More videos

This isn't very clear but you can hear him talking to "Thomas the Train" on the tv. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8iW-aBeqCc Jay used to want us to tap our hands over his mouth so he could make the ahahahah sounds but he wants to do it himself now...even though he hasn't perfected it yet http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rxnhWg2OOfA He is also more independent with peek-a-boo.....he is growing up so fast http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_TtRSX7IOUg

The joy of having a doctor and nurse as parents...

I am sooo proud of this sweet picture because it was the first time Jay actually smiled for the camera!! If you blow up this one you will see sweet Jay waving at us!

At the children's garden with Truman and Hannah. We met them there to celebrate Truman's 1st birthday!!

I love these next two, Jay was acting like a goofball at the table....he is always in such a good mood when he is eating. :)

We had to put a rug in the hallway for Jake who has arthritis and slips across the slick wood floor...of course, Jay thought I put this down for him as a racetrack to crawl on, over and over and over.

Here are some pictures of our fun this week. Jay has another cold, this one worse than the last so he is very emotional and I am sooooo tired of cleaning up his nasty nose. While being a nurse is not so good at times (my mind goes straight to the worst case every time something happens to him), I am glad I have enough knowledge to know when to call the doctor and when to just let it run its course. That being said, I do about 10 neuro exams on him every time he falls and hits is head and have very little compassion when he screams at me for holding him down to suck out his nose. Fortunately he doesn't know that medicine is gross yet so he thinks I am giving him a treat every time I bring the Tylenol and Motrin out.

There are those times, though, that my "new mother" syndrome shows its ugly face and I go into total panic mode about a diaper rash or a bruise. I usually call Jane (our good friend from Mercer who is in her pediatric residency here) freaking out. She calmly tells me what to do and that there is nothing to worry about (after rolling her eyes, I'm sure) which is why I am so thankful I can take advantage of her instead of making a fool of myself to Jay's pediatrician who knows I am a nurse and Wes is a doctor and would probably think we were both undeserving of our titles after the 5th ridiculous phone call.

Not to mention Dr. Daddy who, when I ask his opinion, either says, "germs are good for him" or "well, sometimes that can mean a brain tumor"....NOT something a mother wants to hear about her precious child! Then, I have a nervous breakdown and he says, "I'm sure its not a tumor, Shannon....it's probably just a headache" and I think, "well why in the crap did you not say that the first time!!!!" And of course, his growing collection of sutures, lidocaine, needles, staples, and other surgeon tools that are in a box in the closest for, as Wes says, "when the kids fall and bust their heads open, I can just sew them up here instead of going to the ER." Again, NOT what I want to hear! Of course, that would save some money, right?

But it really is different when it's YOUR baby. I used to think my patients' parents were crazy for calling me with the dumbest questions. I would just roll my eyes and think, "are you kidding?" Well, I completely understand now.

I guess I have babbled on about this for long enough. Bottom line is, between me and Wes, our kids will have to go to their grandparents for compassion. Our jobs have made us realize that cuts are fine unless you can see the bone, bruises are signs of healing, a fever is necessary to fight off infection, antibiotics are way overused, and no matter how much it hurts or how much you don't want to, medicine and treatments are going to happen, so get over it.

Videos

To make up for my lack of pictures, here are some videos from the week. Who needs a maid when I have my own personal vacuum cleaner?? Seriously, he will do this for an hour every day! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AfQmClDZw2U http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Px1M_O9soFk Jay is playing with his new basketball goal. I confused him when I said, "throw the ball" because usually I want him to throw it to me, but he finally gets it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tVbapXVKURM Jay sees a ball that he loves to give to Jake even though it is supposed to be Jay's. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VXdBQY2X798 Jay is caught in the act but who can get mad at that cute face?? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eLCbW-AL0XQ Jay is learning how to ride his new horse and is so funny to watch. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z-dLnbgqZos

New Year Resolutions

Let me start by saying I usually don't post blogs that are true "blogs" but I just was thinking about these things in church today so thought I'd include it in the blog. Sorry I don't have more pictures, I will do better next week. This morning on the news they said that January 25th is the most depressing day of the year. This is because this is the day most people discover the reality of how difficult it is to change and usually give up on New Year's Resolutions. After seeing this I decided that I would start my New Year Resolutions on Jan 25th, hoping to avoid the cursed day all together. We'll see. My resolutions are several and I really have no excuse since I am not working and have always said to myself, "Now if I was a stay-at-home mom I would have plenty of time to _____ and it would be so much easier." I realized the other day that I have been a stay-at-home mom for 11 months now and have yet to do any of those wonderful things. Of course, I will say that for the first several months I didn't even know my own name anymore and was happy to just keep the baby alive but since then my excuses have slowly ran dry. So, I am listing out what I am going to do starting now and will hopefully, in actually typing these out, will stick to them. -Join a Sunday School/Bible Study (this I have been putting off because I just couldn't make myself go without Wes and since he works most Sundays, I just chicken-out, which is ridiculous because I went to Sun School alone all the time before I got married, go figure) -Join the church we have been going to since June (wes and I have been in mourning since we moved because we LOVED our church in Macon, we visited one of the first Sundays we were in Macon and by the end of the service, knew that God wanted us to join. We joined Ingleside the next Sunday and over the next four years grew more in our marriage and as individuals than we could have ever imagined. The church up here is great but we just keep saying, "but it's just not Ingleside". Today I realized that if God still wanted us at Ingleside, we would be in Macon! So, it is time that we get involved in a church here, knowing that God will teach us even more if we just allow Him to. -Walk the dog every day (This was a hard lesson learned this week after we had to take Jake to the vet for a pulled neck muscle and discovered he is 15lbs overweight! This is completely my fault since I have not walked him 1/2 as much as I used too when we were in Macon. So, no matter how freaking cold it is, we will be out walking, coats/hats/scarfs and all!) -Start a REAL garden (This will have to wait a few months but I am reading up on how to get the garden ready and will hopefully be able to teach Jay a thing or two by the time we leave Cola) FYI: I learned this week that Cola is how the locals refer to Columbia so in an effort to seem cool, I will now refer to it that way as well. -Start memorizing Bible verses again (I have been super-slack about this for the past year, and if I am really honest, ever since I got married. So, I am pulling out my old index cards and Rolodex and will start the Sharon Holder's scripture verse boot camp again! My NBC friends will understand this. :) -Volunteer (This is just one of the things I said I would always do when I stayed at home, I really thought it wouldn't be until Wes was out of residency but since I am blessed enough to stay at home, even if just for a short time, I need to give back where I can. And since we aren't able to give monetarily, maybe I can give my time.) So, if you are still reading my babbling, I hope that I can stick to it. And I know that many of our wonderful Mercer friends are in the same boat so I will be thinking about all of us as we try to find a place to fit in our new towns, as new moms, and with husbands who are at work far more than they are at home. Now, just to brag on my husband (he is in his intern year which is not ophthalmology but internal medicine)...he came home from work today (was on-call last night) and said that one of his attendings told the nurses that he thinks very highly of Wes and that he is the smartest one. Then he told them, "but it's a shame he's going to be a damn eye doctor!" haha.... Here are my boys taking a snooze after Wes' call night....

Uh Oh!

Jay loves to say "uh oh!" as of this week. We had a good time getting it on camera for you. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SPT2DoGFZ9s

Visit from Papa Rich

I have some really random pictures to post from our activities this week which mostly included spending time with jay, wes, and my dad. He came to visit to get some work done and also to help me figure out some tax questions. In February I will meet with "Uncle Sleazy's Tax Service" again to actually do our taxes. The good news, however, is that this year we fall under the "low income" category and therefore will not owe anything to Uncle Sam. I am not sure if we should be happy that we don't have to pay anything or if it is the most depressing thing ever that both of us hold post-graduate degrees and are just (and I mean JUST) above the poverty line! :) One day this will all be worth it though. At least Jay has no idea his parents are poor, right!? Seriously though, we had a good time visiting with dad and just playing a lot. I was sad mom couldn't come this time since the babies in the house just changed from 2 to 3 for the weekend. (No offense, dad). I know it's not just my house where the dads never volunteer to change a dirty diaper or clean up some baby throw up, unlike our moms who completely take over ALL of the nasty baby chores. This is why moms are priceless in so many ways! But, to be fair, dad did help in his special way and I loved his visit. ;) Nasty baby... (this is when wes was feeding him of course ;) )

We enjoyed the beautiful weather at the park today and Jay had a ball once we let him out of the stroller and get good and muddy---yep, definitely a boy!

I just took this because I thought he was so cute how he crossed his legs the whole time he was eating.

My dad monopolized the pictures this week so I guess I am back on his good side = back in the will

Love this one...

Playing the pacifier game....

Smiling at dinner.....trying to get Jay to look at the camera and smile and dad to stop closing his eyes was an impossible feat

Caught in the act

Eating is so much fun...

More Christmas and things that make you go "haha"!

Here are more pictures from our Christmas with the family. Our moms emailed me these this week. Uncle Cleveland playing Christmas songs while dad serenaded us with his "unique" voice... Wes' dad after a good day of fishing...I can just see Jay standing beside him in a few years...

Our trick....he'll do anything for his pacifier...

Isn't this a good picture of Kurt and Josh!?

Jay's smirk....

Lovin' on Mama Ross... (Wes' mom)

All of us at Christmas....apparently Oren and Jay had better things to talk about...

Jumpin' with Aunt Charlene...

I love this picture of Jay and Carrie!

Now that's a spoiled baby...Papa Tim

What else are papa's good for, right?

Playing with Mimi!

Sweet Gailey keeping Jay out of trouble. :)

Joy and Jay kissin' on Christmas night.

I was thinking about all of the things that Jay thinks are funny today and I wanted to share them with you, mainly because it is amazing to me the things that babies find entertaining. We buy all of these toys and sing a million songs when the simplest things are all they need. ha!

1) when we walk down the stairs, stop about halfway down, and look at each other (yes, he actually thinks this is hilarious.)

2) drop anything, look at him, and say "Uh-Oh!" very dramatically

3) Feeding mommy and daddy

4) When I bite his hands and feet

5) Giving Jake a toy and then taking it away

6) Slamming doors and cabinets shut

7) Peek-a-boo

8) Stepping outside and feeling that first rush of cold air (yes, really)

9) Wes throwing him on a stack of pillows

10) Watching me answer the phone

11) Throwing ALL of his bath animals out of the tub

12) Banging on anything that makes a god-awful amount of noise

13) Jumping

and...

14) Falling down the stairs (of course, he laughs because I am always right behind him waiting to catch my little dare devil)

I just thought of two more that I can't believe I forgot!

15) Waving at himself in the mirror (this is the only time he will wave, I guess the rest of us are not worthy) 16) When he (or me and Wes) sneezes or coughs, especially if I say, "Bless you!" very excitedly afterwards.

Ok, now I think I am done....I'm sure I will think of many more but I have to stop somewhere. :)

Dogs make great babysitters...

Here are a few pictures from the week. We are finally back to our schedule and Jay is having a ball with new toys. It has been a busy week for Wes but he has a day off tomorrow so we will have to plan something fun. Jay's two bottom teeth are getting big and I see them every time he smiles....it is too cute. I am thinking the top two will cut through in the next week. So far, he is handling the "teething thing" pretty well...even with a cold. Since we have been home Jay has decided that Jake is his new best friend. He loves crawling on him, standing on him, jumping over him, pulling his hair and tail, feeding him, and riding him (when I am willing to participate). Jake, however, has decided that this innocent little baby has transformed into a killer monster over the last few weeks. Fortunately, our big giant is as gentle as they come and is very patient with all of Jaybird's games. When he just can't take it anymore he just stands up, grunts, and goes to our bedroom for some peace and quiet as if to say, "what an annoying little creature." Jay just laughs and moves to the next thing. The cutest thing to me is that every morning I go get Jay out of his crib and about the time we walk out of his room, Jake has made his way to the top of the stairs. When Jay sees him he cracks up and starts shaking and clapping, like it is the greatest surprise. He literally does this every morning. I love it! That's all the stories I have for now, enjoy the pics! I couldn't resist a picture of Jay sleeping on Jane and Josh last night....they are naturals! Feeding Jake...

Why hold the cup when you can just sip out of it like a dog! (Mom, show this to Hannah the next time she's in the office).

One of the few times he is actually willing to just sit and be sweet with me...

Jay in his precious new outfit from the Ross' (they all are precious on him Mama Ross and Papa Tim)!

My very helpful babysitter (and vacuum)...

Too bad we can't let him sit like this when we are driving....happy as can be

Jay pulled all of the towels down from the counter (happens about 10 times a day). Before I gained what little motherly wisdom I have, I stored dishes on that counter....a few close calls and I did some rearranging.

A flip-flop is a good toy right??? I mean, a few germs never hurt anyone.