Updates

Adam's dad Ed is home! They got back yesterday afternoon, and Adam said Ed got out of the car and walked inside. What a miracle. Adam and Sutton went to surprise them and welcome them home.

After Sutton's doctor visit this morning, we've found that he's finally evening out a little:
*Weight: 22.4 lbs - 75th percentile
*Height: 28.25 inches - 50th percentile
*Head Circumference: 19.25 inches - >97th percentile

Boy Flavored Soup

Today we had lunch at my grandparents house to celebrate my Grandpa Melvin and Grandma Norma's birthdays. Grandma brought out a bunch of toys for Sutton in this tin. It was the perfect fit for Sutton baby.

And I came up with another recipe I have to share. It's easy, healthy, and tasty. I've had it twice this week and I'm not sick of it. We'll call it:

Chicken & Veggies in Foil

-tear off a piece of foil, drizzle with olive oil

-slice boneless, skinless chicken breast into pieces and lay on foil

-season with your favorite spices (I used some chicken seasoning that's Emeril brand)

-slice a potato (yes Mom, I bought a potato) into smallish pieces and put on top of chicken

-season again (I just used salt and pepper)

-add a layer of baby carrots and a little more S&P

-fold foil into closed packet and place on cookie sheet

-put in 350 degree oven for 30 minutes chicken side down, flip and cook for another 15 minutes

-ENJOY!

I'm sure you could do all kinds of variations using whatever veggies you have in your house. It'd probably be good with fish too (though we don't eat fish because SOMEBODY who will remain nameless doesn't like it), and they'd probably be good cooked on the grill in the summer time.

Sutton { Nine Months }

Happy 9 months, Sutton baby! You've now officially been outside my belly as long as you were in it. Such a crazy thought.

Unfortunately, this post won't have as many photos as in the past. Baby's not in the greatest of moods, as you'll see...

We started out happy with a toy and pacifier, but Mama didn't want those in the photo...

...it was the end of the world.

 Okay. Pacifier in mouth. Happy again. Whew.

Sutton at 9 months:

*You are still our gigantic baby! Not sure yet of the stats because your appointment isn't until next week, but my arms are sure feeling it. You're bigger than most 2 year olds we meet.

*Consequently, you're wearing 12-18 month size clothes for the most part. It's still so hard to shop for you. Many of the smaller onesies fit you everywhere but are too short. Others would fit fine, but won't go over your head.

*I think your hair is looking more and more red!

*Your eyes are beautiful brown, I love them. Just like your Daddy's.

*No teeth yet, but I think we're getting there. Sometimes you throw tantrums while we're feeding you baby food, but yet you still want to eat, so the only thing I can think is that it hurts when the spoon touches your gums.

*No crawling yet, but just in the past few days, you've started getting up on all fours and rocking. You've been able to scoot backwards a few times. Rolling around gets you all over the place though. I'm definitely not able to put you on the bed or your changing table or a couch without watching you anymore.

*You say "da da da." It's the best thing. Sometimes you whisper it, sometimes you yell it. When I try to get you to say "ma ma," you stare at my lips intently, but then say "da da" again. That's okay, I'm fine with that for now. We're still working on getting you to use that in reference to your dad.

*You love going on walks and have officially graduated to sitting in the stroller upright and facing forward.

*During the day, you switch off every other meal: baby food, then nursing, baby food, nursing, repeat. That's nice because it gives me more flexibility and I don't have to pump so much while I'm at work.

*You still nurse 1-2 times during the night. Not sure at what point we're going to cut you off.

*You wear size 3 diapers.

*You're definitely a Mama's boy. Sometimes it's like you can't survive when I'm not there and you just cry and cry. Sigh.

*You're also a Daddy's boy (it's possible to be both, right?). You reach for him when I'm holding you and he walks up to us, and you love touching his beard. He makes you laugh more than anyone else. I love you two together!

*You're babbling so much more these days. It's real cute. You've even "talked" a couple times in your sleep.

*Your poop is solid. I've had a real hard time with this. Seriously. Being a mom is weird.

*YOU GRAB EVERYTHING!

*You like to pull down your crib bumpers so you can see through the slats when you wake up.

*I'm pretty sure you have allergies. So sad.

*You love being outside, we go on lots of walks.

*You still love Diesel. He....endures you. And sometimes likes you. :)

*You still love jumping.

*You still love paper. Those free Wheels for You magazines from Dillons are great.

I decided we needed a photo together since we don't have many. My hair is in the gross growing-it-out stage, so please disregard. :)

And here's our monthly comparison! Only three more months til you're 1! We won't be doing monthly updates after that, but I haven't decided for sure what we'll start doing. We'll see.

Surgery Update

Ed is out of surgery and did great! Surgery was successful. Should wake up in about 4 hours or so. Praise Jesus!

Adam's sister Jessica wrote a post on her blog today...go check it out here.

In Surgery

Ed's in the middle of his 6 hour long heart surgery right now. Please pray! I'll update as soon as I know more.

Tricks

You'll be getting a full 9 month update tomorrow, but for now, I have a video that shows a bunch of Sutton's tricks.

He loves to click his tongue, he now says "da da da" which kinda happens in this video (we're still working on him associating that with Adam, but for now it's the only real syllable he can say), hitting the floor, and sucking on his top lip (which is hilarious).

Zoo with Dad

Adam and I switched places today...he stayed home with Sutton while I went to work! He's on spring break, and today he took a few of his students who'd won a contest to the zoo. Sutton got to go along and spend time with the big kids. From what I hear, he did this most of the time:

Adam periodically sent me photos on my phone of the cute boy and their fun day. I'm glad the girls from Adam's class love him and were excited to hang out with him all day!

Adventures

Sutton and I had lunch with some girlfriends today...we just love hanging out with these gals! I totally meant to take a group photo, but of course forgot. Sutton had a little tummy time and then played with his friend Reid.

Afterwards we came home and babysat our two nieces and nephew for a bit. Adam taught them how to play GuitarHero. It was definitely a hit.

You wanna know what makes me feel old? This kid was born the year I graduated from high school. Gosh.

Daddy was making Sutton laugh and have crazy arms. And drool...always with the drooling. He crashed after the older kiddos left.

His sleeping has been all crazy, most likely due to the time change, allergies, and teething. This poor baby had his first fever a few mornings ago, it made me so sad and I felt helpless! After some Tylenol and TLC, it was gone in a few hours.

Additionally, with the warmer weather, he's turned into a big sweatball. I wet his hair down with a cool washcloth today just to give him a break from the sweating. Anyone have any tips for keeping hot babes cool?

Goin on a Walk

Yesterday afternoon I took the baby and the puppy on a walk. I was busy getting keys and phones together to take with us, and I turned around to find Sutton holding Diesel's leash.

I stopped along the way to take a photo of Sutton with his foot sticking out and he got mad that we stopped. Not the greatest face...

And I found this photo on the camera that must've been taken today while I was at work. Sutton and his Grandma Janet.

Camo & Carrots

He was just so cute this morning after his bath with the wet hair and the camo jammies.

Getting in the morning exercise.

While I was feeding him lunch, he just kept laughing between bites. For no reason. Such a goofball. Carrots + laughing = stains on camo jammies.

Update

I mentioned last week that Adam's dad will be needing surgery on his heart.

It's scheduled for a week from Thursday, down in Missouri.

Heart surgery. Conjures up lots of scary thoughts. We ask for your prayers for the doctors and for our family, especially for Ed. He's such a good Grandpa to Sutton and Dad to Adam.

We're heading down there to be with him and will update as soon as we know anything.

God is good. All the time.

Laughing Baby

I may start getting a little video happy now that I've figured this out. So these are mostly for the grandparents. :) Sometimes I think he just laughs at me out of pity, but...oh well.

Zoo!

Yesterday afternoon, Sutton and I went to the zoo with Audra and her two boys Reid and Austin. The afternoon was perfect zoo weather. I even got a little sweaty. TMI? :) This was Sutton's second trip to the zoo, but the first was when he was pretty little and completely unaware. He still isn't to the point of getting excited about the animals, but at least he would actually look at them. Made me feel like he kinda enjoyed it. I kept telling him that all the animals were like "bigger puppies"...just trying to relate it to something he knows.

It was also the first time Sutton rode in his stroller like a big boy without his carseat and facing backwards. He loved it!

One of our first stops was the turtle and amphibian house.

Audra was rockin the double stroller and Reid loved getting in and out to look at all the different exhibits. Meanwhile, Austin slept the entire time, which was wonderful!

Before we went to the zoo, we ran an errand with Jaclyn to Hobby Lobby for a project at the studio. She made us stop at Boba Zone afterwards and introduced me to the amazingness that is BOBA! It's so weird. I don't even know how to explain it, so I took pictures. :) I feel like I'm kinda late getting on the boba train, so you all may already know about this. If not, try it before you judge it.

Videos :)

I finally figured out how to post video! Welcome to the 21st century. Here are two for you that aren't super recent, but hopefully there will be more to come!

Discovering the mirror.

This was back at the end of January when he was still just figuring out baby food.

Poked!

This cutiepie had to have blood drawn this morning. He didn't make a peep! The phlebotomy ladies kept going on and on about how good he was and how he should be the poster child for this.

 

Do we see a theme here?  They like to hang out together on this chair. Please note how Diesel's paws are neatly tucked under.

Hangin'

Today I was at the computer and the baby was playing on the oversized chair behind me. I turn around to see this:

He's just so cute I don't know what to do. And, he's the perfect kid for me BECAUSE when he hears the shutter on my camera, it makes him smile:

Diesel was busy ignoring us. I think he was a little annoyed that the baby was on his chair.

Gotta take out the pacifier for the full effect of that precious grin.

Poor poor Diesel. Life is rough.

Have I mentioned that this baby loooooves my iPod? :) He thinks he has important business to do on it. Gets his attention every time.

Always with the mouth open, peering over the arm of the chair to see it. He's good at peering. Today at the grocery store (he was riding in the front of the cart like a big boy), he kept peering around me to see all the people behind me.

And the fuzzy hair. I might die. He finally has enough hair that he has bedhead when he wakes up. It's the cutest thing. Especially when he has a little Alphalpha sticking up in the back. That happens to Adam too, it's pretty cute on him as well (I guess). :)

Clothes Hangers

nrsvieuv     3fmxcsdrn hdeae dje3idejmjuu3    fot5  cdee
-Love Sutton

I was cleaning out my closet on Monday, and all my clothes hangers WERE in a nice neat pile. But then this happened. Babies are cute.

Also, we found out this morning that Adam's dad Ed will be having heart surgery soon. We worry about his heart being strong enough, so we would appreciate your prayers. I'll give more info as I get it.

And lastly, I made a really good, really easy dinner last night that Adam had SECONDS of. I don't know if he's ever taken seconds of my cooking. The recipe is probably common in other people's houses, but I thought I'd put it on here just in case anyone out there is like me and can't even come up with simple recipes:

Chicken Alfredo Bake:
*cut two chicken breasts into pieces and cook in skillet, season with salt & pepper
*meanwhile, boil half a box of penne pasta
*drain pasta
*mix pasta, chicken, and a jar of alfredo sauce together
*put in 8x8 pan, sprinkle with mozzarella
*bake in 350 degree oven for 15ish minutes
*YUM.