Long three weeks...

Oh, sweet boy. You have had a rough time the last couple of weeks. It started out with you getting the stomach virus that was going around. You were throwing up so, so much. Then, I thought we had gotten over it, and it reared its ugly head again. You had a second and third round of it. Also, your daddy had the virus two of the days that you did. I stayed home with you two days and two half-days. After the weekend, I was convinced we were illness-free. Then last Tuesday evening you were acting pretty cranky. You woke up at about 4:15 Wednesday morning and I knew just by feeling you that you had a fever. We got out the thermometer, and sure enough, you did. I called your grandma and she went to the school and got stuff around so she could come stay with you.

Wednesday while you were home, we kept your fever down with tylenol and ibuprofen. It finally stayed down Thursday morning, so you went back to daycare. Friday you were fine also. Then comes Saturday morning, when you woke up with a rash on your face. I really didn't think much of it, but Sunday morning you woke up with the rash all over your tummy and back. I was still hoping it was nothing, but you couldn't go to daycare without seeing a doctor first. Monday morning your daddy got up early and took you to the doctor in Cherokee. They diagnosed you with Fifth's Disease. However, by the time the rash appears, it is no longer contagious. So, back to daycare you went. Wednesday started Thanksgiving Break, so you got to stay home a little more.

Finally, three weeks later, and I think we're all better. I'm pretty sure there are some teeth coming through again, though, as you have been drooling like crazy. Your nose is also running pretty steadily. You haven't truly eaten in almost a month. When you would try to eat, it would just come back up. I'm hoping that soon you will start eating again.

One night while you were sick and throwing up, your daddy was eating sopapilla cheesecake. You were sitting with him and gave him the funniest looks while he was eating in front of you.





Thursday we went to your grandma and grandpa's house for Thanksgiving. We had a small one this year, with only my grandparents, my parents, and Tanner. It was good to be with our family, though, and they all loved spending time with you.

And, after almost 16 months, we finally left you overnight for the first time. Well, I did, I guess. You've been away from your daddy, but not me. You stayed with your grandma and grandpa and Uncle Tanner Friday night. Your daddy and I just went out to eat for his birthday and finally slept ALL NIGHT! You did not sleep all night, though. You were wide awake from 1-5 a.m. You normally wake up at home at about 1:00 and will not go back to sleep unless you are with me. We've tried and tried to break it, but so far we've had no luck. I keep hoping that one day we'll turn over a new leaf and you will finally be a good sleeper.

We have a big week with ballgames and then Saturday you'll be going to watch a state championship football game! I'm so glad you are feeling better and I'm looking forward to being home with you for Christmas break!

Happy Birthday to Your Daddy!

Raegan,

Today is your daddy's 28th birthday. He is the best daddy in the world to you, and he loves you so very, very much. He loves teaching you new things and is so proud of you. You are a lucky boy to have him... but we feel the same about you. :)

15 Month Well Check and the Nasty Flu

Well.... the ugly flu bug has reared its head in our house. Tuesday afternoon I had to leave school and get you from daycare because you had started throwing up. Oh my word I have never seen so much vomit, especially from such a little boy. You had no energy and you were so, so pale. It was so sad. Today you were much better and have even kept four sippy cups of pedialyte down.

I had scheduled your one-year well check for today, and then of course you ended up sick. I called and they said to go ahead and bring you in. Unfortunately, they thought you should go ahead and get your shots. So... since we were behind and never got your one year shots, you got those plus your 15-month shots. You got six total. It was a whole new sad. :(

You weighed 24.1 pounds which is between the 25th-50th percentile and 33.25 inches which is above the 95th percentile. As a baby, you were short and stubby and now you are tall and slender.

You are so much fun right now! You can say mama, dada, mine, more, eat, thank you, and hi. You also will try to repeat words we say to you.

You can give kisses, wave bye-bye, give high five, and raise your arms when we say "touchdown" (sometimes on this one -- it's hit and miss).

You eat all table foods, but you aren't much of an eater. About six weeks ago I took your bottle away and you finally took to a sippy cup.

You are the biggest little monkey ever. You climb everything. There is nothing you are afraid of.

You still do not sleep through the night. Maybe soon? It would be so nice to sleep all night long, even for one night!

Along those same lines, we still have not left you overnight. Maybe soon that will happen also.

Everyday you figure out something new, and I feel like I am constantly chasing you. Probably because I am. :)

I will take some pictures when you feel better...

We love you, Raegan.

Heart.Attack.

Dear sweet, sweet, precious, sleeping child-of-mine,

If you continue to do things like STAND UP IN YOUR HIGH CHAIR AND BOUNCE AROUND, you are going to give me a heart attack. Seriously.

You fell and hit your poor little head at daycare today. You have a pretty nice size bruise on the side of your face. :( Breaks my heart. But I have a secret -- your daddy was so worried he had to go check on you at lunch. I think you have him wrapped around your finger. :)

Your 12-month well-check is Wednesday evening. Breaks my heart to think about all the shots you'll be getting. I hope daddy can make it to Cherokee to come, too. I hate seeing your sweet little face while they're giving you your shots.

I just picked up the living room -- you successfully made it look like a tornado had gone through Toys-r-Us. You're asleep, and now it's my turn.

Love you sweet boy.

Now please stop threatening my health. :)

Monkey Child

Oh, dear monkey boy....



I love you, but you climb EVERYTHING. Today you tried to climb into the window seal, but I caught you first. There is nothing you cannot get yourself into/onto.

The worst part is when you look at us and just laugh and laugh and laugh.

I love you, stinker boy. But I'd be fine if you'd stop the acrobatics.

Precious Bumble Bee

This year for Halloween we went to the pumpkin patch and later in the day we went to Cherokee to your grandma and grandpa's house. You had lots of fun playing football with Uncle Tanner and "trick-or-treating", which really only consisted of going to two houses.


I conned Tanner into holding you still for a picture:


The others turned out fairly good, especially since you don't believe in sitting still for more than 4.7 seconds.



We tried bribing you in this one with your football:






Your orneriness definitely shows in this picture:




Our trip to the pumpkin patch didn't exactly go as planned. You fell asleep on the way there so we had to wake you up to take pictures. Then you wanted to throw the pumpkins... I guess they looked a little too much like balls to throw. We were still able to snap a few pictures that didn't turn out too bad.











And this is what you did in between the pumpkin patch and trick-or-treating:



This picture was taken at the beginning of October, but it is a classic look of your daddy. Classic.





Later that evening we watched the OU game and then headed home late, late that night. Next year I'm sure you'll be more excited for Halloween once you figure out the treats you get!

Spaghetti

Tonight you had your favorite food... spaghetti. I usually feed it to you, but tonight I decided to let you eat it by yourself. Well, you enjoyed it:

(Please ignore the crappy iPhone pics, my camera batteries are dead.)

Messy, messy




I don't even know what to say about this face, just shows your ornery self


This all led to your 2nd bath of the day


Yesterday your grandma, grandpa, and Uncle Tanner came to town. We moved your slide to the front yard and you and grandma played and played and played on that thing. Later that day I went and got you a car.



You love it! But a lot of the time I catch you doing this


You are a little monkey right now! All you ever do is climb on EVERYTHING! You are definitely all boy!

Thankful

Just thinking tonight about how blessed I am to be this precious boy's momma...

He may fall asleep in his high chair mid-meal...



Or tackle his buddy Charlie...





Or fall asleep with his daddy after a long day...


But I love him. More than I could have ever imagined and I can't imagine my life without his sweet smile or bright blue eyes looking back at me.

Happy 1st Birthday, Raegan!

Happy Birthday Baby!!!

I can't believe you are one year old. This has been the most amazing year of my entire life, but it has gone incredibly fast! Too, too fast! We have a busy week the second week of August:

13th - Grandma and Grandpa Blubaugh's Anniversary (this year was their 55th!)
14th - Grandma and Grandpa Bowman's Anniversary (this year was their 28th)
15th - YOUR Birthday!
16th - My Birthday (25) and Aunt Karen & Uncle Jay's Anniversary (this year was their 24th)
17th - Twin Cousins Chloe & Claire's Birthday (10)

So, because your birthday fell on a Sunday, and because of all the other events that happen around your birthday, we celebrated a day early. It didn't matter, because our house was packed with the people who love you and care for you the most. We had close to thirty people come to help celebrate your first year, and what a year it has been!


This isn't a birthday picture, but it's something you love to do. Your daddy has a habit of leaving his laptop on the couch and you love to come in and move it to the floor and pound on the keys. Except on this day, you decided to use it as a chair instead.



We had a western party for you, and you ate up every bit of it. Here are your cakes:




(Smash Cake... and smash you did!)













Uncle Tanner will love this picture:












On the day of your party, we had the big gate between the living room and dining room open. You figured out that you could get out of the living room and you took off as fast as you could. This picture is me chasing you in the kitchen. You thought it was hilarious. :)



You had a wonderful day, and we had a great time celebrating you! We are so blessed by you and can't wait to continue watching you grow.

You started a new daycare when I started back to school (work) and you love it there. It makes it so much easier to go to school this year. You eat big boy food and seem to really like that.

We switched you to whole milk a week before your birthday and you didn't have any trouble with it. And I have to say, I am loving that I can walk right past that formula aisle and not have to break the bank to buy any. :) You wear a size 4 diaper and size 6/9 month clothes. You are also wearing some 9/12 month things. You go to sleep at night at around 9:00 and will usually sleep in your pack-n-play (in our room still) until about 2:00. After that you usually end up in bed with us. You wake up at about 7:00 a.m. This summer you would take a morning and afternoon nap, but now you don't take a nap in the mornings, just one after lunch for about 2 hours. You must get VERY worn out at daycare because we come home and usually we both fall asleep around 4:30 and sleep for about an hour or until daddy comes home. :)

We are fixing to switch doctors, so we haven't had your one-year well baby appointment yet, so I'm not sure your height/weight.

You love to play ball and play with your building blocks and your books. Charlie loves you and you love Charlie. You love to chase him and then tackle him. Silly cat... he evidently doesn't mind, because he comes back for more. :)

You say "dada", "mama", and just this week have tried to repeat "thank you" and "i love you".

We love you, Raegan. More than you'll ever know!

11 Months

Raegan,

Where has the time gone? In only a month we will celebrate your first birthday. This has been the fastest and best year of my life. I can't believe your first year of life is almost over. We have been blessed beyond measure. You are the light of our lives.

The day before you turned 11 months - July 14, 2010, you started walking!! A week later and you were a full-time walker. No more of that silly crawling business!! You LOVE Charlie, pulling Charlie's tail, and resting your entire body on Charlie. It's adorable (except for the pulling of the tail) and I think Charlie must enjoy it also.



I have absolutely no idea what you weigh or your height!! The last time we checked was at your 9-month appointment, which was 2 months ago.

On June 28, you got your first haircut! You did SO good and only squirmed a little bit. Overall it was much better than I anticipated.







You are wearing a size 4 diaper. You eat three times a day and when you take a bottle, you drink 7 ounces. Some days you may take two bottles, other days four. It depends on your mood and our schedule for the day.

We have made several trips to Medford this summer so you could see your grandparents. We have also made a TON of trips to Cherokee to swim, cook-out at my mom and dad's house there, and visit with Tanner and boys when they were staying there.



The first week of July you and I went to Falls Creek and left daddy at home. :( I'm sure it was much harder on him than me, because it was his first time away from you. You LOVED seeing your grandma and grandpa every day. There was also no shortage of kids to entertain you. You ate up every bit of attention you got. You attended services in the tabernacle, listened to Dutton Band, watched the Skit Guys, visited Devil's Bathtub, and went with mama and grandma on a three-hour, four-cart grocery shopping trip to Sulphur. I hope you get to experience these things many, many more times in your life. These are all things your daddy and I grew up experiencing and I think it is so neat that you will also.



I have only two weeks left at home with you. I can't even describe the sadness I have at having to go back to school. I have loved being here with you. You will start at a new daycare also. She is one of my good friends and I am so happy you will spend your days there. I will miss you terribly.

We are getting ready to go on vacation with Tanner and grandma and grandpa. I'm sure we will have a lot of fun and you will eat up all the extra attention you will get! We are also preparing for your first birthday party! We can't wait to celebrate our amazing gift, you, with our family and friends!

8 Months:


(You were at the no-taking-picture stage here)

9 Months:



I need to find your 10-month picture and take your 11-month picture (only a little late!).

We love you to the moon and back.