sauce fruit packs.
He is obsessed with Elton John’s song “Crocodile Rock”.  He likes to watch him sing it on YouTube using our phones.  The other day Trey was in a meeting and his phone randomly went off singing Crocodile Rock.  He was embarrassed.
Thank goodness for OnDemand TV shows.  While I am feeding John Brantley I put Ford in the living room and he watches Mickey Mouse Club House.
He talks using double negatives… Example: I don’t want no bread.  I correct him a lot, but then again it’s so funny I just let him get away with it.
He likes to go to Puddin and Pop’s house and sit on the 4 wheelers and riding lawn mower and “pretend” to drive them.
When we go to Wal-Mart he likes to browse the toy section.  We always have to go see the battery operated cars because he wants the blue 4 wheeler.  He doesn’t understand WHY he can’t have it and I tried to explain that you don’t just buy $219.00 toys for the heck of it!
Ever since we have come back from Florida he has talked about going to the beach.  He wants to know how many days it’ll be until we go back to the beach.

I love a Saturday afternoon activity.  This past weekend we went to Oxford to “Meet the Rebels”.  We missed the scrimmage, but made it there by 11:30 to the indoor practice facility.  There were lots of people there wanting to get autographs.  We mostly went to get out of the house.  Ford went straight for the bouncy house.  He got upset later when some big kids wouldn’t let him do what he wanted to do.  John Brantley slept the entire time.  Gran, BoomPa, Uncle Ken, Aunt Ashley, Molly Cate, Caroline, and Jack came too.


After Meet the Rebels we came home and Ford went to a birthday party.  He had a BIG day!


When Ford was a baby I took him to Daddy’s office and the ladies put him in Pop’s chair with his ear piece on.  They have been asking me to do the same with John Brantley so I did last week. 
Here is Ford….
This is John Brantley…

I think my babies look A LOT alike.  Ford definitely had more hair than John Brantley, but there is definitely a close resemblance. 

Sunday, August 19, 2012

Needles in the legs

I HATE shots.  I do.  When I was younger, and not much younger, if I were sick and the doctor said I could have a shot and feel better within hours or pills and it might be a day or two I opted for the pills.  I think childbirth is the thing that has toughened me up the most.  I still hate needles, don’t get me wrong, but I hate them the MOST when they are being injected into my baby’s leg.  Thursday was the big day of the 8 week checkup and shots.  I can’t do stuff like that alone so I requested a chaperone, which was Gran.  Thursday isn’t one of Ford’s school days so he also came to supervise.
The nurse that hurt my baby….
 
It wasn’t a pretty sight.  The poor little guy cried and cried.  I didn’t cry this time, but I did with Ford. 

 
Stats on John Brantley…
Weight: 12.7 pounds  (Gained almost 4 since birth.  He was 8.12)  - 50-75th percentile  (Ford was 25th)
Height: 23.75 inches (He grew 4 inches.  He was 19.75 at birth)  - 75th percentile  (Ford was always 30th)
Head circumference: 40.5 inches -  50th percentile (Ford was always 75th)

Now that he has been vaccinated I feel better about taking him out in public.  We went to church today for the first time.  He was so excited and cooed all morning about going.  I dressed him in the same outfit Ford wore on his first trip to church.  I woke up at 5:20 to get to 8:30 church on time.  (Don’t judge me… I’m just that ridiculous).  I made it thru church and at 9:45 went to check on John Brantley.  All was well and by 10:10 I was being paged (pager didn’t work) that he was MAD.  He has had some serious belly issues.  I hope it passes.




Ford’s first trip to church

Friday, August 17, 2012

A snake and an elk

As you know Ford started school on Monday.  He is going on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday in the mornings.  It sure is quiet around here when he is gone.  I am able to get some important stuff done, like blogging, and John Brantley gets some extra one on one time with Momma.
This baby LOVES to chew on his hands and attempts to suck his thumb.
 
On Tuesday morning I got a text about 7:30 from my sister in law wanting to know if we’d meet them at the zoo.  Under normal circumstances I would have panicked and declined because I didn’t have at least 24 hours to plan, but on this day I just went with it.  I had already showered and so I thought it was doable.

 
I didn’t see any lions, tigers, or bears because John Brantley and I spent a lot of time trying to figure out where I could feed him.  We tried under a secluded pavilion and it was a sure fail.  The next place was the handicapped stall of the bathroom.  Now this is NOT my ideal situation AT ALL, but you take the hand you are dealt and go with it.  I sat down on the seat (after I cleaned it of course) and started feeding him.  After a few minutes I decided he needed to burp so I stood up.  Well wouldn’t you know the toilet was an automatic flusher and it went off.  John Brantley nearly jumped straight out of my arms he was so scared.  Another failed attempt.  We stayed for 3 hours and then I decided this momma needed to go.
 
Ford in the gopher hole. 


 
My child petted a SNAKE!!!!  He squealed right after of course! 
 
We have been “studying” at home as Ford calls it.  He has homework from his new 3K class.  They are supposed to learn to write their name.  Well, Ford can write his first name so we are practicing his last name as well.  He gets excited when I fix him a piece of paper to practice on…    

 
Talking to Puddin and wearing Daddy’s boots
 
If you remember, last September Fancy went on a red carpet ELK HUNT!  Well, we have been eating elk meat for months now, but his trophy head hadn’t been mounted and sent to us yet.  Well, it came this week and it’s huge.  The pictures don’t do it justice.  I told Trey when clients come to sit in his office they could turn around and kiss the thing!  Next time he goes he is only allowed to kill a squirrel. 

February recap

Axton and Griff both played on Ford's BPA travel team last year and this year that came to our school!!! "Momma, take my picture!&q...