Public Announcement

After discussing it, Rob and I decided that we will no longer post current pics of Preston on this blog. This is a public site, one we can't control. So, now that he's looking more like a toddler and we can't deny access to viewers, we decided to protect his/our privacy. We will still post pics on FB and send them via email as we have some control as to who looks at those. We will also continue to blog about him and how he's changing. We'll just do it without pics of him from here on out. Thanks for understanding!

Growing Like a Weed!

We have approximately one month left! One month until Preston is officially a one year old, a toddler.(In fact,today I am going to work on putting his birthday invitations together.) We can't believe that this first 11 months has flown by so fast. If we could stop time (other than with his health concern) we would! It seems like he changes every day. He loves playing catch and is pretty good at throwing and catching a ball. He's pretty independent with his food, even though he's still learning how to eat on his own with a spoon. Last night he took 5 steps before I gasped and startled him. Then he realized he wasn't holding onto anything and fell. He LOVES giving kisses and gives me at least a dozen a day. Next week when the Herringtons are here he is going to get his first haircut. His hair isn't overly long but it hangs over his ears, which I think bothers him. He's doing another baby sign, letting me know when he's done eating. This isn't always consistent. He thinks if he bangs his cup on his tray then that is good enough. I'm teaching him otherwise. He's also exploring more. I have a pet peeve with the terms "Good Boy", "Bad Boy". I want him to know his CHOICES are right or wrong but that he's not a bad boy. So, I'm working hard to get him to understand consquences at a young age. He likes to play by himself in his room, spending time looking out the window at his pinwheel and reading his books. He loves to dance and will stop whatever he's doing if music comes on. He gets whatever toys out that he wants to play with instead of me doing it for him. AHHHH, it's amazing how much he is growing like a weed!

succesful draw!

well, here in nevada rather you get to hunt or not is based on a lottery draw system. you put in for whatever tags you want, your name is thrown in a hat, and you cross your fingers in hopes you get drawn. well, this year jen completed her hunters safety course and was allowed to put in for her first tags. well, she put in for cow elk, and antelope. she drew both! im so excited for her to get to experience a different way of hunting than she has done in the past. i put in for mule deer, antelope, bull elk, and mountain goat. i drew the best tag you can possibly draw for deer. an archery rut hunt in the ruby mountains in northeastern nevada. i also drew an antelope tag. that part is great because jen and i both drew the same tag for the same area/ dates! so, it should be a fun and exciting year of hunting for the herrington's. preston's mom is now about to start her quest for a elk, antelope, and whitetail all in one year. thats a pretty good acomplishment for a seasoned hunter, much less a new one. in my eyes, shes already accomplished the most important part. she is going to try. for any hunter, try is the key word when it comes to getting a kill. however, as ive taught jen, you never measure success based on the kill. time spent in God's great outdoors with those you love and getting to experience all of his creatures in their domain, thats a successful hunt. i have always believed that i feel closer to God when im out hunting, than i ever have in a brick building with a steeple. for me, the outdoors is my church. so, here's to jen and wishing her good luck on her quest for the big 3!

as i sit here and watch as my son becomes a lil man
im reminded of just how blessed my wife and i am
seems like it was yesterday when we brought him home
and in the blink of an eye, a whole year has gone
he lights up our faces everytime he talks
and in no time at all he will begin to walk
it wont come without its trips and falls
or endless chasings up and down the halls
i guess thats how its always been with fathers and sons
proud when they walk, and scared when they run
he will explore and discover new things
hopefully not the ones who pinch, bite, and sting
but the bumps and bruises are all part of growing up
and i know those things will just make him tough
i hope to teach him about how hard work makes a man
and to remember to wet a line every now and then
that life is short and to cherich every minute
and to make sure whatever happens, God has a hand in it
always ride for the brand, give everything all your heart
do your best in school to earn good marks
most of all to always practice the golden rule
and dont let anyone treat you like a fool
that life was made for you to live
and that the best love is the love that you give
im the proudest father in the u.s.a.
and i thank God for my son everyday

So Stinkin' Cute!

A lot of parents think their child is smart. Some have proof while others just think it. Well, I'm proud to say that we have proof that Preston is smart....and so stinkin' cute! He is really into helping right now, "helping" with the dishes and laundry. Last week, after watching me load and unload the dishwasher several times in the past month, Preston proudly took out his blue plastic plate that he has his afternoon snack on. He held it up as if to proclaim, "Look Mom! I'm helping you." Then he placed it back, perfectly might I add, in the place where he had retrieved it.

He's not really into TV (Thank goodness!) but he has a Baby Praise video that he likes to glance at while he's playing. It has music in the background while kids and animals play on screen. This morning I turned it on and he crawled into my lap for snuggle time. He sat through 3 worship songs, laughing at the appropriate times, doing the sign for doggy when one came on the screen and pointing when other animals appeared. It was so stinkin' cute and I was a little sad when he decided he had had enough and went off to play again.

This afternoon he was fussing a bit so I opened the dryer, knowing that always cheers him up. He usually pulls out pieces of smaller clothing and then drops them on the floor while I fold clothes. I went in the room to put away the clean laundry. When I returned he had crawled over to his pair of socks that I had just taken off him and put them in the dryer. When I walked back in the room he took the socks out and proudly held them up, showing me he had helped do his part. I love that he's such a sponge, learning new things every day. I also love that he's so stinkin' cute when he's showing off all the new things he's learned!

Backhoe Fun

Yesterday morning Preston was sound asleep when I heard a loud noise outside. I walked to the kitchen window to see a HUGE piece of machinery being left on our driveway. The backhoe was here! When Preston woke up he saw the backhoe, his eyes as wide as saucers. The fun got even better once Rob got home. Rob got right to work, with the goal of leveling out several spots on our property for a barn he wants to build and areas for Preston to play. I took Preston out to see the backhoe in action....the highlight of his young life! He squealed and bounced in the backpack as we walked toward Rob. When Rob put him in the backhoe, on his lap, Preston had a smile from ear to ear. I seriously think he thought we rented the backhoe just for his entertainment! He laughed, squealed, smiled, bounced, and flailed his arms the entire time he was at the controls. Rob has several more hours of work to do so I'm sure Preston will have a chance to have even more backhoe fun....the highlight of his week (and maybe even his life)!

WHY???

As I sit here watching Preston I am envious. Envious of his squeals, laughter, never-ending smile, not having a care in the world. Oh, how I wish I could be like that but I write this with a heavy heart. In my last blog I mentioned that I haven't slept much the past couple nights. The reason for that is because I've been receiving daily emails from a close family friend, one of my parents' best friends. Our friend has been dealing with cancer for at least 4-5 years and has beat it every step of the way with more determination than I could imagine. Her email this week said that the doctor thinks the cancer has reached her brain. Unfortunately I got an email this morning saying that the MRI confirmed her doctor's concerns. As I read the email, tears streaming down my cheeks, I was amazed at how strong Mrs. Jetton has been. She admits that she's struggled but she still praises God. I, on the other hand, ask WHY?! Why does God allow great people to suffer? Why does her teenage son, that they adopted, have to watch his mom go through this when he's already been through so much? Why can't this happen to child molesters, murderers? I don't understand no matter how much I try. I've been told that everything happens for a reason but it doesn't make it easier. WHY??! I'm thankful that Mrs. Jetton has the faith the size of a mustard seed and is such a strong person. Although I won't ever understand, I will continue to pray for a miracle!

Wednesday

I woke up tired yesterday, not sleeping much the past couple nights. I dreaded the day because, usually when I'm tired, Preston is fussy and I have little patience, leading to a bad day. But, yesterday was a fun filled day, productive and memorable. Preston and I took a little road trip to Fallon, a small town about an hour away. I went there specifically for one store, one of my favorites! It's a feed and supply store that has a little bit of everything. I went with the intent of buying decorations for Preston's bathroom. I came away happy with my purchase...and even happier when I put it all together once we got home.

Last night was memorable because my friend and I went for a run out behind the local firehouse. There's acres of open land, where we came across about 100 mustangs and their foals. The horses were about 5-10 feet away from us and they just watched as we ran by. A few of the foals were young enough that they struggled on their wobbly legs. There were horses further up the mountainside, playing and grazing. Between the good run (first time we've ran up here without stopping to catch our breath), the mustangs and the overall scenery it's a picture I will have etched in my mind for a long time.

After I got home I was overwhelmed with how tired I really was. I decided to make an easy dinner and not please everyone by making a few different things. So, spaghetti it was. We stripped Preston down to a diaper and let him have it. He had spaghetti EVERYWHERE...and loved every bite! It wasn't bath night but he desperately needed one after dinner so Rob gave him one while I figured out Skype.

If you haven't tried it, you should look into Skype. It's a lot of fun...and I even met a new person on it. In trying to figure out how to call Mom and Dad Herrington I accidentally called a different Wanda Herrington in the US. The poor lady must've been waiting for my call because she was sitting close to the camera, decked out in lots of make-up and big dangling earrings. After apologizing for bothering her, I got in touch with the Herringtons. It was a lot of fun seeing them while we talked. I'm sure they got seasick watching Preston because Rob and I were following him around with the laptop but we thoroughly enjoyed our conversation. They were amazed at how much he's changed since the last time they've seen him.

I'd love to say I ended the night going to bed early and waking up feeling rested this morning. But, that's not the case. I enjoyed hanging out with Rob after Preston went to bed and know that one day I'll get caught up on sleep. Until then I will bask in the memories of yesterday, a fun filled Wednesday.

Future Vet?

OK, so maybe Preston won't be a football player afterall. Maybe he'll be a vet instead because he loves animals. The only time I've seen him shy away from an animal is last week when he was in his pack n play on the driveway. Rob was washing Cheyenne while Preston watched and squealed the entire time. When Rob was done he brought Cheyenne over to where Preston was. Cheyenne up close and personal was a little more than he could handle so Preston welcomed her with a big scream loud enough for the Highlands to hear. Other than that I have yet to see him with an animal that he doesn't love. On Friday I went to a friend's house, where he wanted to play with her dog "Monkey" more than her son that's Preston's age. When we went to the park he wanted to watch the dog that was nearby more than play on the swings. If he's crying all we have to do is show him Holly and his cries turn into big smiles and squeals. Yesterday I took him next door to see the baby chicks our neighbors have. He watched them in awe, with a sweet smile on his face. Today we went to see my friend's newborn baby. They have 3 ewes and 2 lambs, which Preston fell in love with. He was laughing and watching them intently. When one of the ewes came over to the fence he immediately reached out to pet her. I had to pull him away when it was time to go. I believe he would've stood there all day had we had the time. Every night he chooses animal books that he can "pet" for his bedtime stories. Preston loves animals so much that it wouldn't surprise me if was a rancher or cowboy or vet.

Spring Weekend

Sometimes weekdays and weekends all run together for me and Preston since Rob works 7 days a week. So, for me the weekend began yesterday. Preston and I met up with a friend and her son for an afternoon walk. We went to a park by her house, where the boys climbed all over her dog and watched the older kids play on the equipment. When we got home I BBQ'd shish kabobs and Rob and I watched "Sweet Home Alabama" (well, half of it before we called it a night). Then this morning Preston and I had a dance party before meeting up with some friends at a local lake. We went for a 3 mile walk around the lake while catching up on each others' lives. While Preston napped I pulled A LOT of weeds. If you hadn't seen it before, you wouldn't be able to tell I'd pulled any weeds but it's a start. I'll work on it some more tomorrow and hopefully make some more progress. But, now it's family time. We're playing and relaxing as a family, Preston making us laugh. Tomorrow will be church and NASCAR and possibly visiting a friend that just had her 4th baby. All in all, a perfect Spring weekend!

THE DEER STAND

theres an old deer stand, sittin' in a tree
weatherd by the storms, and my dad and me
it sways back and forth with the help of the wind
seems to always be there like an old trusted friend
ive read alot of books, wrote a few songs
looked at my life, where its going and where its gone
ive seen the country through my truck windshield
but nothing compares to the way that i see it
when im sittin' in that old deer stand

Letter to Heaven

"Before Preston wakes up I can get a quick letter written to Nana," I thought as I stood at the sink, washing dishes. "I can tell her about how Preston is Personality Plus, making complete strangers smile every day. I can also tell her about how he likes to stick out his tongue and have me grab it. Oh, and then..." I stopped washing the bottle that was in my hand and stared out the window. I can't believe I let myself think I could sit down and write my Nana, the way I did 4 years ago when she was alive. There was a time when we'd write or email weekly, giving little updates on our lives. That was before the cancer took her from me.
May is a hard month because my mom, aunt and I walk the Komen's Walk in memory of my Nana... a strong opinionated pastor's wife that would make me peanut butter pies when I came to visit and would give the best foot rubs. I tear up thinking about the final breath she took four years ago Memorial Day weekend, one that I was there to witness.
My life has changed so much since that day. I've become a wife, a mother, have moved to a different state and have earned my Masters. I wish I could just sit down and write her a letter, telling her all about my life, Rob and her great grandson. But, I can't so instead I hope she's looking down on me, seeing how my life is turning out. I think she'd write me a letter telling me how proud she is of me. I love and miss you Nana!

Linebacker or Quarterback?

Rob thinks Preston will be a quarterback because of the way he holds his sippy cup. I, however, think he'll be a linebacker because of all the food he can put away. To date the only thing he isn't fond of is broccoli and carrot baby food with cheese and the piece of a dill pickle I gave him. Everything else is fair game in his book...and he'll eat it all. This weekend he set a record for the most food he's eaten. After the Komen's walk we went to breakfast where Preston proceeded to eat Gerber puffs, apple bites, a fourth of a Belgian waffle (with strawberries), a few pieces of country potatoes and an orange slice. Then for dinner he ate chicken, mashed potatoes and peas. The next night Rob took us to a Japanese steakhouse for Mother's Day. Preston ate carrots, peas, zucchini, chicken, cucumbers, rice and a SMALL bite of vanilla ice cream for dessert. Today he had Mac N Cheese for the first time. He doesn't eat processed food often so I didn't know if he'd like it...silly mommy! He loved it! He ate all of what I gave him and wanted some of mine as well. His medicine makes all the food go through him, thank goodness. Lord help us all when he stops taking it this Summer. He may have to cut back on how much he eats and then watch out!

Mother's Day

My first official Mother's Day was picture perfect! I was in Sacramento for the morning, where I was given a frame that contained pictures of Preston and a recording of him playing in the bathtub. We went to church with my parents and then went to lunch afterwards. Preston and I headed home to a clean house and laundry done, thanks to Rob. He took care of Preston all afternoon so I could play on the computer and relax. He wrote me a beautiful letter about being the perfect mom (I don't think I am but I REALLY appreciated the letter). Then the real surprise came when he offered to take me to sushi. In the 3 years we've been together he's never offered that. We went to a nice Japanese steakhouse downtown where they cook in front of you. I didn't end up getting sushi but I did have the best shrimp I've ever eaten! Preston wasn't too sure about the fire and banging of cooking utensils but, despite that it was past his bedtime, he did remarkably well.
As I drifted off to sleep last night I thought about how much life has changed in the last year. Last year I was anticipating Preston's birth and now my life is consumed with his. I love (almost) everything about being a mom but some of the things I really enjoy are cuddling, especially right when we both wake up. I love story time when Preston picks out the books he wants me to read. I love our dance parties where we twirl and bounce around the living room. I love when we play with his vehicle puzzle because he mimics the ambulance siren when that piece is put in place (My mom taught his that one). I love his slobbery kisses that leave my cheek dripping wet. I love loading and unloading the dishwasher because Preston stands there, pushing the bottom rack in and out. I love going on walks and hikes, "talking" about all the things we see. I love playing peek-a-boo or making new noises with him because of Preston's infectious laughter. I could go on and on about all the things I love about being a mom. I am blessed beyond my wildest dreams and my cup runneth over!

Bookworm

Preston is now 10 months old and constantly hitting new milestones. Lately he's turned into quite the bookworm, which thrills me beyond belief! In the morning, after breakfast, I will clean up and wash dishes. Most of the time he plays in the kitchen or "helps" load the dishes into the dishwasher. But lately he's been sneaking off to his room. When I go in to check on him he's looking at all this books. He has 3 favorites right now that we read A LOT: "That's Not My Pony (Given to him by Uncle Jay), "Grandma, Grandpa and Me" (Given to him by my parents) and "Good Night". I can't tell you how many times a day I read those books to him but he never gets tired of them. I hope that, as he grows older, his love for reading grows as well. That would make me one happy mama!

Beautiful Day

Days like today are the days that I will miss next year when I'm in a classroom. It was beautiful weather and Preston and I made the most of the day. I took him to a dr appt this morning because I was concerned that he was pulling at his left ear. Everything checked out fine so we met up with a parent group to walk around the marina. It was a fabulous walk because the weather was perfect and I got to get caught up with a mom that I don't get to see too often. Preston and I ran errands after that, dropping off his enrollment papers for daycare and meeting people to sell my dirtbike gear that I had posted on Craigslist. When we got home Preston and I laid down for a nap. Preston has started a horrible habit of waking in the middle of the night, wanting ME to put his paci back in even though it's next to him in the crib. By the time I do that I'm awake and have a hard time going back to sleep some nights. Last night was one of those nights. So, I was excited about a nap but, as always, the phone woke me up. Instead of sleeping I went for a run with my neighbor friend. It was a GREAT run, our best time for this course. I always enjoy ending my day with a good run, especially when it's with her because I enjoy our conversations. The beautiful weather, my precious happy son, good conversations with friends and a productive day....gotta love it!

My Favorite Part

Last week I entered a Mother's Day contest on a website called MomsLikeMe. To enter you had to write what your favorite part of being a mom is. This is my entry:
"My favorite part is taking my lil man (10 mos old) on hikes. I put him in the backpack and he "talks" the whole time, telling me about things he sees. He squeals with excitement every time we see an animal or the wind blows through his hair. I love it!"
I didn't think much about it...until today. I always buy the Sunday paper for the coupons but I rarely read much of it. One section I glance at is the one that coincides with the website. Today I was surprised when I opened that section of the paper and saw my entry quote. It doesn't mean I won but it was certainly nice to see SOMETHING I wrote in print, even if I didn't get a dime for it.

Happy News

I guess I got the "Blogging Bug" back because I feel the need to tell the world everything again. Since I'm telling the world everything I'll let ya in on a little secret. For the past two weeks I've had symptoms like I had when I was first pregnant with Preston: wanting to eat everything in sight (not comfort food like in the winter but just eat), tired, sick to my stomach a little. This has weighed on my mind a lot and, even though I was 95% sure I wasn't pregnant, this morning I broke down and took a pregnancy test. I have happy news: I am NOT pregnant! We want a second child but right now would not be a good time with me going back to work and Rob going out of town for 3 months. If I take a pregnancy test again in the Fall and it comes back negative then I'll be bummed but for right now I'm very happy to see the words "Not Pregnant". Between that, the beautiful weather, Preston's happy mood and spending time with a good friend I think today will be an all around happy day!

The Explorer

As Preston reaches the 10 month mark in a few days, he's becoming more independent. He's definitely not a dare devil but likes to explore....and is becoming OCD. He doesn't like things on "his" couch so he is constantly pulling off clothes and blankets that are draped on it. He also doesn't like doors half open so he feels it's his goal to open every door in the house as far as they'll go. He also likes to make laps around the coffee table. Between keeping the couch clean, opening doors and laps he's getting his fair share of bumps and bruises.
His favorite room in the house, by far, is the kitchen. He spends most of his day there, eating whatever food he can find on the floor (I mop a lot more now) or playing with Holly's food bowl. I was thinking this morning as I watched him, that there is no need to buy baby food or toys. He likes eating Holly's food and then playing with her bowl for hours, pushing it around the floor and putting things in it. He'll sit in the kitchen, playing with trash that's too big for the can or empty water bottles. He also likes to pull himself up using the cabinet doors. I don't panic like Rob or my dad when he explores but this is where I panic a little because there's potential for him closing the doors on his fingers. Since they're "childproof" they only open a little. But, it's enough for him to get his fingers stuck inside. I guess he'll learn the hard way if this ever happens.
Once in awhile he'll get bored and play with the thousand toys that he has been given. =) When this actually happens he loves reading books or playing with puzzles. My mom taught him how to make the siren sound when he puts the ambulance puzzle piece in place and the siren goes off. I think the adults like it more than him because we're always putting that piece in the puzzle, waiting for him to make the sound. His new favorite thing is also pushing cars around the living room. Preston has 3 different ways he likes to crawl and when he pushes the cars around he crawls with one foot in the walking position and one knee on the ground. So cute!
He's definitely a fun kiddo! He continues to make us laugh...and gasp...as he explores.