The Honeymoon phase

It has been a great first week of the New Year.  We spent the week at home unpacking, taking down Christmas decorations, and enjoying the weather.  I have heard people say 4-5 months is one of the 'honeymoon phases' of raising children and I agree...this is my favorite age so far!  Miles is starting to develop his sense of humor and laughs and smiles a lot!  As you can see below he has a new love-his feet!  There is nothing like seeing him hold his feet and topple side to side with those chunky legs!

I have been really trying to provide him places to roll and flop around, he is usually so happy with a blanket on the floor and a few simple toys.  He also loves to look at himself in a mirror, which is usually the only way I can get him to stay on his stomach without rolling over! But even that sometimes won't keep him there...

In addition to smiles he has started to make some pretty funny facial expressions.  I usually can't catch them on camera, but here is one that made me laugh.  I would call this 'hungry bird.'

We decided later in the week to make a trip to Tulsa this Friday to visit my Uncle and Aunt.  Toby had undergone heart surgery a few weeks ago and recently was in the hospital with fluid complications.  We thought a visit from Miles might speed his recovery!  Also, he is a faithful Razorback fan and I thought it'd be fun to enjoy the Cotton Bowl with them!  Miles pulled out his Hog gear and was ready to travel again! 

We had such a great visit with Toby and Sylvia! We enjoyed some of Bryan's favorite Chicago style pizza from Savastano's and the Hogs pulled out a victory!  We spent the night and enjoyed Toby's waffles this morning before heading home.

And as usual my Uncle had a project up his sleeve...You'll have to ask him about this, I dropped Geology the first day of class.  He is a genius!!

Well, if you haven't guessed it by now, I am totally in love with my Miles.  I never in my wildest dreams could imagine a love like this.  It makes me value my parents even more, appreciate my friends and their children, and thank God every day for letting me experience this gift. 

Have a great week!

Miles' First Christmas

The past two weeks were a perfect ending to one of the best and busiest years of our lives.  We were fortunate enough to spend a whole week with my family in Arkansas, then a week here in Oklahoma City with Bryan's parents.  This is always my favorite time of year, but becoming a parent gave a whole new meaning to Christmas and family.  Bryan and I weren't able to give expensive presents this year, but I am almost certain we will never feel more satisfied or blessed!

The holiday started with my extended family Christmas in Heber Springs, Arkansas.  Miles was a great traveler and we had a great day with grandparents, cousins, aunts, and uncles.  While we were in Heber we also got to spend some time with some of our best friends, Travis and Amy Julian.  Before leaving we visited our family 'farm' where my Great Grandparents built their first home over 70 years ago. Although they built a new home on the land, the original house, out house, and sheds remain.  We had a great day of four wheeling, hearing stories about life on the farm from Papa, and Bryan shot a gun for the first time! It was a great ending to the weekend!

We spent the next week in Clarksville at my parents house.  We spent several days in our pajamas, watching movies, and enjoying the unseasonably warm weather.  My parents were able to take some time off and Tiffany was home before her big move to Fayetteville.  We also got to spend an evening with some of my high school friends and had a great night remembering the 'good old days'! 

One of my favorite Christmas traditions is First Baptist Church's Christmas Eve Service.  It is always a beautiful service and I get to see some great friends I have loved most of my life.  We knew it was a hard time for Miles, 6 pm is when he is usually getting ready for bed.  But I wasn't going to miss the service so we all put on our Christmas best and headed to church.  Long story short, we were back in the car headed home at 6:15 pm.  Miles wasn't too fond of either option, staying in church with the loud music, or staying in the nursery with loud children.  I was sad to miss the service, but we sang carols on the car ride home and I will have that special memory for the rest of my life.  Life is definitely different but I woudn't change it for the world!

 Christmas morning is always fun at our house and we had fun opening and playing with our new toys! Miles got some great outfits, toys, and the cutest walker/bouncer I've ever seen!  I can't get enough pictures of Miles in it, he looks so darn cute!

We headed back to OKC the day after Christmas, and although it was hard to leave we were glad to be back in our own home.  The next day we welcomed Bryan's parents and spent the week with them.  We celebrated Christmas and Miles got some great Chicago sportswear, toys, and a basketball hoop! We were as excited as he was! 

The rest of the week went great and we enjoyed some great food, drinks, and sight seeing.  Bryan's parents watched Miles one night so Bryan and I could have dinner with friends...suspiciously Miles woke up right as we left and there was a missing bottle. Haha! They did great and we appreciated it so much! They hadn't seen Miles in person since he was born and it was so fun to see them play and enjoy Miles.

We all spent NYE at Elizabeth and Jason's while Miles slept upstairs.  I was wondering how Miles would do as we woke him up to come home, but he did great and slept until 6:30 this morning, ate, then slept til 8:30.  I am hoping Miles' resolution was to sleep more at night and he got off to a great start!!

I am so excited about the 2012!  I start my new job February 2nd at University of Oklahoma, Bryan will decide what speciality he wants to pursue, and our little man will be changing every day!  My resolution is to learn more about our country and its history and Bryan plans on running a half marathon in April.  Of course, my resolution to 'get more organized' rears its head every January and I will do my best.  I hope everyone enjoyed 2011 and has a great first week of 2012! xoxo



Santa!

Miles and I, along with our friends Teisha and Eli, went to see Santa at Northpark mall this past week.  Santa had recently undergone a total knee replacement last year and I had the pleasure of being his physical therapist.  He was eager to show me how great his knee was doing, so I am hoping this helps Miles' chances of getting what he asked for this year! Haha.  Miles did great and sat peacefully in Santa's lap. He even smiled once or twice (between shots of course)!  As with the pumpkin patch, I am sure Miles will thank me endlessly one day for allowing him this experience!

Miles is continuing to grow (too fast) every day! He is almost too long for his 6 month clothes and his thighs seem to have a new roll every diaper change.  He is continuing to perfect his skills of rolling, pulling up from supine with help, and propping up on his tummy.  He also continues to sing and talk loudly and has even figured out how to fake cough to get attention!  I love this kid so much. 

This week we attempted to give Miles a little cereal mixed with breastmilk.  Miles got a little frusturated because of his inability to use a spoon.  He ended up with it all over him and settled for munching on his bib! This skill is going to take a little practice!

We are enjoying our week in Arkansas and will have stories and pictures to share after Christmas!

Merry Christmas!! xoxo

 

What. A. Week.

Having a baby is hard work-a sick baby even harder.  Having a husband in medical school is challenging-a husband on surgery rotation even more so.  This week I had both.  Miles woke up with a fever late in the afternoon last Sunday and battled an infection for most of the week.  We went in to the doctor Monday morning and after running a few tests (Strep was negative, Flu was negative) we decided to take some blood to ensure it wasn't a bacterial infection.  As Miles and I went down a floor to the lab, I called Bryan in tears.  As I sat in the waiting room crying I knew the woman at the front desk, named YoYo, could see me boohooing on the phone.  She took us back and had Miles sit in my lap.  She looked in my eyes and said "Woman, you gonna need to get it together, that baby can sense your emotions!"  It took me by surprise, but it worked and I suffered silently through the blood draw, the shot of antiobiotics, and the rest of the examination. 

Throughout the rest of the week, Miles continued to fight a fever, a sore throat, and obvious body aches.  My dad came up Tuesday night (we think...the days meshed together) and helped us out with dishes, laundry, meals, and holding Miles.  I couldn't have done it without him!  We saw the doctor again Wednesday morning and she was pleased with his recovery. Although he was still cranky and hoarse, she thought he had battled and beat a viral infection.  After this week I can say I am very pleased with our choice of pediatrician!  I was able to call her at home, she was very supportive, and when she walked into the room she gave me a much needed hug. 

Although many of you know how strict I am about keeping Miles on a schedule, this week I let him do whatever he wanted.  He ate whenever he wanted, slept only in my arms, and napped whenever he could.  His hygeine suffered also, he didn't want or get a bath for a few days and I even let him sport some nose crusties so he didn't have to endure the snot sucker (I HATE nose crusties!).  Needless to say, we have our work cut out for us this next week! 

Although the majority of the week was spent sick at home, we did have some fun.  Before Miles got sick we picked out and decorated our Christmas tree, put up the lights outside, and did a little Christmas shopping.  Our playgroup went to see Santa on Thursday and I didn't think Miles, or Santa, would appreciate that trip.  We are excited to do that this next week though!

Off to find the perfect tree...

Miles likes sitting in his Bumbo seat! We are working on our ball skills...

 Helping mommy in the kitchen

 Saturday Breakfast at Cafe Antigua with friends

The upcoming week is Bryan's last, yes LAST, week of his surgery rotation and we couldn't be more ready for the Christmas break.  We are planning on staying in Arkansas for a week and then having the Smith family here in OKC.  We are so thankful to have a healthy, happy baby today and have enjoyed seeing him smile and hearing his precious laugh again! 

Have a great week!!!  If you're wondering these are Miles' magic shoes.  The woman at the store told us they'd make him the fastest kid in school.  So obviously he is wearing them as soon as they will 'kind of' fit his feet! Haha. xoxo

Recharging

After our crazy holiday of traveling I was bound and determined not to leave the house on Monday.  Well, I mean I was out of coffee so that trip to Starbucks didn't count.  Otherwise, Miles and I spent the entire day at home looking at one another.  I have come to realize that I am not as entertaining as I once imagined myself.  But we had a fun day and geared up for the rest of the week.


Bryan continues to be working some long hours but we have found many ways to entertain ourselves.  Tuesday we spent the whole day with Kandice and Caroline trading props, swings, and cribs with each other.  Miles has been a little needy this week, but I chalk that up to all the family time over Thanksgiving. Plus, I don't mind him wanting to be held!  This is Miles before his playdate. 

In addition to shopping, friends, yoga, and errands, this week included something I had been dreading since I made the appointment...shots.  Miles slept horribly the night before so we were both a little tired and emotional on our way to the doctor Thursday.  I decided I would feed him a little before and then a little after the shots.  We had to wait almost 30 minutes in the exam room and Miles was happy as a clam.  He got a great report, 60th percentile on weight (14 lbs, 9 oz) and he has grown to 26 inches long.  Doctor said she thought he was long and lean before taking his clothes off and seeing the rolls on his belly and thighs.  She was happy with his progress.  The one thing she wasn't happy about was the lack of tummy time this physical therapist provides for her child!  He just doesn't care much for it and I hate to put him through it.  But, I promised I would do more!  Here is a picture of Miles patiently waiting.  He had no idea what was coming...

Since Bryan wasn't with me this time I had to be the one holding Miles' arms. What?! I am supposed to be hiding, crying in the corner like last time!  But we both made it through with a little screaming, but I nursed him afterwards and that calmed him down. "Put him to the breast..." as my Smith mother would say:) 

This morning we both woke up happy and rested.  As promised, I put Miles on his tummy twice already and guess what?! He rolled over.  He hates tummy time so much he rolled right back onto his back. Haha take that doctor.  I was able to catch in on video and send it to his father today at work!

Overall, Miles is continuing to become more social, coo, and smile endlessly.  I couldn't imagine life before him.  Well...I mean the sleeping part was nice, but what I got is so much better!  Have a great weekend! We are hoping to get our decorations and lights up in preparation for Christmas!!  Love you all! xoxo