A busy week

The last week and half have been extremely busy.  On Wednesday (the 21st) I went back to work.  I worked a few hours on Wednesday and Thursday, worked six full days starting Friday, and am now done.  I contracted with the district to go back to Oak Pointe to help the two new speech pathologists get started.  My mom came back in town on Thursday the 22nd to make it happen, which I appreciate a ton!  It was fun to see everyone at school and be back, but I am ready to be back home with Ford.  Having that experience of working again reaffirmed that I made the right decision to stay home with Ford this year and reaffirmed that I definitely do not want to be working five days a week.  Again, I am so thankful I was able to do this and that it worked out for my mom to come back (rather last minute) to help us out.  As you can tell, Ford was pretty happy she came back too!    

It was an exhausting week and a half with not much down time (at work or at home).  It happened to be that it was a busy week after my work day as well (which didn’t help the feeling of being exhausted and on the go), but another reason we are so appreciative that my mom was here.  She was able to stay with Ford while we had one event after another.  Even though it wasn’t even two full weeks worth of being away from him, I felt like I was missing out.  I also definitely feel “behind” at home and have been trying to catch up this weekend.

On Thursday night it was Gamecock Football!  It was our first game and it was a home game.  The few days before the game I could tell football season was near.  How?  Well, on the radio I started hearing more and more talk about the Gamecocks.  I heard the fight song and 2001 played.  I drove by the fairgrounds and saw the parking numbers and porto-potties ready to go.  Then I started noticing more and more car flags- multiple flags per car of course.  Slap on a few Gamecock decals on the car and it was pretty obvious the fans were ready.  Driving home from work I noticed some huge RVs, pulling their cars (all with decals on them of course), heading into downtown to get ready to tailgate (this was on Wednesday).  On Thursday I got a call from Jeff saying that when he got to work that morning fans were already tail-gating.  The game started at 8:00pm.  Do you think they were excited football season was here or what?  Anyways- the game was great, particularly the second half, and it is hard to believe it is our third season here.  Time has gone so quickly. 

Ford sported his team colors both on Thursday when the Gamecocks played and on Saturday when the Frogs played.  He was quite happy that both of his teams won their first game!

 

On Saturday Ford was also introduced to one of Jeff’s favorite things about the fall.  The plethora of college football games that you can find on TV on Saturdays.  Ford enjoyed watching a short bit of some games with his Dad.

Ah, the good life being a boy!  Sitting back, relaxing, watching some football and playing with the remote.  Life is good.

Good try

On Friday night Ford tried Cheerios for the first time.  It was a funny sight.  He was so extremely serious trying to pick them up, concentrating very hard to get those tiny “O’s” in his fingers.  Once he picked one up in his hand he would then “lose” it inside his palm (whether it was stuck to his palm or “caught” in his fist).  Trying to get it out of his fist, the cheerio would fall on his tray again.  He kept trying though.  Eventually I put one in his mouth, but he had not a clue what to do with it.  So, no more cheerios for awhile.  Oh well, good try Ford.   

      

Who would have thought? and, I promise we feed him!

Who would have thought?

Last week I decided to let go of my personal feelings about prunes and let Ford make his own decision about them.  For a few weeks I would look at the various types of baby food in the store, see the prunes, and by-pass them.  Then I realized he had tried every stage 1 fruit and vegetable they offered and perhaps needed to reconsider my preconceived thoughts about serving him prunes.  It was hard though because I honestly have never said “I could really go for some prunes today.”  So, in all fairness to Ford, I decided to buy a container of prunes and see what happened.  I was not convinced that our little eater would like them, and was prepared to possibly have to throw them out, or keep trying, and in the end never buy them again.  Ford had different thoughts, however.  From bite one, he was a fan!  Yeah Ford!  Way to be open to trying new things and flavors!     

 

I promise we feed him!

I promise that we do in fact feed Ford and are not letting the boy go hungry.  The last couple of days Ford has decided that perhaps his highchair might be tastier than his food.  I don’t believe he has reached a final decision yet as he continues to taste it at each meal.   

 

The fake smile

This morning we caught Ford in a fake smile and were actually able to get pictures of it too.  I had opened the back door to see how it felt out and Ford starting smiling (a real smile) in Jeff’s arms.  Then his real smile all of a sudden turned into this fake smile, kind of like you get with school pictures.  He even had his hands “posed” like he was taking a school picture.  Jeff and I couldn’t stop laughing at him as he continued the funny/fake smile. 

Ford practicing for his “school picture” pose (a few years early)

Some real smiles

 

And one last one from our trip to the park this morning with our friend Kat

What in the world is all that racket??

In addition to Ford enjoying having his feet up, he really enjoys kicking whatever object his feet are resting upon.  He can make quite a lot of noise doing this and it doesn’t matter if it’s the coffee table/trunk, ottoman, one of us, or his crib.  In fact, he seems to really enjoy banging his feet against his crib.  Before or after a nap I will hear him in there kicking away, monitor off and all.  It will be a miracle if his poor crib holds up over the next couple of years.  In the last few weeks when I have gone in to get him out of his crib I will have most likely either seen a.) his feet up in the air or b.) his feet “resting” on the bumper pads, sometimes peeking out through the crib slats.  It always makes me laugh.  Here is what I saw when I got him from a nap a week ago on August 8th.

 

Refreshed

Last night I was able to “get away” with my sweet friend Karin.  We drove down to Charleston, had a wonderful dinner together, such fun conversation, and then topped the night off with going to the Hootie and the Blowfish concert.  Jeff knows their manager who gave us two tickets in awesome seats for their concert.  It was in an outdoor stadium on Daniel Island, it wasn’t too hot out, and overall was so much fun.  I have always liked their music and even the songs I didn’t know the words to were great. 

I spent the night down there at Karin and Scott’s apartment and got up this morning to drive back in time for Jeff to head out to an event for work.  Leading up to my night away I was so nervous that Ford wouldn’t take his bottle and then would get up multiple times during the night and would have trouble going back to sleep.  I was looking forward to my night away and time with Karin, but was nervous as well.  Jeff continually reassured me that things would be fine, which I knew they would in the end.  I called Jeff before our dinner and got the report that Ford in fact did not take much of his bottle before going to bed, but so far had not woken up.  So, I called after the concert to see how things were going and the report was the same.  A sleeping Bean.  Great! 

So, this morning as I drove back to Columbia I called to see how the rest of the night went and could not believe what I heard.  Did Ford wake up a bunch?  No.  Did Ford get up even once to eat?  No.  WHAT??!!!  Are you kidding me?  No.  Ford slept through the night.  Great news, too bad he has not been doing that for me.  But, I am thrilled it went smoothly and that Ford had a great night’s sleep!  Once I starting thinking about it I realized that Ford was probably exhausted.  The last week or so he has gotten up twice during the night, getting up 3 times the previous night, and did not have great naps on Friday.  I really am glad he was finally able to get a good nights sleep.  Did I sleep through the night?  Not exactly.   Was it still refreshing?  Yes! 

Here is what I was able to come home to, an extremely hungry, but then happy, Ford Bean!

It was great to see Jeff for a few minutes before he had to leave and then to spend the next couple hours playing with Ford.  I feel refreshed and ready to go again.  It was a wonderful quick night away and I am so thankful Jeff got it all set up and taken care of!

What a blessing!

Tonight Ford fell asleep in my arms with his left arm over his head with his hand on the back of his head/hair, and his feet crossed.  It was so sweet that I just let him stay like that for awhile, just enjoying the sweet sight of him and the feeling of him in my arms.  As I watched him I said a prayer of thanksgiving.  Today would have been my first day back at work.  Crazy enough the summer has ended for the teachers around here and the district I worked for reported back today.  What a blessing that God has provided for us in ways to make it possible for me to stay home with Ford this year.  What a blessing that Jeff is such a hard worker and that he is willing to be the sole provider for our family right now.  What a blessing that I get to be home with our little man to experience every day life with him. 

Another “what a blessing” thought.  It is such a blessing to watch the joy that Ford brings to others.  I am not sure what it is about him- maybe it is his big, bright blue eyes, his sweet smile and mouth, or his excited kicking legs- but people are drawn to him.  Everywhere we go, people stop us and talk to him.  Today, for example, we had our weekly trip to Wal-mart and Sam’s.  We had been in Wal-mart maybe a minute when an older woman started talking to him.  Her face literally lit up as she watched him and talked to him.  Then a few minutes later we ran into her again on another aisle and she stopped us again.  As we kept on shopping we ended up back by the deli counter and the four ladies behind it all started smiling and giggling and commenting on Ford (he “shops” in his bjorn facing everyone).  As we checked out the focus was on Ford again.  The checker was smiling (not always a staple at Wal-mart unfortunately) at him and just talking away to him.  What a blessing to see the joy that he brings to other people.  Last week we had a quick stop to Kroger to get one item for dinner and we had literally just stepped foot inside when an older lady stopped us and reached out her hands to hold him.  It threw me off slightly, but it was so sweet to see her holding him and just enjoying the ”feel” of him in her arms.  She said a couple of times how she missed holding a baby.  I know that is a feeling I too will miss one day.  All this to say, Ford is a blessing in so many ways and it is such an incredible blessing to be able to be him mom and be with him during the days this coming school year.

Exersaucer Fun

Two and a half weeks ago Ford got an exersaucer!!  It took him a little while to figure it all out, but now he seems to really enjoy it.  One of the hardest things for him to get used to was putting his feet down (remember that he is the guy that loves to “rest” his feet up on just about anything).  He enjoys making the tubes spin and likes it when lights and music or talking start up. 

16 days. . .

until Gamecock football starts, and the fans are ready.  On Sunday we stopped by “Fan Appreciation Day” at the Colonial Center for a bit.  Each team was there signing posters, Cocky and the cheerleaders were there, as well as Sir Big Spur (our live mascot). 

 

When we walked in I was a little surprised there weren’t more people there, but then soon realized that the football team and coaches were downstairs on the court.  This made complete sense to me, especially once I saw the mass of fans on the floor waiting in lines to see the team, grouped by position, each having a separate line to wait in to get their signatures.  Did I mention I had to find Jeff and Ford in this mess? 

For those of you wondering if we are now proud owners of a poster with a bunch of signatures on it, the answer is “no.”  Think we will wait until Ford insists on us waiting in the snaking lines (just like at Disney- you think they aren’t long until you look closely) so he can see the team and get autographs.  Until then, we are content to show up, say hello, and leave when we are ready, with out waiting in any lines.

Family Outing

On Saturday the three of us headed out to the botanical gardens.  Crazy enough it was our first visit there.  Last weekend we hit the zoo to see the baby lions born in early July- too precious- so this weekend we though we would try the garden part.  The zoo and gardens are connected so we were able to use our annual pass.  It was a warm day, but cooler than it has been and not nearly as humid, which was great!  The gardens were beautiful and after walking around them we took the tram to the zoo and stayed on to ride back.  It was a nice way to relax and enjoy the breeze.  As it gets cooler I know we will be back again. 

We love the weekends and have been able to spend a lot of time with just the three of us this summer–it’s been tons of fun!