Corny Times

Look at what Blake tried for the first time and LOVED this weekend...



This boy makes every day so much fun!

How could you not love this face?!

My Aunt Rhonda was in town this past week and took this adorable picture of Mr. Blake. Could that face be any sweeter? We had a wonderful time visiting with Aunt Rhonda albeit a bit tiring. I was so grateful she was able to spend some time with us and get to know Blake even better. We're hoping she'll be back in just a blink of an eye when baby # 2 arrives!!
By the way, Aunt R took us to buy Blake some new shoes and when they measured his foot he had grown a size and half in 3 months time! Blake's shoe size is a half size LARGER than my friend's son who is a year older! What a big boy we have!
Brad and I are in crunch time mode trying to get everything ready in baby's room and around the house in any spare time we can find. It has not been easy finding the time and/or the energy to accomplish what we need, but at least after this weekend the painting is complete!! It looks great and I can't wait until the nursery is finished. Next on our agenda is putting together the crib and starting to decorate the walls. Brad and I are getting beyond excited for baby to arrive and to get to meet our son. And I am beyond ready to be done with the extreme pain I am now under!

Who said money doesn't grow on trees??

This week I've had departmental meetings at work and today during one of our lunches I was called to the front of the room. I was oh so excited at first since I had just finished stuffing my face and felt like everyone would start pointing and laughing at the pizza sauce that was I'm sure all over my face! But I was totally blown away.... I was presented with a money tree! My entire department contributed money towards baby so I could get some of the needs on my list. Let's just say the money tree they planted was very very generous. I work with such a wonderful group of people and to think that just last year they threw a wonderful shower and showered me with tons of gifts for Blake and they were still willing to give me so much this year is just unbelievable. I am grateful for my work family very much and what a wonderful help to Brad and I to finish getting ready for baby!!

Wiggly Fun

Saturday was our date with the Wiggles and one that as an adult I was way too excited for! Blake's face lights up when he sees the Wiggles and can make all tears dry up at the drop of a song and dance from his Wiggly friends. The Wiggles is what got us through those horrendous breathing treatments when Blake had RSV. So you can see my love affair with the Wiggles runs deep. The Wiggles ran two shows, one at 1:30 and one at 5. At the time I purchased the tickets Blake was not on his current nap schedule so I booked the 1:30, which happens to be during his current nap time. Not the greatest idea when you're dealing with a 15 month old. But we crossed our fingers and said a prayer or two. Our morning and afternoon leading up to the concert was a comedy of errors. Nothing was going right. And on top of that Blake only slept for a total of 20 minutes and I figured would cry the entire show considering how the rest of our day was seeming to go. But like I was saying the Wiggles make everything right in Blake's world. Even in the world of no nap. It completely warmed my heart to see Blake's face light up at the sight of his Wiggle friends, to see him pointing at his friends on stage and to see him dancing in the aisle. Nothing sweeter than that! I never thought anything could capture the attention span of a 15 month old, any toddler for that matter, for an entire hour and a half, but have I mentioned how fantastic the Wiggles are?? Blake either sat on one of our laps, or stood and danced and didn't make a fuss the entire show. It was an amazing experience and one I'm so glad we were able to share as a family. Seeing how happy Blake was made the entire day worth it and allowed some incredibly wonderful memories for Brad and I with Blake before we become the 4 B's instead of the 3 B's. (did you catch that hint to baby name??)
**Side Note** Sadly, no pictures or video from such a special day. In the future disregard all fine print that says no audio/video/photos... The first thing Anthony, one of the Wiggles said, was, "Feel free to take as many pictures and video as you want!" Ugh.

15 Month Check-In

Today my sweet little Blakester is 15 months old! Oh, how time flies...
Blake has grown into such an incredible little man. Brad and I say probably daily what an amazing little boy Blake is and how lucky we feel that we get to be his parents!
Blake's pediatrician does not require a 15 month checkup unless I feel necessary to have him checked. He is doing great in my eyes, with no concerns, so no visit for us at the moment. However, I really wanted to have some of his latest stats to post, so this morning I grabbed a tape measure and tried to get his height... I felt incredibly ridiculous chasing Blake around the house trying to get him to stand still just long enough to get his measurements! I think I was finally able to get a fairly accurate number...32" tall. Not sure where that puts him on the growth charts but to Brad and I, he seems like a very tall boy. He seems to get bigger by the day and I feel like before I know it he'll be taller than me! I do not know Blake's weight, other than to me...heavy.
Here are a few things about Blake's development....
Words he says
Mama
Dada (his favorite word)
Dar (for our dog Darcy)
Nana (for banana...his favorite breakfast food)
More
Uh-Oh
He has said the words teddy and apple and ball, but not repeated them often enough to call them words in his vocabulary
Other than that, he points at everything and says doh. Not sure why doh, but apparently could be a fairly common thing as my friend Kristen's nephew does the same thing!

Other milestones...
~ Of course he is walking and now he is also running. Blake has turned into wanting to be Mr. Independent and wants to walk EVERYWHERE. He bangs on the front door begging to go outside, so some times I open the door and just follow him and he ends up walking to the park across the street. Or other times just likes to walk around the neighborhood. He could do this for literally hours and when I make him go back inside, he is NOT a happy camper. If I do not allow him to go outside at all, he is NOT a happy camper. He is definitely an outdoors boy!

~ Bottles... When Blake turned 12 months and got off formula, I phased out his two day time bottles almost immediately after his birthday. Then when we got back from our Europe trip, we cut out his morning bottle and did great with that. And as of last week is now COMPLETELY BOTTLE FREE!! WOO HOO!

~ Reading... Blake has started to love story time. He loves to be read to and loves to bring books to you and point at the different things in the book and have you tell him what he's pointing at. I love this and hope his enjoyment of books and reading continues throughout his life like it has mine.

Blake wakes up every morning talking to himself and playing in his crib until we come get him and is all smiles when we walk in. One of the best ways to start your day...
A few of Blake's favorite things are being outside, his Daddy, his Grandpa, his Darcy dog and anything soft like his teddy, boppy pillow or blankie and last but not least THE WIGGLES!
He's a Wiggles fan through and through and to celebrate both his 15 months in the world and to enjoy one of our last family outings as a family of three, we are taking him to The Wiggles Concert tomorrow!!! I CAN NOT WAIT!!
Blake, thanks for being the sunshine of your daddy and I's lives. We love watching you grow!

True Love

The meaning of love is different for every person but one shining example of what true love is to me was shown last night at around 3:30 in the morning. I woke up at 3 feeling like I was going to die. I felt horrible and was very scared that I might need to end up going to the hospital. Brad woke up to me moaning in pain and pacing the bathroom floor. He got out of bed and rubbed my back to calm me down and then held my hair back as I got sick. When your partner sees you at your worst like that, is with you holding your hair while you throw up and still looks at you the next day like you're the most beautiful person they've ever seen...that is true love. When your husband witnesses child birth at all the worst it can show and still finds you irresistible, that is true love. And when he looks at you 11 years after you've met with the same look in his eyes as he did back then, that is true love. Next week marks 11 years ago that Brad and I had our first date...a blind date at that. And Friday marks Blake's 15 months in the world. It is amazing to me where we've come from that day 11 years ago and how we've grown together and most of all how that true love we have for one another created the most incredible little boy and one more that we get to meet so soon.

Mom & Son Weekend

The weekend is almost over and my heart is happy and full. My body is worn down to the max. Shortly after I found out I was pregnant Brad asked if this summer he could attend an annual fishing trip out in the middle of Nowhere Arkansas with some buddies of his. I thought at the time it sounded like a wonderful idea and a chance for him to get away with the guys for a few days. At the time however, I wasn't thinking ahead to the fact I was going to be 7 months pregnant and very large and uncomfortable, left alone to take care of a very active and heavy 15 month old! As I was reminded by Brad last week about the trip I had completely forgotten I had agreed to, I became incredibly upset, thinking the worst and all that could go wrong while Brad was away. But then several days before the trip I decided to take a page out of Brad's positive thinking play book. Instead of the "I can't" way of thinking, I became the Little Engine That Could...and repeated to myself, I think I can, I think I can...
Blake is the epitome of a Daddy's Boy. When dad is around, it is he who makes the world go round and makes all things happy and bright to Blake. Daddy gets most all the snuggles and giggles. While this I'm sure will end up being a huge blessing when baby #2 arrives, at times now it leaves my heart longing for the same affection he gives Brad. But when dad is not around all of those loving snuggles, giggles, smiles went to you know who?? No, not Darcy. Me! Mommy was the light of Blake's life this weekend and we had such a great time together, forming a very special bond and over filling my heart with love and happiness. To save mommy's sanity from being inside our house the entire weekend, we spent Saturday afternoon at our friends' house, having a play date with their twin boys. It was so incredibly cute watching the three boys play together. It made me so excited for when our baby # 2 is old enough to play with Blake. I am so grateful they had us over and let us (well Blake) totally destroy their gameroom!
And today, we spent the day with grandma and grandpa and had a blast. Running up and down their halls, walking their dog and playing on their playground.
I have loved this time with Blake this weekend and truly cherish the quality time we had one on one, especially since soon there will be another little guy that divides my attention. However, don't get me wrong...I missed my husband incredibly much and my 7 month aching pregnant body also missed the help with my monkey. And now with Blake asleep for the night, the house picked up, my body is ready to collapse on the floor. I'm so ready for Brad to come back tomorrow and to have his company and help again. And I think he owes me a day of pampering as well! Can you say pregnancy massage??

Here are a few pics of Blake's fun on the playground...