Hypocrite

Now that I'm a mother, I've become one. Doing all the things I said I'd never do. This post really got me thinking. Actually, I've been thinking about it since Micah was born, but after reading MckMama's post, I realized that I share some of her reasons. This is really ironic because two of my best friends are teachers, and I have always been very against homeschooling. I figured, and they concurred, that if it takes four years to get a teaching degree and be qualified to teach in public school, then what makes me think I can do it? But now I don't think it's as black and white as that. So Jamie and I are thinking about it...praying about it...not really sure we will but not really sure we won't. Just thought you'd like to know.

April Photoshoot With Grandpa Orr

Jamie's dad was in town this month and (of course) took some pictures of Micah. Photography for him is more than a hobby but less than a job. He always gets great shots of Micah in his "natural" setting - nothing posed, just playing and hanging out. We're having family pictures done in May with Angela. I can't wait!

His poor toys don't stand a chance!

Kissy face!

His laughter is the sweetest sound we have ever heard!

Happy baby!

Snuggling with Daddy

The Grass Is Not Greener

Here's a little wisdom I gleaned last weekend. I follow a few of my favorite celebs via Twitter (yes, I know...), and sometimes I start wondering if the grass is greener on the other side. They seem to have really cool lives that I sometimes envy. Only my very old friends will know this, but there was a time early in my college career when I was poised to pursue a career in acting. I'd done community theater, some extra work on Dawson's Creek and was already taking classes in ECU's theater program, but I chose instead to transfer to UNC and pursue journalism. I don't necessarily regret that decision, but sometimes I wonder, What if? I obviously wouldn't change where I am today in my personal life, but professionally speaking, I often wonder about the road not taken.

So anyway...I'm following my celeb friends on Twitter, and checking out some of the people who they follow, and one person who I think has a pretty cool job (casting director) is recounting an experience she had on a plane when another couple got engaged. This obviously made her quite jealous, and then it dawned on me. I have what she wants. I have a wonderful husband and the most adorable baby at home. And no matter what kind of job you have, I think the most famous person in the world still wants someone to come home to at the end of the day, a family to love. Then I felt very convicted for my envy and also extremely thankful for the family that I have. God has truly spared me no good gifts, and I'm just sorry I have to be reminded of that from time to time.

7 Months and 2 Weeks

I'm a few weeks behind on Micah's 7-month post, but running late has just become a way of life for me now :-) Six months was a big turning point for us - everything seemed to stabilize - and seven is even better. Here's what Micah's up to:

- Got his first tooth last week.

- Behaves in restaurants (finally) as long as he eats when we do (can't feed him beforehand or he'll cut up).

- Has the cutest personality! He loves to make different sounds and then waits for me to repeat them back to him. Loves being tossed in the air, peek-a-boo, and has several tickle spots.

- Flashes HUGE grins when he swings at the park.

- Will lay perfectly still and just let me kiss all over his face. I know this won't last forever, so I'm enjoying it!

- Separation anxiety is getting better. We've found that as long as Jamie and I stick around for a few minutes while he adjusts to new faces, then he usually warms up quickly.

- Can sit for several seconds unsupported.

- Eats stage 3 baby food...lots of it! Has 5 liquid feedings a day (some formula and some mommy milk). Update: Moved to a 4-hour schedule at 7.5 months. Now eats 4 meals a day, usually 6:30, 10:30, 2:30, solids at 6 and a bottle at 7 (we split up this last feeding so that he'll eat more).

- Wears 9-12 month clothes.

- We love him so much! Gotta run because I miss him!

MckMama's iPad Giveaway

For those of you who read MckMama's blog (and those who don't, you should check her out!), she's giving away an iPad to one lucky person who donates at least $5 to Compassion International's Child Sponsorship Program. Click here for more. The contest ends tonight!

Not Quite Done...

But almost! Now all that's left is the sewing...yikes.

Twitter

So I signed up for Twitter this weekend. I'm not sure why. I've always thought it was for stalkers and narcissists - those who either want to follow someone's every move or those who think they're worthy of followers. I really didn't even get it for the longest time. But every time I turn around, it seems, I'm directed to go to Twitter for this contest, this information, etc. So I checked it out. Let me tell you how cool and yet crazy this thing is. I can follow my favorite celebs (which happen to be the cast of House). I can send them tweets, and they might write back. They write back to other people who tweet things like, "Please say hi to me." So I figure one of them might write back to me if I tweet something like "Why so many reruns this season? I'm so depressed." I'll let you know...

But then I realized something else. Whether we admit it or not, we like to know what certain people are doing. Yes, to a certain degree, I think we're all followers. It would sound cooler to say that I'm so not into that, but I so kinda am...teehee.

In any case, if you're on Twitter, you can follow me at jennwithapen. Don't get too excited though. Today's tweet, if I'd left one, would have been "listening to my baby cry through his naps." Exciting stuff, let me tell you! He got way off his routine this weekend - grandmas have a way of doing that - so now we're (or at least I am) trying to readjust.

Easter Pic

Micah got a new swing for Easter, and as you can tell, he loved it!