Pumpkin Patch

Oh how I LOVE fall! I love that the leaves are changing, well changed now, and the cooler weather.  We have yet to have snow, knock on wood, but the need for jackets and beanies has arrived!  I love snuggling up on the couch with my family, pups included to read Taylor a bedtime story.  With fall comes the pumpkin patch!  There is a local farm that has a corn maze, a corn pit, and a field where you can pick your own pumpkin.  Last year, we enjoyed the pumpkin patch with our neighbors, who have become our very good friends!  I don’t know what I would do without them some days!  Taylor was awfully tired from his morning activity, and could not be awaken for anything, so he slept most of the time.  I was still able to get a few pictures of him, when he wasn’t more interested in something else.

The field of pumpkins!

 

He lost interest in the pumpkins fairly quickly…

Enjoying the corn pit.  He was just staring at Lucy playing.

   

I love this picture of Lucy.  Even though her eyes are closed, you can seen how much fun she was having! 

We are so excited for Halloween!!  We have our costumes all ready to go, and can’t wait to share it with family!!  Only 4 more days!!

Growing Up

As Taylor takes his morning nap, I find myself thinking of how much he has grown.  I’m picking up toys off of the floor that I could remember thinking, “It’s going to be so long before he can play with this!”  I’m packing clothes away that I remember being so big on him.  I’m chasing after him as he bee lines if for anything that he is not supposed to get into.  What really got me yesterday was a trip to the park.

I can remember the day like yesterday, it was beautiful outside, so we went to the park.  Casey was on his way home, so he met us there for Taylor’s first park day.  Taylor was so excited to be in the swing and was so curious.  I felt like he looked so grown up in that swing.

Yesterday, I had flashbacks of that moment.  That moment I sat in the mulch trying to capture a picture of him laughing.  That moment I thought, “Wow, look how big he is.”  I had flashbacks, because I was doing the same exact thing!  I was sitting in the mulch, and couldn’t believe that this boy in front of me used to be so small.  I mean, he wore preemie clothes small.  Now, he is wearing 12 month jackets and shirts.  He wears a size 4/5 shoe! (He is still in 6 month pants, but they are high water's, as you will see in the last picture, but the kid’s waist is skinny, what can I say?)  What seemed like was going to take forever, has started to fly by.  I’m starting to think about his birthday for goodness sake!  It is amazing the transformation these babies make at this age.

I sure love him to pieces, hope you enjoy the pictures!

  

 

Taylor’s Surgery

This past Friday, Taylor had the cyst removed on his neck.  I was unbelievably calm, no tears from this mom!  When we arrived, we played in the halls of the hospital, had car races on the bed, and blew bubbles.  Taylor would talk to all the nurses that walked by and a few stopped in to comment on how content he was. (If only they stuck around for post-op.)  The only time I began to get a little worked up was when the anesthesia team came to take him back.  I could have asked them to go back as well, but I didn’t really want to see my child drift off into a lifeless sleep, so I just handed my sleeping baby over and smiled.  I knew he was in good hands, after all we were in one of the best Children’s Hospitals in the country and our anesthesiologist was a Florida Gator, how could we not be?  For the next 25 minutes Casey and I sat in the room.  He watched sports center, I looked through the pictures of T-man, just waiting…

  

Finally, in what seemed like forever but was only 25 minutes, Dr. Tibesar came back and said everything went well. The cyst didn’t rupture and he was in recovery. I was very excited to have Taylor in my arms, and shortly after he was.  He was very groggy and confused as to where he was and what had happened.  He still had his IV in his leg, and the oxygen monitor on his toe.  When he finally woke up a little more, he decided he was hungry and he was hungry now!  He was given some apple juice, but he hadn’t eaten since 7 pm the previous night!  I don’t know how parents go through this multiple times with their children. My heart definitely goes out to them, to have to endure that pain it indescribable.   As parents, you never want your child to feel pain, but sometimes it is necessary. Waiting is the hardest part, and Taylor’s surgery was minor!  When your child is just crying out in hunger and you can’t feed them, all you can do is hold him, so that is exactly what I did.  I held him so close and just told him it was okay.  Casey and I took turns rocking him and showing him that we were there.  I don’t think Taylor has fallen asleep on my chest since he was a newborn.  It was a much different feeling with his arms wrapped around my neck and his little legs wrapped around my waist, but it was great.  I didn’t want to move, I wanted to hold onto that feeling for as long as I could.  He could hear my heartbeat and he knew he was safe. 

All good things must come to an end, and when he woke up, he was ready to go.  We stripped him down, and they started taking the monitors off of him.  First came the oxygen monitor, check. Then came the IV….

Check.

Then, it was time to go home…Thank Goodness!

He ended up falling asleep in his car seat immediately and enjoyed his mac n chesse at lunch. 

SO happy it’s over!

A Beautiful Fall Day

After Taylor’s morning nap, we decided to go take some pictures.  It is his 10 month birthday, and it was absolutely gorgeous outside.  We decided to go to the park near our house, Crow-Hassan.  Casey couldn’t make it, but we are planning another hike with him tomorrow!

I, of course, tried to capture the best photos I could, but Mr. T is much more interested in playing with the leaves than looking at the camera with a big grin.  I also found out today he isn’t the biggest fan of hats.  I guess we will be purchasing some with snaps under his chin.

 

TC Marathon and 10 mile

I know, it has been awhile since I have written anything! I can come up with a million excuses, but the only one that matters is that I have been spending quality time with my little man.  So much has happened these last couple of months, it is hard to keep up.  I can promise to do better, but I really don’t think I will, so instead I promise to TRY to do better. 

Now, to the post.  A couple of weeks ago, Casey and I ran the TC marathon and 10 mile.  Now mind you, neither of us trained for the experience that lay ahead.  Casey didn’t seem concerned, but I was nervous.  Thankfully, we had Mama Smith to cheer us on, as well as about 300,000 other spectators.  Now I can’t speak for Casey, but as for me, I had a blast.  I only had to walk up 1 hill at about 9.5 miles, which was pretty impressive since the farthest I had run was 6.  I finished in 1:48:48, not a world record, but hey it’s MY PB!  I felt good afterwards, I could walk, and I even sprinted to the finish line.  My personal goal was to beat 2 hours, and at the top of the hill, I could see the clock read 1:58.  Even though that was the actual time, I started in the 4th corral, I still wanted to beat that 2 hour mark and I did.  Races get addicting, so of course I immediately signed up for the Disney 1/2 marathon in February and thankfully convinced the Smith wives to join.  It should be a great weekend!  (I think Jamie should come for the girls weekend though!)  Here are a few pictures from the day…

I apologize that a few are blurry, but Mama Smith’s camera seems to be on the fritz!  I thought she was joking that it would only focus on one thing.

 

It was a beautiful morning, this was just a

few of the runners for the 10-mile!

That’s right, I wore gloves, and arm warmers!

Cheering Mom and Dad on with Mama Smith.

Oh, and eating, can’t forget the food!

 

Casey after…I don’t think he looks so bad.

With his Mama, don’t they both look great?!

Taylor with his Mama! His expression is priceless…

The flag we run under, held up by two fire trucks.

    This race was fabulous.  The weather was beautiful, I can definitely see why it is the Most beautiful Urban Marathon in America!

 

This is already on order for a canvas photo.

I LOVE IT!

Apple Orchard