What's up with us?

Nothing really.  We cut tooth #7 yesterday.  It is another one on the bottom.  That makes four on the top and 3 on bottom now.  By this rate, he will have his wisdom teeth by his second birthday!  Haha.  I told Bryan two nights ago that I know it sounded crazy, but I swear he is cutting another tooth, and he pulled on his ears all weekend.  After I reassured everyone who isn't around Martin on a regular basis that the ear pulling was teeth related, and NOT an ear infection--I really wondered when this tooth would show itself.  It did yesterday.  Or perhaps the day before---I was looking for one on top, not really on the bottom.  But, there it is.  This time last year, I was counting down the days to my due date, thinking I had only 26 days left.  Well, some little boy had a different idea, and wanted to stay in and bake a little longer.  It is hard to believe how much your life can change in just one short year.  We have 7 teeth, we are walking, we are going to be 11 months old tomorrow.  YIKES!

Speaking of walking, we don't take just 3 or 4 steps now, now we take 10-12 like walking is our J-O-B.  He can let go of something, and turn around and then walk to something else.  I absolutely cannot believe that we are to this point.  I told Dad last night that at each new stage, I kind of look forward to the next stage, and last night I realized the next stage is Kindergarten!  Only kidding--kind of.  Ole Miss football starts this weekend. We play BYU, but Bryan has to work, so we aren't going to go.  We will be going next week, and I need to start thinking about what I am going to take to tailgate.  I cannot wait to see everyone, and take this sweet baby to his first ball game.  We were working on our touchdown this weekend (think arms straight up in the air making goal posts).  He is ready!  And, of course has some precious grove attire.  We are going to skip the dress pants and bow tie this year, and stick with some smocked Colonel Reb and Ole Miss longalls. Hope everyone has a great week.  I am sure I will post tomorrow for his 11 month photos.  Have a great day!!  I know y'all have seen this picture, but I just LOVE it, and LOVE these two guys!

My two favorite guys!

And, we are OFF!

Martin took his first unassisted steps last Tuesday, August 16--and I have been trying everyday since then to capture it on film.  Martin is OBSESSED with the video camera, so you really have to try to video him without him noticing.  Ha, yeah right!  He is so observant he rarely misses anything.  He is still growing up way too fast for me.  I am still looking for my little baby boy--have you seen him?  I am afraid he is long gone.  At a week shy of the 11 month mark we are growing by leaps and bounds.  He still has 6 teeth and is wearing size 3 diapers.  Most of his 9 month clothes are too short in the crotch, so I need to pack those up.  He still prefers to crawl if he needs to get somewhere fast or far, but if it is close, he will take a few steps to get there.  He loves to be outside and enjoys watering the flowers with me, swinging in his swing, or going for a walk in the stroller.  He usually puts himself down for his morning nap on the floor on his blanket, and almost always has a snack in his hand when he falls asleep.  You never know when you might wake up really hungry and need something fast! He likes to be right with you no matter what you are doing.

I am in full baby boy birthday bash planning bonanza.  I know already that I am going overboard.  But, who am I kidding, y'all knew that would be the case, right??  I cannot wait for the party, and to see him with his smash cake!!  I should get off of the blog and order invitations right now, and party favors too!  Oops.  So, for now, enjoy the short not very good quality video of my precious baby taking a few steps.

Happy Hump Day

Hope everyone is having a great week.  We are in the middle of Bryan's ON week, so things are kind of quiet at our house today.  Martin put himself down for his morning nap on the living room floor a few minutes ago, so I have a few moments to myself.  I am in the middle of planning baby boy's first birthday!  I am finding out quickly why people let their child's first birthday party get out of control.  Mainly because everything I see is so stinking cute!!!  But, I have been pinning like crazy on pinterest, and getting some great ideas!  If you don't know what pinterest is, then you are missing out.  It really is the neatest thing since facebook--in my opinion anyway (for whatever that is worth).

Martin getting ready for football season

The main point of this post is to link to a friend's blog.  She is having a FABULOUS GIVEAWAY today on her blog for a signed copy of "The Help" by Kathryn Stockett.  If you haven't read it--you really should leave a comment for a chance to win, but if you don't win, go buy a copy today, it is one of the best books I have read in the last 10 years.  And, if you have read it, perhaps you would still LOVE a signed copy, I know I would!  So, please click right now, check out her blog, and this great giveaway!

Luke's Birthday Bash!!!

Luke's Birthday Party was a swim party on Saturday.  I cannot believe this sweet little boy is already 1!!!!  Aren't his curls the cutest thing you have ever seen?  He is such a happy boy and a little fish in the pool.  He had a great party and enjoyed opening his presents.  We were so glad we got to come and enjoy the pool and time with family.  Luke's Daddy (Stephen) is Bryan's cousin on the Burks side--for those of you wondering.  

Bryan and the Birthday Boy

Martin, Luke, Thomas

 These three boys are going to be TROUBLE!!  Christmas is going to be crazy with this bunch.

Luke and Martin

 I love Luke's face in this picture.  It looks like he is trying to tell us something.  I would like to think it was "Hey people, did you know I am 1??"

Mom, why did I have to get out?

 Contrary to what it looks like in this picture, Martin really had a good time.  He enjoys his float in the pool.  And, of course it helps that Dad is always ready to entertain and be super silly to make me laugh at any moment!!

Apparently Nanny get the memo to smile that big!

 Martin and Pa have a very similar face here??  Haha.  I told y'all that boy makes the funniest faces, didn't I??

Martin and Thomas

It's his party, and he'll cry if he wants to!

 Luke was not digging the birthday crown.  And, then when he dug into the smash cake, he decided Mommy needed to try the icing too!!!  

Mom, taste this icing, it is yummy!!!

Dad let Martin have some yummy ice cream (and a bite of cake)

Martin and Pops

Opening some presents!!

We had a blast at the party.  But, it made me realize I better get busy with my planning for some sweet 10 month old's first birthday that will be here in 2 months!  Yikes.  I am thinking of doing a pirate/nautical theme. I am so predictable, aren't I??  Who cares....I do what I know, but I do it well, right?

House Updates

We have been doing a lot of things around the house.  We have lived here almost 2 years, and it has been a very slow decorating process.  Something about putting holes in brand new walls scared me, so I wanted to be sure things were where I was going to keep them before I put anything up.  Weird, huh?  

Dining Room

The dining room table, rug, and china cabinet have been there, but the room looks complete with some curtains!  I really think it tops the room off.  They are a very simple curtain, but the color looks perfect with what is already in that room.  Simple!  My motto in life (haha, I wish)!

Living Room

Please excuse the baby toys!!  Haha.  They are really and truly all over my house even when they are "picked up".  You can't see it in the picture, but my couch pillows and the picture above the couch all have a lot of red in them.  So, this red is a nice accent to the red and blue.  They open everything up, and make you realize how tall the ceilings are.  PS- these came from the Pottery Barn Outlet here in Memphis.  It is hands down my favorite store here.  We used to have a regular Pottery Barn too, but it closed, so the outlet is my new BFF.  It is hard to find 108" curtain panels in stock....much less on sale!  Hooray for saving some money.

Master Bedroom

Our new bedroom curtains.  I bought this fabric before we went to the beach at the end of June/first of July, and just got around to making the curtains last week.  I think they turned out great.  It's hard to get a picture of it all together, because the room is so big.  I love that the height of the curtains draws your eyes up to the tray ceiling above the bed.  I LOVE my bedroom, and this makes me love it even more.  I am still on the fence about what to hang above our bed.  I bought a big canvas to paint something, but I also have an iron piece that I think would look great above it.  Don't know what I am going to do.  Let's hope it doesn't take 6 months to decide!!  Our bedding came from Pottery Barn.  It is the Audrey collection, and I think it is timeless.  

Closer look with the bedding

Game Room

Our game room has an Ole Miss theme.  I know you are shocked!  Haha.  We have had the red futon for over a year, but I hadn't found any pillows I like.  Well, scratch that, I found some at Double Decker, but they were $85 and I refused to pay that much.  I found these at drum roll please--Pottery Barn Outlet too.  They were a great price so I couldn't resist.  They are close to the pattern on the curtains, but not too matchy matchy.

And, this is what my child was doing while I was trying to take pictures in our bedroom.  This used to be in the living room, but he wouldn't leave it alone, so it got retired to our bedroom.  Well, you would have thought he found a long lost BFF....he was swinging that stick all around, and banging the wall with it.  Why does my child like to act like a wild animal sometimes??  Why??  Because I love every minute of his crazy self!

10 Months Old!!

Martin is 10 months today.  And, I will continue to say it every month.....where has the time gone??  I cannot believe we are almost a year (sigh).  I am not ready for that yet!  Speaking of a year....I need to get busy planning a party.  Add it to my mile long to do list (so what if this list is mental??).  At 10 months Martin is trucking along nicely.  But, here is what is new:

--Haven't measured or weighed in a month, but I would guess he weighs about 18 pounds and is 29 inches.

--He takes 2 GOOD naps most days.  If we are out doing something, sometimes it is hard to get him to nap, but when we are home, he takes a nap about 10 or 10:30 for 2 hours, and then a late afternoon nap about 4:30 or 5.  I am working hard on putting him DOWN for naps.  He falls asleep in my arms, and sometimes it seems easier to let him sleep, but we have been trying to put him in his bed whenever possible.

--He is in 9-12 month clothes.  And, size 3 diapers.

--4 feedings a day (this has just been in the last 2 weeks).  He is eating more when he nurses, so we stretched out the time in between, voila--4 feedings.  Plus, he gets solids twice a day.  So, technically that would be 6 feedings I guess??  Still LOVES his fruits and veggies.  Not really sure about chicken.  Added it last week, and the texture is just a little weird for him.

--6 yes, SIX teeth!  Two on the bottom, and four on the top!!  It seems like others must be coming in too.  We have all the signs: chewing on EVERYTHING, tugging on his ears, a little fussy.  Are we going to be teething til we are 5 or what??

Look Mom, I found a ball!

Standing like a big boy

It's so funny to be 10 months old

Ha ha ha!

In my rocking chair

You can see what an absolute ham this child can be!!!  It is hard to get a picture where he isn't showing you his tonsils or making a really silly face.  I caught a few pictures of him standing with no hands in the birthday shoot!  Enjoy.

Cruising

Welcome to my world!!  Martin decided on Wednesday night that he would start walking behind his toy.  Now, everything has become a walk behind toy.  For instance: toy buckets, diaper boxes, and even the exersaucer.  Nothing is safe!  Forgive the poor video, we have about 10 of them, but Bryan and I are laughing so hard in most of them the camera is shaking.  HAHA!  He now has figured out not to run full force into things, and even how to maneuver around walls, chairs, columns.  We have been hanging curtains at our house all weekend (living room, dining room and master bedroom) so Martin has been watching Bryan go up and down the ladder.  This is dangerous, because now Martin thinks he needs to make everything a ladder too.  This morning it was the high chair, and a few minutes ago, it was the barstools.  He really is part monkey.  We had a busy weekend.  Went to dinner Friday night with some friends, and then headed to Tupelo for cousin Luke's first birthday party!  The boys swam swam swam.  Luke, Martin, and Thomas had a blast splashing in the pool.  I will do a Birthday Party post later this week and share lots of pictures.  Someone is ready for lunch now, so I need to go feed the birthday boy!  Can you believe he is already 10 months???  Pictures and a birthday post to come later.

Happy Birthday Luke!