High maintenance kiddo

Jacob at the fair Family Night - Library Story Time
Eating spinach
New scooter!

....And there was a tooth! Anyone who has parented or taken care of a small child knows what we've been dealing with lately! Fussy, screaming, squealing, climbing, inconsolable, whiny, clingy - that pretty much describes how Jacob has been for the past few weeks. He finally cut his first tooth (lower, central, left incisor) on 9/28. Like when his Uncle Doug was a baby, we put him down late afternoon for a nap and he didn't wake up until the next morning around 6 or 7:00. But at least one is finally through. The other lower incisor isn't far behind. Twice this week, he began crying uncontrollably around lunch and didn't stop for another 30-40 minutes. He would finally pass out from exhaustion into sleep, but would only stay that way if I or someone was holding him. I hope all teeth don't present problems like this!

We've been getting in bed around 8:15 lately. I've been pooped from taking care of him a lot more since quitting my job mid-September and staying in more due to the gas crisis. I'm much happier not working there and am looking to change my career to become a teacher's assistant with an elementary school. Since I don't have any previous child care experience, I will more than likely have to volunteer first and will be working with the Head Start program at Leicester Elementary. I can then hopefully work my way into a paid position once my foot is in the door. I am looking forward to getting away from administrative work in the long run and at this stage in life, it's not feasible to do web or graphic design work in a manner in which I can keep up with the latest changing technologies and softwares. In becoming a teacher's assistant, I will also gain extensive knowledge on early childhood development and the schedule would follow the school system, allowing me more time with my little boy!

In conjuntion with saying all of that, I may have landed a front desk position at a medical office. The opportunity presented itself just this week. It's part time with a non-profit Christian organization called Three Streams Family Health Center. They are a really good group of people, the work would be part time and could eventually lead into more work that I'm interested in including some website work and office administration, but that would be quite a ways down the road. I'm just keeping all options open so that it suits our needs for now. I'll probably try to work the two in together somehow. I need to think about it all over the weekend.

To recap on Jacob's progress as of late, he's rolling over tummy to back and back to tummy; sitting up pretty well; reaching for things, helping with feeding time and diaper changes (oh what fun!).


Bill started steaming veggies and fruits and sticking them in a blender for all of Jacob's baby food. From there, he puts the pureed food into ice cube trays. We then thaw what we need ahead of time in the fridge. Jacob seems to like it. It's healthier and cheaper!


Of couse he's went through almost all of his 6 month shots. He started exhibiting listlessness and rash after the Hib shot, but the nurses assured us it is just excema. It hasn't gotten better, so today, I started applying hydrocortizone to the affected areas.

Keep me (and Bill) in your thoughts next week as both sets of grandparents will be out of town on vacations!

And the winner is...

Thanks for all of your votes!!! Unfornately, Jacob didn't win this time. But our good friend, Carter did! Congrats Carter! Looks like you're destined for fame!

WNC Parent Magazine

Get your own - Open publication

I posted this magazine primarily for my own needs - to be able to access it quickly and to remember to look at it each month. Funny thing is, I didn't know it at the time because I hadn't taken the time to look through the entire magazine, but our good friends, Leslie & Dave's son, Carter, is featured in it! I believe I saw it on page 33 online, but it may be page 31 in hard copy. He's the baby looking in the mirror.

Looks like he's destined to become famous!

Final Voting: Sept 8th-12th

We still need your vote! 

Be sure to go to Star 104.3 to vote for our favorite little man in the final round of voting. Votes should be tallied up this weekend and the winner announced next week. 

Thanks for all your love and support!

Round Two Voting Begins Monday!

Jacob has made top ten and entered into round 2 of Baby Star Idol!

Thanks for all your votes to get him into the top ten!

Stay tuned for additional instructions Monday on the next round of voting.

Trip to great grandma's

Here are a few pics of our recent visit to TN. The back of the Explorer was packed full of everything we took for Jacob! Who would have guessed it would have taken that long to pack just to go over for a few hours! Whew! Jacob's great grandmother, Little Mammie, enjoyed getting to see him again.

Take Me Out to the Ball Game

We took Jacob to his first baseball game on Labor Day. Bill got some tickets through work to go see the Asheville Tourists. Jacob seemed to thoroughly enjoy himself even if he didn't fully understand what he was there for. He was mesmerized by watching all of the people around him and even fell asleep during the game...too much excitement! He danced to all the song clips and only stirred a little when the girls behind us let out their ear piercing screams. Sorry, no pictures of his dance efforts. What happens at McCormick Field stays at McCormick Field! :) I'm sure it won't be long before we're watching him play ball! Bill and Alan capped off the week by going back for Friday's playoff game. Mom and baby stayed home for this one.

Shopping

Jacob took his first ride in a shopping cart this evening. Did I hear someone guess where....Lowe's ?!? You bet! He seemed to really enjoy being up and able to see things. His eyes were worn out trying to look at everything as we passed through the isles. Makes for a very tired boy! He's also been sitting for periods of time in the high chairs at restaurants and does quite well unless he's hungry or tired.

Bill is just about to complete yet another week of vacation and what has he been doing in his spare time? Painting! This time it's the front porch rails and spindles. Gradually, the place is starting to take shape here once again. Of course he's stayed busy with lots of other odd jobs around the house and me, well, I do good just to do what has to be done, tend to Jacob and get enough shut eye to do it all over again! One of these days, I'll see if I can't bribe Bill to share some of his own thoughts on here.

We've got the Mountain State Fair in town and plan on taking Jacob to see the sights and animals. He's really noticing things now and will probably enjoy it.