Where to begin?

Sorry, to have taken a month off. Let me catch up!
August 22: First fever and cold. The fever lasted through the weekend. We are still dealing with the cough and congestion. He went on anti-biotics for it on September 16th.

August 26th: Four month check-up
Height: 25 1/14 inches - he grew long!
Weight: 13lbs 12oz - still a little guy!
Head: 17"

I am not really sure where the time goes, but it has been non-stop. His cough takes a lot out of him so he just isn't quite himself.

August 31st: Rice cereal for the first time. You can check out pictures on flickr.

September 15th: Tried peas. He likes them.

September 16th: First Open House. See other post.

September 18th: Gets pink eye! Begins eye drops! UG!

He is still a fabulous little sleeper. His cough is waking him once or twice in the night, but I just have to give him his pacifier and he heads back to dream town. He babbles quite a bit. More to his daddy than anyone else. He is working on rolling over and gets much more pleasure out of tummy time. He has even made himself scoot a bit on his knees. His new favorite toy is the rain forrest bouncer. And he loves to stand.

Really, all the specifics aside all I can say it that we love him soooooooooooo much. Goodness, he is just our joy and we are so thankful each and every day for our little guy.

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First Open House

On Tuesday, September 16th we attended our first Open House. The teachers had prepared an activity for the kids - which was so sweet. But, as you will see from the video Renn wasn't too impressed. Perhaps he won't have his mama's love of carbs?

Actually, the boy babe was just hungry and not in the mood. So we will try it at home soon.

P.S. - Why is it that adults talk "baby-talk" do we really think they understand us better? Just listening to us talk to him in the video is funny! This video was just shot with my little digital so it's not great, but it's something.

P.S.S. - It is his teacher not me thrusting the noddles in his face... a couple of you have asked :). I am working the camera... and yes, I know I need to go to video school.

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mornin'

mornin'
Originally uploaded by Carey Bailey

It was a BIG day yesterday.
Renn Jackson went from size 1 diapers to size 2. And even though size 2's are made to fit 12-18 pounds they look huge on him. We estimate he weighs 15 pounds right now, but will find out for sure next Tuesday as he goes for his 4 month check up.
Last night he also slept in real P.J.'s for the first time. He has been sleeping in a sleep sack and swaddle. We found he liked to sleep with his legs close to his body but recently he has been wriggling out of the swaddle part so we thought we would try P.J.'s and it worked no problem... he was still a great sleeper.! 9 hours! Can't complain.

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Searching for the sunny side of things....

I have simply been avoiding blogger because I know the post I am about to do will sound pathetic. I am very aware that there are people suffering all over the world and that what I am about to blog about can't even compare to the trials some people face day in and day out. But, I am hoping that by finally blogging about this I can move past it and get back to blogging about the fun stuff.
I returned to work three weeks ago. I knew it would be every adjective of tough to leave Renn in preschool and to not be responsible for his daily care at all times, but I never imagined it would be physically and mentally painful. It causes such heartache to leave him day in and out. It is painful to watch him cry, painful to see him simply be moved from swing, to bouncy, to crib, to floor all for the sake of appeasing him. I am there to feed him and I see the ladies working so hard to feed, change and care for the babies in the room so its not that I think anyone is being a slacker it's just that I know when we are at home it is so much more. We laugh, play, look at new things, sing, practice new skills and simply engage in the act of connecting.
I know I honestly can't go on like this. So Eric and I are looking at options... I even went so far as to see how you go about getting a job delivering papers. (Hey, I figure it would be something I could do before he wakes up :) ) Who knows what will transpire, but there has to be another solution. I told my mom the other day I wished I had started a savings account as a kid that could have been used to be a "stay at home mom". But, I just never imagined.
I truly do know that I have the best set-up possible. But, it is just not enough. I wish I could list off a bunch of positives right now, but I can't. All I know is I want to be the one caring for my little tree frog.

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Our frog on a plane

We did it! Our first plane ride back "home" to Texas. Eric would say Renn did much better than Mama. Honestly, I don't have one thing to whine about - he was perfect. Not one peep out of him the whole time. He ate when was supposed to - he sucked a pacifier when he was supposed to - he slept most of the journey. The only thing he didn't do when he was "supposed" to was poop. On both routes he pooped either on the plane or before we were to board and pooped through his outfits and had to get a change. Fun stuff!

My only advice to mommy's traveling is to back two diaper bags. Don't try to cram everything in one. It becomes too hard to find stuff in it on the plane. Pack two with some room to spare in each. Thanks for all the great advice provided by my mom friends. It all came in handy.

We had a great journey!

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Grab Hold!

This weekend Renn got a new and improved play mat. It is bigger and has many more "toys" to look at. We have also begun setting plastic rings by him for his fingers to play with. Today he grabbed hold..all on his own. I didn't put the rings in his hand - he just grabbed them and began whirling them around as his arms move non-stop. As I watch him I see him learning new things EVERY day... it is amazing!
It has made me think does learning something new daily stop or do I not pay enough attention to my life? I believe I am guilty of not paying enough attention. As I watch Renn constantly God is watching us... watching, waiting, desiring for us to grab hold of what He has put right in front of us.

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He did it!

This afternoon he was playing on his play mat (ugly as it is). My mama had rearranged all the critters on it to be in new and interesting places and he was just content playing away. I should have started putting him down for his nap at 12:30 p.m. but he was playing so well that I didn't see the need to rush it. Then low and behold I look over and his eyes were starting to get heavy and then he did it. On his eleven week old birthday he put himself to sleep!
I was shocked! He has never done that. Usually he has to be in the sling or be rocked to sleep.
Woo hoo! Makes me feel a bit better about him heading off to preschool in a few weeks.
Good job baby Renn!

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