Date Night

Josh and I finally had a Date Night - just the two of us!!  We have had several wonderful nights out with friends sans Keagan, but haven't had a date since our 6th Anniversary before he was born.  Yes, Keagan is now 8 months old.  Sad, I know.  But it is very difficult to get a baby sitter! (Reasoning: a) I don't trust teenagers!  b) no family nearby.  c) we don't want to take advantage of our friends.  d) and besides, we enjoy hanging out with our friends on the nights we could have our date night!)  Well, we bit the bullet and asked our dear friends Stacey and Jarrett if they wouldn't mind to watch the monster!  They were so gracious, and we think Keagan was a relatively good boy for them.  (at least they said he was!)

Note Keagan's shirt...

This is hilarious!  Ever since Keagan was born (actually, I think it started when I was pregnant), Jarrett has been talking about how funny it is to give a baby a piece of tape and watch them play with it while it is stuck to their hands.  He has asked us numerous times if we've tried this trick, but I have left this up to Uncle Jarrett to try...and I think it was the first thing they did!  Hahaha! 

Both Uncle Jarrett and Aunt Stacey took part in nourishment...Keagan's favorite parts of the day! 

 What d'ya think guys? Naturals? Absolutely!

Thanks, guys, so much for your services!  Mostly, thanks for loving our child!  We really had a wonderful time and enjoyed our much needed night out.

Oh! Heaven help me!

This is going to hurt me more than it will hurt you.  But let me forewarn you that you will want to reach into the computer screen and grab the baby in these (many!) pictures. And because you physically cannot do this, your heart will ache.  He is so darn cute, it hurts!  I am only slightly biased.

Keagan is 8 months old.  It truly does hurt me.  It hurts my heart to think how far we've come, how big he is, and how quickly time is flying.  He is honestly the light in my life (gay, I know.  but sometimes gay phrases are the only way to get the point across).  I remember life without him, but I don't ever want to go back there. 

These are his 8-month pictures.  Let me warn you that I intended only to take his typical monthly picture but we were having so much fun and Keagan was being such a little ham that I couldn't stop taking pictures.  And when I put them on my computer I could not help but pick out 24 cannot-live-without shots to share with you.  Overkill? Absolutely.  But, whatev.  We had fun.

Keagan is a ham.  He will grin really big when you play peek-a-boo, dance funny, or simply walk into the room.  He laughs when you tickle him, kiss kiss him all over, fly him in the sky, or pretend drop him.  His laugh cracks me up, so it is a vicious cycle of laughter.  He loves to scratch and pull hair (I do not so much like this) but he is learning to pat pat pat.  We play a game called "Windstorm" where we blow really hard in his face and he blinks his eyes and gulps for air.  All you have to do is say "Keagan, WINDSTORM" and he will do this facial expression.  He is learning to blow air, too.  He is sitting up on his own (only topples back occasionally now, rolling regularly, and scooting on his back (still has a bald spot).  He continues to love Kung Fu Panda.  He loves to eat.  He loves to snuggle mommy in bed and give mommy wet kisses from her shoulder to her face.  At his last doctor's appointment he weight 19 lbs (2 weeks ago).

Keagan does not like to be left in the room by himself.  He doesn't like to be laid down on his back for diaper changes and will scream/cry and try to roll over.  He doesn't like articles of clothing pulled over his head.  The reaction is similar to laying him on his back.  He doesn't care for chicken (but we are working on this...it is new) or greenbeans.  He still wakes up in the middle of the night and we have implemented a new thing of letting him cry-it-out.  This is tough on me, but I am getting stronger.  Ear plugs are incredible.  He occasionally will sleep from 7:30 to 7ish, so the tough love must be working. He still prefers the boob to the bottle, but wouldn't you? He has no teeth, and I am okay with this.  He gets mad when you use the cell phone and don't share (he likes to help text and call...he has business to take care of).

OK, I am finished.  How is your heart?  Mine hurts!  And I am holding this precious child right now...he just does that to me!  As I look at these pictures, I feel like Keagan's fun personality can be seen in them. I am going to agree with what Josh has said to me before: I want 5 more just like Keagan!

Survival Mode

My online photography class, as well as everything extracurricular, has taken a backseat the past two weeks.  I have been in survival mode for 2 weeks and I have one more day of it.  (Josh worked nights one week, went on a hunting trip the next week, and worked the weekend this weekend - meaning everything I do has been Keagan Keagan Keagan more so than normal!)  I haven't forgotten about my blog, just neglected it as other things have taken precedence.

We did go jogging the other day since the weather was beautiful with temps in the high 60s. I managed to get a couple pics with the camera phone.  This oughta hold ya over until I can get back on my game!

he got it from his momma

Let's face the music, folks, my beautiful baby boy looks nothing like me.  He looks everything like his daddy.  (Josh joked to the nurse during our first prenatal doctor's appointment that he wasn't sure if he was the father...I don't think there is any question about it seeing the baby!)  Keagan even has Josh's personality (easy going but occasionally very very stubborn).  I was beginning to wonder what part I played in his existence, except for the obvious host-parasite function.  But tonight, he showed me. 

He is not a fan of green beans.  Until I became an adult, I hated green beans.  And I do mean hated. H.A.T.E.D.  Only when I tasted them cooked Southern-style with lotsa salt and pepper and fatback (or bacon, or some sort of lard) did I learn to like them.  I can now choke them down if they are made healthfully, and I try to smile while I choke them down.  Mind over matter.

Keagan, however did not hide his dislike (mid-gag):

The above picture gives you a taste of the first time green bean experience.  But if you want the full feature (appx 2 min 30 sec) you can watch the video.  Please don't turn me into Child Protective Services for this video!  He continued to open his mouth so I continued to feed (he ate the whole bowl by the way).  They are good for him, he will soon realize he, too, can choke them down with a smile.

29 is the new black!

I am now officially one year away from 30.  I don't know how this has happened, I don't feel this old!  In fact, I still feel like I am 19.  Just a mature 19 year old with a husband, career, house, and child.  But my body doesn't feel like I am pushing 30.  I did have an elderly patient of mine comment that he thought I was 32 years old, so I must look my age.  But I don't feel my age.  Yes, I forgave my patient...but I can't forget it.  I have now become more diligent in applying my wrinkle cream!

This birthday really wasn't high on my priority list.  In fact, I nearly forgot.  I DID forget to check out what the groundhog did about his shadow (a birthday ritual of mine) and had to ask my mom later that afternoon.  Sad.  But happy that the groundhog predicted early Spring! YAY!  I had a nice quiet birthday and my friends Tassie and Stacey (and their respective better-halves) came over for an impromptu party to share birthday cake with me.  Unfortunately the camera didn't make an appearance.  But it was a lot of fun to share my birthday with them!

This past weekend we ventured to Lexington to celebrate mine and Lindsy's birthdays (she's a February gal, too!).  We started this tradition last year and it was so fun we decided to do it again!  While there I visited with my dear friend, Lauren, from PT school.  She recently welcomed her second baby, Austin, to her family and I was dying to meet him (and see her, of course!).  I also was able to meet up with my friends Stephanie and Jason, who are now engaged to be married!! YAY!  It was a wonderful weekend filled with wonderful friends.  Keagan was such a great baby and made me think we can travel ANYWHERE with him! :)  

Weekend in pictures:

Big brother Dylan holding Baby Austin

 Lauren!  It was so good to see you! :) 

 Keagan enjoyed sitting in the big-boy high chair at O'Charleys!  Still a bit small for it so daddy had to keep a hand on him!

Happy Birthday Lindsy!

 Happy Birthday to ME!

 So thankful for Courtney who watched Keagan and Kennedy so we could celebrate a night out sans kids!  I think Keagan is in love!

 My lovely cake that Lindsy had made for me.  THANK YOU LINDS!  It continues to be delicious! ;)  And the sunflowers taste amazing even if they were supposed to be polka-dots! haha!

Sunday morning breakfast with Stephanie and Jason

 They really are naturals!  Check out Keagan's face...pretty sure he's a happy boy!

 Things have changed a bit since college!  But it is always fun to meet up with good friends!

A farewell lunch with Lindsy, Tim, and Kennedy...check out Kennedy's cheese!  She's hilarious!

 Kennedy loves her Uncle Joshie (I felt a little neglected!  She had to be convinced to sit with me this weekend! Oh well..)

 BFF's with 2 kiddos and one on the way!  Can't believe how quickly our families are growing!!  SO FUN!

While I don't feel my age, I welcomed my 29th birthday and enjoyed it with my closest friends. Now, 30 may be a different story but I will cross that bridge when (and if-I may stay 29 forever...my mom has!) I get there...