11 months!

Dear Field,

You are 11 months old!  Woah, woah, woah, baby Field...when did you get so old? ;)

We love you so much, baby boy, and are so blessed to be your mommy and daddy.

Daddy has to hold me down for pictures now.  

Here are some facts about you at 11 months:

-You are a speed crawler.  I am amazed at how fast you move.  We have had to move all of the floor lamps away because before we know it, you have found them and are sliding them across the floor (Yikes!).

-You still take 2 naps a day.  The morning nap starts around 10am and the afternoon nap is usually sometime around 3:00.

-A few Saturdays ago, you skipped your morning nap so you could go to cousin Caroline's birthday party.  You did great!  We got home at about 12:30, fed you a bottle, and you finally went to sleep at about 1.  You slept for 3.5 hours!  When we left the party, you were rubbing your eyes and were getting sleepy.  Everyone said you would fall asleep in the car, but your daddy and I know better.  You don't sleep in the car, Field!  Something about the car makes you stay wide awake (totally opposite of most babies!)

-Speaking of cousin Caroline's birthday party, you rode the carousel for the first time and you LOVED it!  I have never seen you smile so big and it made me want to cry because you were so happy!  We love to see you happy!  After 3 rounds on the carousel, you had to get off the horsey and you were so upset and mad at us.  We know you wanted to stay on the carousel but we were dizzy, Field!  Don't worry, we'll do more carousel rides in the future.

I love the carousel!

Better hold on, daddy's not watching! ;)

-We haven't seen a doctor in quite awhile.  It's so strange.  We are used to having monthly check-ups with both the pediatrician and the cardiologist, but both have given us more time to play and be "normal."  We'll see the pediatrician at your one year appointment and we see the cardiologist sometime next month.  She gave us a 2 month pass last time we saw her.  

I am a happy boy!

-A few days ago, your daddy and I took you to Hardberger Park to play.  You really liked the rocking horses and the swings.  Before I put you in the swing, I wiped it down with antibacterial wipes.  As I was doing this, the mom pushing the little boy next to us loudly told her little boy that he should go and play in the dirt and mud after the swings and get really dirty.  Field, I think she was making fun of me for wiping down your swing before you got in.  It made me sad, but was a good reminder that we should never judge other moms.  We never know each other's stories and there is usually a good reason for most things mommies do that might seem ridiculous to others.  Your daddy told me I should have given her our story...then maybe she would understand why we are germa-phobics.  :)  I just smiled and continued to do what I felt was best for you.

-Field, we sold our house!  Daddy has owned this home for over 5 years.  When your daddy and I got married, I moved in to what I like to call the "bachelor pad."  We did a lot of work to the house, but we knew we wouldn't be here long term.  We put our house on the market this spring and it sold in 3 weeks!  We bought a lovely home very close to where we are now.  It has more space and a playroom for you, Field!  We LOVE the neighborhood and have already met some great, young, and fun neighbors.  Field, we are going to have so much fun in our new house and new neighborhood!

-You are packing on the lbs!  It's funny because most people who guess your age...always say 7 months. I always have to explain that you are little for your age.  You aren't really short, just skinny.  But suddenly, the lbs are starting to show and you are getting heavy.  Go Field Go!

I LOVE to eat.  

Well, Field, Happy 11 months little guy!  We can't wait to celebrate your ONE YEAR birthday next month.  It is going to be so special.  We have all been through so much.  We all deserve a celebration...especially YOU!

Picture of Health

Field and I were at the grocery store today.  He was happy and giggly (is that a word?).  He LOVES to be pushed in the cart - he thinks it's funny. ;)

A random lady, whom I do not know, came up to Field and started talking to him.  I smiled and continued bagging up the potatoes I needed.  Then she looked at me and told me that my child is the "picture of health."  She then said, "You are doing a such a good job as his mother...that is one happy and healthy boy."  I wanted to cry.  Not out of sadness, but with joy.  If only she knew what we had been through during Field's first year of life.  If only she knew of the scars battle wounds underneath that precious t-shirt.  I smiled and said thank you.

I never thought I would ever hear that about my Field but am thankful that God is good and He finds ways to show His love.  We are so grateful for Field's health and dare I say it, so grateful for what we've been through.  For it makes moments like that so much sweeter.

Just thought I would share...

Father/Son Love

I was feeding Field his dinner the other night and daddy arrived home from work.  I had to capture the smiles and giggles from Field when he saw his daddy.  (Sorry for the poor quality...the phone was all I had to capture the moment.)  He LOVES his daddy, and I mean LOVES HIM!  When daddy is home, Field holds on to him for dear life and cries when I try to hold him.  It kind of hurts my feelings, but what's a mom to do??  I am also happy for Brad.  I know it is a wonderful feeling to have his son look up to him so much!  These two are going to have a blast together as father and son.  :)

Motherhood Guest Blogger

I am guest blogging over at Peek in our World today.

My friend, Brooke, is the author of the blog.  We have been friends since high school, but because we weren't in the same grade and participated in different school activities, we didn't know each other super well.  Brooke went to a different college and lived in different cities post-college, and then our paths crossed again when she just recently moved back to SA.  I knew Brooke was pregnant and I knew that her sweet girl was going to have a tough start to life...what I did not know is that my sweet boy would also have a tough start.  As Brooke put it best, "I have no doubt that The Big Guy put us in each other's lives with specific care."  This was not a coincidence.  This was not an accident.  This was meant to happen with the Lord's plan for both of our lives.  Brooke has been a wonderful and supportive friend and I am so very grateful for the relationship that has formed between the two of us.  Our babies are just 7 weeks apart and they love to stare at each other.  It is pretty precious.  :)  We love playing with the Meabons and our hubbies LOVE to be together too.  I mean they really LOVE each other.  It makes Brooke and I laugh!  To top all of that off, we just bought a new home one street over from the Meabons.

Field and Harper are going to be the best of friends. 

Their mommies and daddies are going to have some good times too.

You can read my post by clicking here.

Thanks, Brooke!

Mother's Day 2011

The weekend started out with a little mini-reunion in Austin with a few very good friends from college who were all exactly my age.  We had the best time and I LOVED catching up with everyone.  Austin has changed SO much since we were in college and it is the best city.  Did I mention it was my first time to leave Field overnight?  He was bachelor'n it with his daddy and they did great.  I got several text pics and updates from the hubby so that eased my mind.  I wasn't even gone for more than 24 hours, but it felt good to get away and I barely worried about my boys.  ;) 

Love my girlfriends!

Mother's Day began with a very sweet, sincere, and emotional speech from the hubby.  He told me how proud he is of the way we have handled our first year as parents and how, as a mother, I have endured more than most momma's ever have to go through in a lifetime.  (Probably true, but I know some moms have been through way more.  I count my blessings every day.)  He then went on to say he wouldn't want to go through parenthood with any other person.  I feel the same about him.  Love you Brad!   

Aren't these two of the cutest boys you've ever seen?  

Love my hubby...love my baby boy...I am truly blessed.

I mean, does it get any cuter than this?  I LOVE his outfit.  My mom says that when she used to dress my brother like this when he was little, he would cry the entire time.  Ha!  Thanks, sweet Fieldie, for being a good sport.  I know you like the Polos and khaki shorts but your momma loves to see you dressed up every once in awhile.

Sunday morning, we had a fun brunch with my family over at my sister's house.  I love these 3 children!  The girls might just be my nieces, but Aunt Li Li loves them as my own!

Ellie loves to hold hands with Field.  So very sweet.  

We asked Caroline to grab Field's hand, but Ellie Belly did it all on her own.  

And this sweet little girl, also my goddaughter, makes me smile.

Gorgeous Lina Bean!

These 3 cousins have a blast together.  

The girls letting Field ride their horsey.  Field and Ellie are getting to the age where they really like to look at each other and "play."  They are going to be the best of friends.  

Now Field is in their Baby Bouncer.  Field is looking at Ellie again.  

I think she wanted in the bouncer but he was telling her no.  HA!  

Bounce, bounce, bounce.

Look at those legs on Field.  

So. stinkin. cute!

The mommas.  BB (my mom) is an amazing mother.  She is patient, loving, and devoted to her family.  I love that her husband, children, and grandchildren consume her heart.  She will do anything for us.  She has really taught me how to love unconditionally day in and day out.  She also knows how to spoil us too.  It is not uncommon for BB to walk in the door with a bag full of goodies for both Field and I - and for no reason other than she saw some things at the store that we might like.  I love that!  And she has great taste so I always love what she brings me.  My sister is a wonderful role model for me.  She helps me to relax and not to worry so much.  I love that I have her to lean on when I have questions or concerns.  She's also so fun to be with.  She loves Field and I love that about her!  

Mommas and daughters/sons/grandchildren. 

We missed Aunt Tara!

The dads.  Well, Uncle Bubba isn't a dad, but he will be someday!  And his nieces and nephews LOVE their Uncle Bubba.  As for the rest of the dads in the pic...they'll have to wait until Father's Day for my special words about them.  :)

The hubs is holding our niece and Uncle Michael is holding Field.  

Poppy (my dad) is holding Caroline.
Once again, Field is staring at Cousin Ellie.

Then we enjoyed a quiet afternoon while Field napped and mommy and daddy took turns getting out for a quick work out (it's getting to be quite ridiculous that I have not lost all of this baby weight yet.  Ugh!).

Then we had dinner over at the Johnsons.

Nonnie and her handsome boys!
Field loves his Nonnie and his Uncle Matt.  

I love my MIL!  She knows a lot about raising boys.  :) She always has a smile on her face and has a beautiful spirit.  I've really grown in my faith thanks to Nonnie (Brad's mom, my MIL).  She loves to laugh and I love that Field brings her so much joy.  We are so blessed that they live so close and are always willing and ready to help out with Field.  Back when Field wasn't sleeping through the night yet, Nonnie would come over often to spend the night and take care of Field all night so the hubs and I could sleep.  It was such a wonderful gift!    

Happy Mother's Day to the precious moms in my family - and to all of my sweet mommy friends - in real life and the blogging world!

Love you all~