Busy-ness!

Oh, it has been so long!! Let's see, since my last post we have had lots of excitement and busy times in the Fox's Den!

In April, my beautiful niece, Kaydence McKynleigh was born. McKynleigh is truly a gift from God and has made a nice addition to our family!


While Robies was out on maternity leave I substitute taught for her. Well, at least until it was time for Walker and I to head to France to see Daddy.

France was absolutely breathtaking and we all can't wait to return in the Fall. Walker traveled like a champ. I must admit that I took a bit of perverse pleasure in seeing all of the panicked faces in the airports when we were waiting to board our flights. People see a baby and think that they are in for the worst experience ever. I can't say as I blame them, though. I was once one of them too. The best part...after the flight when countless people and flight staff complimented my son on behaving so well. That is definitely the stuff that makes a Mama proud!

Three days after returning from overseas, Walker turned one and we had a big birthday party for him here in our backyard. I can't believe that I am now the mother of a one-year-old! (Well, actually, more like 13-month-old as I finally sit down to type this!) Here are some pictures from his Cowboy themed birthday party:

The Birthday Boy:


His "Birthday Suit"...Gotta Love Denim Diapers!


The Cake I Made Him:


Eating Cake:


So now that things have settled down just a bit, it's time to pack and get ready to go again! Dwayne leaves at 5:30 in the morning to go to a week-long job in Bermuda. My mom and I leave Wednesday morning at 5:30 to go and visit him!! Walker will be staying for 5 whole days with Koko, his wonderful babysitter who spoils him absolutely rotten! This will be the first time that I have spent the night away from our little bugger so it should be an experience for both of us. For some reason I believe that it will be harder on The Mama than The Boy...

OK, off to get packing now. Busy-ness continues......

Une Anime Suante!

According to Ask.com's translator that means "One Crazy Week" in French. "Why French?" You're asking yourself. Well, one week ago today we found out that Dwayne was going to France for a 90-day job and that he was leaving on February 24th...that was yesterday...and he did leave.

So, Walker, Daddy and I scrambled to make all of the necessary arrangements so that he could leave on time and on task. We did it! Tomorrow I go for the processing of my passport. Walker and I will leave in May sometime to go for a visit until the end of the job and then a couple of weeks of vacation and sightseeing in Europe.

We have prayed for work for so long and I knew that God would answer our prayers. I just didn't expect this answer. But how fabulous that we get to go on a grand adventure and experience more of His creations!

Airtime on cellphones is very expensive in Europe but thank goodness for Skype. We will absolutely get our money's worth on this trip! Walker and I just Skyped Daddy and he is settling in and about to turn in for the night. He has an early day tomorrow. Not only does he have his job to do, but he has to scout fun things for us to do when we get there.

And I bought a book and CD that is supposed to teach you French in 10 minutes a day...we'll see how that goes. Who has 10 extra minutes a day?!?! I suppose that I'd better go get started!

Here are today's pictures. Walker really wanted to just crawl in Daddy's suitcase and go with him. Come to think of it...so did I!

So I got a little sad...

...when I sneaked into Walker's room last night to give him one more kiss before I went to bed. I couldn't reach him! We lowered his crib mattress yesterday since he has figured out how to stand up using the rail and bounce; and now, I can only reach in and touch his sweet little head or pat-pat his precious heiney. Oh, I suppose I'll get used to this new sleep routine, but it doesn't mean I have to like it. My baby is growing way too fast!

Pulling up

Yep, it seems as if we make a new milestone everyday now. Not only has Walker cut two teeth in as many days (with about 3 more ready to bust through) but he started pulling up on everything in earnest today. I am definitely not ready for this!

This is a squeal of delight...not a fit of madness!

RSV

Yep, it got us. For the last week Walker has had a nasty cough, runny nose, and a really bad attitude. Poor guy. I knew that he didn't feel well and we were watching for the fever that is normally associated with RSV since we know a couple of kiddos that have had it. But no fever. None at all. So this morning when the cough was so deep in his chest and he hacked so hard he had to catch his breath afterward, I decided to make an appointment with our beloved pediatrician. Turns out my instincts were right. And that rattle in his chest that I could feel with my hands just touching him was indeed wheezing. So after a breathing treatment in the doctor's office we left with a prescription for Xopanex and another for Amoxicillin (for the double ear infection we also have). Mr. Man is still cranky but the doctor informs us that the worst of it is over. And...to top it all off...the Booger Bear cut one top tooth yesterday and is working on three others. I suppose the crankiness will continue....poor guy, I just wish I could make it all better!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Walker's first Valentine's Day! I'm not a sappy, mushy person but today I really am thankful for the two loves of my life! Dwayne and now, Walker have truly completed me and I am so blessed! Commercialized as it is, I'm still grateful that this day makes me stop to reflect on just how much I love and am loved! I'm off to hug our little Cupid.

Here he is in the picture we used for our Valentine's Day cards:

I'm such a slacker!

And I don't really have a good excuse except that I've been busy...like the rest of the world so I don't even think that is a viable reason! I've been substitute teaching at a local elementary and high school and it is a nice respite from stay-at-home-mommyhood. Don't get me wrong, I love being home with Mr. Man but time away is really nice, too. And, as an added bonus, I'm learning first-hand how my kid will not act...yeah, famous last words, I know!

Boudreaux has been staying home with Daddy while I work and that has been eye-opening for both of them. I have to make sure each night after bathtime that Walker is in PJs that are "town-worthy" in case the boys decide to take any unplanned road trips...Daddy doesn't always (read: never) gets The Boy in real clothes. I'm not complaining though, because he is fed and dry and relatively clean most of the time. God love Dwayne, he just jumped in with both feet and is doing exceptionally well with Walker.

Walker turned 8 months old on January 29th. Eight.Months.Old. I can hardly believe it! Where has time gone? Mr. Man is totally mobile and has graduated from the "Fish-Flop" to the "Inchworm." I have full faith that he is going to get the hang of real crawling but for the moment the inchworm will do. He can successfully get anywhere in the house; quickly! He has also figured out the standing bit. We have to help him stand and establish a firm hand-hold on a firmly rooted object but he will then stand for quite a while. When he is tired he will just plop right down on his little diapered heiney and giggle (most of the time). He has also figure out the whole smile-on cue thing which came in really handy for his 8-month photo shoot with Mama and Rae-Rae.

Speaking of his 8-month photo shoot (clever segue, huh?)...here are some of my favorites:

An oldie but one of my faves!

Walker is most definitely the apple of his daddy's eye!

Crawford, The Dog...

...is just a living, breathing Todd!

Walker is having fun interacting with the puppies, Crawford and McGregor. And now that he sits like a champ we are more comfortable allowing him to play with them. The dogs, however, aren't too keen on hair pulling and "hugs" from a sometimes overzealous seven-month-old. Oh, they tolerate it well and never, ever snap at him but they have learned to stay just out of reach of The Boy. Now that he is more mobile I think they are going to have to come up with a new strategy!

7 Months 2 Weeks Old

Well, it's raining here and the Boy is sleeping so I thought that I would post an update about Walker's latest developmental milestones.

He has his two bottom teeth and is so stinkin' cute when he gives us his big open-mouthed grin. He reminds me of the cutest Jack-O-Lantern that you have ever seen. He sits like a champ but sometimes he squishes his fat little belly causing him to spit-up. Gag! He's never been a spitter so I'm waiting for him to get mobile and get leaner. He can get on all fours and rock back and forth. He has been doing this since before Christmas and I keep thinking that any day he will take off crawling. But, nope. He can't keep his torso up on just one arm. LOL! Typical fat kid. So he rests himself on his chest and pushes with his little legs. Oh, he can get wherever he wants to go but it looks funny with his little heiney in the air and pushing with his feet.
He has also increased his babbling quite a bit. He says: "mamamamamamamma" when he is looking for me or when he sees me. And he says it with a precious little grin. It warms my heart every time! He has also discovered Peek-A-Boo and loves to play it around a corner or wall. He will lean over and look for whoever is playing with him and giggle when you jump out and yell "Boo!" Oh, and our little guy is turning out to be quite the Cassanova! He is just a big ole flirt!

Mr. Man takes all of his formula from a sippy-cup now except for the first bottle in the morning and the last bottle before bed. We switched to the sippy-cup because it has handles that he can hold. He refuses to hold his bottle, even though he is perfectly capable, but he will hold his cup so I thought it was a perfect time to make the transition.

He eats loads of baby food and we have started some table foods. Potatoes and carrots are his favorites. We have had pot roast several times this winter and he just can't get enough. He even like the meat! The other night I gave him some turnips that we were having with our dinner and you would have thought that they were candy! LOL! But, since he is now eating (or at least tasting) what we eat I have to be careful how I spice/season things. We have our pediatrician's blessing on all of this, by the way.
He goes to the babysitter a few times a month where he is absolutely spoiled. Koko is really good to him and I couldn't ask for anything more. I'm not sure that his feet actually touch the ground when he is visiting her but that's ok. She loves him almost as much as I do and treats him well.

We pray that this update finds you and yours truly blessed. We remain thankful for all that God has given us and all that we know he will provide.

Look Ma, No Hands!

Walker has been inseparable with this itty-bitty stuffed fox (we've named him Todd, clever, huh)ever since he was itty-bitty himself. We have several Todd's in various incarnations. We sleep with Todd, ride in the car with Todd, and carry Todd around in our mouth nearly everywhere. On this particular day Todd went for a wagon ride with Walker. Evidently Todd tastes very good and it is not necessary to carry him with one's hands. Hands are needed for drumming out an original tune on the extra seat in the wagon! Mama just has one question: If pork is the "other white meat," is fox the "other red meat"?

Just our kiddo...

...thank you, God, for our perfect boy!

Brrrrrr!

It's very cold here this morning. We live in South Texas....it's not supposed to be this cold! We busted out our parkas when it got down to 50 degrees; I'm ready to hibernate!

Walker got a new jacket for Christmas from Mama and Daddy. Yes, it's a tiny Carhart and it is so stinkin' precious. It does keep him warm but he's not especially fond of it. Mainly because the sleeves are a wee bit long and the hood is too big for even his ginormous noggin so he has to wear a toboggan cap as well.

Here he is on Christmas Day taking a bottle while sitting in Mimi's lap on Mims & Grandad's porch.

Bathtime Fun and Giggles Galore

Walker so enjoys bath time. We don't have a true bath tub in our teeny weeny rental. But we are blessed with an extra deep shower which Walker loves. We even found a shower attachment that sticks to the shower wall which allows the hand-held shower head to be lowered to Mr. Man height. I'm sure it won't be nearly as fun when Boudreaux learns to stand on his own and thinks running around in the shower is mighty fun. But for now, this is just the ticket! Here's hoping you enjoy looking at these half as much as he enjoyed tonight's shower!



And after his shower, Walker was in such a good mood he blessed us with his sweet giggles for quite a while. Here's another little something to warm your heart on this frigid day!

2009 Joys

Well, we're one week into 2010 and I can't quit reflecting on the abundant joys 2009 brought to the Foxes. I've seen this several other places and thought that it was fun. Here is a recap of 2009 in numbers:

1 - new baby
2 - dogs
3 - trips back to Texas to visit
4 - cars for two drivers :-/
5 - days in the hospital
10- perfect fingers and 10 perfect toes
900-square feet in our tiny new rent house
2200-square feet in our old one :(
countless memories

And now, onto today's photo:

You gotta love a sweet sleeping baby boy...in longhandles!

Seems Boudreaux has developed an aversion to covers requiring his Mama and Daddy to bundle him up good and warm at night. Thank goodness warm baby jammies are the cutest things!

Blocks do not taste so good...

...but Walker had to give it a try. It seems that everything goes in the mouth these days; and the fuzzier, the better. We can often times be seen spitting out the pacifier to chew on a Wubbie or Todd's (the stuffed Fox) foot. Blech!

We have almost completed the first week of Twenty-Ten and the Foxes are doing fantastic! Dwayne has completed countless applications and submitted even more resumes in the last couple of months and we are hoping that we will hear some positive news now that the Holidays are over. Reagan is also beginning to submit resumes and applications in the interim. As always, prayers for gainful employment would be greatly appreciated. God is good and we believe in His power to provide but we also believe that we must pull our own weight. So, without further ado, it's off to pull my own weight. ;)

This one's for Grandad....

He had knee replacement surgery yesterday and, although he is quite sore, he is doing very well. God is good and we praise Him for the skilled hands of the surgeons and the great job they did, for the success of Dad's surgery - complication free, and for his quick recovery.

The Pay-It-Forward-Game

Two posts in one day...go me! So, I was perusing other people's (complete and total strangers) blogs this morning and I came upon The Pay-It-Forward Game.

I've decided that it sounds fun and that I am going to play. So now I get to make some things and send them to people. Here are the rules:

The first three (3) people interested in this little game will leave a message on this post. I will then send a handmade gift to those 3 people within the next year (most likely in the next few months). In order to play the game though, you must be willing to keep the spirit alive, and post a "Pay it Forward", and send out 3 handmade gifts to your readers! (You can take a year to send yours, if you need to!). It doesn't have to be anything big or a major project--just homemade. Even cookies and baked goods count.

So, anyone interested? Leave me a message.

Sleep...Elusive Sleep

Day 2...and it's not even 8am yet! That would be because our darling, precious, sweet, angel boy has decided for the last couple of nights that sleep is just not a necessity. Oh, he'll snooze for an hour or two all while whining then wake us up screaming. Sometimes his eyes aren't even open for said screaming fits - but ours sure are! He is currently down for a nap but it isn't looking hopeful.....

I long for this:

or this:

New Year....New Promises!

OK, so I'm the first to admit that I've been a terrible blogger over the last year. Oh, yes, I had the grandest of plans to be a "Modern Mama" and post to my blog regularly to boast about how wonderful our son is. I planned to share all of his firsts, all of his accomplishments, and perhaps most importantly, tons of his pictures. Um, yeah....we can all see that that didn't happen. Grrrr and phooey on me!

Well, it's 2010 and now I'm going to do better....I promise! Here is my goal: a picture a day, every day. Notice I didn't say promise, just goal. And hey, here it is January 2nd and I'm just getting started.......

Walker's First Christmas...

...and his second stocking. Santa left this one at Mims and Grandad's house. We had such a fabulous first Christmas with Mr. Man. His Mimi and Uncle Huck came to see us and spent Christmas with all of Mama's family.