Comments, Anyone?

Just a quick note that the comments are working again. Lorne got it up and running. You'll have to type the word verification to block the comment spam, but other than that it should be up and working.

I'd love to hear from you!

Good Riddance Rita!

It has been forever since I posted. I guess that my attention (and everyone else's)has been focused on Rita for about the past week. I was sick with worry when the initial reports said it would make landfall at Matagorda Bay since that's about fifteen miles from where our parents live. Pretty much our entire family is on the Gulf Coast so it was not a fun time. I hate that others had to deal with her destruction and devastation, but I am so grateful at the same time that it wasn't any of our loved ones. We had some shingles come off from high winds on Saturday, but that's about it. We'll know more once Lorne is able to climb up there and check it out.

Lorne's cousin Trask and his family came to stay with us Wednesday night until Saturday morning. It took them eleven hours to make what should have been about a five hour drive. That's just mindboggling! They live in the Lake Jackson area which is close to Surfside Beach. Their kids Hayden and Aubrey are too cute! They're fourteen months apart like my brothers are. I can't imagine having kids that close in age. I'm hoping to not have another one at least until Sawyer is out of diapers but I guess we'll see.

Sawyer was back to waking every few hours while they were here and then Saturday night he slept seven straight hours again. Last night I fed him three times in six hours so I guess that there's no telling how he's going to sleep from one night to the next. It's really frustrating when he won't sleep now because I had gotten used to actually sleeping more than two hours at a time which is how it was for the first three months! It's also frustrating because I wasn't tired yesterday so I didn't really nap much and I guess that I should have made myself. I know, I know, sleep when the baby sleeps! :) Maybe this growth spurt will be over soon and he will start sleeping consistently again.

I actually didn't go and have him weighed last week. I was so proud of myself. I did weigh myself on my scale last night before his bath and then held him to see what he weighed and it looks like he's around thirteen pounds which is good. I'm trying to hold out on an official weigh-in until October 6th when we go back to the pediatrician.

I am already looking forward to this weekend because we don't have any plans. We've had company for five straight weeks! It's not that we don't love seeing our family, but it's just nice to have some quiet time with the three of us too. Lorne and I could kid ourselves and think that he and I suddenly became so popular but we know that isn't true. We know everyone is wanting to see the little man! Who could blame them really? Lorne took last Friday off to help me out and that was nice to get to spend an extra day with him. Courtney is coming to stay with us October 7th because she is throwing Laura a baby shower that Saturday. I'm trying to decide what I want to buy her. I feel like such an expert after a few months of having Sawyer. I think that I am going to buy her some of the things that we haven't been able to live without. That doesn't necessarily mean she will feel the same, but I have a feeling she will on some of the items. I am looking forward to going because it will be my first "outing" without Sawyer other than running errands since he was born. I'm already getting nervous about it. I really wish that I could chill out sometimes! :)

I lost this last week which is good news. My total is 13.6 pounds lost. I'm hoping that I will lose again this week so that I can get my 15 pound sticker. I LOVE getting those stickers. It's like I'm back in Kindergarten.

I only went to Curves once last week. I guess that things were just too crazy! I am looking forward to getting back at least three times this week. I know it will make a difference in my weight loss efforts.

I wanted to post a picture from last weekend when Tammy stopped by. I could tell that she was really excited to be spending time with Sawyer! She was in town for a class and was able to come by Sunday afternoon before I took her to the airport that evening. I also have a few of Sawyer with the kids from this weekend.


Sawyer loves to play with his Gloworm!


Sawyer wore this hat that Lorie gave him when we went on our last walk.


Sawyer was too busy smiling at Trask to smile at me.


Now everyone's looking in the same direction!

Sawyer Slept EIGHT Hours!

I couldn't believe that he slept so long last night! It was kind of like I received a three-month service award! It was way better than a gold watch I must say! I've read that he should be sleeping fifteen hours total with ten at night and five hours worth of naps during the day. He's not quite napping that much during the day but I think that's because he takes almost an hour to eat each time and he eats six or seven times a day. He pretty much naps about two hours once and then maybe for about thirty minutes a couple of times if I'm lucky. He gets fussy around 6:00-6:30 in the evening and we think that's because he wants to go to sleep, but I hate for him to because I usually put him down for the evening around 8:00. I guess we'll have to experiment and see how it goes. All I know is that I love him sleeping for so long. It was so nice! Lorie, you were right; it does get better! :)

Mark and Darbi may be back in Texas sooner than we initially hoped! Whoop! Mark has a few interviews next week in Houston. I am keeping my fingers, toes, and everything else crossed and praying that he will get one of the jobs and be back home. It would be great to have them just a few hours down the road. I would love for them to be in Dallas so that we won't be the farthest away again. Oh well, at least they will be in Texas thank goodness!

I am struggling these days with my many roles. I am a Mom, Wife, Friend, Cook, Housekeeper, Member of Curves and Weight Watchers, and Blogger. :) I find that when I am the best Mom that I can be other things have to suffer. Take cooking for example: I didn't cook all week. I can't tell you the last time that has happened. I think that I was probably at A&M. On being a friend: I have been playing phone tag with Courtney for at least a week. I can't remember the last time that I talked to Melissa. I need to call both of my Laura friends. Denise and I talk once a week if we're lucky. I usually feel like it's too late to call when I get the chance or I will try to call and Sawyer will start to cry or fuss. I just hope that all of my friends understand and that I will be able to become a better friend as I adjust more to Motherhood.

Sawyer got a new toy this week. It's called the Tiny Love Super Deluxe Gymini with Lights and Music. It's basically a glorified playmat that plays music (Mozart and nursery rhymes) and has some tactile objects on the mat with some safari animals hanging down. The animals can be moved to various parts of the playmat which is neat. I have it set up on the pool table since Rosie would probably try to have her own tummy time if I put it on the floor. Lorne's game room has become a storage facility for Sawyer's plethora of baby accessories. :)

The thing that I like about it is that it can really grow with him as he will eventually learn to grab the objects and shake them himself. It has a mirror but I don't think that he really notices it just yet. He likes to look at the lights though. It's a great place for tummy time. I know they're going to check how well he holds up his head when we go back to the pedi in October so we need to practice.


The little flowers light up and it starts playing music when he pushes on them.


Here's an overhead view of the Gymini. It goes well with the jungle theme of his room don't ya think?


He likes being on his back much more than tummy time.

Larry and Velma are on their way up this morning. Tammy will be here Sunday to spend time with the little man too so he will get lots of love this weekend! It's going to be fun! I'm sure to have new pictures to post next week!

FYI: There's a problem with leaving comments for any who may have tried. The word verification process isn't working properly. The Blogger people are not being very forthcoming with assistance so I don't know when it will be remedied. I'll keep everyone posted on the progress of repairing the problem!

Tummy time and other ramblings

I've posted two days in a row! I know, I know, it's a miracle. All I can say is don't get too used to it! :)

Sawyer weighs 12 lbs 6.8 ozs so he almost gained six ounces this week for those of you who are keeping track. For those of you who think I am too wrapped up in this whole weight thing you're not alone. When I went to A Mother's Gift today Lisa said, "You're back ALREADY? I want you to build up your confidence!" I told her that I was; it had been a week since I'd been there. :) I really think that I am going to try and go two weeks or at least ten days until I have him weighed again. It just works out so well to go there after Weight Watchers, have him weighed, feed him, and then meet Lorne for lunch. I actually left and fed him in Lorne's office today because I don't really feel comfortable at A Mother's Gift anymore and that's really frustrating to me. I wish that I could talk to Candy about it but she's never there when I am anymore. I may try and call her one day this week and see if I can catch her there. He has his four month checkup on October 6th so I may just try and go at least once between now and then. I really wish that I could relax with the whole thing but it's just not in my nature to do so I don't think. I may call and see how much it costs to rent a Medela scale like they have. I probably could have bought one by now if I added up the cost of gas and Tolltags after all these trips to the hospital. Oh well!

He slept about seven hours total last night which was awesome! I really wish that I could predict how he will be at night so that I could know whether or not to nap during the day. I have been trying to catch one when I can as I hate to risk it and have to go through a sleepless night with him.

I maintained at Weight Watchers today which is good considering how I've been snacking lately. I asked about what will happen after October 9th which is when my free time ends and they said that I will have to pay each time I weigh but I only have to weigh once a month since I'm Lifetime. There's no way that I can only weigh once a month. (Anyone sensing a trend with me?) Having a stranger weigh me is the whole essence of Weight Watchers and why it works so well. The Meetings are also an important component, not to mention that WW gets me out of the house with Sawyer once a week which I really need. I enjoy our time in the "real world." :)

Here are some pics Lorne took last night while I was in the shower. He is getting to be quite the shutterbug:


Tummy time for Sawyer wouldn't be the same if he couldn't chew on his arm or hands.


Here's a close-up of those big brown eyes!

Sawyer is Three Months (plus four days) Old!

Our baby boy is growing before our eyes! He is so much fun to be around these days. He is cooing, gurgling, and drooling like crazy! I am trying to teach him to blow bubbles with his lips. He did it a couple of times Saturday but I haven't gotten him to do it since. I am such a proud Mommy!

Aunt Tisha and Uncle Larry spent the weekend with us. I think that Aunt Tisha really enjoyed her one-on-one time with baby Sawyer. He was good for her for the most part. He gets really mad when he's wet and right before he needs a nap. Other than that he really is an easy-going little boy.

We did some window shopping in Rockwall Saturday. Our friend Stephen is a part owner of an antique shop called Adornments. We went there with the hopes that he would be there. He was at his other job but we got to meet his mom and one of his three sisters. They were very nice and welcoming people.

We went to On The Border for lunch. Yum! It's the one where I usually meet my friend Kristy. She and I haven't gotten to eat together since my due date when we met at Chili's in Wylie. That seems like it was forever ago. Aunt Tisha and Uncle Larry had never eaten at one so they had the beef burrito which Lorne recommended. I had quesadillas since they're easy to eat one-handed. I was holding Sawyer. He's decided that it's not fun to sleep through lunch anymore.

Speaking of sleeping. He's no longer sleeping over five hours like he was doing for the past week or so. It was really nice while it lasted. I'm hoping that it's because he's going through his three month growth spurt and it will only be temporary.

I don't want to weigh in tomorrow because I think that I am up. I don't know what my problem was this week but I couldn't stop snacking. Now I have to pay for it at the scale. At least tomorrow my Flex points start over and I can make a new start. I guess that we will go to A Mother's Gift even though they will probably give me a hard time about being there again. Oh well, I don't care what they think!

Here are some picures from the weekend and his three month pics:


Aunt Tisha and Uncle Larry enjoying spending time with Sawyer.


Sawyer was more interested in his hands than taking another picture with us!


Aunt Tisha loved holding Sawyer!


We couldn't get the smile this time.


I just LOVE this froggie outfit!

He's Up, I'm Down...What a Deal!

Sawyer and I had our Wednesday routine today. We went to Weight Watchers first. I lost 2.2 pounds this week so that gives me a total of 11.2 in four weeks so I'm really happy with my results. Then it was on to A Mother's Gift. Sawyer weighs 12 pounds 1 ounce. He is up from 11 pounds 10 ounces last Wednesday so that's really good. Not only is his weight up, but he's been sleeping six and seven hours straight the past couple of nights. I don't know if it's just a phase or what, but I am keeping my fingers crossed. I find myself waking up after about four hours and not being able to fall back to sleep because I'm wondering if everything is okay with him. I mean, why is he sleeping so long all of a sudden? I know, I know, it's his age. I swear I really am never happy am I? :)

I feel like the ladies at A Mother's Gift are trying to get rid of me. Am I just being paranoid? Perhaps. Last week Kathy asked me if I was ever going to relax with this so I looked her straight in the eye and told her no! I told her that I could never explain how I felt as a mother when he lost so much weight before. She asked me to look at him and see how good he looks and how alert he is and to stop worrying. Anyone who knows me knows that it is absolutely impossible for me to stop worrying so the joke is on her! She told me to leave and never come back and I know that she was joking around but I still had my feelings hurt. I did a pre and post and he got 90 cc. I told her that I had gone two weeks without doing one so that was an improvement. She told me that I was not allowed back until at least Tuesday so I showed her! I made it until Wednesday! :)

Lisa was there today and she asked me his age as I was getting him ready to weigh. She said that once they're three months we're supposed to start going not by the scale but by how they look and how they're acting. "Blah, blah, blah, I heard that song and dance last week lady," I wanted to say. She said the one-half to one ounce weight gain per day doesn't really apply anymore either since he's getting older. I think that the consultants as a whole see so many people that they really lose the idea of how it feels to go through what we've been through. She said that some babies are more active than others at his age and that can affect their weight gain. I can definitely see that happening to Sawyer because he is always busy, kicking and squirming.

Long story short I don't know what to do. I guess that I should try and start going two weeks without weighing him but I am just too scared. I don't want his weight to drop in the slightest. It's a free service that they provide so I just wish that they would lay off and let me take care of Sawyer in the way that I see fit. I could bring him in everyday if I wanted to and they couldn't stop me!

I'm hoping to get to Curves today for the second time this week. I weigh and measure there every four weeks so I'm looking forward to seeing how many inches I've lost. The inches are just as important as the pounds. I learned that the first time around. We have a short week since Monday was a holiday so it may be a stretch to get my three times in this week. Aunt Tisha and Uncle Larry will be here Friday afternoon so I hate to go while they're here, but I may if I haven't already been my three times. I think that they will understand.

I'm excited that Aunt Tisha will get lots of one-on-one Sawyer time. He really is a joy to be around right now. His smile lights up the room and my heart! What did we ever do before him? Sleep, maybe? :)

Until next time...Kelly

Brandon and Deanna's Wedding

The wedding was very beautiful. I don't think that I have ever been to a fancier affair. The reception was held at the La Cima Club in Las Colinas and was on the 26th floor of the Tower at Williams Square so it offered a beautiful view of the skyline of the Metroplex. I'm afraid of heights so it wasn't all that great for me at times, but I could appreciate the beauty of the location nonetheless. The area is probably most well-known for the statues of the horses running through the water. I wished that we could have stayed for the entire reception, but I think that we got to see the major events like their first dance, the toasts, cutting the cakes, and I got to dance with Matthew, Dad, and Brandon. I never got to dance with Mark I don't think. He'll just have to owe me one. :)

Here are some pictures from the fun night:


I think that we always stand in the same order when we take pictures!


My brothers looked so handsome in their tuxes.


Matthew and Jackie


Mark and Darbi


I LOVE to watch my parents dance. This was a neat dance where the dancers who had been married the longest stayed on the dance floor. The winners were Deanna's grandparents at fifty-one years.


Lorne was sweet to watch Sawyer so that I could dance and watch the goings-on at the reception.

Hanging Out With Sawyer

We had such a good weekend! The only problem was that it all went by too quickly! I think that everyone enjoyed holding Sawyer. I was so excited for Mark and Darbi to see him that I couldn't stand it. It felt like they would never get here but they did Thursday evening. They were pretty busy since the boys were in the wedding, but there was still time for hanging out with Sawyer. Mom and Dad were able to get here earlier than they thought. They were able to come by the house Saturday afternoon so that they could spend some time with Sawyer. Matthew and the gang were already at the wedding, but we were able to spend Sunday and part of Monday together. Dad had to leave Sunday, but Mom stayed and rode back with Matthew, Jackie, Mark, and Darbi so that she could spend some more time with everyone.

Matthew's 25th birthday was Monday so we went out to Texas Roadhouse on Sunday for his birthday. We had German Chocolate cake and homemade ice cream when we got home. It was yummy! I had some of Darbi's pecan pie instead of the cake since it was chocolate. Dad baked those and I made chocolate pies for Mark. It's his favorite!

Here are some pictures from our weekend at the house. I'm also going to post some from Brandon and Deanna's wedding.


Uncle Matthew and Aunt Jackie


Aunt Darbi loved holding baby Sawyer!


Sawyer putting on a show for Mimi and Grandpa. His newest thing is how he smiles and I think he is going to be laughing before we know it!


Uncle Mark said that he didn't hold babies, but one look at Sawyer and he changed his mind.


Look how Sawyer is smiling at Aunt Darbi!


They had us crammed in the booth like sardines, but we still had a great time!

Babies, Babies, Babies

Our Aggie friends Jason and Tara welcomed their daughter Riley Elise on August 18th. She weighed 5 lbs 12 ounces and was 17.75 inches long. She joins her brother Nolan at home. All seemed to be doing well when Lorne talked with Jason last. I wish that we all lived closer so that we could see one another more often, especially since we have kids so close in age. Here's a picture that Jason sent to us:


Introducing Riley Elise!

Our friends Laura and Jesse welcomed their son Andrew Edward on Thursday, September 1st. He weighed in at 7 lbs 8 ozs and was 19.25 inches long. He was born at 2:17 A.M. He joins his sister Ryan and brother Christopher at home. That makes he and Sawyer exactly twelve weeks apart. I can already see them running around together! I was able to go and see them in the hospital and he is too cute! I am hoping to have a picture to post really soon!