3 Month Update

Wow! It is so hard to believe I have been a Mommy for 3 months already. This has been the absolute best 3 months of my entire life! Gage is such a good baby, and I am so blessed to have him in my life!

For the past month or so, we have been seeing a little more personality every day. He wakes up in such a good mood in the mornings, so we usually lay in bed and play for a while before I get ready for work...but don't tell Daddy ;) He smiles constantly and loves to "talk"! I mean LOVES it! He's going to be just like me in that aspect, I'm sure. MeMe usually comes over every other day or so and she gets him going instantly! It is the cutest thing ever!! it is amazing to me how much he has changed already, and i know he is going to keep changing so much more. It makes me sad, but happy at the same time. Bittersweet I guess! He is so spoiled already, and I know it will only get worse from here. That's what babies are for though, right?

The past few afternoons when Michael gets home with him, he has been screaming for hours. I have no idea what is causing this, but it has got to stop. I have been putting a little cereal in his bottles at night for about 2 weeks now. I quit doing that thinking that may be the problem, but it hasn't gotten any better. He is usually such a good baby, so I know he's in pain to be crying so hard. I have tried everything I can think of, but nothing works. Does any one have any ideas, and has any one ever experienced this at 3 months old? I would think it is a little late for colic, but I'm not positive of that. Suggestions please!

We spent last weekend at the lake for Memorial Day. Gage did GREAT the entire weekend! I was so proud of him! We went out on the party barge for a couple of hours one day and he never made a peep! He slept most of the time, and played the rest of the time! Here we are getting ready to head out on the lake!

Isn't this cute? This is Gage and his buddy Aaron. They were born on the exact same day, about 19 hours apart. Bill and Teneal (Aaron's parents) are good friends of ours. Teneal was 3 weeks ahead of me while we were pregnant...now, isn't that neat? The boys were so cute in their life jackets!

I took Gage on his first trip to the zoo last week! My friend Jodie is a kindergarten teacher so she took her class on a field trip to the zoo. We went with them, an had so much fun! Here we are!

Michael and I went to see Rance tonight, so Gage went to a ballgame with MeMe. She said he was so good!When she brought him home, he and Daddy played airplane. I love to watch them play together...he loves his Daddy so much!!

Look at those cheeks...he gets that from Daddy I'm pretty sure!

He's holding his head up so well!! Yay Little Man!!!

Here he is in his first ball cap. Actually its a hunting cap, but you get the picture. Possibly the funniest thing I have ever seen!

Tour of Homes- Week 5

This week is my favorite week of Kelly's Tour of Homes! I think childrens rooms are so precious, and I happen to think Gage's turned out perfectly ;) I found his bedding at Babies R Us right after I found out I was pregnant. It was on clearence for like $70 so I couldn't resist. I thought it would be cute for a boy or a girl...I was right! I love the way it looks with the blue walls! I am going to put pictures in the frames eventually, but I just haven't gotten around to it. Maybe I'll do that soon!

Here is a close up of the bedding!

A freind of my Mom's painted his wall quote. I LOVE IT! I think it adds such a sweet touch to his room! The stuffed animals were all gifts while we were in the hospital when Gage was born! Aren't they cute sitting on his shelves?

This is his changing table. We were told not to buy a changing table because we would never use it, but we use it all the time. It is so funny to me because he has yet to sleep in his room, but we go in there atleast 50 times a day. Maybe soon I'll be brave enough to let him sleep in his own room!

Jodie made him this board for all his guests to sign when they came to the hospital. He was a popular little fellow that day!

I hope you enjoyed touring "Little Man's" nursery! Come back next week for a sneak peak of another room in our house!

Tour of Homes-Week 4

This week is "Dining Room" week on Kelly's Tour of Homes. I am so excited because even though our dining room is hardly ever used, I still love it!

This is the view of our Dining Room from the living area. I love the turquoise daisies in the vase! I got them at Hobby Lobby forever ago and I still love them! My Mom gave Michael and I this dining set when we moved into our house! She had it for a while and got a new one, but it looks brand new!

This picture is on one of the walls in the room. It's a drawing of my family's farm and it means so much to me! My family has lived there since the early 1900's and we love it there. It is such a beautiful place. Michael and I got married there last year! The farm has been recently put on the market to be sold, and we are all going to miss it terribly!

When my Mom gave us the dining set, she also gave us all the dishes that are in it! They are red depression glass, and match my decor perfectly!

I hope you enjoyed my tour! Come back next week for a peek into a different room!

Lots of Smiles!

For the last few weeks, Gage has been smiling so much! It seems like every time I get the camera out to get his picture he stops. Yesterday while I was working he went with Michael and his sister Tammy and I got this in an email!! What a doll! I'm so glad someone finally got him smiling!



On a lighter note, this week has been so crazy. I have spent the last week at the hospital with Rance and the rest of my family, and I'm completely exhausted! We all are! Gage can't be in the hospital (but don't get me started on that) so he has spent a lot of time at my Mom's and with Michael this week. I miss him so much, and I can't stand the thought of leaving him one more time. On the other hand, I don't want to be away from the hospital one second because I'm afraid something will happen while I'm gone. AM I GOING CRAZY OR WHAT?

We have so much on our agenda for this weekend, but not enough time to do it. Hopefully things will settle down soon and we can get things back to normal...but, what our new normal will be?!

Rance's accident has affected our lives so much. I realize that what has been normal for me in the past is about to be totally different. I'm completely OK with all of it, but I'm ready to see just what is in store for us! Please continue to keep Rance in your prayers...he has a long, long road ahead of him and lots of hurdles to jump.

Rance's Blog

From now on instead of posting Rance's updates on my blog, I have made him his own. I started it yesterday at 2pm and he has had over 1500 hits! Each and every hit means one more person is praying for him! I intend on posting several times each day so that everyone can stay updated! Please visit his site, and leave him ENCOURAGING comments! Feel free to put a link on your blog if you'd like...he needs all the prayers he can get! If you decide to do this, please let me know! I'd love to know how many people are pulling for his recovery! www.prayersforrance.com

I have a link at the top of my page where you can go to check on him!

Thanks again and keep the prayers coming!

One more thing...I would like to have him a blog badge made for other bloggers to post, but I have no idea how or where to find them. I you know, please inform me!

Monday May 12, 2009

Today is Rance's 2nd day at UAMS. Rance is still doing well after his surgery. He has still been fighting his meds and his vent tubes. At this point, our concerns are pneumonia, mini-strokes, infection, and his breathing. Because of the damage to his artery, they are slowly elevating him to keep from causing the strokes. He has been doing well with this also.

Since most of you know Rance personally, I thought you would enjoy this story! Vicki went to visit with him today, and he was chewing on his vent tube. She told him to "quit chewing on that". He opened his eyes, rolled them at her, and closed them back. This is very typical of Rance! After all this, his attitude is still shining through!!!

Keep your prayer coming!

Monday May 11, 2009

Rance had his surgery this morning and is doing well. However, we did not get the news we had so desperately hoped for. The neurologist met with Rusty and Vicki (Rance's parents) before his surgery and explained to them that they were going to replace his broken vertebrates and relieve the pressure from his spinal cord. This would stabilize his neck and if everything went as planned, he would get the feeling back into his body. At that time, they didn't know of any spinal cord damage. When they got into the operating room they found that Rance, in fact, did have damage to his spinal cord, and also to his Carotid Artery. They repaired both of these and his vertebrates and he is now in recovery. He has a ventilator tube in his mouth and his nurses have been keeping him HEAVILY sedated...I'm sure you know, Rance is fighting them with all he has. He does not like he fact that they have all the tubes hooked up to him and he isn't able to get up and agrivate us ;)

We have all been to see him, and on occasion he wakes up to respond to us! Each baby step that Rance takes gives him a little more hope! The doctor says that the way he is now, is the way he will always be. We think differently! Rance told Vicki after the accident happened that he WILL walk again...this is the part of his attitude we love so much! With lots of prayers and encouragement I am convinced Rance can and will walk out of here!

Keep fighting Rance! We love you so much!

Happy Mother's Day!

I always thought my first Mother's Day would be the best ever. Turns out, this has been a very rough weekend. I'm sure you read below about my cousin who in an accident on Saturday night and has a broken neck. Michael and I have spent the last two days at the hospital with him my family and Gage has been at Mom's. I certainly never thought I would send him to his MeMe's on Mother's Day of all things, but you do what you've got to do. Rance is doing fairly well for the circumstances and he is in line for surgery tomorrow that will hopefully fix his neck. The doctor says he cannot promise that it will, but are certainly hoping so. Please continue to keep him in your prayers!

Although this has been a not so good weekend, I am still so thankful for the wonderful Mother that God has given me! I can only pray that I am half the Mother she has been to me! I love you so much Mom!

Not only has God blessed me with a wonderful Mom, but He has also given me the most precious gift of all...Gage! I never imagined I could ever be so in love! The last 10 weeks have been the best 10 weeks of my life. Michael and I are so lucky to have him! Mommy and Daddy love you buddy!

Please Pray! Sunday May 10, 2009

Now, more than ever, my family needs your prayers! My cousin, also a very good friend of mine, has been in an accident and broken his neck. He and some friends were in the back of a truck and he stood up to readjust. When he did, he fell out and landed on his head. He has 3 broken vertebrates, one of which is pressing on his spinal cord, and is causing him to have no feeling from the chest down.. He had an MRI this morning and we are waiting on the results from the nuerologist. We know God has a plan for him and Rance is in good hands! Please keep him and our family in your prayers!

If you know Rance, you know he is quite a character! This was a few weeks ago at our house. He loves to cook, and on occasion he will call me to see if we would like for him to cook dinner for us! We NEVER turn down his meals!! He is still in good spirits and is very optimistic on his recovery! He is definitly a fighter!! We love you Rance!

A little ironic...don't you think?

Last week I was undecided about what to get my Mom for Mother's Day...so I asked my fellow facebooker's for advice. I got the idea from one of them to go to Doodleworks and paint her a platter. So I did! Gage and I had quite an experience, to say the least. I'm not sure if you've ever tried to paint pottery with a 10 week old baby, but it was interesting! We put his footprints in the middle! It turned out so cute!

We had an early Mother's Day dinner today, so I went ahead and gave MeMe her gift. Guess what happened next. She gave me mine. And guess what it was. A painted platter! She put paint on Gage's finger and painted flower on it and put his footprints in the middle! It is the sweetest thing I've ever seen!!

Isn't this such a sweet picture of me and my little man? He is growing so fast!

Here he is with his MeMe! He loves her so much!

Gage, Nana, MeMe and Mommy! It is so scary to me how we all look alike :)

Tour of Homes-Week 2

This week is Living Room week for Kelly's Tour of Homes! I have enjoyed looking at all the pretty kitchens, and I can't wait to see all the living rooms!!
This is our Living Room as you come in the front door! Michael had this sofa table when we met. I LOVE IT! I'm don't love the rest of the living room furniture, but I do love this table!

This is what you see as you come in the back door. My Nana bought me the mirror from Pier 1 a few years ago and I get so many compliments on it! I love it too! As you can see, the coffee table is a little empty. I have been needing to do something with it, but I haven't figured out what to do just yet. Any suggestions?

And last but not least, the view from the kitchen! If you remember in my last post, I said how much I love our open floor plan! As you can see, we have our tv on top of the mantle. After a year of living here, I'm still undecided about how I like it. Sometimes I love it, sometimes I hate it! The good thing is, it is out of the way!