Baby Dedication

Sunday was Tanner's Baby Dedication ceremony at church. Jon and I were so happy to be able to dedicate our precious boy back to the LORD with both sets of grandparents there to support us! Tanner was a little cranky before the ceremony. Thankfully, our pastor had a hidden stash of Cheerios to share, and from then on, our baby was happy as a clam. Talking and laughing throughout most of it.

God has brought SO much joy and love to our lives through this little guy! I'm thoroughly convinced that His purpose in giving us children is to teach us about the extent of His love for us. To think that God loves each one of us even more than we love Tanner ... it never ceases to amaze me. Thank you, LORD, for this sweet and perfect gift that you have entrusted to us!

"The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing." Zephaniah 3:17

Caught Red-Handed

Okay, that's not exactly the "red-handed" that I meant.

Take a look at our little delinquent:

Hmm ... another $3.93 spent at Starbucks. There goes my college fund.

A dollar? This will get me nowhere!

Gosh this purse is a mess!

Should I be doing this??

What in the world??

As you can see, now that Tanner is getting around he is into EVERYTHING!! We have an entire playroom full of toys, but of course he wants nothing to do with them -- BORING! Instead, he loves to play with lamp cords, magazines, our entertainment stand, the toilet paper roll in the bathroom, I could go on and on. I am not writing this to complain -- he's just delighting so much in his newfound discoveries. But I do have a question for you seasoned mammas -- when should I start disciplining him and how? When does "NO" start to carry some weight? Right now, we find ourselves saying that word a lot, and the sterner our voices are, the more giggles and laughter we receive from our boy. This is especially prevalent at lunchtime, when Tanner starts dropping pieces of food on the floor. He will pick up a morsel, hold it over the side of his highchair, and look at me.

"Tanner, No!"

Giggles. More Giggles.

Drop.

I would love some good advice!

Curtains and a Shower

No posts for more than a week! I've been busy making valances for my family room. I'm a little sick of cutting, pinning, sewing, and ironing right now, though, so I'm taking the night off.

Tanner and I went to Michigan yesterday and stayed overnight with my parents so that we could go to my cousin's bridal shower this afternoon. It was a quick trip, but well worth all the preparations and the long drive! The weather was wonderful yesterday (mid-70's), so we took advantage of it and went on a walk/jog (waggle?) down by the beach. Later, we went to dinner at our favorite local Italian restaurant with both sets of grandparents. Tanner was in heaven -- eating pasta and getting lots of kisses from his grandmas!

Today was the shower and it was such a treat to sit and talk with my aunts and cousins. Too bad Tanner was a big grump -- he wanted nothing to do with anyone, which really isn't like him. I think he might be getting another tooth -- hence the crankiness. We spent a little more time visiting with my mom afterwards, and then made the trip back home. Thanks, Mom and Dad, for spoiling us so good while we were home!

Making Life a Little Sweeter

I've been thinking about a few things that help to make my life as a new mom a little bit sweeter. Just FYI -- they are all about making MY day a little better, not necessarily Tanner's. I know -- so selfish! But you know what they say -- "If Mamma ain't happy, ain't nobody happy!"

1) Always keep a pair of warm slippers and a sweatshirt next to your bed. It makes getting out of bed in the middle of the night so much more comfortable!

2) Make a batch of chocolate chip cookies and roll the batter into balls. (try not to eat too many of these!) Freeze in a tupperware container. I always look forward to a few minutes to myself after I put Tanner down for his afternoon nap, where I can just check my email or read a magazine, etc. I pop a cookie in the oven (okay, sometimes two) and have a fresh baked treat!

3) Make yourself some coffee in the morning. Put on Good Morning America in the background.

4) If possible, TiVo Oprah everyday. Watch it while you're feeding the baby. :) (If you TiVo it, you can watch it in bits and pieces.)

5) Take advantage of the child-care centers at the gym and at church.

6) Don't feel guilty about rocking your baby to sleep for naps or at bedtime. Enjoy every second of it and make sure to memorize the smell of their skin. Before long, they'll be too big to cuddle up in your lap like that!

7) Instead of watching/listening to the TV while you clean, go to http://www.family.org/ and listen to one of their daily broadcasts.

8) Join a book club. It's a great feeling to have an intelligent conversation about something you've read.

9) Go to http://www.kraftfoods.com/ and sign up to receive their magazine. It's free and full of quick and yummy recipes.

What are some things you would add??

Physical

Yesterday was the first time in several years that I actually went to the doctor for a full physical. I was nervous to meet my new doctor. I don't know why. I guess I was afraid she'd ask me how many servings of veggies I was getting a day and I'd have to admit it is 0-1. :( Luckily, my fears were totally squelched as soon as she walked in the room. She was just awesome and took such great care checking me out, asking questions about my family history, really taking the time to understand my concerns, etc. I left feeling extremely well taken care of.

I was especially thankful that she took the time to give me a quick skin check. I have been wanting to get checked by a dermatologist for a while now, but our insurance doesn't cover it, so I was waiting to see if we have money left in our flex account at the end of the year. It turns out she found 2 or 3 moles that looked suspicious and called in the dermatologist on staff. The dermatologist came in and checked them and said that I need to come in next week for a biopsy on them. I'm trying not to worry, but would appreciate your prayers! All those years in the sun could finally be catching up with me. I wish it wasn't so harmful -- it feels so good to bask in it's warmth during the summer months -- especially after such a long and dreary winter!

It's a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood

As the weather gets a little nicer, we are able to spend a lot more time outdoors -- going for walks or jogs, heading to the park, etc. Everytime I stroll through my new neighborhood, I feel incredibly blessed to be in this new home. I just LOVE where we live now. I love having a yard. I love the beautiful park that is just a short walk from our house. Mostly, though, I love that our neighborhood is CRAWLING with kids. Sometimes I can just hear them outside playing and screaming and it is music to my ears. The other day when Tanner and I returned from our jog, I could hear someone down the street practicing their saxaphone -- too cute.

And did I mention that I have a pen pal? We received a letter in our mailbox last weekend written on paper for beginning writers.

Dear Jon, Rachel, Tanner,

Hi. I am happy that you are the new neighbors. I love your
kitchen.

M...

p.s. write back!!

M is the seven-year old girl living next door. She's a total hoot. Of course I left a letter in her mailbox the next day. I still haven't gotten one back, though! WHATEVER!!

T-Baby

It seems that in just a few weeks time, my infant has made the transition into toddler-hood. Just a few of his newest things:

• There are definitely two little pearly-whites just behind his lower lip.
• He's cruising all over the place with his new crawling skills.
• His new favorite game is "Where is Mommy/Tanner?" I hold a blanket over my face and he takes it away. Lately he has started holding the blanket up over his own face -- totally adorable, I must say.
• He pulls himself up to standing, but only in the bathtub when I'm not looking. Such a stinker -- he thinks it's just hilarious when I tell him "No -- sit down!"
• His new favorite food is grilled cheese. He's eating almost all finger foods now. I'm constantly surprised by how little actually ends up in his mouth. (Very embarassing when you leave the table at a restaurant.)
• Every once in a while, when I pick him up and pat his back, he will pat mine, too.

On one hand, I think time has just flown by. On the other hand, it seems like he's been with us forever and I can hardly remember life before him.

Announcement, Announcement, Annowwwncement!

We have a tooth, folks! (bottom-left)

I just noticed it poking through this afternoon during lunch. Upon closer inspection this evening, it looks like we might actually have 2. I'll keep you posted! I'm trying not to cry as I know it's time to say goodbye to the toothless grin I love so much! If you ever saw what my teeth looked like pre-braces, you would understand. :)

More later -- I'm off to bed!

Words from the Wise?

I love having a 9-month old. I think it is the most fun age yet. I must admit, though, I also loved having a newborn, and then a 3-month old, and then a 6-month old, and so on. It seems like being a mom just keeps getting better and better. It's not always easy, but it's still wonderful.

My mom and I talk about this a lot. She told me when I was pregnant to enjoy EVERY age and EVERY stage, no matter what anyone else says. I can't even count how many times I've been approached by someone this week alone who tells me that Tanner is so cute, and to enjoy it now because it's only going to get harder. Or that this is the best age, and it's all downhill from here. In fact, I was in the elevator with a man the other day, when he basically commented that he wished his son was this age again instead of a rotten teanager. You know what I mean ... you've probably heard comments like this yourself. "Just wait until ..." I usually just want to respond by saying, "Great! Thanks for telling me that I've just started on a journey that's only going to stink in the end."

Yesterday, we had a wonderful speaker at MOPS, who talked to us about how to leave a spiritual heritage for our children. She began by encouraging us, telling us that we still have so much to look forward to. In fact, she said her favorite season of motherhood was when her kids were teens. Such great words to hear!

Another, older woman approached me a few months ago as I was working in the kitchen at church. She asked about Tanner and we talked about how great it is being a mom. She warned me that people were going to tell me that things go downhill once your little one starts to grow up, but she also said that it didn't have to be that way -- that she enjoyed her kids every step of the way! I don't think I'll ever forget this conversation, I'll be sure to hold her words close to my heart.

I guess that after all this babbling, what I'm really trying to say is that, as mothers and parents, we need to ENCOURAGE one another and be careful in the things we say to each other. No new parent wants to hear that they've already reached the pinnacle of parenthood, and there's nowhere to go but down. Wouldn't it be great if seasoned parents actually told you about things you could look forward to as your children grow?! For instance, instead of people rolling their eyes and telling me how HARD it was going to be once Tanner was mobile, it would have been SO MUCH more encouraging for them to tell me how much FUN we would have crawling around together, or how much HAPPIER my baby would be once he was able to get where he wanted to go.

Next time you see a new mom, say something encouraging! Think of something she has to look forward to and be sure to share! I promise, it will make her day!

p.s. I got a new 'do the other day. I love having short hair again!

Swings and Things

Boy, are we ready for some nice weather here in the midwest! Will spring ever arrive? Let's hope so! Tanner has a new love -- swings -- and we are anxious to indulge on a more regular basis at the wonderful park in our neighborhood. We braved the cold and walked down on Sunday. Between rides down the slide, Jon got some great pics of our boy.

Today was Tanner's 9-month appointment with the pediatrician. It's hard to believe the next time we see the doctor he will be a year old! It's scary how fast time is going. He did great and was so playful and flirty -- much better than last time, when he cried the whole visit! He was very talkative and pretended to "read" his book aloud to the ladies working behind the front counter at the office. Before his appointment, we had a lunch date together at Panera, just the two of us. He was just talking and squealing as I shared bits of bread, cheese, and turkey with him -- my heart melted several times over. It's just too bad that hardly any of his food actually made it into his tummy. I was a little embarrassed as I returned his high chair after lunch and saw the bits and pieces of food that had accumulated on the floor beneath it. Oops! Oh well ... that's what brooms are for, right? We won't sweat the small stuff.

Hope your week is off to a great start! We can't wait until the weekend when Grammy and Grandpa come to visit! Pics of the house are coming -- I just haven't gotten that far yet!

Looking more and more like a little boy. Sniff, sniff.