Watch Me Grow

1 Month Old- November 2010

2 Months Old- December 2010

3 Months Old- January 2011

4 Months Old- February 2011

5 Months Old- March 2011

6 Months Old- April 2011

7 Months Old- May 2011

8 Months Old- June 2011

9 Months Old- July 2011

These are the monthly pictures I take of Martin.  It is so crazy to look back at the first one.  Where is that little baby now?  Because this child I have now is crawling, cruising, talking, and being independent ALL DAY LONG.  Now don't get me wrong...I don't miss those sleep deprived early days either, but it is crazy to think of how fast they really grow.  He certainly keeps me on my toes now.  I feel so lucky to have been able to stay home with him.  I honestly don't know how I could have taken him to daycare.  I know I could have if I had to....but I am so glad we didn't even have to cross that bridge.  Bryan is such a great husband to have pushed for me to stay home (he didn't exactly have to push very hard).  Looking back at those pictures he looks like a baby until the 6 month picture.  Then it is like....BAM there is a little boy now!  And, a sweet one at that!

Bella's Shower

So, Martin just put himself down for his morning nap....(wow--first time for that), so here I am blogging.  We have been super CRAZY busy this past week.  So, I guess little man has learned to be a little independent.  I usually hold Martin and walk or rock to get him to take his morning nap, this morning I was holding him, and he wanted to get down, so I put him down, and he crawled over onto his big blanket in the floor, grabbed an extra paci and his monkey blanket and is sacked out.  What a cutie!!  He has tooth #5, and #6 looks so close too.  He was a little fussy a few times this past week (I blamed it on teething, and I was right).  He got tooth #5 Sunday morning, and the next one is so stinking close.  We left Wednesday to go to Jackson for a few days to break up our 7 hour drive to the coast for Sam's Baby Shower.  We got to Kara and Ryan's about 4 or so, and had a great time!!  Kara made a new recipe, and it was so good, and even easier (Mexican Lasagna).  And, fed me some truffles for dessert which were amazing.  Bryan and Ryan enjoyed some much needed man time in the man cave!  They played darts and whatever else you do in there....I am not a man, hence I wasn't invited.  Kara and Martin and I played!!!  She took some great photos of Martin.  He loved hanging with K....I mean who wouldn't??  She set up the crib for Martin, and he appreciated not sleeping in the pack n play.  Then on Thursday morning we got up and went to see my cousin Jennifer and her kids.  I loved seeing them!  They took us to Five Guys for lunch, so we could see what the hype was all about.  It was a pretty good hamburger.  And, of course Jack and Bryan played Wii.  Jack thinks Bryan is pretty cool, even if he does like those "stinky Rebels" (insert that Jack and his Daddy are DIE HARD Ms State fans--yuck!).  Sara Foster and Jennifer and I entertained Martin.  Sara Foster enjoyed Martin a lot more at this stage.  The last time we saw them Martin had just learned to sit up.  But, this time, she could carry him around.  When they came to visit us right after Martin was born for the first time, she wanted to know if he could talk, and did he have any teeth.  When we answered no to both, she wanted to know what in the world he ate.  ------Insert explaining breastfeeding to a 7 year old!-------  She took it pretty well, and didn't seem too grossed out!  We had a great time visiting with them, and then it was back to Kara and Ryan's.  Kara and I went for a walk and boy was it hot, but it was nice.  We had another great supper.  Ryan made some dove that the boys killed last season.  I will admit that it was good ok.  I tried one bite to please Ryan.  It wasn't bad, but I certainly wouldn't put it on my plate and eat it for supper, so Kara had graciously made us grilled chicken (she knows me too well).  And we talked and caught up.  Then Friday morning it was off to Gautier!

Martin, Becca and Sam at Bella's Shower

Sam and Bella

Martin, Mamie, Becca

Martin and Analee

The spread!

We got into town about 1, and stopped at the Carter's outlet to get baby boy some long sleeved 12m onesies (what he sleeps in) and then went to the Grocery to get all the stuff for the food for the shower.  We went to dinner Friday night, and it was great to see everyone.  It was....Bryan, Me, Martin, Analee, Stephen, Mom, Shelia, Zach, Joanne, and Sam (and Bella in Sam's tummy).  It was a great night and the food was good too.  We went back to Analee and Stephen's and did most of the prep work for the food for Saturday.  Got up Saturday--got ready, and finished what we could for the shower.  And, then it was time for the shower.  Everything turned out great, and Sam got some great gifts for Bella.  She is going to be one well dressed sweetheart!  We had a long day, but Martin did great at the shower.  Of course it helped that Mom was there to entertain him.  Thank goodness!!  We had Ed's for supper (yummy yummy yummy) and then pretty much called it a night.  Woke up Sunday and went to visit Mom and Shelia a little more on our way out of town.  Then we jumped in the car for a LONG ride.  Martin did great.  We stopped and fed him twice but he did great once again.  I don't know why I am always worried about being in the car with him, he always does great!  I think the hardest part about being out of town is trying to get everything unpacked, washed, and put up after a trip.

Summer Fun

Well, we took Martin to his 9 month check up yesterday.  I CANNOT believe he is that old, or maybe I refuse to believe he is that old.  Doc said everything looks great, and we have a happy healthy baby!  Which, we knew.  We have only been to the doctor for well baby visits, and knock on wood, haven't been sick a day.  Still breastfeeding, I don't think either one of us is ready to stop.

What Martin can do at 9 months:
--Laugh, laugh, laugh.  He loves for you to do anything to make him laugh.  And, he really likes you to scare/surprise him.  He laughs hysterically.
--Crawl fast as fast can be.  He is SPEEDY.  My life is now consumed with watching him every waking minute.  Wouldn't have it any other way.
--Eat!  That boy loves to eat.  Milk, juice, puffs, and fruits and veggies.  He is working on the Sippy Cup....
--Pull up.  He has been pulling up for a while, but now when he pulls up he wants to go go go.  He pulls up on anything.  He likes to pull up on the front windows and watch outside (especially when the irrigation guys are working across the street).  He wants to walk, and is close, I think!
--Walk with assistance.  If you let him hold onto your fingers, he will walk forwards and backwards.
--Stand.  Yep, he can stand, and do "No Hands!" but usually when he realizes he isn't holding onto anything, he will plop down on the floor.  But, stands for about 4-5 seconds at a time with no help.
--Sleep and Nap.  We finally tackled the nap situation.  He takes two GOOD naps during the day.  One in the morning about 10 am, and then again about 4 pm.  Usually from 1.5-2 hours.  Woo hoo!  He has been sleeping well at night forever, but we finally do BOTH!
--Make a mess.  He loves to crawl in his room and explore.  His favorite activities include pulling all of the diapers out of the bin on the shelf, and getting all of his books out too.  That boy loves to make a mess.
--Jabber!  Wonder who he gets that from?  He says dada all day.  Maybe someone could tell him that I am Mama.  And, he is saying something all the time.  Talk talk talk.  He talks while he eats too.  We are working on our table manners.  Ha!

All summer we have been on the go, and it isn't slacking up.  I am headed to the MS Gulf Coast--or "the coast" for all Mississippians this weekend.  A best friend from childhood is having a baby girl (Bella) in August, so we are throwing her a baby shower.  It has been so fun buying pink stuff!!  We are going to Jackson first to visit Ryan and Kara and to split up the trip.  Ryan and Bryan became instant best friends in Pharmacy School at Ole Miss and I got a great friend in his wife Kara.  She and I started the "Pharmacy Wives Bread Winner" club.  We used to have supper club on Thursday nights in Oxford and watched Grey's together every week.  They are too far away for my liking now, but we still enjoy any excuse to get together.  For the boys it usually involves beer and guns (both REALLY enjoy duck hunting).  And, for the girls, a good book, block of cheese and a bottle of wine!  True friends are really hard to come by, but these two make it seem so easy.  We can always pick up where we left off and never miss a beat.  So, looking forward to some time with them.  And, then off to the coast for the shower festivities.  I can't wait for the shower either.  Going to be some great food, and some great friends.

On July 3, Bryan and I did the Firecracker 5k benefiting St. Jude here in Memphis, and had a great time!  We have been doing C25k and were very proud of our times.  Bryan finished in 25 something, and I was 27 something.  It was Bryan's first 5k ever, and my first one since having Martin.  I placed 9th in my age group, so I was excited!  But, it was hot hot hot.

Beach Baby Beach Baby

Well, we have Beach Trip number 2 behind us now, and that is a little bitter sweet.  We are so lucky to have gotten to spend two weeks at the beach this summer.  Martin thoroughly enjoyed himself both times.  This time was a bit more low key.  We went to Fort Mogan, AL (Gulf Shores area) and it is so quiet and nice there.  I really like being out there.  There are very few high rises (I think 5 total in 20 miles of peninsula).  We stayed about 2 miles from the end of the peninsula where Fort Morgan is actually located.  My Mom and Dad and two brothers came too.  Johnny and Zach fished ALL week.  And, I am sure the fish were glad to see those fishing poles get packed away in the car when they left.  I bet Zach caught close to 100 fish last week.  Catfish, Sheep head, croaker, sting ray, pompano, ground mullet, and two others that I cannot recall now.  Bill Dance look out, there is a new fisherman in town!!  And, I almost forgot, he even caught a black tip shark.  He was fishing right off the beach, so that was a little scary since we were swimming about where his line was.  Yikes!!!

Fun in the sun

Martin enjoyed the surf a little more this time.  He didn't seem to mind standing in the surf where the water was washing up the shore.  He would just look down at his feet and try to figure out what was going on.  And, of course he enjoyed his blow up pool and the regular swimming pool too.  Traveling with a baby can be sort of scary because you don't know what your schedule is going to be like--feeding or sleeping, but Martin does so good!!!  He did great in the car.  Even on the 10 hour ride home....what  a trooper!  I am taking up a collection to buy a plane though, because after about 5 hours in the car I get grumpy.  Martin did have a few new Signing Time videos to keep him busy.  We had fried cheesecake from King Neptune's and stuffed shrimp from The Oyster House.  And, went to Lulu's too.  Their food is good....but their wait is ridiculous.  2 HOURS!!!!

What a great place to catch a quick nap

Such a big boy!

The whole crew

Happy 9 Month Birthday

Benton Family

Sitting on the dock of the bay

Playing in the sand

Such a sweet face

Playing in the sand

Fun with Dad