David Franklin wanted to do his own post. He just wanted to share with you all of the growing he is doing! We don't go back to the doctor for another month but after experiencing this back pain I'm starting to have, and soreness in my arms, I had another home weight check...22 lbs!!

We are off to the lake this afternoon and Relay for Life tonight. Walking in honor of all of you courageous survivors and in memory of my Mam-maw. Have a great weekend and enjoy this beautiful weather we are supposed to have!

AHH!!

This has been a really fun week/weekend for us! We just got home from Fayetteville and had a really great time. David Franklin has never seen so much pink in his life, he slept in Lilly's room and got to use Lilly's things. Randi got me "the most masculine towel" she had which had a frog in a bikini on it- so cute! He had his first trip to the pool on Saturday he could have stayed in the water all day. He is a real water bug!

We also put the boat in the lake last week and went for a quick boat ride. We got a baby life jacket and it doesn't cut his face in half, although it looks like it here. He didn't seem to mind wearing it, so whatever works! The wind blew his hair up like that, no styling was involved, but I loved it! The bouncing, sun, and the sound of the motor put him to sleep in no time. Seriously, we were barely out of the dock.

We had the whole lake to ourselves. It was so peaceful and beautiful. There are few places in the world that make me feel the way the lake does. I have so many memories growing up on that water. It makes me think of my friends and family and makes me so happy!!! It's more than just fun to me- I absolutely love it and I was happy to share with DF.

I got a video monitor, thankfully. It's a cheap one (if you consider $100 cheap) but I really wanted one as he got older and has started moving all over the crib and pulling up on it. I put him down for a nap and then went to go peek on him on the monitor. I saw him staring at the camera, like he knew I was watching him!! What a guy.

American Idol look-alike?

Last night's AI finale was so much fun to watch and of course, I was pulling for the home-state boy. Way to go Kris!! He is really sweet and does make a state proud! The FOX16 news anchor in Little Rock last night was HYPE!!

I'm proud of Kris but I also like Adam. His voice is amazing and he's a great performer. On the news this morning they were saying he didn't translate as well in the older demographic, however my Grands Ellen said on Tuesday she "Adores Adam!" We all know she isn't the norm though!

Ok, I was told by 2 people in 1 day that they think I look like Adam Lambert...WHAT?!! He wears much more make-up than I do but he does have pretty eyes so I am going to try to take it as a compliment. I like Adam, but I don't think I want to look like him...


Adam (no idea why so small, but you all know what he looks like)



Me

Too funny! I kind of see it though. I guess I look like a man that fits in with KISS. Oh well!

Crawl-ooting

We don't think this counts as a full blown crawl. It's more of a scoot but he's ALMOST there! A Crawl-oot perhaps? It's a pretty cute anyway and very effective! He can get anywhere he wants to go. If we lay a cell phone or the remote out as a lure, he will get to them in a flash! I've heard that kids these days are wanting cell phones earlier and earlier, but I had no idea they meant 7 months!! I thought Bella was funny in this video, she heard the cheering and wanted in on the action.

MeMe Goes to Music Class

This week my MIL, Mitzi, came to Music Class with us! It was so much fun having her join us and David Franklin was the only one with 2 grown-ups to sing and dance with!! What a lucky guy! I love this little hour a week that we get to just play together with other moms and children. At home it's so easy to get distracted!

On the nursing front, I'm still scared to try again and still pumping...my least favorite thing to do. He is taking the bottle well, but still biting it so I'm not trying again just yet. I will keep practicing the "NO"s with the bottle first :)

I can't stand the rain

Still raining???


I've never sang Seal so much in my life! :) Seriously, how can it still be coming down? This is the longest stretch of yucky weather I can remember. I just want to snuggle up in bed and have a movie marathon. I must be solar powered because this rain has left me with no energy!

It could also be the transitions we are going through that are quite exhausting. Since I am not driving back and forth to Arkadelphia, our nap schedule has got some adjusting to do. Instead of 4, 45 minutes a day (he always falls asleep in the car) along with his 2 regular naps. We are going to have to stretch them into 2, 2 hour naps...or something resembling that. It has been sort of difficult trying to sort this all out.

But nothing compared to yesterday as far as difficult! I am still breastfeeding. It has been hard at times but for the most part has worked really well for us both. It's so good for him, I produce plenty, it's so much cheaper, it smells better, etc. So many reasons to breastfeed but there are 2 new reasons to stop...teeth!!! I have been used as a chew toy for a while now and it has hurt but not too bad with just gums, until now.

David Franklin has 2 new teeth that have just broken through on his bottom gum. They are razor sharp and he bit me yesterday, HARD!! It hurt so bad, I saw stars... and blood. I did what people have said to do when this occurred, because I knew this day was coming soon. I said "NO!", I popped his bottom (not very hard), I stopped the feeding and walked away...it all meant nothing to him. I was bawling, 1- because the pain was really something and 2- I knew the end was near. Now, I am not Mother Earth, and don't have strong beliefs in "Breast is Best" etc. but I was surprised to realize that I have actually enjoyed breastfeeding. It's been our bonding time together and gotten easier and easier over time. I tried again yesterday afternoon and got the same result... and a new cut! I called what we refer to as the "boobs hot line" at Baptist Hospital for guidance. They suggested an antibiotic cream so I don't get a staph infection and a breast shield, but I am terrified to try again. I have been pumping and feeding him a bottle, which has been fine. I think this is how it's going to be because he is still chomping down on that bottle. And this bite is actually a lock jaw, by the way! Any pointers out there, moms?? Winds of change are blowing through here--along with the all of the rain.

Happy Mother's Day!

I have a whole new appreciation for Mother's Day and motherhood in general. I'm so happy to have joined the club!! It was neat waking up this morning as a mother and thinking of all of my friends who were also having their first mother's day today. It was an extra special day for us. David Franklin was dedicated at church and we had a big ole spread at our house afterwards. It was the first time we have had anything at our new house so I was busy this weekend getting it all ready! It was a great day spent with some of our friends and families and Franklin and I got to be with our mommas too! We love and appreciate all the fabulous ladies in our lives who give us so much love and support!! Happy Mother's Day everyone!

If you're happy and you know it

Well, I'm clapping my hands! It dawned on me driving home from Fayetteville last Sunday that this time, right now, is the happiest time of my life so far. That is a pretty gob smacking realization to have if you've never had it before. It almost brought me to tears on 540. I'm thankful for this realization so I can learn to be more present. Let me be clear, I'm not saying my life is perfect, just that I'm the happiest I've ever been in it.

The main reason I'm so happy is of course, DFB and FSB! I'm so fulfilled in having them in my life. They have both brought great hope, stability, joy and healing to me. I also love my teaching job. If I'm going to spend time away from being home with my family, I want it to be worth my while, and teaching is to me. There is nothing like telling a first-generation college student he's doing a good job and seeing the pride swell up in his chest. Or helping a foreign exchange student feel more confident in public speaking when he tells you how embarrassed he was by his broken English before he started the class.

David Franklin news: He has really achieved a lot in a week and on his 7 month birthday!! He has gotten to be so WILD! He wants to try to stand up/climb up on everything! Eat everything- even carpet fuzz- gross! He also has a new tooth that has broken through the bottom gum and one about to break through on the top. We've had some fussy nights because of these teeth unfortunately.
He is SO close to crawling! He gets on all fours and rocks super fast and gets up on his toes like a down-dog but he can't quite get it all together yet. 7 months has been a big jump from 6!