Fall Cleaning

I worked on my Fall Cleaning two weekends ago. (The 18th and 19th.) Fall Cleaning is capitalized because I want everyone to understand the full import of these words! I wanted to get at least the bulk of it done before I returned to work full time, which was Monday the 20th. I spent the better part of Saturday and Sunday cleaning, and I do mean CLEANING! It’s more challenging now with a baby, but at least I now I have a reason to sit on the couch for ten minutes! Anyway, the house looks good and I don’t have to do such a deep cleaning again until Spring. Shane is such a lovey—he played and napped nicely for me. I’m sure things will be more difficult when he becomes mobile!

My to do lists, because I know my mom and Aunt Nancy will at least appreciate them. (I think I only have, what, five readers? But who cares! It’s a record for Shaney!)

Boogie helping Mama clean the fridge. We’re being guarded by our fierce protector cat, Marcus. Shane is holding the clean rag for Mama and chewing on his teether as well. Multitasking already, what a talented dude!

I had another to do list of things I have to get done before I leave for Ohio. I realize that I sound a little, erm, obsessive maybe, but you have to understand that I come from a proud history of list makers. You should see my mother make lists, if you think I'm bad!

COMING SOON:

BIRTH STORY!!!

Baptism in the lake

I’ve never been to a baptism here in Texas, but if you’ve heard the saying “Everything’s bigger in Texas”, well, in this case it’s true! Our church had a baptism on Sunday the 12^th and Shane and I went. The baptism was down at the lake, with a sandwich supper before. I have never seen so many people get baptized at once! I think there were around 20, maybe more.  Pastor Corey I think had just said to show up if you want to be baptized and he didn’t care if they were from our church.  I sincerely hope that these people understood why they were being baptized! Anyway, it was Shane’s first baptism.

This was that morning, in church. This little girl was SO taken with Shane. I mean, she loved him! It was her first time at church and she was there with her Grammy, who told me that she desperately wants a little brother. Apparently she has a baby and she practices feeding and diapering on it so she can help if or when she has a little brother. She held Shane (You can see Miss Anna’s arm supervising) and then when Anna took him back she kept wiping Shane’s drool with his cloth, shaking his rattle, and talking to him. She even wanted to change his diaper! (which was clean, lol). This precious one is only 2.

And here are a few random pictures of Shane. I finally, finally got a picture of him laughing!

Hot Air Balloon Festival

Nathan was able to be home this weekend and I had heard about a hot air balloon festival in Plano so we decided to go. We left late in the afternoon—I thought that would give us enough time to see the balloons while it was still light, but be late enough that we would be there while it was dark so we could see the balloons light up.  What I miscalculated was the amount of people that wanted to get there! We sat in traffic outside the event for probably an hour and a half. It was dark by the time we got in but it was still worth it!  The balloons were all in one area and we walked underneath them. It was like being in a giant enchanted forest! The balloons were waving overhead and it was dark and then the announcer would count down from ten and all of the balloons would light up.

There was this wonderful warm glow of light and you could hear the burners roaring and smell the propane and even feel the heat from the flame. And then you looked up at the glowing balloons and it felt like some kind of Alice in Wonderland fairytale. It was absolutely magical.  I thought Shane would fall asleep in his stroller but he didn’t, he wanted to be held. He snuggled right into the side of my neck—so precious—and looked at the balloons with great big eyes. I can’t wait to take him when he’s older and gets really excited. I can’t wait to experience the world through the wondering, curious eyes of my child.

3 Months

He was talking to me here

I can’t believe my baby is already three months old! He has reached and is beyond his three month developmental milestones so there are no worries there. At three months he:

• Weighs 14.3 lbs and is 25 inches tall.
• Reaches for and grabs toys. He loves his play gym.
• Has figured out that when he pulls the toy it sings.
• Loves showers with Mama
• Smiles and laughs (until I pull out the camera—then he stares)
• Talks and talks and talks and loves it when you speak his language!
• Thinks it’s funny (laughs) when: I tickle him with my hair, blow raspberries on his tummy or the bottom of his feet, say “a-TCHOO!” and wiggle my eyebrows, among other things.
• Loves to be in his Moby
• Loves walks outside
• Looks very much like his dad and has many expressions that look like they came right off his daddy’s face. He makes one face that is especially cute that I call his “ladykiller”. Just wait til his Grandma sees it!
• Is drooling and gumming EVERYTHING, and has been since two ½ months. I think he’s teething, and Pedi confirmed saying some babies just start teething early. He likes to chew his hands and anything else he can get in his mouth. 



• Continues to be a very “easy” baby. He typically only fusses when he’s tired, dirty, or hungry, and I usually catch those things from other cues before he gets to the fussing.
• He is good at playing by himself for short periods of time in his gym or bumbo or swing while I do chores—he just likes to be close enough to see me and hear me talk to him. He does really like to have someone close though, or play on someone’s lap. And of course I hold him every moment that I can!

"Helping" Mama fold clothes
• Just recently “found” his feet.
• Rolls back to belly, and belly to side.
• Sits up in his bumbo and really likes it. He is Mr. Independent—he either wants to be sitting up, standing, or vigorously kicking and squirming and rolling and building those muscles. It’s all I can do to get a cuddle while he’s nursing.

Standing up
• Wears size 2 diapers and 3-6 month clothes. He has to wear 6-9 months jammies though. He’s really long.
• Still exclusively breastfed. This relationship is especially precious to me now as I have gone back to work and miss him terribly during the day. I pump, which is not enjoyable but it is worthwhile. It’s also a good time to try to learn memory verses!
• Still sleeps in his cradle in our room but will have to move soon unless I can figure out a way to keep the cradle from rocking. With all the rolling he is doing I don’t want to see him injured. I hate to move him to his room though, because it’s so easy to just grab him and lie back down to sleep while he’s nursing, then put him back. One of the many BFing benefits. I’d hate to have to wake up and stay up long enough to make a bottle, warm it, and give him the whole thing.
• Goes to bed about eight every night, and gets up around 9.
• Sleep: He was going down at eight and sleeping for 7 or eight hours, then waking up every 2-4 hours after. The last few days have not been fun, however, as he is waking up about 4-5 hours in and then every hour or two after that. Hopefully it is just a stage, although disrupted sleep patterns are a classic sign of teething. Actually, last night I was so tired that I just let him sleep next to me from about 2am onward. Don’t judge me.

Shane and Daddy in church

I know there are probably more things but this is all I can think of for now. Nathan says Shane has me wrapped around his little finger and it’s probably true. He is just the light of my life and my little joy-bringer! I love him immensely and “consider it all joy” to care for him. It breaks my heart to be leaving him for work. It’s probably the hardest thing I’ve ever done. Next month we will be flying back to Ohio for my sister's wedding. I'm so excited!!