My Kind of Saturday

I love spending quality family time with Trey and the boys.  This past Saturday was perfect.  There was no Ole Miss Football game, Ford’s soccer game was rained out, and we didn't have a birthday party.  When John Brantley started squeaking during the 6:00 hour I told Trey that it was his turn.  He kind of gave me some lip, but when I reminded him that he had lots of days off when we went to Jackson he finally took on responsibility. 

I don’t think I really slept more than about 20 minutes, but it was soooooooo nice to lie in bed.  Ford eventually came in to make me get up.  When he opened the door I smelled breakfast.  Not only did Fancy let me be lazy, but he cooked.

After breakfast I suggested that we accompany Ken, Ashley, Molly Cate, Caroline, and Jack (my brother and his crew) to the zoo.  Trey wasn't gung-ho on the idea, but he was a good sport.  

 Aunt Ashley was giving Bitty some pig-tails.

 Ken and Molly Cate

 They were messing with Buddha man’s belly button.

 Ford

 Molly Cate

 Jack

 Caroline

 John Brantley

 The cousins

At this point in the game all Trey wanted was some lunch.  His big breakfast had worn off!!!!  

 My double stroller is the BOMB!  I couldn't do without it at a place like the zoo.

 Bitty and Aunt Ashley

After my zoo trip, I ended my day with a trip to get a pedicure, a margarita and a movie on the couch.  That’s my kind of Saturday!!!!!!  

"E" is for epidermis

There are some people in life that I would deem to be a professional of some particular skill, sport, or knowledge of some sort.  I've never thought of myself as a professional until recently.  I am definitely a professional kid’s birthday party attendee and as of late I have become a professional at taking my child to the doctor.

Last Thursday I took Bitty to get his 15 month checkup and shots.  On Friday he was running fever so I called the nurse and she said it was just the shots.  Meanwhile on Friday I started feeling blah.  I had been feeling sort of bad for a few weeks.  Well, low and behold I have a kidney infection.  Friday night was MISERABLE!!!  I painted my toe nails, cleaned out the frig, did laundry, loaded and unloaded the dishwasher, all the while feeling the urge to go to the bathroom until 3:00 AM.  Saturday morning John Brantley woke up with 101.4 fever.  I had basically been up all night dealing with my own issues so at 7:00 AM we headed back to Memphis to the doctor.  Diagnosis: the shots.  He continued to run fever on Saturday and by Sunday he was still sick and coughing.  It was a funny cough.  It almost sounded like a seal barking.  Monday morning at 7:00 AM we headed back to Memphis.  Diagnosis: Croup.  Croup is some BAD stuff.

Monday afternoon the boys and I headed to Jackson for a visit at Puddin’s house.  On Wednesday he was still sick so I took him to the ER at the Children’s Hospital in Jackson.  So we went to the doctor on Thursday, Saturday, Monday, and Wednesday.  I am definitely qualified to be a professional at taking my kids to the doctor. 

At the ER…. He hated the hospital bracelet.

Some more sick Bitty pictures….so pitiful.

I had big plans of things to do while on our trip to Jackson, but between two naps a day for John Brantley and a day trip to the ER, we didn't get a lot done.  However, we did squeeze in some putt-putt golf on Tuesday night with our pal, Miss Taylor!

 Ford got to go first hitting the ball because it took him a while.  I’m terrible at putt-putt.  Taylor beat me 53-71.

Soccer has begun and it’s going about like tee-ball did.  Ford isn't aggressive, or competitive, or into focusing on something not of his choosing for more than 5 seconds.  I truly believe at one game he was making shapes, in his mind, out of the clouds.  Let’s just say that no one should feel threatened by our #5!!! 

Yep, see here…. Looking at the clouds!

I believe Gatorade is his favorite part of soccer, Bitty’s too.  This mean momma won’t give her boys juice too often. 

Ford’s class has been studying the letter “E” at school this week.  I like to talk about what they are learning at school while we are at home.  We were naming stuff that started with “E” and I told him to go to school and tell his teachers that “epidermis” started with an “E”.  He did and I think he was real proud of himself.  Trey told me to stop making our kids weird!!!!!

I got a text from Ford’s teacher that said, “Ford said John Brantley had to go to the hospital because he was barking.  Is he ok??”  I LAUGHED soooooooooo much.  I guess Ford heard us saying he was barking like a seal a few too many times!

 John Brantley doesn't say much other than a few words here and there.  He does a lot of squealing and yelling.  He gets his point across very clearly to us what he needs.  He is big into telling on Ford.  If Ford doesn't share, does something ugly to him, or hurts him I can hear Bitty start crying.  Next, I hear the little pitter patter of his feet coming to let me know that something isn't just right with him.  He starts jabbering in what sounds like Japanese and using that index finger to point towards Ford.

 Puddin read my blog post about the matching pajamas and bought the boys 3 new pairs!!!!!!  We will be styling and profiling now!  Thanks Puh!

 John Brantley knows who our dog is, and I used to believe that he knew her name was Delta.  Lately he points to her and says “Baaa”.  It didn't click with me until today that he is yelling at her and calling her “bad”!!!!  Trey and I are constantly getting onto Delta for eating the boys’ food, getting on the couch, or playing in the trash.  I guess John Brantley will call her “bad” or “Baaa” now too!!!!!

We are on the mend!!!

15 Months old

John Brantley	Ford
Weight: 20.5 lbs.- 5th percentile Height:  30 ¼ in. – 25th percentile Head Circumference:  48 ½ cm – 75th percentile	Weight:  22.5 lbs. -25th percentile Height:  31 in. – 30th percentile Head Circumference: 48 cm- 75th percentile

John Brantley is 15 months old today.  He is changing every day and learning new stuff.  I am so fortunate to be able to stay at home with him and watch him grow. 

Yesterday we went to the doctor for his 15 month checkup and shots.  Today he has been running around 101 fever all day.  I am hoping it’s from the shots and he’s not coming down with something.  

Always on the go….

 He loves his car!

(I know you love those towels in my chairs in the background).  

 My child normally only gets milk and water to drink.  Today he had some Gatorade.  He sucked it down!

 Mosquito bites on his face….

John Brantley Facts:

Diapers:  Luvs size 3
Shoe Size: 3 or 4
Teeth: 9, but it looks like #10 is coming in very soon
Bed time: Anywhere from 7:00-8:00
Naps:  He still takes 2 naps; one in the morning about 2 hours after he gets up and another about 1:00.  He sleeps anywhere from 1 ½ to 2 hours at each nap.
Mornings:  He wakes up anywhere from 6:15 to 7:15
Talking:  Not much.  He can very clearly say “bye bye” and will wave to you.  He can say da-da, Momma, De-ta (Delta).  He has made the “F” sound for Ford, and ba-ba for ball.  Other than that he says “Daaaa” and points to things, or just squeals until you understand what he wants.  Although he can’t talk much he communicates quite well and understands about 90% of what I say to him.

Likes: animals, milk, Ford, balls, Delta, outside, the battery powered tractor, sprinklers, the sandbox, popsicles, drinks, swimming, bath time, sweets, mowing the yard with Daddy, trains, pictures of animals, feeding himself, rocking before naps and bedtime, and waving to people.

Dislikes: changing his diaper, shots, putting on clothes, coming inside after playing outside, when the tractor battery dies, the nursery at church, most food, sharing toys with Ford, and getting out of the bath tub.

Food:  Being that he is in the 5^th percentile, he doesn't eat too much food.  He will, however, eat shredded cheese, French fries, ice cream, chicken, peas (sometimes), pizza, granola bars, squeeze fruit and vegetables packs, rice, spaghetti, noodles, junk food, anything sweet, BBQ, sausage muffins, and cereal.

Pitching a fit…

John Brantley doesn't sleep in our bed and never has.  He loves his bed and the two stuffed animals in there.  

 “Looooook Momma!!!!”

Ford got this John Deere tractor for his second birthday.  He has loved tractors as long as I can remember and we knew he would love this.  We were right.  Well, for Christmas he got a 4-wheeler which has taken the place of the tractor.  John Brantley has quickly learned to operate it and cruises through the yard daily.  He can’t steer yet, but he knows how to make it go.  Therefore, I get to walk beside him and guide his way.

He never drinks out of a bottle, but Ford thought he needed one today.

The nightly entertainment while I tried to fix supper.  And Trey wonders why I don’t cook fancy 5 course meals!

You know I probably shouldn't rock this little guy to sleep every time, but he’s so stinking cute and is growing up so fast that I can’t help it.  He MUST have his sack before he goes to bed.  (That is a sleep sack that he used to sleep in during the winter.  Now he cuddles with it).  

Happy 15 months to our precious baby, Bitty!!!!