every captive thought

Brad said that the first thing I said after we discovered I am pregnant (after standing frozen with my hands over my mouth for a solid 10 minutes) was, "But I didn't even get to wear my new Banana jeans!" I had the sads over it for about 2 seconds and now I'm over it. Maybe I can wear them once or twice before I balloon up to the pregzilla I was with James.

OH! That's why! Yes! James is going to be a big brother. We are so excited! Well...James not so much... But he's warming up to the idea...

Last night Brad and I very nearly suffocated from cabin fever. I really do consider myself a homebody...until I know I can't leave. Then I have an insatiable desire to get out and breathe the fresh air and feel the sun on my face and all that jazz. So we decided last night that we would get out today and run a few errands...with Brad driving of course. We started the day out right with french toast. James just had the berries and cream to begin with. That kid will do anything for a few blobs of whipped cream. Like mother like son...sadly. Then he moved on to stealing bites of his dad's french toast. We got James all bundled up for our outing. He didn't love being bundled, but he too needed to get out of the house. After running around and sewing our wild oats we came home for lunch. Then James and I decided to go visit Nana and Papa. Alone. *Foreshadowing* Remember yesterday when I told you I wasn't getting out again until summer??? Because I had gotten stuck...

Thanks to the weather, James and I have had the pleasure of having Brad home with us all day. We have been lazy, slothful, and snuggly. And both James and I got in a nap this afternoon. But the best part was when James laid in bed with us. We love when he is still long enough that we get to snuggle with him. It's just the best.

When I was little my favorite treats (or sussies, as we called them) were Fudge Rounds. Yum. Mom would throw a few at me as I got off the school bus and I was a happy little girl. So today, being stuck inside due to the blizzard, I decided to introduce James to these delicious little delights. Brad and I were in need of some entertainment. First bite...an addiction is born. James tries to make the most of every bite. He's falling in love... Kind of a scary love... A vicious love... An all-consuming love... A happy love... The aftermath... Brad got to do the clean-up. Psalm 34:8- Taste and see that the Lord is good....

This is officially the longest my Mom and Dad have gone without seeing James since he was born...5 whole days. We had to wait until we were no longer contagious before we could go see them though. And that was today! James and I rushed over as soon as Mom got home from Bible study so we could soak up as much Nana and Papa time as possible. James got right down to business hitting up Nana for some snacks. (And George got in on that action too). James ate up every bit of the attention they gave him. He told them his new word that he has learned since they've been apart..."HOT". This is used by James to describe not only things that are actually hot, but anything else he is not supposed to touch. I am so thankful for the part my parents have in James' life. It is such a blessing to me that they choose to spend so much time with him and love him so much. I know it will also be a blessing to James with the precious memories he will have of them all his life. Prove...

Ok...so we've turned the corner. Can you see the sparkle?!!?! It's back! James also got his appetite back today. And he had an appetite for shrimp. A lot of shrimp. James also continues his love affair with PediSure. Next time Lorraine sees him, he will be good and fluffy. He will not take the cup away from his mouth until it is time for a refill. I feel the same way about coffee. And chocolate. And coffee.

James and I had a snuggly sort of day. Lots of laziness, lots of Baby Einstein, and lots of resting. I am hoping and praying that we feel a lot better tomorrow.

I feel crappy. Like starting to get the flu crappy. It's all James' fault too. I'm going to make him fix me dinner and get up in the middle of the night to bring me medicine. Actually, it is all my fault. Mommy guilt. It's the worst. And the flu on top of Mommy guilt sucks even worse. Luckily I started some flu medicine yesterday so hopefully I'll get better soon and hopefully (PLEASE LORD!!!!!!!) Brad won't get it. I can handle a sick kid and a sick me...I cannot handle a sick husband. It's just the pits. Sick men are 900million times worse than a sick child. It has been scientifically proven. I bet. Big babies. So I am snuggled down in bed drinking coffee and eating chocolate chip cookies. This is also a scientifically proven remedy for the flu. Just ask my Mom. But my supply is dwindling and I am getting scared. I hope I survive. Geez! Someone should take an iron to these sheets. How embarrassing. I'll get the maid to do it. Oh wait.....

Day 2.5 of enforced flu isolation and detainment underway. I got a little twitchy and weird today so Brad loaded us up into the minivan to get some fresh air. While we were out I escaped into Wal-Mart to get James some PediSure. He is not eating so well and Lorraine suggested PediSure. And it is a good thing she did...he didn't so much drink it as he inhaled it. Two bottles. Look at Brad's crazy hitchhiker thumb. Weird, huh? But anyways, he guzzled it...every last drop....without stopping...except for a refill. Poor little Jamesie just feels flat-out crummy. He couldn't even enjoy a few whirls on the sit-n-spin. But he started to perk up a little just before bedtime. I can't wait for my little guy to feel better. 100% himself. I miss his sparkle.

I don't mean this post to be braggadocios or anything but this just needs to be said. I'm sorry if you don't like your own mother very much after this. You know I'm all home-bound and whatnot due to James having the flu and all. I'm not sick, I'm just the mom of the sick kid. But today, my angel Mother fixed me a huge pot of chicken and dumplings (one of my top 2 favorite meals of all times), hot and buttery french bread, and fresh plump chocolate chip cookies. Could she be any more wonderful???? No! And these were no ordinary chicken and dumplings either. They were like all amped up chicken and dumplings. Chicken and dumplings on steroids. Chicken and dumplings that died and went to heaven and then ended up in my stomach. She has a magical recipe and I would love to share it with you but I can't. It's a family secret. (Not really...I just don't know what she does...so it might as well be magical...and a secret). I promise you...this pictu...

I love baby pictures...of anyone. I mean, who doesn't love to look at a picture of a baby? So here are some baby pictures of Brad...and one of me. Those droopy fat cheeks remind me of James. This just about describes Brad's personality even to this day...darling, sweet, angelic...but still a redhead...and you know what that means. Trouble. And this one has always been one of my faves. 2nd grade. Missing his two front teeth. Precious. And then there's me. 3 months old. Fat and angry.

Ok...so two weeks ago James caught a virus/cold/something nasty. A week later he had an ear infection. Today he was diagnosed with the swine flu as well as flu b and bronchiolitis. Yes, that would be two kinds of the flu. Did you know that was possible? Yeh, me neither. So he is on an antibiotic, cough syrup, breathing treatments, tylenol, motrin, tamiflu, ear drops, and lots and lots of Mommy love. We will be waking up every 4 hours through the night to dose him up with various meds. This night is going to be totally awesome. I'm looking so forward to it I can hardly stand it. But, this did not take the Lord by surprise. He knew this was coming. So I trust Him with James' health and healing. Isaiah 55:9 "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." And one more thing...the Lord is so gracious to have given us the world's VERY BEST doctor and nurse. They are dear to me in ways I ca...

Pots de Creme Yum

He is super strong, loves his Puppy, and is drooling a lot today... He LOVES to help unload the dishwasher... And he loves being naked... (Even though he looks a little confused)

I got an email from my sweet friend Erin yesterday regarding different discipline issues. We had our little boys about 6 weeks apart and are dealing with some of the same issues. She sent this email out to 4 or 5 of her friends and I asked her if she would mind sharing their responses with me as well as I am always game for some good mommy advice. I don't know any of the other girls that she sent this email to but she was kind enough to share their insights with me. I was struck by the similarities in all of our thoughts and ideas on discipline. But I was also pleasantly surprised to see that we all have, or are, struggling with a lot of the same things. That was so comforting to me. Here are some of the thoughts and ideas I gleaned from their emails that are helpful for me at the stage James is at: -Don't let your child know you are feeling out of control -Lots of kisses and hugs after disciplining -As for tantrums, step over them and leave, even shut the door -If he thr...