Happy Halloween

Lunch with "Miss" Sarah

Thomas and I braved the torrential downpour yesterday and met "Miss" Sarah for lunch at the country club.  Thomas was such good lunch company.  He sat in his seat and ate right along with us.  As people would walk past us, "Miss" Sarah would say, "Look who we've got", and point to Thomas.  "This is Thomas Sartin, he's eight months old - Isn't he such a well behaved child?"  I sat on pins and needles for most of lunch hoping he wouldn't have a melt down.  One thing's for sure, lunch with "Miss" Sarah is no in and out, quick meal.  She fed Thomas cornbread and a saltine cracker.  Although he had never had either, I couldn't say anything..... it was "Miss" Sarah.  He made the biggest mess on the floor.  I felt horrible about the mess and tried my best to clean up.  "Miss" Sarah was quick to tell me not to clean a thing.  When the waitress came over to check on us, she introduced Thomas and told them they would be cleaning up the floor around him when we left.  I just cringed. 

First Fall

Thomas and I needed some fresh air.  Last Monday, after spending way too many of our days inside because of the constant rain, we decided to visit a pumpkin farm. When we pulled up in the parking lot it was completely empty.  After several friends told me how fun this place was I wondered if we were in the right place (even though it was a school day, the people I had talked to have preschoolers).  We sat in the car for a few seconds trying to decide whether or not to go in, when a man on the front porch started waving his hat at us.  We got out and started looking around.  I put Thomas down on some of the pallets of pumpkins and took a few pictures. 

Thomas LOVES being outside so as I'm taking pictures, he's taking everything in.  He does this thing when we are holding him and he sees something that excites him; Its like he takes a deep breath followed by almost a squeel then a big smile, throws his arms towards us and kicks his legs. 

Its kinda hard to describe but it's a reaction we have gotten familiar with.     

As I took what would be my last picture I saw that he was looking at a dog sitting with the man on the porch.  I'm a dog lover so I turned to see what kind of dog it was.  Nope, not a dog, it was a monkey...on a leash.  I scooped up Thomas (we were about five feet from the porch), turned around and asked the man what his monkey's name was.  Her name was Betsy, Betsy the monkey.  He went on to tell me that Betsy had been really sick and that she had gotten back from the vet just moments ago.  As it turned out Betsy had been throwing up allot.  Well, he need not continue with more talk of Betsy's illness.  An awful scene started playing in my mind of Thomas and I having a run-in with a rabid monkey.  Geez, I can't even imagine trying to explain that one to Brian.  We backed up immediately and high tailed it out of there.  I'm certain we won't be going back to that pumpkin farm. 

BUT, I think those pictures turned out pretty cute anyway.  The following pictures were taken last weekend at the house across the street.  Its currently vacant but there is a beautiful tree in the front yard.   

He doesn't sit still for too long! 

Happy First Fall Sweet Thomas!

Happy Birth Day

Our wonderful friends Kevin and Damaris welcomed their first child into their family yesterday. We could not get to the hospital soon enough to get a glimpse of this sweet, precious child. 

She is more beautiful than words can say; I'm excited to watch her grow over the coming years.

I can't wait to get my hands on her again!

Someone Please Tell Me.....

...Where does the time go?  Thomas was born weighing 7 pounds even.  When we brought him home from the hospital he weighed 6 pounds 10 ounces.  I look at him just 8 short months later and think, WHERE DOES THE TIME GO?  When did our teeny tiny baby get to be such a whopper?? 

The View

Thomas loves standing on the back of the sofa. He loves looking out and watching the birds, cars, kids playing, leaves falling and the cats (our neighbors have SEVERAL cats). We've been staying inside lots lately because the weather has been really rainy; we've been doing lots of just "looking out". He loves it! And now, he loves it even more. We are doing some work in our yard and Brian's father loaned us the tractor to help with our project. He brought it over Saturday morning and Thomas has been stuck to the back of the sofa ever since checking out the tractor.

His view, a big green tractor... My view, two of the chubbiest little legs that melt my heart.

ATTENTION GRANDPARENTS: Thomas is never left alone of the sofa.  I was able to get this photo because Brian is sitting beside Thomas.

Thanks Aunt Jenn!

Brian and I have started going to classes at church on Wednesday nights.  We were a little unsure of whether we should sign up for these classes because they don't start until 6:30 and, on most nights, Thomas starts the bath, bottle, book routine at 6:00 and is asleep by 7:15 (most of the time).  There would be no way we could take him to the nursery because Thomas is not on his best behavior after 7.  Last Wednesday was our first class.  Brian asked his sister, Jennifer, if she would come and stay with Thomas while we went.  When we got home at 7:45, Thomas was snoozing away in his bed.  She did it!  She put him to bed!!  He didn't wake up once in the night.  The next morning I went into his nursery to find...

ONE HAPPY BABY!
Thanks so much Aunt Jenn!  We love you!
***Looks like its time to lower the crib again!***

Eight Months

At eight months Thomas:

-is weighing about 20.5 lbs.  We know this because....

-had is first cold this month, so we made an extra visit to the pediatrician.  He woke up one morning with a yucky eye, bad cough, and super runny nose.  With H1N1 flu virus being so scary, I was worried what he had was much worse than a cold.  He was prescribed an antibiotic of which we did not take.  We decided that since he was not running fever, to let his body fight it on its own for a few days.  He knocked it out on his own in about 6 days.

-wears a 9 months right now, and they fit nicely.  Somethings he is even wearing in a 12 months (Bailey Boys, Funtasia, Carriage Boutique, Feldman Brothers)

-is sleeping 12 hours a night straight and taking 2 very good naps.  He naps at 10 am for about an hour and a half and then again at 2 pm for 1-2 hours.

-takes about 17-21 ounces of solid foods and about 24 ounces of milk a day.  He still loves green beans and a new favorite is the apples & cherries blend.  He really, really does not like macaroni and cheese!

-has started babbling alot!  Ba Ba Ba Ba, Pa Pa Pa Pa, Ga, ooooooo, aaaaaaaa, and lots of MMMMMM.  He's been saying something that sounds a whole lot like, "hey" for quite sometime.  We aren't sure if he's actually caught on to "hey" as being a greeting, but none the less, we still say "hey" right back to him.  It makes us laugh.

-does the motorboat sound lots.  I'm not sure how to type that sound, but it's the sound when you put your lips together and blow out.

-responds to sign language.  I have been signing "food" or "eat" for several weeks now.  Within the past week or two he has really started lighting up when I sign "food"/"eat".  We are still working on "milk" and "more".

-has tried his first bits of real food.  I've given him mashed up pieces of a banana or apple I was eating.  He had a confused look on his face, but kept reaching for more.

-has got the army crawl down pat.  He gets everywhere he wants to go just by laying on his belly and using his elbows.

-does not enjoy being still and having his diaper changed.  It usually taked us several attempts at getting the diaper on right because he is constantly on the move.   

-sits up on his own from the crawling postion.

- is pulling up.  Pulling up on the couch, on our legs, on the bed, everything he can. He is a little MONKEY!!

-has zero teeth.

-loves being outside.

  -smiles lots.  If you smile at him, he will more than likely smile right back at you.

EAT.HIM.UP

I love our quiet mornings together.  (This picture was taken first thing in the morning.)  Thomas is the cuddliest little thing.  It looks like we may share the same eye color!

Seven Months Old

Thomas,

Today you are 7 months old. Getting this months picture was such a challenge because you are very mobile.  Here are some examples.....

This month we have had to lower your mattress because you have started pulling up.  I started coming into the nursery and finding this:

And now we come in to find this:

Much Better!  I'm certain this setting won't last for long because you are developing at lightening speed.

At 7 months Thomas is:

-loving all vegetables -except for peas (which I have never liked myself).  Green beans are his favorite and of course carrots, squash, and sweet potatoes are all a close second.

-will take a sip or two of water from his bottle while eating.

-still sleeping though the night, from about 6:45-6:45.

-taking 2 longs naps a day.  One at 10 and another at 2.  Each one lasting about an hour and a half.

-holding a bottle all by himself.

-taking a sippy cup.  We feel it with water and are not really sure how much of the water he swallows, but it's a start.

-minding his manners; at dinner we have been encouraging him to keep his hands in his lap while he is eating.  He does really well at this.

-reaching for us really well.  Brian and I just laugh because one of us could be holding him and he could go back and forth reaching for which ever one is not holding him over and over and over.

-doesn't watch television.  We have tried and tried to get him to watch a video, but he's not having it.  He's way too busy to watch tv. 

Thomas still doesn't have any teeth and all the teething signs seem to be fading. 

Neighbors

I'm so thankful for our wonderful neighbors.  We moved to this home 11 months ago and have been blessed by the relationship we have with our wonderful neighbors, The Staggs.  Scott and Amy have 3 children, Ellen, Matthew, and Anna.  Now that fall is here, they are constantly outside playing. 

Yesterday, Thomas and I walked over and found Amy and Anna playing with different activities on a blanket in the yard.  Anna, 3, just loves Thomas.  At 20 lbs, he almost weighs as much as she does.  But Anna loves holding Thomas and he reaches for her.  She is just the sweetest little girl.