6 Month Appointment and Zoo Boise

Today was baby Jesse's 6 month appointment. This appointment was much more pleasant as he only had to get 2 shots and an oral rotavirus vaccine. Our pediatrician was nice and let us bring Grandma Rose and Great Grandma Barnett to the appointment. They got to ask lots of questions.

Jesse smiled a lot at Dr. Rand and he checked his ears and says they look fine but did write a script for ear numbing drops- just in case. He also says we can start giving him a little free water and juice now (but no orange juice).

In terms of measurements he now is 18 lbs 11oz and 27 and 1/4in long. And he has a big head. I don't remember the specifics, but it's a good size noggin. He did really well with his shots and only cried for maybe 15 seconds and immediately went back to playing (and attacking my face- he loves to do that when he is hyper!)

So he is still doing well and no health concerns to report. We are blessed with a healthy and happy kid.

We also went to Zoo Boise with the family today. The baby pretty much slept through it, but Emma was a trooper and looked at EVERYTHING! Jesse woke up near the end and did see the Meercats and a couple monkeys. I took him to the gift shop hoping to get him a stuffed animal or something, and he was very disinterested. My son, such a saver of $$!

Family in Town

Jesse's family is in town. Baby Jesse has gotten the opportunity to meet his "Auntie" Jenn and his great grandma Barnett! These photo's document it all! He is such a social boy.

We think he is in the middle of another growth spurt as he spent the prior week sleeping all the time and now is eating like a mad man and having trouble staying asleep this week (and demanding a night time feeding). He is doing very well with all his visitors and smiles so BIG in the morning when he see's Grandma Rose. He is pretty pleased his friends don't go away at night.

It's fun to watch him. At the moment it looks like he is obsessed with push-ups but I think he is trying to figure out the next step of crawling. He moves his legsbut hasn't figured how to push off with his knee's yet.



He is eating some non-formula product at least once a day and can down an entire container in one sitting. He still loves to mooch off our food. I can't eat anything around this guy. He is such a kleptomaniac!



We are going to the zoo tomorrow so we should have some awesome photos to post again soon. And we are having family and 6 month photos taken tomorrow as well. Stay posted!

The "Other" Days

Some days I wake up and go to work with very little problems and little to no guilt. This morning was not that day. In fact it would qualify as those "other days." What I suspect a lot of working mom's go through are the days where our children are growing before our very eyes and we long for just "one more day" with them. At these times I long for more time at home.

But in the back of my mind I know I am blessed. Blessed with a wonderful husband/ daddy who is VERY involved with our son's raising and care as well as housework and fix-it projects that need to be done. I am blessed with a sister-in-law who helps watch him when we need and who loves him as much as we do and knows his idiosyncracies in and out. After all she was there throughout the pregnancy, the birth, and his whole life thus far.

I try and dwell and these thoughts instead of the guilt. We are blessed with friends and resources beyond my wildest dreams. I get to work to support my family and provide for them in the ways I had always dreamed. And I wouldn't trade Nampa for nearly anything.

But see these pictures? This is why it's impossible to leave this adorable guy more often than not. He is just too wonderful and adorable. I am so lucky.

Recent Photos of Mr. Man...

Today, after I had been home from work about an hour so I put the baby in his jumper. He started fussing a little. And then he became kind of quiet. I watched in awe as he grabbed at his teddy bear, pulled him in close like a pillow, snuggled in close and fell asleep! It was so precious. Jesse took a few pictures I have posted as evidence of the too adorable moment.

Then Sarah and Emma came over to help us put up Jesse's name above his bed. I got it from the Lemon Tree off of Midland. The lady there is really nice and seems to really know her stuff! She helped pick out the color and lettering style. We put Emma and Jesse in Jesse's crib. Minus Jesse playing rough with Emma as though she were his very own play thing.. it was adorable. I love this picture because Jesse's face is like, "MOM, this is so taboo!" Doesn't Jesse still look like a giant next to Emma? Give it a few months and it'll be even harder to tell.

This is the lettering we got over Jesse's crib. Disney lettering goes very well with the classic Winnie-the-Pooh crib room. Sarah and I are contemplating making little wooden bee's to paint and place in the room in various places. I am excited, my creativity bone has been aching to get some use lately. So it'll be good to finish his room the way I always wanted it. I am also contemplating getting a quote from Winnie-the-Pooh to add as well. I just don't want to go over board. What do you think?

And then here is my adorable boy in his Bumbo chair. He likes them alright, but not nearly as much as his cousin Emma! This outfit was given to him by good friends in Myrtle creek and I love the matching bib. He has been eating a lot of apple sauce lately and LOVES it. I think so far from the sweet potatoes, green beans, squash, and applesauce.. he likes apples the BEST! But can you tell how blonde he is getting? He used to be completely dark brown. He is growing up so fast.

In 2 weeks he will be six months old. I can hardly believe it! He is such fun. We are looking forward for Auntie Jenn to come on Sunday all the way imported from Australia! We have lots of exciting events planned with more photos to come over the next few weeks. Grandma Rose and Great Grandma Barnett will all be out soon too. Should be a blast!

But for now, a little man is fighting sleep. And daddy seems frazzled. So more later.

The Mall and the Car Stroller

Sarah, Melinda, and I went to a baby shower and then to the mall today. When we got there it was clear I needed a stroller of some kind so we thought to invest in the car stroller at the Boise Mall and Jesse just loved it and had a lot of fun "driving" it. He looked so cool and calm as he paid no attention to where he was going. One sales person at a cellular phone kiosk commented on his lack of attention on his driving, to which I replied, "A typical Idaho driver." But honestly.. the five bucks was worth the fun and the smile on his face! Enjoy the photos!

God is so Good...

Today was interesting and informative, in more ways than one. God is proving to me that he works in mysterious and often humorous ways. There are many things currently going on that make me say this, and some I am not at liberty to discuss on a public blog. But even now, God provides. He provides comfort, when I am uncomfortable. He provides friendship when I am lonely. He provides, even when I don't know I need. Good is good! And he has been good to us.

Monday I signed all the severance paperwork for St. Al's. It sucked. But now it's over. Even though it was hard, there is such relief in this being finalized. I miss my friends and co-workers. And it's hard to move on. But time will hopefully help with that.

I have been in the clinic all week. I am now seeing some patients but I cannot dictate any of them until the Idaho Board of Medicine has my information and switches my attending physician status. Hopefully that will be soon.

Yesterday I got to go to Fruitland to the Dominican Health Clinic and help with one of the clinics and then today I went to Twin to do a clinic with another one of my Physicians. It was just me and him driving out there and I drove the way home. Ironically, I got pulled over by a cop. I wasn't speeding or anything. He came up and told me immediately why he pulled me over. "Ma'am, did you know you're missing your front license plate?" Of which I replied, "No, I had no idea. This isn't my car. It's his (referring to my physician)." He ultimately didn't give me a ticket but I am pretty sure it gives me a good excuse as to why I don't want to drive to Twin Falls again, ever. I didn't want to drive last week because the newness of me was just a set up for me crashing or something. So getting pulled over was ironic. And kind of funny. I always thought I'd cry when I got pulled over for the first time. But I think because I knew I hadn't done anything wrong that I was able to stay calm.

oh, and supposedly I would've gotten the ticket because as the driver it is MY job to "ensure the vehicle is in safe and legal operation." I am glad I didn't get the ticket.. I would've been livid!! So instead, it's really funny. I did a quick prayer. And thankfully, it worked! :)

I have had a cold this week. My third since the baby was born. I get one every month and this is getting ridiculous! My ears are killing me. I may have one of the PA's at work check them for me if it continues to bother me. And the sinus pressure is AWFUL! So I am going to kidnap my boys and go to bed.

And Big Girls Don't Cry

Today was the second Sunday I have had little Jesse in the crib room. I stalk him though. I take him in there and hang out with him trying to get a feel for the place. And he LOVES it. He likes playing with their toys and jumping in their jumper. His friend Cole is in there too and he is a VERY social baby. So the Crib Room is great for him. But dreadful for mom. The guilt of being a working mom has dwindled but still lingers and especially so at church. I think I am slowly letting go though. Watching his face light up when jumping along with Cole today was a big sign to me that I needed to let go and let him socialize more on his own. We will see if next Sunday I can really "cut the cord" or not.

My eye is KILLING me. It started feeling infected Friday evening so I removed my contacts. Sure enough my upper right posterior eyelid has blepharitis (stye) and it's painful and pulls off any contact lens that attempts to be put on. So I am living in my hated glasses. Usually I only wear them around the house, but have had to use them all this weekend. Now I have what looks like a large zit on the inside of my eyelid. I am applying warm compresses and keeping the eyelid margins clean, but it only helps a little. I am fairly certain I will be wearing glasses the next few days to work. Did I mention that I hate my glasses?? Stupid meibomian gland dysfunction!

Jesse is finishing up his two classes this week in Reading and Fundamentals. He has a test tomorrow and also is subbing for a third grade class at West Canyon (who notoriously become behavior problems when a sub is there).

I have to sign all the final paperwork for St. Al's and scramble back to work Monday. I am hoping the Board of Medicine paperwork goes through soon so I might be able to help out more than be in the way. That'll definitely help with my attitude and outlook I think. But for now I am exhausted.