Favorite Things Friday

So many favorites in Baker Man Land this week!

We have read the research about children with Down Syndrome frequently having difficulty communicating.
So, we have been extremely proactive in this area.

I talk to Baker all the time, ALL THE TIME!

From birth, I would engage him in conversation, teaching him the fundmentals and give and take of interacting verbally with others.

Sometimes this was intentional, other times it was because we were the only two home all day and I had a lot to say!

Turns out, so did he!

Little Man is a talking machine!

He is so interactive and I LOVE IT!

He's been cooing for a couple of weeks now,

and is quite the charmer with his sweet little words.

I mean, can totally lay the hoo-doo-voo-doo on anyone!

In addition to talking to Baker,

we have also been signing with him for the past 6 weeks.

Nothing extraordinary, or terribly difficult.

Just basics like I'm hungry, thank you, yes, and no.

Lo and Behold Baker signed "I'm hungry" on Sunday morning.

And he meant it.

It was a pretty spectacular moment!

Such a smart lil fella! 

We will continue to set high expectations for him and I have no doubt,

that great things are in store for our little Baker Bell.

I've told you before,

you better watch out,

because BIG things are gonna come from our little guy!

Baker also found the ceiling fan this week.

He gets this look on his face like he has found the greatest treasure.

I can only imagine the dialogue in his head,
"Hold the phone, folks!

Do y'all not see this incredible thing?

Mom, Dad, LOOK!
Why is no one paying it more attention?

It even has a light!
Mom, Dad, LOOK!!"

We're planning a field trip to Lowe's this week.

Ceiling fans galore!

I can only imagine our boy's excitement!

We found a consignment sale in town on Wednesday.
I got an early shopping pass for being a new mommy.
Score!
We got smocked gowns, fall clothes,
some corduroy britches that are to die for,
a Columbia fleece jacket for winter,
a puppy dog costume and a giraffe onesie for him to wear to school on Halloween,
a humidifier and wipes warmer
(yes I have been wiping my precious boy's cutie booty
with cold wipes - for shame, for shame),
Baby Einstein Activity Jumper,
and some Carhartt overalls for when Bake and his daddy
do boy stuff and the cutesie stuff that mommy loves just won't do.
I love a good sale!

It's been a fabulous week,
and this bunch is certainly looking forward to this long weekend!
I am especially excited about the Cowboy Classic -
it'll be Baker's first Bama game!
Roll Tide and Happy Labor Day, folks!

Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad

We got the dreaded call this week.

Actually, my husband got the dreaded call.

I made the mistake of letting Baker's dear teachers

know I would be in meetings for the morning.

Terrible, horrible, no good, very bad.

 The call went something like this:

Ring, ring, ring.

(When the daycare, where your beloved is residing calls,

you pick up before the first ring can do its thing.)

The wonderful director, (whom I have bugged every day -

sometimes multiple times a day - calling to check on Bake Bake)

says, "Baker has been wheezing and coughing this morning,

and I became concerned when he got choked on his bottle and began gasping for air.

I think it would be best if you take him to the doctor."

 So, off he goes to pick up Baby Baker.

Mind you, he does not call me.

He texts - "Can you talk?"

Terrible, horrible, no good, very bad.

 If I had known why he wanted to talk,

I would have bolted out of that inconsequential meeting

so fast I would have left cartoon-worthy dust in my tracks.

However, thinking my husband just wanted to lavish me with praise

about my stellar good looks (ha!),

I silenced my phone and went back to planning Baker's attire for the first Alabama football game

paid close attention to the task at hand.

Terrible, horrible, no good, very bad.

 Thirty minutes later, THIRTY minutes later, I could talk and called Brian.

He didn't answer his work, cell, or work cell phones.

(Did I mention I have stalkerish tendencies?)

He finally called back, and says, "I'm just sitting here holding our sweet boy."

A million thoughts run through my head.

Mind you, it's 11:30.

I know Brian is swamped at work all day,

so he's not just going to feed Baker his lunchtime bottle.

The only words I can muster, "Talk faster!"
So he proceeds to tell me about Baker wheezing at school

and choking on his bottle and Baker's (thankfully) cautious preschool teachers and director calling with concern.

 Fast forward several hours, a doctor visit, several prescriptions, a few tears (from yours truly), and we're home with nebulizer in hand.

 I was a wreck.

Having the world's biggest pity party.

Not only do we have physical therapy a few afternoons a week,

a doctor's appointment most weeks to check on this or be proactive about that,

but now, we have to do 30 minute breathing treatments 4-6 times a day.

It was not pretty. I am not proud of it. But, it happened.

Terrible, horrible, no good, very bad.

 I was so worried about Baker.

Concerned he wouldn't tolerate the mask well.

Concerned the medicine would interfere with his sleeping and eating habits.

Terrible, horrible, no good, very bad.

  You'd think I would learn that God is in control.

Holds His children in the palm of His hands.

Has a perfect plan for our little man.

But no, I worried, fretted, cried, doubted.

Terrible, horrible, no good, very bad.

And this is what happened:

In true Baker form , he did perfectly.
Talks and smiles the whole time.
He is such a joy filled baby!

Silly mommy!

It was an icky week of coughing, chest rattling, and fevers.

It broke this mommy's heart to see my boy so pitiful.
 

He's on the mend now.
Turns out terrible, horrible, no good, very bad
wasn't so terrible, horrible, no good, very bad after all.

Praise God for a wonderful husband and father, daycare workers who love my sweets so dearly, and a faithful Father for watching over our precious family.

 

Enough

Today I am feeling like I cannot

kiss him enough,

hold him close enough,

sing with him enough,

snuggle him enough,

read to him enough,

pat him enough,

rock him enough,

love him enough.

 

Have you ever felt that way?

Like you just want to hold your little so close

to feel the beat of their heart,

to breathe the perfume of their skin,

to hear the rhythmic purr of their breath.

 

It's one of those eyes closed, deep breath snuggles,

that bonds a mommy and her baby,

and I just can't get enough.

 

 

 

 

Favorite Things Friday

It's the weekend, y'all!

Baker and I survived our first week back at school!

He did much better than I.

Whoever said Day One is the hardest day of

dropping your baby off at school

never went back for Day Two.

Tough stuff!

I was a blubbering mess.

True Story.

Waterproof mascara, prayers, encouragement, and pictures of my baby boy were my saving grace.

I'm glad I don't have to do it again for two whole days.

We have no plans for the weekend.

Actually, we do: we have serious plans to camp out

in our pajamas and catch up on Baker time!

I, for one, couldn't be more excited.

Our weekends sure have changed, and I wouldn't want it any other way.

We went to Children's Hospital for Baker's monthly checkup yesterday.

We are still awaiting the results of his bloodwork,

but are confident his labs will reveal what we already know:

our growing boy is healthy and thriving!

Baker now weighs 13.1 pounds and is 24 inches long.

Our itty bitty is now a chunky monkey.

For those of you keeping up, he gained 4 pounds in 5 weeks!

Go, Bake, Go!

Oh my at the pure deliciousness of those baby rolls!

 

I don't think there has ever been a more beautiful, more angelic baby.
I am so thankful he is mine.

 On this day, I am rejoicing!

God is so faithful!

We are so blessed!

Toes in the Sand

Baker Boy caught more than some waves this past weekend at the beach.

Lil' Dude is a chick magnet!

I melt.

Cause who doesn't love a cute beach booty?

He's a fish, I tell ya! My boy loves the water!

Nothing like snuggles in the sand with my favorite fella.

I love these sweet, sandy toesies.

I had to get a couple of pictures with this handsome man, too!

Am I a lucky girl, or what?

DD and Nana

Brother and sister love!

 We made some precious memories with our sweet Baker Man

at our favorite spot.

He played in the sand,

swam in the water,

bathed in sunscreen,

and smiled all the while.

I love this little boy so much!

It was the perfect ending

to the perfect summer at home

with my perfect angel baby.

Perfection all around.

Favorite Things Friday

I love the way these two love each other.

Melts a mommy's heart.

Just look at that smile those smiles.

Love, Love, Love!

Love being Brian's wife,
love being Baker's mommy,
love watching my boys love each other.
So much love in my heart,
so much love in our home.
My heart overflows.



I guess I'm going to have to do better than impromptu iPhone pictures and videos for the blog - but they're so convenient! Please forgive my lack of photography/videography skills.

He's the Man!

My Baker Boy showed out today in a big way!

We had our first Physical Therapy session with Mr. Dan,

and Bake rocked the house!

He got to play with new toys, and learned a lot of new tricks.

Brings tears to my eyes as I post these pictures.

People told us he would be limited,

he would have a handicap,

 he would develop slowly,

Apparently, nobody told Baker!

Y'all better watch out, because BIG things are in store for this little guy!

Today, I am praising God for being bigger than a disability.

He is greater, He is stronger, He is able.

"Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than we all ask or imagine according to His power that is at work within us..." Ephesians 3:20

Nana, Nana, Bo-fana

Growing up, I considered it the ultimate compliment for someone to say to me,

"You remind me so much of Susan,"

or

"That's just like your momma would have done it,"

or

"You look just like your mother."

Of course it was the ultimate compliment;

I mean, just look at her.

 

As a mother, I still it consider the ultimate compliment for someone to say

"You remind me so much of Susan,"

or

"That's just like your momma would have done it,"

or

"You look just like your mother."

I pray that I am a fraction of the mother to my sweet Baker that my mother was to me.

When I count my blessings, having a mother who was always there for me, who led me to Christ, who loved me unconditionally, who put the needs of her family before her needs, who was not only my mother, but my best friend is at the top of my list.

My mom is the greatest mom, so it's no wonder, she is a fabulous Nana!

And my Baker Boy sure does love his Nana!

When I stay home with Baker for the day, I am lucky to eat lunch. But when Nana visits, my house is cleaned, supper is cooked, laundry is done, and she even keeps Baker fed, dressed, and smiling!

She has always been a superwoman, of sorts.
Some things never change.

Her presence brightens our home.

Everytime she visits, she brings something new for her one and only grand,

her pride and joy.

I had been obsessing over dropping little hints about an exercise ball after seeing Noah use one for therapy. Being the intuitive grandmother she is, she arrived with ball in hand!

Here's how they spent their day.

Needless to say, my Baker Boy slept through the night after Nana's visit.

We're all a little better after a visit from my dear mother,
Brian's "Mama Suze,"
Baker's Nana.
She is a blessing, a true gift, the mother I hope to be.

"All I am, or hope to be, I owe to my angel mother."

Abraham Lincoln

Favorite Things Friday

I cannot type that title without seeing the von Trapp children traipsing across the bedroom and singing, "girls in white dresses with blue satin sashes..." during the atrocious thunderstorm in The Sound of Music. I love that movie!
I digress.

I have so many favorite things about my precious little angel baby.

I mean just look at him!

Today, I am highlighting three of my favorite things about this stage of Baker's life.

He is changing so quickly,

and each stage is only more fun than the previous!

Baby Baker loves being read to, and I love reading to him! I tend to get slightly animated when I read, which only leaves him cooing in response. It's one of my favorite ways to spend these precious summer days. We frequent his rocking chair several times throughout the day to read. Being a teacher and an avid book lover, this makes me so happy. We have a few favorites: Corduroy, Love you Forever, Just in Case You Ever Wonder, Pat the Bunny (Baker loves anything with different textures), Mommy's Little Boy, and Guess How Much I Love You, among others. A side note, I have yet to make it through Love You Forever or Just in Case You Ever Wonder without shedding some serious tears. I have always loved those books, and knew reading them with my child would be special, but I never knew how meaningful those words would become.

My boy loves to be rocked. He gets extremely restless when he gets tired, and the only thing that will settle him is rocking him, patting that cute little booty, and singing to him (that one's next) simultaneously. Some are advocates of "crying it out," but that's not for me, no sir. I will rock that sweet baby as long as he will let me. One day, he will be too old and too big and too cool for his mommy to rock him, so for now, I am going to rock him every chance I get.

Baker loves for his mommy to sing to him! Many people say they can't sing, but then I stand beside them in church, and lo and behold, they can sing! I, on the other hand, really can't sing. I actually cringe when the Music Minister encourages us to clap and sing at the same time. Talk about broadcasting my lack of coordination and inability to carry a tune in a bucket to the entire congregation.

I love to sing, I just can't sing. Really.

It's this bad.

But my Baker Boy loves when I sing! He even sings along with me. I have become a pro at making up little ditties to sing to my boy; and love singing worship songs and lullabies to him. He hasn't gotten to the age where he is appeasing me, he actually likes my singing. It calms his cries, brings a twinkle to his eye, and lulls him to sleep. While to the trained (and even mostly deaf) ear, I sound more like Cameron Diaz, apparently to Baker, it sounds more like this.

Oh Happy Day, indeed!

What are some of your favorite songs to sing to your little?

He Knows My Name

As is part of our evening routine,

I was rocking Baker and the lyrics of an old, familiar hymn came to mind.

As I gazed at my baby boy, my precious little angel,

I was reminded, that in both my joys and fears,

the Lord is in control of our lives.

He is our Maker, our Father,

He knows our hearts, our innermost thoughts,

He knows our name, and He holds our lives in His hands.

Praise Him!