The first of many. . .

We began our Christmas celebrating with a visit from Jason's Uncle Lee. Lee lives in Florida and this was his first time officially meeting Blaine.






On Tuesday evening the 22nd we went to Jason's Grandma Dawes'. We had a really good timed catching up with Mrs. Dawes and Donald and exchanging a few gifts. Blaine did a great job considering that he had had only one early morning nap.

This is such a great picture of Jason's Mom with Blaine...



An attempt at a family photo...this is how it usually goes. Jason talking to someone else, Blaine being busy, and me trying to get the picture : )


On the 23rd Blaine and I followed our normal family tradition of visiting my Aunt Debra's. This is an opportunity for me to remember my cousin Brandon that was killed in a car accident May 23, 1997. This happens to be his birthday, and he would have been the big 3-0 this year!! It was nice to see my family and for Blaine to see some of my side of the family that he doesn't get to see too often.

On the 24th we usually try to get together and my Mom and Dad's but this year we began WAY sooner than we normally do, considering the two new babies that we added to our family since last Christmas...WOW what a difference a year makes, we do EVERYTHING a little earlier now! Blaine had a chance to play with grandma and grandpa Anderson and got LOT'S of gifts. My Mom and Dad bought Blaine AND Jackson Britax carseats for Christmas. Both of them needed new carseats and Melissa and I picked out the ones that we liked. Mom and Dad are very practical gift givers, so we asked for these for our boys!! : ) We chose the Britax Boulevard car seats

Blaine also got a really neat dry erase table and chairs from his grand-mama and granddaddy Anderson, as well as some blocks. I thought this might come in handy for when Al and Melissa come over to have dinner with Jackson...the boys will be able to sit at the "children's table" : )

Very short stay of the antlers on Blaine's head . . .



Loved this pic of Jackson opening his first present of the evening. . . he looks a bit mesmerized...




I don't know what Blaine's thing is about trying to poke Jackson in the eye....



Best buds in the making...


Jackson making a silly face!!



Blaine really liked taking the bows off of the packages!!


Blaine also got bunches of cool Leap Frog toys from Aunt Melissa, Uncle Al, and Jackson. I think his favorite was the guitar!!
Today was an awesome day . . . What joy I experienced today being with our families, and watching Blaine enjoy his first Christmas Day. This morning started off with my parent's and Jason's parent's coming over. . . . I put a breakfast casserole in the oven, and right at 7:00 am as expected Blaine woke up. I fed Blaine in his nursery, and then Jason (who had just gotten off of work) brought him out as I videoed:

Santa brought Blaine a thomas the train tent, a ride on dump truck, and electric 4-wheeler, coloring books, crayons, finger paint, play-doh, blocks, bubble bath, and lots of other little goodies. It was so much fun to see him overwhelmed with so many people here when he woke up and with all of the "stuff" in the living room. We had so much fun this morning watching Blaine, eating breakfast casserole and soaking in this almost one year old wonder!!






After Blaine had some time to play with his toys he went down for his morning nap. Once he got up we went to Jason's Mom and Dad's for Christmas there. It was so much fun!! We took ALL afternoon to open Blaine's gifts, and mine and Jason's. It was nice to do this at our leisure. We stopped several times for bathroom breaks, snack breaks, and Blaine took a nap break!! : ) We didn't rush...we enjoyed every moment of it!!

Blaine got so many different things...books, baby Einstein videos, a cool toy that has a "ride" that responds and makes things happen on the TV - can't remember the exact name of it, a "big boy chair with his name on it from Pottery Barn Kids, lot's of cute clothes, a "farm house", and the list goes on and on and on. . . here are a FEW pictures from the visit. . .



Jason and I also got SO MUCH STUFF from Santa *wink* *wink* : ) I got some Danskos that I have wanted for a LONG time!! I also got a Pandora bracelet and a few beads for it!! Jason got a new deer decoy (for shooting with his bow), a range finder, and a new pair of binoculars... just to name a few things!! This Christmas was obviously not about us, but Santa made sure that we weren't forgotten!!


I tried to post more pics, but I guess I ran out of room . . . .we had such an awesome Christmas and it was simply amazing how much MORE fun it was having Blaine. A baby changes EVERYTHING!! Now off to planning Blaine's first Birthday!! : )

Good, not perfect, but really good...

Blaine is changing faster than the speed of light!! I cannot get over how much he comprehends, even more than he can tell me right now. With the addition of the Christmas tree you can imagine that things got interesting...well really they didn't. From the very beginning Blaine really didn't bother the tree so much. I'm not sure if it's because he had already has his little tree for sometime (and it has COLORED LIGHTS...) OR if he really just wasn't that impressed with the tree, either way he hasn't made a huge fuss about our tree in the living room. We really watched him carefully in the very beginning and really made a big deal out of telling him "NO" about the touching the tree. We said you can look at the tree but no touching...we would say "NO NO, OHHHH NO" about touching the tree while making the gesture with our hand no no...now he looks at ANYTHING that we have ever told him no about and he makes the no no gesture. : ) It's amazing how quickly they learn isn't it???

Blaine is such a good baby...he is so pleasant and fun loving...he laughs and smiles constantly and is always thinking and MOVING!!! I am learning so much as a Mom. So much about picking my battles, and making sure that I pick the important ones, and go with the flow (so not my personality believe it or not). I have learned a lot from Jason about being a good parent, so much about letting some things go and focusing on what is important 10 min. from now. I am so lucky to have a husband that is invested in our family, even though he isn't here every afternoon or night (which I hate). I have to admit, I get frustrated some times when I'm here and it's only me..I occasionally resent the fact that he has someone (me) to make major decisions and worry about the logistics of life...but I also realize when he comes home and takes over, how lucky I am to have a husband that is capable and willing to let me have a few minutes to myself to have a bath, or a phone conversation, a lot of women don't have that.

ANYWAY... we had a great week and weekend...my Mom's family gathered here on Saturday. All of my Mom's siblings showed up, and even a few of us cousins to chat and catch up on what's going on with all of us in the last ummm...10 years : ) I LOVED it...I loved the chance to see everyone, talk to them, and reminisce about our parents/grandparents. We got to see Cailynn, Blaine's cousin, and Blaine had a BLAST with her. It was the first time that he had had the opportunity to be around another child so close to his own age, and it was FUN to watch. I cannot believe that I didn't get a picture, but I was really busy keeping up with Blaine...you have to have your eyes on him ALL the time...Jason and I took turns and I was busy catching my breath when I wasn't directly involved in what was going on. In fact the ONLY picture that I captured of the evening was this one...

I love my family, and i am so thankful that I was able to spend time with them. I want Blaine to know that Christmas is about getting together with family, playing with cousins, and celebrating Jesus' life. These are the important things in life...

Jason, along with our friend Jim helped to make reindeer food for the get together....I HAD to get a picture of this!!!




This is one of Blaine's favorite places to go in our house...the laundry room...Daisy's bowl is in the laundry room...he loves to sneak a splash in the bowl...




We bought storm doors right after we moved into the new house, but JUST had them installed, and Blaine LOVES them!!! I took a picture of the






Here are a couple of videos of Blaine learning to sit and "rock rock" in his rocking chair that my co-worker Robert gave him before he was even born...






Life is so good right now...not perfect (we all have our daily trials), but so good. I love my family

Trying to remember to soak it all in...

I had a very "relaxing" weekend. I speak often about trying to soak "it" all in. I hear people say all the time that they can't remember when their child was Blaine's age. I know that I will at some point have difficulty recalling some events, but I at least want to stop and revel in what is happening as it happens. I never want to wish this time in my life away, as difficult as it can be at times.

Earlier in the week we had a nice evening with Brandon and Jessica, Jim, and Courtney. We are so blessed to have friends that so willingly come our way so that Blaine can sleep in his own bed, same routine, no babysitter...we love them!! : ) We had a lovely dinner (turkey loin), and played some Guestures : ) It was fun, and if I remember correctly the GIRLS dominated!! : ) Either way we really enjoyed remembering that we are more than husband, wife, mother and father...we all need those moments...




This weekend Jason was off again!!! The time off on the weekend seems to come all at one time, but I know that the time working on the weekends looms in the near future. I have enjoyed every minute of it though. Friday Jason cooked tacos for us, and watched Blaine while I winded down from a long work week. Saturday Jason had planned an early morning duck hunt, but he opted out because of the weather... (later his hunting buddies called and said that they had a great hunt). We stayed at home all day (most of the day in PAJAMAS...YAY!!!), but walked next door to Jason's parents for Chinese food Saturday evening...Today we went to the early service at Jason's family's church, and came home and napped while Blaine napped before Jason had to go to work. I went to my Mom's to prepare for our Saturday gathering with my Mom's side of the family at our house. I am so excited for Mom's side of the family to get together...we haven't really done anything just for her family since my grandparents died many years ago. I want Blaine to know everyone in his family, and I want us to build some Christmas traditions that he can look forward to every year...I think that is an important part of a child's life...it certainly was mine!! I hope that next year we can do something to include my Dad's side of the family...I just thought it would be a bit much to do two gatherings the first year...but we are going to work on it for sure!! Today I spent the afternoon with my Mom and Melissa making all of the fixings for our first "Robinson" family gathering in a few years...we made some "green" punch that I LOVE, and peanut butter chocolate cookies. I know I say it often but I really wish that Al and Melissa, and Jackson lived closer!! Blaine made it through the day on one nap (much to my dismay). When we got home we went to Jason's Mom and ate navy beans and salty ham biscuits : ) I will pay for this tomorrow when I weigh in and have retained a pound of fluid...

10 more days til' Christmas vacation!!!

I am so lucky to have Jason as a husband. We are so different in so many ways, and I think that that is what makes us good together. Being different offers it's challenges...I am a type A get it done RIGHT NOW kinda person. Jason is a ummm type Z I'll get to it go with the flow kinda person. However a rainy day = Jason has nothing better to do/becomes a type A person...worked out well so we finally got a couple of things on the wall that I had been waiting to get up. We hung Blaine's name in his nursery (sorry no pic, he was in bed when I finally thought about it), and we put the "some people don't believe in heroes but they haven't met my dad" saying up that was in Blaine's original nursery - we loved it so much that we but it up in his new room. Still a lot left to do, but we are taking baby steps...We did get Blaine's Christmas pictures up too, I haven't decided where to put my portrait yet, but that's in the works...I love my husband!!


Here are a couple of pictures and a video from the week. Blaine is walking or should I say almost RUNNING now...he goes all over the house from one end to the next all day long. He is eating more and more table food, but still doesn't have any teeth...I know they are coming soon though he is drooling more and more and continues his daily low grade fever...I love him more and more every day (which is really scary)!!!

Blaine started to do this crazy thing with is arm while he was walking and Jason and I were trying to capture it on video. He is cruisin' just watch...






Blaine enjoyed the mess while I cleaned his closet out!! : ) I know, already and we just moved in less than 2 months ago...found this elmer fudd hat that is a newborn size : ) he has a small head...but very proportional hahahaha


Jason took this picture during the week while he was keeping Blaine...he LOVES Daisy's bed...we have even thought of getting him his own for Christmas!!

Thanksgiving, Wine, Lights, Trees, and Wreaths...and a BUSY 10 month old...

We are a blessed family. I thought of how blessed we are so many times over the Thanksgiving holiday more than I ever have. My family has so much to be thankful for...let me attempt to make a list:
I cannot write one single thing that I am thankful for before my son, Blaine. Blaine in his short 10 months of life has brought so much joy to mine, and Jason's life. I am simply incapable of realizing my life without him in it every single day. Jason and I both have healthy parents that are able to take care of themselves, and that still take care of us in so many ways. Jason and I both have mothers that are the heart of our families...they have created strong traditions that Al and I enjoy, and look forward to every year, and fathers that work very hard to provide for their families. I have a new nephew Jackson Lee that has brought our family even closer together I have to say that 2009 has been so good to the Anderson family. We have been blessed with two happy and healthy little boys that I hope will grow up to love one another, and share even a fraction of the bond that Al and I ( and Melissa and Nathan) share. I realize that they are not brothers, but they are as close as you can get without being brothers. Jason and I both have jobs that we have worked very hard for, a home that is nicer than anything we ever imagined we would have. We have an exteneded family that supports us, and that love Blaine so much. I am blessed that my child stays with someone that loves him nearly as much as I do (probably as close as it can come without being a child's mother). I could go on and on, AND ON...

This week was wonderful, and I'm gonna water it down a bit for the sake of time. My vacation started on Thanksgiving Day. This was Jason's first Thanksgiving off of work in all of the years we have been together, and it was awesome. We joined my Mom and Dad for Thanksgiving lunch...my Mom made collards (one of my most favorite things in the entire world), and cracker cake (my other most favoritest thing) : ) After hanging out with them a while Jason and I came home, rested up, and headed to his Mom's for Thanksgiving supper. Blaine was such a trooper even through the lack of schedule ( we are very schedule oriented, which def. has its downside). Afterward Jason's parents came over to hang out, and ended up helping to decorate our Christmas tree...it was rough, but fun : ) I believe that there are over 2000 lights on our Christmas Tree, and it is beautiful (the picture does not do it justice!!!) : )


Friday we had Turkey Day leftovers at Jason's Mom's and it was delish. Blaine met Rudolph and santa and Jason's Mom's and he LOVED the rudolph...









...and Jason, Blaine and I shopped for outdoor decorations. We purchased a deer, sleigh, and snowman... I still want so much more for the outside...but this will be it until next year. Jason hung a 60" wreath on our upstairs 3 window combo, and a wreath on the door. I am IN LOVE with the upstairs wreath...it actually had plenty of lights in it (surprise)




Saturday Jason and I stayed pretty close to home...we ate with Larry, Jo Ann, Heather and Matt...and we really enjoyed it. We joke that Blaine turns in to a whiny pumpkin at 7:00 (his bedtime) IF he is not in bed. However, even though Blaine def. did turn into a pumpkin we had such a good time with them. Sunday was an unusually quiet Sunday. Jason worked 3rd last night so I napped with him a couple of times today (during Blaine's naps). I did manage to get some laundry done, make a meatloaf for supper, and play with Blaine. I didn't make it to church or Mom's today, but I did make time to do some school work so that my week will go smoothly.

Blaine has been walking everywhere...although still "wobbly" he is doing really well. I am also starting to hear some mimicking with speech going on. Blaine is attempting to say what I am saying, but he is obviously having difficulty putting those syllables together. Today we actually went outside and enjoyed the beautiful weather as I chased Blaine in the wide open space. Blaine LOVES the outdoors!!

I have LOVED this first Thanksgiving...Blaine ate some turkey, lot's of mashed potatoes, and sweet potatoes, and still managed to stay on a sort of schedule. : ) Happy Thanksgiving to all, and Merry Christmas too...here are a few random pics from the week...

A tiny bit late...

Whew...I have been spending a lot of my "technology" time working on a top secret project that I'll share soon...BUT I did want to take the time to share a little bit about last week and weekend.

Blaine is busier than ever (which means that I am too) : ) , he spends most of his time now walking all around...with very little crawling in between. Blaine is really enjoying his new found independence and his favorite thing to do is go from the living room to the hallway and into his room and back. I have a video of him that Jason took...it's the longest video that we have been able to capture...






Jason is always good at catching all of the good videos so here is another one of Blaine just laughing...it's kind of funny because Blaine gets so silly when he gets sleepy. : )

Finally a video...all about Blaine...and a lot of pictures...

I usually do not post much about what happens during the week...this is for a lot of reasons. First of all I am totally wrapped up in school Monday and Tuesday nights, and depending on Jason's schedule for the week i am totally consumed with Blaine and laundry...However, this week I was blessed with a midweek break. Because over the weekend Jason worked third shift I was unable to do my "weekend cleaning" so I caught up on Wednesday. When I clean I just include Blaine in the process. I vacuum and Blaine follows me around....I dust...and Blaine....follows me around. Blaine is a part of everything that I do, and I like it that way. From the very beginning Jason and I have made a go of this "parent thing" alone. We made it through the first weeks all by ourselves, because that is what I wanted. I wanted Jason and I to do this together and bond together, and with Blaine...and there is no doubt that that happened. I realize that this is NOT how everyone chooses to make the journey, but we did. Now, I must admit that at times this is not the easy route, but this is us... So I continue to take care of Blaine almost EVERY free moment that I have because he is my son, and my responsiblity, and I want to be the biggest influence in his life....WOW, what a tangent...lets get back to the week...Here are a couple of pictures of Blaine "helping me clean". He had a little infatuation with unraveling the toilet paper as we went along...but he loves the vacuum cleaner too!!




So Saturday Blaine got his first big boy haircut...yep, my (almost) ten month old got his first haircut,and yes for all of you traditionalists (I am NOT) my child got a haircut before his 1 year birthday. Let me say I have a secret dislike of boys with long hair. Please do not ever share this with Blaine because surely he will grow the longest hair ever if he hears that...but his hair was beginning to grow over his ears, and was "straggly" in the front and in the back. There was also the looming "mullet like" thickness around the back too...so I decided to schedule an appointment with our hairdresser...the fabulous Meiling. Jason and I (Jason is behind the camera) took Blaine in Saturday morning and got him all trimmed up, and he looks so precious...here are a few pics from the process....




Blaine did GREAT, and Meiling even used the clippers. Blaine occassionally tried to turn around to see what in the world all that buzzing was behind his ears, but he hung in there for a long time. Let me add that Jason INSISTED that I take some of the hair so that he could tape it in Blaine's baby book. I am not a traditionalist so I was just gonna throw the hair in the trash...guess we'll see if Blaine really cares about that hair in 20 years : )

On Saturday while Blaine and I were playing he finally showed some interest in his Indian gear that his grandma Dawes brought him back from the mountains. He actually kept those feathers on his head for a while. Daisy was a little concerned at one point that the feathers might be a duck so she had to check them out!!! : ) As you will see they didn't last long before Blaine took them off...







I am NOT ready to put all of our Christmas decorations up yet, however my coworker Robert gave Blaine a Christmas Tree for his room, and it had colored lights!!! So Blaine has his very own tree with his very own decorations. Robert has single handedly decorated my house for the fall (Halloween and Thanksgiving) and has now almost taken care of Christmas. Robert gave me window candles for almost all of my downstairs windows, icicle lights for the outside (that I am trying to convince Jason to put up) and other Christmas goodies...for the rest of the house. When you go to Robert's house during the Holidays it is Christmas, and I want our house to feel like Christmas too. I always want Blaine to remember Christmas as a warm family holiday with all of the smells and sounds of Christmas. So a BIG thank you goes out to him for warming our home... I don't usually use colored lights on our "Big Christmas Tree" so I thought that it would be nice to put the tree in Blaine's room. Blaine anfd I had fun putting up the Christmas tree in his room. I know that I'm probably a little "looney" but I thought that it might be a good idea to put his Christmas tree up so that he could see the lights and perhaps we could do some desensitization about it before we put up the big tree...whew...we'll see I guess...OK, so I know that I'm fooling myself it's gonna be rough trying to keep him out of the Christmas Tree!!







It's amazing that I remember this time last year when I was so miserable...I was desperate for Blaine to come, and come SOON!! We speculated about all of the things that he would be doing by this Christmas, and let me say he has already exceeded all of our expectations.

Blaine also learned to clap his hands...When I got up with Blaine Friday morning I was talking to him and Playing with him...I was clapping his hands together and he started to clap them on his own. I know that Blaine's grandma loves to play patty cake with him so I think he is finally catching on...and he KNOWS that I love it!! Here is a little video of him "clapping his hands" : )'




Blaine has been "starting to walk" now for the last several weeks. He is now at the point that he walks a couple of steps and stops to catch his balance and continues... I have been struggling to capture this on video probably because I am ooooing and ahhhhhing while he is actually doing it and not worrying about capturing it on video...BUT here is my first even close to catchin' it...WARNING you'll have to turn your head to see some of it...


So here are a couple of steps.

Tomorrow we have our Christmas pictures with Bill Goode. Blaine is growing so fast and this will be our first family picture since his 3 month pictures. I can't wait!!

Susan's home...

This was a tough week...I don't know if it was the Halloween candy or the fact that I have had the same students long enough to know their faults...either way, I focus on the weekend with my family and leave the rest behind...

Ever since I have known Jason when his Aunt Susan comes home has always been a special time. Susan is Jason's Aunt that lives in South Carolina. Susan also has a husband Haverson, and a son, Travis. Whenever Susan comes home family time is in full swing, and I love it!!

Friday night we all went out to eat at Stacks in Tarboro, for Greg and Cindy's 32nd Anniversary!!! Stacks is owned by one of Greg's golfing buddies...and the location of mine and Jason's wedding reception almost three years ago. We were lucky enough to be seated in the "green" room so Blaine's loud yells (happy yells I might add) didn't disturb others that were eating. When we got home we put Blaine almost straight to bed and i reeelllaaxxxed!!! It was nice.

Saturday morning I shopped with Jason's Mom and Aunt for Jason's grandma's birthday. We went to Belks and then to Kenilworth for their Christmas open house. I loved looking at the Christmas decorations, and being with Jason's Mom and Aunt. Afterward we headed to Amy's Hallmark and Harris Teeter. Blaine was such a trooper, but once were on the way home he knocked OUT!!

My cousin Laurie came to visit that afternoon and we got to spend some time with she and Steven's new baby boy Connor Bradley. Connor is such a cutie and Blaine was quite curious about him. Later on we went to the farm for Jason's grandma's birthday get together. We had an awesome dinner, Blaine was exhausted and fell asleep in Greg's arms...which is very unusual for him...

Sunday was a day of relaxing for us all. I went to church and to visit my Mom. The church pew was a bit bare this week, was just me by myself :( Blaine was in the nursery. Afterward I visited with my Mom for a while and headed on back home so that Blaine could get an afternoon nap. While Blaine napped Jason and I actually watched some TV : ) that doesn't happen often!! Sunday afternoon Brandon and Jessica came over and we grilled some venison on the grill and Brandon made a venison roast, it was all delicious!!

Blaine did a great job trying to walk all weekend and at one point took about 10 steps (that I saw). I noticed that he has learned to take a step, balance and then go on instead of just trying to run and falling. I don't think that it will be much longer before he just takes off. It's gonna be a challenge keeping Blaine out of the Christmas tree this year!! Blaine is also babbling so much, I think that I hear the beginning of words like "Daisy", and "book"....whatever it is that he is talking about he can get really serious sometimes. Still no teeth yet, but boy are we slobbering now...

I also got in the accent chair that I ordered several weeks ago, and I am so pleased with the way that it turned out....here's a pic...
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Too old for this...

In many ways I realized this weekend that I am too old for this...

On Friday I didn't work, and it was WONDERFUL. Friday was a planning day at school and instead of completing the HOURS of work that will be waiting for me on Monday I decided to spend some time with my boys (Jason was off YAY!!). On Friday Jason and I worked around the house..I spent a lot of time with Blaine while I cleaned the house...Blaine just followed me around while I cleaned. Have I mentioned how much EASIER it is to keep a house clean when you have so much more space? Kinda crazy b/c you would think the opposite. Jason and I also picked out our storm doors at Lowes (which took WAY longer than it should have) and went to the downtown trick or treat in Tarboro (Blaine made the front page of the Daily Southerner...check it out here). I love the historic district of Tarboro!! We visited a couple of businesses downtown that are owned by people that are our friends. Candy was being handed out, but we told them to save it for other children that could actually eat it. After we put a tired and very ILL Blaine to bed we had our friends Jessica and Brandon over for a fire on the patio and we just hung out and enjoyed each others' company. We really enjoy hanging out with Jessica and Brandon they are so down to earth and real. I stayed up way too late though, and had an early morning with Blaine...I'm getting too old for this...

I had a bit of a "falling out" with one of my friends - brought on mainly by me. I had been feeling over the last year or so like my friend was not contributing equally to our relationship and I have made a lot of efforts to try and reach out to this friend, I got frustrated. Unfortunately apparently this "friend" did not desire to have the same relationship with me that I wanted. After more than a year of being the only one to call and check in,email to just say how are you I'm D O N E. I will try in the mean time not to allow myself to be angry with her, I realize that some people just don't let people in, they are so wrapped up in their own existence that the only people that are in their lives are the ones that will give give and keep on giving some more...and I realize that I need a friend in return...a relationship that is mutually beneficial. It does make me sad though, that this relationship has forever changed. I have learned a few valuable lessons through the ending of this relationship...

1. Just because you consider yourself close to someone that doesn't mean that they desire that same relationship with you.
2. You cannot make anyone (a friend, a companion, no one) feel the same way about you as you do them.
3. This hurts your feelings, but it's ok once you realize where you stand with the person it is much easier to accept the relationship for what it is and MOVE ON...
4. Confrontation is not always the right way to go about "resolving" this... sometimes if you just leave it alone the end result is the same...the relationship just dies either way...
5. There are some people that think that their lives are harder than EVERYONE around them...and they might be right???
6. I am too old for this...

I will choose not to hold a grudge, but not to invest emotion in this relationship anymore...
I think that in relationships we begin to assess how much we give vs. how much support we get and my cost was far out weighing the benefits, and that's ok...now I know...

Saturday was a nice day...we had a lot of company...Al, Melissa, and Jackson came by early and we all went to lunch - which ended up being quite eventful. Jackson interrupted Melissa lunch for an unscheduled bathroom visit that took a while to clean up : ) ...we did manage later in the afternoon to get them both in their costumes and snap a couple of pictures. Jackson's costume was quite elaborate and he lost his patience fairly quickly. Saturday evening we "trick or treated" at Jason's Moms, put Blaine to bed and Jim and Courtney (2 of our friends) came over and we went to a Halloween party at Chris and Kristy's house. They really put a lot of effort into getting this party together and we enjoyed every minute of it...there was a nice bonfire, a scary hay ride, and good food!!! I hope that this will become an annual event. Jason's Mom was gracious enough to watch Blaine for us on Thursday (we went to the Trail of Terror) and Saturday for the party. I am so blessed with a mother in law that is so helpful, and so gracious about keeping Blaine...we love her...words cannot even begin to explain how fortunate I am that I can lay my child to bed in his OWN bed, and go somewhere and hang out with our friends. When we returned from the party we sat out on the back patio and enjoyed the fire and good company (I went to bed fairly quickly though). I am REALLY getting too old for THIS!!!

Blaine no longer drinks out of a bottle...I know it's kinda crazy for a 9 month old, but this was his choice. We have been working with the sippy cup for over a month now, and I have tried several different types. Blaine really did well with the Platex newby cup and I thought it might be nice to start to give him his milk maybe once a day with the new cup and he did so great that he now gets all of his milk and the little bit of juice that he does get in the cup. Blaine also took several steps that I saw with my own eyes this weekend about 5 or 6 in a row on one occasion. I tried and tried to catch it on video but I was only able to catch a little bit of cute video...no real steps. Here is a tiny bit of all of my tries to catch it...

This first video is our futile attempt at getting video of Blaine walking...it was the closest that we came...


This video is Blaine's new party trick...shutting the door behind himself : )


On Rainy Sunday Jason and I stayed CLOSE to home...we went to Jason's Mom for Chili, and hung out there for a long time (they had a FIRE : ). Now I am winding down the weekend, and preparing for a rough couple of weeks at school .

We have finally finished hanging the mirrors in the bathrooms and the patio is complete...here are a couple of pictures : )


Million dollar Bill Goode pics : )



Master bathsa


master make up area


laundry area


patio





Blaine's idea of getting to know Jackson, poking him in the eye...
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