Beach 2010

We started the first of many family vacations on Friday, June 11. I told Erik last summer when I was pregnant, that we would go to the beach this year. So after several recommendations, we reserved our spot at the Beach Club in Ft. Morgan. We left town around 10:30-11ish on Friday with great weather, but it was extremely hot. I have been very nervous about riding so long with a 10 month old, but I can't tell you how surprised we were. Mills did exceptionally well, with no crying...AT ALL. He rode all the way with a smile on his face enjoying his Nick Jr. dvd, and took two naps at his regular scheduled time. By the time we got through the crazy Mobile traffic and construction, I was the one who was over-tired and ill. Kudos to Erik and Mills. I was just ready to get there and was starving. The Hansons met us there and arrived just a few minutes after us. We unpacked, ate, took baths, and quickly headed for bed. I was anxious about how Mills would sleep in a pack & play. He never liked his when he was small, but he did great. He slept all night and woke up "bright-eyed and bushy tailed."

Ever Wish You Were...

HER?

OR HER??

These days are not as easy as they used to be. I used to keep a near spotless home on a daily basis and never tire when doing so. How do you do these things? People say, "sometimes you just have to let your house go!" Yikes! I sit here many nights now procrastinating more than I ever have in my entire life. I come home, feed Mills, bathe Mills, read to Mills, and put him to bed. Then I think, oh I will just do all of the house after he goes to bed. Honestly, who feels like doing that? If I could just wiggle my nose or cross my arms and nod my head, it would be more than awesome!

My Project

Lately I have been packing a few of Mills' clothes for the upcoming arrival of Baby Boy Krull who is scheduled for delivery on none other than E's birthday, Oct. 3. I can't bear to let some of Mills' clothes sit in the closet, so I gladly offered them to Kate, to borrow. Even if we do have a second child, which is no where near in thought, baby Krull will have more than outgrown them by then.

It is so hard for me to believe that our baby boy has grown so much. When I look at those tiny newborn and 0-3 month layettes, I can't even begin to remember that size. He is now wearing 12 month clothes. I have shoes that are about as long as my pinkie finger, and socks that look like a ball of cotton that would not fit over my big toe. It's kind of sad. I miss those tee-tiny feet! But all of that wraps up one of my most favored characteristics...I am extremely sentimental!!! Things have meaning to me. Not just anything, but things that have memories. I guess its in how I was raised, but to me, they're important.

I work very hard to conserve the memories that we have made, and I will keep anything that holds dear to my heart, no matter how much I may clutter the attic or hope-chest. To this day, my mother still has a few of my baby dresses and other things that my grandmother made (mainly Easter dresses) in my old closet at home. I believe it is important to be able to show my Mills, what he wore home from the hospital, and be able to tell him when he took his first step, which brings me to tell you the project that I have been working on since March 27, 2009....Mills' baby book. I have yet to see a completed baby book, so I vowed to keep up with EVERY LITTLE THING he does. I am even wanting to bronze his first pair of shoes. Old fashioned? Yes, but I tend to be old-fashioned at times. I have worked very hard at remembering to write things down, and post pictures where the book asks. I don't want him to look at me one day and say, "Mom, when did I do this? "or "Mom, when did I do that?" I don't want to say, "who knows?" To me its not a good answer. This is another way of showing our love and memories of him, so, I've been meticulously working with this "project," because one day, I will give it over to him to show to his children.

Picture of the Mommy & Daddy to be and EVERY ultrasound picture made

I kept all of our baby shower invites and included them, as well.

Mills' and my hospital bracelets

Every doctor's visit is recorded. Unfortuately, there are too many.

Mills' "check-up" stickers. I never leave the doctor's office without his sticker! ha!

Mills' accomplishments. There only a few more blanks to fill.

He's Makin' a Mess...and I Could Care Less!

I haven't posted an update on Mills' eating since this post, because I didn't want to "jinx" anything. You all know I have a bad habit of saying something too soon and ruining it! I was a little worried about getting to eat textured foods after he gagged, of course, but I guess I was just trying to rush him. I did call the pediatrician to see if he had any other tips in addition to the comments that were left. I thank you all! We did end up switching Mills back to Stage 2 foods, but only for the meats and a few of the fruits. Stage 2 foods have so much variety, especially the fruits.

This week, we have given him protein twice a day along with a veggie or fruit. Most of the time he will eat a jar of fruit or vegetable, and a meat, for supper. This week, we have given him this, BUT we have also put "table" vegetables on his tray, and tried various different foods if we have gone out to eat. Outcome = SUCCESS! So far this week, on Sunday night, he ate a whole cup of peas, in addition to his baby food, on Monday, we met for dinner, and he insisted on grabbing rice off my plate and shoving it in his mouth. You know what? I let him! I didn't care if he got food everywhere, because I am bound and determined to get him to eat table foods. Wednesday night, we met Gammy and Pops for dinner at Breakfast Cove, and I think he ate more of their hash browns (shredded, of course) than they did. It was hilarious! Last night he ate whole cup of carrots, and tonight, was green beans! Letting him feed himself has also helped. I can't tell you how relieved I am. We are introducing a little bit at a time and it is working great! Maybe he just thought the Stage 3 meats were gross. Can you blame him?

Mills Mows the Lawn

*with a little help from Daddy!

Erik was busy cutting yards all morning. Not only does he cut ours, but he cuts my mom's and his grandparent's, as well. I took Mills out to let him watch, but Erik asked him if he wanted to ride. Of course, Mills said, "Yes." Ha! Yeah right! I was a little hesitant at first, but of course Erik was extra careful. And Mills loved it! Every time they would pass me, Mills would look up and grin from ear to ear. Of course, I couldn't get it on camera, but here are a few pictures. Maybe Erik is trying to train him early ;)

Meeting a New Friend

Last night my friend, Susan, was generous to pass of some glorious size 3 pampers cruisers for Mills and we couldn't have been more grateful! Susan and I attended hygiene school together , and we do not get to see each other much anymore. Her little one, Reagan, who is 10 days older than Mills, is a Huggies baby and didn't do well with the cruisers, so, of course, we were more than happy to take them off of her hands :) Mills and Reagan hadn't met yet, so here are a few pictures from their first meeting. Isn't she a cutie?!!!

He's "eyeing" her pappy as if he does not have one of his own...strapped to him!

Sippy Pal

If I picked up Mills' sippy cup off of the floor and washed it once, I did it 50 times tonight! He knocks it around, drinks from it, and then throws it. I'm sure you all know what I mean. So tonight I found these...

I just knew that if I googled "strap for sippy cup" when we returned home tonight, I would surely find something. I will be ordering these from One Step Ahead for a pretty good deal...two for $9.95. To me, its worth it!

Memorial Day...Mills Goes to the Pool

We usually don't do much of anything on Memorial Day, but thankfully the pool is now open and we were able to go. We met Christi, E, and P, over there around 11:00, which is right around the time Mills likes to doze off. It was such a nice day. Not too hot, and our little man did very well! E played golf, so Christi was a BIG help at being my second set of eyes. I lathered up our little guy in sunscreen, dressed him in his swim diaper and put on his new bathing suit and hat, and boy did he look too cute. Mills loves bath time, so I was really hoping that he would like the pool, as well. I just purchased a new float for him, because we are getting ready to go to the beach soon, and I was very excited about using it. I found this float at Walmart, which is one of those "spring floats" similar to my lounger.

Outcome = He DID NOT like it! He loved the pool, just not the float. I don't know if it is something that he will have to get used to, or if he just likes being in my arms. I put him in it in the baby pool, and so he was able to stand up, being that the pool is only 1ft. deep. Next time, I will try going over to the big pool. I hope that by the time our beach trip comes around, he will be happy with his float.

When we got to the pool, I got in with Mills for a temperature test, and all was good. So, I grabbed his float, put him in it, and he cried. Okay, so he got mad. So, I got him out. We played a bit, I gave him the rest of his bottle and then.....he was OUT! So, I got a little sunbathing in.

and now, we have this....

Bump in Our Road!

You may remember me saying about a month ago that our Mills had started Stage 3 foods and a bit of table food (ground up, of course). I had mentioned that at first, he gagged, but the next night, he ate his whole supper. Now, we have hit a bump in our semi-curvy road. Mills' little brain has told him that texture is not something that he needs to like. I am clueless as to what to do and am wondering if there are any similar stories or suggestions that any of you have. Here's whats going on now....

• Mills will eat lets say....chicken noodle for a few bites, but as soon as he "realizes" that's its different, he acts as if he's gagging.
• I can put peas and carrots on his tray. Sometimes he will pick them up and feed himself. The next night, he may get very angry at the thought of eating them.
• I fixed spaghetti the other night, ground it up in the food mill, he ate 5 or 6 bites without a fuss, then realized that it was textured and didn't like it anymore. Thus, the gagging started.
• This week at Mimi's, she fed him his lunch, he did fine, then gagged until he threw up. When he got home and I fed him supper. I put him in his high-chair, he got mad, so I let him throw his tantrum. When the crying finished, he smiled and so I began to feed him. He did fine, realized there was a carrot on his tongue, gagged, then threw it up.
• He does okay with puffs, crunchies, etc., but will sometimes act as if he's gagging.
• He used to love eating his solids, now when I put him in his chair, he gets MAD, and I am wondering if it is because he knows whats coming.

So, my questions are:

• He has only two teeth, should I return to stage 2 foods and try again later? He will be 10 months old in 2 weeks.
• Is this a mental thing with him (which I know it is) and what should I do about it?
• Can I stop worrying that he is going to be a picky eater and never want steak and baked potato? ha! He can't eat mush until he's 5!
  

Mills Goes Hawaiian

This afternoon, we had the pleasure of attending sweet Mary Claire's 2nd birthday party and had a blast! Mills attended two birthday parties this weekend. The other was Miss Ady Baskin's, who turns 1 this week. We had a blast at both! Who knew it would be 90° this weekend? HA! Needless to say, I lathered our sweet boy up in sunscreen this afternoon and he is now OUT for the night.

The luau themed birthday party for MC, was decked out in Hawaiian style and the birthday girl looked adorable!! Here are a few pics from the afternoon.

The birthday girl, herself. Happy Birthday Mary Claire!

The outfit Mills is wearing is straight from Hawaii!!! No joke! My friend and co-worker Maurita got this outfit for her son, Brian, about 35 years ago (correct me if I'm wrong, Maurita). She claims that Brian wore it when he was 2 years old. Mills is 9 months old, and it fits him perfectly! Needless to say, Brian must have been tiny at 2 years, or Mills is huge! hehe We were so thankful to borrow it! It's not everyday that you find an authentic Hawaiian shirt and shorts outfit for a baby. Many thanks, Maurita!

Mills and his "Chi Chi" playing patty-cake

Mills giving Anniston some sugar ;)