Only 7 months later....

Easter Sunday, in Nana and Papa's backyard

A common thing with me and journaling (cyber-journaling included) is that there are WIDE gaps between entries. So... here we are 7 months since the last post. Of course much has changed since the Pumpkin Patch in October. But in my years of journaling, I have also learned that it is pointless to try to really rehash it all. Because what I usually do when I attempt that, is get to about month 4 and then think "Oh, I'll just come back and finish this later." And then 7 months later I have almost a year of adventures to recall. And so, I leave you (whoever "you" are) with bullet points of BP's development:

• Moved past army crawling to crawling like most kids (yep, we were 13 months or 14... a late bloomer.)
• Discovered the "push car" and figured out how to motorize all over the house.
•  Developed a love for hats!
• Picked up the following words: Mama, Dada, Gaga, Papaw, Boh, Noah "wah-wah," London "gna-gna," hot, hat, outside "aht-ta," light "dite," cup "up, " yuck "uck," off, ball, bear, giraffe "affe," bird "buhd," car "ca," squirrel "kuw," baby "baboo," bye-bye, snack "ack," dude "doooo," phone "boooohhh," gone "ga," Bible "babu," rock "ock," uh-oh... I'm sure I'm forgetting some! All have an upward inflection on the second syllable (as if he's asking a question.) It sounds especially funny and cute on the word "Uh-Oh"!
• Signs the following words: hi, all done, milk, thank you, please, help, eat, potty
• Finally began walking (without his push car) in April! (Finally!!!!)
• Sings parts of songs with Mommy. (e.g. "How much is that doggy in the window... WOOF WOOF" or Itsy Bitsy Spider)
• Plays tickle with mommy and daddy (he tries to do the tickling)
• Brushes teeth
• Makes a huge mess trying to feed himself!
• Loves to read the following books: Here's A Happy Pig, Moo Baa La-la-la, Goodnight Moon, Brown Bear Brown Bear
• Favorite toys: balls!!, balloons, rocks and dirt, cars or other things with wheels, stacking bowls, anything that he has to "figure out" - with buttons to push or things to open for instance (cell phones, cabinet doors, remote controls, etc.) 
• We have a pretty good routine - wake up at 7:30am, play in bed with Mommy and Daddy for a little bit, eat breakfast, play play play, eat lunch, read and nap, play play play, watch a short video while Mommy gets dinner ready, play with Daddy, eat dinner, play some more or bath time, brush teeth, read a book, go to sleep (7:30pm). Whew. Mommy and Daddy are tired!
• Has become a PICKY eater... NOOOOOO!!! He's gone from eating fish, artichokes, noodles, peas, whatever we put in front of him, to being stubborn about everything but fruit, goldfish ("ack"), plain or fruit yogurt, and toasted breads. Say it ain't so. Hopefully this is only a phase!
• We love the big slobbery kisses!
• Has FINALLY become a snuggler. But only at nap and bedtime. I think he knows that Mommy and Daddy will hold him longer if he nuzzles into our neck. (He's a smart one.)
• He holds our hands when it is time to pray. He claps at the end of the prayer. Yay Jesus. :)

sleepy time

Emotional extremes are prevalent from day to day. I can, in one moment, be in awe of his new "tricks" and wonder how he learned that. And then not much later, frustrated, ready to pull out my hair and give up the battle over eating healthy things - and it's just lunch?! And then in another moment, I am laughing out loud as he is doing his funny little attention getting stunts (like practicing his karate kicks. :)) Overall, I feel like my life is full. I feel the joys much longer than I feel the frustrations. I go to bed at night after I peek in on BP's sweet, peaceful sleeping self (either with his heiney in the air, or snuggled up with his favorites - bear, horsey and blankie.) Joy overflowing. And I awake everyday, sometimes earlier than BP, anxious and excited to go in and greet him with a good morning kiss!

 

Life is busy in the Taylor household. But life is GOOD! Hopefully now that I'm "caught up" I will be more motivated to update more frequently and in shorter form. Oh... and I've officially given up couponing for a while. Took too much time and caused too much frustration at this point. Maybe I'll try again sometime!

Playtime with my best bud, Nathaniel.

Blowing kisses... bye bye!

Pumpkin Patch

BP had his first pumpkin patch adventure a couple of weekends ago. He really enjoyed looking around at all the kids playing and all the big bright orange pumpkins. The rural community of Manchester hosts this every year to raise money for their community center (located in an old church). It was not exactly what I was expecting, but seemed fun for the kids!

Cleaning and Scrubbing (And Groceries) Can Wait till Tomorrow

Most of my days begin with this one simple question: What do I tackle first - and what won't get tackled at all? Water the plants, sweep the floor, mop the floor (especially the spot under Ben's chair where it seems half of his bowl of food ends up), do the dishes, fold the laundry, wash dirty diapers, make the bed, clip coupons, groceries... you get the picture! And with a boy as fun as BP, how will ANY of it get accomplished?!

Today, I am proud to say that I have watered the plants. Yep. And I'm planning to wash some dishes. And definitely make the bed. (I'm on a streak with that one.) But otherwise, I'm doubly proud to announce, that there isn't all that other stuff to do. I hosted a baby shower at my house yesterday. Thus, any mopping, sweeping, and dusting was done with fervor and due diligence (which means, to me of course, that it needn't be done again till the next shower we host.) All of this leaving me with a day for fun and frolicking about with my handsome boy. Well, I suppose there are some dirty clothes to wash ... and diapers ... and groceries ... Okay, so maybe a house wife and mom's job is never done. But I think all those other things will keep. Who knows what's in store for this nice sunny day?!

*Update on the coupon clipping - still a little overwhelmed. But clipping away. I did "buy" a large pack of name brand diapers, and wipes, and a gallon of milk the other day for only $5.80 at Walgreens. I think I will get the hang of it one of these days.

Discovering the coupon world... A hunt for TREASURE!

There is an entire underworld of couponing out there. You can get lost in it all if you're not careful. Yesterday I found myself wondering from blog to blog, website to website for HOURS. And then it all ended in me not saving money, but wasting time. So, beware - should you decide to join the coupon game, it will take over your life unless you enter with a plan! Here is my plan, now that I have wasted much time trying it the other way... and thanks to Erika for setting me straight! I'm going to start by bookmarking the following websites:

• www.couponmom.com
• www.faithfulprovisions.com - Mom of 4 who has a grocery budget of $40/week... and eats healthy!
• www.restaurant.com - Hoping to save big money for date nights here!

I've also subscribed to the following blogs so that I can get them in my Google Reader:

• A Thrifty Mom
• Coupon Cravings
• The Faithful Provisions feed

For the first few weeks, I will strictly use Coupon Mom and Faithful Provisions, while perusing the google reader feeds to get a better feel for other options.

JT and I are going to purchase a subscription to the Sunday Paper (at a discount here.)

I will purchase an accordion file folder where I will store my various coupons according to the "brand" of coupon (for ex: Proctor & Gamble or Red Plum.) And also by date. I know - it's a lot of organization... yikes!

Apparently the best way to do the coupon thing is to wait to use the coupon till the item goes on sale, or there is a double or triple coupon day. Thus the necessity for the file folder.
So, here begins my adventures in couponing. We'll see how I do - especially considering our lack of grocery store options in our sweet little town. (But we do have Walgreens and Walmart and Brookshires.) Wish me luck - and come along for the ride!

6 Months

We had our first attempt at a portrait sitting. It wasn't unsuccessful, but it was certainly stressful. I think we'll stick with taking "portrait pictures" at our "home studio" for a while. BP is SO cute. I mean, seriously - James and I will just stare at him and say out loud, "He is so cute." My heart is full. BP is learning to make raspberries with his mouth. It is the funniest thing to watch. Mostly his tongue gets stuck, leaving us with a luh-bluh sound. He has also found that sticking his fingers in his mouth makes it easier - plus, "how cool does my tongue feel?!" He's rocking and rolling, eating his toes, loving squash for dinner, and grabbing Mom's hair. It's amazing to watch his little personality develop. I get to watch him everyday all day. Is it possible that life could get any better than this?!

Time flies when you're having fun.

That was then...



This is now...


I can't believe my baby boy is 5 months already. He is so much fun. JT and I couldn't be prouder or more blessed. He is a beautiful boy. He is full of personality. He's discovering his voice - that it can create sounds that go up and down, that can have different "textures", and (my favorite) that it can be loud and soft... especially loud! He's discovering new ways to move his body - trying really hard to roll, but there's more grunting than rolling that happens! I love it when I'm holding him upright and he lifts his head up high and raises his eyebrows, looking around at all he can see and observe. He is just so cute, you could eat him up.

I also love that nothing phases him. Well, okay, there's the obvious - lack of sleep, or wanting to eat (now!), or needing a poopy diaper change. But otherwise, he is happy. JT or I could be stressed about work, or our house being a wreck, or our yard needing some major landscaping. But he is completely unphased and content. Politics is of no concern to him. He is unconcerned also with what people think about his hair (which is finally growing in - except for the patch on the back that has been rubbed off.) He really doesn't care what he's wearing, or how many times he's spit up on it. A big smile offered is met with an even bigger, brighter smile in return - that is the only requirement. There are no other expectations. Oh, to know that simplicity. Oh, to have that contentment in my own heart and life. BP, you inspire me.

In other news...
This time last year, we were announcing to our parents that we were pregnant. What a joyous time that was. What a wonderful memory. Time really does FLY when you're having fun!

Grampa Boh's Gown: A Line of Mothers

I am such a sentimental person. Heirlooms make me happy - like old friends with decades, even centuries of stories to be told behind their worn appearance. Take for instance the corner shelf found in the corner of my front room. It's covered mostly with dust, but also a few other pictures and tchotchkes that I've collected. Someday this may belong to a granddaughter or grandson, he or she will put their own little items on it, and maybe imagine what I placed on it once upon a time. Originally it belonged to my great-great grandmother. I have no idea what she placed on it, but I imagine her youthful hands carefully arranging things in just the right place, at just the right angle, just as I have done. What treasures did she have? Just to imagine her makes me feel closer to my own history.

In this photo, BP is wearing a very special heirloom belonging originally to my Great-Grandfather's family - his christening gown. To imagine a grandparent or great-grandparent that small is so difficult and fascinating. To imagine a great-grandparent who I have only heard stories of, wearing that gown is even more thrilling. What dreams of him his mother must have had as she watched her baby boy be christened! And who took the time to make this beautiful gown for him - did she? What joy and love must have captured her heart as she dressed him that day.

By now, a few generations of mothers have lived to watch their children be baptized, and grow, dreaming dreams for them. Some of these mothers, my grandmothers, have since passed on, though the gown remains. Generations of mothers have beamed with pride and love as they've dressed their child or children in such beautiful handiwork. I am now in that line of mothers.