Happy 10 Months!

Collier turned 10 months old on Monday!  Just 2 more months and I'll have a 1 year old.  It just doesn't seem possible.  I love this age but it makes me so sad that my baby is growing up so fast.  And it does make me have baby fever... WHAT?!?!  I know, it's crazy.  And I promise I won't be announcing a pregnancy any time soon, but I just want to stop the clock so my baby will stay my baby a little longer.  

Collier is taking on life full force!  This child has so much energy and is on the go non-stop.  I have LOVED this phase.  My mom says he reminds her so much of me as a baby because I was moving constantly, too.  He's just so funny and his little personality is emerging more and more daily.  He plays plays plays all day long.  He loves his Mickey Mouse Choo Choo Train and will push it all over the den.  He also has this little musical play table thing and he'll press the buttons to play a song and start dancing... bouncing his little booty up and down.  It's so funny and cute!  Noah has really gotten into cartoons lately and the only parts Collier will watch are when they are singing or playing music. Although he does still love to watch Baby Einstein in the car.  Thank heavens for that because he rarely sleeps when we travel.  And we've done quit a bit of that lately going to Nashville, Birmingham, and back to Nashville (all in the past 2 weeks).  He's so busy that its a challenge to give him a bottle because he's squirming so much!  He is starting to get a little bit of an attitude (I say that's a Brink trait but Jamie claims it's a Powell trait) and he gets upset if we take something away from him.

Collier still doesn't have a single tooth!  It shocks me because I've been thinking he was teething for 6 months now. I've started giving him some table food and he loves it!  Things he's had are guacamole, ice cream, sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, rice, chocolate pudding, ritz crackers, bread, scrambled eggs, and cheese.  He's enjoyed it all.  He has started squeezing his eyes shut, opening his mouth wide open and making this little "uh uh" sound to let us know when he wants more food/another bite of something.  It's pretty funny, however I've just started working with him on the sign for "more" but he hasn't used it yet.  I think him signing would be better than him fussing at me when he wants a bite of food! :)  He grabbed Noah's cup off the floor one morning and had his first taste of strawberry milk... after that he was hooked; he always tries to take Noah's cup from him so he can get another taste of that milk.  I've had Collier drinking from a sippy for several months but he was never GREAT with it.  He wouldn't ever tilt his head back so he would be sucking mostly air.  Noah drinks from a straw cup and Collier quickly learned how to drink from Noah's cup so I've since bought him a straw sippy and that's what he does best with. 

He's still sleeps great (goes down around 7 - 7:30pm and sleeps around 12 hours) but sometimes he'll wake up around 6ish, plays (but never cries) in his crib and go back to sleep until 8 or 9ish!  He also still takes 2 naps/day (thank goodness!)

I am in love with the age that Collier is and I know it's only going to get more fun as he gets older.  I can just sit and watch him for hours as he explores, plays and figures new things out.  He's a doll and his sweet little smile is infectious.  I love being Collier's mommy and thank the good Lord for these past 10 months... and I can only look forward to all that his precious childhood has in store for all of us!

He loves this chair and will climb in it to watch tv! This is actually Noah's PB chair but I have ordered a new cover with Collier's name.  Poor kid and all his hand-me-down toys...

Collier has been sick so I haven't done a 10 month picture session... however, here are a few pictures from his vapor bath the other night.  He loves bath time, just like his brother!

My God, He never ceases to amaze me!

So you all read about how last year my dad's application was selected for Masters practice round tickets after years and years and YEARS of applying.  He wasn't able to go because he was right in the middle of chemo treatments so he let Jamie and Derrick each bring a friend.  It was supposed to be a guys trip for my Dad, Jamie and Derrick and they had all been looking forward to it for months.  Dad was upset because he was afraid that was a once in a lifetime kind of experience and that he probably wouldn't get another chance, but there was nothing he could do about.  Jamie and Derrick had a great time but it always bothered Jamie that my dad was unable to go. Well, this year Dad, Jamie and Derrick all applied, except that I did too, because I was hoping to increase their chances.  I just found out yesterday that MY application was chosen! So now Dad WILL be able to go this next year!  I can't begin to tell you how excited I was and my Dad was shocked!  The guys are all so excited that they will get to take the trip together this next year.  The chances of being chosen twice in a row are pretty slim to none so the credit on this one goes 100% to God!  Thank you God, for answering even the smallest prayers!  You've made Jackie Powell a very happy, excited man!

BIG day for my BIG boy

Noah first day of preschool was today!   He is going to the same place he went last year for therapy, however, now he goes everyday from 8 - 1:30.  While he's there, he gets to be in a classroom setting with other kids, but then they pull him out of class and work on him with his therapy.  And they feed him breakfast and lunch! He had a great first day and really enjoyed being around other kids his age.  He was asleep on his mat when I came to pick him up and they told me he was worn out because he walked so much today. 

I'm excited about all that he'll learn while he's there plus I know he needs the interaction with other kids.  This will be great in helping prepare him for Kindergarten next year. But I'm not going to lie... it makes me a little sad that this is the first step in something that will be a big part of his life. He has a good 16 years of school ahead of him and I can't believe we are already to the point that he's now going full time. However, it is nice having a little one on one with Collier... and I was able to get SO many things taken care of today!

We had another first today, but not quite as enjoyable as school... Noah's first trip to the dentist.  He wasn't too sure about letting them look in his mouth but from what they could see, his teeth looked great.  I'm glad that's something that we only have to do twice a year.  I've never had a cavity and I hope Noah takes after me because I don't even want to think about trying to fix a cavity in his mouth.  I'm pretty sure they'd have to sedate him!

Collier sure is going to miss his brother!

And momma can't believe her baby is now in school!
(And yes, this is terrible of me but I liked it of Noah)

A little of this, alot of that

I'm seriously so behind in my blogging that I don't know where to begin but I'll try and play a little catch up!

Jamie turned 32 on August 3. We celebrated with my parents, Lindsay and Derrick with a shrimp boil on the weekend before his birthday. During that week, Jamie and I also celebrated with dinner at Dales and with his family by having dinner at the Marriott. The following week, on August 9th, Jamie and I celebrated our 8th anniversary! I wouldn't want to go through this life with anyone other than him by my side. He makes me a better person and I couldn't ask for a more perfect partner, daddy and confidant. I thank the Lord daily for placing Jamie in my life. In my opinion, this past year has been our greatest! I guess it rings true that you DO get better with age. :) We've gotten much better at making our marriage work. Not that we have everything all figured out but after going through lots of ups and downs, we now know how to get through them together and with God's guidance.

Jamie surprised me with a delivery of a beautiful array of colorful flowers: sunflowers, hot pink daisies, stargazer lilies and roses. And I got a purse that I've had my eye on. The funny thing is that I asked for a steam mop, but I guess a purse is much better!  Althougth, I do still want that steam mop!

A week ago Friday, on Aug. 5, Dad had his stem cell transplant at Vanderbilt and everything went really well. He's been pretty weak and sick since and has lost quite a bit of weight, which is all to be expected. It's just part of the process. Early this past Friday morning, he was admitted back into the hospital for a high fever and we've since found out he has an infection that they are treating with an antibiotic. He feels terrible and hasn't eaten much in the past week, but hopefully once his white blood count begin rising, he'll begin feeling more like himself.  Jamie, the kids and I went to visit them this past weekend. Since Collier is under 2, he couldn't go up to see dad but Noah was able to. At first, he was really weary of his Papa laying in a hospital bed wearing a mask over his mouth and nose, however, after he warmed up to it, he hopped right up in the bed with him and gave my dad lots of lovin'. I know that's just what dad needed after having not seen him for 2 weeks!

My friends were all getting together Saturday night in Nashville to celebrate Chenequa's birthday so it worked perfectly for me. Noah stayed with my mom at her apartment, Jamie and Collier stayed in a hotel room and I met up with my friends for the evening. The girls and I visited Arrington Vineyards, which is right outside Nashville. It is a beautiful vineyard where they offer wine tastings and have a band providing entertainment. And the weather was perfect!  We had a great time enjoying the scenery and catching up with one another (and of course, trying out some of the wine).   On Sunday, we visited with dad for a few hours, ate lunch with mom and headed back home. I'm glad we got to spend some time with my parents... these past two weeks have been the longest I've gone with out seeing them and even though I'm home, I've still been a bit homesick for them to get back to the Shoals. My dad is still in the hospital and will hopefully get out by the weekend. Please continue to keep him in your prayers!

After our wine tasting

The Girls at Arrington Vineyards

Dinner at Whiskey Kitchen

 

OOPS!!!

So I had this picture in my previous beach blog entry.  Notice anything wrong with it?....



I didn't either until just a few minutes ago... Noah has THREE arms!!! I edited it in Photoshop and overlooked the fact that I failed to cover up his arm from the underlying picture!  I thought it was too funny when I noticed it!  I deleted the picture from the beach blog post and wanted to assure you all that Noah doesn't in fact, have 3 arms! :)