November 28, 2010

Thankful for...Pumpkin Pie?

I love Thanksgiving!  I love the food and the family gathering and the lack of expectations that typically comes with Christmas.  It is just a wonderful time to be THANKFUL!  This year we obviously have so very much to be thankful for.  Our baby boy is oh-so-healthy and it is hard to tell that he had a tough start in life.  Our marriage is as strong as ever.  Our health is good and we have good jobs.  Our puppy is still quite the pup and is learning to accept Keagan into the family.  I honestly couldn't ask for more. 

Ok, maybe one thing...Pumpkin Pie! I didn't get any pumpkin pie this Thanksgiving.  This is because we celebrated with Josh's family, and for some reason none of them eat/like pumpkin pie.  I don't quite understand it, but have learned that it just won't be a part of the feast.  (Thank goodness for Christmas, as there WILL be a pumpkin pie and I won't be the only one to eat it!)  Josh HATES it, and makes this god-awful face when I mention pumpkin pie.  It saddens me!  It just isn't Thanksgiving without Pumpkin Pie.  But I have stumbled upon something that has helped me get through this issue...

Those of you who know me know I have a thing about "Limited Edition" anythings.  I need not go into detail about this drive to buy anything with this phrase on it, as I have done this already in an earlier post.  I have gotten better about buying nonsense Limited Edition items (i.e. candy) since having the baby, but the other day I came across this:

And I HAD to buy it. 

Now, Ladies (and gentlemen), this is not the lowfat version.  So it is kinda like eating a pumpkin pie as far as calories are concerned.  It also tastes like it.  I spread it on a toasted bagel for breakfast and then I zone out for a few minutes and all is right in my world.  The baby's crying? Nah, that's a figment of your imagination...take another bite of pumpkin goodness.  ...  The dog needs let out?  Nope, you're sure you just did that, he's fine...back to the pumpkin bagel.  Sigh...it really is that good.  

If you, like me, missed out on your pumpkin pie this year, go scouting for this amazing stuff.  It really is heaven in a tub.  

On a different note (c'mon, you know there isn't a post without a baby in it anymore!):   
Celebrating Brotherly Love
(not staged...we couldn't get Oscar down, he is cropped out of the other pics!)

Keagan got his first duck call this Thanksgiving, and I think he already knows how to use it!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!


November 25, 2010

In 5 short months...

Keagan has become a completely different CHILD in a month's time.  Yes, he is still an infant.  But he is an infant with personality, likes, and dislikes.  He is so interactive and funny and really likes to make us laugh.  He is sweet and snuggly sometimes then independent other times.  He is a beautiful child and we really can't imagine our lives without him!  It is amazing how much our lives have changed in just 5 short months.
Keagan has changed drastically in just a month's time.
 
Likes: Bath time and splashing in his new tub, his puppy-brother, his medicine (he grabs at the medicine dropper and helps it into his mouth!), his bedtime routine (and mommy likes that he sleeps through the night usually), sitting in his Bumbo, playing with mommy's necklace while he eats, kisses from mommy (but not so much from daddy), being tickled all over, school and his friends, looking up guy things on the internet with daddy, Kung Fu Panda (a very cute movie!  We stumbled upon his enjoyment of this during a fussy evening...when we passed the channel this was on he stopped crying...he doesn't just like this movie, he LOVES it!), his feet and his fingers, his giraffe (pictured above), shopping, riding in the car, looking at himself in a mirror.

Dislikes: being held like a baby, pacifiers, loud noises/people in his face, diaper changes prior to eating (any other time they are fine), being snuggled when it isn't on his terms, having a toy/cell phone/napkin being taken away from him, commercials during Kung Fu Panda (must fast forward, STAT!).

Keagan is overall a very laid back baby.  He only cries for a reason and is easily pacified (a snuggle from mommy or the boob...works every time).  His teachers tell us how fun and sweet and snuggly he is, and he is always happy when we pick him up from school.  He travels well and doesn't mind a day long shopping trip.  He has a wonderful bedtime routine and naps only on occasion.  We don't force the issue because we figure when he's tired, he will sleep.  There are different schools of thought on this...  He pretty much just goes with the flow with everything (except bedtime, which must not be interrupted! or Lord help everyone.) and takes it all in.  He can finally roll over, belly to back, but doesn't do it regularly.  He is a quiet child, like his daddy, and doesn't talk a whole lot.  When he does, he uses a "sexy voice" instead of squealy baby voices.  It's quite funny...he is such a little man!

Here are pics of his current endeavors:
Finally participating in Tummy Time (we still have to be creative for him to do this, though!)

Look, Ma!  I can roll over now!

Snuggle time with Mommy...This is a new thing and I am loving it!

Playtime with Daddy!  (Note the tummy time creativity here...) 

 Kung Fu Panda = Mommy can get stuff done!  (Move over, Baby Einstein!)


Bath time is now Playtime...he has always loved a bath, but now it has taken on a whole new dimension!  No more baby Puj tub...moving onto bigger and better things!  (Thanks, Julie...Keagan LOVES his duckie tub!)
              

The Best of Friends.
 Wherever Keagan is, there you will find Oscar.  The mutual interest/love is really quite sweet! 


The End.  :)

(p.s. for those who want to comment but have told me they cannot for one reason or another, try this:  click on the post title to the right (under Blog Archives).  Scroll down through the post, you should see a comment box at the bottom of the posting.  You can type there, and select Anonymous if you don't know what else to select and then just leave your name in the comments box.  I appreciate all the votes that I got for the last posting and I didn't realize until then just how difficult it was to post a comment; hopefully this will make it easier for you.  Believe it or not, I check this more than I do my email!)


November 19, 2010

The Winner

Ok, So it has taken a couple weeks to get this post up.  But to be quite honest, I was hoping for a better "turn out at the polls" .. I had expected more friends and family to comment and was a bit disappointed.  Maybe it wasn't as much fun for you as it was for me to look at old pictures.  Or maybe (and this is my fear!), you aren't as interested in my child as I am!  (What!?!!  How can it be??  He's AMAZING!)

Well, I have gotten over my disappointment and have done some soul searching only to realize that this blog is more for me to reflect on my own life than for you.  A personal diary-of-sorts, that I have allowed you to be privy to.  It is fun for Josh and I to look at the blog and I hope someday there is a way to save it so that Keagan can look at it. 

Enough of that.  The most responses (from comments, facebook, and verbal ballots) for who Keagan looks most like is Baby #3.  It was a very close toss up, with most people saying Baby #1 and Baby #3; but then a friend called me and threw the tie saying Keagan looked most like Baby #3.
Baby #3 is MY DAD! 

Now, scroll down to the post below with all the pictures of the babies. 
Baby #1 is Josh's Dad (however, I was unaware of this when I posted it!  Wasn't sure WHICH baby it was)
Baby #2 is Me (sadly enough...I wasn't a very good looking baby!)
Baby #3 is My Dad (and who I have thought Keagan looked like the second I saw my dad's baby pic)
Baby #4 is Josh
Baby #5 is Josh's Dad (again)

Now, for some fun pictures...and you will really see Keagan in some of these! 

My Grandma Gail holding my Dad (he is 4 months old here).  I love this picture.  It is so beautiful and my Grandmother is stunning!  What a happy time!
You might recognize this baby as ME...it's a little better than the original one I posted earlier.  If I squint, I can see a little Keagan in it...he smiles like this now and is quite chunky like this too!)

Josh's mom found an album of his baby pictures and it was a blast to go through. I have scanned some of the best ones, but there really were so many. Thank you, Lori, for letting us take these to look at! We have really enjoyed it!


Baby Josh and his Grandfather (check out the face Josh is making...remind you of someone?)
....Keagan, maybe?


Baby Josh after his stomach surgery.
 This is Josh, not Keagan!  But if the eyebrows weren't so dark, I might even mistake this baby for my own!

These next two pictures are so raw, innocent, and beautiful to me.  I love the way these two new parents are snuggling their newborn son.  And I love that their newborn son is now my husband!  Something about the way their awe for their new baby is written all over their faces brings tears to my eyes.  I guess because it hasn't been that long since we were learning to hold our own newborn.  Every new parent experiences this. Absolutely  timeless.  


November 6, 2010

Who's Your Baby-Daddy?

Election time is FINALLY over-and-done.  Thank God, really.  I am so tired of the political ads that I could just strangle every politician out there.  While I did vote, I honestly cannot say that I completely understand what each politician stood for.  I did my best to be educated on the politicians, however all that seemed to stick out in my mind when I got to the (paper!) ballot was what their opponent said about them!  Terrible.

So, let's all thank God that this election season is complete.  (and, if I might add, not too shabby.  Ok, I will step off my high horse)

But, sticking with the theme of the season, I have an "election" of my own.  It is cute, fun, and won't cause heartache or stress!  BUT, I do want to see what you see, so I need you to comment with your vote!

What are you voting on?  Well, I am curious to see who YOU think Keagan looks like?  We have gathered baby pics from both sides of the family and would like for you to compare them.  Everyone thinks Keagan looks like Josh, but I think this is because he has a round head and blue eyes...we don't really know if he is Josh's kid, anyone with a round head and blue eyes could have fathered him!  (JUST KIDDING!!!  Don't write me hate mail, please!)  Anyways, I know who I think he looks like, but I want to take my bias out of this and get your opinion.

So, VOTE (by commenting on this blog post!  let's see who actually does this!)

This is Keagan (in case you forgot what this sweet child looks like!)

 Baby #1

Baby #2

Baby #3

Baby #4

 Baby #5
Aren't they all so cute??  I have some more wonderful old pictures and will post these with the results of this "election."  

Remember: VOTE by COMMENTING!  I really hope you loyal readers will participate...do your civic duty! haha!!

November 1, 2010

Happy Halloweeeeeeeeeeeeeeen!

What a crazy month October has been!  E.V.E.R.Y weekend has been full of fun, so it is fitting that Halloween weekend was just as full!  We started the fun with our 2nd Annual Halloween Party.  Our good friends, Tim & Lindsy and Alicia & Paul, and their children, came into town for the party and for a weekend of fun.  We haven't seen Alicia and Paul in at least four years and were thrilled to get together with them!  Both families drove about 4 hours to our home so we could just hang out and get to know each other's children (5 in all!).  Lindsy and Tim have Kennedy (age 3) and one on the way. Paul and Alicia have Maddie (age 5), Luke (age 4) and Miles (age 6 weeks).  And of course, we contributed Keagan!  It was a wonderfully fun weekend full of both adult's and children's laughter and I cannot wait to get together again with these wonderful friends!

He's Batty For Mommy!  Can't you tell?  :)
 The whole group- not as many as last year but still so fun!
Family Picture: Felicity Shagwell, Austin Powers, Frau Farbissina (pregnant with Dr/ Evil's Love Child), and Dr. Evil (aka Me, Josh, Lindsy, Tim)
 Paul and Alicia as Thing 1 and Thing 2 
(I didn't crop this picture b/c of Josh in the background...he remained in character the whole night!)
 Costume Contest Winner Biggest Loser, with his trainer Jillian (aka Dan and Heather)
 Jeff and Christy as a Monk and a Nun
 Jay as a professional fisherman, and Jason and Ashley as a Doctor and Nurse
 Joey (not sure of costume!) and Tassie (a kitty) with Jarrett (a tourist with a special Fanny Pack) and Stacey (a witch)

 Mommy with her Hamburger Baby!
 Hot dog and Hamburger!  Keagan is hungry...look how he is looking at Oscar! 
 Our whole crew before taking the kiddos Trick-or-Treating
 Maddie with Miles, Luke, Kennedy, and Keagan
Bibbity-Bobbity-Boo:  Kennedy is trying to turn Keagan into a Prince!  Soo funny!

We had such a wonderful weekend!  It is amazing how quickly our house filled up with 8 extra people for the weekend, but it was the best crowd ever!  The kids were wonderful and the adult conversation was great, too.  Thank you, Tim & Lindsy and Paul & Alicia, for such a great weekend and for being such good friends!  Can't wait to do this again!  (And I am serious when I say let's do this again SOON..before Paul and Alicia have too many more kiddos...hehehe!)