Flashback Friday

I didn't start this blog until last year, so I didn't get to document Jillian's first few years.  At least not on here.  I was able to keep up with her baby book, so that's what I'll be using to help me "flashback" to those precious times.  This is first of many more to come, and I am so excited to share!

Jillian's due date was June 26th 2008, but she was very stubborn.  Four days past due I was induced.  Not ideal but I was miserable!!  After a very long labor, 22 hours and 1 1/2 hours of pushing, I just could not have her the way I wanted.  I cried when my doctor suggested a ceasern, but I also knew physically I could not push anymore.  At 6:13pm Jillian Paige was brought into this world.  She weighed 9lbs. 3oz. and was 21 1/4 inches long.

Jillian 4 days old

My sweet girl, July 5th, 2008

Momma baby time

We brought Jillian home on the Fourth of July a Friday, it was a very warm and sunny day.  I dressed Jillian in a white Calvin Kline onesie with pink lettering.  As I recall she slept the whole car ride home.  I'm pretty sure we stopped in Simpsonville and visited my work so I could show her off.  Memmaw and Gp brought over dinner and Aunt Kimmie stayed the night with us.  The next day we had more visitors, Mammaw Helen and Aunt Vicky and Uncle Scott.  He took the pictures above.  We had our own mini newborn photo shoot.  Later that evening our good friends Cassie and Matt came over to hold Jillian.  Cassie was also pregnant and due only a few months later.

A few facts from the year 2008 when she was born:

The president: George W. Bush
Hit movies: The Dark Knight, Indiana Jones and the Crystal Skull
Favorite tv shows: Gray's Anatomy, American Idol, DWTS, and Desperate Housewives.  (all I still watch to this day!)
Popular songs: Waiting on a Woman-Brad Paisley, Put a Girl in it-Brooks and Dunn
Best Selling Book: Stori Telling by Tori Spelling
Gas per Gallon: $3.89, which was really high for that year (again that's what it is now 3 1/2 years later, still too high)
Postage stamp: $.42
Movie Ticket: $7.50
Diapers: $20 for 100 count

I can remember feeling so in love that I couldn't take me eyes of that little baby.  I would sit and hold her all day long!!  She was so precious and we all swooned over her.  What a blessed day when Miss Jillian was born!

Overprotective Parent?

Me, overprotective?  I wouldn't have classified myself as this but maybe I am, just a little.  Here's the thing, Jillian started Preschool last week.  Monday she went in just fine, even excited.  Excited to play with new kids, new toys and play dough.  Tuesday, different story.  We arrived and as soon as she realized where we were she shouted "No mommy, I don't wanna go to Preschool!".  I took her in and she wouldn't let go of me.  When I told her I had to go she started the tears.  The teacher took her from me, but I couldn't leave her like that, so I caved and held her for a minute.  But then I started to cry and the longer I held her the harder it was to keep it in.  I had to go, so I gave her back to the teacher and left.  Tears streaming down face I called Randy and told him how she acted and how my heart was breaking.

Fast forward to Thursday and Friday.  Her friend Mason from church goes to Preschool on those days and she was happy to see him, so she did fine.  But I wasn't fine.  I wasn't really sure of my child's day,  No one was there to tell me how her days were going and the one time I did see her teacher she was in the bathroom helping watching Jillian change her clothes, she had had an accident.  I stood in the doorway observing their interactions, and to be honest I wasn't really sure how to take it.  She made Jillian do every part of the changing herself.  Not offering her help but instead saying "you do it".  My heart hurt a little, as her mom I wanted to help her, but I understood why the teacher wasn't helping her.

Fast forward again to this week.  Monday I picked Jillian up from the playground and her teacher was outside as well.  I asked her how Jillian was doing.  Typical question for a child that has only been in Preschool a week, right?  The teacher responded with "She's doing...Alright".  Ummm, alright?  Excuse me, but what is that suppose to mean?  I then asked, "is that a good thing or a bad thing?"  Not being able to read the teacher at this point, I really wasn't sure what she was going to say.  She then said "Well she just cries sometimes.  Like this morning,"  she said.  "She was playing on the computer when she said she didn't want to play the game anymore, so I told her to go play something else then, and she cried."  I told her that yes, Jillian is very sensitive. I also asked if she was sleeping at nap time and eating her lunch.  She said yes and we left it at that, and Jillian and I left.  Me stewing over what was just said.  Is she too sensitive?  Or did the teacher say that to her in a harsh tone and maybe Jillian took it the wrong way.  I mean she's only 3 1/2.  She doesn't always understand what people mean, and she thinks they are being mean.

Today when she was picked up, I was told that she was having a problem with doing things for herself.  Not by the teacher by someone else, but I automatically went to her defense.  I again thought, well she's only 3 1/2 and up until now she has been in a private sitters care and of course our care.  She wasn't use to having to do things for herself.  I kind of got worried that maybe they wouldn't have the patience to teach her or maybe they didn't remember how young she is.  Maybe they were expecting to much from her in such a short time.

So here's where I am asking you.  Am I overprotective?  Am I babying her too much?  Do I expect to much?  I don't wait on her hand and foot and I do want her to be independent, but come on, she's 3 1/2!  I did talk to another parent tonight, whose child is also in Jillian's class, and she assured me that what I was feeling was not only normal but similar to what she and her child felt in the beginning as well.  She also told me the teachers at the Preschool were very big on "Being Independent", and the children learning to do things on there own.  Talking with her did make me feel some what better, but I think I will call her school and let them know my concerns.  My biggest fear is that she wasn't ready for this, that I pushed her into something she doesn't like and therefore she won't do well.  She is my baby, my baby who is growing up but she's still my baby.

Saturday's Top Five Laughs

Here are my top 5 laughs from the week.

1. Randy had dirt on his jeans and Jillian asked him what it was, jokingly he said it was cow poop.  She turned to me and told me "Daddy has cow poop on his jeans, can you get me a wipe so I can wipe it off."  She's such a sweetie!

2. Wyatt takes benadryl at night before bed and when I gave it to him the other night and the dropper must have had an air bubble in it because it kind of spit in his face.  He then in turn spit in my face!  Take that mommy!!

3. On Tuesday my Mammaw Helen picks Jillian up from Preschool, she was so excited to see her she cried, Jillian not my Mammaw.  Thursday I went to pick her up and when she saw me she said "Mommy, I thought Mammaw Helen pick me up today!", very loudly.  I guess I disappointed her, not being Mammaw!

4. Wyatt is moving and rolling and scooting all over the place.  I was playing on my phone while sitting on the couch one evening and I looked down and Wyatt was gone!  I actually called out for him like he would answer, he had made it all the way behind the couch.  For a baby who doesn't fully crawl he gets around pretty well.

5. Jillian was in the restroom with her teacher when I asked if she had had a good day, the teacher said good but she didn't want to clean up her area that morning, and Jillian butted in and said "She put me in the time out chair!"  Hmm, maybe she'll clean up next time.

And one more just because Jillian just said it as I was typing this....

You know that J.C. Penny commercial where the women are screaming, well that was just on and Jillian turned to watch it.  Randy said what's she screaming about?  Jillian responded with "She wants her Mommy"!
So funny!!

Do you have funny things that happen that you want to share?  Come join us and link up at The Mommy Chronicles.

Have a fantastic weekend!

What's Going On?

This week has been a little busy, here's what going on:

1. Jillian started Preschool on Monday, with that comes new schedules for everyone.  I am getting up at least a half hour earlier and so are the kiddos.  They are going to different places now so I have to schedule plenty of drive and drop off time.  With a little a lot of help from the hubby, I have actually been on time all week.

2. My Grandmother and Ann, have both started keeping Wyatt one day during the week for me!  He goes to Memmaw's on Monday's and Ms. Ann's on Tuesday's.  Makes for a crazy schedule but so worth it on saving some money and letting to special ladies have some good quality time with Wyatt!!  Can we say Spoiled?!?


3. Oh, and I got to have a girls night last Friday night, a much needed one I might add.  Even though we waited an hour and a half for our table, we had a good time.  Girl talk and good food, make for a great night!

 4. I have been working out some.  Mainly on the elliptical machine.  Not as much as I would like to but I'm working on it.

5.  In the past 3 weeks I've lost 2 pounds!  Yay! I'll weigh in tomorrow to see about week 4!  I don't want to loose it too fast because it could cause my milk to dry up, and we're just not ready for that yet.

6. Wyatt now has a total of 4 teeth, 2 up top and 2 on bottom.  And he may even be working on 2 more up top.  Ahhh!!

7. Since our schedule change, Wyatt has decided he will wake at 5am.!  Seriously son, I mean the alarm is set for 5:30a, can't ya at least give me that?  Not sure if this is a teething thing or just a phase.  I just hope it goes away soon.  I much rather him go back to sleeping till 6!

8. I did something really cool with Jillian's hair last Sunday.  I saw this on Pintrest!

9. I have not however been successful at getting to bed early.  Boo, I want to, I really do.  But for some reason it just doesn't seem to happen.  So with that being said I'm off to bed!

Have a great weekend!!

First Day

Miss Jillian started Preschool today! I almost can't believe it! She has been getting very bored recently at her sitters, and not wanting to go anymore. She was the oldest at her sitters and not being challenged enough to keep her busy so we thought she might be ready for school. Preschool should meet those needs. I had to wake her up this morning due to all our schedule changes, more on that in a minute, it was earlier than usual. I said are you ready to go to school and without even opening her eyes she said YES! I am so excited for her to learn new things and have structure and even "rules"!

She was so excited to take her back pack.

When we arrived she went right in to her classroom and washed her hands.  She then found the play dough!

They also have two guinea pigs, Stella and Luna, she thought they were pretty cool.  Randy and I both stood there for awhile, just watching her take it all in.  All the toys, all the letters and numbers, and even paint.

This is going to be good for her, I just know it.  I am so proud of her for making this next step, for reaching another milestone in her life.  Even though I was nervous and kind of sad, I told her Mommy had to go to work and Daddy was taking Bubbie to the sitters.  She looked up at us and said "Bye Bye"!  Randy and I stood there in shock, looked at each other and decided she was going to be just fine, and it was our time to go!

When I picked her up this afternoon, she was playing in the gym area.  As soon as she saw me, she squealed with delight and ran toward me.  (Shew, she still does need me!)  She even asked where her bubbie was.  I guess time away made her miss him!
  Her teacher Ms. Amanda walked up and I asked Jillian if she had a good day.  Ms. Amanda told me she did pretty good but she did have a little crying period.  They tried talking to her and she would put her hands over her ears.  So they left her alone awhile and she went back to playing again.  I asked Jillian why she cried and she told me, "well because, I just want you!"  She missed me, and I missed her.  I know that it may take a few weeks before she'll be completely use to going, but all in all I am so proud of her.  The world and schedule that she knows and have been use to have changed and for a child that's a pretty big deal.  Wait, I'm an adult and it's a pretty big deal to me too.
 I use to start my day at 6am when Wyatt woke up, but now that he and Jillian go to two different places I have to get a little bit earlier.  Randy helps me when he can, but he usually has to be to work super early and he goes the opposite direction than we do, so most of the time I'm flying solo!

I am so excited for Miss Jillian to learn new things.  More than anything I am ecstatic to see her happy, that means the world to me.  I think this is the start of something good!

Happy Monday!!!

Wyatt @ 8 Months

My little man is 8 months old!  So much has changed with this little guy.  He's not only growing in size but as a little person too.  His character is really starting to show, and it's gonna be a good one.

Personality 


In a phrase, "He's such a happy little guy!"  We hear it all the time, or "Every time I see him he's smiling."  Yes, yes he is.  I am so ecstatic to be raising such a giddy baby.  Any one can make this baby smile, and when you do, he makes you smile right back at him.  I love how much personality is coming out of him.  It's just shear happiness when this little boy is around!

Growth Stats


Weight 24.11 lbs.
Height 30 inches long
Size 3 diapers
Clothes 12 to 18 months or 18 months.
Shoe size is 2

This is my FAV pic!

Schedule/Feeding

Wyatt's schedule is still about the same.  Nursing or taking a bottle (when at the sitters), four times a day, and eating 3 jars of stage 3 baby food a day.  He is also snacking on crackers, puffs and yogurt melts.  He wakes up around 6a-6:30a and still takes any where from 3 to 4 naps a day, going to bed at 8pm.

Smilestones

Saying MaMa!!!!!!!!!
Clapping, with both hands open!
He now has 3 teeth.  Probably 4 by tomorrow!
First trip to hooters and got to take a pic with some of the Hooter's girls!
Starting to crawl, maybe?  He gets in the stance.
Scooting backwards.

Playtime

Playtime is filled with laughs and giggles and tons of toys.  Since Christmas, it seems like the house is covered in toys, and he is loving all of them.  Cars and trucks and balls, are just some of his favorites.  And of course he taste tests them all, which I guess is why he's working on maybe 2 new teeth.  We usually sit him in the floor surrounded by toys and he usually winds up on his belly, rolling around or scooting backwards.  It so funny to watch him.

Less than 4 months until this little man will be turning one and I'm just not sure this Mama is ready for that.  But I am so enjoying every. single. minute of this little guys life.  God knew what he was doing when he brought this precious baby in to our lives, and for that I am great full and blessed too!!

We love you baby boy, your the best in the world!!

Noah's First Birthday Party

Saturday, we celebrated Noah's first birthday!  

He had a blast!  

The party was sock monkey themed, complete with this adorable banner made by his momma, Jo-Jo!

And just look at that cake.  How sweet is that!  The top layer....banana!

Ball pits, balloons, and noisy horn things, oh my!

The horn thingys were a big hit.  Jillian just loved them!

Great friends came, and loved on my babies!

The birthday boy and his own smash cake. Everyone gasped when his daddy sat the cake in front of him.  Noah reached right for the candle!

Kids wrestled, and it was pretty hysterical!

Love, love, love this one.  Blake here was my first baby!!  I was there for a lot of his early childhood, so it's so wonderful to see him love'n on my baby!

Noah man enjoyed his cake, it was everywhere.  Including his hair, which is why it stuck up in the air, well, with help of his daddy!

This is one of the toys we got him, a musical zebra ride on toy, which he loved!  Oh and do you see that adorable little shirt, I ordered that from the sweetest lady on Etsy.  You can find her shop here.  I totally waited last minute to order Noah a shirt, but Martha just happened to be in Kentucky and able to make the shirt and ship it to me the very next day!!  Score!

So, I am becoming obsessed with photo apps for my phone, how fun are these pics?!?

Jillian and her Memmaw and GP, ready to party!

The party was a success.  Everyone had a fabulous time and Noah man got more presents than Christmas!  Jo-Jo out did herself, I was so proud of her and all her hard work.  I just hope I can pull off Wyatt's first birthday party as well as she did Noah's!

That being said, I am stuck on a theme for Wyatt's first birthday.  Any ideas?  Jillian's first was Elmo, but Wyatt doesn't seem to have a favorite cartoon yet, maybe Mickey Mouse.  Or maybe John Deere?  What do you think?  Any suggestions?  What was your child's birthday theme?