New Journey

Next week, Carl starts school full-time (along with continuing to work full-time).  He will receive his Bachelor Degree in Network Security in a little over 2 years.  He will go to school in the morning and then work from 1:15-9:45.  If he ever gets out of class early, he will go to work early, and, thus, get off early.

Carl is concerned about me be a "single-parent" for 4 days a week.  He is extremely nervous about not seeing Hunter, except in the morning before we leave, those 4 days.  I can handle the single-parent thing knowing he is going to accomplish this amazing goal (all while working himself crazy).  I'm concerned about how much Carl is going to miss Hunter.

The solution: Hunter and I will bring our home cooked dinners to Carl's work twice a week and have dinner with him.  Carl is also more than likely going to purchase an iPhone once it is time for his upgrade in December, so we will be able to have "face-time" on our phone (either that or we can Skype).

I am very excited about this new journey.  Carl worked so hard while I completed my graduate degree.  I just wish we were in a position that Carl could just go to school full time and not have to work.  He does think that he isn't going to go to his graduation ceremony... yeah, we'll see about that!

A little "if"...

My friend Amanda posted this little "what if" type of post on her blog.  I wanted to do it, too (it kinda reminds me of those "All About Me" chain letters you would fill out when you were a teenager and send to all of your friends to see who else would fill it out and send it back... you know what I'm talking about?  Wait, I'm the only one who did that?!).

Anyways, I thought it would be fun, so here it goes:

• If I were to get pregnant again... I would be excited and terrified (how will we afford a new baby?  How will we love this baby as much as we love Hunter?!)!  The thought has crossed my mind about only having Hunter, but I don't know where I would be without my siblings.  I want Hunter to experience that.  It probably won't be for a little while with the new adventure our family is about to embark on (more on that later).
• If I could have any job in the world I'd be a stay-at-home-mom and part-time speech therapist once Hunter starts school (I really do enjoy my job!).  Unfortunately, that is not in our cards.  Since it is not, I have a great job with great hours (and almost 3 entire PAID months off).  Can't beat that!

• If I had a day to myself I'd probably catch up on all my magazines and T.V. shows.  And go get a massage and pedicure.
• If I could get married all over again it would just be a huge party... on the beach.  And I would have a ceremony dress and a reception dress.  We wouldn't worry about what everyone else wanted for our wedding.
• If I could live anywhere in the US (as long as my family was shipped there as well), I would live in Florida or Hawaii.  I love warm weather and the beach.
• If Hunter were a girl his name would be Peyton Lynn.  That is what we had picked out for our girl name (that we knew for sure).  But now I'm not sold on it and have found other names I like for a girl (if we have one).
• If I could have any talent in the world I would like to be crafty.  I look at Ashley's and Mrs. Miller's blog and wish I had that kind of talent.
• If you met me in real life you would be surprised that I'm really laid back, even with my crazy Type-A personality.  And I'm not a big talker, I like to listen more than I like to talk.
• If I could go back to school and get a different degree I'd be a Physician's Assistant or an Occupational Therapist.  I do really want to go back and get my OTA degree at some point.  Many of the kiddos I see now need some sensory in their life and I'm not qualified to give that to them.
• If money were not an object I'd drive a Mustang (preferably a 1967 Shelby fastback) and a Pathfinder.
• If I could meet one celebrity I would want to meet Jennifer Aniston.  Love her!
• If I could only shop at one store for the rest of my life it'd be Target. I would live at this store if I could.
• If we get another dog it will be a tiny Yorkie.
• If I could go on a trip, RIGHT NOW, we'd go to any HUGE zoo.  Hunter is really into animals right now.
• If I had to chose between a house cleaner and a personal chef, I'd love to say I would pick the house cleaner, but I like my house cleaned a certain way in a certain order.  I don't think I could trust someone to do that.  The chef would be able to create different dishes, one for me and Hunter and one for picky Carl.
• If I had the option of plastic surgery I would have a tummy tuck (only after we had our next child).  Even if it were to just take away the stretch marks, I would be happy!

iPics

We went on a nice bike ride last weekend.  Hunter had so much fun.  He got to see all kinds of animals while on our ride.

Kelly, Emma, Hunter, and I walked from Kelly's house to the pet store (and Farm Fresh). Hunter had a great time looking at the turtles and all the fish.

Waiting to get his shots.  He just kept climbing up and down the steps.

This came down out of the tree during the rain storm on Friday.  Dominion Power came out and said, "Not a power line.  You will have to call the cable company."  Cox Cable was suppose to come out between 8-10 on Saturday... oh, but when I called at 10:30 apparently there was never an order put in.  Ugh.  Carl was able to get the branch off of the cables, but we still have the cable hanging down in the yard.  Monday it is suppose to be taken care of.

These two rainbows (you can barely see the one on the right) showed up after the storm.

Watching some football with Daddy.

Hunter loves TLG.  I love to watch him play and grow.  He knows the routine of the class and I think that is awesome.  He claps along, puts things away when the song is sung, and loves to "help" Sarah.

Pictures with BeniBee

There were a lot more on the disk, and I tried my best to narrow down my "favorites".  Sorry if this is picture overload!

15 Month Check-Up

Hunter had his 15 month check up on his 15 month "birthday".  Here are his stats:
-Height: 31.5 inches (75th percentile)
-Weight: 25 pounds, 4 ounces (90th percentile)

When I was telling my dad these stats, he said, "So he's short and fat?" haha.  He also said that he hopes Hunter gets Carl's height and not mine (trust me, we are all hoping for this).

Anyways, Mommy forgot my little "Hunter" binder in the car.  I realized this as I was filling out the yearly "up-date your information" paperwork.  I remembered almost everything I wanted to ask (or mention to) our pediatrician.

We are going to readdress the bowing in his legs at 18 months.  He said that his legs should straighten out with more weight baring.  He said that when he has referred this young in the past, they typically do not do anything.

He also said that children this young have not been around long enough to get outdoor allergies.  I'm not sure how much of that I believe; Hunter's nasty runny nose started at the same time Carl's and my allergies started.  Maybe it is a coincidence since he did start back at childcare that same week, but I have my doubts.  We can give him allergy medicine to help dry up his nose (which we do at night if he has had a really bad running nose during the day).

As our pediatrician was trying to listen to Hunter with the stethoscope, Hunter looked at him and said, "No!"  I guess that answered the pediatrician's question as to whether he was saying no yet.  ha

We had my our favorite nurse.  He tried to get Hunter to stand on the "big boy" scale, but Hunter wasn't having anything to do with him or that scale.  Hunter cried as soon as he and another nurse walked in to give him his shots.  As soon as the shots were over and they were walking out, he calmed down and even waved good-bye to Nurse T.

15 Months

He is just so big.  Where did my baby go?  What am I saying, he will always be my baby, but I mean, where did my little, stationary baby go?!

We went Monday for a photo session with BeniBee Photography.  Here is a little sneak preview (there will be more on this later).  This is a picture for his 15 month update.

We go for his check-up today after I get off of work.  I can't wait to find out how much chunk-munk has gained.

At 15 months, Hunter:
-is wearing 18-2T clothes.  He is quickly outgrowing the 18 month shirts and onesies.  We are on our last thing of size 4 diapers and just got our first shipment of size 5.  He is still in a size 5 shoe (although we bought size 6 at Stride-Rite).
-'s expressive language is expanding every day.  I have been working really hard on two-syllable words and two words put together.  He will occasionally do these, but tends to stick to one-syllable words.  His receptive language is amazing.  I would say he understands about 90% of what we say without any cues or prompts.  We are working on following two-step directions (like I said, CRAZY MOM).  Poor kid, he will never get a break from this!
-is almost running.  He can do it barefoot, but still has difficulty in shoes.  He tends to fall on the concrete when he goes fast.  We have a few boo-boos from recent falls outside.  I am definitely not a physical therapist or orthopedist, but I am very concerned with how bowed his tibia/fibulae are and how his ankles seem to be compensating for this.  I think this might have a little to do with how much he falls when he is trying to gain speed.  I've spoken with our PT at school and I am going to mention it to our pediatrician tomorrow when we are there so he knows I am concerned.
-All 4 of his molars have popped through.  He has another top tooth coming in.  Pretty soon we will be able to do a little bit chewier of foods.
-is definitely a routine kind of kid.  The other day I stayed a little later at work and our sitter said Hunter walked up to the door right around the time I usually pick him up and gave a pouty face because my car wasn't in the driveway.  He also knows that when we get in the car from her house he gets his juice and snack.  As soon as he is in the car he yells "drink" and "nack".
-loves to feed himself!  We can usually only get a few bites in with us feeding him.  After that we have to give him is fork/spoon so he can feed himself.  This eventually ends up with him using his hands, but at least he is eating.
-loves all animals.  He chased a dog at the photo session, he went crazy in the pet store, and chased L's cat all around her house.  I love how much he loves animals (Mommy loves animals too)!
-is rarely biting now.  We sometimes have to remind him to give kisses as he is coming up to our pant let with an open mouth.  Sometimes he sneaks one, and we say "ouch" really loud and set him down (if we're holding him).  He knows to say sorry and give us a kiss.  He does occasionally hit the dog, but will immediately say sorry to him.  Koal doesn't even flinch.  He is such a great dog with Hunter (except when he knocks him over trying to chase him/kiss him/sniff him).
-is really trying hard to do a forward roll by himself.  I have a feeling that will come pretty soon!
-still loves his TLG class.  He knows the routine before the next part comes.  We used sticks last week, and I asked what was in Miss Sarah's box and Hunter yelled, "Sticks!"  I was very impressed he knew what was in there without Sarah taking them out!

He is just the love of my and Carl's lives!

Rocks

Just sitting here with my rocks.

Is anyone watching?

Anyone over there?  No...

Good!

iPics

Hunter loves playing on top of Daddy's truck.  He thinks it is just so funny to run back and forth (with Carl holding onto his arm of course).  This day, Hunter and Carl matched (and it wasn't planned)

Don't mind me, just sitting in my monkey chair in the middle of the road (we are at the end of a dead end street, so the only traffic is our 3 neighbors past our house).

We have been spending our afternoons outside.  On Friday, the temperature dropped.  It may not have exactly been hat weather, but I have been waiting all summer for Hunter to wear his new hats!  He loves his hats and didn't complain one bit.  Do you see the rock in his hand?  He has to pick up 2 rocks every time we go outside.  We have quite the collection on the front porch.

We played with sticks at TLG this week.  Sarah was holding the box, and I asked Hunter what was in the box (before we sang the song... if you go to TLG you know what song I'm talking about... the one that tells you what you're about to play with) and he yelled, "Sticks!"  He followed the directions with minimal prompts.  I love how much his receptive language is growing!

We went to L's 1st birthday party on Saturday.  She was eye balling his sippy cup (along with another little girl).  Hunter would turn to the side, and say, "No!"

On Saturday evening, there was a baby sprinkle in honor of Kelly and baby Alyssa.  She got a lot of cute stuff.  I just loved when she put the outfits and hats on her belly.  I cannot wait to meet little Alyssa!

A few things to note about this picture.  Hunter has heart stickers on both feet and both hands (he insisted on this).  He is dipping green beans in ranch (because he wanted "dip-dip" and I wasn't going to give him ketchup... again).  The piece of sandwich under his arm has little finger holes in it because Hunter apparently thinks his finger is a fork.  He will poke his finger through foods and put them in his mouth that way.  He is a character!

Children's Museum

We love the Children's Museum.  It is big and allows Hunter to run around.  There isn't much that is out of his reach.  There is only one area that Hunter really doesn't care for, so if he doesn't walk in, we avoid it (it is super loud and has a huge elephant... he likes his big animals from a distance).

He loves the bubble room!

 

He loves this crazy creature

Note the big kid playing