overnights and two moons!

last night daddy was out of town and we stayed the night with Grandma and Grandpa Headrick! It was a great time. We decided to sleep on the couch...not such a good idea. I was afraid a little bit...of ghosts and such...I kept thinking someone was going to touch me on my back. Silly I know, but I have somewhat of a wild imagination :) Anyway...we made it and Grandpa took you to Sally's and you were pumped. He really enjoyed the experience. About twenty years prior, he was the one who took your uncle cole to sally's each morning!

You are rolling over like crazy now. You are playing in the bed with daddy now while we catch up on Big Brother (our favorite reality t.v. show) and I am at the foot of the bed typing away...I know you will be sleepy soon...very, very soon!

Tonight is a special night, we have set our alarm for 12:28am so that we can wake up to see the two moons in the sky. Even though daddy is tired from his lenders retreat, and you and I are tired from our sleep over...this is history in the making, and not one living person will have this opportunity in our lifetime! It won't happen again until 2281!

Week 17

You will be 17 weeks old this Thursday. You are sitting in your Jump-a-roo talking to me and giggling. It's almost like you are telling me a funny joke. Jokes over...you are yelling at me now in almost a cry... with a little German thrown in for good measure.  So now I am sitting indian style with you on my lap. But you are trying to escape. Blogging is much more difficult this week. I will have to continue after you go to sleep :)

first day of daycare

I woke up at 5:45am when daddy got up to workout and laid there and watched you sleep. I dreaded 6:30am because that's when today would officially start.Once it did you were super happy. You sat in your bouncy seat until I was finished showering and then daddy was home so you rode your horsey until he was ready to take a shower and he brought you back up to sit in your bouncy seat....and you pooped. Other than the unexpected poop, the morning went well. This was by far the earliest you have ever gotten up in your entire life! Daddy and I decided to dress you in an owl onesie for comfort and cuteness. We went to Sally's together. I started tearing up in the garage. Daddy carried you out to my car and he followed us in his truck. He carried you in and reminded me to bring the camera. You were using your pacifier. You were happy. I was more sad than I have ever been. You smiled at Sally so much you pacifier fell out of your mouth! A little 7 month old boy wanted to peer in at you in your seat...you smiled at him too. I asked questions about being able to come back and get you for lunch etc. I felt like I was in the twilight zone. Daddy and I only stayed for a few minutes and Daddy said he had to get to work...and I did too. So we walked out. I was crying, it makes me teary eyed now to remember how hard it was to walk out without you. Once outside Daddy kissed me and told me he loved me and that everything would be alright...I wasn't sure I could leave. But I did and I really don't remember much about the drive to school, other than a phone call I made to a friend to blubber into the phone about how messed up our society was for me to have to drop you off for someone else to raise while I went off to raise other people's kids. I was really sad.

YOU had a blast. At noon I went back to Sally's to pick you up. You were asleep in a swing with your dolphin and your little fingers stretched out. You have never looked so precious. I teared up and asked if I should leave you asleep. I of course knew the answer, but I wanted to touch you and smell you and hold you so badly...but the good mother in me begged to be strong and let you sleep. That is what was best for you. Ughh...so I just watched you swing. I'm sure that image will forever be ingrained in my memory...just like the day you were born, or when daddy asked me to marry him. That is what kind of day today was for me. And for you too...only on a different level. You had a blast. You smiled and laughed alllllll day! Sally said she was so impressed with you. She said you were so happy, that when she was feeding you she had to stop chatting with you because you kept laughing and smiling at her and the milk was rolling out the sides of your mouth. She said you took a bottle at 8am and napped for 45 mins. and then bounced and walked in the walker and played with the other kids laughing and smiling...they loved you and you loved them! Around 9:30am you took another bottle and slept in the swing until 12:30pm...you slept right through my visit :) After your snooze you played with Sally on the floor on some pillows and then fell asleep again (remember we have been sleeping until 10 or so all of your life) I'm not sure how long you slept that time, but when I got to Sally's at 3:30pm you were outside in the walker and seemed so happy. Sally said, "look Garrity, Mommy's here," and you didn't hear my voice...I looked at you and said, " she has already forgotten me" and you looked at me and smiled like you never have before, and threw your head back and gave me a huge squeal! It was one of the best moments of my life! I picked you up and immediately realized that you smelled different than you usually do...just from being outside and just the smell of Sally's house....just different. It broke my heart for some reason. But if felt so fantastic to hold you in my arms...I didn't care how you smelled...you were back in my arms! As I carried you to the car, a little boy ran up to the fence and called out "bye Garrity!" It was really surreal, you are a big kid now...you have friends! We  had to run some errands to Wal-Mart. You fussed on the way so I put your pacifier in your mouth, you took it yet again!

Once home, you nursed until Daddy came home and we played until you nursed and napped for a really long time.  Uncle Darrick stopped by to see how we made it through today, Grandma H. called to see how today went, and Blair, and the Hawks, and Sara Parrack, and finally Aunt Brooke. Around 8:45pm I gave you a bath and now you are sleeping on my lap while I type. You fell asleep upstairs with Daddy, but we are downstairs again...for a little while longer :) It feels like summer, you asleep, me typing...Big Brother 12 on the t.v., and soon we will watch Medium and fall asleep. We made it...I made it, you loved it...I'm certain you are dreaming about the kids and hoping that tomorrow will be as much fun as today. No doubt I will dream that the summer has just begun.  I love you so much, and while every single day is precious, the days are slipping by so quickly now that you are in our lives!

The last night of summer

Tomorrow school starts, and you go to day care for the first time. I have been dreading this night since I found out you were coming into our lives. First of all I'm sorry that it is not possible for me to stay at home with you and spend every second of every day with you. I would if I could, and I would cherish every stinking moment of it. Second, I really hope that as you grow you appreciate the fact that I did go back to work...in order to provide you with what you need and want. I can remember being young and cool clothes would have no doubt trumped spending some QT with my mom in infancy...I can only hope you feel the same way, and don't hold this against me. Believe me, I would stay home if I could. 

This past week with Daddy on vacation, you have started to get a little bored with us/me. Usually we would look forward to Daddy coming home for lunch and then snooze the afternoon away. This past week, there wasn't really anything to look forward to, and you seemed restless. SO, I suppose that spending a few hours with other kids will help you in the long run, or that's what I'm telling myself anyway. But really, you seem to like little kids, and I think the interaction will be pleasing to you. 

Tomorrow you will have to stay at Sally's from 8-3:30. Believe me, I will be at Sally's at 3:33 or less on the dot! I'm sure I will miss you so very much. This will be the longest I have EVER been away from you. However I fully intend on spending my lunch hour with you...so as to break up the time away. 

Well, you are snoozing upstairs with Daddy and I am sitting at the table typing away, trying to prolong tomorrow morning as much as possible. I suppose I should get you and get to sleep... tomorrow will undoubtedly be the longest day of my life. 

Daddy's Vacay

Yesterday was the first day of Daddy's vacation! He has been looking forward to spending this time with you for weeks! We haven't planned anything more than spending quality time playing with you! As soon as Daddy heard you talking Monday morning, he was down here ready to scoop you up and start the day! You and I have started sleeping upstairs with Daddy since he doesn't have to be up for work. However, you have started waking up in the middle of the night when we are up there...so I just sneak downstairs for the rest of the night vs. waking Daddy up and tossing and turning upstairs. Daddy got you up and changed your diaper while I snoozed for a few more minutes, and then you were ready to eat. I put you in your horsey jumper before making a bottle for you, and you LAUGHED at me! You gave me your big "un-toothy" grin and a big girl laugh came out! I called for Daddy but he missed it! Granted, you have been kind of squealing for some time now, but never a real real laugh! Not like a crack up but a laugh! It was awesome! You have also really started trying to figure out how to get your toes into your mouth. You kind of try to pull on them and pull them in the direction of your mouth...it is pretty stinking cute!

Daddy's Vacay

Daddy has been looking forward to his vacation for weeks so he can spend time with you! Yesterday was our first day! You woke up talking up a storm and your daddy heard you from upstairs (you and I came downstairs in the middle of the night when you woke up) so anyway, he came down and scooped you up, changed your diaper and you two played for quite a while before you came back to wake me up. When I got up I put you in the horsey and smiled at you...you gave me your "toothy" grin and you actually really really laughed! You have been kind of smiling with squeals but nothing like this. I hollered for your daddy to come down but when he got there you would only smile. We played and played all day! Around 4pm Grandma B. came over to play with you so daddy and I could work out, and then we ate dinner at Grandma and Grandpa B.'s house. 

Today we slept in. You didn't wake up until 9:45am! I think the only reason you woke up then was because daddy turned on the light and walked downstairs (again we came down in the middle of the night) and started talking. Your little eyes popped open immediately! You love your daddy! He took you up to change you and our day began! We had to go to Wal-Mart and get groceries. While at Wal-Mart, you poopied...I hadn't taken in a diaper bag...so we decided to open the new box of diapers and wipes vs. going out to get one from the diaper bag. Good thing, your diaper was FULL! Oh, and today was a huge milestone in the diaper dept. I decided to test the size 2 diapers to make sure I did indeed need to exchange some of our size 1's for the larger size. So, had we not been test driving a size 2...you would have been a mess!!!

Summer Fun

This past weekend we started off with a short trip to Joplin on Thursday to take advantage of the annual sidewalk sale at one of our favorite boutiques: Lil Rascals.  We got a cute dress for Aunt Brooke's wedding in December, Grandma B. sent money and we used it for the gown. We also got some adorable bows, and another perfect tutu...I love tutus! And a really cute linen white dress for next summer. After Lil Rascals, we went to a new boutique that Grandma H. told us to check out...Ambiance. It was super cute, and I can't wait to go back. At Lil Rascals you just looked around (I wore you in the front carrier) and you were pretty happy until the very end, at that point you just wanted to be out of the carrier so I could hold you facing forward and you could see from a different angle. So anyway, we went to the new place and I tried to just carry you, thinking we wouldn't be too interested in the shop. BUT it was so cute I had to take you out to the car to get your car seat and a bottle...you were asleep within seconds. Ok...this post will have to be finished later...you are in your horsey but you are getting fussy. Daddy is on vacation this week and our schedule is a little funky, so you are a little difficult to predict in the mood dept. :)

Ok I guess you are happy now just to watch t.v. from your horsey and I am going to keep typing for  a couple more mins.

So Friday we spent the afternoon with Grandpa H. Daddy had a golf tournament and we needed some entertainment! Grandpa fixed us lunch and we hung out until Grandma got home from work, and Aunt Blair came out to play. We basically spent the evening laughing at you in your horsey and playing with you! We stayed up late watching t.v. with Grandpa and finally called it a night since we had decided to do something fun on Saturday with Grandma H. and Aunt Blair.

On Saturday morning we got up and went out to Grandma and Grandpa H.'s  for our fun day. We decided to go to Branson...mainly to have a reason to dine at Lamberts. We drove, Aunt Blair rode in the back with you and you had a great time! Grandma rode up front with me. You slept almost the entire trip to Springfield. We stopped at a little shop called "Plato's Closet" so I could sell some of mommy and daddy's old clothes. After that, we headed to Branson. We went to the outlet mall and shopped at the many stores. The entire time, people were commenting on how cute you were! I had you in the front carrier and you loved looking around. At one of the shops I bought you a wide rimmed pink sun hat...it matched your outfit perfectly. If you got attention before the hat...you got 100 times more after :) You were pretty much too cute for words with your hat!

After shopping for a while we were all hot and you were snoozing in Grandma's arms...we decided to head to Lamberts! Once we got there, we had to wait 1hr 35 mins. to get a table...pretty typical. Anyway, you slept while we all read and reread the menu and talked. Finally you woke up and I nursed you while Grandma and Aunt Blair waited inside for our name to be called. Once we were inside you snoozed again for most of our meal. The waiters throw rolls...I was afraid a rogue roll would find its way into your carrier! Once you woke up you bounced on my lap while we all finished eating. You were pretty perfect! I wish I had gotten a picture of you with our waiter to commemorate your first trip to one of the greatest places in the world :)

On the way home we had to stop to change your panties and get you into jammies. It was pretty fun, Grandma held you and I changed your panties...in a parking lot! It was pretty comical, here we were trying to acrobatically change you and the stinking diaper velcro strap broke! Luckily we had an extra diaper...kind of, actually it had been on you and we changed you and it wasn't wet. So, we kept it just in case....turns out just in case happened :)

What a fun day!

snotty mornings

Ugghh...you have snot. Too much snot. And, you hate for me to use "the bulb" to try retrieve the yucky goodies from your nose. It was so bad this morning that you were nursing and sniffling, and choking...it was obviously difficult for you to breathe. So you woke up at 3am, 5am, and finally for the day at about 8:15am. Needless to say, I am pretty exhausted today. You however are playing now, and seem to be ok. We have to go to the Vernon Co. Health Dept. today to get your second round of shots. I will ask them to check you out when we are there. You have been snotty for about a week now...it worries me of course, and it's uncomfy for you. Grandpa H. said that sometimes that is a symptom of teething. You are chewing on everything in sight, so that could be it.

Every single day you seem to grow and change! The Heumaders brought this horsey over on Saturday, and you bounced once and conked your mouth on the front of the horse b/c you didn't know to brace yourself. NOW less than a week later you are bouncing like crazy! You figured everything out and you did it on your own!

toes

Today was yet another lazy summer day! You woke up early however...at 6am for no apparent reason, other than to talk really, really, loud! It was hilarious! You rattled on for about thirty minutes or so. Finally I got a bottle as you had nursed for a while prior to waking up fully. Thankfully you slept for a while after the bottle.  On account of I suffered from insomnia last night and I was exhausted!

We are going through our stash of diapers from all of your showers quite swiftly. Last night we opened a package of Huggies, which seem to be less efficient at keeping your poop inside...and today you poopied and of course it squished out and all over your onsie...so I gave you a bath in the sink. You LOVE baths! You splash with arms and legs...hard core splashing...so much so that sometimes you concentrate soooo hard you forget to smile until you see me laughing and hear me cheering you on " Yea Baby Garrity" and a huuuge smile spreads across your face. It is priceless!!!

Daddy and I noticed you found your feet! you pull your legs up and play with your toes! It's pretty cute! Before bed tonight Aunt Brooke came over for about half of a movie-Hot Tub Time Machine- and you slept the whole time. After the movie you woke up and played with your toes and talked to your daddy and I. Now you are totally asleep on my left arm and I am typing this entire post with my right hand (quite impressive, if I do say so). Max the cat is snoozing on the ottoman, and we are watching Medium...I never watched Medium until you came along and I found myself awake at odd hours in the night... now I'm addicted :) One episode in particular the mom has to tell the daughter that she can't go on a ski trip with 18 yr old boys...I found myself pondering how it seems like just yesterday that Grandma and Grandpa would tell me I couldn't do things, and it will be too soon that daddy and I will have those types of arguments with you probably. It seems like you will be a tiny baby in my arms forever...but you will be a big girl in no time I'm sure. I've already had to purge your closet of the tiny newborn outfits b/c you are now too big, and it makes me really sad.


Well, you are sleeping and I should be too.

Good night,
Love Mommy

last of our lazy dazy's

Hmmm...it's late at night or early in the morning depending on which way you choose to look at things. You and I are still sleeping on the couch, enjoying our last few precious days of summer vacay before you start going to Sally's and I to school. After August 16th, we will no longer lounge on the couch late into the night watching Big Brother and Medium. I suppose we will sleep in bed with daddy like normal...I think he's lonely with Maggie and Ollie and sometimes Max the cat. Don't get me wrong, at first I think he liked having the bed to himself, but now I think he misses us wriggling around trying to get comfy and nurse during the night and me trying to keep him from conking you on the noggin during the night :)

You are such a little person now days. You are snoozing now leaning up against me on a pillow. You really are beautiful to me and to daddy too. We take pictures of you several times a day it seems. And never just one...we always take several, just in case?!

Today was a pretty normal day for us. Daddy woke us up just to say "goodbye" and kiss us both before leaving for the bank. You usually nurse and snooze for about 30 mins. to an hour after he leaves. We then watch Little House on the Prairie. Now, this is important information about mommy. I used to watch this show with my Grandma Headrick when I was a little girl. I read all of the books when I was a little girl. I was so little when I read the first one that I cannot even remember reading it for the first time!? Anyway, growing up I read and re-read the books. I also had a Little House cookbook that I read so many times it fell apart. Grandma Pat put it in a zip-lock bag so that I could keep it together. I would always read it when I would eat alone, I even took it to college with me! I have it at school in my closet, I'm sure it will still be there when you get around to wondering where it is. I also have a copy of Little House in the Big Woods that is signed by the illustrator. I brought it home to read to you this summer, but we haven't gotten around to a chapter book yet. What else about Little House??? Ummmm, mommy, Aunt Blair, and Uncle Cole used to go with Grandma Pat on road trips during the summers when we were little. We would frequently visit Ben Franklin's in _____________ I cannot remember the name of the town!? Anyway, after shopping for fabric for Grandma Pat, a couple of times we ventured to Mansfield, MO to visit one of Laura Ingalls Wilder's homes, and a museum. Sounds cheesy, but we all loved those books so much, and we still do. While I was pregnant with you, I couldn't stand the smell of the teacher lounge during lunch, so I would stay in my room to eat and I re-read The Little House Books!

So after watching Little House on the Prairie, we decided to go swimming. Your first suit is an adorable Juicy Couture pink one piece...suuuper cute! Since we have a pool in our back yard, we can swim whenever we want, as long as there is shade. After swimming, you wanted a bottle, and a nap. Then daddy came home for lunch. You love to talk to your daddy, and play with him when he comes home! Later after daddy left, neighbor Jaynee came to visit and then Kayla, Halle, and Jaynee went swimming. We couldn't swim b/c mommy and daddy workout on Monday nights and you spend time with grandparents. Tonight you went to hang out with Grandma and Grandpa H. and Aunt Blair. You played pat-a-cake and watched signing shows online. After we left, we ate dinner and then Grandma and Grandpa B., Aunt Brooke, and Uncle-to-be-Darrick came over to visit. When they left you were asleep, and daddy and mommy took lots of pics of you sleeping...you are soooooooo precious!

Today was pretty typical for us...lots of playing and loving...doesn't get any better than this! I can't believe our lazily perfect summer schedule will soon be replaced with school, daycare, coaching....with life. Ugggh, I'm not prepared to think about that tonight though. I'm just going to enjoy watching you sleep and watching Big Brother After Dark...ahhhh perfection :)