2,557

July 9, 2005 = 7 years and 2,557 days (including two leap years) that Trey and I have been married!!!

Engagement day at Pickwick Lake

 

We got engaged on Trey’s 24^th birthday, August 5, 2004

Our wedding day

And now 7 years and two babies later here we are…

I love you…..and here’s too many more years together!!! 

Both Screaming Bloody Murder

During my difficult days (hormonal times) I chatted on the phone with a friend from Jackson.  I think she could sense how I was feeling (overwhelmed, exhausted, panicky) about all this newness and planned a trip to Mayberry.  Pam Wilson and I taught together for two years in Jackson.  Despite our 26 year age difference she is an amazing friend and we have a great time together.  She got here on Sunday and quickly went into babysitter/homemaker mode.  She was soooooo good with Ford.  She got right down on his level and played whatever he wanted her to play.  She stayed up at night and rocked John Brantley so I could sleep when I wasn’t feeding him.  She folded my laundry, washed my dishes, put sheets on my bed etc.  Needless to say, I was SAD to see her go!

Ford always needs to be entertained.  I am constantly racking my brain for ideas.  One day we made a pinecone bird feeder. 

Wilson, as I call her, and Ford played super heroes. 

 

She brought him a canvas to paint on.  At first he told me he was painting a Christmas tree and then he said it was the railroad tracks. 

 

Speaking of railroad tracks, I suggested that Wilson and Ford try to get the train to flatten some pennies again.  Last time we didn’t have great luck with the experiment.  This time they taped them down and they did really well.  Ford was pleased with them and has shown them off proudly. 

 

July 4^th at Puddin and Pops’ house 

 

Trey was a little bitter that we weren’t at the lake yesterday.  I didn’t think 3 weeks out from having a baby and the lake mixed too well.  He had to settle for watching TV and Puddin and Pops’ pool.    

 

Puddin and John Brantley     

 

My 3 week old baby.  He makes the funniest faces.  He often times reminds me of a baby bird.       

 

Tummy time…. Not his favorite.  He prefers to cuddle.         

 

The funny faces of John Brantley….          

Last night Trey took Ford to the country club to watch the fireworks.  I stayed home with John Brantley because he was screaming bloody murder.   We will discuss why in the next paragraph.  I sent Trey a text and told him to take a picture for me.  He responded back with… “A little bit of drama.  Not too much blood.  Explain later.”  Yep, every Momma wants to hear that.  I thought “great!”  It ends up that the sparkler Ford was holding burned his foot and he also decided to cry and scream bloody murder.  Moral of the story… three year olds DON’T need to hold their own sparklers. 

So John Brantley was also yelling to the high heavens. I ate steak for supper. I kind of knew maybe I ought to steer clear of red meat, but I did it anyway. About 5 minutes after he finished feeding the screaming began and lasted over 2 hours. I felt HORRIBLE!!!!!! The poor little guy had terrible stomach pains and it was all my fault. NO MORE red meat for me for a LONG time.       

He Just Might

It has been made VERY clear to me numerous times that my boys look like their Daddy.  I think their Daddy is very handsome and I am glad the Lamar genes are so strong.  However, it would be nice to have some credit for their appearance considering I carried them for 9 months and birthed them both. 

My mom was going through some baby pictures and found some of me that reminded her of John Brantley.  So maybe, just maybe, one of my boys might look a little like his Momma!

My mom thinks we have the same nose.  I’m not really sure.  Thoughts???

The Heads Up

This hot 100 degree weather is really putting a damper on our outside play time.  When a 3 year old is stuck in doors for too long it leads to Trouble with a capital T.  Ford needs to be kept busy pretty much every waking hour or something unpleasant might happen.  Last week he wanted to get a bottled water and pour one of the individual flavored drink mixes into his water and make “Kool-Aid” as he calls it.  He spilt half of it on the floor and the other half stained his face. 

See Exhibit A 

 

I am nursing John Brantley and I must say it is going very well.  However, I do believe he needs to learn to drink from a bottle so I can leave him for more than a couple of hours at a time.  The other night I fixed him a bottle and asked Trey to feed him.  Naturally, my best helper, Ford, needed in on the action as well.  John Brantley wasn’t a fan of the bottle to say the least.  I think it royally pissed him off.  Perhaps the time of day in which the bottle was given was a mistake (8:00 PM) or it could be that it just isn’t his style.  From 7:30-9:30 is pretty much chaotic around here… for me at least.  Both boys need a bath, Ford wants me to lie down with him, John Brantley needs to be fed and rock, and all the while the baby is usually ticked and yelling.  By 9:30 I am exhausted and need to go to bed.

 

Saturday Ford and some buddies went swimming at Puddin and Pops’ house.   And I will have you know that I even graced everyone’s’ presence in a bathing suit.  I have 10 pounds to go…. Things still aren’t pretty, but I am making slow progress.  And I have to remember my child isn’t even 3 weeks old. 

 

This was me exactly 3 weeks ago …..

This baby is soooooo sweet.  I kiss him about 200 times a day.  I love how he sleeps so soundly and lies in a little wad.

 

Ford is insanely jealous of my time with Toto.  Feeding times are difficult because Ford cries for me, climbs on top of me in the rocking chair, brings loud toys into the baby’s room to disturb us etc.  So when I go places (which is rare) I like to bring him back a little something.  Yesterday he got a push pop sucker from Wal-Mart.  This pleased him. 

 

I’m glad it’s July.  Lots of things will be happening this month; anniversary, my birthday, vacation.  I should have a lot to blog about!

Again, I must say THANKS to all the people who have brought us food.  You have made my life soooo much easier.  My mother and mother in-law have been a huge help.  They have both spent the night over here a lot lately.  I have had friends to come and play and entertain Ford so I can take a shower and know that he isn’t coloring on my couch!!!  I think we are adjusting to our “new normal”.  I just wish SOMEONE would have given me the heads up that two kids are much more difficult than one.  I wouldn’t change it for the world though.  I love my little family!!!!!!!

A Balancing Act

I have been asked by one of my male readers (Fancy aka Trey) to write a more positive blog.  Remember, the last post was the hormones doing the talking and I apologized at the end.  If you don’t agree with what I say you don’t have to read what I write.  You will all be glad to know that “I feel” like I am doing better.  Am I cured of the hormonal problems, no not yet.  But I am better!

John Brantley is now 2 weeks and 1 day old.  I told Trey last night it was hard to believe we have had our little man for two weeks.  Then I told him it seemed all like a big blur.  He agreed. 

When he was 5 days old we went back to the doctor for a follow-up check-up.  He weighed in at 8.3 pounds and was doing well.  He had a bit of jaundice so we have done some sun bathing in the window. 

 

This looks awfully uncomfortable, but this doctor insisted that babies love to be held like this.  Looks like a choke hold!

 

Some brotherly bonding time….

 

BoomPa playing the fishing game with Ford.  It’s actually pretty hard.

 

We try to go outside in the mornings for at least 10 minutes before you can fry an egg on the driveway.   

 

Everyone thinks John Brantley is soooo big in pictures.  He is bigger than Ford was, but he is kind of a scrawny little guy.  Check out those bird legs.  And FEAR NOT, he has stellar lungs.  Can you tell?????!!!

 

I honestly feel so bad for Ford.  I have had the “new mother’s guilt” (I made that term up just now).  Ford used to have 24/7 access to my time and attention.  Fortunately, we had some time once I finished school and before John Brantley came that we could play and spend together.  We got out and ran errands, had fun dates, went to the Children’s Museum etc.  Now that the baby is here, and I am still not ready to venture out into the world with two babies we are stuck inside.  Ford used to wake up in the mornings (pre-baby) and say, “Where are we going today?”  This morning when he woke up he kept saying he wanted someone to come see him.

I feel bad that we are “stuck” in the house and can’t get out much.  I have honestly tried to plan something a little fun for him to do every day, but I am limited.  This morning I put John Brantley down for a nap and Ford and I were playing in the living room.  Well, low and behold the little stinker starts crying so I have to go rock him back to sleep.  This didn’t sit well with Ford.  He came into the nursery and said his throat hurt and he was going to bed!  About an hour later I decided I wanted to put on my make-up (takes 5 minutes max), well Ford got sick again.  He asked for me to put him in his bed, turn on his noise makers, and close the door!  What is a woman to do????

 

John Brantley honestly is a good baby.  Perhaps I have a small clue about babies this time and have put him on some sort of a schedule.  He is napping really well.  He usually stays awake for about 1 ½ - 2 hours after he gets up in the mornings then naps.  I will feed him and try to keep him up a little bit so that he will nap again when Ford naps.  A momma needs her “Suzanne time” (alone time).  He is an eating machine.  I know formula is much more filling than breast milk, but I seriously feel like all I do is sit in the chair while he eats.  It’s a sweet time, but then again…. Poor Ford.  I feel bad for him. 

Ford LOVES John Brantley.  He probably loves on him too much.  I will let him hold him if he has the Boppy around his waist.  He is constantly touching and kissing all over him.  Trey and I have to tell him to stop after so much has gone on.  I am so glad that he loves his brother and he isn’t resentful of him.  I was scared that would happen.  Yes, he is jealous of him, but I guess he is still trying to figure out his new place.