Welcome to Atlanta

Tuesday, October 6, 2009

Been Too Long...

Hey Everyone!!

Ok, I know it's been forever, but I decided to finally update my blog! It's been busy around the house lately, and I just can't seem to find time to do it. So, once again I'm going to recommit to updating my blog on a weekly basis. Get ready...here come the updates...

1. Malakai: He continues to be the joy of my life. It's hard for me to believe he will be 5 months old tomorrow! This time last year I was just realizing and understanding that I was pregnant. Oh, how life changes in a year! Malakai continues to surpass his developmental milestones. He started rolling over at 3 months (front to back), and then both ways about 2 weeks later. He started eating rice cereal just before 4 months. He loves to eat, but is still a little squirt! At his 4 month check up he weighed 12 lbs 4 oz and was 25 inches long. He's in the 15th percentile, but the doctor said he's absolutely perfect in his proportions. The Dr. gave us the go ahead to start veggies and fruits. So far, he's mastered carrots, squash, green beans, peas, sweet potatoes, peaches, applesauce, and pears. Like, I said...he loves to eat! His hair continues to have curls in it, and his eyes are still blue. His pediatrician is fairly confident that they will stay blue....woohoo. We went to IL to visit my mom mid-September and had a wonderful time. While we were there he started sitting up unsupported...he's really a big boy now! Since we've been home he started scooting a little bit, and rolls everywhere!! He's a big time cuddler, and loves to play with his Daddy! He is a pretty happy baby (most of the time) and his laugh can make any day better. Tony is doing well with him in "daddy daycare." They are so cute together! Malakai has become a little bit of a "mama's boy" lately. Although it's heart warming to know that he's missed me while I've been at work, it can also be a tad frustrating. Tony has to distract him when I walk in the door just so I can change clothes and wash my hands. If he sees me walk in the door he starts crying and reaching for me!! He's still struggling with his sleeping routine, but he's had some disruptions. He's getting back on track though, so hopefully we can get to 10 hour nights soon!

2. Family: While we were visiting my mother, my step-mother called and told me that my father had a heart attack and died. It was very shocking and unexpected. My dad and I have had a rocky relationship, although it was starting to get better. I have no doubt in my mind that my dad loved me, but he had a hard time being a "long distance dad." We left a lot of things unsaid, and it is very sad to think that Malakai will never know his grandpa. I went to spend a week in TN with my grandparents, and it was a very hard week. Thankfully, my brother was also there. And of course Malakai was there to cheer everybody up. My dad wanted to be cremated, which was also hard for me, because I didn't have a chance to say any good-byes or see him one last time. He wanted his ashes spread in the river where we spent a lot of time with him. We had a memorial service at Bald River Falls, and it went better than I thought it would. I thought I wouldn't have the closure that a traditional funeral would give, but it was actually really nice. My granny also bought us all yellow lilies to throw in the river, and it gave all of us a chance to say good-bye in our own way. It's still hard for me to believe that he's gone, and I'm sure it's a struggle that I will have for years to come. I haven't sat down long enough to grieve on my own, but I'm sure that time will come eventually.

3. Work: Thankfully, I have been super busy at work this week. It has definitely helped to keep my mind off the loss of my dad. I was subpoenaed to testify in a murder trial for case I was involved with at DFCS. Without getting into too many details, the dad was accused of beating a 2 year old to death (mom's child by another man). It was a very emotional case because there were 3 children that were also removed from the home that have been dealing with this trauma for the last 2.5 years. Anyway...the trial lasted all week, and today the father was found not guilty on all charges. It was a huge shock, and I'm struggling to understand how it happened. I also have another trial coming up soon, which hopefully will turn out better.

Anyway...I think that is enough updates for now! Be sure to look at the post below to see a bunch of pictures from the last few weeks!!

Until Next Time...

Catching up on Pictures...

I love this smile!

This is his "serious look."

"Gimme that camera!"

"Are you looking at me?"

At the lookout with Uncle Josh

Looking precious in Josh's hat

Kissing the flower for his grandpa...

At the top of one of the mountains we used to go to with my dad

Flying!!!

It was kinda cold!

Bald River Falls...this is where we had the memorial service for my dad

4 month pictures...so sweet.

Nothing beats a baby in an apple bucket!!

Big Boy!!!

Are you ready for some football!!!

My sweet boy...

Happy boy!!

4 month picture...

Love the overalls!

Eating some oatmeal with grandma!

4 generations...

I love my grandma (and I'm pretty sure she loves me too!)

Taking a nap with Uncle Josh...

Sitting up!!!

Just lounging!

First rice cereal...yummy?

Love my exercauser...look at those little legs!!

Hi grandma!!

Man, I'm cute!!

Sunday, August 9, 2009

3 Month update...

Hey Everyone!

I can't believe how long it's been since I've updated the blog. I actually thought I updated it awhile ago, but evidently I didn't! Here are the highlights of the last month...

Malakai hit the 3 month milestone this past weekend. I can't believe how big he's getting! I feel like he does something new everyday. He has really good head/neck control. He has started rolling over, which is a little a head of schedule! So far he's only rolling from back to stomach, but he's getting fairly good at it. We need to work more on tummy time so he can learn to roll the other way too. He has a little bouncy chair he likes to sit in, and he has learned how to pull the toy that makes music. It scared me the first time because I was on the other side of the room and heard music playing all of sudden! He loves to "stand up" and a lot of times doesn't want to sit down. I think he will be an early walker...yikes!

He's doing a little better with his sleeping, but still nothing too consistent. He's kind of a night owl, and takes a pretty good morning nap. This worked out great when I wasn't working, but now that I've gone back to work, it's been more of a struggle for me. I'm lucky if I get more than 4 hours of sleep a night...and it's usually not consecutive. Hopefully as he continues to get bigger he'll start sleeping more. He's also graduated from the "swaddle." The last couple of nights we've just put him in his crib without swaddling him to see what happened, and he did pretty good. Now we never know what position we'll find him in when we check on him!

He went back for another test for his kidney and we actually got good new this time! He had to have a catheter put in and they injected dye in his bladder to see if urine was backflowing or if he had a blackage. Thankfully the test showed that he did not have any back flow. So, now we will go back in October to see if the blockage has improved or gotten worse. There's a chance we won't have to have anything else done and it will heal itself as he gets older.

He also got his 2 month vaccinations and did very well. He cried when she gave him the shots, but didn't have any reactions to them. He slept quite a bit that day, but didn't get fussy. At his 2 month check-up he weighed in at 10lbs 10oz and was 23 inches long. He's a tad on the small side, but his doctor said he's perfect. I'm still exclusively nursing him, so it's good to know he's growing well!! His hair is really starting to get curly, and his skin is getting a little darker. His eyes are still blue, and his doctor think they might stay that way! He's gonna be a heart breaker!

I went back to work this week, and it has been quite the adjustment. Thankfully Tony works from home so he's able to hang out with Malakai during the day. It made it much easier for me to go back to work since I didn't have to worry about him going to daycare. It also allows me to come home for lunch during the day and see him!

Oh...I almost forgot. We took a trip to see my mom in IL in July. I was there for 6 days, and had the chance to see a lot of family members. My mom and I ran around town all day everyday and got very little sleep...but it was good to be back in IL! Malakai was a hit and of course everybody loved him! My brother, Josh, was able to come home also and stay for a couple of days. It's always good to see him!!

Ok...I think that's all of the updates for now! Time to get ready for work tomorrow before Malakai wakes up to eat! I posted a million pictures from our trip to IL and his 3 month pictures!

Until next time...

3 Month pictures...

We took Malakai to get his 3 month pictures taken this weekend. These are the unedited pictures on the CD they gave us. I can't believe how big he's getting!!