Celebrating Mamaw and Rhetter Man

Last weekend, we headed to Ashland to celebrate Mamaw's birthday, 

and decided to celebrate little man's as well!

It was Mamaw's 80th birthday, and her birthday this year was 11/11/11 - and get this: she was born at 11:11...um talk about one special lady! What an amazing birthday this year!
We were happy we were able to be there on her birthday!

Rhett had SO much fun that weekend, Rhett enjoyed all of the one on one attention he got with his Nanny, Poppy, Mamaw, and Papaw! :)

In true one year old fashion, he was more interested in the box from his present, than the actual toy!

He eventually figured out that his new toy was pretty cool too though.

 

Nanny cooked dinner, and made everyone cupcakes...so he had his very first yummy, sweet treat!

As expected, he LOVED it. He was slow to start, but kept saying "Mmmm" "Mmmm" after each bite he shoved in his mouth! Then he got lazy, and just left the cupcake on the tray and opened his mouth and dived in. HA! Watching your baby eat his first yummy treat is one of the best things ever.

It was a short trip, but we had a lot of fun spending time with family.
Still can't quite wrap my head around the fact that Rhett is old enough to be celebrating an entire year!

Lazy Days

First, can I just say I have been the WORST picture taker EVER lately? For someone who usually takes a billion pictures a day, I'm really slacking. ;) I've somehow lost the charger to my new camera (we think it might be in Myrtle Beach somewhere) but thankfully I just got one off of Amazon with a gift card from my birthday. Should be here tomorrow! (Thanks Mom and Dad!)

We've had a relaxing weekend, but with this time change I just can't seem to wake up! I know we gained an hour, and it was awesome Sunday morning, feeling like I had an extra hour to get everyone ready for church. Now though, I feel like I could sleep all day! Blah! The boys have actually done pretty well though, thank goodness! 

Today, the boys woke up around 7 (which felt like 8) and poor little Rhetters was fussy all morning. He has been clingy and fussy all week actually. He went down for his nap this morning, so early! He was down for his nap by 9:30am!
He's usually such a happy mellow little guy, I think the teeth that just will not come out have been making him pretty miserable. Which breaks his Mama's heart. I hate seeing him hurting, and he only seems to be happy when I'm holding him, which can make for a long day sometimes. Must have been extra tired from those two big steps he took last night! ;)

He just woke up from a three hour nap, and seems to be pretty happy! Yay! (Knocking on wood)

Matt's bowling tonight, and we our small group meets tomorrow night; we're off from school tomorrow for Election Day. So, I'm excited about having a few more lazy days with my boys. Maybe we'll work on this walking thing some more, only if we have orajel on those gums. :)

Here's a picture I just took with my iPhone, look at me taking pictures today, woo hoo! ;)

Rhett got in that rocking chair all by himself, and guess who needed his chair too? ;)

Rhetter's First Step!

We were sitting around watching football and playing with the boys, and I got on the floor to try to persuade Rhett to walk to me. He's been cruising like crazy, and starting to stand alone for a few seconds at a time. He's still very unsure, and super wobbly. 

But...then it happened! He took one little baby step, wobbling the entire 1/2 second that it happened...but it HAPPENED! He took his first step! Then it happened again a few minutes later with another try!

We all cheered and clapped, and he was cracking up! Clapping right along with us! 

 I'm still not convinced that he will take off anytime soon. However, I remember when Case started walking, I thought the exact same thing, and he just kept taking those baby steps. Which led to a few more and then a few more... and before I knew it he was running.

Can't wait to see Rhetter man start taking off, even though it means I will be unbelievably busy the next couple of years as I chase that little man around! :)

Case's Thumbs

Last week, we traced the kids hands at school for their Turkey hand prints craft. After Ms. Jackie traced Case's, she asked me if I had noticed that Case's thumbs did not extend to a straight position. I said No, and quickly went over to see for myself. Sure enough, his little thumbs seemed locked in a bent position. It was so strange, and I became obsessed with touching and trying to maneuver his thumbs all day long. By the time bedtime came around, I was still so puzzled. Matt was studying late that night, 

and I ended up calling Mom to talk about it with her. 

We started researching on the internet, and she came across something called "Trigger Thumb". It seemed to fit his description, and I searched further and found lots of Mom's telling their stories of their children having the exact same thing - though it is rare in children, Case is definitely not alone. (Most had surgery to correct it)

I showed Matt as soon as he came home, he agreed that he in fact couldn't bend them into a straight position, he quickly assured me that there were lots of other options other than surgery, splints, steroids etc.

We decided to go ahead and make an appointment with Case's pediatrician, to see what he thought.

I tried to make an appointment the end of that week we noticed it, but I didn't hear back from them and ended up calling again Tuesday morning on our way to school. The receptionist got us in for a quick appointment that day, right after school.

I talked to Case man the whole way to the appointment, explaining that  Dr. Latham would be looking at his thumbs, and wiggling them back and forth and that he needed to let him. (I had been driving him craaaazy touching his thumbs and moving them around, so I was afraid he wouldn't let Dr. L touch them!)

So, when Dr. L came in, Case immediately shoved his thumbs in the air for him to see them! (and was also obnoxiously shoving them in his face when he was writing in his chart! ;) Dr. L seemed concerned, and said he wanted us to see an Orthopedic Surgeon. He said he thought it was something that he was probably born with, and as he matured the tendons grew tighter and tighter causing it to lock into a bent position. That made me feel better, I was starting to wonder how on earth I had never ever noticed it. Dr.L seemed to be upset he hadn't noticed it either, he is always so thorough.  I did mention Trigger thumb, he nodded but didn't say whether or not he thought that was what it was. 

He was going to take x-rays that day, but decided to let us wait and have the Orthopedic Surgeon take them in case he wanted different angles.

SO...now we wait. 

Our nurse called us that afternoon and let us know she set him up for an appointment at the Kentucky Clinic on S. Limestone, on November 30th at 1:30. He's set up with the Hand Service Doctor there.

We are hoping for the best, we know God is watching over our little man, and if surgery is in his future we just pray that he will wrap his arms around us, and be there with us every step of the way.

Here's a few pictures of the little guys thumbs: 

This is literally as far back as he can extend it.

Comparison between his thumb and mine

Bless his heart. 

Prayers would be greatly appreciated, as we figure out how to fix his teeny tiny thumbs. He doesn't seem to have any problems with them yet, but of course as he gets older it could cause problems with writing and sports etc. Dr. L assured us that it would be best to get it taken care of now, and we totally agree.

Fall Freezer Paper T-Shirts

You know to be honest, I'm not even sure where I found this idea, I do know it was before I discovered Pinterest... maybe on a blog?

Anyway, I know this has been around forever, in fact on Reynolds Freezer Paper packaging it says right on the box that it's used for crafting. It is SO MUCH FUN.
I've made them for gifts mostly, but this is the first time I've made my boys something!

First, you find a design that you want for a t-shirt, onesie whatever you want.
(I bought these t-shirts from Wal-Mart, and usually buy the onesies from Target or Hobby Lobby)
Then you trace or draw the design directly on the matte side of the freezer paper. Then you cut out the design, I've used teeny little nail scissors or a scrap booking razor blade with just a piece of cardboard underneath.

I googled "Fall Applique's" since they are always simple and so sweet, and then I drew my version, making sure to leave space between the section so I could cut out my "stencil".

Then I used the same method as I did with my Mr & Mrs Banner I did for Kara's Wedding. :)

Let 'em dry and...

You've got yourself a couple of cheap, easy fall t-shirts!
I LOVE them! I was a little worried about washing them, as I have never seen what they have looked like after being in a washer and dryer. To my surprise though, they turned out great! A touch faded, but it actually looked great, even more like something you would buy in a store - a vintage look almost.

I love them! The boys' wore them to church this last Sunday, and they looked pretty stinkin' cute if I do say so myself. ;)

Trick or Treat!

Halloween snuck up on me! 

Case was little Maverick from Top Gun this year 

and little Rhetter followed in his big brother's footsteps and was a Farmer for his first Halloween!

We had lots of people come over before we headed out to the neighborhood, Amy & Avery headed over with Griffin and Cy. Kelli and her three girls came over, so I could paint Teagan's face like a cat. Kelli's sister Shauna and her daughter Zuri came over. Shauna's friend Kelli came over with her little boy Jeremy...we had a full house! Matt walked in and was a little overwhelmed seeing all of those kids running around our house! :) 

I'm so upset that I didn't get any pictures with our camera, so the iPhone shots will have to do this year! Shauna got some cute pics with her awesome camera, so hopefully I can get some of those soon! 

 

Kelli's Mama :)

Hee! He is such a cute little stinker! 

Case had SO much fun trick or treating this year, he really got the hang of it and was super excited. 

His big cousin Griffin took him around to the houses, and Case was in heaven. 

He cracked us up when he started saying "Happy Halloween!" 

instead of Trick or Treat half way through the night.

Everyone kept asking him what he was, and he always replied "I'm free!" (Three) HAA! 

Daddy and our neighbor Joe pushed the Rhetter man around, and he only lasted until around 7 or so, big man was getting sleepy (and cold) so he went home to get into warm pajamas and hit the sack early. 

Case was a trooper, and walked house to house until 8 o'clock, then we ate dinner, he got to eat three pieces of candy and slept like baby. 

We had a fun little Halloween this year, even if it did creep up on us, and was over like that!

Hoping Thanksgiving and Christmas aren't over as fast! 

Love this time of year!

My Almost One Year Old

He is the sweetest, snuggly little man ever. 

He crinkles his nose and throws his hand up to his face when he laughs. 

He lights up when he sees his big brother, and looks for him frantically when he doesn't see him right away.

He loves his Da-Da and chants his name when he sees him.

He's a fast little thing.

He hates getting his diaper changed...I. mean. hates. it.

He LOVES bath time, he practically dives out of my arms to get in. 

(However, he can't stand to get his hair rinsed.)

He loves his big ol dog, he pats him and lays on him and climbs all over him. 

He loves his graham crackers. 

He loves any food really.

He's cruising the furniture like a well oiled machine, won't be long before he takes those first steps.

He's a Mama's boy, if I'm in the room, forget about holding him. ;)

He is such a good baby, such a mellow man. 

He is such a blessing to our family...

...and we can't BELIEVE he is already 11 months old.