Is It Worth The Effort?

For some reason, the cats are fascinated with all of our baby gear. If you don't believe me, you can see for yourself here and here. I'm not sure if it's just a cat's natural nosy instinct or what, but they just can't seem to get enough of Sam's stuff. We are forever finding them in his crib, in his pack & play or in his carseat.





A few days ago, I even walked into Sam's room to find Corkey curled up on top of his changing table. Doesn't she know that's where we take care of the poop?



But their FAVORITE place to curl up for a nap is in his chair.









I cannot count the number of times I have removed a cat from the poop chair (dubbed that because it vibrates and always seems to...well...make Sam poop). We finally wised up and started leaning the seat up against the wall so no uninvited guests could use it.



It would appear that we've been outsmarted once again.

Shawn got home yesterday afternoon only to find that Annie had somehow figured out a way to get herself into the seat, despite the fact that it was sitting nearly vertical. He just left her alone. We figure if she's willing to work that hard for it, she deserves to sit wherever she darn well pleases.

Eat Your Veggies

Sam's new favorite food????

GREEN BEANS!!!

Actually, favorite might be a little strong...he still prefers his own hands and feet over anything else. But the green beans are a close contender, anyway.

After Sam's 6 month check-up yesterday (details of that to follow), we decided it was time for some real food. And by "real" I mean unseasoned, bland, pureed green vegetables. Surprisingly, they weren't as terrible as I had expected.

I mean, c'mon...I HAD to taste it too, right???

I really expected the first bite to just end up on Sam's shirt, but he took it down like a champ & immediately opened his mouth for another bite.

He was saying, "Mmmm!" after every bite...which I know doesn't mean he likes it (he only does it because I have always said that after every bite)...but Maddie decided it meant that baby food green beans must be pretty good. So there we are, Sam eating his green beans like the little gentleman that he is and Maddie doing her give-me-a-bite dance in front of us. And have I mentioned that Sam loves...

I MEAN LOVES

the dog? As soon as she started her pacing and prancing routine, Sam got the giggles.

I swear, his face just lights up when he sees the dog, and if she barks at something it makes his whole day. She was barking at the storm last night, and Sam was laughing so hard he could hardly catch his breath. I'm sure if Maddie knew she were giving Sam even one iota of joy, she would never utter another sound ever again.

So anyway...the baby food. I was a little disappointed in the selection of baby food at Kroger, and I off-handedly mentioned to Shawn that I might try to make some. I meant I might just try a few recipes I find on the internet...Shawn assumed I meant we were getting ready to go all-organic in the King household. But, really, if I were eating it, I would want some variety, so one can only assume that Sam will too. I figure the more different foods I expose him to now the more likely he'll be to try different foods in the future.

At Sam's check-up, he weighed 19lb 9oz and was 28 1/4 inches long. He was in the 93rd percentile for length. Interestingly, while we were waiting to be called back, a couple came in with a little girl who was much smaller than Sam but was sitting up pretty well. I thought to myself that she was probably around the same age as Sam and marvelled at how petite she was compared to him. When they checked in, I overheard the mom say they were there for her 9-month check-up. WHAT?!

His doctor said he looked great and even thanked Sam for helping him hold his stethoscope and the ear-thingy without even having to be asked. (He's such a good helper.) When I started peppering him with questions about starting baby food, he gave me a look that said, "Lady...it's food. It ain't rocket science." I'm really trying to take a step back every now & then to be realistic, but it's so easy to get caught up in being anal-retentive! Thankfully, Sam is a bit more laid back than Shawn or me...his first words will probably be, "Chill out."

Sittin' Pretty

Sam is getting better and better at sitting up on his own. Now that he can sit up a little, he really thinks laying down is for the birds. It's much better to put him on the bed, that way when he sways too far in one direction, he falls on something soft. Not that his perfect mother would ever let him bump his head on the floor or anything.

And can I just say...Is it just in a boy's genes to love the remote control???

Don't Play With Your Food

A few days ago, Sam was being especially grabby while he was eating, so Shawn decided to just let him give it a whirl solo-style.

At first, he decided to try to eat like Maddie does. Mouth in bowl...doesn't seem all that complicated when she does it.

Then he decided to use those wonderful hands that we humans have.

After that, Mom persuaded him to try it with the spoon.

Not too bad, if you ask me.

But really, cereal just tastes so much better when you can lick it off your fingers...

...and this spoon thing works much better as a necktie.

Dear Sam,

Happy Half Birthday! Six months ago, I had no idea what kind of ride we were getting ready to go on. It has had its share of ups and downs, but I don't think I would change anything. Even those first few weeks, as difficult as they were, taught me some important lessons and forced me to make some changes. I learned that parenting is a two-man job, and sometimes I just have to let the other man have a turn. I learned that I can't control everything, no matter how much I have planned or researched. (Actually, that one may still be a work in progress.) Somewhere along the way, I learned how to be a mommy. For the first time in my life, I feel like I'm doing exactly what I'm supposed to be doing at exactly the right time.

This month, we started you on solid food. On your 5 month birthday, we gave you cereal for the first time. We were shocked at how quickly you took to eating with a spoon, and you already prefer eating cereal to taking a bottle. During the day, you will almost refuse a bottle...you've just got too much to do! But when you first wake up in the morning and right before you go down for the night, you're just snuggly enough to settle into my arms and be my baby for a little bit longer.

You have also discovered....

TOES!!!

The first time you got your big toe in your mouth, you looked at me like, "What's this? A toe? Oh my gosh...it's wonderful!! Why have you been keeping these delectable little chubbies a secret from me?!" Toes are delicious, and what's better, they're almost always accessible. With the recent chill in the air, I've been putting socks on you, and you really don't seem to appreciate that very much. You can't get to those yummy toes! You lie in the floor and grasp, squirm, grunt and pull until you finally get your sock off...and then you reward yourself with a big ol' mouth full of phalangeal food.

You're starting to sit up on your own. I'll put you down and position your feet almost Indian-style to give you the best balance. You will hold steady for a few seconds then slooooooowly bend forward until you're folded in half. Sometimes you sway back and forth like a little drunk man, and you think it's hilarious when you flop over and mom or dad catches you. Your eyes are losing their blue color, too. Some days I think they'll be brown like your daddy's, and other days I think they look a little greenish like mine. I secretly hope you have your daddy's eyes because they're one of my favorite things about him, but whichever you choose will be beautiful, I'm sure.

You got your first tooth this month. You worked really hard for that tooth. I think at one point or another over the weeks preceding its appearance, you experienced almost every possible symptom of teething. While we gave you a variety of teething rings and toys to chew on, you really just preferred someone else's finger. Then, last weekend you were just not yourself. I started poking around in your mouth only to find a SECOND tooth trying to poke its way through. Keep up the good work, buddy. I promise corn on the cob really is worth all the trouble.

You've become very grabby. You. Grab. Everything. When you're eating, you try to grab the cereal bowl. When I pick you up, you grab a hand full of my hair. When Daddy is holding you in the recliner, you grab his nose. The cat walked past you a few days ago, and you almost got his tail. However, when I want you to grab and hold on, you don't. Most babies instinctively hold on when they're being held on someone's hip. Not my laid back boy! You spread your arms out like an eagle and leeeeeaaaaaann back because hey...mom's got this covered, right?

Sam, I swear you make me smile just by looking at you. At least once a day, your dad or I will say, "How can he be so funny when he's not even doing anything?" I love seeing your face light up when you greet us. It's like you have unexpectedly run into a long lost friend. I get home at the same time every night, but the surprise and joy on your face is always new. You can melt away the remnants of even the worst day and make everything seem right again.

"I love you" just doesn't seem to cover it,

Mommy

Sam's First Football Game

This weekend, Sam went to his first UK game. Shawn has been anxiously awaiting this day since the moment I told him I was pregnant. All morning long, Sam kept saying, "B-b-b-boo" which Shawn swore up and down was "Blue." We got him all decked out and came up with a contingency plan for part of us to leave the game early if it became necessary. As it turned out, that was a pretty good plan.

Daddy was so proud and excited. Sam was slightly less enthused.

The drama is building...

And here we are in full-screaming mode.

The girls and the little kids left just after this shot was taken, but we wanted to hang around long enough to make sure we documented the child abuse. I'm sure the people in the stands around us were very appreciative.

In Sam's defense, the next morning I felt another tooth coming through, so his crying wasn't entirely due to the sloppy way Kentucky was playing in the first half. Too bad we didn't stick around for the big come-back, though!

Random Thoughts Thursday

I almost hit a deer on the way to work this week. I was driving along, and no kidding I had just had the thought that it was kinda foggy and I might need to take things a little slower. (Thanks, Big Guy, for that little suggestion.) Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a BIG deer galloping at me, full-speed and completely unaware. I slammed on the brakes, sending my purse, lunch and diaper bag sailing into the floor and started pounding on the horn. (Yep...diaper bag. As in Sam's. As in I had Sam in the car.) I had one of those moments where you just know there's nothing you can do, and I braced for impact. In those milliseconds that seemed like an eternity, I felt heart-stopping fear.



I've had near misses and close calls before. We all have. But this one really scared me. What if the deer had come through the windshield? What if I had been knocked unconscious and lost control of the car? It's no longer just about me getting hurt or messing a car up; there's a VIP in my car these days.



Suddenly, the deer did an about-face and took off in the direction he had come. It was so sudden that I jokingly told my babysitter there must have been an angel standing right in front of him, but who can say???



By the way, Sam slept through the whole ordeal and rewarded his noodle-legged momma with a sleepy smile when I got him out of the car.

~~~~~

I'm such a nerd texter. I'm trying to be a bit cooler about it, but it was a big step for me to use "u" for you and "r" for "are". I just need for everything to be spelled correctly (or as close as my autocorrect will get me) and punctuated appropriately.



One thing that I can't get past is lol. Do people really lol when they type lol? Because I see people texting all of the time, and I hardly ever hear anyone lol. And I'm pretty sure people aren't really rofl when they say they are.

Dear Sam,

Tonight you fell asleep in my arms. Ordinarily if you doze off while I'm holding you, I get up and put you in your bed, but tonight I just sat and rocked you. Your face was so peaceful, and you smelled so good after your bath. Your hair sticks up over your left temple all of the time now. I wonder if it's a cowlick that you'll have forever. I can already see myself grabbing you and trying to spit-comb it down before family photos...before you walk out for your graduation...on your wedding day. But for now, I'm happy to just let it stick up.

While we were sitting here rocking, I gently caressed your little hand, and you grabbed my finger. You never even flinched--it was completely unconscious. You just sighed and settled down into my arms a little deeper. I love that you need me even when you're asleep.

You're getting so long that your legs dangle over my thigh when I'm holding you. I can't believe how fast you're growing. But no matter how long or tall you get...no matter how much you tower over me or outweigh me...I will always have room in my heart for you.

A Grateful Day

I was struck with gratitude today. You know those times when it just hits you how blessed you are? That you realize your problems are nothing compared to what others are going through? That was me this morning. It seems lately that I have just been surrounded with stories of sick children.

For the past few weeks, I have been following the story of singer Matt Hammitt's son, Bowen. Matt is the lead singer for the Christian group Sanctus Real, and his son was recently born with hypoplastic left heart syndrome. When I heard about their story on the radio, I immediately became interested because my brother also has the same condition. Although I was very young when he was at his sickest, I can still remember my parents' fear every time he went in for surgery. Until about 6 months ago, I had no idea what agony that must have been for them. Matt posted a picture today on his website of little Bowen displaying his scar from his first of probably many surgeries, and my heart just hurt for him.

While reading about Bowen today, I stumbled upon the blog of another singer, Aaron Shust. It seems his son has a digestive disorder that prevents him from eating. He has a tube inserted through his nose leading to his small intestine so he can receive nourishment. With sad eyes, I looked at pictures of this sweet little boy playing while carrying a backpack that contained the only food his body can tolerate.

A former coworker of mine is watching his little girl, Allison, battle cancer right now. Some of you may already know from my email updates that the situation is not good. If I were living their life right now, I would be mad at the world. But Steve says he has accepted that God has a plan for Allison's life and if His plan is for her life to be a short one there is nothing that any man can do to change that. I think he has found a certain peace in knowing that her life is not dependant on anything he can or cannot do.

Finally, last week I learned that my cousin's coworker lost her 16 year old daughter, Tori, to cancer. I had been praying for Tori for a few months, and learning that her fight was over brought back such familiar feelings of joy (that she is no longer in pain) mixed with sadness. Cancer is an ugly, ugly thing, but it is even more despicable when it affects the life of a child.

I'm just awed that these parents can shoulder such a burden. When faced with the indescribable horror of having a seriously ill child, they are just buckling down and keeping on. Moreover, they are really living their faith. They're saying, "God is God...even in the bad times." I wonder, would my attitude be the same? Would I be able to influence and inspire others, or would I become bitter and angry? I hope and pray I never have to find out.

Regardless, I'm going to go home and give my wonderfully healthy son an extra squeeze tonight.

We've Had A Breakthrough!

WE HAVE A TOOTH!!!

Hallelujah and pass the tomatoes! Sam has been struggling with that tooth for a couple of weeks now, but Thursday night it finally broke through. I was doing my daily mouth check where I poke my finger around in his mouth (not that he minds because it just gives him something else to gnaw on), and this time I felt something SHARP when he chomped down. I'm hopeful that he will finally get a little relief. For a day or two there, I kept having to promise him that, yes, eating steak and corn on the cob really is worth all of the trouble.

On another note, Shawn and I have been having the conversation again this week that we really have no back-up babysitter for those times when our normal lady can't watch Sam. We have asked around and have come up with a few options but nothing concrete. This morning, completely out of the blue, I got an email from our church with a list of six names of young women from the college ministry who had asked that their names be circulated among church members as babysitters. In order to send out their name, the church requires that each one be actively involved in a Bible study program so that someone on staff at the church can vouch for their character. Can you believe it??? SIX people who are trustworthy, like children, aren't on drugs, aren't in a cult and are seeking out employment while they're also getting an education. What an answer to prayer! Just one more little reminder for me that God cares about the little things, too.