Sometimes Momma Needs A Break

Today I had a little "desperate housewife" moment. I couldn't stand to play with blocks anymore or hear another toy that sings (usually several are going off at once). Micah woke up whiny from his afternoon nap and never really recovered. And I haven't really had a break all week. My sweet husband works three jobs so that I can stay home with Micah, so unfortunately he's not able to help me much during the day. I understand and don't ask him to very often.

But tonight, around 5pm, I announced that I was taking dinner to a friend and would be back when I got back. I left Micah with Jamie and dinner for both of them. I listened to one of my favorite CDs in the car - Everclear's "Songs From an American Movie Vol 1" - not exactly lyrics I want Micah to pick up. I played it LOUD. I sat and talked to my friend for an hour, then I road past the house in Windsor where I grew up. It looks so tacky and awful now, I'd be embarrassed for anyone to know we once lived there. I enjoyed going down memory lane as I passed homes where I used to babysit or where friends lived.

When I walked back in the door, I heard whaling (pretty much how I left things), but I was refreshed and ready to scoop up my baby and get him ready for bed. Sometimes momma needs a break.

Father's Day

Happy Father's Day to my dad and to my baby daddy ;-) We spent the weekend at the beach with my parents. We always have a great time, and they are so helpful (my step-dad entertains Jamie and my mom entertains Micah). Jamie and I even went out on a date Saturday night! We don't stay gone long...a couple of hours and we're missing Micah...but we had a great dinner at Ruddy Duck's in Morehead.

Micah has become such a happy baby (compared to those first few months). He loves the water and doesn't mind sitting in wet clothes for long periods of time. Today he pulled up (from sitting to standing) completely by himself. We are so proud! I can also tell that he understands a lot of what we are saying (for instance, he totally knows what "no" means even if he doesn't always obey.) He's also starting to get underwhelmed with baby food. He would much rather feed himself. Tonight I made Jamie's favorite, a chicken and broccoli ring. It's basically ground up chicken, broccoli, cheese, sour cream and a few spices baked inside of a crescent roll "ring." When Micah rejected his baby food, we gave him some of this and he loved it. Our baby is getting so big!

Tomorrow night we're having my dad over for dinner. I'm trying one of Amber's recipes - crock pot lasagna. Yum!

Micah's Dedication

June 13, 2010

Yesterday we had Micah dedicated at church. He did so well, even though the service was during his nap time. In fact, just seconds before we walked on stage, he fell asleep on my dad's chest. He never does that...it was so sweet and we hated to bother him.

You did very well letting Pastor Branson hold you.

Until very recently, our church practiced infant baptism. Jamie was baptized as an infant, and when he made his own profession of faith as an adult, he was very disappointed that he couldn't have a "believer's baptism." We really wanted Micah to have that option, so we had decided not to baptize him as a baby. We were excited (and a little surprised) when our church began dedicating children instead, and we jumped at the chance to do this for Micah.

You received a letter from Pastor Branson, a certificate and Just In Case You Ever Wonder, a children's book by Max Lucado. The book explains how very much you are loved by us and by God.

My mom, stepdad and dad were present, as were Jamie's mom and sister. Our good friends, Brian and Rebecca Taylor, also came. After church, Jamie and I hosted a lunch at our house. We had sandwiches, chips, fruit (and deviled eggs and cake courtesy of Mimi). It was a really great day, and Micah did so well with all the company and excitement.

Your very special dedication outfit (Mommy could just eat you up in it!)

Show Us your Life - Things that you LOVE/make you HAPPY

I took this from Kelly's Korner several weeks ago. I do a lot of posts about schedules and doctor's appointments and things that are probably not very interesting to others but that I hope will help me when Micah gets a sibling. I also feel that I sometimes come across as whiny or...worse...ungrateful. In truth, I'm the opposite. There was a time not too long ago when I did not think God's plan for me included many of my "loves" below. He had brought me to a place where I was truly content with His plan - whatever it was - but now that He has blessed me with the desires of my heart, I am so thankful. My son is 9 months old, and almost every night, with the same emotion (it just gets renewed daily), I thank God for his birth.

Ok, so here's what I love...not many surprises here ;-)


My sweet husband, Jamie. This picture was taken the summer we got married (2007). Here are some things that come to mind when I think about him: man of God, wise, faithful, funny, calm, respectful, sensitive, determined, silly, kind...I once heard Angie Harmon tell Oprah about her husband: "I'm honored that God thought enough of me to put me with him."


My favorite picture of Micah, taken with Jamie's blackberry in the hospital. One of the biggest surprises of my life has been how much I have enjoyed being a mom to a son. I recently asked my friend Stephanie, "Do you feel like God gave you the exact child you were meant to have?" She said yes, her son's personality fit perfectly in their family. I feel the same about Micah. I also think he's the cutest kid alive (as I'm sure all parents think about their children). I really can't wait to have another one.


This is a picture of us at Ocracoke, one of the prettiest beaches we have ever seen on one of the prettiest beach days we have ever shared together. All three of us LOVE the beach. I love this quote by Isak Denesen: The cure for anything is salt water - sweat, tears or the sea. We're fortunate that my parents have a house on Emerald Isle, and we go there all the time.


I'm a homebody. I love to travel, but I especially love coming back home. I take a lot of pride in making our home warm and comfortable. I clean it...a lot...but not nearly as much as I did pre-Micah. 2007 was a busy year for us...we got engaged March 3, bought our home and moved Jamie in by end of May, and got married August 3. We just love our home and our neighbors and couldn't imagine being anywhere else.

***

God has used Covenant Church to bless us in more ways than we can count. Jamie and I met through Covenant's Twentysomething ministry. Shortly thereafter, I was hired to manage Covenant's web site, a job that I loved and worked for 3+ years. Jamie and I were married at Covenant, and when we were expecting Micah, the staff rallied around us in so many ways, including throwing us a baby shower and providing meals after Micah's birth. But we love it for far more than how we have been blessed. We really believe God is present in that church and that the staff truly loves Jesus. We are excited about raising Micah in Children's Ministries, and we believe in the work the church is doing, specifically in missions in West Greenville and the DR.

Vacation and 9-Month Checkup

We just got back from a wonderful weekend at Myrtle Beach with the Dicken family. We had an ocean-view condo, pools and a lazy river, and NO PLANS! The kids absolutely loved the water! Micah was so cute splashing in the ocean and really enjoyed riding on our laps down the lazy river (I opted for video instead of pictures this time, so I will upload those later). We found some great buys at the outlets (Micah's summer 2011 wardrobe) and ate our weight in food. Usually after a trip we look forward to returning home to our own beds, but this time I was truly sad to leave. We loved traveling with another family and hope to do that more in the future!

Yesterday was Micah's 9-month checkup. He weighs 16 pounds, 10 ounces and measures 30 inches long. He is doing well but is slightly behind in some of his development (gross motor skills). The doctor said his delay is not significant enough to recommend any therapies at this point. In fact, she told us to continue doing exactly what we have been - letting him have lots of playtime on the floor. He also needs to drink more milk. He currently takes 12-16 ounces a day (24 oz. is recommended), and that little bit is a struggle. I have to sing, feed him in a dark room, stop and start several times, etc. just to get him to take that much. We've decided to cut back on his solids and re-introduce the dream feed because he will normally take 6+ ounces then. We are also going to add a little strawberry syrup to his milk to entice him to take more. We are willing to try anything!

Micah also had to get four shots yesterday :-( During his 6-month checkup, we learned about the alternate vaccine schedule and decided to try it. But after I went home and researched it more, I changed my mind. The vaccine most feared is the MMR at 15 months because it contains several live viruses. The thought is that the human body would never be fighting off more than one virus at a time, so this particular shot could be "overload". In the past, parents could opt to have this particular vaccine split up into several shots, but that's no longer an option. So, I decided to follow the traditional vaccine schedule, and he had to get caught up this time. He did very well and is having a good day so far (normally the day after his shots it the worst).

I'm a ball of nerves right now...worrying about my baby and wanting him to be healthy and "perfect" in every way. We got the impression that while he's behind in a few skills, the true "deadline" for achieving these things is his first birthday.

Let Summer Begin!

Micah with Mimi and Aunt Sarah

We had such at great time with our families at the beach and river over Memorial weekend! We started out at my parent's beach house. Micah LOVED everything about the beach, which is more evident than DNA that he is my child ;-) He is fearless around the water and enjoyed playing in the sand. We tried not to let him eat it, but that was pretty futile. My mom cooked wonderful meals and helped out with Micah so that Jamie and I could spend some time together. Micah thinks my mom is hilarious. I don't know what she does, but every time I walk in on the two of them, he is laughing at her.

Micah eating Mimi's hat
(that's our pink house in the background...jk ;-)

Monday we headed to the river to see some of Jamie's family. Micah seems to be overcoming his separation anxiety. He let several people he'd never met hold him for awhile and even allowed Mommy to walk out of the room! He is such a joy right now...laughing, playing with his toys, scooting around the house. I miss those newborn days, but I'm looking forward to his next milestones.

Here's what Micah is up to at 8.5 months:

• scooting (like an army crawl)
• standing with legs straight and arms on the floor
• sitting very well on his own
• babbling
• loves to play with toys (many of his play music and he likes to have several going at once...I hope he doesn't develop ADD!)
• struggles with distractions during meal time (Mommy is constantly pulling hands, toes, bib, etc. out of his mouth when he's supposed to be eating)
• requires singing during bottle feedings...prefers food over milk
  
• wears 12 month clothes

Schedule:
6:30 am - 4 oz. bottle + baby food
9 am - nap
10:30 - 4 oz. bottle + baby food
2 pm - 4 oz. bottle followed by nap #2
3:30 pm - snack (yogurt)
6 pm - baby food
7 pm - 4 oz. bottle and bed