Thursday, April 16, 2009

Let's Ride

Well, it's 10:57PM and Lathan's just up from his 5 hour "nap".  Since he's not sleepy he's joining me while I type out a quick entry--say hi Lathan!  (He says--"en-geh" which we'll take as meaning "hi")

We went for  a walk today and it was pretty sunny (but cool) so here are some pics of my bad little dude pre-walk.


We also had some excellent "tummy time" and a drawer cleaning session (he's already grown out of so many cute outfits!)
He's really starting to dig his ABC flash cards (the Charley Harper illustrations are so cool) and getting into some of his books...my fav is "I love you Stinky Face".
Lastly, Mooshu wants some props for being the baby guardian...he's been such an awesome "old baby".  Here's a recent pic of him :)  He's really not as miserable as he looks!


Monday, April 13, 2009

BUSY BEE

It seems like an eternity since the last post!  I think I've had spring fever...just checking out all the fresh green leaves everywhere and then holding Lathan up in front of them to improve the view (doesn't a baby ALWAYS improve a view?)

He's been captain smiley lately and we've found several things that bring it on.  We have the "mommy says (insert coo or silly sound here), and Lathan says (hopefully he repeats the sound or makes some kind of general grunt or noise)"  then he smiles a little and I (mommy) go nuts.  I know, it sounds like a stretch for me to go nutty (ha) but it's true!  I love it when my baby smiles.  I'm probably the first mom to ever say that.
Anyhoo, it is so super sweet to see.  It's mostly just weird faces and raising eyebrows that bring on the smileys.  He's also been chatty, making cute sounds and responding a little when we talk to him or show him some of his favorite toys (mainly the keys...sometimes his new surfer-duck).  Tummy time, the kind when I rest him on my shins and lift him up in the air, elicits some cute grins too.  

We had a great time at Coco & Poppy's for their 40th anniversary last week!  The gang was all there, Nana, Fran & Steve, me, Andy & Uncle B.  We had a lovely dinner (and amazingly Lathan slept through it) and got to heckle some golfers (not to their faces of course).  C & P's new digs have a great echo-chamber hallway that is like white-noise sleepy-time for Lathan.  We eventually decided to wake him up so everyone could pinch & squeeze him but he even slept though all of that!  He saved up and was very conversational (screaming) while Uncle B & Mommy drove home.  He just wanted to see what UNC was gonna bring for the big final game on Monday!  Go HEEELS!  

Andy's been working outside lately sprucing up the yard (it looks so juicy in the spring).  He went postal on our Quince (it needed to be punished, it's been scratching up the cars for 2 years now, it's so big) but decided to spare it's life and let it remain in place (who wants to dig up all those roots anyway).  It did get a major haircut though.  It's like we shaved it's head after losing a bet.  Remind me not to make any bets.

We had a great visit with Aunt Jennifer (or Aunt Slow-J as the other niece & nephews call her now, I'm Aunt J-Dawg) and Uncle Mark.  Lathan decided that he likes them both (can't believe its their first meeting!) and that he wants to visit them in Marshall.  Our visit couldn't have been better...we had tacos, held the baby, shared "true facts about the world's greatest human--Chuck Norris", caught up on world events and traded gifties. We always have an awesome time with J&M, just wish it could be more frequent!

I've been working towards working more lately (yeah, sounds fun, right?) but it's been fun to go into work if even for a short amount of time.  When I stopped in the other day I walked through the kitchen and mentioned to Pattie that it was like visiting an old school...sometimes you just want to walk around to see if anything has changed.  Ever re-visit your old elementary school...know how everything seems miniature now when it seemed huge then?  It was a little like that at work but not too bad.  It's only been 3 months not 15 years.

It was weird to see my desk though.  It's just as I left it on January 17th.  I probably have about 140 voicemails (sorry if you're someone that left me one 3 months ago).  It's funny to think back on a time that wasn't that long ago but that is so different from you life in the present.  I knew it would be great but it was hard to imagine what he would be like then. People kept asking, "are you excited"?  What are you going to name him?  I always had answers for those questions but it really is the "unknown".  I'm glad we joined the club.  Who wouldn't be when you have a face like this to look into day-after-day. :)  Love him.

Wednesday, April 1, 2009

AS PROMISED...

That's his "Whatchu talkin' 'bout Willis?" face.

Daddy captured a shot of Mommy & baby snoozing.  
Thanks for leaving out the drool (coming from me, that is) :)

Andy & Lathan in front of the new shed.  Roof complete.  Door in progress.  
Chris J. is making some killer metal work to go on the door!

Baby bear post bathtime.  Pre-massage.

Me & Lathan testing out the new Baby Bjorn.  Hmm...now I can get some housework done.  Don't tell Daddy!

Discovery


For all you Spinal Tap fans.  This one goes to 11.

It's been quite a while since the last post and there's been lots of discovery going on.  He has officially learned to smile!  Today has been the "smiliest" day yet...so much fun.  Currently an exaggerated yawn and saying "OOooh" repeatedly is what will elicit the best grins.  He's napping right now.  All that smiling can wear a guy out!


The mobile and his new spacey "skip-hop" activity mat are giving him a lot to look at (they also buy Mommy some free time occasionally).  He also digs his keys that Jessica Gross gave us.  They're one of those basic toys that an adult would think "that's not that interesting", but of course he's fascinated by them.  Just shaking them in front of him does the trick.  Who knew?  


He really wants to figure out what his hands are for.  Most of the time they're in fists and he thinks they're for bonking himself in the face.  Funny, that's not really what they're for kid.  We're going to break out the wrist rattles again and see if he can start to figure it out.  He has grasped a few items but I don't think they're really purposeful grasps...with the exception of my hair.  He means to grab my hair and not let go, ever.  That's the monkey coming out in him. :)


Coco & Lathan practicing "standing".  He's got crazy-strong legs!!

Yesterday was the first time Lathan was left with babysitters sans Mommy & Daddy--fortunately it was Coco & Poppy (my mom & dad) so they were familiar faces!  Sounds like things went well--no trauma.  Seems like it was a good experience for everyone.  Coco & Poppy got to feed the baby a bottle (he scarfs that thing down in no time), burped him (no spitup!!), changed a couple of diapers, played with him, got him to nap, encountered a brief period of screaming.  That just about covers it.  Add to that a bath and carrying him for hours on end until your arm goes numb and that's about it for now!  We're so lucky to have them so close by (and willing)!  Lathan had a great day yesterday with them and with me.  He was super sweet in the morning, had a good time with the grandparents, then was super-nappy all afternoon.  He even snoozed while I watched 2 Jeopardys, a Daily Show and American Idol (Andy napped through some of that too :)

Mommy & Baby--Back in Black (what, did we just come from a Black Sabbath concert or something?)

There are too many pictures for one post so I'll put a few here and pop on a few without all the wordy-words next.