Dinky Bibs

There are certain things in life one must take a stand on...a boycott of sorts.  For me a short list of those things would be:

Watered Chestnuts (it's a texture thing)

The Indian Food restaurant my dad likes in Nashville (enough curry to kill an army)

Shelbyville's Walmart (just plain ridiculous)

....and now, those dinky little baby bibs!

We were blessed to receive just about everything we needed to welcome a new baby from our friends and family members before Sam was even born.  Among the overwhelming list of supplies needed for a baby was, of course, baby bibs.  We got all kinds.  The ones with funny sayings on them, the waterproof kind, even some supporting Mississippi State (thanks again JJ).  

I have now had a chance to try them all out and made the conclusion that 98% of bibs today do not meet the needs of the mommy or the baby, at least not my baby.  Now, I know we are teething, but all this drool cannot be handled with these dinky little bibs.  My son needs a bib that could double as a shower curtain!  There is no excuse for soaking seven dinky bibs a day!  No wonder the daycare girls are always reminding me to, "Send more bibs, please."  They are probably starting to think my son is half-shark and cutting three rows of teeth at a time from all this drool they are constantly mopping up!

Here is an example of a dinky bib.  Sam can soak this one in minutes.  Anything that doesn't reach to about his waist doesn't stand a chance of making it through the hour.

Now there are some great bibs out there, but they are much harder to find.  Like this pullover bib below, for example, is awesome.  It fits like a t-shirt around the neck and hangs to his knees.  I think it may have been meant as a sort of prank baby gift and it reads, "I (heart) Take Out," but it is by far my favorite bib we own!  Notice all the drool streaming down the front of the bib.  Maybe he is part shark...

I learn something new all the time about this motherhood thing, and I now have a veteran perspective on bibs:  BUY THEM BIG!

Sam Snapshot: 4 months

Sam turned 4 months old today.  I was still on maternity leave when he turned a month old.  His second month birthday was on a Saturday.  We had a snow day on his third month birthday and went sledding at CedarRock.  And now, another snow day has allowed me to celebrate this day with him as well!  I am blessed.  Here is a list of events/achievements up to this point:

• He is definitely teething (post about Dinky Bibs to come)
• He can roll all the way over on his side and balance there.  I think he hasn't rolled all the way over to his belly yet because he hates tummy time.
• He "talks" to Daddy on the phone when he is out of town.  Michael asks him a question on speakerphone and he grabs the phone and answers back in gibberish.
• He totally loves his circus-saucer, could play in it for hours.
• His laugh is the sweetest sound in any language.
• He just might be the happiest most laid-back baby I know.  
• Oh, and goopy blocked tear duct? Yeah, we still have that too :(

Here's a picture of him reaching for his toys in one of his play gyms... Gosh, I love that kid.

Hello Sunshine!

This has been an epic winter in middle Tennessee.  A total of 12 inches of snow has been recorded in Shelbyville since December 1, 2010 through today.  The average snow fall for middle Tennessee is 9 inches.  Five snow storms have come through the area this winter.  We have already used 7 of our 11 snow days allotted in the teacher calendar this year.  To say the least, it has been a cold and snowy winter.

However, we were given the gift of sunshine this weekend in these parts!  The sun came out, the temperature was a moderate 62 degrees, and the park was calling our name.  So, we met up with Anamana (Aunt Amanda) and Kayden and ventured out to the park. The swings, the monkey bars, the skate park, we did it all and enjoyed every minute.  Here are some photos to capture this beautiful day...because next week, they are calling for more snow!

A "Thank Goodness It's Not Christmas" party

Since sweet Harper was born just five days before Christmas, the Willett family was a little preoccupied and didn't throw their usual Christmas party.  Instead, they decided to wait until after the holidays were over (giving them some time to welcome home a new baby) and throw a "thank goodness the holidays are over" party complete with a Dirty Santa gift exchange...with a twist.  Everyone was supposed to bring a gift they received this holiday season that just wasn't quite right.  So funny, a re-gift Dirty Santa exchange.  We had everything from silky tuxedo boxer shorts to a life-size stocking snuggie!  Yet again, the Willett's threw the best party in town.

Before we went to the party we stopped by to see baby Harper and give her her first Bible for her baptism. Sam hadn't actually gotten to meet her yet since he was sick when she was born, so here are the first photos of Sam and Harper together.  He finally got to meet his little buddy I had been telling him so much about.

One Word for 2011

Honestly, New Year's resolutions stress me out.  They always seem to be about losing weight and I've yet to actually do that.  In fact, now that I have added baby weight to the mix, it causes distress to even think about weight lose.  So, I'm trying to quit...thinking about losing weight that is.  

But, I did get a great idea this year from another blog that I follow.  Choose one word.  One word that you will commit to reflect on all year and see how one word can change your life.  One word.  I can do that.  Since it is January 28th and I am just now blogging about this thought, obviously procrastination is probably a word I need to meditate on....

I've thought long and hard about my word, which was difficult. So many words would be fitting for me.  However, I finally settled on my one word for 2011:  Anyway.

My blog posts may not be perfect and will probably have spelling and grammar errors, but I will continue to write them anyway.  Because year's from now, errors and all, I will hold these entries as precious treasures.  

I may not always understand what on earth I have just read in that portion of the Bible we call Revelations, but I will read it anyway and be blessed.

My husband bought our family a Wii and I got the Jillian Michael's fitness challenge. (Thanks Love)  Jillian's constantly reminding me "You came to me, I didn't come to you" in her video game voice.  Kayden says all those crunches make his belly tickle...mine too.  I'm not sure that Wii is doing a bit of good for my self-esteem or weight loss goals, but I will play it anyway in a effort to be active and healthy.  

Money is tight, and it isn't always easy to tithe and save.  But, I will commit to tithing and saving anyway in obedience to Him and because it's that important.   

I believe the biblical equivalent to "anyway" is "nevertheless."  Johsua and Caleb could not fathom how they would take over the promised land.  The task seemed unattainable.  Nevertheless, they placed their trust in the Lord and they were the only two among the millions of Isrealites that left Egypt to actually enter the promised land.  They didn't understand.  It didn't make sense.  It looked messy.  It wasn't easy.  But they did it anyway.  I can only hope one day the same can be said about me.

What is the one word you need to reflect on for 2011?

Sam Snapshot: 3 months

Today is Sam's 3 month birthday, and a lot of big things happened today I thought I would share...

 We started off the morning with a nap in the play gym and then read our very first book from the Imagination Library!  The Little Engine That Could came in the mail today.  Thanks Dolly Parton for making trips to the mailbox more fun!  I think Sam is really looking forward to getting new books to read every month.

After nap-time and reading, it took Sam by surprise that I was 

going to let him practice sitting up on his own.

...and here's how he really felt about it.

For the afternoon, we suited up to play in the snow again.  This time, we met up with the cousins and all went to CedarRock.  Gotta love being a teacher and getting to stay home on snow days.  Power-sledding and Kimmie's chili, here we come!

One tire tube + One John Deere Gator = Winter Fun on the Farm

 It was Cameron and Sam's first experience with Power-sledding...

 Sam and Mommy

Truth be told, Pawpaw and Sam both prefer the warmth of the fire back at the lodge.

 

Keith and Cameron drove Amanda and Kayden around in the fields.

Whether watching or sledding, everyone was having a great time!

Just as we were heading back inside for some chili, we noticed an "observer" who was watching us from the tree line...a skunk!  Not the best picture, but I gave it my best shot.  Only at CedarRock can you go sledding with skunks and enjoy every minute!

What a great way to celebrate Sam's quarter-year birthday!  

A "Sam Snapshot" at 3 months:

He laughs and smiles like nobody's business...

especially when Daddy sings to him.

He loves mirrors and looking at himself.

He sleeps through the night, about 10 hours total.

He constantly tries to put his whole fist in his mouth.

I think he started teething.

He still has a blocked tear duct - Ugh!

He weighs 15 pounds and wears 3-6 month clothes.

He LOVES a bath, doesn't even mind being sprayed in the face.

I think he has a crush on his daycare teacher.  Her name is Sam too!

And, for some reason, every time I brush his hair, he burps. Weird.

I Can't Put My Arms Down...

If you love A Christmas Story like my family loves A Christmas Story, then you know the scene when Ralphie and his little brother, Randy, are bundling up for school.  Randy experiences "snowsuit paralysis" and cries, "I can't put my arms down!"  Well, today I became "that" mother that bundles her child so tightly in snow gear he can't even put his arms down.  Six inches of snow fell in Shelbyville, and Sam and I had to go outside and put his snowsuit to good use...before he grows right out of it!

Sitting in the Bumbo chair on the back patio table

Sam's first snow experience - January 10, 2011

Our house is blanketed in snow!

So far, so good!  I think he kinda likes it! 

Okay, now he's about done with the snow....