The Kids

Back to work for me this week! I am teaching 2 classes on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons. I am only gone about 3 hours and DF is at Franklin's parents so it feels like I am leaving him to run errands or something. A lady named Shelley comes over and keeps him and she is really great. The past few days Mitzi has been home with him when I get back. I think it is hard for her to stay at the office when she knows he's so close :) Me too- I've been running out the door to get my hands on him!! It is really the best situation and I have enjoyed being back in the classroom! Just trying to get back in the swing of things.

No new pics but this one- my mom was babysitting Saturday night when we were at a shower for Adam and Julia Crow. She took this on her phone (explains the bad quality) and text it to us. We laughed and laughed and had to share. Don't worry, she doesn't let him just lay on the couch like that, I promise! It was just for picture sake. She labeled it "the kids". People say the dog gets forgotten when you have a baby, but we still love our doggie! Although she isn't number 1 anymore, that is true.

Have a great weekend!

Playtime

Favorite place to be these days

New outfit from Blaine, Franklin's favorite!

A true man, in his chair with the remote. We have to stop with the props!!

First time in the Bumbo- it's a little sung already!


So when he was first born, Baby Wise said that they need to have feedtime, playtime and naptime. I got the feedtime and naptime but "playtime" as a newborn I quickly learned is simply being awake. But now he really plays!! He loves his play mat and I hear him laughing and cooing and cracking himself up. He also has started fake coughing. I think it is when he wants to talk or laugh he coughs and sort of yells. Is this normal? It's pretty funny and he has started doing it in the mornings when he wakes up. No crying, coughing. It's weird but I will take it!

He will play himself to sleep. The other day I looked down and he was asleep with his hand still holding a ring! Then he wakes back up and I only know this because I hear him in banging around again. What a happy guy! I'm glad he is so easily entertained and loves to play but I am a little concerned at how much he HATES Tummy Time! I try to give him some tummy time about twice a day but he really can't stand it, so neither can I. I'm not very good at the "cry it out" method so I always flip him back over. He's never going to roll over, sit up, etc. His legs are strong and he can stand up for a few seconds but those arms are pretty puny. Sorry DF, we know you're still a bruiser!

We are moving out of our house and into our condo on the lake this week. Although I'm very excited to be moving to Hot Springs and love our condo- moving is hard work and it would sure be nice if we had a house to go to. We have gotten a lot done, but it's been a tough week and we still have some work to do. Franklin has been amazing and although I'm exhausted, I'm so thankful for him!! David Franklin has been helpful too, I can't forget about him. He slept almost 12 hours last night- his best ever! What a huge help.

I haven't taken any pictures lately because my camera is packed up somewhere, I will find it soon :) Thankfully, Alecia had hers so I am borrowing some of her pictures. We got to have a nice break Saturday night and went to Julie Bodemann's wedding. The Albrights kept David Franklin at their house and I think they had a good time together. The girls are in Jr. High and had fun playing with him until he had a dirty diaper, then they passed him off. Haha, that was so me until about...oh, 3 months ago! :)

It was a really beautiful wedding and reception and so nice to get to play for a little while with our friends from out of town that we don't get to see often enough! Uncle Mitch got to get some good lovin' with DF at breakfast Sunday morning. We miss you guys already!! Back to the boxes....did I mention I hate moving??

Talking with Dad

I had to try out the new flip video. I really like it so far, it's so easy!! We are starting to pack tonight but I caught a sweet moment with DF "talking" to his dad. He isn't really laughing big in this one but this is what we are hearing lots during the day. It is SO much fun to have him communicate with us and start to see his little personality. He's a ham already. Wonder where he gets that???

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

2009 will be a very big year for Day-Fray. It will be his year of "Firsts". First steps, words, tastes- literally everything. We are really excited about experiencing these 'firsts' with him. Last night we enjoyed the champagne and today the black-eye-peas. Happy New Year Everyone!! It's going to be a good one, I can feel it!

We had a wonderful Christmas this year complete with lots of gifts, food, friends, family, stress, even the "Christmas Cramp" (The belly aches that come from over-indulging! You know what I'm talking about :))
Day-Fray was precious and although clueless it was so much fun for us to have him this year. Franklin is on his way back right now from hunting in Texas. He has the camera with him but I will post pictures once I get my hands on them. We also got a Flip for Christmas so be looking for little videos to be popping up here. He has started laughing hard and I want to try to capture that. The only problem is, it takes probing from us and you will hear us OOHING and talking in baby talk which is annoying in person and 10x worse on film!! We will see what we can do.
It's almost 2009- wow! Back to work for me in 2 weeks, starting to get a little nervous about that and the move (especially since we don't have a new house yet)!! Yeah, like I said, WOW!

Let the good times roll!

The Church Christmas tree

David Franklin lit the Advent candle at Church!

Lauren and me at the Tacky Christmas Sweater party

WINNERS!!

Johnson/Bass Christmas Celebration

The Christmas babies

This weekend was our last weekend in Arkadelphia that isn't going to be filled with packing. We close on our house tomorrow- it's SOLD! We are moving to Hot Springs after the first of the year.

We enjoyed our Arkadelphia weekend very much. My dad and Leslie and Jack came down and spent Friday night with us. We had our Christmas celebration together and it was so nice. It was a great visit and it was so much fun getting Jack and Day-Fray together. Jack is at a really fun and BUSY age. It was funny to watch him pull every piece of paper off his presents so carefully and then tear into the chocolate chip cookies with no hesitation- smart guy!

Saturday night we had a Tacky Christmas Sweater party at the Hawkes and Franklin and I took home the prize!!! My mom made those sweatshirts when we were little and I would wear it with leggings as a dress. She thankfully kept her artwork (no surprise, she keeps EVERYTHING) but it paid off.

This morning at church our family lit the Advent candle of Love. DF did really good and didn't cry or fuss and fell asleep right after. Perfect! It was special at his first Christmas for us to get to be a part of the service. His Meme, Grampe and Gammers all wanted to come and watch him in big church.

More Christmas celebrations tomorrow, we get to see the Vaught cousins. Meme got DF a full Santa suit so he may get to wear it tomorrow night...he will make one Jolly Santa that's for sure!