Welcome Baby Kalden!

Congratulations to Uncle Keith and Aunt Savannah on the birth of their son, Kalden Ross Welch. He was born Monday, Sept 28 at 5pm, weighing 6lbs 15oz. I don't have any pictures, of course, because we're here and they're there, but trust me, he's precious! Jalen is happy to have his first cousin (he doesn't know it yet, but he is).

Jalen stayed a few hours on Friday, with Rachel and Maddy, and Monday, with Jodi and Allie, and had a great time. Although, I hear he was pretty mellow and, like always, soaking it all in. He didn't cry when I left, or at all for that matter. We are going today to meet a new babysitter, who will be watching him when I start working again on Wednesdays, Fridays, and every other Saturday. He will be there with two other boys I think, so I am sure they will be teaching him all sorts of new and creative ways to get into trouble! Actually, I think he will have fun there.

This morning, J and I went to an open gym playtime and tried all sorts of new things. They had a baby pool filled with balls (his favorite), even though there was also a mini trampoline. Just look at those arms fly! And there was a slide, ride-on toys, a tunnel to crawl through, and tumbling mats/blocks to climb. He spent most of the time watching the other kids play, but he had a good time.

Here is a picture of our little "Linus". I'll miss this stage :)

Bye-Bye Mommy!

Every parent has the smartest kid ever, so I have to brag on mine a little. He learned to wave "Bye-Bye" in all of about a day and a half. We finally got him on video waving:



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pCP9X1AMJ64

He's so smart! :)

8 Months Already!

Mace, do you smell what I'm cookin'?

Alright critics, he had this shoe off before I could even take the picture. But we have done a little more practicing wearing shoes since then, and so far haven't lost any while we've been out. Nan, here's a thigh picture just for you.

At 8 months, Jalen is crawling with ease, still jumping (and likes his Johnny Jump-Up now), pulling up anywhere, standing unassisted, and cruising along the couch. I don't know how much he weighs, but it is equal to a lot! He gets upset if I shut a door that he was crawling toward, even if he was across the room, because dang it, he wanted to go outside!! He loves opening and closing the dishwasher door. Actually, he can't open it, so when he closes it he gets mad. He CRACKS UP when we are out for a stroll and Mace is barking and fighting me to go say Hi to another dog -- well, who wouldn't laugh at that, it's probably pretty hysterical. He has started a new game where he tosses one of his toys a few feet ahead and crawls after it. Here he is doing his favorite activity: throwing shoes one by one off the tote onto the floor, while showing off his first clipper cut and handsome outfit with shoes.

Yes, I said you're handsome. But you've got some big shoes to fill -- just keep growing!

It Happened.

Jalen's first shiner. It took a little longer than we anticipated, but it's a pretty good one. We were having lunch with Daddy at the Bowen office and he crawled over to a low window sill and was balancing for a moment on one hand and the opposite knee when he swiveled to the ground, but not before smashing his cheekbone into the metal window casing. We knew it really smarted when we heard a type of cry we hadn't heard before and it immediately started bruising up. By the time I got back with some ice, he just wanted to suck on the ice, so he was ok.

It has turned out to be a "toughen up" weekend. After waking up from a nap on Saturday (the day after), he pulled his music player in his crib down on him, which happens a lot, but it must've hit his bruise because I heard the same painful cry. Then that night he realized he could climb up on the bottom shelf of a console table, and right as we looked at him in disbelief, faceplanted onto the floor, bruising his eye just above his cheek bruise.

I wonder why I'm starting to have a sense of dread about him learning to walk? Maybe because he has no fear and does things like this: climbing over Mace to reach the couch. What is it they say about paying for the sins of your childhood? I think they mean your husband's childhood!

Recap of Labor Day Trip to So IL

Well, this is so very late, but you know what they say...

(everyone chime in) "Better late than never!"

I have a lot of catching up to do, so there may be multiple posts today or in the next few days. First, a recap of our trip back home. Jalen woke up a few times on the way there to help me sing along with the radio. We stayed busy most of the days, visiting lots and lots of good ol' Illinois folks. We made a few trips to Wally World, crashed a baby shower, went for a couple strolls through beautiful Dolan Lake, went to the DuQuoin State Fair, and attended a football game.

Jalen had his "serious face" on throughout the fair, as he looked around attentitively, studying the craziness all around him. He went through the petting zoo unimpressed (he does live with a pony), but we laughed as one of the animals -a deer I think- tried to eat Dad's shoe! Brianna will no longer push J in his stroller, as she was given a balloon for "her baby", and asked if "Mama" would come pick a duck and he would let her win! But I think Jalen's favorite part of the fair was the hot tub display. I heard him ask Pa-pa if he would buy him one of those!

The times we spent around the house, Jalen learned to love the good things in life - cardboard boxes.

Now he and Mace fight over who gets to play with the empty box.

A special treat for Jalen was when Papaw taught him how to drive the lawnmower. Maybe next summer he can start earning some cash and pulling his weight around here!

Watch out Papaw, I like to go fast!!

Driving back to TN was frustrating for the little man. For the first time, he didn't sleep the whole way or sing, he just wanted out. Frustrating for me was the fact that there was a torrential downpour and we couldn't go faster than 40 mph for part of the way. So, sorry to say I don't look forward to doing that again for a while! But you all know where to find us!