The First Decade

On Facebook a friend posted several of her highlights from the first decade of the 21st century. That got me thinking about my highlights as well and I came to the conclusion that A LOT has happened since the turn of the new century. For me, there's been a whole lot of good, fun memories and a few things I'd rather not re-live. I don't want to end on a bad note so I will start off telling you the few things that I have no desire to re-live: my grandparents' deaths, Sep. 11, 2001, a major car accident, financial hardships, and Preston's time in the hospital. That's not too bad considering it's spanned over 3,650 days. The things I've enjoyed and found memorable since 2000 (really since 2001 because I don't remember a lot from 2000) is that I have traveled to 4 countries and to/through about 20 states. I've seen many things and have done things that people only dream of. I took a 2 year break from teaching after 9/11 because it had such a huge impact on my life at the time, as did that whole year in general. After realizing that I enjoyed being the boss but missed teaching I went back to teach at the district where I used to be a student. Being the boss of the non-profit I had worked at inspired me to get my Administrative Credential and Masters. Although I finished the degree and earned my credential I decided that I'm not ready to go into administration quite yet. Part of that had to do with meeting Rob while the other part had to do with the fact that I think teaching has A LOT to do with the student as a whole and not just test scores (every district I've worked at believes the opposite...tests,tests,tests!).
My world changed when I met Rob at Chili's in April 2007. Little did I know at the time that I had met my best friend and future husband. We hit it off and were engaged 6 months later. In February of last year we were fortunate enough to buy a house in the mountains above Reno. It's been a blessing and a curse, but every day I look out one of the many windows and thank the Lord that we live in such a beautiful place (especially in the Winter). We were married last June in a beautiful outdoor ceremony over looking the Sierras and we honeymooned on the East Coast. In November of last year we were excited beyond belief to find out we were expecting our first child! This year one blessing has outweighed all the frustrations we've dealt with (especially in the past month or so)..... we welcomed Robert Preston Herrington V into the world July 3rd. He is our pride and joy, making us smile several times a day. He is growing so fast and it is fun to experience the world through his eyes.
So, all in all, it's been a great decade. I look forward to what's in store for us over the next ten years! Happy New Year.........

Bed Wetter

I was under the impression that kids didn't wet the bed until they were old enough to be potty trained but Preston proved me wrong. This morning I was in my dream world, loving a peaceful sleep when I heard his little voice in the monitor. Hearing him talk to himself and blowing spit bubbles (his new favorite thing to do) is my favorite way to wake up. I laid there, listening to him babble and blow spit all over his crib for a few minutes. Honestly, I was hoping he'd talk himself back to sleep because Rob and I had stayed up late laughing, talking and playing on the computer. Then Preston had woken up and was having a hard time going back to sleep. That combination was leaving me tired and wanting to sleep in. No such luck though! Preston was up and ready to conquer the day. When I picked him up there was a huge wet spot where his "crotch" had been. Poor guy was sopping wet! The only thing I can think of is that he likes to loosen the straps on his diapers. He must've done it last night before I put his PJs on because the diaper was barely hanging on when I went to change him this morning. I guess I learned my lesson that I need to pay closer attention to him loosening his diapers so we don't have any more bed wetting experiences in the near future....at least until he's old enough for it to be justified.

Them Days Are Long Gone.....

The days where we could put Preston on his tummy time blanket and know he won't go anywhere have passed. A couple weeks ago he started rolling over from his back to his stomach. If we were lucky he'd roll back again to his back Then, yesterday, he started rolling over consistently. I put him on his tummy time blanket and went to make a phone call. When I got back in the room he had rolled all the way to the entertainment center and was in the process of putting the DVD cord in his mouth. I quickly grabbed him and put him back on his blanket. I started taking ornaments off the tree, looked over and he had rolled the opposite way toward the recliners. He had a goal in sight.....the computer cord. I grabbed it out of his way and put him back on his blanket. So goes the past 24 hours of our lives. We joke that we won't need to go to the gym because he will keep us very active from here on out. Within the next month I'm sure I'll be "baby proofing" the house because who knows what he can get into, even just rolling. As I write this he has his piggy in one hand and is rolling toward the woodpile as fast as he can. On that note let my workout resume.......

Another 364 Days Left

Christmas 2009 has officially come and gone. Maybe it's because of Preston or maybe it's because it's the last Christmas we will spend at my childhood house, but Christmas was more special than usual this year. We spent Christmas Eve just the 3 of us, drinking eggnog milkshakes (Preston didn't partake in this even though he wanted to), driving around looking at lights and opening our stockings and presents. Then we woke up Christmas morning, ate a big breakfast then headed to Sacramento for the day. Rob and I don't have the means we've had in past years to buy everyone the "world" but we both got things we wanted and spent a lot of time putting thought into the gifts we gave. We enjoyed opening our stockings and watching Preston "open" his gifts. He enjoyed the wrapping paper more than anything, often putting handfuls in his mouth. Despite all the gifts I opened at my parents', my favorite thing was something that was in my stocking. It was a frame with 2 black and white pictures of my Nana and Papa holding me when I was a baby. And the best part of the day, in my opinion, was when my mom surprised me by baking my Nana's infamous peanut butter pie. I thought we'd lost that recipe forever but not only did my mom find the recipe but she nailed the pie! It tasted just like my Nana's. We did our traditional German pickle hunt (My brother found it) and then left shortly after to get back before the sun went down and the roads got slick. Once we got home Rob built a fire and we watched a Hallmark movie. All in all it was a perfect Christmas! I enjoyed every minute of it, making it one of my more memorable Christmases.

What is Christmas?

I had the privilege (insert sarcasm) of spending 4 hours in a tire store on Christmas Eve morning, waiting for brakes to get done. But, during that time I struck up conversations with different ones waiting and as always Preston was able to wow them. One man told me he's excited about Christmas this year because both of his sons will be with him, one of them in remission after a fight with leukemia. Another lady had a different story. She came in the shop with what she thought was a minor problem and was still there when I left, devastated that the repairs would cost well over $1000 and that she was going to have to miss work later. She talked about the stress that Christmas would be this year after her car repairs. I left in a reflective mood, thinking about Christmas and what it means to people. For some people it means money being spent that they don't necessarily have. Others think of crowds and hours of waiting in long lines. Some of my friends think of days in the kitchen, baking treats. Others think of the hours of decorating and putting everything away afterwards. I think of all these things but with a positive attitude because ultimately this special day is not about us but about Jesus' birth and spending time with loved ones. I look forward to Christmas every year.....listening to Christmas music all day every day for a month, putting a lot of thought into each gift I buy, talking to people as I wait in lines, spending hours sending out Christmas cards and then the clean up and putting away after Christmas is over. Each one of these tasks brings me joy in one way or another. I get frustrated with the "Ba Humbug" attitude that so many have because this is a time of year that is supposed to be filled with love, giving, and memories to last through the next year. It breaks my heart when people say they hate Christmas for one reason or another. This Christmas I urge you to think about all the great things that Christmas means instead of getting down because of money issues or because there are crowds. Use it as an opportunity to be thankful for what Christmas really means....Jesus and family and friends and traditions and wonderful lifelong memories!

Christmas Favs

When I was teaching I'd always ask students what their family traditions were this time of year. I was surprised to find that many families don't have Christmas traditions. My family has always had quite a few. Some I love and some I don't really understand. But, my favorites are decorating the tree, looking at Christmas lights, stockings and the German pickle. One I don't really understand, although I've been told the stories about it, is the "Orange Man". After my parents have scoured the Sacramento area for the perfect tree and have it decorated a bag of oranges "magically" appears under the tree. Like I said, I don't get the significance of it but this year Preston enjoyed it. We came around the corner at my parents' house and Preston squealed with delight when he saw his very own bag of Cutie Oranges. It was adorable! Another one that I started that I, myself, don't get is sleeping in a pile of wrapping paper. Every year for as long as I can remember I'd lay down in the discarded paper, after all the presents were opened, while everyone else went back to bed for a couple hours. I guess it's my way of savoring the hours of Christmas preparation before it gets thrown away. No matter why I have this tradition, I can say I've taken some pretty good naps in piles of Christmas wrap!
Every year holiday tradition starts for me once I find a tree. Unlike my mom, I don't go to several tree lots but I do bargain for the best tree I can find. I love spending hours decorating it, making sure the ornaments are put up just right. After it's decorated I look forward to the sun going down each night so I can turn it on and illuminate the room with its magical glow. Since I usually have a few presents by that time, I like to wrap them and put them under the tree, adding to its beauty.
Another tradition my family has that is one of my favorites is looking at Christmas lights. In years past we've gone to a Christmas Eve service then have gone to In n Out Burger for dinner. From there we drive to a wealthier neighborhood in Rocklin to look at the Disney themed homes. There are so many cars that pass through this neighborhood that it can take up to an hour to drive about 1-2 miles. But it's worth it, just sitting back admiring the neighborhood's hard work. This year I am looking forward to finding neighborhoods in the Reno area to look at with Rob and Preston. It's a tradition that I hope we keep going because there's something magical and special about looking at all the beautiful lights.
Christmas day brings me to my last 2 favorite traditions. Stockings and the German pickle! On Christmas morning the first person up wakes up the others then we all have to wait to enter the living room together. A massive sheet covers a row of stockings. Once the sheet is removed we get to look at what "Santa" has brought us. I could spend hours just going through my stocking alone! "Santa" Dad (and his elf helper)always spend so much time trying to get our stockings just right, loading it with stuff that we'll use but don't necessarily buy for ourselves on a regular basis. Sometimes my stocking is better than any gift I unwrap. It is hands down my favorite part of Christmas morning.
The last tradition that tops off the day is the German pickle. After we've devoured mom's Christmas meal we all go in the family room while she hides the glass ornament in the tree. It's great because she's only 5'1 so it limits how high she can put the ornament and gives us an advantage. When she gives us the go ahead we make a mad dash for the tree, scouring the branches for this shiny green ornament. I don't know who has more fun....us or my mom as she anxiously awaits for someone to spot it. Whoever finds it first- without tearing down the tree- wins a gift certificate. It's been to the movies, to Starbucks, to Blockbuster. No matter who wins I always love searching for the German pickle.
These are the traditions that fill my memory bank around the Christmas season. They are things that I'll cherish as Preston gets older and we create more family traditions. I encourage you to come up with your own special family traditions if you do not have any. It makes the holiday season that much more special!

Thriving Social Life

I love staying home with Preston but I also love when it's Christmas break and I'm able to spend time with friends. Yesterday morning I met up with a friend that has a son who is 2 months younger than Preston. She treated me to coffee and we got to catch up on life, which was nice, especially since we had been getting together every week while she was on maternity leave. After coffee with her, I got home to get the house ready for the Loyal Wives' (inside neighborhood joke) Book Club. The ladies came over and we were having such a good time that they didn't leave until after 10pm. Of course Preston loved them being here because he got to flirt and wow them all! Tomorrow night Rob and I are splurging and going out to dinner. We're meeting up with our friend that has a son 2 days younger than Preston (but is a lot bigger than him!). After that I think we'll go look at Christmas lights as a family....one of my favorite holiday things to do. Friday we're off to Sacramento for the day to spend Christmas with my family. It'll be bittersweet because it's Preston's first Christmas but it'll be our last family Christmas in my childhood home. It'd also be nice if the MS Herringtons were here so all the family could be together.
I'd tell ya that life will slow down after Christmas but it'll just get busier (YAY!). I am meeting a couple friends next week. We have a neighborhood New Years Eve party. Preston is finally getting dedicated to the church, after the gliche got resolved from last time. Then Preston and I have several (routine) doctor appts the first week of the new year. We'll top off the busy schedule by going with my family to San Diego and then to Alabama/Mississippi to see Rob's family again. I have so much to look forward to but writing all this has worn me out. Nap time here we come!!

Zombie Mode

I feel like we've gone back in time to when Preston was a newborn and sleep was a foreign concept. He has been in our room pretty much since we got back from MS. First, he was sick. Then, I passed out and fell down the stairs when I got up to nurse him. Then, I had a surgical procedure. And finally, his crib got recalled. All of that caused him to camp out in our room. I've enjoyed having him there but am ready to get sleep again. The angel care monitor isn't compatible with the pack n play so I am constantly waking up to check on him, making sure all is good. Then it takes me forever to go back to sleep because my mind starts going.
As I posted a couple days ago, he's also been fussy so being sleep deprived and stressed out all the while dealing with a fussy 5 month old isn't the best combination. I'm officially in zombie mode! But, for today, my prayers have been answered. Preston has not cried ONCE! In fact, he's been making me and others laugh quite a bit. We've either been given him gifts or have bought his toys used. We haven't splurged on any new big toys for him....until a week ago. I broke down and bought a "Johnny Jump Up" like the one at Mimi and Grandpa's house. He loves it! This morning he figured out how to really getting going with the jumping so every time he got the music to go on it he would start jumping like crazy. Every time the music stopped he would stop as well. He really had me laughing! Then, at church, he kept putting his feet in his mouth, pulling his socks off and eating them. The elderly lady behind us thought that was so cute. She asked how old he was, saying she thought he was really smart. I think he is too but I have nothing to compare it to. He also had the men in front of us laughing because he kept squealing when it would get quiet then smile real big as if saying, "I'm cute so I can get away with it!". As I sit here blogging he is lying next to me, rolling all around, proud of himself for getting to his toys on his own. I'm glad he's so happy today. It makes being in zombie mode much easier!

Fussy Gus

We have been blessed with such a happy baby so when he's fussy it kind of throws us off guard. This week has been one of those weeks. He started seperation anxiety with me about a week ago. He's fine if Rob is holding him....as long as I'm near. If I walk out of the room or even just out of his eyesight he gets fussy. As soon as I'm back he settles down. He wants to be held a lot more than usual lately. Yesterday I let him cry it out a lot because I don't want him to get used to being held all the time. It paid off because today he only cried once to be held. I picked him up after a few minutes, settled him down then put him back on his blanket. After that he was all smiles again! Other than being held, the thing that has him fussy is the fact that he's teething. His bottom teeth will be coming in any day now because you can run your finger over his gums and feel little ridges. Between Orajel and teething rings, we're doing what we can to comfort him but some times it's just not enough. The poor kid has life rough right now! No wonder he's fussy. I would be too! =)

Been Awhile

Haven't written much lately. Preston and I went to Sacramento for the weekend and had a great time. Going to visit the grandparents (both sets) is like a vacation for me. I can't lift a finger because everyone takes care of me and Preston. But, now it's back to reality....sending out Christmas cards, buying gifts, making gifts, wrapping gifts,etc. I've enjoyed getting ready for Christmas this year because of the gift we're blessed with 365 days a year! Speaking of our bundle of joy, the highlight of the week is that Preston discovered his laugh. He doesn't do it more than once or twice a day but it's hilarious. If you say, "I'm gonna get you" while getting close to him he thinks it's so funny. That's about the only thing that will get a belly laugh but it's sure worth it. Being with family and hearing Preston's laugh are the only things I need for Christmas Day. Tis the season!

A Boy and a Dog

I'm having a difficult time sleeping. Rob is snoring, Preston is scratching the side of his pack-n-play, Holly is passing horrible gas and my mind is going 100 mph. Sometimes that's what happens at slumber parties. Since I can't get my mind to stop, the best way for me to cure it is to get my thoughts out on "paper".
As I laid awake in the darkness of the night, my mind kept wandering to a dog and a boy. There's an unbreakable bond that has formed in the Herrington household, a bond between Preston and Holly. There have been several times recently that I wished our camera was within reach. Times that if I could capture it on film, it would be obvious to all the love between a boy and a dog. Since getting rid of Duke, Holly has fallen head over heals in love with Preston and the feeling is very much mutual.
If I take Preston into the nursery, Holly follows me there and lays down while I change his diaper or his clothes. If Preston is crying, all we have to say is, "Look at Holly" and his tears fade away. When he takes his naps, she will lay by his swing, waiting for him to wake up. Every night Holly starts out the night sleeping close to Preston, whether it be in the nursery or in our room.
Yesterday Preston was finally getting some much needed tummy time. He was fighting me tooth and nail on it....until Holly came over. She knows she's not allowed on his tummy time blanket so she gets as close as possible, sometimes crossing the line. But, yesterday, she laid right along the edge and Preston put his feet on her back. He laid there, moving his feet around on Holly, while she happily accepted the back scratch. Today he was sitting on my lap, playing, when Holly came over and put her head on his lap. He excitedly put his hand on her head and she began moving her head around, once again accepting his affection. When I told her to go lay down she stood up, licked his face as if to say "Thank you" then moved a few feet away from us. That's the thing about Holly. She is never far from him! She has become quite the babysitter and I believe with all my heart that she would let us know if he was in some kind of danger. She not only loves him, but would protect him in a heartbeat~
Although we think Preston is allergic to her, it's a small price to pay for the love they share. Holly is getting old but I pray that we don't have to put her down before Preston can form some memories of his own with her. Because, in my opinion, there's nothing like the love between a boy and his dog!

Family Slumber Party

After passing out last week and being doped up on pain meds after my surgery, I've been leery about going to the nursery for Preston's 3am feeding. So, after my parents left on Saturday we decided to bring the pack-n-play in our room so it'd be easier to tend to Preston. Last night I was going to move him back to the nursery and overcome my fears of falling down the stairs again, but right before bed we got an email that his crib is faulty. I don't want to take any chances so we left him in our room. It's pretty cute to be honest. I get him ready for bed, say his prayers and put him down. Then Holly comes in and lays down right next to the pack-n-play. Preston looks at her until he falls asleep. The fire is going in the fireplace so Holly eventually goes out there to stay warm. I don't blame her as we woke up to -4 this morning and about a foot of snow on the ground. I know Preston needs to go back to the nursery once his crib is fixed because he's a big boy. But, I've really been enjoying our family slumber parties the past few nights.

Winter Wonderland

It started snowing yesterday.....and is still going! We went to bed with snow on the ground and woke up to almost a foot of snow. In the year and half we've lived here I don't remember it snowing this much at one time. That being said, Preston and I declared it a "Pajama Day". We both took our individual baths then got re-dressed in comfy PJs. We laid down for a long winter's nap and have generally been lazy. I'm glad I don't have to go down the hill for anything today and can enjoy the view from the warm indoors. It makes it that much more beautiful!

Our Lil Man

It's hard to believe that Preston was still in me, in the 1st trimester, last year at this time. Now he's becoming quite the little human being. He entertains himself with his toys, has learned how to turn the pages in his books and likes to hold his bottle when eating. Today when I put him down for a nap his paci fell out. I went in to check on him and he was sucking his thumb. Rob and I are not really into the thumb sucking thing but it was cute! He also likes to watch us eat and let's us know if he wants some as well. He talks a lot and is starting to mimic us. Today Rob was waving at him and Preston lifted his arm, trying to wave back. Parenthood is absolutely amazing! It's so fun to watch him grow and change! What a blessing Preston has been in our lives!!!!!

And the Hits Keep Coming!

We survived Thursday...barely...and my parents came to town because I had a minor surgical procedure yesterday (I didn't heal right after Preston was born). They came to help since Rob had to work today. It was a good thing they made the trip because I seriously think I would've had a breakdown had they not! Yesterday I was in and out of a fog when Rob came in to tell me there was a problem paying for the pump. So, I came to long enough to deal with that. This morning I was taking a nap, but woke up chilled. I came out of the room to find out that our propane ran out and we were without heat.....just as it started snowing! Luckily my dad took over and got someone out here to fill the tank so we'd have heat for Preston and hot water for me. I tell ya- I REALLY can't wait for this week to be over because I've been pushed to the limit with what I can handle! We are blessed to have such great parents, family and friends that have offered help and wisdom this past week. Please pray that nothing else happens for awhile!

Can you say CRAZY??

When we got off the plane I knew it was back to reality. Little did I know, however, that reality was going to punch us in the face! This week has not been stressful. It's been downright CRAZY!! The weirdest things have happened in the past couple days to add to the already fun let's-deal-with-a-sick-baby-for-the-first-time. Not last night but the night before Preston woke up crying. I jumped up to take care of him and in the process of walking to the nursery, I blacked out at just the right spot. Just the right spot meaning the top of the staircase. I did a somersault down them, landing with my head mind you, against the door. Between the thud and me calling for Rob he was able to wake up out of a sound sleep to find me sprawled on the landing. The rest of the night I drifted in and out of sleep due to Preston crying and a horrible headache. Yesterday I was worn out to say the least so I took it easy all day. I went to bed with the intent of getting everything done around the house today. WRONG! I went to wash dishes this morning only to find that we were without water. When calling the water filtration company they told me it was pump problem. The first thing that came to mind was a huge dollar sign...$$$$$$$$$. A dry well eluded my thoughts as I waited for the fix it guy to get here. After running tests we were told that there was an electrical short 220 feet down the well. A minor problem compared to a dry well. Through all this craziness this week I am reminded of God's goodness. Things could've been a lot worse with my fall and with the well but God provided, just like He always does. That being said, I will be extremely grateful when this week is over!!!!!

Have I Told You Lately?

You thought I was going to say, "That I love you" but you're wrong. I was going to say, "Have I told you lately that we have an amazing son??" Yesterday he had to get blood drawn to make sure his medicine wasn't messing up his liver and kidneys. I knew he didn't feel well and had already been to the doctor's but the hospital is far from our house. So, it was the easiest option for getting it done. The phlebotomist went to draw his blood and Preston just laid there, smiling. She was absolutely floored! She mentioned several times that she couldn't believe he didn't even fuss. I told her he was a strong cowboy and she agreed wholeheartedly. Then today we could tell Preston wasn't feeling well. I kept taking his temp and it kept going up each time. Finally, it had hit the magic 101 degrees so we called the on-call doctor. We were told to come in and by that time Preston's fever was almost 102. When the doctor checked him out he kept smiling and sticking his tongue out. The real test was when she went to check his ears. He had wax buildup despite the fact that I had just cleaned out his ears this morning. She had to use this "pic" to clean out the excess wax. She said that babies usually cried because it was uncomfortable. Not our amazing baby! He just sat there, waiting for her to finish. She, too, commented on how surprised she was that he didn't fuss especially since he has a double ear infection. He is so sick but you couldn't tell with all his smiles and his happy personality. I found it ironic that when we were picking up his prescription "his" song "Amazing" came on the radio. Have I told you lately that Robert Preston Herrington V is absolutely amazing????? We are so blessed to have such a perfect baby!

Overwhelmed

I really shouldn't be on the computer right now because of all the things on my "To Do" list that are not getting done. Instead of crossing things off, I'm continually adding more things to the list. Tis the season! I've been meaning to put up Christmas decorations since Sunday but that hasn't happened. Preston has a cold so he was fussy most of Sunday, wanting to be held. Yesterday I took him to the doctor's then we went across the street so I could pre-register for a minor surgical procedure and Preston could get his monthly blood work done. That took over 3 hours. By the time I got groceries and picked up our mail we had been gone 6 hours. Preston did a great job but once we got home he got a little fussy again. So, I held him and did online Christmas shopping at the same time (I had to take advantage of Cyber Monday sales). When Rob got home we put up the tree and then I made dinner. I was barely able to eat because Preston was wanting to be held and kept coughing. I finished online shopping then got Preston ready for bed. By the time he went to bed my show was on. I was worn out by the time it was over. To top it off, Preston had a hard night so he nor I got a lot of sleep. I'm hoping he makes up for it with naps today because I have more errands to run, mounds and mounds of laundry to do, suitcases to unpack, a tree to decorate, working out to do, lights to put up, bills to pay...... Ah, tis the season!!

Thanksgiving Memories

After 8 days of being on southern soil we are back home. The time flew by and we made the most of the time we were there. We hung out with family, friends, went to Bass Pro a few times, got Preston's picture with Santa, saw "Blind Side", hunted, ate a lot of great food and made a day trip to New Orleans. I also got to relax some because Mimi (Rob's Mom) went above and beyond in every way possible. She took care of Preston and kept up on keeping his clothes and bottles clean. Grandpa (Rob's dad) held Preston and made dinner every night that we didn't eat out. Uncle Possum (Rob's brother) kept Preston entertained for hours....or at least until he'd poop his diaper. But, even getting the help, I think I'll need a few days to recoup because of all the fun we had. Being back to reality is hard because there is so much to do to get ready for the holidays. Plus, we have other commitments the next few weekends so I have a lot to cram into the week days.
Anyway, back to our trip. The big news is that I killed a buck! Rob kept taking me hunting and I kept getting frustrated because I could hear the deer but couldn't see them. On Thanksgiving morning we got up before the sun came up. I went begrudgingly because I had not slept a wink the night before. We got to our 2 man stand (Thanks Mom and Dad Herrington) and I was set to fall asleep until we had to get back down. But, as the sun was coming up we heard deer moving. Off to the left a deer was making it's way toward us. Rob had walked me through what to do so many times that I had it memorized. I did exactly what he instructed me to do and killed my first buck. Now to be honest, I thought it was a doe. Had I known it was a buck I may have let it walk because it was young. But, it was fun to track it and bring it back to camp. It's tradition to get "blooded" with your first deer's blood so Rob smeared some on my face. He went easy from what I understand and I'm grateful. We took the meat to the processor so we could give it to a lady that needed the meat. We got lots of pictures of it and are getting the head mounted European style to remember my first deer. Will I become a hunter? Who knows but I did something I never thought I'd do. I love trying new experiences and making memories, both of which I did this Thanksgiving holiday!

Previous blog

I blogged from my iPhone and it was hard to proofread so take it for what it's worth.

Southern Livin'

We have been on southern soil since Thursday night. It was a long flight here but Preston did an amazing job!! One flight attendant took a picture of him and another one complimented him on how well behaved he was. Once we got settled in we took off Friday morning for a weekend at deer camp. I am trying my hand at hunting but it's a lot like fishing in my opinion. You have to be patient while you hear everyone else's gun go off. The bright side is that the hours in the deer stand helped me write my best story yet about a doe named Lola that outsmarted a hunter. The other bright side of deer camp is the great meals and family time around the evening campfire. By Sunday I was ready to head back to enjoy hot, running water. I had been worried about Preston but as always he did a great job! He didn't care that he slept in a pack-n-play and didn't have a lot of toys. Of course Mimi spoiling him and uncle Possom tickling him and grandpa cuddling with him probably helped. We got back last night then rob and I went to his cousin's birthday party. This morning Preston and I enjoyed a neighborhood walk around the reservoir before running errands. We went to Bass Pro to get preston's picture with Santa but Santa was on break. So we did a little Christmas shopping instead. After that we took a day trip to New Orleans, which is 3 hours away. Once again Preston was so good while we enjoyed the interesting sights of the city. It's been rebuilt so we weren't able to see the damage. Now we're on our way home and will all probably sleep good after doing so much the past few days!

A Mover and a Shaker

As stated in the previous blog, this is a busy week for me. I'm trying to get me and Preston packed for MS, do the regular housework and get extra laundry done. So, today I put him on his blanket for some "tummy time" while I transferred pictures to a CD (I have over 600 stored on our camera and need to delete them before our trip). Preston is really into fake "coughing" right now. It's cute but I wish it hadn't come during the Swine Flu epidemic. Anyway, I heard his little coughing so I turned to acknowledge him and discovered that he had rolled over onto his back and had somehow got off his blanket. I put him back on his tummy, on his blanket, and proceeded to watch him roll over onto his back then scoot around on his blanket till he got to his toys. He's sort of trying to crawl but can't get his arms to work with his legs so I guess he figured this way was easier. Either way he is now figuring out how to get where he wants to be. Watch out world.....Here comes Robert Preston Herrington V!!!

A Fun Kind of Busy

There's Summer, Fall, Winter and Spring. But, there's also one more season that people forget about....the busy HOLIDAY season! That season has officially begun in our lives. Yesterday my parents came to town to watch Preston so we could go to a boxing match with our neighbors (who have also become good friends). It was my first experience with live boxing and I enjoyed it.....probably because there weren't any serious injuries. After the boxing match, the four of us went to pizza where there was a live band. We danced, talked and laughed for quite awhile before calling it a night. This morning Preston was supposed to get dedicated to the church. But, the church secretary dropped the ball so it didn't happen. Our pastor apologized profusely and asked us when we'd like to reschedule. The problem is we don't really have a free weekend until the end of January. This week we're going to get ready to head out to Mississippi. When we get back I'm having a MINOR surgical procedure. The following weekend I'm going to Sacramento for a Christmas party. Then we go into Christmas and New Years. After the holiday season Preston and I are going to San Diego for a long weekend then we're all going back to MS for a few days. I absolutely LOVE this time of year....decorating, parties, buying and wrapping presents, everything about it. But, when we do get a few minutes to relax in this season it really makes me appreciate it even more! Tis the season........

Facebook

On Facebook a challenge was put up to friends to write something you're thankful for every day for the month of November. One person replied that it would be hard to think of something new every day. But, I have just the opposite problem. 30 days is not enough to list every thing I am thankful for. Here are just a few things I am thankful for:
-Being able to worship God
-My husband who is also my best friend
-Our adorable son that makes me laugh every day
-Every day that Preston wakes up healthy
-Our family who loves and gives unconditionally
-Our pets, Holly and Cheyenne, who are part of the family
-Our beautiful home
-A variety of food that we enjoy every day
-Winter=snow/Spring=new life/Summer=long days/Fall=beautiful colors
-Being able to pay the bills every month
-Being a stay at home mom
-My friends who laugh and cry with me
-Memories
-Being able to travel and experience new things
-Nice cars that run good
-A fireplace that brings warmth during cold Winter months
-My passion and love of writing
-Laughter
-Technology: iPhone, Internet, DVR
-New experiences
-PICTURES!!
-The view from our house
-Our funloving neighbors
-Days Rob doesn't have to work
-Health insurance
-Our freeedom
-NASCAR

I know there aren't 30 things listed and they are not in any particular order (I tried that but it got to be too hard to cut and paste). But, as this time of year gets busy with shopping and decorating and parties and life, I challenge you to think about the things that you're thankful for during this time of year. You'll be surprised at the things that you use or encounter every day that don't seem that big but are. Good luck and have fun!

Thankful

I woke up this morning (earlier than I wanted....Thank you very much Preston!) and didn't have a care in the world so to speak. I left the house in clothes I wanted to wear and listened to what I wanted to on the radio. I met up with two friends for lunch at a place we all agreed upon. From there we went to the mall, where we walked around, shopped, talked freely and even openly discussed religion. Not once did I worry about my life or what I was saying or the immediate future or our safety. I enjoyed a nice day with some good friends all because of soldiers that sacrifice so much....time away from their family and friends, modern conveniences, comfort and so much more. They fight for our freedom on a daily, if not hourly, basis so we can lay our heads down at night for a peaceful night's sleep. We have more freedom than most countries combined. So often we neglect to thank soldiers for their hard work and dedication. That's why this blog is one BIG THANK YOU for those who have served so we could be free. OUR vets and soldiers are MY heros!!!!

Pacifiers, Coughing and Buttons...OH MY!

This past week has been full of many discoveries in Preston's world. Actually the past few days have been busy for things he's discovered. It all started last week when I put him in his Bumbo chair, his favorite place to be other than with mommy and daddy. I put some toys on the tray to see what he'd do. It didn't take long before he discovered that, not only could he grab them, but that he could fling them off the tray for a fun game of "Mommy, fetch!". That opened up a whole new world for him. He has since learned how to grab his pacifier and remove it from his mouth. This game started while we were grocery shopping and I was afraid he was going to throw it on the ground. But, his pitching arm hasn't developed yet so he just tossed it around his carseat (Phew, that was a close one!). This morning he worked on getting the paci back in his mouth. This will take some practice but he's off to a good start.
Yesterday I wore a sweater with big buttons. He was fascinated by them! He would stare at them, trying to tear them off. He was constantly grabbing at them. The best discovery to date, in my opinion, is his cough. This discovery came about sometime on Saturday. He would give a fake cough then look around to see if Rob or I noticed. If we didn't acknowledge him then he'd cough louder. That would be proceeded by a "courtesy chuckle". I've only heard him laugh a real laugh a handful of times. But, when we're being silly with him or he gives a loud fake cough, he gives a courtesy chuckle like he wants to acknowledge the action but doesn't think it's worth a full laugh. All of his discoveries are so much fun. He changes so much every week, interacting more and keeping us in stitches. Who knew having a kid could be so entertaining?????

"Me" Time

It's not often that both boys are asleep by 8:30pm and I have the house to myself. On the rare occasion it does happen I like to use the quiet time to read, write or just veg. On VERY rare occasion I use the time to clean what I didn't have a chance to do earlier in the day, but that only happens in "emergency" cases. I have to be "on" every minute of the day, meeting Preston's needs and getting things done around the house so I don't often have "me time". Even when Preston is napping I clean, return phone calls about bills, wash dishes, etc.... (Ok, I lay down with him during his late afternoon nap but by that time I'm exhausted!) So, having a quiet house so early in the night has been a treat.
Tonight Rob was in bed around 7:30 (He climbed 8 poles today and then went to the gym on his way home!!) and Preston was alseep by 8:15. So, I took my People magazine that came in the mail today (Thanks Mom and Dad Herrington!),made a huge mug of hot chocolate and soaked in the tub until I turned into a prune. I read the magazine cover to cover, not worrying about getting out so I could get to bed. Now that Preston sleeps through the night most nights I don't have to go to bed when the sun goes down. Now I'm playing on the computer and contemplating whether to put in a chick flick. On second thought, it feels a lot later than 9:40 so maybe I'll just call it a night. Afterall I've already had some "me time" and I can only handle so much of it!! =)

Learning Something New

OOPS....I never got back to blogging last night. After I put Preston down my day kind of ends. I soak in a hot bath and then unwind with a good book or TV before calling it a night.
ANYWAY, we are learning that Preston is not a typical baby. He's a fabulous baby but that's not what I'm referring to this time. I'm referring to the fact that he reacts differently to vaccinations than the typical baby is supposed to. My understanding is that on the day of the vaccinations babies are fussy, tired and usually need Tylenol for a fever. Preston, however, is perfectly normal the day of his vaccinations. He takes his usual naps, isn't fussy and doesn't run a fever. The day after, however, is when he sleeps almost the entire day. He's not fussy or running a fever but he sleeps a lot and just wants to cuddle. He usually takes 4-5 forty-five minute naps each day and if I'm lucky he'll take a 1 1/2 hour late afternoon nap. Today, however, he took a 3 1/2 nap and he only woke up because I was intentionally making noise. By the time he woke up I had vacuumed, wiped down all the doors, did touch up painting around the house, washed all the dishes (I usually do it in spurts cause I hate it), scrapbooked, put together a couple Christmas presents, called about 3 bills (I got one reduced by $105 and another one completely wiped out....love it!) and cleaned the bathroom. I'm not used to having so much time during the day. On one hand it was nice but on the other hand it was weird not to have my little man to talk to, play with and smile at. He did stay awake long enough to help me load up firewood in the wheel barrel, feed Cheyenne and water the trees. The rest of the day he slept...and all was good!

4 month check up

this is jen writing but i have a sleeping baby in my arms so am typing with one hand. today preston had his 4 month check-up and vaccinations. this time instead of screaming uncontrollably he melted everyone's hearts. his height is in the 75th percentile (the pediatrician said the nurse probably didn't accurately) and his weighht is still only in the 10th percentile. so our doctor told me to start him on rice cereal. i wondered how he would do because 4 month olds aren't usually good with eating from spoons, but preston took it look it like a pro. he ate rice cereal twice and both times was able to eat 5-7 spoonfuls. At this rate he'll be a chunky monkey in no time! ok, he woke up so i better feed him. more later......

So much.......

There is so much to write about today that I don't know where to begin. I decided to wake up with Rob this morning and take advantage of the quietness. When he left for work I got the rest of my first story written and formatted so I could send it to the institution today. I was also able to get some other important things done before Preston woke up to start the day. After Preston got up we went to see Rob's crew do helicopter work in Dayton. I always admire what Rob does but seeing it up close gave me a new appreciation for his job. I told him I'd never get on his case about napping anymore, especially after getting up at 4:30am myself AND seeing how hard he works everyday! Preston and I left there to go to a doctor appt I had. He had everyone in the waiting room smiling by the time we got called in because he was making his teradactyl noises. The doctor even commented a few times about how good he was being. Like I have said many times, we know we have a good baby but it's nice to hear it from other people as well. He is 4 months old today and every month I like to look back as what he's accomplished. In this past month he laughed (only one day but we'll take what we can get), discovered his feet, puts everything in his mouth, can almost sit up, interacts with us so much more, babbles and is starting to grab things (he held his medicine bottle tonight!). Being a parent is such a fun, exciting experience. Yes, we have rough days but those are few and far between anymore. He pretty much only cries when he's really hungry or overly tired. Other than that he is a very happy baby. The milestones he constantly reaches just amazes me! So much to be thankful for as we are really blessed..................

Running and Writing

At 34 I've discovered a HUGE "Aha" about myself! I love reading, writing, photography, scrapbooking, running and hiking. (That wasn't the "aha.) The "aha" is that all of my passions are things that are usually done by yourself or without competition. It surprised me when I thought about this because I am such a social person. I think the reason these things are hobbies/passions is because I am a control freak, an anal perfectionist. I hate when people point out what I'm doing wrong or when I have to compete against anyone other than myself. That's why I am stretching myself in two ways. One way is that I'm in the process of fulfilling a childhood dream of becoming an author. Since my writing to date has consisted of this blog, my journal and my Masters project I am dreading the editing that will take place. I love writing and it comes easy for me, but I don't like someone pointing out all my mistakes. I guess I'll have to get past that if I want to be an author because I have to have an editor that will strengthen my writing.
Another way I will stretch myself is by running a relay in June. Last night I was asked to join a relay team for a 24 hour run. I was asked by a neighbor earlier in the week to join her team but it had come with the disclaimer that she didn't have a full team. I figured I wouldn't have to do the relay but now there's an official team so I am committed. I am part of a team, responsible in part for the team's success or failure. That concerns me but the people that I know on the team are laid back so that helps ease my insecurity. If nothing else it'll give me an excuse to get in shape before we start trying to have a second child.
So, two weeks into the 34th year of my life I will stretch myself, trying to get past my insecurities and letting go of how controlling I can be. Wish me luck...

First Halloween

Preston's first Halloween has come and gone. Since he's not old enough to trick or treat and mommy and daddy don't need the candy, we had a neighborhood get together instead. Preston is not spoiled in the least so he only had 3 costumes. Luckily he had the opportunity to wear each one. Of course he looked adorable in each costume and once again wowed our neighbors that hadn't met him yet. He never cried and was able to fall asleep even though there were 15-20 people talking loud right outside his nursery. Have I mentioned lately that he is absolutely amazing?? Next year we'll go with one costume and a little trick or treating, but this was definately a great first Halloween for Preston.

Cheyenne the Miracle Worker

It's amazing that a horse can be such a miracle worker. Today Preston and I went to see Cheyenne before we headed out for our afternoon walk. She whinnied and that got Preston to laugh his first real laugh. It was such a wonderful sound! Then I gave her a couple treats and when she grabbed them out of my hand he laughed again. I was surprised that it was a deeper kind of laugh because he squeals such a high pitched, girlish squeal. I was able to hear one more laugh on the start of our walk but I don't know if it was Holly, the leaves blowing or the fact that he liked to hear himself laugh that made him laugh that last glorious time.
This evening Rob got home from a ride and asked if I wanted to cool Cheyenne down. After riding her around the corral I asked Rob if I could take her down the driveway to the main road. Rob and Preston watched me as I made the longest solo trip I've ever made on a horse. Don't get me wrong, it wasn't more than a half mile roundtrip, and that's stretching it, but I enjoyed it. I'm slowing building up my confidence with horses and Preston laughed for the first time all because of Cheyenne the Miracle Worker!

The Past Few Days

I can honestly say I don't think I've ever looked forward to ending a day as much as I did yesterday. Before I get into that let me back up a day. Wednesday morning we woke up to snow on the ground. It was absolutely breath-taking and I was looking forward to staying in all day, getting house work done and relaxing with Preston. When Preston woke up from his morning nap he was screaming, which is pretty rare these days. I went to get him and he had vomitted all over our bed. I cleaned him up but he was still screaming. When I changed his diaper let's just say it wasn't pretty. I called our pediatrician and he said it was most likely a GI infection. He recommended Pedialyte for the next 24 hours. Since we didn't have any I had to take a quick shower (all the while Preston is screaming) and head down the hill to get some. After Preston drank some he settled down and went right to sleep for the ride home. Although I didn't wish for him to be sick, I got to eat a burrito for lunch complete with a caffinated glass of Coke. YUM! That and his grape smelling breath was the only nice part of him having to drink Pedialyte. When we got home, Preston was real clingy. He slept in my arms several times throughout the afternoon. Usually I don't let him take naps in my arms but I have to say I enjoyed snuggling with him. By that evening he was back to his usual self so I thought all was good again. WRONG!! Yesterday started out okay but by the afternoon he had turned into a monster baby. He would scream uncontrollably and I was unable to calm him down no matter what I did. By the time Rob got home I was about out of my mind, having flashbacks of when he was 2 months old doing this on a daily basis. I gave Preston to Rob and left the house to go for a long walk. Holly and I walked until it was almost dark because I needed to get away from the crying and screaming before I lost my mind. As soon as I got home, I was welcomed with the sound of him crying. Rob continued to hold him while I made Rob dinner. Nothing would console him so I fed him his night bottle/medicine early and put him to bed. By that time Rob and I were both pretty frazzled. Southwest was having an AWESOME deal on airfare so we booked two trips and afterwards I questioned whether I even put in the correct destinations. I ate a PBJ sandwich while taking a hot bath then crawled into bed absolutely drained! I am happy to say that today is 1,000 times better and Preston is back to being his happy self. I guess he likes to have "off" days once in awhile to show us how good we really have it with him 98% of the time.

Pumpkin Carving

It was supposed to storm today so I ran all my errands yesterday with the intent of staying indoors today. When we woke up this morning, however, there was a minimal dusting of snow on the ground. But, since it was in the 20's, I decided to keep Preston in anyways. Today is a long day for Rob so I created a long to-do list to make the day go by faster. One of the things was to carve Preston's big pumpkin. My suspicions were right: a 3 1/2 month old does not really participate in carving a pumpkin. I even tried to get him to play with the pumpkin guts (for lack of a better word) but he didn't want anything to do with it. He just wanted to sit there, grabbing at his feet, watching me and Holly. The progression of pictures is how it went (And yes, I put the camera on the auto timer to get pics. so Rob can make fun of me for it....ha!)By the end I was flying completely solo, as you can see. But, the finished product represents Preston as we call him "Boo" or "Boo Man". Maybe next year he'll be a little more into the whole pumpkin carving festivities!

Fun One......

This weekend has been a mixture of fun, productive and relaxing. Friday night both of the boys were asleep by 8pm so it gave me a chance to soak in a hot bath and read a book. I love our family time but I also enjoy my alone time once in awhile as well. Yesterday morning Rob hung out with Preston so I could run some errands before my parents came to town. We're having a little Halloween get together at our house next weekend so I had fun picking out decorations and treats for the party. Shortly after I got home my parents showed up. We all went for a walk while Rob rode Cheyenne. It was such a beautiful Fall day and Preston loves being outdoors so I really enjoyed getting exercise in the great outdoors of our neighborhood. Once we got back home I hung out with my parents for awhile before Rob and I got ready to head out for the night. We went to a comedy show downtown and then out to dinner. It was the first time that I didn't CONSTANTLY think/worry about being away from Preston. We throroughly enjoyed our time together and laughed a lot. This morning I made a big breakfast for everyone then we headed off to church. After church we enjoyed a nice big lunch at Texas Roadhouse, our favorite place to eat in town. I was ready for a nap when we got home, but that doesn't usually happen much these days. So I rode Cheyenne around the corral for awhile instead. I had a minor mishap when I didn't steer her away from the roundpin and will have a good sized bruise on my knee from bumping into it pretty good. Now we're back in the house and I'm doing laundry and dishes in between reading my book and relaxing with the boys. What a perfect weekend....I love weekends like this!!

One of Those Days

When I put Preston down last night I had a feeling it wasn't going to be a very good night. I'm used to waking up with him only once these days. But, last night he decided to wake up a few times which wore me out. Then, today, he wouldn't take his usual naps. In fact, he refused to take a morning nap at all. He was cranky, fussing at the drop of a hat. So, I put him in the Baby Bjorn to water the trees and say hi to Cheyenne. He liked being outdoors so much that I decided to take a walk around the block. About the only time he got excited with me all day was when we were on our walk. He squealed when he discovered our shadows and when Holly would run up ahead of us. The only problem was that I had not intended to go for a walk. So, walking up our road in flip flops, carrying a 13ish lb baby and being so out of shape really made the end of the walk interesting. But, he liked it so it was worth it. Once we got home he went back to being fussy (Me being tired probably didn't help). I was finally able to get him to take a 1 1/2 hour nap in the late afternoon by laying down with him. His startle reflex is still in full gear so I held his hands and that helped him go to sleep. When he woke up he was in a little better mood and once daddy got home he was in a bigger better mood. But, it was the first time in a long time that I was very happy when bedtime rolled around. Hopefully tonight and tomorrow will be better.

Noah's Ark

For awhile I was wondering if we should build an ark. We had 2 horses, 2 dogs, 2 of us.... But, we've downgraded our animal status...and upgraded our human status. As of yesterday we only have one dog and one horse. I was kind of bummed to get rid of Duke but knew it was for the best. He is big and doesn't realize it so we couldn't have him in the house when Preston was down low. It got to be burdensome to keep an eye on him outside all the time and I felt bad having him in the kennel all day. I also wasn't spending the time needed with him for the first two months after Preston was born so he wasn't really trained, other than knowing how to sit and staying in his crate. I hate to admit it but it was rather nice not having to dump food in his bowl upstairs this morning so I could trick him out of the garage to close the door (He's chewed up expensive stuff in the garage). It was also nice to look out and not see the neighbors' shoes, gloves, etc. on our deck. Someday I hope to get another dog because Holly is getting old and can't exercise with me all that well. But, for right now I think we have the perfect one horse one dog household.

Oh Wow!

This day has been "off" from the get-go. Preston slept through the night then took a 4 hour nap after only being awake for an hour (He usually take 45 MINUTE naps). Naive me thought he'd be happy the rest of the day, not wanting to nap anymore. Well, he was happy until he woke up from his second nap, realizing we weren't at home anymore. I found a new home for Duke so I met up with the couple before taking Preston to get his pictures taken. He was fine for that errand but as soon as we got to the portrait studio he was not happy. He tolerated a couple minutes of his photo shoot then decided he wanted to take a nap. He took a short catnap while my friend's son got his pictures taken. Then Preston woke up, took a few more pictures then started screaming uncontrollably. He has not done this in awhile and was getting the other kids crying so I was doing everything I could to get him to stop. I changed him out of his lion costume. Then I changed his diaper. I knew he wasn't tired because he had just woken up. So, although I knew he probably wasn't hungry, I tried to nurse him. Without going into detail, let me tell you that it was a mess (literally and figuratively). Finally, I walked out into the mall with him and he settled down. I went in to look at the pictures and he let out a little scream and pooped all over. Turns out he had a tummy ache. He kept passing gas, much to the delight of a little girl standing close by that thought it was hilarious, while I chose pictures. I thought things were good and life was calm. Boy, was I wrong! My friend had gotten to the studio late, which caused us to leave the studio late. That caused Preston's feeding schedule to be off and that caused a whole new round of screaming....all the way up Geiger. Fun times!!! But, all is good now....he is fed and sound asleep. Sweet peace at last!

AMAZING!

"I Just Call You Mine" by Martina McBride

I pinch myself sometimes to make sure I'm not in a dream
That's how it seems
I close my eyes and breathe in the sweetest moments I've ever known
It feels like home
And here I am I want to be your everything
There you are
Turning winter into spring

And everyone who sees you
Always want's to know you
And everyone who knows you
Always have a smile
You're standing ovation after years of waiting
For a chance to finally shine
Everyone calls you amazing
Yeah
I just call you mine

I fall apart
Just a word from you just somehow seems to fix
Whatever's wrong
Oh, you reach into the weakest moments
And remind me that I'm strong
You've got to know
I'd be a fool not to see you even worse
To forget that you're more than I deserve

Cause everyone who sees you
Always want's to know you
And everyone who knows you
Always have a smile
You're standing ovation after years of waiting
For a chance to finally shine
Everyone calls you amazing
I just call you mine

Nothing makes sense when you're not here
As if my whole world disappears
Without you what's the point of it

Cause everyone who sees you
Always want's to know you
And everyone who knows you
Always have a smile
You're the dream that I've been chasin' after years of waiting
For a chance to finally shine
Everyone calls you amazing
I just call you mine
Everyone calls you amazing
I just call you mine

Every time I hear this song my heart melts because I think of Preston. In my book, he has been amazing since he was born. He was born a few weeks early but came out quick, which was amazing. He had health problems the first 3 weeks of his life but fought in an amazing way. Now he shows he's amazing every day in little ways. He really only cries when he needs a basic need met....and when he finishes eating or when he first gets in his carseat. We can go somewhere and keep him up past his bedtime but he'll still keep smiling despite the fact that he's tired. I can run hours of errands with him and he'll be content to look around or take catnaps(except when we go to Walmart, which he HATES!). I can dress him up or give him props, taking pictures of him on a daily basis, and he'll tolerate it. He wows everyone he meets with his smile and charming personality. Everyone tells us that he's such a good baby. We know because he's AMAZING and we're blessed!

Running with Duke

I think I found a new home for Duke as of Wednesday. So, since he only has a couple days left with us, I thought I'd give him some much needed attention. He's got a lot of energy so I thought I'd do us both some good by taking him for a run. It's been well over a year since the last time I ran but I decided to give it a try to get some fresh air. OOH....between the 6,200 ft elevation and the fact that I'm not in shape anymore really got to me! I'd like to say that I turned around after 1/2 mile because it was raining or because I needed to get dinner started. But, the truth is that I felt like my lungs were going to explode and my legs felt like Jell-O. As I was getting back my neighbor stopped me to ask if I'd be on a relay team she is putting together for a 24 hour run next Spring. I was honored to be asked so now I just have to get my butt in gear so I can run a decent distance.

Maiden Voyage

Preston is busy doing "Tummy Time" while watching "Dora the Explorer" (I NEVER thought I'd let my kids watch that show but nothing else is on that will grab his attention and he's not a fan of "Tummy Time"). So, while he's busy I thought I'd blog quick about my maiden voyage on Cheyenne yesterday. Rob took her out for a ride while Preston and I napped. When he got back I saddled up to take her for a ride out of the corral. I don't know who was more nervous....me, her or Rob. All I could think about when I was walking to the corral was when I got bucked off the horse in Egypt. I decided to be a "big girl" though and overcome my fear. I took her down past the neighbor's house with the intent of riding her to the main road. But, I started worrying about Preston being left unattended on our bed (He had pillows propped around him but he's started becoming quite the wiggle worm). So, about a half a block from our house I turned her around and headed back. I'm pretty cautious about things, especially when there's a potential injury factor, so I take things S-L-O-W! But, I was proud that I left the corral and even more proud that Cheyenne did as I instructed. Maybe next time I'll make it out to the main road, which would then mean that I rode her an entire city block. Baby steps......

Fall Weekend

Preston and I had such a great weekend in Cali. We left Thursday morning so we could get to Sacto in time to have lunch with Grandpa. When we left there my mom suggested we visit a friend that I've known my entire life. She is 94 years old so she was a little confused as to who I was or who Preston belonged to. But, he wowed her anyway with his great smile. From there we visited my mom's boss/friend. She is always keeping up to date on Preston and was excited to see him. Her daughter got to meet him as well, holding a baby for the first time.
Friday was the best day though! We got up and went to LaBou (Rob's favorite place....ha!). Then we headed up the hill to Apple Hill. For those of you that have never been, it's an area that has about 15-20 apple farms. Each stop is unique, complete with craft booths, trains, food or any number of other things. Preston is becoming very social these days so he enjoyed sitting in his stroller, looking at the people around him. My mom and I looked at the crafts while the boys (my dad and Preston) hung out. At the last stop my dad and I had fun taking all kinds of staged pictures of Preston. He was a real trooper, just looking around while we snapped a hundred pictures. We were all worn out after our day at Apple Hill so we came home and took naps. After we got rested up, my parents treated me to a great Italian meal. When we got home my aunt, uncle and cousins came over to meet Preston for the first time. They had a lot of fun holding him, making faces at him and getting him to smile. Once again he charmed a new set of people!
While we were having fun, Rob was home sick. He thinks he had strep throat so I was unsure as to when we'd come home. We didn't want to chance Preston getting sick so Rob started on antibiotics and disinfected the house before we came home. Yesterday morning my parents, Preston and I made one more important stop....the pumpkin patch. Carving pumpkins has always been a big deal in our family so we had to start Preston off right. My mom found him the perfect pumpkin that was as big as him. Once again, he was a trooper while my dad got a lot of fun pictures of his first pumpkin patch experience! On my way out of town I had lunch with a friend and stopped to see another friend. I probably would've stalled longer but Preston was in a rare mood, screaming for 2 hours (He cleared out a restaurant where my friend and I had met for lunch)! I just wanted to get on the road so he could calm down and sleep.
We had a great weekend, but it's always nice to be back home and back into the regular routine. Preston was wonderful, like usual, and wowed everyone that saw him. I always think of the Martina McBride song "I Just Call You Mine" as Preston's song. He is absolutely amazing and I realize that more and more each day! We are truly blessed!!!!

Cowgirl?

I've never been into horses ever since I was bucked off one 15 years ago. For several years that was my one and only experience on a horse. I had no desire to ever get on one again. Then I met Rob. Last summer he paid for us to go on a trail ride so I could get used to horses. That didn't convince me that I was going to enjoy horses. Then he bought 2 horses. One terrified me and one was unpredictable when Rob rode him so again I was not convinced that I'd like horses. THEN he got Cheyenne. She is beautiful, docile and patient with me. The first time I got on her I asked Rob to lead me around the corral, not leaving my side. He encouraged me to ride her by myself but I insisted that I was okay. The next time I rode her I was on by myself, without him leading her (but close by), for about 5 minutes. I've fed her, given her treats, talked to her a lot, led her around the property and have fallen in love with her. Now I look forward to Rob riding her because when he gets back I ride her around the corral to cool her down. In fact, the last time I commanded her to pick up the speed a little because I'm building confidence on her. Rob gives me lessons now so I can get used to riding on my own. One of these days I'll feel comfortable enough to open the gate and ride off in the world!

Guess Who?

Someone in this house went to sleep at 8:15 last night and didn't wake up til 7am this morning, despite the 60 mph winds all night. This someone has never slept through the night before so this is a big deal. Another someone in the house, who is bigger, was not able to sleep through the night. This someone woke up every hour from 1am on to make sure the other someone was okay, even though the Angelcare monitor was on. Don't know if this was a fluke thing or will become the norm but both someones woke up very happy!

FINALLY!!!

I was ecstatic to see the computer sitting in front of the garage when I got home today. When you go without a computer for any length of time it makes life a little more difficult. So, I am glad to be back in the land of technology! Now to fill you in on the last three weeks or so of our lives.
Shortly after my last blog Preston transitioned into his "big boy crib". I had a harder time with it than he did. He's actually doing pretty well in his room. Most nights he wakes up once to eat and then goes right back to sleep. When he wakes up at 5:30 (usually when the garage door opens for Rob to leave) I bring him to bed with me for a couple hours. Our new schedule works out great for all of us.
When I took Preston for his 2 month vaccinations (he was late getting them because of his virus) I mentioned that he was doing a lot of lip smacking. Since that's a sign of seizures in babies our pediatrician wanted to be on the safe side and make sure Preston wasn't having any. So, last week we woke up early and went in for an EEG. The tech said Preston was a picture perfect kid for behaving during an EEG. After it was over we sat on pins and needles, waiting to hear back with results. Finally, the doctor called to say that everything came back normal...Praise the Lord!!
Now that Preston is 3 months old we are really enjoying his personality and milestones. He now talks up a storm, smiles, plays hide-n-seek and loves his toys. He doesn't usually cry unless he needs something, which is a very welcome relief. He smiles in response to us and it melts our hearts. Parenting is now a whole lot more fun!
We are in the process of finding a new home for Duke. He is quite the "Wild child" puppy and we don't trust him with Preston on the floor. He is so hyper and I don't spend the time I need to with him. So, we'd like to find a new home where he can get the attention he needs and deserves.
Last month Rob actually got off early on a Saturday so we had a family "date night". We went to a new place called Tahoe Burger for dinner. There was a mechanical bull there, which I decided to try. It was my first time and a lot of fun! We didn't get any pictures but it's a mental picture that I'm sure some won't forget....ha! Then I played this golf game and won Rob and me Tahoe Burger t-shirts. From there we met up with friends at the Grand Sierra and watched a guy make a new world record for a dirtbike jump. He jumped twice because his first jump wasn't good enough, in the rider's opinion. He came back and jumped over 300 feet!
Last week something exciting happened. I got a letter, accepting me into the Children's Writing Institute. I had to submit a story and apptitude test so I was thrilled to be accepted. It'd be a dream come true to stay at home with our kid(s)- no,I'm not pregnant!-and become an author. This program guarantees that I'll have a manuscript to a publisher by the time I'm done so it's an exciting opportunity.
This past weekend Rob and I went to Southern California to celebrate my birthday while Preston stayed at home with my parents. We left Saturday morning and came back late Sunday night. We cut our trip short because we were having "Preston withdrawals". Rob handled it better than I did. I kept crying so we ended up leaving the NASCAR race before it was over. My favorite part of my birthday was coming home to Preston, asleep in his crib! For my birthday Rob got me a beautiful ruby ring (Preston's birthstone) and Preston gave me a birthday card with a special birthday wish.
So, there you have it: Our lives in Readers' Digest version. I had written more but lost it when our internet went out (We're having a big storm right now). But, rest assured, I will be blogging a lot more now that we have our computer back.

Miss Us????

You may be wondering why we haven't blogged in awhile. It's because our home computer crashed. It was supposed to be an easy fix once the CDs arrived (Duke chewed up the first set that came late last week). After trying to repair it yesterday I was informed by Gateway that it was a larger problem. So, I am at Kinko's, where I just shipped our laptop to Texas. It seems we'll be without a computer for a couple more weeks.....GGRRRR!!! It makes us realize how much we depend on technology. Since I am paying by the minute to blog I'll give you a teaser for what's to come....... new pics, a world record jump, rehoming Duke, Preston in the big boy crib, sleepless nights, first ride on Cheyenne, a mechanical bull and much more. Stay tuned to find out the latest in our lives!!

Too Big Too Fast

Wow, where have the last 11 1/2 weeks gone??? It seems like just yesterday the nurse was showing me how to push, telling me I wasn't going to have the baby through my face so to stop pushing with it. Now our lil guy is getting so big! Instead of needing to be held all the time, he likes his "independent" time. He loves to talk, look around, kick at things and walk on daddy's stomach. He'll entertain himself for quite awhile these days. Every nap he's taken today has been in his big boy crib because he's starting to roll and I don't want him rolling off our bed. Tonight is going to be his first night in his big boy crib, not in our room! (I think I'll have a harder time with that than he will!!!) When he spit up today I went to put him in a fresh onesie, only to discover that most of his 0-3 month ones are getting too small. I had to do a load of laundry to wash his 3-6 month clothes. Today we went for a walk and not only could he face forward in his all terrain stroller, but he enjoyed looking around. He watched the dogs and looked at the trees blowing. When someone familiar is talking he is able to turn toward their voice most of the time. I can't believe how fast the time is flying by! Before we know it he'll be walking and talking in more than just babble. Our lil guy is growing up before our eyes!

coffee club

when i was a boy my dad ran a lil store
lil coffee shop right on the reservoir
where old men woke up early to go have a cup
my eyes would get big as diamonds as id listen up
as mr norman caught those crappie out in ol plummers slough
he knew today would be a good one according to the moon
mr bob grew the biggest tomatoes of em all
as he sat there smoking those old pall malls
mr james and my grandpa would visit yesterday
talk about how it was back in the good old days
i wish i could go back and listen one more time
to all those stories of those heroes of mine

id walk across the street for the morning hunt
they would say hurry up boy that old sun is coming up
they would hang around until i made it back
just to see what i had in my bag
they were just as proud as my grandpa and my dad
when id pull out the sack and show em what i had
yeah they all watched me grow up
in the old coffee club

well time got faster and took them away
but they live in my thoughts each and every day
i can still hear their stories from long ago
and i miss them more than they will ever know
lord, id give anything to go fishing with mr norman again
or eat an old tomatoe than mr bob would bring in
i wish i was back in the booth with grandpa and mr james
and talk about all those yesterdays
yeah there aint nothing like getting to grow up
in the old coffee club

Ode to Being a Mom

He was asleep so she dressed with care
Mess on me?? He wouldn't dare
How wrong she was as she could see
The minute he decided to pee on me

His bath done, her clothes wet
She made sure his needs were met
Then changed the jeans she had on
Oops, the nice shirt is now gone
Due to spit up down the front
One outfit a day is her only want

Outside to get the watering done
There was a sound of a "machine gun"
What was that? Yellow goo
Down her shirt was her son's poo

Now onto outfit number three
Will it be covered in spit up, poo or pee???
I really love having a baby
But won't he stop messing on me????

Giddy Up Lil Cowboy

As soon as Rob gets home every night he takes Preston for some father/son bonding. Usually the time consists of Preston on Rob's lap, "discussing" the day's events. But, since Preston is OBSESSED with horses, Rob decided to take him out to feed Cheyenne last night for their time together. Although Preston wasn't too sure of a real horse up close and personal at first, he warmed to the idea quickly. Cheyenne was really good, very mellow, while they checked each other out. I think before long the father/son bonding time will be diffrent and he will be saddled up on his own pony, going for a ride with his daddy.

Puberty Yet??

Preston is forming quite the personality. In the morning, after his naps and right when Rob gets home from work Preston is all smiles. He "talks" and smiles for awhile. The rest of the day is up in the air. This morning I ran a few errands. Preston did great during the first and last store, looking around and winning cashiers' hearts. However, he decided he did not want to be at Walmart and let everyone know he was not happy. I don't have a problem with him crying, but it's the high pitched girly scream that is like nails on a chalkboard to me! He was screaming for everyone to enjoy while shopping. Of course I had two women ask if I'm a first time mom (I still don't know why people feel the need to ask that because I don't see what difference it makes). As soon as I paid for everything and left the store he stopped crying immediately. He was calm until we got home. When I turned off the car the high pitched screaming began again. That scream used to mean his stomach hurt. Now it seems he does it just because he's not happy. God should've designed it so that baby boys should go through voice puberty within the first month of life. That way when they scream it doesn't sound like an animal dying but more of a "manly cry"! I'd still meet his needs but it would be much more pleasant to the ears in the process.

A Burrito, A Hat and A Busted Nose

You would think I'd learn my lesson, but I'm a slow learner sometimes. So, I gave into temptation....and paid the price! I broke down and got a burrito for lunch, even though I knew it was a mistake. As soon as I swallowed the last bite I honestly regretted it. Shortly after Preston nursed he started passing gas. Not just baby gas, but manly, stink-up-the-house gas. After our afternoon nap, I figured I'd take him for a walk to get some fresh air (literally). My body heat helps when his stomach is upset so I strapped him in the Baby Bjorn and headed out. My mom had made a little denim hat for him to wear when we go for walks or when he goes fishing with one of his grandpas someday. I tried putting it on him to block the sun and he was not a fan. As soon as I took it off he stopped crying. When it went on the crying began again. (I figure it's the same as putting bows in little girls' hair) So, I used it to shield his eyes, which he still wasn't a fan of but he tolerated it. At one point he had his head back because he either wanted to see he sky or he was adjusting to get the sun out of his eyes. As I was putting my hand up to make sure I gave his head support he crashed it against my collarbone. It hurt me so I wasn't surprised that he cried a little. I knew he didn't have a busted nose but wondered how many babies get them from doing what Preston did. The smelliness subsided by the time we got home so I guess the fresh air helped. But, I don't plan to eat another burrito until I'm done nursing, no matter how hard it is to refrain!

lil cowboy

after work today, i saddled up cheyenne and went for a little ride through the neighborhood. when i got back, i hollered at jen and she came out with preston. so, she handed him to me and preston got his first ride with dad on cheyenne. he was pretty interested in the horse and from what i can tell, is going to be quite the cowboy. hes well on his way.

Sick of It!

Disclaimer: This is more of a rant that blog!

I am sitting here, holding Preston, after having a close call. The dreaded number in our house is 100.4. Every time he feels warm I rush to take his temp, fearing the dreaded number. The dreaded number wins us an automatic trip to the ER, a spinal tap and IV treatments. We almost made it to that number tonight, Preston and I crying together as I strip him down and pray that does the trick like last time. Thankfully it did.
Another fun daily routine is checking his head. The day he was supposed to get his 2 mos vaccinations I called our pediatrician in a panic (Is it bad that I already have the office's number memorized?). He had a couple bumps where the original ones started. Our pediatrician checked him out, said the virus was trying to break through but hadn't quite been successful. Because of it, though, he wanted to postpone his shots to be on the safe side.
I AM SICK OF IT!!!! I am sick of the constant worry. I am sick of Preston's stomach hurting because of his daily medicine. I am sick of always taking his temp, worrying about what the thermometer will read. I am sick of not being able to enjoy this first year, instead wishing it away so we can be out of the woods. I AM SICK OF IT!!!

Pure Craziness!

Today I witnessed craziness, pure craziness! Preston and I went to Sacramento to surprise my parents for Grandparents' Day (Thanks to both sets of grandparents who love and spoil him unconditionally!!). During the last few trips to Sacramento, I've experienced wildlife that I don't usually see....a deer grazing by the side of the road, a hawk with a rodent in its mouth. But, I wasn't thinking about that during my drive, only my time frame in getting to my parents' church on time. That being said, even if I was thinking about it, what I witnessed was still something that wouldn't have crossed my mind in a million years!!
Something caught my eye on the opposite side of the freeway. Out of nowhere a medium sized brown bear was barreling across the interstate. Because it had 4 lanes of traffic to cross to be successful in its mission, the odds were not good. He didn't beat the odds either! A SUV hit the bear, causing the bear to flip in the air and land on the shoulder of the road. It laid there, flailing its arms and legs. At first I thought it was a figment of my imagination. In fact, had Preston not been with me I would've slammed on the brakes, gotten out and taken a picture just to make sure it was all real. I think the driver of the SUV felt the same way because, as I looked in my rearview mirror, it took the SUV awhile before it slammed on its brakes. I don't know if the driver stopped or if there was damage done to the bear or SUV. All I know is when I drove back by, on my way home, there was no sign of the bear. So, I guess that means it was okay after all??!! One thing is for sure....that was one of the craziest things I've ever witnessed!

Watch Out....A BLOW OUT!

I have never been one of those girls that professes not to pass gas or have bowel movements. But, I've never really gotten excited about bodily functions...until now...and it's Preston's I'm excited about! He went from having 6-8 poopy diapers a day to not having any for 2 days. Because of this virus, I am paranoid about anything that seems abnormal. Luckily, our pediatrician is also a family friend and humors me when I call with concerns. Yesterday when I called him he assured me that Preston would not explode and that a BM would happen eventually. But, he also warned to watch out when it does because it'll be one for the books. Well, last night he finally had a poopy diaper and it wasn't anything out of the norm. So, I figured we were out of the woods. This morning, however, Preston was really pushing and not getting anywhere. I, being the good mommy, decided to lift my ban on burritos to help him out (Really, I just wanted an excuse for one because until Preston was born I'd eat at least two a week!). This afternoon we were getting ready to head out to the camel races. I was really excited about watching them and seeing whose lifelong dream is to become a camel racer. I was holding Preston on my lap, discussing the races with him, when he started pushing. His face turned bright red for a brief second then got a HUGE smile on his face. This was followed by a horrible smell so I knew we were in business. When I got up to change him it was all over the front of my shirt and down his leg. Now Preston has had 2 previous blow outs but this one was for the books! I had to throw away his onesie, a blanket and I don't know how many wipes it took to clean him off. I basically bathed him in wipes because I didn't want to deal with a bath. Then I did an emergency load of laundry to clean the salvageable items. The whole time he just laid there on this changing table, smiling as if he'd just accomplished a NASA mission. Being the only girl in the house, I'm sure I'll have to get used to this kind of thing...being excited about poop!!

Only So Much

I can't keep up with Preston's nap schedule because it changes every few days. This morning he got up at 6:45 to eat, was awake and smiling then just konked out. Usually when he takes a nap around 8ish he sleeps for an hour so that's what I planned on. I washed bottles and took a shower, my normal when he takes his first nap. After I got those tasks accomplished I decided to vaccuum as he still wasn't awake. Well, that was almost 2 hours ago and at this point I have done 2 loads of laundry, cleaned the upstairs windows, played fetch with the dogs, given myself a pedicure, exercised, filed bills and filled out cards to send to friends. I've also played on Facebook, checked all 3 emails and People.com. I am officially bored so I am blogging more out of boredom than anything! Don't get me wrong. I usually cherish naptime but that's after he's been awake for a few hours and I'm ready for a break. Right now I want him to be awake so we can "play", do bathtime and go to the camel races. Guess in the meantime I'll read more of my Bookclub book that I'm struggling to get through. AHHHH...never mind....the sweet sounds of Preston's cries!

What to Write??

Do I write about my memories of 9/11 eight years ago? Do I write about all my friends that are having baby boys this Summer? Do I write about the camel races that I'm so excited for today? Do I write about my favorite subject, Preston? I am consumed with so many thoughts that I think I'll table the blog for today....unless the camel races are too exciting to pass up! In the meantime I'll enjoy the sounds of Preston sleeping and the dogs wrestling all while drinking a cup of hot coffee! AHHHH.............gotta love life on a quiet Summer/Fall morning!

One of Those Days...

Are you ever convinced that someone is secretly filming you for "Candid Camera" because everything can't be that wacky in one day? Well, that sums up my day in a nutshell. It started out like any other day...Preston smiling and cooing and enjoying life. Then the real fun began when I took him to Walmart. Some carts are made for carseats, some aren't. In case you're wondering, the ones at Walmart are not made for carseats. Usually I put the entire carseat in the basket part and pile everything up around him. But since I was only planning on grabbing a couple things I figured I'd chance it. WRONG CHOICE! Preston had just fallen asleep when out of nowhere the carseat slipped. It didn't do any physical harm but it startled him big time. The poor guy started screaming at the top of his lungs. I think it's "funny" that people keep talking to you like there isn't a screaming baby right there. Once I was able to get away from the photo dept lady I tried to calm him down. I wasn't successful with calming him down so I took his carseat out of the cart. Then I walked through Walmart, carrying a carseat in one hand and pushing a cart with the other hand. Needless to say, I didn't finish my shopping. When we got home I was going to put Preston down for a nap. On the way to our room he projectile vomitted all over me, himself and the carpet. That was a first so he wanted to make it one for the books. He decided he didn't want to take a nap at that point so I put him in his bouncy chair to get a break. I had just sat down with a cup of coffee and the computer, ready to relax for a few minutes. I glanced over to see him smiling and cooing....with poop all over himself and his chair. Now let me stop here to let you in on a secret about Preston: He has a poopy diaper EVERY time we change it. Today, for whatever reason, he hadn't pooped at all. Well, he sure made up for it with this one diaper. It took 5 wipes to clean up...a record! At this point I knew enjoying a cup of hot coffee and a few minutes to myself was out of the question. So, I put Preston down for a nap. I was so wiped out that I fell asleep with him on my stomach. When we woke up a couple hours later he was fussy. He hasn't been fussy in the evening for a few days so we were doing what we could to get him calmed down. Since Rob had to help with our A/C that we are having installed, I was on my own for calming Preston down. I finally got him calmed down and was relaxing, watching the dogs play in the living room. All of a sudden Duke caught his reflection in the window and started barking. So, the circus began again......... I love being a stay-at-home but you will never hear me say it's easy. I'm still waiting for someone to pop out, saying we were on "Candid Camera", especially since the smoke detectors have started going off as I write this, but I think when it's all said and done it was just one of those wacky days!