Countdown to Christmas: Day 1 December 1st

I've started a countdown to Christmas.  I saw a cute scrapbook with that theme, so maybe if I blog about it, then i could fill the scrapbook later....maybe, I'm pretty far behind on my scrapbooking.  I did manage to do about four pages Monday night over the Fall fest this year.  That's a big accomplishment these days.  I plan on going to a crop next Saturday, but a birthday party and a Christmas party are on that day too so I don't know how much I will get done.  

Countdown Day 1 started out horrible.  I woke up with a migraine bad enough to call in sick. I took some meds and went back to bed, and managed to go to work for the afternoon.  Still, I haven't felt good all day.  One good thing happened before work, though.  I reached into my winter coat (it has been sooo cold the past couple of days) and found five dollars! Really, I'm not just saying that to make my story any better.

After work and dinner, Chase and I went to Wally world.  We picked up a gift for my niece I had shipped to store, and then bought a few groceries.  Chase was pretty antsy and trying to grab everything.  I eventually headed to the cookie aisle and got some cookies (Nila wafers) which may have been a mistake.  He just yelled cookie, cookie constantly for the next 15 minutes while I finished shopping.  I had to open the box before we got out the door.  He had quite a few, but I couldn't resist helping myself to a few too.  If only I had some Nana puddin' to go with it!

Another delivery from the UPS man arrived today.  I think he now knows me on a first name basis.  I have done 99% of my Christmas shopping online, and absolutely love Amazon.com.  I probably will get a package every day for the next two weeks. 

Cookie, cookie!

Chase has been going to bed later and later these days. He used to get cranky at bed time, but now he just gets funny.  So cute, in fact, it is hard to put him down to bed.  We played chase, choo choo and tickle monster a while before I came in to the office.  He came in shortly thereafter and had fun pulling everything off the bookcase next to me.  I have a bit of a mess to clean up, but my bed is calling my name.

 24 Days Until Chrismas!!

Thanksgiving 2010

We are blessed beyond words.  Thankful for our God, family, and friends.  

I made my yearly Chase Thanksgiving plate.  In a few years we will have a place setting of Thanksgiving chargers, but for now, they are on display.  I love going to Pottery Worx, I just don’t have enough time to go as often as I would like.  

 2010 Plate: used his foot as the turkey body

 2009 Plate: Used his hand

We first spent Thanksgiving with the Bradford’s. Got one good pic of the grandchildren.  Why couldn’t Chase be this good when we were trying to get pics made of the grandkids at Deer Camp? 

We went to Cabot later to say Happy Thanksgiving to Mimi, Pop-pop, Uncle Bob and Uncle Philip. 

  Thanks Mimi for Toy Story 3!!

I also did another craft for Chase's room. He's always coming home with some artwork from daycare and I found this on Pottery Barn Kids.  I didn't want to spend $40 plus shipping, so I made my own from some supplies from Hobby Lobby for about $4.  

Pottery Barn Star Cable (The tan part is painted on the wall)

My version...holding some of Chase's art.

I also did a cute growth chart with a big fish (Chase's room has a cabin/outdoorsy theme), but I haven't hung it up yet.  Hopefully I will get it up soon.He's getting so big!

It's Fall!!

Well, I haven’t blogged in a really long time.  We’ve been so busy.  A 911 call and trip to the ER for Chase, celebrating my niece’s first birthday, training and completing a half marathon for me, starting on our new house then it came to a screeching halt.  I’m ready for fall to get here, hopefully it will be a little less stressful than the past couple of months have been.

On October 5^th, Chase sat down for dinner with macaroni, potatoes, and a roll (a little carb fest, but he’s a growin’ boy).  As I was fixing my dinner, I realized Chase was in distress.  He was actually choking and couldn’t say anything.  I started in on some back blows and turning him facing down with his chest higher than his head.  I kept going, thinking he would clear it any second.  When that didn’t work, I tried to dig my finger in to get anything out.  That didn’t work either.  I was panicking at this point and called 911.  As I was talking to the operator, Chase finally cleared what was choking him, but blood came out with it, which scared me to death.  The 911 dispatcher called the first responders, and the fire truck was at our front door.  As Chase was doing better at this point, I decided to take him to the ER to get checked out myself instead of riding in the ambulance.  Luckily, Robert was on his way home, and we met him and drove to Clarksville ER.  Chest X-rays were normal, we think the blood was caused by my nail cutting the back of his throat.  I felt so bad for Chase, and it was a tough night.  He’s had little incidents before but they always cleared up quickly.  This time, though, made me so nervous and I thank God for being there and Chase making it through without any problems. 

My niece, Lillie Marie, turned 1 on October 6^th.  It is hard to believe she is one already.  I wish I could see her more often, but my sister lives in Waco, Texas.   We had a little photo shoot in Russellville, then we went to Schaefer’s Pumpkin Patch in Mayflower.  I would have liked to do a little more, but it was so hot for October.  We were all exhausted and ready to go home.  On Sunday, we had a birthday party for her at my parent’s house.  The kids had a blast in the ball blow ups, and I think Lillie liked being the only little girl surrounded by all the boys.

The annual Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure was on October 16^th.  A smaller group from work participated this year, but we still had a lot of fun.  It is a great girls outing and to be with so many other women for a great cause.  I think this was my 9^th race to attend.  Mimi and G Aunt Linda stayed with Chase and Lille, and my sister Julie could join us.  

Then, the day I had been dreading and stressing over finally came on October 23^rd.  I ran in my first half marathon, the Soaring Wings Half Marathon in Conway.  I had been training with a friend since June, after my first 5K that I jogged the whole distance was over in May.  I wasn’t the best at keeping up with my training schedule.  The summer was so hot, and with work and taking care of Chase (and Robert at time) it was hard to fit several runs in.  I had jogged 9.5 miles the month before, so I thought I could finish.  

 

 

 

Still, so much more to catch up on.  I also would like to include some of my crafty activities when I get a chance to take pics of them.

18 Months

Chase turned 18 months old on Monday, wow how time flies.  He has grown up sooo much.  He had his last immunization until preschool on Wednesday.  He weighed in at 25 lbs 5 oz which is in the 50th percentile and was 33 1/2 inches long. Doc said he had a growth spurt b/c he is now in the 75th percentile on height.  He definitely has big feet, now in a size 7 and wearing his cool new kicks, some new Nikes found on sale at Feltner's.  He loves showing those off.  Other loves right now:

Loves Daddy's hats; hates having one on that actually fits!

• Veggitales before going to bed
• Fav food is Lasagna now; can't get enough.  Still loves little clementines and applesauce with his dinner.  
• Swimming...he really has gotten the hang of floating around in the pool without having to be held on to.  He can spend a couple of hours in the pool at a time.

We started a Mommy & Me Gymnastics class today.  He had a good time, especially sprinting down the long trampoline.  I was afraid he would run to the edge, but he didn't.  He spent about 30 minutes in the gym and cried when we had to leave.  I think it will be good for him to get him more comfortable around others.  Day care says he's afraid to go in the playroom; not sure why, but he seems to be scared of the TV there too.  I forgot to take my camera in at the gym but hopefully will have pictures of his gym class next week.

ANO Family Day

Last Thursday we got to go the Nuclear Plant to see Dad at work.  We could go into the training center and watch a drill.  They don't allow anyone else into the plant since 9/11 so this was the next best thing.  We saw the simulator with all it's buttons.  All I can say is I'm glad I don't have to know what all those buttons do.  We have a new appreciation for what a stressful job he can have at times.  

Helping Daddy at work.

Uh Oh....the lights and horns are going off!!

Maybe we should press this flashy button!

Maybe we should call for help!

Making sure all his ducks are in a row!

Just Cheesin'

Mummmm.. Corn!

Loves Brushing his teeth!  Hopefully we won't have to see the dentist so much.

Slice of Summer

Many of those who know me, know I love scrapbooking. I haven't done much though since Chase was born, but I had done a Slice of Summer layout a couple of years ago and finally took some pics of Chase to go on it.  I took one of the pictures and put it in a collage frame on the wall.  He will now point to the picture and sign please if he wants some watermelon.  It's definitely an outdoor snack as he is a mess with it.

I've been running a few months now, and my friend Jennifer and I are up to 5 miles.  It's been so hot lately, it's been hard to get motivated.  We went out to Bona Dea Saturday morning.  I came across my first snake there.  I stepped over thinking it was just a stick, and she thought it was a snake.  We went back to look and it was a COPPERHEAD!  Needless to say, I was a bit jumpy after that, even a butterfly scared me:)  I think we may find a new route next time.  Then, on the same day, my husband found a black widow outside on the back patio.  I hope that's all the creepy critters we see for a while. 

I need to learn more about snake identification when we move out to the land.  I'm sure to find some there at some point.  Speaking of the new house, we will meet with our builder this Friday to get started with the building process.  It's exciting but I feel like I have a lot to do...picking out everything will be hard.  I'm a little indecisive at times.

July 2010

July 2-5

We went to Jacksonville on Friday night to eat at our favorite catfish restaurant growing up, the Crooked Hook. Cousin Mary came into town and we wanted to see her and MiMi, Poppa, Julie, Lillie, and G Aunt Linda. We woke up the next morning and headed to Cotter, AR where the Bradford’s gathered. It was a long trip, but we were to Lake Norfork by lunch time. It was hot there too, but Chase got some good swimming and kick boarding time in. When then headed back to the camper on the White River to do some trout fishing.Chase stayed on the bank, while Robert, Clay and I took our nephew and nieces out to catch some fish. We were pretty successful with some corn on catching some smaller trout.Didn’t keep any; no one really likes to clean and eat trout in the family. Uncle Josh, Aunt Heather and Little cousin Riley brought some great food and fixins out for dinner. The next day, we went out to Bull Shoals Lake. Talk about a change in weather. We were actually cold on July 4. It was pretty windy and overcast so we didn’t stay out too long. Chase had fun on the slide (over and over and over again). We went out to one cove and swam a little; the water was actually warmer than the air.

July 9

I spent the second night away from Chase when we went up to Fayetteville again for Bethany’s wedding reception. We stayed at a neat place: Inn at the Mill. We hear it has a great restaurant, but didn’t get a chance to eat there. We went to the Promenade to a couple of stores, found some things at Pottery Barn for our new house, and bought some PJ’s for Chase.Can’t believe his 18 month clothes are getting too small!

July 17

What? No traveling?Ahhhh, relax at home and at Maw-maw and Paw-paw's pool.

July 20

Chase came home early today with a fever of 102 and a little spotted rash all over his body today. Mimi came down so she could stay with him on Wednesday. Chase woke up at 3 am with a fever again and I gave him some Tylenol. He just wanted to be held. He finally slept a couple of hours in our bed, but I sure didn’t get any more sleep. He never ran a fever again but Robert took him to the Dr. anyway. The doc said he had a virus and if the fever didn’t come back in 12-24 hours, he would be fine. He also looked at his teeth. He has several teeth trying to come in and even has a blood blister on the gums around one of his molars. I know that has to hurt!

The next morning, Mimi went home and Chase went back to daycare.

HFMD! What’s that?

I got a call about 9:30 am from day care saying there was a confirmed case of Hand, foot and mouth disease and Chase had a rash so he had to go home. It caused a mess with child care situations so I just stayed home the rest of the day with him. They said another girl, who had a pacifier, had a rash around her mouth so they said she had HFMD. I researched the virus a lot and it stated they had blisters inside the mouth and on the hands and feet. I think they all had a virus, but not HFMD. I think the moisture around the passy caused her rash to be more prominent around the mouth, but I guess I’m not the doctor! We ended up having to get a doctor’s note, and Chase did get to stay all day at school on Friday, Water Day!

July 23

Chase is 17 months old today!!

Loves: Playing outside, swimming, giving kisses, chasing and being chased by momma, cheese, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. Favorite Movie is Toy Story. Fav book: Hello, Big Red!

Dislikes: Not eating as many veggies, leaving momma (having A LOT of separation anxiety at this stage which is really hard for me); Not liking his high chair, he wants to sit in a regular chair at dinner like a Big Boy

Learning: What time-out means – stays in his spot until we get him up (pretty surprising to us how good it has worked)

Signs: Please, more, go, thank you, all done

Says: Momma, dada, go, juice, dog, duck, bear, cheese, outside, I love you (well maybe), shoes, jump. Loves to chant: Da,DA,Da GGGOOOO!! (trying to say 1,2,3,Go!)

We think he’s starting to be a little advanced for his age – he’s experiencing the “Terrible Two’s” at 17 months! Haha