Naptime

After a few weeks of struggling to get Price to nap consistently, I have finally won the war (at least this week). Children really do like routine, I typically do not. However, in my effort to be a good mom, I have become more routine oriented and have tried to be consistent with routines for Price's sake. Our recent trip to Texas followed by a cold and teething got that off track, but I think we really have overcome the naping issue, the morning nap anyway, but I'm ok with that for now.

So, now I wake up everyday between 6 and 6:30 regardless if Price is awake and wake him up. He eats breakfst around 7:30 and then we play until about 8:40, come upstairs read a book and then it's naptime. Lately, he's been sleeping for 2- 2 1/2 hours- it's wonderful!! The problem I face is what should I do. Several days this week, I've also taken a nap. While I feel that's good for me mentally (since Don has been keeping me awake coughing and Price has decided this would be a fun time to wake up at 1 am), I feel a little guilty about it, because I know there are other more productive things I could be doing.

I was good today and even though I've been up since 5, I didn't take a nap and tried to get some things done while Price has been sleeping. I must admit, I think I like the naps better...

The Little Things

It's amazing to me the changes Price goes through on a daily basis. It seems like just about every day he does something that he didn't do the day before. Being able to witness these changes is one of the joys of being a stay at home mom. For instance, yesterday when I was feeding Price his breakfast, which consisted of homemade, organic baby food carrots, peas and green beans with a side of oatmeal, he was gumming/chewing his food. When we first started feeding him, the fod went in, but it came back out on his tongue as he figured out how it all worked. I had never noticed him using his jaws to work on his food until yesterday. He also really loves to help us feed him. This is ok, as long as we're not in a hurry and don't really care if he ends up with his food in his hair, on his face and stuck in the creases under his neck and between his fingers. It's so funny because when he first started eating, I thought we had somehow gotten a kid who wasn't going to be a messy eater (which I couldn't understand since at 34 I can hardly manage a meal without spilling anything on myself or those sitting near me). His first attempt at cereal was documented, but somewhat disappointing because of the lack of mess. He's making up for it now! (Pictures to follow soon).

The Big Dance

We really enjoy living in Dayton (I never expected to feel that way when we found out we were moving here 3 years ago). We are close to several major cities, there are lots of things to do around Dayton itself and this year as a special bonus, the first 2 rounds of the NCAA basketball tournament was played here. For some reason, both Don and I were initially oblivious to this fact. We were also oblivious to the fact that if Pitt (Don's alma mater) had a top seed in the tourney, they would be playing here.

Anyway, we found out and Pitt ended up coming to Dayton to play, so we secured tickets and took Price to his first Pitt game (if you don't count the game we went to last year when he was in my belly). It was a lot of fun even though poor Don was sick with some random virus. He came home early from work, looked like crap and went to bed. When he woke up to get ready for the game,he had a fever and we almost gave the tickets away. However, being the true fan that he is, he pushed through, told himself he wasn't sick and away we went! It was a true success story of mind over matter, because other than a lingering cough he really did seem better. The fact that Pitt won and advanced to round 2 may have helped.

Happiness...

Tonight I was standing in the kitchen and I was happy. I wasn't elated or excited, but contentedly happy. We are so blessed... we have good friends; we have an amazing family, enhanced by Price's arrival 7 months ago; and we are having a nice time in life right now. This realization came to me as I was cooking dinner, making baby food and relishing the fact that we had purchased tickets to the first round of the NCAA tourney to see Pitt (Don's alma mater) play Eastern Tennessee State. A verse of an Eagles' song popped into my head as I realized this, "I have a peaceful, easy feeling..." It's a nice place to be.

A lovely day....

Today we spent the day with our great pals the Mays. We had lunch together and then headed to the Cox Arboretum. The daddies (Don and Nathan) each strapped on a baby (somehow the mommies (Rachel and I) became the pack mules, pushing the heavily laden stroller) and off we went on our first hike. We attempted a 1.8 mile loop, but had to cut the trip short due to babies' tempers and mommies' bladders. It was such a lovely day, mid 60s not a cloud in the sky. Feels like spring is finally on its way! One of the best things about living up north is experiencing four seasons and spring is a true celebration for surviving the winter. We plan to visit again once everything is in bloom.


Don and I love that Price enjoys being outside as much as the two of us do and also that he is such a good sport about being toted around. We are so excited about this spring and summer and all of the fun we're going to have!

Laughter!

He laughs! FINALLY! Today, I heard the most beautiful, joyful noise ever- Price's first belly laugh. He thought a new squeaky toy of Isabelle's was the funniest thing ever. She would squeak it and he would giggle, then Don would squeak it and he would giggle. I was overcome with happiness because he is 7 1/2 months old and I had never heard him really laugh. He is a smiley, happy baby so I wasn't worried about his emotions or his ability to connect with people. I was worried though that him not laughing was in some way a reflection of the time Don was gone. When it was just the two of us, there wasn't a lot of laughter in the house. I would smile and sing silly songs and do silly dances for Price's benefit, but I didn't laugh- I rarely had folks around who could make me laugh and if something on TV was funny enough to actually make me laugh out loud, Price was probably already in bed.

Now that Don is home, our house is full of laughs- he laughs at me, I laugh at him, we just laugh because we are happy and silly and love each other and our family. I think Price has finally heard enough real laughter, laughter that comes from love, that he is able to express it too. And for that I thank God!

Texas

November 3- November 14, 2008

Price, Bea and I FINALLY arrived in Mansfield.  Price got to meet his Granddad for the first time and they hit it off immediately!  We spent two great weeks with Bea and Don.  Bea and I played tennis several times (it was great playing for the first time in over a year).  Two of my oldest and dearest friends, Kristen and Jennifer, came to meet Price.  It was wonderful spending time with them and catching up.  Jennifer and I stayed up late into the night talking.  Price also met his uncle Danny for the first time too.  The only sad part was Don wasn't there to be part of the introductions and get togethers.  Price also started cooing while we were in Mansfield.  It was a bittersweet time because it was new for him and it was hysterical listening to him discover his voice, and I wanted to pick up the phone and share it with Don, but I couldn't- so I did the next best thing and called my mom.

November 14 - December 25, 2008

My mom flew up to Dallas and drove to Houston with Price and me.  We stayed in Houston for about 6 weeks, excluding our Thanksgiving trip to Louisiana (I think I'll put that in it's own post). We had a good drive down, Price slept the entire way except for the last 20 minutes of the drive. He screamed for that whole portion of the trip.  We would have made it without the meltdown if we had enough toll money to get home, but we didn't so we stopped to see my brother, Trey (who met Price for the first time through the car window).  He met us outside his office and gave us money, which we didn't even end up using!

We got home and the next night Mom had Trey, Arianne, Will, and Delores over for dinner.  It was nice to see everyone, but I was so exhausted, I got sent to bed.  I think they just wanted to play with Price, but I was so tired, I was on the verge of tears- so I did as I was told and went to bed and slept for a few hours.  The next night, we went to Mr. Paul's birthday party.  It was nice to see all of the Finnegans.

Our time in Houston was weird, we struggled to find a balance of space/time/sanity.  Price and I went and visited with my dad which was nice (and I have rarely thanked God more than I id driving home from seeing him- a drive which usually takes a little over 2 hours took about 4, but Price was wonderful and slept the whole time).  I got to meet up with an old friend from high school, we went to church, we attended Mom's Christmas program and threw 3 parties in one CRAZY, hectic day.  Christmas and my birthday were difficult because Don wasn't there and he wasn't able to communicate (after months of open communication, all lines were cut of, at the worst time).  And Roger's brother-in-law passed away on Christmas eve.  So, all of our Christmas/traveling plans were changed up at the last minute- but it worked out in the end.

December 25-29

Mom drove back up to Dallas with Price and me on Christmas Day.  Roger picked her up and they continued on to Tulsa for the funeral.  Price and I walked into culture shock at the in-laws.  The normally calm, quiet house which is usually a nice respite from the craziness of my family's home did not exist!  My brother and sister in law and their 3little girls were there- all were sick, Bea was sick. It was a loud, sick house and I had the Christmas blues.  We had to cut our visit short so that I could meet Mom in Tulsa and she could drive back to Ohio with us.

December 29 - 30

Other than going the wrong way on the Indian Nation Turnpike in the middle of nowhere (Oklahoma), I ended up making an illegal u-turn rather than driving 60 miles out of my way to get back on track, Price and I made it to Tulsa safe and sound.  The next day we left Tulsa and headed for home.  I was excited to be heading home because I was ready to be back in my own space and REALLY ready for Don to be home.  We got to stop and visit with another great friend who lives outside of Tulsa.  It was so wonderful to meet her newest addition and catch up in person. 

We made it back to Dayton on December 30.  Mom was to fly out early on the morning of the 31st. Of course, she missed her flight and ended up staying a few extra days. I can't say I minded :)

I have told Don's family and mine how much we appreciated all of their support while he was gone.  I really don't know what I would have done without them.

Headed South...

October 30, 2008-November 2, 2008

My mother-in-law came to Ohio to visit her newest grandchild and our newest niece, Ashtyn. Since she was coming to Ohio she volunteered to drive back to Texas with Price, Isabelle and me. It saved my life- it helped me leave Ohio about a month earlier than I had originally planned.

Price and I went to Cleveland to see Don's brother's family and pick Bea up. We drove back to Dayton, spent the night. Bea spent the next day watching Price as I spent it getting the car taken care of and loading months of stuff into every nook and cranny of the car. I wasn't sure what all I needed to take with me for the baby who was going to be changing sizes and seasons, so I took EVERYTHING, which was wayyyyy toooo much stuff. We finally left town around 5:30 pm on October 30. We drove to Bowling green, Kentucky. A trip that normally takes about 4 hours took us about 6 thanks to baby, although he was great we just couldn't get our schedules lined up!

10-31-08
We drove from Bowling Green to Memphis. We made it to town in time for Price to participate in his first Halloween trick-or-treating with his second cousins- Hudson, Catcher and Stanton. In hindsight, we probably should have skipped this ritual because Price had a major meltdown about 5 minutes after arriving and Bea and I ended up pushing the stroller and feeding him at the same time. When it was time to load the stroller back into the car, I really questioned my decision and also my ability to mother.... (but he made a cute snowman and in hindsight itwas worth it for the pictures)





11-1-08
After spending a nice relaxing morning in Memphis, had breakfast with Shauna, went to Hudson's soccer game, lunch with the entire Miller clan, we headed on to Monroe, LA. what a lllooonnngggg trip that was. Again, couldn't quite align our eating, stopping for gas schedule with Price's which added extra time and led to a few meltdowns a long the way. My reward for the trip that day was a pizza from Johnny's for dinner.

11-2-08
We woke up early and met Suzanne and Kristal for breakfast at the Cracker Barrel. It was so nice to see them and catch up. They were the closest friends I had in Monroe, and it means so much to me that we stay in touch. We had a lovely breakfast. Once it was over, we had to head back to the hotel to pick up Isabelle and hit the road for our final destination!

Price was really great in the car pretty much the whole trip- because it's the way it always happens, the last day was the worst, but I think it was because he had been in the car for 3 days and like the restof us, just ready to be done. he won't remember it, but the kid ate more meals in rest areas and truck stops. He also had been through more states in the first 4 months of his life (Ohio, Kentucky, Tennesee, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas) than some people ever go to their entire lives.

It's Been a While...

I am a horrible blogger! I haven't posted anything on here in about 6 months. Lots of things have happened in the 6 months I've been not posting mainly it looks like this:

Don left (pre posting hiatus), Terrell tried staying in Dayton as long as she could without any one here to help her, Terrell was overwhelmed, Terrell and Price went to Texas for 2 months. Don came back from deployment and all was right with the world.

Don was teasing me last night about having a desire to blog, but not following through, and he was right. And I keep thinking about of the adventures and milestones in Price's life that I want to document, so I am going to blog. I know it's a little late in the game, but I am adding another Lenten commitment- I am going to blog something everyday for the remainder of Lent. I am going to cheat a little and do some back tracking and hopefully get us caught up with things.