Troy walking at 10 months

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Troy at Ten Months

I can hardly believe another month has passed. The first month of his life, I took a photo of him a day. Well, several a day. Now I'm just trying to catch up with him.

He's a true joy. Is so very happy, well, until things don't go quite his way. He sleeps like a champ, loves his bed. Maybe that is because he only gets a pacifier in his bed? Loves that pacifier! Loves to eat, play, watch older children, chase after Abbie and loves animals. In fact, he loves Goli's cat so much we think he squeezed her and ended up with scratches on his arm. The 8 year old cat had never scratched anyone. Maybe he'll learn one day...

This is the best photo we could snap of him with the sign. He is an active little 10 month old and loves to rock in the rocker. That's what he was doing here.

His favorite toys are his widgets, jumperoo (only if we stay in the room with him), grocery cart and balls.

T is quite proud of his ability to say "ight" or light, as we would say. We find it quite funny how he will study someone he sees, sort of warm up to them and then start saying "ight" "ight" "ight" over and over until they acknowledge him. He's now saying "Hi" and we think he's saying "hi daddy" when Brian comes home from work. He loves going outside and we also think he says "outite" for outside.

He's in between a medium and large gdiaper and size 4 disposable.

T still definitely prefers me over anyone else right now. I know this will change one day so I'm grateful for these precious times now. He gets extremely excited when he sees me after a little break. It's like he cannot control himself until he gets to where I am and I pick him up. Then he goes back to normal.

We have stopped going to the nursing support group because he was too active, almost aggressive, and I was afraid he would hurt one of the little babies. I guess you know when it's time to stop.

He's still nursing a couple of times a day. I think he'll have enough frozen stuff to drink during the day until he turns a year. We introduced a sippy cup a few months ago. He doesn't like drinking milk out of that but before we know it, he won't have a choice.

His bottom teeth are very pronounced. He got his front right and right eye tooth right as he turned 10 months. The other 2 top ones are on their way. He didn't like us holding him down to get a picture of those teeth. Here they are!

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Greensboro

Last weekend (as in the weekend before this past weekend), we headed to Greensboro to see my grandmother (Mamama) and her husband, Crawford. My mom and Rebecca came along as well. We had a great time! Mamama and Crawford had not seen T since he was 5 months old. He's gotten much bigger since then!
Here he is with KK.

Sunday morning we got up and took some photos around her house. It is so beautiful, in the country and around her house. She has the prettiest flowers and little places for photo shots. Here he is waving at Crawford as he was bringing the Gator around to see T. I often say "HI" to Troy and hold my hand up. I think he's figured out that's the way to tell someone hello.

I love this picture of Troy. He is a very happy baby and smiles like this all the time!

The photo below cracks me up. He got to sit in the Gator with Crawford and was so excited....

Here's a closeup...tongue hanging out with excitement. He was bouncing up and down!

Troy has a favorite push toy, a little grocery cart. He will push and push and push as long as he can...or until he runs into something. He gets quite frustrated when his cart gets "stuck". We're working on his patience. We try to distract him when things don't go his way. He did fall and scrape his knee, had blood running down his leg but got back up and was fine (no crying) until his cart got stuck and he couldn't push it anymore - then he cried!

On Saturday we went to our cousin Reagan's birthday party. Troy got on this riding John Deere tractor and was SO happy....since he couldn't reach the pedal, Jennifer pushed it for him. He was fine until Jennifer stopped pushing on the pedal. He would start crying!

Here's the birthday boy. He turned three. Reagan acts much older than three! His vocabulary is unbelievable.

Troy enjoyed walking around holding my hand. He has taken a few steps here and there but is not confident enough to walk on his own. He barely holds onto one hand and walks around. I think he'll be walking by next month.
Here Troy is with Cookie. Cookie has worked for my grandparents for more than 35 years. Maybe longer? He is so sweet!

Oh, and yes, we did have a good 4th of July. I did't post anything because I didn't take ANY photos! Troy wore a smocked American flag outfit which was, well....how do I say this...poofy? Does that make sense? After B begrudgingly agreed to allow me to put the outfit on him (while I promised not to take any photos), a few of our friends...and their kids...though he was wearing a dress. We were only at our friends' house hanging out so we weren't out "in public"! LOL!

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Spaghetti

Somebody loves spaghetti....and makes a mess of it!

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Troy's First Word

On our way to Niceville the weekend before last, Troy was not super happy to be in the car. So, as I was sitting in the back with him, I started turning the interior car light on and off, saying "light on", "light off" over and over. We thought he was saying "light" or "ight" but weren't quite sure. Every day when he sees a light, he says "ight". He is very proud of himself. I think he likes to say "ight" to many things now, too. Sometimes we think he says "otay" and "hi" but aren't quite convinced yet. He babbles a lot and takes himself very seriously when he's trying to "tell" you something.

I hope you enjoy this video as much as I have.

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Next Blog

Have you ever hit "next blog" from a blog on blogger? Try it. Can be quite interesting.
One day I hit next blog and was introduced to a man in the midwest who was selling horses. That one then led to more horses being sold, horses being born. YES, being BORN. Omg, I wasn't expecting that and it was a bit disturbing at first. I know, I know, I've talked about nursing and milk and all of that stuff. But, I wasn't expecting horse births. I still don't quite get why one blog about horses led to another about horses.
Anyway......
On the "next blog" tonight was a story about a little girl who got a bean stuck up her nose. Her grandfather used a baby suction to squirt water up the clear nostril to blow out the bean. The next one was about a guy fussing about facebook so he deleted his profile (all the while spray painting something mean about fb on the sidewalk). Then there was a lady who returned from a trip to Taiwan and posted photos of food she saw while there. She had to have posted at LEAST 50 photos. No, I didn't look at all of them.....random stuff, I know!
I am working in Mobile this week. I'd say this is my 5th or so time out of town this year (overnight). When I stay overnight more than one night, I usually start web searching, take my sewing machine or bring a book I have been meaning to read for a while. Yes, Brian, I have DEWEY with me! Nope, I haven't opened it again.
Dewey is about a library cat who "changed the world" or something like that. B gave it to me Christmas before last and re-gifted it to me this past Christmas. I thought I'd start reading it on the way to Big Sur in April BUT I didn't. I smocked!
So while I'm dying to hear all about Dewey and how he changed the world, I am sticking to searching random blogs, listening to So you think you can dance (dance, dance....).
Last night I assembled half of the 3 outfits I'm trying to finish. I'm about to finish what I can. Didn't bring any buttons or snaps. Darnit!


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Troy's Nine Month Update

Troy had his 9 month appointment yesterday. His weight at the doctor's office was 24 lbs, 2 ounces. The day before at the hospital it was 24 lbs, 10 ounces. So, I figure he's somewhere in between (maybe). Height: 29 inches. Head: 18 inches. He's in the 90th percentile for everything. He's still a big boy. Loves to eat pretty much anything. I haven't been very creative with his main meals (meats, fish) and I think he gets bored with what we give him. But, we have given him spaghetti which he loves. Oh, and grapes. He seems to like those also. I haven't allowed him to take the spoon yet....not ready to start cleaning up those messes!
He's definitely in 12 to 18 month clothes. He is VERY mobile and has started "letting go" and standing up on his own for several seconds at a time. I am not thinking he will be walking too soon but maybe before he's a year old.
He loves, loves, loves Abbie. She still despises him and since he's gotten much faster and can catch up with her, she began hissing at him again. Poor thing! She just doesn't realize he isn't going away.


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Father's Day

We had a fantastic Father's Day. B decided he wanted to spend time with his folks and celebrate his FIRST Father's Day (as a baby daddy). We were supposed to head to Niceville for Memorial Day but Memama got the flu and we had to cancel.

Gratefully we were able to leave Thursday night. We thought that if we fed Troy and left shortly afterward, he would sleep the whole way there and we would have a smooth, quiet drive. Not! Sleeping was not on his mind so we sang, talked, read (well, I read) and about 45 minutes from Memama and Grandy's house, he fell asleep. Thank goodness.

Anyway, we had a great weekend. Lots of eating, sleeping, playing in the pool and hanging out. Jeff, Amy and their kids made their way over on Saturday. We all made it to the beach on Sunday.

B, thank you so much for what you do! You work so hard to provide for us, you play great with Troy. I love how he gets so excited to see you home each and every day. When I'm working overnight or take some girl time, I love it that you are so willing to step in and take care of our little boy. Even before he came, you were so great. And, thank you for making me breakfast and coffee every morning. Yes, EVERY morning! Changing those dirty diapers is a nice chore you've taken over, too.

B got a photo book I created on smugmug and he says he loves it. I'd say it's priceless when the father of your child tears up while reading a book made by his wife recounting the first few, precious months of his own child.

Happy Father's Day!

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Tragedy

I was hoping to post about Father's Day weekend but I feel compelled to write about what I learned today.
The H's are close family friends. Mrs. H has two children and 4 grandchildren. The H's have considered Brian one of their own. Brian and their son, Chad, grew up together, were best friends, played sports together, same grade, etc. The H's are best friends with my inlaws. They threw us a wedding shower, then a baby shower. In fact, last weekend we saw them and Mr. H shucked the stew out of some oysters. His hand probably still hurts from all of those suckers. The H's were one of the first families I met when I visited Brian's parents for the first time. At the Cannons for a fish fry during a 4th of July weekend, I believe. Or, at the old Mexican restaurant their group of friends used to frequent on Friday nights. I've known them for years and I've seen what wonderful, caring, sweet, funny, spunky people they are. They love their grandchildren dearly.
I met their oldest grandchild, A, when she was just a tiny thing. We played Barbies together. I think I met her shortly after she was born. She has been spunky (like her mother and grandmother) since she was able to talk I believe. A is special. I've seen her relationship with her mother which seems more like a friend relationship. I saw her about a year ago at the baby shower her grandmother threw for our family. That was the last time.
Brian called me this morning and said she was driving home, just a few feet from her parents driveway. She had her brother, M, in the car with her. A man driving a car, rumored to be drunk, ran a stop sign and t-boned A's car. She died. M is going to be okay - physically. She died. I cannot believe it. Allegedly her positioning saved her brother's life. Wow. I don't remember knowing anyone personally whose child died unexpectedly. A's parents were both out of town, her grandparents heard that there was an accident, headed toward her home and saw her. It makes my heart sink. I cannot imagine what this family is going through. I don't want to imagine.

As soon as I got off the phone with Brian, I couldn't hold it back anymore. I hit my knees and prayed. For what? What do you pray for in this situation? I prayed for God's grace. For his magical Grace to do what it needs to do. I prayed for M. He's 13. He was in that car with his sister. Their family has been forever changed. I prayed that there will be some good that comes out of this? Can there be? I prayed for that guy. He's someone's son, too. What he did is horrible. Horrible. I prayed that he will repent and be redeemed . What else do you do? I want to be mad at him but is that right? I don't know. What's done is done. This family will never be the same. Ever.
H's, I hope this is okay that I posted this. I love you guys. More than you know. Yes, unemotional me! I really do. I'm so, so, so sorry about what happened.

.....I am so sorry.


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Troy at Nine Months

Troy is an active nine month old. He weighs over 24 pounds (his 9 month appt is this week so I'll have to update the true weight soon). Cruising is his thing. Within a week of crawling, he was pulling up and another week later, he was crusing around furniture. We've had to put locks on the cabinets since he has discovered not only how to open them, but to pull stuff out of them. He is a very busy bee. He can crawl from his room, through the media room, kitchen, living room, hallway and into our bedroom. It's a good little trek but he seems to know where he's going!

Although we don't have stairs at our house (beside into the garage and on the deck), he has mastered climbing up stairs. Must not be that hard for babies.

He loves pretty much anything to eat. His favorites are yogurt and just about any fruit. Don't give him fruit first or he'll throw a fit. And, when he finishes yogurt, he throws a fit - every. single. time. It's just part of what he does.

Diapers: Size Medium gdiapers but we're gradually getting him into large gdiapers. He still wears some size 3 disposable diapers because we bought a box almost 4 months ago and he's not finished with them. We'll keep trying to squeeze him into them until either we can't or he's out of them.

Troy loves his music table and loves to dance. If he hears music ANYTIME (on tv, the radio, in a restaurant or at the grocery store), he gets to dancing!

Here he is in his room while we were trying to get a photo of him in his bed......

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