CJ's 3rd Birthday

He woke up and opened presents at 7:00 a.m.

1. One sandbox

2. One t-ball stand, bat and ball

3. A bunch of Carolina Panthers gear

4. A trip to the mall to pick out new shoes. One pair of Pumas (school shoes) and a new pair of camoflauge Crocs (play shoes).

5. A chocolate cake with blue frosting and pastel sprinkles (his choice) with lots of candles.

Grammy was here visiting. She brought him a pinata. CJ wanted no friends to participate in the pinata celebration, he just wanted to have at it on the living room floor.

It wouldn't break, even when he jumped off the chair on top of the pinata. Over and over again.

"Dad come wipe my bum so I don't get sores and have to go to the dentist!" Said CJ.

I love you big guy, HaPpY bIrThDaY today!

This Weekend

CJ became a "kitty in a cage like where we get Lucy's dogfood" (Petco),

Last night Lucy brought her "baby" (his name is Harry the Rabbit) to lie with her and the baby.

THIS was supposed to be me on Valentine's Day.

On the way to the hospital to have my little Valentine. But because he chose to come so early,

I now have three perfect Valentines to love. And love them I do.

What a difference...

four months makes.
Cousin Jack came to visit,

and he is one handsome babe.

B a T h T i M e

L u C y

This is my little doggy right after my comforter came out of the dryer. Whenever she hears me remove anything from the dryer, she comes running up to dive in the warm pile of whatever it is that has been washed.

And this is my sweet little boy who has been amazing since the arrival of his little brother. Grammy brought him an apron which he is to wear when he makes cookies with his dad (a favorite CJ activity). And his smile is extra big because his best cousin Cassidy was here to visit and he L O V E S her more than anything.

Brothers

Baby Trey

1/26/07

8 lbs 20"

This is what my baby looked like the first time I got to see him. He came three weeks early but his little lungs weren't quite ready. They whisked him away to the NICU and I didn't see him until several long, terrifying hours later. He progressed each day he was in the NICU. This is him 2 days later with his oxygen removed. Breathing on his own, he now only had to have antibiotics via and I.V. and constant monitoring.
This is what he looked like three days later, with the I.V. moved to his head since his hands kept pulling it out of his arms. We finally got to hold him and I was able to begin nursing him. He had that down the first try and has been going strong ever since.And THIS is him when he came home with his big (and very excited) brother who has been so sweet with Trey.

I am so grateful for my boys, my husband and for the blessings of modern medicine, hospitals, doctors, nurses and all the equipment that saved my sweet baby. After I was officially discharged as a patient, we were moved to a "live-in" room that was like a hotel room inside the NICU unit so Chad and I could be right there around the clock and I could keep nursing him until he came home. It was so great and the staff was just incredible.

And this is my little guy just chillin' and realizing how much he loves being home, free from wires, hourly blood samples, shots, IV's and beeping machines. He is so sweet - he just eats and sleeps and looks around and hardly makes a peep. Everyone is healthy, happy and grateful to be home together!

No baby yet. Just a lot of discomfort and irregular contractions. CJ however, discovered that his ColorWonder finger paints are fun to put in his hair.

Weekend in Review...

This is all the snow we've had at our house this winter.

And this is how I spent my evening last night - baking my favorite cookies and eating most of them. I've been in extreme discomfort lately and these felt like they'd help. When my doctor informed me this morning that I'm dialated to a "solid four" and basically ready to rock and roll here anytime, said discomfort made sense.

Today was a big day. CJ started preschool. I was nervous. Not only for him to enjoy it but for me to leave him at the school for three hours and just drive away.

That lasted about 20 seconds because he was Mr. Social the minute we walked in the door. He did great. His class has 18 kids, two teachers and a very structured schedule. So, I hopped on over to The Human Bean for a decaf skim Chai, then spent a bit of time at a quilting shop, then came home and got all the dishes done and the beds made and a few phone calls accomplished and before I knew it it was time to get the little man.

He said he was sooooooo good at school that he needed McDonalds. So we got McDonalds and he told me all about NOT getting to hold the flag for the pledge but getting to go pee-pee in the little bathroom. I think his first day was a success.

26 Days to Go...

And I finally finished the baby's room. It is now the favorite room for C.J. and Lucy. C.J. hangs out in there quite a bit (here he is talking on his "cell phone" to his baby "brudder").

Still in bed...

While we were in Utah for the holidays, Lucy got to spend the entire vacation with her favorite Tucker Dog, Sierra Dog and Bruty the cat. At my in-laws who love her so much, she even gets to sleep in their bed. With Tucker Dog. And Bruty the Cat (Sierra's too big). This is Lucy post-vacation. She's fallen into the winter blues. Even the new collar she got for Christmas hasn't cheered her up. Or the donut I shared with her this morning for breakfast.

H o M e F o R t H e H o L i D a Y s
and going non-stop...

Guitar Hero

Hank

Pingtop. 

Grandma Sheila's Christmas Party

We had 18's company party at the Grand America. 

Eating mommy's birthday cheesecake!

"Oh. My. Gosh. I. Can't. Be. Lieve. It."

Is what CJ said when he woke up to find the train table he wanted for Christmas sitting in the living room. Then, with a whisper he said, "Santas reindeer did it. They used their big feet to throw my train table in our house. Whoooaaa."

Mommy needs groceries...

We played grocery store today. I sat on my bedroom floor and C.J. "shopped" for my groceries. I was told just to sit and keep sitting while he transferred every toy (a.k.a grocery item) from the loft into my bedroom. And if you look closely, he also "bought" some dog food kernels.