tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-87023037827093668142024-03-21T16:47:51.513-05:00Tracey Is Trying Again (GOOD NEWS...we did it!)This is all about my journey and struggles as a woman "over 40" trying to conceive another child (and, praise God, he's here now)...plus other stuff I feel like talking about. Thanks for stopping by!Traceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13548848659390759707noreply@blogger.comBlogger158125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8702303782709366814.post-74339151961452518832012-08-22T11:35:00.003-05:002012-08-22T11:35:25.534-05:00Milestones<div style="color: white;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">This week was a milestone one in our household.</span></span></div>
<div style="color: white;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: white;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">My oldest started 4th grade on Monday.</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="color: white;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Where does the time go?!</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: red;">R.J. ~ 9 years old</span></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div style="color: white;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Seems like only yesterday we were dropping him off at kindergarten.</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">And remember this little guy...</span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgedyidQdqs32GM95tKcRR5488-nZLZY1sMn-xjZCoHN_r8vxv-FfY5vlJosti0LZ9zxukIG02Zz4HUBghGStXjABJIIiP5KbjuudQdRtZyy2sdscDTkSSdZK6vmbMvy0T64BTtlF-jrFc/s1600/Colton3wks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgedyidQdqs32GM95tKcRR5488-nZLZY1sMn-xjZCoHN_r8vxv-FfY5vlJosti0LZ9zxukIG02Zz4HUBghGStXjABJIIiP5KbjuudQdRtZyy2sdscDTkSSdZK6vmbMvy0T64BTtlF-jrFc/s320/Colton3wks.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: red;">Colton ~ 3 weeks old</span></b></td></tr>
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<br />
<div style="color: white;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Well, look who got a big boy bed...</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: white;">And a big boy bedroom set to match!</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
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<div style="color: white;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">What's on tap for next week?</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="color: white;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Milestone for mommy...</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp4mcAFcrIiZNxdZuGDlsujCQ9PQDVBlv4xYkllZTNhRTSgEnzr6NIIy0D-NRPYrnh_PhYDvxfQboyOGrzKh3GpkVbtR3WPy8QnV810fupwmV1K8S6IXXVrDZds95IayC_lXBpiSsbQ1c/s1600/photo+%28tm%29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp4mcAFcrIiZNxdZuGDlsujCQ9PQDVBlv4xYkllZTNhRTSgEnzr6NIIy0D-NRPYrnh_PhYDvxfQboyOGrzKh3GpkVbtR3WPy8QnV810fupwmV1K8S6IXXVrDZds95IayC_lXBpiSsbQ1c/s320/photo+%28tm%29.jpg" width="285" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="color: red; text-align: center;"><b>Me</b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: white;">Birthday #46 - - Eeeek!</span></span></span>Traceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13548848659390759707noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8702303782709366814.post-76670825974740696002012-07-11T13:57:00.002-05:002012-07-11T14:01:55.729-05:00Big Brother Stats<span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: small;">After
age 5, well check-ups are done every two years with our pediatrician.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: small;">At
age 7, R.J. was 4 feet 6 inches tall and weighed 70 lbs.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: small;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: small;">He
recently just had his 9 year old well check-up, and the doctor predicted he
will probably be 6 feet 4 inches tall.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHoFAn5WLhx6yd72wUThc-oppZ0HKqYbmxHkpm3-9LD9hUk6z8tDQeKNu6Tn3XTtEg-NCDWIx9ap3iINIp4vEWTw-2mNSJF4HtNLfVVjpDqMXlmIqEDHM35IPl_IEAT22u-T3junDc_Zc/s1600/RJ+Doctor.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHoFAn5WLhx6yd72wUThc-oppZ0HKqYbmxHkpm3-9LD9hUk6z8tDQeKNu6Tn3XTtEg-NCDWIx9ap3iINIp4vEWTw-2mNSJF4HtNLfVVjpDqMXlmIqEDHM35IPl_IEAT22u-T3junDc_Zc/s400/RJ+Doctor.JPG" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: red;">My sweet 6 lb. 11 oz. (20 inches long) "baby" - -</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: red;">He is growing up way too quickly in his mommy's eyes!</span></b></td></tr>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: small;">I
about fell off the chair when she said that!
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: small;">6’4”
- - WHAT?!!!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: small;">Actually,
I don’t know why that surprised me since from about 1 month old, and every
check-up thereafter, he’s consistently been in the 95<sup>th</sup> percentile (or
completely off the charts) for height.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: small;">And
especially moreover, given the fact that the nurse only minutes earlier told me
that his current height is 5 feet tall. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: small;">Heck,
that’s only 4 inches shorter than me and he’s only going into the 4<sup>th</sup>
grade this year!!!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: small;">Now,
I really wish I could tell you that I was only 35 pounds heavier than him too,
but that would be a total lie…LOL! </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: small;">Yep,
he currently weighs in at 88.4 pounds with nary a lick of fat on him!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: small;">Healthy
as a horse and growing like a weed…two very good clichés to be</span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: small;">!</span></div>Traceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13548848659390759707noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8702303782709366814.post-81094590584861690322012-06-25T11:37:00.001-05:002012-06-25T12:07:40.063-05:00"P" Is For Potty<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="color: white;">I briefly
mentioned in this</span> <a href="http://www.traceysjourneytopregnancy.blogspot.com/2012/06/baby-stats-24-months.html" style="color: yellow;">post</a> <span style="color: white;">that Colton had moved up to a new Toddler class at his
daycare and they are beginning potty training.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Truth be told,
there are some in his class that have the whole going-to-the-potty thing
nailed, but they are a few months older than Colton too.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Honestly, I don’t
know if <i>I</i> am ready for potty training yet…LOL!
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I mean, he only turned two on the 5<sup>th</sup> of this month.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">One milestone at
a time please ;0)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">No, seriously though, I
am glad that he’s got a teacher that is so gung-ho about the whole potty
training process.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">From my
experience with R.J., I know that if you’ve got a teacher who’s willing to
instill the potty training basics and encourage your child every day, combined
with a parent/parents following up and reinforcing it all at home, it usually winds up
being the golden ticket to potty-dom!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">With
Colton though, so far potty success (as far as actual pee in the bowl) has been an
accomplishment he has chosen to share only with his beloved Mrs. Bailey at
daycare.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">At home, it usually goes
something like this:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><b style="color: red;">Colton (grinning
as he’s saying it):</b> <span style="color: white;">“Momma, tee-tee.”</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><b style="color: red;">Me (with
excitement):</b> <span style="color: white;">“C’mon, Colton, let’s go to the potty, okay?!”</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><b style="color: red;">Colton (with
even more excitement):</b> <span style="color: white;"> </span><span style="color: white;">“OH-kay!” (He loves
to say that word back to you when you say it)</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">And onto the bathroom we proceed, take off his bottoms, grab the kid-sized toilet seat,
put the step stool in front of the base of the toilet (on which he proudly
climbs up), and then he plops down, gets himself into proper seating position
(even takes his sweet little finger and places it on his <i>you know what</i> so it
points down into the commode), and…</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">N-O-T-H-I-N-G!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Unless you count
the microscopic strands he manages to pull off of a single sheet of toilet
paper, creatively massage in his little hands, and then drop into the bowl as <i>something</i>.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Otherwise, it’s
nothing.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Well, I guess
that’s not really true because we do get some precious smiles and “so very proud of
himself” expressions that are just priceless.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">See…</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">And, yes, we still
do encouraging and praising for him being a big boy by getting on the potty and
trying to go "tee-tee", etc., but thus far to no avail.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Am I worried
about it? No.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Am I stressed
about it? No.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><i>(I've got plenty of other things to be stressing about...like my cellulite for example...)</i></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Am I still
willing to play the potty game with him for every one of his “tee-tee”
requests? Yes.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">However, the
next time I think I’m going to grab me a good book on the trek to the bathroom
(I would grab some "reward" m&m’s, but I’d wind up eating them all instead).</span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">At least this
way, no matter how long it may take him to actually produce something in the
toilet, I can just sit back, relax, let him do his toilet paper origami and all
will be right with the world as far as I’m concerned.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">When he’s ready,
he’ll be really ready, and in the meantime I may be able to catch up on some of
the reading I’ve been meaning to do…LOL!</span></div>Traceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13548848659390759707noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8702303782709366814.post-55643342650080889772012-06-18T15:13:00.006-05:002012-06-20T10:18:56.939-05:00Celebrating a "2nd" on Sesame Street<div style="color: white; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<b><span style="font-size: small;">We had Colton's 2-year old birthday party this past Saturday.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: small;">Yes, yes, it was 11 days later than his actual birthday, but he won't remember.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: small;">Heck, he was so overwhelmed with the whole thing he'll probably forget this birthday milestone altogether...LOL!</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: small;">I mentioned in my previous post that he is a HUGE Elmo fan.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: small;">Actually, he loves all of the Sesame Street characters so I thought...easy, peasy...do a Sesame Street themed birthday party.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: small;">Then my anal retentive, obsessive, compulsive, gotta' stick to the theme right down to the letter "T" kicked in!</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: small;">And away I went with PayPal, credit card, Etsy, Amazon, and eBay in hand...thanks Hubby - wink!</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: small;">I was the Sesame Street muse and they were my inspiration!!!</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: small;">First came the invitation...</span></b></div>
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<b>Next came the goodies and the goodie bags...</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitqB88fhmHzlc6BHIv4bOceb2qI_kQGdL9PXNr7o5NkwyS2B3vnbcWuRpIkmdLWe22G8FwneoMgI1BmdhjZL7mNzMEGtjOwYdlD_nLVSd4PS9vp0Zd-X2o6VyZ5MUE2Q_3X6kH8l80PSQ/s1600/IMG_0835.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitqB88fhmHzlc6BHIv4bOceb2qI_kQGdL9PXNr7o5NkwyS2B3vnbcWuRpIkmdLWe22G8FwneoMgI1BmdhjZL7mNzMEGtjOwYdlD_nLVSd4PS9vp0Zd-X2o6VyZ5MUE2Q_3X6kH8l80PSQ/s320/IMG_0835.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsEIMKnp7aT6XHTA0xDGDNr4Akf3kPgeElAK2aozrZoOB-JXqAaYPI_7writcoXW9qQIIEUPpu6uMVVcNwULCUvDlhpQoRFT-RC8PnjUJ-ok1SFcTyEiQ1ZoMANIpbm7VnF9iRNdy45_c/s1600/IMG_0836.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsEIMKnp7aT6XHTA0xDGDNr4Akf3kPgeElAK2aozrZoOB-JXqAaYPI_7writcoXW9qQIIEUPpu6uMVVcNwULCUvDlhpQoRFT-RC8PnjUJ-ok1SFcTyEiQ1ZoMANIpbm7VnF9iRNdy45_c/s320/IMG_0836.JPG" width="238" /></a></div>
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<b>Now for decorating "Sesame" style...</b></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsAk7UQdo4iXis4RJGsyWTeySvBJdSvB-jNBvg-RR2DiIDtcrr3timKMlHWG4VN1uFZOArc1ok2iS-mCce98iGZ59ks2v5A8d0NcsUXvzPai9SMhaWhwG5JdJ354sulH9YkzL38YoE8zI/s1600/IMG_0836a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="120" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsAk7UQdo4iXis4RJGsyWTeySvBJdSvB-jNBvg-RR2DiIDtcrr3timKMlHWG4VN1uFZOArc1ok2iS-mCce98iGZ59ks2v5A8d0NcsUXvzPai9SMhaWhwG5JdJ354sulH9YkzL38YoE8zI/s320/IMG_0836a.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="color: red;">The Sesame Street spread...</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgetzqroQ6HEsSktKcF6BGbW1w65FYIZXqKpMLPdMBYxqIwnOBQN7GBFNcP9qeQ_9tK6S7-G2Ertf5a_0979TgdtxxAIS2mas_DI9cgAf-FiHOGT6F40ZMoid2U_dzDe7BRjqoiE6tOYu4/s1600/IMG_0837.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgetzqroQ6HEsSktKcF6BGbW1w65FYIZXqKpMLPdMBYxqIwnOBQN7GBFNcP9qeQ_9tK6S7-G2Ertf5a_0979TgdtxxAIS2mas_DI9cgAf-FiHOGT6F40ZMoid2U_dzDe7BRjqoiE6tOYu4/s320/IMG_0837.JPG" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="color: red;">Yum, Yum, Yum, Yum...COOK-IES!!</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQANJiNEGzAvbPom9-TnA_MAzb8PGm_Y8K2iYo6ibMDl9NEGZDivMSTIu5ZrgSjj8LDI5vfDMvt-r5q5QSGoOaUtUayHOnzSDMiGbT6NPJhK3Zkm2bzi7eXYPr-hfIhLj8UPn3SBkjyV8/s1600/IMG_0838.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQANJiNEGzAvbPom9-TnA_MAzb8PGm_Y8K2iYo6ibMDl9NEGZDivMSTIu5ZrgSjj8LDI5vfDMvt-r5q5QSGoOaUtUayHOnzSDMiGbT6NPJhK3Zkm2bzi7eXYPr-hfIhLj8UPn3SBkjyV8/s320/IMG_0838.JPG" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="color: red;">'Cause Bert and Ernie seem like some M&M eatin' guys!</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4GKouY7KNQ4BunW7PsnUFVsBT5BPw-9CmEDt8MpzW8ND28vWNEGzlVs9iDOhQGcYjz2QYOB8F0ZsavTDIuaQ6OqXIY9uFFNyeZwNoNZ0gX6vK7XN2Qf7Y1iixd9hD7QVMmsesCcYGs8M/s1600/IMG_0869.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4GKouY7KNQ4BunW7PsnUFVsBT5BPw-9CmEDt8MpzW8ND28vWNEGzlVs9iDOhQGcYjz2QYOB8F0ZsavTDIuaQ6OqXIY9uFFNyeZwNoNZ0gX6vK7XN2Qf7Y1iixd9hD7QVMmsesCcYGs8M/s320/IMG_0869.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="color: red;">Can You Tell Me How To Get...</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOplrZUY8NwAkTZrIgvXBtwNKNV2CTxqWrZVfDufQDu-TRbRVGlNXsYK7jT2y97olzHDB9v0Ts2VCh5Jevi7tM1tZUxH1atsheAT3tUwpokeYXjgcvH-NGSZ1B4W66lrTjzmE8Z80tEkI/s1600/IMG_0869a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOplrZUY8NwAkTZrIgvXBtwNKNV2CTxqWrZVfDufQDu-TRbRVGlNXsYK7jT2y97olzHDB9v0Ts2VCh5Jevi7tM1tZUxH1atsheAT3tUwpokeYXjgcvH-NGSZ1B4W66lrTjzmE8Z80tEkI/s320/IMG_0869a.JPG" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="color: red;">How To Get to a Cupcake "Tree"?</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimbMSJ0r8pfHINVWVMAHNcuigvAQyJFeiGXPMrd2xy43XOHnPuCw6ATS6kfBE-giaj8aeZlUUm7ezHDdiKnyKmEXvCPeLM3qYpVKfXItkpZvk3Oy5N84OVtIfiHa6ayv5R8GxPa2aBztg/s1600/IMG_0878.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimbMSJ0r8pfHINVWVMAHNcuigvAQyJFeiGXPMrd2xy43XOHnPuCw6ATS6kfBE-giaj8aeZlUUm7ezHDdiKnyKmEXvCPeLM3qYpVKfXItkpZvk3Oy5N84OVtIfiHa6ayv5R8GxPa2aBztg/s320/IMG_0878.JPG" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="color: red;">Elmo loves goldfish!</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIJ3qB9kwH6uh8LkwwPuU1ZiluqwZHSbCriXyCDqeXwFJS4tL56E6QKa1dd-y4bUWWBJuGiDvoFRLjsh00PkKOveP8rrNlvThBLRzvOU3uvDfGgtPhqBX3zqirtZ6htmnG2vWZzX0dNMI/s1600/IMG_0880.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIJ3qB9kwH6uh8LkwwPuU1ZiluqwZHSbCriXyCDqeXwFJS4tL56E6QKa1dd-y4bUWWBJuGiDvoFRLjsh00PkKOveP8rrNlvThBLRzvOU3uvDfGgtPhqBX3zqirtZ6htmnG2vWZzX0dNMI/s320/IMG_0880.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="color: red;">Sesame Street friends...</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFTXUJf6aon6XGGnkA9Yrq_4ArmN25MhMTkZ8sM6UZzoM8knH1_R1K1ZJObh13hvXNOuAJNv64yMUy5qWyidaCqmCfjNbEayiibZK-pbC9Ywv6deDYim5bnVAu8utEDwTSo3cLDK6fHAw/s1600/IMG_0880a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFTXUJf6aon6XGGnkA9Yrq_4ArmN25MhMTkZ8sM6UZzoM8knH1_R1K1ZJObh13hvXNOuAJNv64yMUy5qWyidaCqmCfjNbEayiibZK-pbC9Ywv6deDYim5bnVAu8utEDwTSo3cLDK6fHAw/s320/IMG_0880a.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="color: red;">Lovin' some fruit kabobs!</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZfPBrzVcnFDk4ZEokPJ1-z2SmbGA18YSswx4KiMOpKuwVI2bmjmkptEZ76DDYiOsgo9mQlqY5VG504QwIsLrBLOCi5Q8nBFM3Yv7kXcM_AFhUMv5nR2MmPKWgKkUtfDgcfYOA8qC9FsE/s1600/IMG_0881.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZfPBrzVcnFDk4ZEokPJ1-z2SmbGA18YSswx4KiMOpKuwVI2bmjmkptEZ76DDYiOsgo9mQlqY5VG504QwIsLrBLOCi5Q8nBFM3Yv7kXcM_AFhUMv5nR2MmPKWgKkUtfDgcfYOA8qC9FsE/s320/IMG_0881.JPG" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="color: red;">Well, what did you think Oscar would be serving?!</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUV9jVBPPlkFbhEV89AMNwZwNJhkJabQV7-hwros-y3zqDdBDtz3FADuX9OwlHmAtIZqq9mVXDZa7b2nq6F8yoWTPwHLsOoswXiZFoQxRZrj6c_SZVoijQIWymzshImsbF8hOHRep-zQs/s1600/IMG_0882.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUV9jVBPPlkFbhEV89AMNwZwNJhkJabQV7-hwros-y3zqDdBDtz3FADuX9OwlHmAtIZqq9mVXDZa7b2nq6F8yoWTPwHLsOoswXiZFoQxRZrj6c_SZVoijQIWymzshImsbF8hOHRep-zQs/s320/IMG_0882.JPG" width="296" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: red;">Everybody showed up to celebrate!</span></b></td></tr>
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<b><span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">You can see Colton's look of "Oh, my gosh! What's going on here?!" </span></b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhleh-U-4IZn9XJ3rJ-OrxI8XY0ywAUXvNaf5eUIpVZPcd-dDqS0VZMV-Zah8btQaFWQX-N9P21HHarUcToiMKSOB-esYdbp_7u_7aIp0vUeyorVEwNO0ILnTcArojCJKoN28dcYNl8xDw/s1600/photo+4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhleh-U-4IZn9XJ3rJ-OrxI8XY0ywAUXvNaf5eUIpVZPcd-dDqS0VZMV-Zah8btQaFWQX-N9P21HHarUcToiMKSOB-esYdbp_7u_7aIp0vUeyorVEwNO0ILnTcArojCJKoN28dcYNl8xDw/s320/photo+4.JPG" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" width="287" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7YLO-MbjttRV0zT7slix4tELIU6vKtKn-mCe35vh7qvkMUTABm8_XU61CJAkQQoghD_88HFh0HaHq8a2OYVgUm2m670I73DfV_LiQCbuyR6szWWC1g_I6jRuRgXVHvuZ4iEyU_2Abz00/s1600/photo+28.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7YLO-MbjttRV0zT7slix4tELIU6vKtKn-mCe35vh7qvkMUTABm8_XU61CJAkQQoghD_88HFh0HaHq8a2OYVgUm2m670I73DfV_LiQCbuyR6szWWC1g_I6jRuRgXVHvuZ4iEyU_2Abz00/s320/photo+28.JPG" width="229" /></a></div>
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<b>But, he tried to take it all in and have fun...</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSPBfCCCaeag9Gq5JMyv6dklt105cde5a7edmoOyqfjg5cGLx1xKZjxd9Z6C6I0bVmqYXY_9gSEk-4AbU6DOxeFG7r4T-WylPDOCM1tFGAcTe83TDQnHoMAnyB1rIoIit7xodUHe2HRKo/s1600/photo+18.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSPBfCCCaeag9Gq5JMyv6dklt105cde5a7edmoOyqfjg5cGLx1xKZjxd9Z6C6I0bVmqYXY_9gSEk-4AbU6DOxeFG7r4T-WylPDOCM1tFGAcTe83TDQnHoMAnyB1rIoIit7xodUHe2HRKo/s320/photo+18.JPG" width="287" /></a></div>
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<b>Especially with the Elmo balloon...</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiph-06QDq2_GzpRlb8Zj1xJjDEkDA_oDLcEb-Qrljeln6_sSe1_fsYXlhGKaKjZndUan_2I920X5L6HQ2nFYgDREIhWTEwkCZcmBAIPq3mu2Cuhdsew3Bqxbm4Y4x2dSYTUDV34gdgJaQ/s1600/IMG_0922.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiph-06QDq2_GzpRlb8Zj1xJjDEkDA_oDLcEb-Qrljeln6_sSe1_fsYXlhGKaKjZndUan_2I920X5L6HQ2nFYgDREIhWTEwkCZcmBAIPq3mu2Cuhdsew3Bqxbm4Y4x2dSYTUDV34gdgJaQ/s320/IMG_0922.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b>And things were seemingly going great until...</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoO7Qgkw2y01s8SvCkQghnmFoYw6o1gwO2CBlpvqzd_a-blPAsdr-SZoKLshwfHZv3sgJxlWX0wmKpHqo6zsXsGcO4mLombaLYYfB2zRu4fCbpV-aPbU4atUl5hVrUcj1NSDhOIExwmbA/s1600/photo+5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoO7Qgkw2y01s8SvCkQghnmFoYw6o1gwO2CBlpvqzd_a-blPAsdr-SZoKLshwfHZv3sgJxlWX0wmKpHqo6zsXsGcO4mLombaLYYfB2zRu4fCbpV-aPbU4atUl5hVrUcj1NSDhOIExwmbA/s320/photo+5.JPG" width="178" /></a></div>
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<b>He grabbed the hat elastic and let go - OUCH!!!</b></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
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<b>BUT...</b></div>
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<b>His Daddy's arms...</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-hdBOsqoPjaTfJ6xVYdY71wjAqCLZppxBmK0f0Sne9unx10UDCRoLO4HG3U2eGZcz0wc_kpv6h-iupNUuncXqv3wsfIwlzqUe-ROEVAWLnZV5fRNnLloVe5yHoAbY-efO1uuE-FKQDrM/s1600/photo+6.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-hdBOsqoPjaTfJ6xVYdY71wjAqCLZppxBmK0f0Sne9unx10UDCRoLO4HG3U2eGZcz0wc_kpv6h-iupNUuncXqv3wsfIwlzqUe-ROEVAWLnZV5fRNnLloVe5yHoAbY-efO1uuE-FKQDrM/s320/photo+6.JPG" width="255" /></a></div>
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<b>And his birthday presents made up for that boo-boo...BIG TIME!</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrohVxX28Vh0gTSqdZk7esiJfFn7lM8w6qLIZPQl2YfvR8O4PkN3hoXKVUyabahw4McIKMJOW8wm9mOWWjsTnTrOs-b9Z3UG7BsdpJx6lI3YL6knCiVFoKucCKJ4M3PLtYb-8wjmkAwH4/s1600/photo+20.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrohVxX28Vh0gTSqdZk7esiJfFn7lM8w6qLIZPQl2YfvR8O4PkN3hoXKVUyabahw4McIKMJOW8wm9mOWWjsTnTrOs-b9Z3UG7BsdpJx6lI3YL6knCiVFoKucCKJ4M3PLtYb-8wjmkAwH4/s320/photo+20.JPG" width="239" /></a></div>
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<b>HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU,</b></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
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<b>HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU,</b></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
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<b>HAPPY 2nd BIRTHDAY,</b><br />
<br />
<b>DEAR COLTON,</b></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
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<b style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: white;">HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!</span></b></div>Traceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13548848659390759707noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8702303782709366814.post-9302919143646659582012-06-14T11:33:00.000-05:002012-06-14T14:13:40.888-05:00Baby Stats - 24 months<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9HHrO9-CU-F3-XaWoRFJ62sfqOtAX42G5eXQqW6_DUJe6kdrQIfrJl8KTRmVJBY4hBeglcRil6h8U_a9Kbp_daYXCktef_0Sw2fyAbE23oHrBkMEamLL_XwoQWYA-D8T1gOVd85IJj38/s1600/Colton+24+mths1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9HHrO9-CU-F3-XaWoRFJ62sfqOtAX42G5eXQqW6_DUJe6kdrQIfrJl8KTRmVJBY4hBeglcRil6h8U_a9Kbp_daYXCktef_0Sw2fyAbE23oHrBkMEamLL_XwoQWYA-D8T1gOVd85IJj38/s320/Colton+24+mths1.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="color: red; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Colton's 24 month check-up</b></span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4KUPyHVwH106wxhqwMUpZSHLmmBM7jjGIQ6LoqajaV8qDWcUP_R4yFSVmiHSBhX_Ilbu130HQQ2mGxjPBZbKf0sfIHrSCqiyvjc0MiKZj46h58wjY2TTQTYHCRTPcEhbWn5YdV3Zln8c/s1600/Colton+24+mths2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4KUPyHVwH106wxhqwMUpZSHLmmBM7jjGIQ6LoqajaV8qDWcUP_R4yFSVmiHSBhX_Ilbu130HQQ2mGxjPBZbKf0sfIHrSCqiyvjc0MiKZj46h58wjY2TTQTYHCRTPcEhbWn5YdV3Zln8c/s320/Colton+24+mths2.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: red;">Appointment on: 6/12/2012</span></b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Guess the title of this post should really be <i>Toddler</i> Stats, but I'll continue to be anal and just keep with the "Baby" Stats routine.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<span style="color: red; font-size: small;"><b>Age</b></span><span style="font-size: small;"><b style="color: red;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><b>: </b></span></b></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: white;">24
months and 9 days old (on date of blog entry) - His birthday is June 5th</span><br />
<br />
</span><span style="color: red; font-size: small;"><b>Weight</b></span><span style="font-size: small;"><b style="color: red;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><b>:</b></span></b></span><span style="font-size: small;"> <span style="color: white;">27.6 lbs. (50th percentile) - - He’s not a big eater</span><br style="color: white;" />
<br />
</span><span style="color: red; font-size: small;"><b>Length</b></span><span style="font-size: small;"><b style="color: red;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><b>:</b></span></b></span><span style="font-size: small;"> <span style="color: white;">34 inches (50th percentile)</span><br />
<br />
</span><span style="color: red; font-size: small;"><b>Head Circumference</b></span><span style="font-size: small;"><b style="color: red;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><b>:</b></span></b></span><span style="font-size: small;"> <span style="color: white;">50 cm {21 inches} (75th to 90</span><sup style="color: white;">th</sup><span style="color: white;"> percentile)</span><br />
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</span><span style="color: red; font-size: small;"><b>Diaper</b></span><span style="font-size: small;"><b style="color: red;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><b>:</b></span></b></span><span style="font-size: small;"> <span style="color: white;">Size 5 –Pampers brand – Cruisers (during the day) and Pampers Extra Protection
Size 6 (at bedtime). Although, I just bought him some</span> <a href="http://www.pampers.com/potty-training-boys-easy-ups" style="color: yellow;">Pampers Easy Ups Trainers</a><span style="color: yellow;">
</span><span style="color: white;">(size 3T-4T)</span><br />
<br />
</span><span style="color: red; font-size: small;"><b>Clothing:</b></span><span style="font-size: small;"> <span style="color: white;">He’s wearing 24-months/2T depending on
the brand/type of outfit</span> <br />
<br />
</span><span style="color: red; font-size: small;"><b>Shoes</b></span><span style="font-size: small;"><b style="color: red;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><b>:</b></span></b></span><span style="font-size: small;"> <span style="color: white;">Size 6. He does NOT like to wear anything
other than his Keds sneakers. No
slippers, no crocs, no anything with a Velcro closure…nothing!</span></span></div>
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</span><span style="color: red; font-size: small;"><b>Liquids</b></span><span style="font-size: small;"><b style="color: red;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><b>:</b></span></b></span><span style="font-size: small;"> <span style="color: white;">Skim milk and juice. He’s not a big fan of milk, but he will drink it in the
morning. I switched juice brands. Now I buy</span> <a href="http://www.mottsproducts.com/Products/KidsHealthySnacksAndDrinks/MottsForTotsJuice.aspx" style="color: yellow;">Mott’s for Tots</a><span style="color: white;"> juice…it’s
pre-diluted 100% juice and it has 40% less sugar and no artificial sweetener.</span><br />
<br />
</span><span style="color: red; font-size: small;"><b>Amount</b></span><span style="font-size: small;"><b style="color: red;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><b>:</b></span></b></span><span style="font-size: small;"> <span style="color: white;">He loves “duice” (juice) and he will usually drink an 8 oz. or 10 oz. sippy cup
size at a time (maybe 3 times a day) </span><br />
</span><span style="color: red; font-size: small;"><b> </b></span><br />
<span style="color: red; font-size: small;"><b>Food</b></span><span style="font-size: small;"><b style="color: red;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><b>:</b></span></b></span><span style="font-size: small;"> <span style="color: white;">Wish I could tell you he’s broken out of the picky eater stage. Unfortunately, he hasn’t. He loves “bock-bock” (chicken). In fact, one of his favorite dishes is
chicken with rice, broccoli and cheese.
Friday nights are pizza night in our household and sometimes he eats
more slices than my 9 year old! Off the
top of my head I can tell you that he enjoys peanut butter and jelly, goldfish
crackers, waffles, corn, taco meat, sausage, bacon, mashed potatoes, grapes,
mandarin oranges, and apples.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-size: small;"><b>Sleeping Habits</b></span><span style="font-size: small;"><b style="color: red;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><b>:</b></span></b></span><span style="font-size: small;"> <span style="color: white;">He sleeps through the night and only once in awhile
wakes up and asks for a sip of “duice” (juice).
He still uses a pacifier (or “pappy” as he calls it) when he takes a nap
or goes to bed at night. However, this
momma slips it out of his mouth once he’s fallen asleep. </span><br style="color: white;" />
</span><span style="color: red; font-size: small;"><b> </b></span><br />
<span style="color: red; font-size: small;"><b>What He's Doing/How He's Progressing:</b></span><span style="font-size: small;">
<span style="color: white;">OMG! What isn’t he doing?!! Good
and bad…LOL! Aside from him being my outdoors
loving, book loving, puzzle loving, animal sound loving, building block loving
child, he is also definitely my button pushing, climbing up and jumping, wiggly,
jiggly, running through the house, won’t stay still to change/put clothes
on/take clothes off, loves to say the word, “No!” child. To put it simply, he
is absolutely the complete OPPOSITE of my 9 year old son. But then I think, isn’t every mother of more
than one child given a meritorious, you made it through this stage award with at
least one of her children?!! Well, my
friends, Colton has officially qualified me as a finalist for that award…LOL! However, for as many things that he does to
try my patience, he does just as many that make me melt at the cuteness and
sincerity of caring he puts behind the action.
So while I dread the mornings he does nothing but whine (just for the
sake of whining) I love, love, love those mornings when he wakes up all smiley
and runs up to me, plants a great big, wet smooch right on my lips, points to
the T.V. and says, “ELMO, Momma, I sit!”
Yep, we’ve got a huge Sesame Street fan in the household. He’s also in an </span></span><span class="st1" style="color: white; font-size: small;"><span lang="EN">über</span></span><span lang="EN" style="color: white; font-size: small;"> </span><span style="color: white; font-size: small;">inquisitive
stage now too. You know the stage. The one where, “Whas dis? or “Whas dat?” is the question he inevitably poses for every
item, every noise, every EV-ER-Y-THING he sees/hears/comes into contact with. I know that’s all a part of learning and by
golly, this kid is learning a lot…LOL!!!
Speaking of which, he’s moved into a new class at daycare and they are
starting to potty train…fun, fun, fun. In
the meantime, he remains my very active 2 year old who promises to keep this
soon-to-be 46 year old Mom very, very young (at heart)…my body stamina and
agility, not so much!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-weight: normal;"><b style="color: red;">Vaccines He's Received To Date:</b> </span></b></span><span style="color: white; font-size: small;">Hepatatis B, DTaP (Diptheria, Tetanus, Pertussis),
Hib (Haemophilus Influenzae Type b), IPV (Polio), Prevnar/PCV 13 (Pneumococcal
Conjugate), RotaTeq (Rotavirus), Flu, Varivax (chiken pox), Hepatitus A, and
MMR (Measles, Mumps and Rubella). No
more immunizations until he’s 5 years old…YIPPEEE!!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: white;">If you
want to read about, compare/contrast Colton’s 18 month stats, click</span> <a href="http://www.traceysjourneytopregnancy.blogspot.com/2011/12/18-month-stats.html" style="color: yellow;">here</a>. </span></div>Traceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13548848659390759707noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8702303782709366814.post-72632687292114718092012-06-13T10:49:00.000-05:002012-06-13T10:49:14.268-05:00Back To The BLOG-o-sphere!<div style="text-align: left;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;">Just a dash of red...</span></td></tr>
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Hello, everyone! </div>
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I’m back. </div>
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With a little bit different hair color too. </div>
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See... </div>
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Not sure if you all missed me, but hoping maybe some of you did? </div>
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And if so, you are probably wondering, “Where the heck did she go?” </div>
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Let me explain… </div>
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In addition to my duties as a mom of two boys, and wife to my husband of almost 12 years, I also have a full-time, drive-to-the-office, go to work every day job too. </div>
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For approximately 5 months out of the year, my office job requires me to, well, be out of the office. </div>
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I do governmental relations work at our state’s capitol and when the legislature is in session I am there several days a week, many times for 10 to 14 hours a day. </div>
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Needless to say, during session time I barely have enough minutes to balance my checkbook (which in fact was neglected for two months straight), let alone get on a computer to blog although I really missed doing so. </div>
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Even my friends on Facebook wondered if I had fallen off the face of the earth…LOL! </div>
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Nope, it was just the political arena that once again drew me into the black hole of disappearing-dom. </div>
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But… </div>
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Now that the regular session and first special session are over, I once again find myself with some time to breath, and </div>
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BLOG!
</div>Traceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13548848659390759707noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8702303782709366814.post-53857407671761116072012-01-17T16:10:00.000-06:002012-01-18T11:03:25.021-06:00It's Official...<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
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<span class="messagebody" style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN">We've definitely
raised a Southern boy...</span></span></div>
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<span class="messagebody" style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN">R.J.'s first time hunting and shooting a rifle (.223)
was this past weekend. </span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk-qVFNIXuCGV3Pbk0eDH5pM_BvN1PA32HCvv1FcJLbdtAlh1bn14tQF6TXcRe9Gx0lk3h94pANel7W-mQXCXymLu8Cso471CsugIMwIpnhq-9J-bhFlbY4ZxuOdonJhaULOFiODQ3fIk/s1600/Hunting5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk-qVFNIXuCGV3Pbk0eDH5pM_BvN1PA32HCvv1FcJLbdtAlh1bn14tQF6TXcRe9Gx0lk3h94pANel7W-mQXCXymLu8Cso471CsugIMwIpnhq-9J-bhFlbY4ZxuOdonJhaULOFiODQ3fIk/s400/Hunting5.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjED3_mB1dbOfsd7CdqWWXqZFAg23r5yTpdE-yEsrXaFtrIVeC86dYV5UeRCiYVKU9krDEvdT9mEoBBiSx6fJvgV2mreXeGetU2c-Q9dGLvy0NsTb0Li-UIip3Rlmt29FIHVTM2Ih8r5KM/s1600/Hunting1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjED3_mB1dbOfsd7CdqWWXqZFAg23r5yTpdE-yEsrXaFtrIVeC86dYV5UeRCiYVKU9krDEvdT9mEoBBiSx6fJvgV2mreXeGetU2c-Q9dGLvy0NsTb0Li-UIip3Rlmt29FIHVTM2Ih8r5KM/s400/Hunting1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span class="messagebody" style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN">He grazed </span></span><span class="messagebody" style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN">(whatever that means) </span></span><span class="messagebody" style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN">a doe. </span></span></div>
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<span class="messagebody" style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN">My husband said that was not bad at all for his first time. </span></span></div>
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<span class="messagebody" style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN">All I envisioned was Bambi's mom limping away back into the woods, and I must say it it made me sad.</span></span></div>
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<span class="messagebody" style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN">As a momma, I am still
not sure how I feel about all of this, but my son and my husband had a wonderful, fun time together and that's all that matters.</span></span></div>
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<span class="messagebody" style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN">Funny thing is...my husband is not a "hunter". </span></span></div>
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<span class="messagebody" style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN">Yes, he's been a few times in his life, and he can definitely shoot a gun, but as far as being a die hard, hunting gear, go every weekend kind of guy - - that he certainly is NOT.</span></span></div>
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<span class="messagebody" style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN">So, I was a bit surprised when this past Friday night rolled around and he told me that a coworker friend of his had invited R.J. and him to go hunting for the weekend.</span></span></div>
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<span class="messagebody" style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN">Hunting????</span></span></div>
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<span class="messagebody" style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN"><b>Me:</b> "Um, okay honey, but your son doesn't even own a pair of boots, let alone any hunting clothes."</span></span></div>
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<span class="messagebody" style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN"><b>Hubby:</b> "That's no big deal, just pack him some long johns, </span></span><span class="messagebody" style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN">a heavy jacket, </span></span><span class="messagebody" style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN">warm socks and clothes, and he'll be fine. By the way, we'll be spending the night at my co-worker's hunting <strike>lodge</strike> trailer(s)."</span></span></div>
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<span class="messagebody" style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN">Truth be told, I was a nervous wreck until they both got back
home safe and sound (and <i>very</i> dirty and <i>very</i> tired). </span></span></div>
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<span class="messagebody" style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN">Come to find out there was no running water in the hunting trailers either. Ewww!</span></span></div>
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<span class="messagebody" style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN">On a different note, this weekend solidified that fact that Colton is FOR SURE a
total momma’s boy! </span></span></div>
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<span class="messagebody" style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN">While Michael and R.J. were gone he was a complete dream
child (because he had me all to himself). </span></span></div>
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<span class="messagebody" style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN">BUT...</span></span></div>
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<span class="messagebody" style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN">The minute Michael and R.J. came
home he reverted back to whiny, needy mode…LOL!!! </span></span></div>
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<span class="messagebody" style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN">Seriously, that little stinker
is jealous of me diverting my attention to anyone, but him! </span></span></div>
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<span class="messagebody" style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN">Hoping this
is just a clingy toddler stage sort of thing because trust me, it really wears me down sometimes. </span></span></div>
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<span class="messagebody" style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN">Don't get me wrong, I love my boys (all <i>three</i> of them) and
wouldn’t trade them for the world!</span></span></div>
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<span class="messagebody" style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN">But, you know what???</span></span></div>
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<span class="messagebody" style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN"> I'm looking forward to the day when my hubby says, "Hon, I'm taking both the boys to do so-and so with me, and we're spending the night." </span></span></div>
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<span class="messagebody" style="color: white; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;"><span lang="EN">Mommy me time, here I come...<i>SAH-WHEET!!!! </i></span></span><span class="messagebody"><span lang="EN"></span></span></div>Traceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13548848659390759707noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8702303782709366814.post-88993835269041039572011-12-28T15:46:00.001-06:002012-01-04T10:37:45.786-06:00December Highlights and Christmas Delights<div style="color: white;">
It’s hard to believe that the month of December is almost through, Christmas Day has come and gone, and we’ll be ringing in a New Year this Saturday night.</div>
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It always seems that after Thanksgiving, the December days seem to fly by even quicker since they are filled with so many activities and the flurry of Holiday preparations and fun.</div>
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This year we especially enjoyed talking about the reason for the season with our youngest, Colton. </div>
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As we read to him (many times this month) the story book (see below) we have about the birth of our Saviour, it was so cute to watch Colton “perform” as he looked at the pictures on the different pages when we read to him. When he saw the bright star in the sky, he would flick his fingers for twinkle, twinkle, he’d “baa” for the lamb and “hee-haw” for the donkey, he’d wave to the wise men, and put his fingers to his lips and say, “Sshhhh” when he saw the baby Jesus sleeping in the manger.</div>
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It was just a joy to watch such precious interpretations from a toddler’s understanding.</div>
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The beginning of the month found us taking Colton to get his first haircut. </div>
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I must say, the distraction of the dum-dum lollipop worked like a charm and he never even flinched.</div>
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That same day we trekked on over to the mall for the official Santa photo. </div>
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Mommy had to get in the picture because Colton was having NONE of this Santa guy stuff! </div>
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As far as R.J. was concerned, there was nothing to it which is clearly evidenced by his, "After all, I've been doing this for 10 years now!" look on his face.</div>
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<span style="color: white;">We then wandered over to the</span> <a href="http://www.buildabear.com/" style="color: yellow;">Build-a-Bear</a> <span style="color: white;">workshop, and let Colton use his birthday gift card to pick out a special “friend”. </span><br />
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<span style="color: white;">He chose a cute German shepherd puppy that R.J. helped him name…"CAM" (given that we’re such huge Auburn fans, that name should not surprise any of you!)</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;">The finished a.k.a. "love-stuffed" doggie</span></td></tr>
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R.J’s school days prior to Christmas vacation were filled with some fun activities. </div>
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One of the days they got to make their very own gingerbread houses. </div>
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His came out amazingly well, dontcha’ think?</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;">The proud architect!</span></td></tr>
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Our house also is visited by an elf every year.</div>
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For those of you familiar with the Elf on the Shelf, you already know what I’m talking about.</div>
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His name is “Straighty” - - dubbed such by R.J. when he was 4 years old (R.J. that is, not the elf)!</div>
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<span style="color: white;">Actually, I spoke about this special friend of R.J.’s in this</span> <a href="http://traceysjourneytopregnancy.blogspot.com/2010/12/christmas-recap.html%20%20" style="color: yellow;">blog post</a><span style="color: yellow;"> </span><span style="color: white;">last year.</span><br />
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Straighty pulled off some very unique things this year. </div>
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After all, he’s a very clever elf!</div>
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Just take a look…</div>
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There was also a DVD that came out this year that really helped to bring the Elf on a Shelf story to life. </div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Cv2n0BYFBMM/TvuZfqQ0bNI/AAAAAAAABoU/Olnbav2o5dY/s1600/photo1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Cv2n0BYFBMM/TvuZfqQ0bNI/AAAAAAAABoU/Olnbav2o5dY/s320/photo1.JPG" width="239" /></a></div>
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It’s only about 24 minutes long and it was just the perfect length for Colton to be able to sit and watch without being distracted and wanting to get up and do something else.</div>
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Before we knew it Christmas was here!</div>
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R.J. left his letter to Santa along with cookies and milk. </div>
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Amazingly, this year Santa’s cookies also happened to be Mommy’s favorite ones. </div>
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Imagine that?!!! </div>
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Christmas morning arrived…</div>
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Santa came, and Santa delivered!!!</div>
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R.J. got most everything he asked for and among his favorites were the 2012 Madden NFL game for his Wii, and a miniature Auburn Football helmet. </div>
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<span style="color: white;">He also got a remote control airplane complete with a miniature camera attached</span> <a href="http://www.airhogs.com/en/products/hawk-eye-blue-sky" style="color: yellow;">(Air Hogs Hawkeye Blue Sky)</a> <span style="color: white;">that he had been wanting since the summer…more on this gift in just a bit.</span><br />
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<span style="color: white;">Colton got a</span> <a href="http://www.potterybarnkids.com/products/hybrid-my-first-anywhere-chair-green-gingham/?pkey=bsoft-seating&cm_src=productsearch" style="color: yellow;">miniature arm chair</a> <span style="color: white;">with his name on it that he loves!!!</span><br />
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<span style="color: white;">Combine that with his</span> <a href="http://www.fisher-price.com/fp.aspx?st=2341&e=product&pcat=bulnl&pid=47257" style="color: yellow;">CD player</a> <span style="color: white;">and</span> <a href="http://www.onestepahead.com/catalog/product.jsp?productId=536126&cmSource=Search" style="color: yellow;">mini trampoline</a> <span style="color: white;">and trust me, this kid is one happy little camper!!</span><br />
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Okay, back to the airplane…</div>
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R.J. was dying to fly this thing, but on Christmas Day it rained…all day. </div>
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So the day after, we charged the airplane, put batteries in the remote control and off he went to take his plane to greater heights all the while videoing what R.J. said would be, “All sorts of neat stuff!”</div>
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Not even 5 minutes later, R.J. came back into the house crying hysterically with remote in hand and no plane.</div>
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When he calmed down we learned that yes, R.J. had taken his plane where no plane had gone before…and it promptly got stuck smack dab in the tallest (and I mean tall) and most limb ridden tree in our front yard!!!</div>
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No ladder, no branch trimmer, no nothing could reach this plane.</div>
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Well, maybe if we had a power company bucket truck…but, we didn’t!</div>
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I give my husband credit. For several hours he tried (and eventually my neighbor, and my neighbor’s father-in-law also joined in) to get that darn plane out of the tree by throwing baseballs and footballs Hercules style at it and at the limbs it was stuck in…to no avail.</div>
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Thus, this is what we have left of the video capturing airplane…</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gZKJ4W6sPfM/TvubAo48uuI/AAAAAAAABqI/M6d4Ek3McSA/s1600/photo21.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="169" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gZKJ4W6sPfM/TvubAo48uuI/AAAAAAAABqI/M6d4Ek3McSA/s320/photo21.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;">Remote control full of brand new batteries and a broken airplane wing!</span></td></tr>
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The rest, well, it’s still stuck in the tree and I’m sure some species of bird is going to think he/she has found the mate of all mates…LOL!</div>
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Okay, remember up above when I said Santa came and Santa delivered?</div>
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Well, R.J. reminded me that Santa forgot to leave him a letter this year. </div>
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Every other year Santa had left a letter, but not this year.</div>
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Hrumpf?! </div>
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How do I explain that one???</div>
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I calmly and ever-so-motherly explained to him that Santa must have just accidentally forgot or misplaced it. </div>
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After all, Santa did have a whole lotta’ children to visit and deliver to on Christmas Eve.</div>
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My explanation seemed to suffice, but I couldn’t help but notice a wee bit of disappointment in R.J.’s face.</div>
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What to do????</div>
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Mommy put her thinking cap on and viola’ one Santa letter/memo to R.J. in an authentic looking envelope coming up!</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qBikBAZIUso/TvubL0Y-cXI/AAAAAAAABqc/gSh0T-pqXP0/s1600/Santa+Envelope.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qBikBAZIUso/TvubL0Y-cXI/AAAAAAAABqc/gSh0T-pqXP0/s320/Santa+Envelope.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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This is what it says…</div>
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<b><i>North Pole, Alaska</i></b></div>
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<b><i><br /></i></b></div>
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<b><i>From The Desk of Santa Claus</i></b></div>
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<b><i>MEM-HO-HO-HO-RANDUM</i></b></div>
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<b><i>December 27th 2011 </i></b></div>
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<b><i><br /></i></b></div>
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<b><i>Subject: Forgotten Letter </i></b></div>
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<b><i><br /></i></b></div>
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<b><i>Dear R.J.</i></b></div>
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<b><i><br /></i></b></div>
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<b><i>After I got back to the North Pole, I looked in my mail pouch and realized that I had forgotten to leave you your letter from me. Yes, there it was in the bottom of my bag.</i></b></div>
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<b><i><br /></i></b></div>
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<b><i>Oh, by the way, I apologize for the "Hot Chocolate" stains you see on this letter. One of the deer bumped my arm while typing this... Hmmm, I bet you know which deer it was too?!? </i></b></div>
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<b><i><br /></i></b></div>
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<b><i>Anyway, I wanted to let you know that I had been keeping a very close eye on you and of course Straighty was filling me in too. </i></b></div>
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<b><i>I must say, you have been a very good boy this year. Oh, yes, there have been times when you have given your parents a hard time about this and that (you know, like brushing your teeth), but I must say, for the most part I have been very proud of you. Although, I do want to remind you to watch your manners about how you talk to Mommy and Daddy (and Mimi and Boppa) every now and then. </i></b></div>
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<b><i><br /></i></b></div>
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<b><i>I really want to thank you for being such a good big brother to Colton. I know it isn’t easy to be patient with such a little one, but rest assured that your baby brother is learning from you, and the kind and caring way you are with him is the way I wish all girls and boys would be with their siblings. </i></b></div>
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<b><i><br /></i></b></div>
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<b><i>I also want to let you know that it warms this big guy’s heart to hear the way you say your prayers every night. Never ever forget that the birth of Jesus is what is most important about CHRISTMAS. Oh, yes, presents are wonderful to get, but the most wonderful present to ALL of us is HIM. </i></b></div>
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<b><i>In closing, please forgive me for forgetting to leave your letter (with all the houses and all the boys and girls I visit in one night, it was bound to happen). </i></b></div>
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<b><i><br /></i></b></div>
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<b><i>And don’t forget, just because this Christmas is over you’d still…</i></b></div>
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<b><i><br /></i></b></div>
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<b><i>Better watch out, You better not cry, Better not pout, I'm telling you why: I'm coming to town…again (in just 364 more days). And don’t you doubt that I’ll be…</i></b></div>
<div style="color: red;">
<b><i>Making a list, and checking it twice; Gonna find out who's naughty and nice. </i></b></div>
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<b><i><br /></i></b></div>
<div style="color: red;">
<b><i>As always,</i></b></div>
<div style="color: red;">
<b><i>Santa Claus</i></b></div>
<br />
<div style="color: white;">
R.J. spent the night off with a friend last night which is perfect because I can slip this in the mailbox and when he comes home, I can ask him to check the mail and there the letter will be.</div>
<div style="color: white;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: white;">
Mommy, er um, I mean…Santa redemption!!! </div>
<div style="color: white;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: white;">
I hope!</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="color: white;">
I’ll let you all know how it goes.</div>
<div style="color: white;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: white;">
In the meantime, please accept my heartfelt wishes to you and yours for a most blessed and Happy New Year!</div>Traceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13548848659390759707noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8702303782709366814.post-40960040404772495342011-12-20T09:30:00.000-06:002011-12-20T09:30:47.186-06:00Christmas Card 2011<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPuUpvDi8DAT5XUlSlohXv-V41RrWfFBmfHQvb983R7GVsvNz22pezw4IFMzgaaMHLwTqe__Q1MWV1zjYqujzsAGv2AE6W4aIAF_Xvz7XA07SwQsdnaYacMACjhS9PNRocjWAT0Hq3854/s1600/Christmas+2011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPuUpvDi8DAT5XUlSlohXv-V41RrWfFBmfHQvb983R7GVsvNz22pezw4IFMzgaaMHLwTqe__Q1MWV1zjYqujzsAGv2AE6W4aIAF_Xvz7XA07SwQsdnaYacMACjhS9PNRocjWAT0Hq3854/s400/Christmas+2011.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhmS63M5r4CgQMo-_w23rK2ageL2rYGw3mkMzijRJ4EWdaaE4QRfxykcuigbmVN_54afWQk2Kq4X5ZemnLCF4unDux8gdRg7afaI342RDoLm4FlhfwaSCmxr9UnYKN-0jnspm_kG8t3ZA/s1600/Untitled-Scanned-03.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="137" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhmS63M5r4CgQMo-_w23rK2ageL2rYGw3mkMzijRJ4EWdaaE4QRfxykcuigbmVN_54afWQk2Kq4X5ZemnLCF4unDux8gdRg7afaI342RDoLm4FlhfwaSCmxr9UnYKN-0jnspm_kG8t3ZA/s320/Untitled-Scanned-03.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Traceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13548848659390759707noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8702303782709366814.post-55290453797222358922011-12-19T15:02:00.002-06:002011-12-20T09:04:49.428-06:00Baby Stats - 18 months<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqPoio5o5Ov4F238biCxDA-GTkeLqC437QpZEsyfhjALjPg-62mf4aQvs8Pq6QIayLU8uWvmJoZcFb7CFuJNNkhSHlgihXD0d1QvCyT_eQThJnxWoY1SnkUYwXo8C_QAjfLr1abYBI95M/s1600/18+mths.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="297px" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqPoio5o5Ov4F238biCxDA-GTkeLqC437QpZEsyfhjALjPg-62mf4aQvs8Pq6QIayLU8uWvmJoZcFb7CFuJNNkhSHlgihXD0d1QvCyT_eQThJnxWoY1SnkUYwXo8C_QAjfLr1abYBI95M/s320/18+mths.jpg" width="320px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;"><strong>Colton's 18 month check-up</strong></span> <br />
<span style="color: red;"><strong>Appointment on: 12/6/2011</strong></span><br />
<strong><span style="color: red;"><em>[He was also very sick this day...viral bronchitis - YUCK!]</em></span></strong></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<strong><span style="color: red;">Age:</span></strong> 18 months and 2 weeks old (on date of blog entry)<br />
<br />
<span style="color: red;"><strong>Weight:</strong></span> 26 lbs. (50th percentile) - - He’s lost weight since his 15 month check-up<br />
<br />
<span style="color: red;"><strong>Length:</strong></span> 32 inches (50th percentile)<br />
<br />
<strong><span style="color: red;">Head Circumference:</span></strong> 48 ½ cm {19.5 inches} (75th percentile)<br />
<br />
<strong><span style="color: red;">Diaper:</span></strong> Size 5 –Pampers brand – Cruisers (during the day) and Pampers Extra Protection Size 5 (at bedtime)<br />
<br />
<strong><span style="color: red;">Clothing:</span></strong> Still wearing sizes 18-months and 24-months/2-T depending on the brand/type of outfit. <br />
<br />
<strong><span style="color: red;">Shoe:</span></strong> Size 5 …W-I-D-E!!!! He’s got the same chubby little foot that his big brother did when he was a toddler.<br />
<br />
<strong><span style="color: red;">Liquids:</span></strong> Skim milk and juice. Speaking of juice...although it costs more, I’ve been buying <a href="http://www.gerber.com/toddler/products/beverages/fruit_splashers_beverage_grape.aspx"><span style="color: yellow;">Gerber’s Fruit Splashers</span></a>. It contains less sugar than regular juice and it's already diluted. <br />
<br />
<strong><span style="color: red;">Amount:</span></strong> Heck, I stopped keeping up with amount of liquid awhile back…some days it’s a lot and some days not so much.<br />
<br />
<strong><span style="color: red;">Solid Food:</span></strong> All of a sudden, he’s turned into a picky eater. Things he used to eat and love, now he turns his nose up at. The one thing he absolutely will never turn down…graham crackers. After all, those are a part of each of the different food groups, aren't they?!! LOL!<br />
<br />
<strong><span style="color: red;">Sleeping Habits:</span></strong> He’s sleeping through the night with an occasional wake up, but usually it’s because he’s lost his pacifier or he’s gotten himself into a position that has made him uncomfortable. A calm word, a pacifier pop-in, or a back pat most of the time is the ticket back to la-la land for him.<br />
<br />
<strong><span style="color: red;">What He's Doing/How He's Progessing:</span></strong> Now that he’s walking, he can’t be stopped! Seriously, this kid can walk/run circles around a marathon expert! ! Once he’s down, he’s off! I used to cringe when I saw parents with leashes on their kids, but I am seriously about to check them out on Amazon.com - - LOL! His vocabulary has definitely expanded. One of my favorite words he says right now is “purple”. It’s not so much that he says the word, it’s how he says it that’s so darn cute! He also is into making animal sounds. He can “roar” like a lion. “Growl” like a bear. “Woof” like a doggie. “Nay”, like a horse. Blow fire and smoke like a dragon, etc. He still has an ear for music too. He has us cracking up when he starts bee-bopping to a song on the radio or a commercial on TV. He has no lack of rhythm that’s for sure. He’s able to clap and pump his hand right on beat. He’s still trying to show out with a bit of a temper and he likes to slap. At times, this is very frustrating for us (probably for him too), but we are muddling are way through it and trying to help him to understand that sometimes it just can’t be “Colton’s Way”. Let’s just say, at 18 months old, he already knows where the time out chair is and what it’s for!!! He's still a momma's boy BIG TIME!!! While at times I find this endearing, at other times not so much...like when I'm trying to do laundry or clean up the kitchen and I've got a toddler literally hanging onto my legs and I am forced to "drag" him around with me while he clings tightly to the pants material as I try to manuever around. It's pathetic and funny all at the same time. He’s gotten over his fear of the bathing in the big tub and now it’s his favorite evening past time. He loves to blow at the soap bubbles and play with the “cack-cacks” (little yellow rubber duckies). Honestly, even mommy is thankful for his bathtub time because there are days when she can only get Colton to eat his dinner if he’s sitting and playing in the tub…LOL! Hey, whatever works, right?!!Traceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13548848659390759707noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8702303782709366814.post-65857104348934626652011-11-26T08:26:00.001-06:002011-12-22T09:48:04.595-06:00Happy Birthday, My Son!<span style="color: white;">R.J., today you turn nine years old!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: white;">It's hard to believe that many years have already gone by.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: white;">From the moment I knew you existed, you captured my heart.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: white;">As you grew in my womb, that special bond between a mother and a son was formed and has never, ever changed.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: white;">Although you arrived earlier than we thought (Thanksgiving week too), our arms and hearts were ready to hold you.</span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivFuNDKA_JRlNiiF3UTpga-9hmg90GWBq93SzHoNmSlBmnrSuFKJvPs-XS2a0oO_COmOMaOxHQ1LhRMkO8TowchH20rg1Asb7wThISMhvaWhjaUZFiMiN42cRsYl3umrX7PGwDFYjrzgY/s1600/RJ+Born.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="306px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivFuNDKA_JRlNiiF3UTpga-9hmg90GWBq93SzHoNmSlBmnrSuFKJvPs-XS2a0oO_COmOMaOxHQ1LhRMkO8TowchH20rg1Asb7wThISMhvaWhjaUZFiMiN42cRsYl3umrX7PGwDFYjrzgY/s320/RJ+Born.jpg" width="320px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;">R.J. - our first born son!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<span style="color: white;">When I looked into your beautiful face for the first time, I promised God that I would try to be the very best parent I could be, even though I was slightly scared about how I was going to know what to do and that I would be able to raise you right.</span> <br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi7kwq2THfTDvM9f0aaHvR2VrdbuAhoEjadE6amZlrGdZmEfWLNdYjrKv7sD62huwvEqyYq9a6EEHrYi4dHuFYAiztK7uZmqSF00NctsC23rKJYlRMeTVkYduRtKs3sVSjDWHA39TCB0w/s1600/RJ+Born+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi7kwq2THfTDvM9f0aaHvR2VrdbuAhoEjadE6amZlrGdZmEfWLNdYjrKv7sD62huwvEqyYq9a6EEHrYi4dHuFYAiztK7uZmqSF00NctsC23rKJYlRMeTVkYduRtKs3sVSjDWHA39TCB0w/s320/RJ+Born+1.jpg" width="299px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;">November 26, 2002 ~ just hours old</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<span style="color: white;">One day when you are older and become a daddy, you will understand that there are no guarantees that your child/ren will turn out the way you want them to be...</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: white;">But, you know what?</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: white;">I got lucky right from the start!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: white;">You are such a good boy and a wonderful big brother.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: white;">You are handsome and very, very smart.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: white;">You like to draw and read, and you LOVE, LOVE, LOVE football...AUBURN football the most!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: white;">You like your Wii and Nintendo games <i>almost</i>, but not as much, as you like the outdoors.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: white;">You are witty and charming and you have a caring and giving heart.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: white;">You love the Lord and your kind spirit shows others you do too.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: white;">You're obedient and respectful, and you are careful not to intentionally hurt someone else's feelings.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: white;">However, if pushed, you can be as strong and tough as they come.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: white;">You aren't afraid to say, "I Love You!" to those you do. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: white;">As I continue to watch you grow, I marvel at the person you are...so very proud you are my son.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: white;">I cherish the pictures and memories I have of you now, and I look forward to more of both as I follow the bright future and full life that lies ahead of you.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: white;">I don't know what I did to deserve you, but I definitely must have done something right!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: white;">Happy 9th Birthday R.J. - - I love you with all my heart!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: white;">~Mommy</span><br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiywHNbujanjPqCZKy1h99rf39bc_irJtM_AV0x9gJi0YGMSWJZsWlWSzFcOoWF5PB93FYdWfaoBybJMP02QflxNxJ1PqTc231cEYc-SC8tJihcrM7Nu0WX6AKT75EhO8qmdOEUxG1Jj9w/s1600/RJ+9.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="308px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiywHNbujanjPqCZKy1h99rf39bc_irJtM_AV0x9gJi0YGMSWJZsWlWSzFcOoWF5PB93FYdWfaoBybJMP02QflxNxJ1PqTc231cEYc-SC8tJihcrM7Nu0WX6AKT75EhO8qmdOEUxG1Jj9w/s320/RJ+9.JPG" width="320px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;">9 years old</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBMOHWsQzsf2PFYjingbzsBJ-nUut9ypJKwVJtpQbG_HWawzd4hDWzr2-C7jV93WRN23IcTAmq-pOrIDXLPb0TLyXarNUqQvta9d1uj1SJs5pGpFRNN7Lb-UpUaWkBHbWisH_BVYlLM-Q/s1600/8th+Birthday.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBMOHWsQzsf2PFYjingbzsBJ-nUut9ypJKwVJtpQbG_HWawzd4hDWzr2-C7jV93WRN23IcTAmq-pOrIDXLPb0TLyXarNUqQvta9d1uj1SJs5pGpFRNN7Lb-UpUaWkBHbWisH_BVYlLM-Q/s320/8th+Birthday.jpg" width="240px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;">8 years old</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWEPNY2z0dAq9IuwS0EVRTOwif8ToG3CwHUPnrfZE_75X9t4HyH8mPsQ2-UkOT4F6QTOBb_vsWFCHySrTKR8KWXi3kCpPf6hNNBy8btDmdXDOp4SkSPgEDDq8xcG8EKGowQ6rBiOnuMKw/s1600/7th+Birthday.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWEPNY2z0dAq9IuwS0EVRTOwif8ToG3CwHUPnrfZE_75X9t4HyH8mPsQ2-UkOT4F6QTOBb_vsWFCHySrTKR8KWXi3kCpPf6hNNBy8btDmdXDOp4SkSPgEDDq8xcG8EKGowQ6rBiOnuMKw/s320/7th+Birthday.jpg" width="240px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;">7 years old</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2xt9g3sBbQ7K1WDcGQQeYOFW6oKVEnOUHPaa3mElb685XfgrcBJYJe2sXpxQRPTMAhSiv4znzFkXHvc6aujFgI-YySMeAAarWBijJYb5yclzCBcXaWKl-LnQdd78wqp4qcnAfESQ647w/s1600/6th+Birthday.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2xt9g3sBbQ7K1WDcGQQeYOFW6oKVEnOUHPaa3mElb685XfgrcBJYJe2sXpxQRPTMAhSiv4znzFkXHvc6aujFgI-YySMeAAarWBijJYb5yclzCBcXaWKl-LnQdd78wqp4qcnAfESQ647w/s320/6th+Birthday.jpg" width="217px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;">6 years old</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGjFL7iVcs3RIBCmZrECd5HwlBVsez8r7HZ5TqqU_xJYwbiOKXWtcMEd5g_AqlcXGHs2v47oX-IIL0iJImvgol_VbvpfcTE7oROsqYxp7JgfsjvseL-MDoCav17jb0r6Fg497NAer7DuM/s1600/5th+Birthday.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGjFL7iVcs3RIBCmZrECd5HwlBVsez8r7HZ5TqqU_xJYwbiOKXWtcMEd5g_AqlcXGHs2v47oX-IIL0iJImvgol_VbvpfcTE7oROsqYxp7JgfsjvseL-MDoCav17jb0r6Fg497NAer7DuM/s320/5th+Birthday.jpg" width="264px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;">5 years old</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0l9hHZ2WUDac0WEv2purVOsvyHqhybwJtS70jFc1-FmKeB4IIff3bjk1et7hMek9o9_1jOo_JPQnMBGetIgNZ5onLscISYl5zHe-2O11sbIs3IgLJuTv3ErZfmuLWD1yfS247zYUOfJo/s1600/4th+Birthday.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0l9hHZ2WUDac0WEv2purVOsvyHqhybwJtS70jFc1-FmKeB4IIff3bjk1et7hMek9o9_1jOo_JPQnMBGetIgNZ5onLscISYl5zHe-2O11sbIs3IgLJuTv3ErZfmuLWD1yfS247zYUOfJo/s320/4th+Birthday.jpg" width="285px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;">4 years old</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHQ0y0WBfmOjIVAZmCytshfWRyQQ2kBAt4UyVFlrbFfJfz3r8NEt4hXDtfBJ0qa7lxLihMuIJCQJ3oh9ol7dTMc-wVzJMuqXQ7WDDRYmils8sp-4UokbKB5O6LTLlmCGh9w_HTlU6dVio/s1600/3rd+Birthday.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHQ0y0WBfmOjIVAZmCytshfWRyQQ2kBAt4UyVFlrbFfJfz3r8NEt4hXDtfBJ0qa7lxLihMuIJCQJ3oh9ol7dTMc-wVzJMuqXQ7WDDRYmils8sp-4UokbKB5O6LTLlmCGh9w_HTlU6dVio/s320/3rd+Birthday.jpg" width="244px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;">3 years old</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDJJP0T6dYnX1LYymqy9bo-0EOgWN0RGpU-cqZ38-36jtpw0W5zz6WXaHuXY-6oI-eKGM4Z7vAUJJ07NBzmmXSUXFguH2CHvMELeV0kgXVutivlkh8g0IGFWcZwoyCDpE9nnXkefxp8DA/s1600/2nd+Birthday.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="256px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDJJP0T6dYnX1LYymqy9bo-0EOgWN0RGpU-cqZ38-36jtpw0W5zz6WXaHuXY-6oI-eKGM4Z7vAUJJ07NBzmmXSUXFguH2CHvMELeV0kgXVutivlkh8g0IGFWcZwoyCDpE9nnXkefxp8DA/s320/2nd+Birthday.jpg" width="320px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;">2 years old</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8DrXFSp2V0JRrIpRcm0i6_eFEucrhuyT9XeCxBf-aEU40M8RjfJDrIRaZg1rkYKm6YApgQr2mXeyeGPeE1GgLmWfZfIxwMaPdKgDxFh-RdRtyHIJWFgj6_ZGVHjbjOmFI4i8HfhseVDI/s1600/1st+Birthday.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8DrXFSp2V0JRrIpRcm0i6_eFEucrhuyT9XeCxBf-aEU40M8RjfJDrIRaZg1rkYKm6YApgQr2mXeyeGPeE1GgLmWfZfIxwMaPdKgDxFh-RdRtyHIJWFgj6_ZGVHjbjOmFI4i8HfhseVDI/s320/1st+Birthday.jpg" width="314px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;">1 year old</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;">Happy Birthday to you, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;">Happy Birthday to you,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;">Happy Birthday dear R.J.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;">HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!!!!</span></div>Traceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13548848659390759707noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8702303782709366814.post-53340086763519452672011-11-18T15:08:00.004-06:002011-11-21T09:16:59.265-06:00Who Are You Calling Turkey?!<span style="color: white;">Evidently, my child was chosen as the "head" model for the Turkey hats they were going to be making at daycare this week.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: white;">The teacher, Ms. Nancy, said that all she was trying to do was get a size estimate as far as how big/or small to make the paper headbands on the hats, but once she put it on Colton's head, he didn't want her to take it off.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: white;">As his mom, I found that description <em>very</em> interesting because at home whether it is a hat, pajamas, diaper, shoes, etc. he will fight you tooth and nail just to:</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: white;">1. Get him to be still enough to put the item on, and</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: white;">2. Once you do get the item on, he's usually trying to remove it.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: white;">Maybe I need to have Ms. Nancy move into our guest room??? </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: white;">Colton is obviously much more cooperative for her...LOL! </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: white;">Okay, back to the hat.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: white;">It's still missing the multi-colored paper feathers and cute little orange accordion legs that will dangle from the sides, but nevertheless you get the "PICTURE"...LOL!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: white;">I've got to give a big shout-out thanks to Ms. Nancy and her camera phone for capturing candid shots of my babe.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: white;">After all, she knows this momma loves her some pictures!</span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4-l1OAMM5a7rucuy8py0cChA0tlg5zkpyJWqbEkLvi-qneiD91qsh7q6o1mbHlN2SFIP6ENf8Y2NCUcvCV4EoMtClgYgNTt5Zug-EgvwxwpsXOOKCBWev_QD8naljXTGsJ7BomnJhm68/s1600/Turket+Hat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="310px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4-l1OAMM5a7rucuy8py0cChA0tlg5zkpyJWqbEkLvi-qneiD91qsh7q6o1mbHlN2SFIP6ENf8Y2NCUcvCV4EoMtClgYgNTt5Zug-EgvwxwpsXOOKCBWev_QD8naljXTGsJ7BomnJhm68/s400/Turket+Hat.jpg" width="400px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;">Gobble, Gobble!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfI6lgpR_8d_F5kMnydWR0AD1qgFRgKuByZzPE2oPlovPueX6keG7DcxMpl7evcHclmst0Aw54TWTBzAv8B1MKzSeuB1YnJi5KWEFfwchQ3SMgzY8az6Lcd_J_hwRcIS-6LHDdrPA7_cs/s1600/Turkey+Hand.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="223px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfI6lgpR_8d_F5kMnydWR0AD1qgFRgKuByZzPE2oPlovPueX6keG7DcxMpl7evcHclmst0Aw54TWTBzAv8B1MKzSeuB1YnJi5KWEFfwchQ3SMgzY8az6Lcd_J_hwRcIS-6LHDdrPA7_cs/s320/Turkey+Hand.jpg" width="320px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;">See below for wording on poster</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<i><span style="color: white;">All turkey birds are different<br />
From sea to shining sea<br />
And you'll never see another bird<br />
Like this one to you from me.<br />
Can you see what makes him different?<br />
Do you need some helpful hints?<br />
I made him from my very own<br />
Thumb and fingerprints!<br />
~Marsha A. Burks</span></i><br />
<br />
<br />
<strong><span style="color: white;">GOD BLESS AND HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!</span></strong></div>Traceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13548848659390759707noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8702303782709366814.post-90257579151460735022011-11-08T15:18:00.002-06:002011-11-08T15:42:01.553-06:00A Hard Lesson "To-e" Learn!<span style="color: white;">When I was pregnant with my second child, I cannot tell you how many times friends and family told me, "Be prepared Tracey, no two children are ever alike."</span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">And every time I heard that I thought, "Eh, how different can two kids (same sex siblings for that matter) really be?"</span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">Well, let me tellya' folks...my two boys are as DIFF-er-ENT as different can be!!!!</span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">With R.J. (my oldest) I could tell him "No" and he would accept it and move along.</span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">Seriously, no questions asked. </span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">No whining. </span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">No crying. </span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">No little hissy fit.</span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">At his youngest of age he totally understood the sternness in my voice and figured out early on that when mommy said, "No", she meant it.</span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">Till this day he is pretty much the same way. </span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">Don’t get me wrong, he may try to barter his way out of a "No" sometimes, but for the most part he knows I'm serious when I say it.</span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">Enter child number two...my youngest...my baby...my 17-month old toddler...C-O-L-T-O-N.</span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">Oh, dear Lord, were my friends and family ever right!</span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">I guess you could say that from the beginning Colton was different.</span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">R.J. was a very colicky baby and Colton was as laid back as the day is long.</span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">Good indicator of a laid back personality, right?</span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><br />
</span><br />
<i><span style="color: white;">WRONG-O!</span></i><br />
<span style="color: white;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">This sweet, smiley, blue-eyed child is wide open!</span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">And now that he has found his <strike>"walking"</strike> running feet - - look out world!</span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">Compound his uber energy with the fact that not only does he not like to hear the word, "No", when he does hear it, he either:</span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">A. Continues to do what he's doing (ignoring the fact you ever said it); </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: white;">B. Breaks out into a tears running down his face, can't catch his breath, ear piercing cry (as if you'd burned him with an iron);</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: white;">C. Throws himself into a belly flop on the floor writhing and kicking like he's a fish that's been thrown onto the waterless surface of a boat, or</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: white;">D. Temporarily stops what he's doing only to look at you with a sly little grin on his face and in less than a <i>nano-second</i> goes right back to doing whatever it is he's not supposed to be doing, touching, pulling at, destroying, playing with, sticking in his mouth, running away with, etc. </span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">Honestly folks, this is going to be my child who when I tell him the sky is blue, he's going to INSIST that it's purple. </span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">After all, he knows it's purple. </span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">And you cannot tell him it's <i>NOT</i> purple!</span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">He is stubborn with a capital "S" - - must take after his er, um, daddy…LOL!</span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">You get the picture, right?!!!</span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">Well, the other night there I was in our kitchen headed to the pantry to put a box of cereal away.</span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">You know, just your average, run-of-the-mill, tidying up the kitchen activity.</span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">EXCEPT, I forgot to tell you one other thing about Colton...</span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">He is attached to me like a flea on a dog's back.</span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">Everywhere I go (especially when I’m inside the house) he is either following me, hanging onto my pants legs while I am walking around, climbing on top of me if I am sitting or laying down, or raising his arms up to be carried if he's too tired of being my shadow.</span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">Soooo, you can just forget about him staying in another room with his daddy and big brother if mommy is up and milling around in the kitchen.</span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">Anyway, when I opened up the pantry door, as is typical, Colton is right behind me.</span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">That is, until he stepped aside and spotted all of the colorful cans on the bottom shelf of the pantry that were also within arm's reach of his little toddler hands.</span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">As he stretched out his arms to reach for one of the cans, <strike>in my identical Michelle Duggar-ish calm and gentle voice</strike> immediately I <strike>said</strike> screamed out like a mad Italian woman "NO, Colton!" </span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">To which I was met with his quick glance of defiance just moments before he grabbed the family size can of Beef-a-roni (Sssh, don't tell my mom, but the kids like it) that promptly fell smack dab on his pajama legged, barefooted, big toe.</span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">Within a mini-flash, he let out the most blood curdling crying scream.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: white;">And, when I looked down this is what I saw...</span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRR86GG-sPgwVmNKhBwemjTYmXqnbjC-ZZdJdhG-NYLgnDmJSHnoNspa4ug-nWtDWO17GLlSCGru5rMnfHDTQUSxNiLviMGRYH0cSBFNJgVU3onIRaHbq1lPoGf6-_hkhyDqy-7pt-iwQ/s1600/toe.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRR86GG-sPgwVmNKhBwemjTYmXqnbjC-ZZdJdhG-NYLgnDmJSHnoNspa4ug-nWtDWO17GLlSCGru5rMnfHDTQUSxNiLviMGRYH0cSBFNJgVU3onIRaHbq1lPoGf6-_hkhyDqy-7pt-iwQ/s320/toe.JPG" width="298px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;">OUCH!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="color: white;"><br />
</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: white;">I felt so bad for him. </span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">I mean after all, no mommy wants their child to be hurt and you gotta' know that this definitely hurt...BIG TIME!</span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">When I finally got him to calm down, I gave him some Motrin for the pain and cradled him to sleep in my arms, all the while covering him with kisses.</span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">While I was looking at him peacefully asleep, glad that he was going to be okay (albeit he may lose that toenail), I realized that this was a very hard lesson for him to learn.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: white;">But, moreover, I hope he realized that when mommy says, "No"...</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: white;">She.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: white;">Means.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: white;">NO.</span>Traceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13548848659390759707noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8702303782709366814.post-53448955012579721962011-11-03T14:41:00.002-05:002011-11-03T21:56:15.472-05:00From Pumpkins To Potter And Sick In-Between<span style="color: white; font-family: inherit;">Can I be honest? (like when am I not...LOL!)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
<span style="color: white;"></span></span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: inherit;">I am just THAAAA-RILLLLED that October is O-V-E-R!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
<span style="color: white;"></span></span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: inherit;">And, no, it's not because it means were inching closer to Thanksgiving and Christmas.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
<span style="color: white;"></span></span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: inherit;">It's because October held yucky, yucky sickness for my sweet boys.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
<span style="color: white;"></span></span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: inherit;">Our youngest, Colton, came down with strep (for the bazillionith time) and had probably one of his worst respiratory 'bouts yet. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
<span style="color: white;"></span></span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: inherit;">I was out with him for a week administering meds and doing nebulizer treatments...fun, fun, fun - - NOT! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
<span style="color: white;"></span></span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: inherit;">Poor baby.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
<span style="color: white;"></span></span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: inherit;">He did start feeling better after staying at home for all those days being cared for, so we piled up the kiddos and headed to the best Pumpkin Patch EV-AH!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: white;">It's called</span> </span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Dream-Field-Farms-Inc/28568791226#!/pages/Dream-Field-Farms-Inc/28568791226?sk=info"><span style="color: yellow; font-family: inherit;">Dreamfield Farms</span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"> <span style="color: white;">and it's located here in Alabama.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: inherit;">We had an perfect autumn family day.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf7Xa6YS9C0WI5zKt523Go2A9N3XWV6Rfpv06KeLackoPIPTXgZ4lAnIiALSUk2gud_Rqcz9gDweYY3S1aeB9fK36v-0XWkJ1j5Y4EjpA0IY6NHUQZTGZlqQyXT6-uRjiOT0u-NctK9x0/s1600/photo+d.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="239px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf7Xa6YS9C0WI5zKt523Go2A9N3XWV6Rfpv06KeLackoPIPTXgZ4lAnIiALSUk2gud_Rqcz9gDweYY3S1aeB9fK36v-0XWkJ1j5Y4EjpA0IY6NHUQZTGZlqQyXT6-uRjiOT0u-NctK9x0/s320/photo+d.JPG" width="320px" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;">R.J. posing for the camera</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlY0tOUFxXNIiChmdyjIneUGp96rFY-kOHyBO32bW1GfyK7OO6XlhtnIXB_M_fH8eg6J-SSJGXXZNGdHhB-j4ZCwuFOYwj8tBlWNAxJgqIyphQQuW7WdENpauMnK6JqGZlnwjJ184Yf4I/s1600/photo+c.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="239px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlY0tOUFxXNIiChmdyjIneUGp96rFY-kOHyBO32bW1GfyK7OO6XlhtnIXB_M_fH8eg6J-SSJGXXZNGdHhB-j4ZCwuFOYwj8tBlWNAxJgqIyphQQuW7WdENpauMnK6JqGZlnwjJ184Yf4I/s320/photo+c.JPG" width="320px" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;">We couldn't get Colton to sit still for this one</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: inherit;">The "corn" box was a big hit!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
<span style="color: white;"></span></span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: inherit;">Especially for Colton...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1BBwcztfDTHcPPYkrKoy5lRlNZwtqfGdrO89eT0BxULGfwCsiQV88WqUe7m5OeKXFeIsBlikN1v7Kj-owEEnF5-yMorUhyphenhyphentKKoywfS_ju2qPAdbRf2FmgmA2tyFo7Y5AyLuYLJv8h-hk/s1600/002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="240px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1BBwcztfDTHcPPYkrKoy5lRlNZwtqfGdrO89eT0BxULGfwCsiQV88WqUe7m5OeKXFeIsBlikN1v7Kj-owEEnF5-yMorUhyphenhyphentKKoywfS_ju2qPAdbRf2FmgmA2tyFo7Y5AyLuYLJv8h-hk/s320/002.JPG" width="320px" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEC__Q0RyK2sO9Atxhs3VQ01CGrOYDOnkHf9WDjL-_Fvuig6R2nyzJT9d7qgRgrNzZ-mcp-VJ3nGK9nDUdO3R5xR-9n-T7U1Qn6pUT4NtH_m2aAE_d0pR8XF3Z4dinDa5VWAKmBy43oEM/s1600/005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="240px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEC__Q0RyK2sO9Atxhs3VQ01CGrOYDOnkHf9WDjL-_Fvuig6R2nyzJT9d7qgRgrNzZ-mcp-VJ3nGK9nDUdO3R5xR-9n-T7U1Qn6pUT4NtH_m2aAE_d0pR8XF3Z4dinDa5VWAKmBy43oEM/s320/005.JPG" width="320px" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoAmjTpFjxX83Q7W7v_fRBM9SjiqLx44U50Jmc3nTfSExwefsGXR4kfQ5XeyPbMVwidUI6clqIX4x_EWyhpKwyjcWRYXGV7BWw0bX2EWOpO0VWJVFgK7sfGaWMhkt52HXSwOod2gNH-q0/s1600/001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="320px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoAmjTpFjxX83Q7W7v_fRBM9SjiqLx44U50Jmc3nTfSExwefsGXR4kfQ5XeyPbMVwidUI6clqIX4x_EWyhpKwyjcWRYXGV7BWw0bX2EWOpO0VWJVFgK7sfGaWMhkt52HXSwOod2gNH-q0/s320/001.JPG" width="240px" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUOsmvb7GWNQf-poXDdz26XSasHX1Pamk5ocA2ls_6o-VDXWosvVCOHz56xvqNFca76Mw3sFiAsB3hkRlJr8gey3TNJDZJGaRguiVWNJ_h0L3Q_5ofFOM5To32GyQQaWwH5DEHHykKpZU/s1600/004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="240px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUOsmvb7GWNQf-poXDdz26XSasHX1Pamk5ocA2ls_6o-VDXWosvVCOHz56xvqNFca76Mw3sFiAsB3hkRlJr8gey3TNJDZJGaRguiVWNJ_h0L3Q_5ofFOM5To32GyQQaWwH5DEHHykKpZU/s320/004.JPG" width="320px" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheP-BXdL5vA00xA-oZipduOYjlYwgXLt7dh1c5y-ZzMryfF5OWLZy6R1c8k-YpF4Zj9oheP0Gsc1Re80Me0k1e5VtRkIyEiR4JtnMqUJ9zXAQy_IDqX1ioJpxi-vDoNrsNKL45fHlo_O8/s1600/006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="240px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheP-BXdL5vA00xA-oZipduOYjlYwgXLt7dh1c5y-ZzMryfF5OWLZy6R1c8k-YpF4Zj9oheP0Gsc1Re80Me0k1e5VtRkIyEiR4JtnMqUJ9zXAQy_IDqX1ioJpxi-vDoNrsNKL45fHlo_O8/s320/006.JPG" width="320px" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3bc1q7yxLQs4q5MM6rzL9gMtWu_dZE2ZEYg4NBte_VjbCDOGopRYUxL_bPwQiwo2w0JSxFt3NmsJOgeMaKfAHaZei5Lr4lk7rHBGqCran_kNB_hmlQg-DK8-zRsSe8c2hrI8AGhnXpeQ/s1600/photo+e.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="320px" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3bc1q7yxLQs4q5MM6rzL9gMtWu_dZE2ZEYg4NBte_VjbCDOGopRYUxL_bPwQiwo2w0JSxFt3NmsJOgeMaKfAHaZei5Lr4lk7rHBGqCran_kNB_hmlQg-DK8-zRsSe8c2hrI8AGhnXpeQ/s320/photo+e.JPG" width="263px" /></span></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> <span style="color: white;">So was the "cow" train!</span></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1fn_O-NnxNSwitMuYwTbU2LNOMlAl9dDWUO45z562r5vUCRHWx40VuRX61Q4as3Q2zDVBNJmGPjQ5g2cllAwyDeioU6UV-IraHgrhTNv8Se3W2gx9zWoybOwhyphenhyphenjgM92vGj3W5J2EiKCE/s1600/photo+f.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="239px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1fn_O-NnxNSwitMuYwTbU2LNOMlAl9dDWUO45z562r5vUCRHWx40VuRX61Q4as3Q2zDVBNJmGPjQ5g2cllAwyDeioU6UV-IraHgrhTNv8Se3W2gx9zWoybOwhyphenhyphenjgM92vGj3W5J2EiKCE/s320/photo+f.JPG" width="320px" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: inherit;">We've even got video to prove it!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzn8CWQ6Kkk4SAXFej9ii9pKCyCWHyOwJuDJeiaWdee6CLqdPxKfMrJ9eGNs6JVU3eJJrTS2Gg4z1ODMlrQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: inherit;">R.J. thought the animals were cool, but he thought the fact that his new "transitioning" eyeglasses was even cooler since they turn into sunglasses when he's outside and there's sun glare.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6AX1m-4WDpWKs59t1A2YGX1RWewUS8VqFPwxk7gwuo-uSyHV2eEKR5b1gfDfNfvPk8yP1G43UMfVBbdSL4LTxqkrwgQNvTkTHuuWI4mRM8eNMdhuOv-7OyR7IfRO69c6wHKT7uPt-NJM/s1600/photo+%25288%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="268px" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6AX1m-4WDpWKs59t1A2YGX1RWewUS8VqFPwxk7gwuo-uSyHV2eEKR5b1gfDfNfvPk8yP1G43UMfVBbdSL4LTxqkrwgQNvTkTHuuWI4mRM8eNMdhuOv-7OyR7IfRO69c6wHKT7uPt-NJM/s320/photo+%25288%2529.jpg" width="320px" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: inherit;">All of my boys enjoyed the hayride (and Mom did too, but as usual I'm the one taking the pictures).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkHSmBXo7u6B1xwV1CL4-fYk6ESRhHV734YlJbxDPu2njpcwlDLlNP02xw_rmGJa4AUkuwk7Qa1JBr3llLIbXrWL4brHcUIGIMvPpYYgwjhrV3IJcn6obQwrINzArBJsqVz9z51onN7k4/s1600/photo+%25284%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="320px" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkHSmBXo7u6B1xwV1CL4-fYk6ESRhHV734YlJbxDPu2njpcwlDLlNP02xw_rmGJa4AUkuwk7Qa1JBr3llLIbXrWL4brHcUIGIMvPpYYgwjhrV3IJcn6obQwrINzArBJsqVz9z51onN7k4/s320/photo+%25284%2529.JPG" width="240px" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu8OdI5saZ4ecoVh0TWzJ259hNhklYMujAwx1KqHsVizk5NAs15-wBXUJL3nKeV5fcscJ_Sczw5bqrgv3e6uCO7QBihuxJdH-A8moZhpZ4ECPr3N2ZvOioVhCHWWiFeJL-eAEVntcSgpw/s1600/photo+%25285%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="238px" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu8OdI5saZ4ecoVh0TWzJ259hNhklYMujAwx1KqHsVizk5NAs15-wBXUJL3nKeV5fcscJ_Sczw5bqrgv3e6uCO7QBihuxJdH-A8moZhpZ4ECPr3N2ZvOioVhCHWWiFeJL-eAEVntcSgpw/s320/photo+%25285%2529.JPG" width="320px" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-8h9QX5-J35xfsAB8yMbDrErwS7lS-Ikyctw8tg79rAoRxUOAlX4zm9gPVEkXVXQf6qRP-_QAiCwdUSIa__faSCQjfb2h5E96ZScOzUX2FzrXdBrlXQKoR3Sj7M43FEoBvZQmsnGO-lc/s1600/photo+%25286%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="235px" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-8h9QX5-J35xfsAB8yMbDrErwS7lS-Ikyctw8tg79rAoRxUOAlX4zm9gPVEkXVXQf6qRP-_QAiCwdUSIa__faSCQjfb2h5E96ZScOzUX2FzrXdBrlXQKoR3Sj7M43FEoBvZQmsnGO-lc/s320/photo+%25286%2529.jpg" width="320px" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga7Z7o4c8yt_MrloFXNeLIC-7jl7tjoa_sx3SFzdOF-LwHhCP6XZWUjOgCg6odBhY9Nlcq8EGe5nlUws8mseumikMGH6MdEJnsY_juM21WqU-_4VETMT0wnMDHTj5o38IOuwlp6az2Fk8/s1600/photo+%25287%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="240px" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga7Z7o4c8yt_MrloFXNeLIC-7jl7tjoa_sx3SFzdOF-LwHhCP6XZWUjOgCg6odBhY9Nlcq8EGe5nlUws8mseumikMGH6MdEJnsY_juM21WqU-_4VETMT0wnMDHTj5o38IOuwlp6az2Fk8/s320/photo+%25287%2529.JPG" width="320px" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: inherit;">Picking the pumpkins was best of all!</span><br />
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</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUXAoPlrvDuU3RBonKV9-2QutHTpSjIOCBCALCptb1g-tMmFk2zEBcNFANcnHsgBb8fphYFoRkuZ78hgKAFC32VbblQ06AOupMYvBnjZ7_2wdjZMKzLsRG6S1zHVed_bpxwc271STM8xw/s1600/photo+%25289%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="320px" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUXAoPlrvDuU3RBonKV9-2QutHTpSjIOCBCALCptb1g-tMmFk2zEBcNFANcnHsgBb8fphYFoRkuZ78hgKAFC32VbblQ06AOupMYvBnjZ7_2wdjZMKzLsRG6S1zHVed_bpxwc271STM8xw/s320/photo+%25289%2529.jpg" width="290px" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: inherit;">Here are the finished products!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
<span style="color: white;"></span></span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: inherit;">R.J. did a double-sided pumpkin...</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRMyat3hIHL43iKq5r3Y2ya-udxAZCm8h-PzlundAA-FjpDx25bPAVj4tzo7heXQ6Q_l8XAqHoLPy228nPjjmv0VTdk8lLlNujZqox82vgpcidNX5mUL_bReVVfCD94IPmiEdl-rufp8U/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="239px" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRMyat3hIHL43iKq5r3Y2ya-udxAZCm8h-PzlundAA-FjpDx25bPAVj4tzo7heXQ6Q_l8XAqHoLPy228nPjjmv0VTdk8lLlNujZqox82vgpcidNX5mUL_bReVVfCD94IPmiEdl-rufp8U/s320/photo.JPG" width="320px" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;">Side 1</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV_zgidlCL849eElroeLeLaebDTmBHUuTJLxteoaFa2bcSOhQq8jDL3mmL03RwZ8UDDQuUH6OBwPMIUsSdtrVWcFNggnAeHwtb3qHLyO6sJwgCv7VkRUsMg0cmWfx6Ln2Bq1ixFhfyoS8/s1600/photo+a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="239px" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV_zgidlCL849eElroeLeLaebDTmBHUuTJLxteoaFa2bcSOhQq8jDL3mmL03RwZ8UDDQuUH6OBwPMIUsSdtrVWcFNggnAeHwtb3qHLyO6sJwgCv7VkRUsMg0cmWfx6Ln2Bq1ixFhfyoS8/s320/photo+a.JPG" width="320px" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;">Side 2</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: inherit;"> And Colton did a wee little skeleton...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4920S0X2cAPSSOrjskiRJWLvmXsQGsXg1LiDzzVopVaZWLYEuEaDi7JtGHjiN76BNXaLl_46dIH4RKo6PuipWtLv-ALzs9iXboO4tf0kHzb0-upGL9tj5AZg53Orv0Ev62jJ44LrCewQ/s1600/photo+b.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="239px" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4920S0X2cAPSSOrjskiRJWLvmXsQGsXg1LiDzzVopVaZWLYEuEaDi7JtGHjiN76BNXaLl_46dIH4RKo6PuipWtLv-ALzs9iXboO4tf0kHzb0-upGL9tj5AZg53Orv0Ev62jJ44LrCewQ/s320/photo+b.JPG" width="320px" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: inherit;">The "perfectness" of our fun-filled October day ended with the pumpkins and the Patch because just when we got the baby all well and back to daycare, my oldest, R.J., starts running a super high fever, throwing up, coughing and loses his appetite and energy.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
<span style="color: white;"></span></span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: inherit;">Off to doctor with him - - TWICE. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
<span style="color: white;"></span></span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: inherit;">Hello, Mononucleosis! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
<span style="color: white;"></span></span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: inherit;">Good-bye school for a week.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
<span style="color: white;"></span></span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: inherit;">Welcome to our house - UGH!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
<span style="color: white;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: white;">Seriously folks, I have never seen my son so pale and lethargic.</span> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: inherit;">This mono stuff truly is no laughing matter.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
<span style="color: white;"></span></span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: inherit;">Being sick is not fun.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
<span style="color: white;"></span></span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: inherit;">Being a kid and being sick is even worse.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
<span style="color: white;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: white;">Being sick during trick-or-treating time is the <em>worstest!</em></span></span><br />
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</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: inherit;">R.J. had been home for a week resting and taking his medicine, but we really weren't sure if he was going to feel up to going trick-or-treating, and if he didn't feel like it that was completely okay with us.</span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: inherit;">October 31st came around and he decided he <span style="font-family: inherit;">wanted to give</span> it a try.</span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">For the past few years we've been meeting up with my friend and her two children. They live in a really good neighborhood to go door-to-door.</span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">Harry Potter-ville, here we come!</span> <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzyk2zhsZN6dNB8AW_yydU9BXnLWfTMCWW9pcGZOv3_fNOObhYdc9XwO7G4T6K7Ck1xoC3AsK6S6Yl48O4otZyV9IDALOUg1QxhdxvJgsMXRhpaTfQfvcgAujZLITp6iD-gYd1ktPJfmE/s1600/photo5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="282px" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzyk2zhsZN6dNB8AW_yydU9BXnLWfTMCWW9pcGZOv3_fNOObhYdc9XwO7G4T6K7Ck1xoC3AsK6S6Yl48O4otZyV9IDALOUg1QxhdxvJgsMXRhpaTfQfvcgAujZLITp6iD-gYd1ktPJfmE/s320/photo5.JPG" width="320px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;">R.J. as Harry Potter and my friend's daughter as Hermoine</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6JujTvROz-mEcr4Z-wcpVPM-INyRNnuIFk_y39dohwyyLwkAuQCcpmBLiqmTab504dVU-5Ni-J_CxgFQVDow48ArK3i9d9fvv2bg0BR9c0zCbbVPpB8sifMU1gTC-X8VmcCDc4_YSn58/s1600/photo1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320px" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6JujTvROz-mEcr4Z-wcpVPM-INyRNnuIFk_y39dohwyyLwkAuQCcpmBLiqmTab504dVU-5Ni-J_CxgFQVDow48ArK3i9d9fvv2bg0BR9c0zCbbVPpB8sifMU1gTC-X8VmcCDc4_YSn58/s320/photo1.JPG" width="240px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;">Daddy was Dumbledore</span><br />
<span style="color: red;">(Michael's mask scared Colton so much that he had to take it off)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBEsqfSNWP6GA_9jecaqkg9tWRfEuK6xOImdlS8T75BUpD9af-kdEgFTpu4HhR6rJf0xfABWgZLo5G-AUrhE0x0xyB66sX0bhfRMVs2yw6pqjPZi18E9d2wt8-uS96IrmbTpHPtIzaZPU/s1600/photo4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320px" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBEsqfSNWP6GA_9jecaqkg9tWRfEuK6xOImdlS8T75BUpD9af-kdEgFTpu4HhR6rJf0xfABWgZLo5G-AUrhE0x0xyB66sX0bhfRMVs2yw6pqjPZi18E9d2wt8-uS96IrmbTpHPtIzaZPU/s320/photo4.JPG" width="230px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;">Mommy (yep, that's me) was Professor Minerva McGonagall</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table> <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuHyld2sbU3gQYY8zkw-WGgdB5hlG9UHOqHpElxowsQDeyKQ4IZexU9pl7q94nk9Ryu_djm-9lUs5n80EfU9zWxZBNhAOHdqY-jCPYZgmcXyw03cJigsi5Vv-_kS-PiyeTgg3y-_uoIas/s1600/photo7.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320px" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuHyld2sbU3gQYY8zkw-WGgdB5hlG9UHOqHpElxowsQDeyKQ4IZexU9pl7q94nk9Ryu_djm-9lUs5n80EfU9zWxZBNhAOHdqY-jCPYZgmcXyw03cJigsi5Vv-_kS-PiyeTgg3y-_uoIas/s320/photo7.JPG" width="214px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;">Colton was Hedwig the owl</span><br />
<span style="color: red;">(Okay, so I know Hedwig was white, but this is when he was a "baby" owl...LOL!)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table> <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUMpl9oaJEbQbKfuv55f6fu57JL0ETahfejbXrHJYOhsMlK1TwukcXx0t5ELVLQ6qXC9gMCD3GkAUEXkV6RiXXh29oZtxM1n_wcBjAZW9_3tL60_FelJN3O0Dv0DMaUfXzz3yHLzSEqbg/s1600/photo8.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320px" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUMpl9oaJEbQbKfuv55f6fu57JL0ETahfejbXrHJYOhsMlK1TwukcXx0t5ELVLQ6qXC9gMCD3GkAUEXkV6RiXXh29oZtxM1n_wcBjAZW9_3tL60_FelJN3O0Dv0DMaUfXzz3yHLzSEqbg/s320/photo8.JPG" width="240px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;">My friend's son was the Transformer Optimus Prime</span><br />
<span style="color: red;">(Sure, sure, Transformers were NOT in Harry Potter, but Hogwart's School </span><br />
<span style="color: red;">taught wizards, and we all know that wizards can be ANYTHING they want!)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="color: white;">R.J. was quite the trick-or-treating trooper and tried to put on a happy face, but after about ten houses he was so exhausted that he and I turned around and headed back to the house while the others finished their rounds.</span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">In contrast, Colton had enough energy for ALL of us and would have kept on going until midnight if we had let him...LOL!</span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">So there you have it...like I said, from pumpkins to Potter and sick in-between.</span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">So long October.</span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">Delighted to meet you November.</span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">Please be good to this family.</span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">Thankyouverymuch!</span>Traceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13548848659390759707noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8702303782709366814.post-23804459752261961292011-10-15T09:20:00.000-05:002011-10-15T09:20:40.525-05:00Remembering...<span style="color: white;">Today, October 15th is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Rememberance Day.</span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">Prior to 2008 I ashamedly admit that October 15th was, well, just another day in the month. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: white;">Ironically, my wedding anniversary is in October (the 7th), but other than that, October only represented the celebration of my marriage and the fact that Halloween is enjoyed by many of us on the 31st.</span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">Having my miscarriages (seeing two heartbeats and then seeing a still screen two different times) not only changed how I view the month of October, it changed me...forever.</span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfKEG9tM6MkU8Vnh_YP_4ubnOL2vKD1DsG3l3cV-VQUKbrf0e05Hgd9WZaXiMUYDCZpAsCg5gFYreno9XVQJyPy3EBzEDMelYE8mEZNSBC2VnnCb81XL1PPTrpeLyOOoey2uYGfi6sBmA/s1600/Angel+Baby+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="361" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfKEG9tM6MkU8Vnh_YP_4ubnOL2vKD1DsG3l3cV-VQUKbrf0e05Hgd9WZaXiMUYDCZpAsCg5gFYreno9XVQJyPy3EBzEDMelYE8mEZNSBC2VnnCb81XL1PPTrpeLyOOoey2uYGfi6sBmA/s400/Angel+Baby+1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;">Angel Baby #1</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">EDD: 4/1/09</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table> <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMhmMD3lSWxOjY35UhtFnHgzZjKxIsUBosNfKpQ2cDUd5tkHxRZ4mrl-XahWqhlcvJ70IkEromwI35gi9nH5CFARybBIbzUtA2nQTEtMTksTasdLu25n2ZzmnON9PZYCfRCXbuQ7pEyk4/s1600/Angel+Baby+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="350" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMhmMD3lSWxOjY35UhtFnHgzZjKxIsUBosNfKpQ2cDUd5tkHxRZ4mrl-XahWqhlcvJ70IkEromwI35gi9nH5CFARybBIbzUtA2nQTEtMTksTasdLu25n2ZzmnON9PZYCfRCXbuQ7pEyk4/s400/Angel+Baby+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;">Angel Baby #2</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">EDD 7/31/09</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<span style="color: white;">You see, I am not the mother of TWO children, my precious boys, I am the mother of FOUR children. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: white;">Two here on earth to love and cherish each and everyday (and I do) and two angel babies who (although not ever having been able to hold them in my arms) I also love and cherish.</span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">There is honestly not a single day that goes by that I don't think about those angel babies and "what if"? </span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">Their due dates are just as emblazoned in my mind and in my heart as the delivery dates of my sweet sons.</span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">For some of you reading this who have not every experienced such a loss my sentiments might be hard to understand. </span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">However, unfortunately, there is a secret fraternity of woman out there who know and understand exactly how I feel.</span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">Worse yet, this secret fraternity has members that have sadly and courageously endured bringing a "sleeping" infant into this world or experienced losing a baby/ies after having them here on earth to hold and love.</span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">In 2006, the U.S. House of Representatives (with the U.S. Senate concurring) passed a Resolution supporting the goals and ideals of having a Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day and declared October 15th of each year to be that day.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: white;">If you click</span> <a href="http://www.october15th.com/transcription.htm"><span style="color: yellow;">here</span></a> <span style="color: white;">you can read a portion of the transcript when Congress passed this resolution...a resolution that held special meaning for so many of the members who felt compelled to address the House floor and speak from their hearts.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: white;">One member, Representative Gingrey from Georgia, spoke words that totally hit home for me:</span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><br />
</span><br />
<i><span style="color: white;">Mr. Speaker, I think the importance of this resolution is to let people know that when couples have a miscarriage, it is a child. It might be for some people, well, it is just a miscarriage. They were only 6 weeks or they were only 9 weeks, and they did not even know whether it was a boy or girl. But in the minds of that couple in many instances it is their very first pregnancy, and they are already thinking about that little boy or the little girl and what the name is going to be and the clothes that they are going to pick out and the joys they are going to have sending that child to school and raising it and seeing it play sports and become an adult some day and contribute to our great society. We tend to forget that. And this was brought home to me pretty vividly recently when my daughter-in-law, pregnant with their first child, found out at 10 weeks that the baby did not have a heartbeat. And so that baby was lost. And she went on, of course, and miscarried. And that loss will be with them forever. And so I think it is just so important for us all to realize that when somebody, when you hear about somebody having a miscarriage, do not think, well, it was just a miscarriage, it is not like losing a child or an older child, which of course I do not know that anything compares to that. But this is a significant loss. And that is why this resolution today is so important.</span></i><br />
<br />
<span style="color: white;">So friends, if you are reading this, I simply ask that you take a brief moment today to say a prayer for all who share in the significance of this date.</span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">For many, it's simply October 15, 2011, but for oh so many as well it's a day to...remember.</span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">Thank you and God Bless!</span>Traceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13548848659390759707noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8702303782709366814.post-89229745400890762382011-10-12T13:27:00.001-05:002011-10-12T13:27:30.558-05:00Normal Limits<div style="color: white;">We took Colton to the pediatric opthalmologist yesterday to get his eyes checked for amblyopia a.k.a. "lazy eye" that his baby doctor and I thought he possibly might have. </div><div style="color: white;"><br />
</div><div style="color: white;">Knowing how squiggly wiggly this 16 month old can be when simply changing his diaper, I was wondering how he was going to do when we had to slightly restrain him at the doctor's office because I knew they were going to have to dilate his eyes for the examination.</div><div style="color: white;"><br />
</div><div style="color: white;">I figured I would let Colton get used to the chair so he would feel "semi" comfortable (sure, Mom, sure) when we had to remain seated for the actual exam.</div><div style="color: white;"><br />
</div><div style="color: white;">So I propped him up and there he sat proudly, taking it all in...</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSLsl2kfFrJzpJFSC7Wgo2PoiULikFDZhV5uRqVH7E4bcVvpxUOE1sentvf4sYii742DI5cfc1WWyliiIf_scl8Ppzf__UVzmukDMUfdE4x7PXfhXgSAAHdBw_M_xPPJr3NPNl6Emw9hU/s1600/Coltoneyes3.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSLsl2kfFrJzpJFSC7Wgo2PoiULikFDZhV5uRqVH7E4bcVvpxUOE1sentvf4sYii742DI5cfc1WWyliiIf_scl8Ppzf__UVzmukDMUfdE4x7PXfhXgSAAHdBw_M_xPPJr3NPNl6Emw9hU/s200/Coltoneyes3.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNK916MSOcwgpgWZFuBRDHAtoKMXuVhM2N-By3qLmSyf72Fle5P5l-O3k_kXDKIhpbF6N0dA543bNWRf0X4Ps2zJWhw2ZMLQzqNCCTkCFhpDNJIn7_Cz8xJC5ev6rxH3W2uhDa64G8KRE/s1600/Coltoneyes2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="161" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNK916MSOcwgpgWZFuBRDHAtoKMXuVhM2N-By3qLmSyf72Fle5P5l-O3k_kXDKIhpbF6N0dA543bNWRf0X4Ps2zJWhw2ZMLQzqNCCTkCFhpDNJIn7_Cz8xJC5ev6rxH3W2uhDa64G8KRE/s200/Coltoneyes2.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br />
<div style="color: white;">As I was taking pictures the doctor walked in and it startled him (and Mom) so I <s>artistically</s> clumsily got this shot of Colton in the chair (which I might say is a great example of what he was seeing things like after they put the drops in...LOL!)</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmlfBASl77QioNlSCx2jA7r_HR3LkrHAnU_Or6eeJ65avE7PuPK6eZUF114DC6baMDdl3itH_HEdfaOkuxgWzqb6wAeNtMKk5MbAc12Z6QzietLon5KXBwwfjzGmUlHftfNJACNen6asw/s1600/Coltoneyes1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmlfBASl77QioNlSCx2jA7r_HR3LkrHAnU_Or6eeJ65avE7PuPK6eZUF114DC6baMDdl3itH_HEdfaOkuxgWzqb6wAeNtMKk5MbAc12Z6QzietLon5KXBwwfjzGmUlHftfNJACNen6asw/s320/Coltoneyes1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="color: white;">Anyway, we got the drops in his eyes without any major fidgeting and the doctor did the full exam.</div><div style="color: white;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="color: white;"><b>Diagnosis:</b> Colton does have some asymmetry when both eyes are compared and he is slightly far sighted, but both are completely within NORMAL LIMITS for a child his age and there is no sign of amblyopia. </div><div style="color: white;"><br />
</div><div style="color: white;">Great news! </div><div style="color: white;"><br />
</div><div style="color: white;">And then, I dropped him off at daycare this morning to find this notice:</div><div style="color: white;"><br />
</div><div style="color: white;">"We have confirmed cases of pink eye at the center."</div><div style="color: white;"><br />
</div><div style="color: white;">Figures right?!!! LOL!</div><br />
</div>Traceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13548848659390759707noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8702303782709366814.post-23508511628940734892011-09-19T13:42:00.000-05:002011-09-19T13:42:30.074-05:00Amblyopia<span style="color: white;">It's pronounced [am-blee-<em>oh</em>-pee-uh].</span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">What is it?</span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">Lazy eye.</span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">Who has it?</span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">Colton (we think).</span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">It's noticeable in this recent picture of him from a few weeks ago...</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi_Zfay1SS4deusq69VWGgue3o1ri53OPvsf2-_dxTpR6j36CyC1WtD4EMinh0jlWTJ_B75dhKcasA-HljMt-frmH38DWyp7bB2W_P-f3sMEzDVxtZ7PYuJkKFyVsUgAVc8eJfRBMA1_Q/s1600/15+mths.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi_Zfay1SS4deusq69VWGgue3o1ri53OPvsf2-_dxTpR6j36CyC1WtD4EMinh0jlWTJ_B75dhKcasA-HljMt-frmH38DWyp7bB2W_P-f3sMEzDVxtZ7PYuJkKFyVsUgAVc8eJfRBMA1_Q/s320/15+mths.JPG" width="246px" /></a></div><br />
<span style="color: white;">Actually, Michael and I noticed what we thought was a slight bit of lazy eye back a few months ago.</span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">Here it's even more noticeable than the other picture above...</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgM0jPBQoHWz0H_aOpGuyDOxbysZFsYn7Q64CZbhN2fdNnCe_Nb0o64ZqcYsef4DmA4q7if1XY5c3KSD8X72LtrvFVMdtuolaiK7GdqPPj7JEWbtI-QBRwDtM_w9Ec2Mu7DrMoTZGK9F8/s1600/Colton+6mths.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgM0jPBQoHWz0H_aOpGuyDOxbysZFsYn7Q64CZbhN2fdNnCe_Nb0o64ZqcYsef4DmA4q7if1XY5c3KSD8X72LtrvFVMdtuolaiK7GdqPPj7JEWbtI-QBRwDtM_w9Ec2Mu7DrMoTZGK9F8/s400/Colton+6mths.jpg" width="289px" /></a></div><br />
<span style="color: white;">So, we mentioned it to Colton's pediatrician who at the time said that it was very common in infants and she made a note to keep track of it on subsequent appointments to see if it was still discernable or if he seemed to be outgrowing it.</span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">Well, after examining Colton at his last appointment the doctor felt like (just to be on the safe side) it would be best for Colton to get checked out by a pediatric ophthalmologist who specializes in the area of amblyopia.</span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">I know she is recommending this because it's the right thing to do, but I have to admit it made me a little bit anxious hoping that it turns out to be nothing, but having typical mommy worry that..."Oh, my gosh, what if it IS something?!"</span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">Over the weekend we got the packet from the ophthalmologist's office in the mail and Colton's appointment is scheduled for early October. </span><br />
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<span style="color: white;">Of course, I will let you all know what we find out after meeting with the doctor.</span><br />
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<span style="color: white;">In the meantime, I hope you all will please keep my sweet friend</span> <a href="http://thegarrettsaregrowing.blogspot.com/2011/09/pre-op-appointment.html"><span style="color: yellow;">Ali's baby Fitz</span></a> <span style="color: white;">in your prayers.</span><br />
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<span style="color: white;">Fitz will be undergoing surgery to correct his cleft lip next week.</span><br />
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<span style="color: white;">I know that Ali, her husband John, and the rest of the family are nervous about having to give their sweet little boy up to a doctor's hands for surgery, but they are steadfast in their faith that Fitz is ultimately in the Lord's hands and it is the Almighty who will be guiding the surgeon as his hands work on their son.</span><br />
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<i><span style="color: white;">"Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand." (Isaiah 41:10)</span></i>Traceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13548848659390759707noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8702303782709366814.post-37371685959223329712011-09-08T15:42:00.005-05:002011-09-19T13:53:41.729-05:00Baby Stats - 15 months<span style="color: white; font-family: inherit;">Will someone please tell me why they do not have any child toys to play with once you are put back in the examining room?</span><br />
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<span style="color: white; font-family: inherit;">Because after all, Mommy’s purse is just not going to suffice as a fun toy.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiJoA63r2WllfakdQlp8SvD_isvuxATfcXYdxEsisMJKvLnYk9e8WzawZHbcPXuqQZqZAf0fPZCh6WJtZlchEzBw5do7BhQofQjQo0sTXNj94EaiVoMrqahCP9wtLCnVYev-aDtvnpDFQ/s1600/photo+a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="294px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiJoA63r2WllfakdQlp8SvD_isvuxATfcXYdxEsisMJKvLnYk9e8WzawZHbcPXuqQZqZAf0fPZCh6WJtZlchEzBw5do7BhQofQjQo0sTXNj94EaiVoMrqahCP9wtLCnVYev-aDtvnpDFQ/s320/photo+a.JPG" width="320px" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
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<span style="color: white; font-family: inherit;">Okay, so maybe the clipboard thingy will?!</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPItH4QfyXpRDY9jSdgaFhL41r8QXSTpvg0VqdXcKhO-NRAcKP8ZLV_d5oERH0cwtRqSE0a2rOaK3B-C-thoUU9TGjQAtHlcV56FOGbxe03vUG7AYSsCMFUfHtmcfAfSQC03fx0QaaNkA/s1600/photo+b.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="271px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPItH4QfyXpRDY9jSdgaFhL41r8QXSTpvg0VqdXcKhO-NRAcKP8ZLV_d5oERH0cwtRqSE0a2rOaK3B-C-thoUU9TGjQAtHlcV56FOGbxe03vUG7AYSsCMFUfHtmcfAfSQC03fx0QaaNkA/s320/photo+b.JPG" width="320px" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDLTtr1-SHVYEynvD1SFE5wMVBV8YyHBnpZb9g1NcHA3arrfp7zdWlfD5DYBMwlKuy_ve9Wp-0f6uesaI4ABBEVdxMlN6lXK_YnoDbu9goLeHDUhZgJBNEnB9RoPLQ2Qa3GfHsgfX9mgY/s1600/photo+c.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="239px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDLTtr1-SHVYEynvD1SFE5wMVBV8YyHBnpZb9g1NcHA3arrfp7zdWlfD5DYBMwlKuy_ve9Wp-0f6uesaI4ABBEVdxMlN6lXK_YnoDbu9goLeHDUhZgJBNEnB9RoPLQ2Qa3GfHsgfX9mgY/s320/photo+c.JPG" width="320px" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb5B7Tbz7hHmdq40MU4C4ZgYOYndYDFKql-xImIRn3J9W2oW6jk1pI95knkKhQr3BniEU9NPJKaX_5bPCEHi9qa8ESGZFL58_QDEQ4W34OWF2CVmV8qTPSpgz-Czv69wG35DHL6_XfZ7k/s1600/photo+d.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="247px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb5B7Tbz7hHmdq40MU4C4ZgYOYndYDFKql-xImIRn3J9W2oW6jk1pI95knkKhQr3BniEU9NPJKaX_5bPCEHi9qa8ESGZFL58_QDEQ4W34OWF2CVmV8qTPSpgz-Czv69wG35DHL6_XfZ7k/s320/photo+d.JPG" width="320px" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-Zfhu2vfU58T1Q8HHs_3s9L7vk-WeLA6JMUCkyrpN8A61UFxh0elfBEkTxWLg7Vbv6sKfU48B22qMyl0gnmjmOhF57DhCP6WLALZueCuRZzx2pYk9lTEP4BxMhgnkKfjCV4IwNNnfQPM/s1600/photo+e.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="239px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-Zfhu2vfU58T1Q8HHs_3s9L7vk-WeLA6JMUCkyrpN8A61UFxh0elfBEkTxWLg7Vbv6sKfU48B22qMyl0gnmjmOhF57DhCP6WLALZueCuRZzx2pYk9lTEP4BxMhgnkKfjCV4IwNNnfQPM/s320/photo+e.JPG" width="320px" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: inherit;">Nope, then how about the Family Circle magazine?!!</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmbw8EaXkHVhfa9vpXTitNLlh36M0IP6mf5D2Nq_sfA4aco7RHS62q8VrAWJPtej8uhOnPDnknBxn2xrAZhIHxnkwJHsoPTtY-pkp1WfpT9_R-zmyaCBawuqnQrB_2BVM6n_bMpmA7aI0/s1600/photo+h.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="239px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmbw8EaXkHVhfa9vpXTitNLlh36M0IP6mf5D2Nq_sfA4aco7RHS62q8VrAWJPtej8uhOnPDnknBxn2xrAZhIHxnkwJHsoPTtY-pkp1WfpT9_R-zmyaCBawuqnQrB_2BVM6n_bMpmA7aI0/s320/photo+h.JPG" width="320px" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig2fVYbGFsEYzoEv-hez00efy_EifEfUF7SrXmdHybIqFZXfPld5dntfy3zCCQB8uDilGEoxz0ButS9SVC6kaltVvw_-4Bw2_3tSTGiOFO-O7zCsf-dxVf-jJAhBgyqtSt_UcWx5YdMF8/s1600/photo+i.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="246px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig2fVYbGFsEYzoEv-hez00efy_EifEfUF7SrXmdHybIqFZXfPld5dntfy3zCCQB8uDilGEoxz0ButS9SVC6kaltVvw_-4Bw2_3tSTGiOFO-O7zCsf-dxVf-jJAhBgyqtSt_UcWx5YdMF8/s320/photo+i.JPG" width="320px" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil_rz0WeOA2WTuWn2Yooq9qpTl-XBO6GpKFSJQmgtGJbtYFpg0IGu34Ro3xqoug2EyIUuswpUNZgTki6kmYp1mmBUHJgTnq-3ZQNsQ74rEJrxDwaJV6Ghbo9tqpfMobLXzrdB6ZIYOn54/s1600/photo+j.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="239px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil_rz0WeOA2WTuWn2Yooq9qpTl-XBO6GpKFSJQmgtGJbtYFpg0IGu34Ro3xqoug2EyIUuswpUNZgTki6kmYp1mmBUHJgTnq-3ZQNsQ74rEJrxDwaJV6Ghbo9tqpfMobLXzrdB6ZIYOn54/s320/photo+j.JPG" width="320px" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
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<span style="color: white; font-family: inherit;">Maybe if I push it on the floor like a truck?!</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp2Q-7-8l-ztuCZZLGWahDHlZLGGNpmH6rKtYIzXZKcr7tK5Vx1G7a6FTmi1KRvcB8RRLRK7h2xJ_pClOoyd33vt5S5OG5Nrjosky312zl6vKMF3Bj7PtUWptdTvsoCkUOzuWI8zwb8XM/s1600/photo+k.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="262px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp2Q-7-8l-ztuCZZLGWahDHlZLGGNpmH6rKtYIzXZKcr7tK5Vx1G7a6FTmi1KRvcB8RRLRK7h2xJ_pClOoyd33vt5S5OG5Nrjosky312zl6vKMF3Bj7PtUWptdTvsoCkUOzuWI8zwb8XM/s320/photo+k.JPG" width="320px" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
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<span style="color: white; font-family: inherit;">Well, what if I scrunch it up and pretend it’s a ball?!</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHm-BRQmznIngnsHoTTe5JwE62OVkfqfRsqlCryjj831aEyU8-rBe29U5m6fqh7Ok7jS73uY5UiTyayyy-lxs1LV0-VICNvcoqatst8WD9CtAkdys5o4bWjjz5pgF05NzxHnhs4SRZ5PM/s1600/photo+n.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="320px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHm-BRQmznIngnsHoTTe5JwE62OVkfqfRsqlCryjj831aEyU8-rBe29U5m6fqh7Ok7jS73uY5UiTyayyy-lxs1LV0-VICNvcoqatst8WD9CtAkdys5o4bWjjz5pgF05NzxHnhs4SRZ5PM/s320/photo+n.JPG" width="255px" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjuNmCCICqxhNGhUNqwELJ9iIBBoqoBzfY09hiaalGCfipNoseMoaKc7Uynd1wx1Ma61s4LmzsBQzZGpNYB8dSZyXIzM3Jv1Gno5o9ryaOQuS7jyJspKuzbI22ddx5PQmeDuH1ZrNXc6M/s1600/photo+o.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="279px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjuNmCCICqxhNGhUNqwELJ9iIBBoqoBzfY09hiaalGCfipNoseMoaKc7Uynd1wx1Ma61s4LmzsBQzZGpNYB8dSZyXIzM3Jv1Gno5o9ryaOQuS7jyJspKuzbI22ddx5PQmeDuH1ZrNXc6M/s320/photo+o.JPG" width="320px" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi66GMOyF7ITxnII8dRUuX9P8EkUJczkBS0mH_Z2jBDqEoTG5FilJxGyCKYZLPoqs5B4_Ifz96_xPlMbWcUfoyiEK7DpLvOaYRXeuIPMoknR1CjebWgqBViTRPhaIloD0xYKt_BilrPw3I/s1600/photo+m.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="320px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi66GMOyF7ITxnII8dRUuX9P8EkUJczkBS0mH_Z2jBDqEoTG5FilJxGyCKYZLPoqs5B4_Ifz96_xPlMbWcUfoyiEK7DpLvOaYRXeuIPMoknR1CjebWgqBViTRPhaIloD0xYKt_BilrPw3I/s320/photo+m.JPG" width="261px" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: white;">I give up!</span> </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFdoyInIaGR1wPa9-4HK470yyVOFCes8S5KA1POb053JMqdk2PQ-74PINoFA4qgKk1kC2oYFPDJ-jTu_SHCgV_ndN43CIU5F_0pAK2jOaE862vrtjKnZHsT0k4ShbclMspKH1emkHgcQI/s1600/photo+l.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="320px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFdoyInIaGR1wPa9-4HK470yyVOFCes8S5KA1POb053JMqdk2PQ-74PINoFA4qgKk1kC2oYFPDJ-jTu_SHCgV_ndN43CIU5F_0pAK2jOaE862vrtjKnZHsT0k4ShbclMspKH1emkHgcQI/s320/photo+l.JPG" width="286px" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
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<span style="color: white; font-family: inherit;">Just get in here and give me those darn shots and let's be done with this already!</span><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;"><strong>Colton's 15 month check-up</strong></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;"><strong>Appointment on: 9/6/2011</strong></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong><span style="color: red;">Age:</span></strong> <span style="color: white;">15 months and 3 days old (on date of blog entry)</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: red;"><strong>Weight:</strong></span> <span style="color: white;">27 lbs. 2 oz. (75th percentile)</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong><span style="color: red;">Length:</span></strong> <span style="color: white;">30 inches (10th – 25th percentile)</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong><span style="color: red;">Head Circumference:</span></strong> <span style="color: white;">48 cm {19 inches} (75th percentile)</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: red;"><strong>Diaper:</strong></span> <span style="color: white;">Size 5 –Pampers brand – Cruisers (during the day) and Pampers Extra Protection Size 5 (at bedtime)</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: red;"><strong>Clothing:</strong></span> <span style="color: white;">Wearing sizes 18-months and 24-months/2-T depending on the brand/type of outfit. He still comfortably fits into size 12-month onesies, go figure?</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: red;"><strong>Shoe:</strong></span> <span style="color: white;">Size 4 <span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">½</span> to 5 (based on mommy's guess-timation). Taking him to be professionally fitted for walking shoes this weekend.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong><span style="color: red;">Liquids:</span></strong> <span style="color: white;">Skim milk for this babe. Whole milk made him throw up every single time he drank it. He will still only take milk from a bottle. He loves juice (diluted white grape, apple, pear) and he'll drink it from a sippy cup. Try putting the milk in a sippy cup and he refuses to drink it...go figure?! LOL!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong><span style="color: red;">Amount:</span></strong> <span style="color: white;">He takes 24 oz. of milk per day and approx. 6 oz. of juice.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: red;"><strong>Solid Food:</strong></span> <span style="color: white;">He's gotten much better dealing with texture. He definitely loves pasta - - and having a mommy who's Italian, that's pretty much a given! Ravioli, spaghetti-o's, beefaroni (I know, I know, it makes his Mimi [mommy's mom] cringe). He still loves pancakes and his new found favorite is french toast sticks. He likes plain ole' buttered toast even and he'll eat scrambled eggs and grits too. He's not too keen on meat yet, but we're still trying. He's a fruit kid...clementines, peaches, bananas - - Mmmmmm! He's more particular about his veggies. He likes green beans and peas, but isn't too thrilled with carrots or corn. Of course, he loves his fruit puff snacks and another favorite...pudding (especially if some of it drops on the highchair tray and he can finger paint "color" with it!)</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: red;"><strong>Sleeping Habits:</strong></span> <span style="color: white;">On a usual night, he goes down about 8:00 to 8:30 p.m. He was getting up in the middle of the night and taking a bottle, but we've cut that out totally. Now if he wakes up, we just pat him or comfort him back to sleep (i.e., pop the pacifier back in his mouth that inevitably has fallen out). He gets up around 6:30 a.m. on most weekdays and if I am really lucky, he will sleep until 8:00 a.m. on the weekend, but there is no guarantee, nor consistency in that. At daycare he's taking one 2 to 2 <span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">½</span> hour nap per day and he is on a napper with attached blanket on the floor instead of in a crib. I was afraid he wasn't going to adjust to that too well, but the daycare staff said he's handled the transition just great.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: red;"><strong>What He's Doing/How He's Progessing:</strong></span> <span style="color: white;">Well, he took his</span> </span><a href="http://traceysjourneytopregnancy.blogspot.com/2011/09/first-steps.html"><span style="color: yellow; font-family: inherit;">first steps</span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"> <span style="color: white;">this past weekend. YIPPEEEE!!! He still isn't quite sure about the walking thing all the time yet, but he's definitely on his way. He is still an explorer...he explores everything!!! Cabinets, drawers, under tables, under chairs. You name it and he wants to explore it. In go the outlet protectors and closed are the bathroom doors with tempting toilet seat lids covers! He has just started to enjoy puzzles...the big wooden pieces taste really good too! We have also discovered that this kid has a great throwing arm...seriously. He can take a ball and throw it overhand like a pro! He also is very adept at manipulating the </span></span><a href="http://shop.leapfrog.com/leapfrog/jump/Fridge-PhonicsA-Magnetic-Alphabet-Set/productDetail/Fridge-Magnetic-Toys/lfprod20305/cat90023"><span style="color: yellow; font-family: inherit;">Leap Frog alphabet refrigerator magnet toy</span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"> <span style="color: white;">as well. But his favorite part of that toy is taking the alphabet magnets and strewing them all over the kitchen floor. He still enjoys looking at books and turning the pages when you read to him. Music makes him very, very happy and he's totally into Sesame Street. Just a glimpse of Elmo and he breaks out into a huge smile. His babbling has gotten much more "conversation-like" albeit with himself...LOL! He has also figured out how to say, "R.J." and he KNOWS that's his big brother's name for sure. This sweet faced little boy has also got a wee bit of a temper which we are having to cull. He's slowly, but surely figuring out what mommy, daddy and big brother will and will not tolerate as far as his behavior goes. Right now he is drawn more to mommy...her legs, her arms, just climbing on and being held by mommy in general. He's still a smiley britches. He's got the most addictive and adorable smile. Which is great because it shows off the 12 teeth he already has!!!!! He's still bathing in the big kitchen sink because the vastness of the bathtub frightens him, yet he loves a swimming pool...still cannot figure this one out - - LOL!</span></span></span><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: white; font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: red;"><strong>Vaccines He's Received To Date: </strong></span><span style="color: white;"> Hepatatis B, DTaP (Diptheria, Tetanus, Pertussis), Hib (Haemophilus Influenzae Type b), IPV (Polio), Prevnar/PCV 13 (Pneumococcal Conjugate), RotaTeq (Rotavirus), Flu, Varivax (chiken pox), and MMR (Measles, Mumps and Rubella).</span> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><span style="font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span style="color: white;">If you want to read about, contrast/compare Colton's 12 month stats, click</span> </span><a href="http://traceysjourneytopregnancy.blogspot.com/2011/06/baby-stats-12-months.html"><span style="color: yellow; font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">here</span></a><span style="color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">.</span></div>Traceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13548848659390759707noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8702303782709366814.post-23954967842694614872011-09-05T19:10:00.001-05:002011-09-05T19:13:53.047-05:00First Steps!<span style="color: white;">This was an eventful weekend.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: white;">My Mom and Dad celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary this past Saturday, <br />
<br />
and</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: white;">Look who started taking his first steps...FINALLY!</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dz4ggoDmgk7Ibp2b32wLkgOp9_IxPI-kNoNjBf5figX1PSKe3adnxKwSb_xypCHUfGogQc9Z0nPFPgoI77rFA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>Traceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13548848659390759707noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8702303782709366814.post-14987538619010363752011-08-30T09:24:00.002-05:002011-08-30T09:25:03.671-05:00They say it's your birthday...actually, it's MY Birthday!<span style="color: white;">Okay, my birthday (today) has been made...this is the e-mail message my hubby sent to me when I got to work. Thank you God for giving me a good man, father, husband, friend: </span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><br />
</span><br />
<blockquote><i><span style="color: white;">Thanks again (x 10) for all that you do for the 3 of us. It’s really not even possible to accurately put into words but you hold everything together and that’s invaluable.</span></i></blockquote><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit9KHsGBVw5Y9MxUzR0VROr5WfNVVY3t-LmHiPoAPS6Bhnr4iqYb90eMkNXzMTSCYaLTlOPZCHJDOdjnyYu7hBWer437fz6AcStLTRclxu8z9n-rPGWu6h2JWdTQxhSWCUOEnN4MXj2X8/s1600/Meyer01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit9KHsGBVw5Y9MxUzR0VROr5WfNVVY3t-LmHiPoAPS6Bhnr4iqYb90eMkNXzMTSCYaLTlOPZCHJDOdjnyYu7hBWer437fz6AcStLTRclxu8z9n-rPGWu6h2JWdTQxhSWCUOEnN4MXj2X8/s400/Meyer01.jpg" width="267px" /></a></div><br />
Traceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13548848659390759707noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8702303782709366814.post-64600491565884916692011-08-18T09:35:00.000-05:002011-08-18T09:35:57.593-05:00Colton is...<span style="color: white;">STILL not walking.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: white;">But, he's getting <i>very</i> close!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: white;">Stay tuned - because after all...</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGvF_L6PpeabvM0Cq6L_VZubg7v4H9Z2ht9RuT3JGraLbPPpCHIaUjrdcxufxdLUEng-y9TWnh436zuKVKGmlcV0mwydX3NMDDlpeCGogUY6Q4_2c1X3dYCUXqD6dIYbHxJDmVXSr_YHg/s1600/Depositphotos_5999152_S.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="269px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGvF_L6PpeabvM0Cq6L_VZubg7v4H9Z2ht9RuT3JGraLbPPpCHIaUjrdcxufxdLUEng-y9TWnh436zuKVKGmlcV0mwydX3NMDDlpeCGogUY6Q4_2c1X3dYCUXqD6dIYbHxJDmVXSr_YHg/s320/Depositphotos_5999152_S.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><br />
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Traceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13548848659390759707noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8702303782709366814.post-61780646075646437592011-07-31T13:38:00.002-05:002011-07-31T13:38:47.241-05:00Do You Think...<span style="color: white;">My child likes his stroller or what?!!</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxSHMHiGa3grfBAJPqCcAVRslYBugD7xS2u4hAElLXurqeGbxY4IJkB4VqPYJGCPXXdW9Dm624YBYWDUwRXu6ixgKiNhaWeGwsrbXg7DeGAqN3idj5PD8-J_orClm2sTS3xDgxDO1tLxA/s1600/Stroller+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxSHMHiGa3grfBAJPqCcAVRslYBugD7xS2u4hAElLXurqeGbxY4IJkB4VqPYJGCPXXdW9Dm624YBYWDUwRXu6ixgKiNhaWeGwsrbXg7DeGAqN3idj5PD8-J_orClm2sTS3xDgxDO1tLxA/s640/Stroller+1.jpg" t$="true" width="380" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7Oe6kX9yRuxmpxK9MctqzjRIO9BkRT_OEbzaYHrS2kGJ0CqYRLKx59_nDT3N-3Eh6tvHkG7G39y2IcI6PsILVETovq16j7BpB1k-6rCDuyTHwNwheSJiVX4M0s1fTwK22KR0oAG9b5hA/s1600/Stroller+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7Oe6kX9yRuxmpxK9MctqzjRIO9BkRT_OEbzaYHrS2kGJ0CqYRLKx59_nDT3N-3Eh6tvHkG7G39y2IcI6PsILVETovq16j7BpB1k-6rCDuyTHwNwheSJiVX4M0s1fTwK22KR0oAG9b5hA/s640/Stroller+2.jpg" t$="true" width="382" /></a></div><br />
<span style="color: white;">My sweet friend Jennifer captured these the other night when we were both attending the daycare/preschool's open house for my Colton and her Braxton.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: white;">R.J. was actually tipping the stroller back (much to the dismay and chiding of his momma) and when he would bring it back down <em>KER-PLUNK</em>, Colton would just shriek with laughter.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: white;">Amazing how so many potentially dangerous "tricks" (according to R.J.) bring so much joy to children...Gheesh!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: white;">Nevertheless, his sweet, giggly smile is priceless!</span>Traceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13548848659390759707noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8702303782709366814.post-16968005790508275522011-07-27T21:51:00.002-05:002011-07-27T21:56:53.695-05:00Note To Self...<span style="color: white;">In the future do NOT let husband [military reservist] send a note with son/grandson for father-in-law/grandfather to give to barber at local air force base because husband was unable to take son himself.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: white;">Why?</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: white;">Because barber did EXACTLY what husband [military reservist] instructed on the note (without father-in-law/grandfather interruption) and thus, this result for my son...</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdf-KuXtOjakKKk8HIS-qi2lMK_Sw-brSzvwPLtsbXG59JUpgTla_JNkrJLT8yqd51nFrxu1DpzYaQkNKXuBD884a7z9AnHeIPYQ9Ke-sPyoLpE4Dap-SeOqDVnqsTW-vx8q4BS7TQlo8/s1600/Haircut%255B2%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdf-KuXtOjakKKk8HIS-qi2lMK_Sw-brSzvwPLtsbXG59JUpgTla_JNkrJLT8yqd51nFrxu1DpzYaQkNKXuBD884a7z9AnHeIPYQ9Ke-sPyoLpE4Dap-SeOqDVnqsTW-vx8q4BS7TQlo8/s320/Haircut%255B2%255D.jpg" width="315" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKlRR8RQl6K2cyTQDy2Vy5QBlH5xeCQDbNlD2J4vt4Aq2CPPwsKH1dCWAfQppoCpYT2dHLZ5IF7sdihrSycdApiUTKOcVcTe9Wc0FJUwj8h8HSJicDAW4quuHPF4Swjb__Xkw8b7a-JZI/s1600/Haircut%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKlRR8RQl6K2cyTQDy2Vy5QBlH5xeCQDbNlD2J4vt4Aq2CPPwsKH1dCWAfQppoCpYT2dHLZ5IF7sdihrSycdApiUTKOcVcTe9Wc0FJUwj8h8HSJicDAW4quuHPF4Swjb__Xkw8b7a-JZI/s320/Haircut%255B1%255D.jpg" width="254" /></a></div><br />
<span style="color: white;">Thank goodness that: </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: white;">(1) My son's hair grows extremely fast,</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: white;">(2) The start of school is still three weeks away,</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: white;">(3) School pictures are even further out than that, and <br />
<br />
<span style="color: white;">(4) He's an 8 year old boy who really doesn't care all that much yet about what his hair looks like.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><br />
<span style="color: white;">P.S. Remember to make hair appointment at MY stylist for son's next haircut! ;0)</span></span>Traceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13548848659390759707noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8702303782709366814.post-74181394571855854022011-07-24T19:44:00.002-05:002011-07-24T19:44:55.435-05:00Who needs Sherlock Holmes?!!<span style="color: white;">The evidence...</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHlU967oBxxkdFdBqmzeMK4ZcDeIbr-psrUgkuko8wqIi-Jka6wz4GVFhUPaK0wrcmrh1NMyz_20JhXvULxWm_MW9nz7c-gIRKVVPTF4BWV69yy7oEd12OQN2aHTred7wNFc-juGNGv8c/s1600/100_1450.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHlU967oBxxkdFdBqmzeMK4ZcDeIbr-psrUgkuko8wqIi-Jka6wz4GVFhUPaK0wrcmrh1NMyz_20JhXvULxWm_MW9nz7c-gIRKVVPTF4BWV69yy7oEd12OQN2aHTred7wNFc-juGNGv8c/s320/100_1450.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<span style="color: white;">The culprit!</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5oLt_Y1G6-5wxYMnGW-sWAGPLfGQV9OOZbxCHSyXnv2ed5-q-tMj7-4bNCTfWWGKhZjAuzxNmSAOClb27Nbe07bOz6bct4m70UHylTrtlf9kmM015Vp4kFw1-E6yuhqWlyNILjEiA13g/s1600/100_1452.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5oLt_Y1G6-5wxYMnGW-sWAGPLfGQV9OOZbxCHSyXnv2ed5-q-tMj7-4bNCTfWWGKhZjAuzxNmSAOClb27Nbe07bOz6bct4m70UHylTrtlf9kmM015Vp4kFw1-E6yuhqWlyNILjEiA13g/s320/100_1452.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLBX5aBK5sJTIM1W6HYYJlOqNxtttEspyiIW23ZioH0M5tE3i3Oi8e-U-msWbFOAsVDetUG8qcCdEd2BhmiKh7LmukmYavTDQHSVmVUVILIDxTUpvNDsNM5zNwOhPHFsLm6ovFpWyD_-E/s1600/100_1449.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLBX5aBK5sJTIM1W6HYYJlOqNxtttEspyiIW23ZioH0M5tE3i3Oi8e-U-msWbFOAsVDetUG8qcCdEd2BhmiKh7LmukmYavTDQHSVmVUVILIDxTUpvNDsNM5zNwOhPHFsLm6ovFpWyD_-E/s320/100_1449.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYCFtVLHXpJsfdqvLZyCfwGXDqBFBAVcGNQv9SVTeU4-MpC8e1jcgs44P9hm04Qcoh_S6WRmJI2sHSMsD0XRAYSJMamG7vIWL93oLw7vO5Tw6u-kgysrUr97hty7egl9OeiZ3J01gLzks/s1600/100_1448.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYCFtVLHXpJsfdqvLZyCfwGXDqBFBAVcGNQv9SVTeU4-MpC8e1jcgs44P9hm04Qcoh_S6WRmJI2sHSMsD0XRAYSJMamG7vIWL93oLw7vO5Tw6u-kgysrUr97hty7egl9OeiZ3J01gLzks/s320/100_1448.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Traceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13548848659390759707noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8702303782709366814.post-55226978301525882212011-07-22T22:50:00.001-05:002011-07-22T22:52:41.573-05:00It's Been A Long Time In Coming, But...<span style="color: white;">Colton FINALLY (praise the Lord) PICKED up (all on his own) and DRANK from (rather than fling it around in the air) his sippy cup today at daycare!!!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: white;">See...</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoIOh7uUXerBaTYHJ8wUo7o9e9Rv8bn1lNjwPi7p_RcbjfzgFcEOeJnvml6uvYONDdzAT0HByUDvftJ7yEeS1cEs1gfkynJemzT6IYuldc_vzwT32YdY_ASW8ej_eqHRuXb2cIPaOVgbs/s1600/sippy_cup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="351" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoIOh7uUXerBaTYHJ8wUo7o9e9Rv8bn1lNjwPi7p_RcbjfzgFcEOeJnvml6uvYONDdzAT0HByUDvftJ7yEeS1cEs1gfkynJemzT6IYuldc_vzwT32YdY_ASW8ej_eqHRuXb2cIPaOVgbs/s400/sippy_cup.jpg" t$="true" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<span style="color: white;">I know, I know, I bet most of you are saying to yourselves, "Big deal, he's 13 months old. He should be drinking from a sippy cup already!"</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: white;">Well, let me tell you, it is a big deal...for us.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: white;">You see, I have come to find out (and accept) that this little guy does things in his own time and in his own way.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: white;">Nope, no following in his big brother's ahead-of-schedule milestones. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: white;">Nuh, uh, not gonna do it...lol!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: white;">Of course, this has been a point of conversation (initiated by me of course) with his daycare caregivers/teachers and myself, so when Colton peformed this feat today Ms. Jessica was sweet enough to capture it on her cell phone.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: white;">Honestly, I think she was just as excited as I was about it!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: white;">Sippy cup today...walking tomorrow.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: white;">Well, we're not quite there yet either, but while he's on a roll, who knows?!</span>Traceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13548848659390759707noreply@blogger.com4