Decking the Halls, the House, and the Yard!

We have spent the day decorating for Christmas. I don't know if it was just knowing I had to go back to work tomorrow or what, but I have just been down in the dumps all day. Usually decorating gets me excited about all of the seasonal activities to come. Hopefully after getting back into my normal routine tomorrow, all will be well.

I was feeling slightly creative walking around Walmart after church this morning. This is what I came up with:

I just bought a wreath for $5 and two boxes of ornaments, the wooden H (from the craft department), some paint, and some ribbon and waaalaah! Not as fancy as the ones from the Canton Flea Market but not near as expensive! Let me know what you think!!

We also got Brody's ornament from Daycare last week. It's so cute!!! It goes perfect with our tree this year. Everything in my house and red and green.



Church was really nice this morning. We have now entered into the season of Advent. A time to prepare, reflect, and become closer to God. A wonderful reminder of why we celebrate the season!

*Side-Props: I have to give much credit to my wonderfully patient husband who had to endure a whole day of "a little to the left...oh, wait, more to the right, now a little higher". But my decorations are up, look fantastic and more importantly one more thing I can check off my list!!! Yay hubby! I love you!!

So Much To Be Thankful For!

We have been busy, busy, busy this Thanksgiving.We started Sunday with a visit to Ken's parents house. We got to see all of his family including my three sweet nephews, Evan, Ryan, and Connor.

Thursday, we spend the day at my parents' house and all of my family was there. My grandparents came up from the coast, Lauren and Michael came home from school, and Olivia (Mike's fiance') also came by. We are truly blessed to have such a wonderful tight knit family.

**Sidenote: GO SEE FOUR CHRISTMASES! ITS HILARIOUS!!!! Even the boys will like it. Ken was laughing throughout the entire movie!**

All week I've been somewhat obsessive about Brody's progression. Even through all my craziness, he has taken off! He now STANDS while holding on to things (couch, me, ottoman). He went from not putting his legs down at all to standing!!!! I'm so proud, impressed, shocked...but not shocked because of all the other things he does just all of a sudden.

Standing!!!!!!

Resting!!!!!

My sister, Lauren, went with us to get our Christmas Tree. Brody was so excited to help pick out his very first one!

A New Day

After having time to process everything from yesterday morning, I'm feeling much better about the situation. Thanks to EVERYONE who lended an ear yesterday and calmed me down.
My mom found this article from Parents.com on "Late Bloomers" and I have posted the part on muscle tone:

Muscle Tone
Another huge influence on your baby's development is his physical makeup. Some infants have what is called a low muscle tone, which may make it harder for them to accomplish gross motor skills. Muscle tone is the level of tension in the muscles when the body is at rest. Children with low muscle tone might be a little late in learning to roll over, sit up, crawl, and walk just because it's harder for them to initiate movement or maintain muscle tone during movement.
How can a parent tell whether a child's muscle tone is low? It's not easy. His arms and legs might be especially easy to move when relaxed, or he may seem to slip through your arms when you pick him up. A child with low tone is a bit floppy and perhaps not as quick to move about as a child with greater muscle tone.
The good news is that most kids outgrow low muscle tone after a couple years and end up on a par with everyone else. Some kids with low muscle tone benefit from physical or occupational therapy for a short period of time. Parents may be taught different exercises to do with their child at home to encourage muscle development. If the exercises are done on a regular schedule, most parents will see positive results fairly quickly.

....So, this is not the end all be all they made it out to be (or that I took away from the meeting).

To read the rest of the article click here.

First Steps Evaluation

I don't really even know where to begin. I haven't really processed what all went on during the last hour.

The First Steps team came out to evaluate Brody's developement: all areas. He scored all over the place. He was low in communication and gross motor development. He scored as a 7 month old in both cases. He will have a PT come to his daycare once a week for 45 minute sessions.

He has low muscle tone. Supposedly this is something you are born with (neurological) and can not be changed. Everyone said he was lazy. But today they said that he wants very badly to do things, he just doesnt have the strength.

My first question, as the mother of a boy, was: "Will he be able to play sports?" Answer: Silence
They all looked at each other. So I responded: Basically that means no? They said he may play and may play well but... more silence.

I am still processing everything and really don't know what to think. For awhile everyone said he just needs time. So he was given time, and not much has changed. Now interventions have to be done.

A bright note: Cognitivly his is right on target: 10 months
Self Help: 13 months

The test was a little weird, even though he could clap to the word Yay, because he didn't to patty cake he was counted off. And even though he can say bye bye and wave, because can't say dadada and mamamama he got counted off. (All in communication). And he doesn't know the word No but he doesn't move or get into anything so we haven't had to use it yet. So I don't know if I exactly believe the communication level.

Just pray for Brody and I know he will improve. In just a month's time, he has learned to push up on hands, crawl backwards, sit himself up, feed himself, hold his bottle, etc.

(My camera is broken...so no pics for awhile! Sorry!! I'm going to beg and hopefully borrow my mom's for thanksgiving pics.)

A Friend's Shower

Last night we co-hosted a "Stock the Bar" Shower for our good friend Casey and her fiance Dane. We are so fortunate and blessed to have such an amazing group of friends that goes back to Jr. High, some even longer than that. (Yes, we are getting old.)

Even though we may only see each other once or twice a month, that friendship is always there, never doubted, through all of life's journeys. Most, if not all, are married, or soon to be, have children...or hopefully soon will.

Molly set a beautiful table!
Yummy cookies and oreo truffles!

It seems they have a good start to "stocking their bar".

The guests of honor: Casey and Dane!

Hollye and Blake

Danya, Molly, and Miriam

Tyler and Amanda

Fall Pics 2008

These are the pictures we took earlier in the month. J. Caraway Photography took them out at Reunion. They came out better than I thought. Brody was sick (of course) and it was right in the middle of nap time. Enjoy!!

Random Pictures

So this is the whole problem with crawling. My kid has amazing reach.

The Art of Not Crawling

I see it....Oooooooh streeeeeettttch!
Got it!

(Aren't his pj's cute! I got these at Mistletoe Marketplace this weekend. Thanks Kim for letting me tag along. I spent way to much money but got some really cute stuff!)

This is a video I got of him trying to crawl a couple of weeks ago.

When Ken and I lived in Barnett Bend over by the Rez, we had an amazing covered porch. We sat out there EVERY night almost. Rain or shine, cold or warm. We LOVED it! Now we are finally finished with our porched. Ken has stained and sealed it and we are in the process of getting everything back on it. This week we took a moment to enjoy the fall night and built a fire. We bundled Brody up and enjoyed each other's company.

Happy 10 Months, Brody!

It's so hard to believe that in two months my sweet baby boy will no longer be a "baby". Today, Brody is 10 months old. My brother and sister came home for the weekend and we were reflecting on this weekend last year. I was 7 months pregnant...HUGE...and my parents were finally moving into their new house. I can't believe they've been there a whole year. A few weeks later, we packed up and moved out the same way.

I have to say, I don't think I would've survived these last ten months without all of our family and friends close by. I am very fortunate to have two sets of grandparents within 10 minutes of us. And believe me, we've have used them to their fullest abilities!

Back to Brody. Currently we are sick yet again. But I think this is just the season and we have many more colds coming our way.

10 Month Milestones:

• Crawls backwards to a sitting position
• Waves bye bye...not sure if he knows that's what he is doing, just copies me.
• Stands supported by us
• Dabbling into table foods... seems to like what he's tried so far.
• Eats ALOT! Moving up to 3rd foods, coming around on the fruits. Loves apricots!
• Reaches up for mommy and daddy to pick him up.
• Size 2 shoes (3-6 mo.), size 9 mo. shirts, 12 month pants to fit him length wise. Such a big boy...with the exception of his shoe size. The boy has tiny feet!
• Really coming into his personality. Very Feisty!!! My parents tell me this is what they call...Pay Back Time. Hmm...wonder what that means.

Quick Update

Brody is progressing (in my mind) really well. He has been scooting backwards now for about a week and now can get himself up to sitting position. I caught him a couple of times today actually get himself into crawling postion from sitting up to get a toy. He stayed on our fours for awhile and then of course threw a fit. But I think this is HUGE because up until just a week ago he would not even push up on his hands. So YAY! to Brody. Momma and Daddy are so PROUD!!

We had a great Halloween this year. Brody started off the day with this adorable outfit from my aunt. It says "So Cute It's Scary!" I love it! I snagged this picture around 5:30 yesterday morning, and Brody was still pretty tired. Friday night we celebrate Halloween at the Kirk's House. All the babies dressed up and the adults ate, talked, and drank. The boys secluded themselves outside by the fire and the girls stayed in and gabbed all night. Its so different how our lives have changed with the addition of kids. Definitely much calmer nights...still lots of fun though!

Here are some pictures from the night. I'm borrowing from other blogs too. For some reason I didn't get very many on my camera.

Tyler, the bear

Brody and Tyler

Ella, the frog
I didn't get any pics of Emily Kay, she was out of her costume by the time we got there = (

Harvesting Up Our First Halloween!

Brody's first Halloween has been so much fun...mainly for us adult folk. We started a couple of weeks ago with our visit to the Pumpkin Patch. Then, last Saturday we went to Trunk-or Treat sponsored by FBC of Madison at Libery Park.

Family Picture...we never get one of these. Thanks April!

Ken and Brody

Me and Brody
After costume change...

The Ladybug AKA Perry, she's so cute!

Brody and Perry