Tyndall James is 9 Months Old!

Tyndall James is 9 Months Old!

Nine Month Stats:
Weight: 15 pounds, 4 ounces

Length: 26 3/4 inches
Head Circumference: 16 3/4 inches

Still growing well and actually 'on the charts' for height... 10th percentile. 

Okay, so I have been totally slack with this blog, but I figure 9 months is a pretty major milestone.  So, I'm going to give a quick overview of Tyndall's last 3 months. 

The last 3 months have been filled with adventure, personality, and character!  Tyndall is fearless (which at times has been scary for this Momma), but I LOVE his adventurous spirit.  He loves exploring and learning new things, and I feel like he changes everyday lately.  I'm so very thankful I get to be with him most of the time to be the one who gets to experience the 'firsts' and the everyday life with this precious little boy.  

Since my last post, Tyndall has become MOBILE!  As of the end of July (around 7 months), he was flipping and rolling and starting to make diaper changes a lot more interesting. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Not long after, he started scooting and had moved on to army crawling then full-on crawling by the beginning of September (around 8 months).  On the very same day that he began army crawling, he sat up by himself for longer than a few seconds.  Still had a few falls, but he pretty much got the hang of sitting up and crawling on the same day.  A few weeks ago, he mastered the transition of sitting to crawling to sitting again.  At 9 months, he's a power-crawler and even pulls up on things now to a full stand.  Life is definitely more active these days.  

 

Another big area things have changed is with his eating.  He still eats some oatmeal cereal and jar food but has also graduated to Cheerios and Puffs.  He REALLY likes being able to feed himself, and Zoe likes to reap the rewards of all that he drops. I feel like he's such a big boy now that he can feed himself.  We've even let him have a few tries of 'table food' like sweet potato fries, beans, fruit and other soft, small things.  He's done well with everything so far.  But we have officially changed from the Bumbo, then Bumbo with tray to now full high-chair. 

On a related note, he had his first trip to the ER when he fell from the Bumbo that was on top of the kitchen table, onto the tile floor. Thankfully, he was fine... just gave us first-time parents an adrenaline rush.  And then we changed him to the highchair. With straps. 

He still loves toys.  He likes passing them from hand to hand.  Putting things down. Picking them up.  Hiding them then finding them.  Making them make noise.  Squealing in delight with them.  He still loves mirrors.  He has really loved his jump-a-roo most of the last few months, though we've recently packed it up because he started not liking it.  Maybe overuse? :)  He really did like it A LOT!

He also looooooooooves baths (which is a good thing because he gets very messy with the different kinds of food and the crawling).  He seriously would probably stay in the tub all day if we let him.  Around 8 months, he transitioned to just the full bathtub after he kept trying to crawl out of the baby tub.  He does a good job with his balance and playing with his bath toys. 

Sadly, Nala passed away unexpectedly in August.  (More on that in another post.) So, Tyndall has Zoe as his exclusive partner in crime.  It's been really sweet to watch them with each other, and I've been happy with how Zoe is with him.  Though I know she appreciates that we only let him 'play' with her in small chunks of time.  

 

 

 

He is such a joyful, happy baby most of the time.  His laugh is contagious!  Though teething definitely gives us some change from that sweet, joyful baby.  Teething is not fun, but I think he's been pretty mild overall.  Not sure what to attribute that to, but he does wear an amber necklace, and we use the Hylands teething tablets and cold teething rings.  He does sometimes run a slight temp and get fussy, cranky and sometimes more snuggly than usual.  But he has 2 teeth to show for it now, and more on the way!

He has mainly been in Stage 2 diapers but has moved up to size 3-6 month clothes.  Some of this pants and sleepers are actually 6-9 month size because of his length. But if they are footless, he's still good with 3-6 month stuff.  

In other big news, Tyndall actually has 2 little girl cousins now, both born in September. 

Sadie Rose Goldston was born on 9/9/2013 at 12:25pm.  5 pounds, 10 ounces.

Kayten "Kayte" Deborah Peterson was born on 9/18/2013 at 4:36pm. 7 pounds, 7 ounces. 

 Tyndall loves being the big cousin.

 

Tyndall meeting Sadie.

Tyndall meeting Kayte.

Other Highlights and "Firsts":

•  1st weekend trip with Mommy to Saluda for Coon Dog Day!
  (Uncle Zeb and Aunt Valerie babysat one full day while Mommy was working)

• First Time Swimming in the Pool 

 

• First Boo-Boo (hit himself with a toy on 4th of July, and it left a mark)

• Survived almost a week with Mommy away on a trip.
  (Daddy took great care of him and had lots of great helpers! But Mommy was VERY happy to come home!)

•   Baby showers for Aunt Valerie and Aunt Stephani
• Visits with family and friends
• Learning to crawl and sit up and pull up

•  Learning through PLAY 

 

• Looking at Books

• Making lots of new sounds... definite Consonants.
•  Another Saluda trip with Mommy and Aunt Ginger. Went to Pearson's Falls. 

 

 

•  Loves to be under things. Will probably do a whole post about this.
• Likes to stick his tongue out. 
• Blows raspberries. 
• Outgrowing his infant car seat. 

I'm sure I missed a TON of stuff, but this is at least a picture of his months 7-9.  And I'm going to try to do better.  Though the monthly photo shoots have taken a different spin.  It's kinda hard to keep this guy still and in one place for the giraffe rug comparison pictures.  I will leave you with this... until next time. :) 

More on the House

We've been excitedly, casually house-hunting since April.  The plan was to buy a house when we were finished with Cares, in February 2013. 
Things have changed with Cares.  Long story-short, it just wasn't a good fit for us anymore or for our apartment community.  After discussions with our Regional Director, we felt that it would be better for the Cares Program if we stepped aside and let a new Cares Team come in and start fresh.  We think Cares is great, but with Matt student teaching and with the adoption process, we knew it was only going to be tougher to do a great job as a Cares Team.  So, now we will be done with Cares in September.

So, for the last 2 weeks, the house-hunting process was accelerated.  We looked a lot on our own for the first week.  Drove to all areas of town, explored lots (thinking we would build a modular home), a family home that had recently been re-done, and houses we found on the internet.  We were fairly discouraged with the options that were in our price-range.  So we knew we needed help.  

We signed with a realtor last Friday, August 3rd.  We knew we wanted to work with Brent anyway but didn't know how great he would be!  After our initial meeting and signing a buyer's agreement with him, we got lots of emails with potential houses.  We checked out several over the weekend but only wanted to see the inside of one house.

Love the wood floors, gas fireplace, high ceilings and openness. 

This house, we call it "Ponderosa", like the ranch, had JUST been reduced from 145,000 to within our price range.  It's a Foreclosure, so we were nervous, but it's beautiful!  We saw it on Monday morning and loved it!  It's not perfect, but it's a perfect first house.  Especially compared to the other houses in our budget, we knew we wanted to make an offer! 

Losing closet space but excited about hardwoods, double sink and being on the first floor!

So, we made an offer on Tuesday (after reading through 20+ pages with our realtor), received a counter on Wednesday, made a new offer (don't really know the terms) on Thursday and received a counter that afternoon.  We came to an agreement on Friday morning and setup House and Termite Inspections for this coming week.  If all goes well with inspections, we should be closing in the middle of September.  We are excited! 

Check out the patio and playset! 

The dogs are gonna love having a back yard, and we're gonna love not having to take them up & down 3 flights of stairs!  We can totally imagine bringing our children home from the hospital to this house.  We look forward to having get-togethers with our new neighbors and celebrating birthdays with our family and friends.  Hopefully at this house. 








I'm including lots of pictures.  These are all from the listing site.  I hope to have more pictures after our inspection on Monday. 

Nursery not pictured.  Kinda bummed about no pantry but (hopefully) plenty of cabinets.

Saturdays

I used to take Saturdays for granted.  Then I worked at Verizon for 2.5 years and didn't have any Saturdays.  I Looooooooooove Saturdays now.  They will be even better when Matt is teaching, and we have Saturdays off together.  But for now, I'm starting to figure out how to fully enjoy Saturdays and fit it as much as possible. 

Last Saturday, I met Celeste for breakfast.  Definitely a treat!  Going out to breakfast is my favorite thing, but it was extra special to catch up with a long-time friend.  (We've been friends since 2004).  After breakfast, we still had lots to catch up on, so she came with me back to our apartment.  We talked and caught up while doing dishes and laundry.  It was pretty perfect.  Being productive AND hanging out with a good friend. I need to do this more often!  

Today, I got up pretty early (I think I'm too old to really sleep in now) and decided to take the dogs to the dog park before it got too hot.  On my way, I decided to see if I could pick up my favorite 2 year old to take her with me.  Her mom happily obliged. :)  So, Allie and I took Nala and Zoe to the dog park... the very muddy dog park.  I totally should have turned around when I saw the puddles, but I knew my girls (the dogs) needed to get some energy out.  Well, we had SOOOO much fun.  All 4 of us got muddy and messy but burned up a lot of energy and made some fun memories.  It was a blast!  

Dropped off a muddy 2 year old almost 2 hours later and came home to wash up my two girls.  Neither of them like baths, and it's not very easy to man-handle either one of them into the bathtub, but I somehow managed to get them both clean.  Felt like a HUGE accomplishment!  Matt came home for lunch, and I straightened up a little bit while he ate.  I LOVE that he can come home for lunch now and will probably miss that when he teaches.  Then again, I'll be working most of the days that he teaches, so I guess it doesn't matter... 

This afternoon, my friend Lauren (also the momma of my favorite 2 year old) picked me up, and we got to enjoy an uninterrupted afternoon hanging out (hard to do since she's a busy wife and momma of 2 + a new exchange student from Australia.) :)  But we had sooo much fun enjoying chatting at Starbucks then going to the grocery store.  (Again, mixing friends and productivity... it works well!)  

My heart is full.  AND I get to enjoy an evening with my honey and a day of family tomorrow.  We are truly blessed.  I don't want to wish this time away.  I don't know how long this season will last, so I want to treasure it while it's here.  Soon enough, Saturdays will be full of new adventures and joys (with home-ownership and parenting on the horizon).  New responsibilities.  For now, I'm going to enjoy my pups and low-maintenance apartment as much as possible.  

(P.S. Sorry no pictures. The beloved camera is MIA and has been for about a month now.  Pretty bummed about that.)

Is it just me...

... or does Nala seem smaller?

Playing with Daddy.

Everyday Life

Awhile back, I asked if anyone has questions for us in this unique season.  My friend Kristen responded that she wanted to know more about our everyday lives.  Since one of the main purposes of this blog is to journal and preserve memories... I thought it was a great idea.  So, here goes. 

Mom keeps us well-stocked with yummy creamers. Great way to start the day.

Mondays... If Matt opens, he gets up around 6:15 and gets to work by 6:45.  If he closes, he sleeps in and goes into work at 11:00.  Sometimes, he goes in for another shift in between.  He usually takes Nala (and now Zoe) out before he goes to work.   I usually get up around 7:30 (or sometimes 8:00 or 8:15) and get to work by 8:30 or 8:45.  Matt doesn't eat breakfast.  I eat breakfast on the way to work and drink my one cup of coffee (thanks to my Keurig!) throughout the morning.  At work, Matt checks animals in and out of the vet, calls owners of pets to schedule appointments or remind them of their appointments, weighs pets, gets them their medicines, and does LOTS of other things to stay busy.  He comes home for lunch, which varies depending on when he goes into work.  He takes Nala and Zoe out during lunch and chills for a few minutes then goes back to lunch.  

Matt with the girls.

I usually eat lunch at work (used to eat what the chef for the childcare center made, but now I take my own since I'm doing Weight Watchers).  Mondays I usually work on updating the church's website and processing sermon videos to post online.  Depending on what's going on at the church, I often have lots of other projects going on.  

Once we both get home from work, we figure out something to do for dinner. If one of us planned ahead, we took out some meat to make.  If we didn't think it through ahead of time, we will make something from the freezer.  :)  Monday evenings, we usually watch tv shows from the night before online.  Usually, it's Amazing Race and/or Celebrity Apprentice, but they're both on a break right now.  One Monday a month, I do a Book Club with our neighbors through Cares.  

Tuesdays... (Normal daytime).  After work, we usually have a family dinner at Dad & Gail's.  They usually keep out niece, Hailey on Tuesdays, so the whole family converges on their place for dinner.  It's one of the many perks of living in the same town as family.  After family dinner, we come home and tend to the pups then spend time doing things around the house.  And sometimes, we will watch a show together. Bachelorette online currently.  (Of course, this depends on whether or not we can pickup free internet or not.) 

Wednesdays... (Normal daytime).  Since a couple of weeks ago, I stay at work late on Wednesdays and meet Steven at a Weight Watchers meeting.  After weight watchers, we have dinner with Matt. 

Thursdays... I love Thursdays.  For the last couple months, I've been meeting with some ladies and studying Beth Moore's James.  I rush home to straighten up my apartment.  Ladies start coming over around 6:30.  We usually start with snacks and catching up.  Then we discuss the homework and watch a video.  I haven't been great at keeping up with the homework, but when I do it, it's always on time.  And even just the teaching videos that we watch on Thursdays are full of wisdom and encouragement and challenge.  Plus, it's great to spend time with these new friends and learn about how God is at work in their lives and pray with one another.  A lot of times I crash after Bible Study.  While I'm doing this, Matt is usually working on school stuff or Cares stuff. 

Fridays... I have a love/hate relationship with Fridays.  When I get into work, my coworkers and I have a devotion from Experiencing God.  Then we have breakfast together, and my day gets crazy after that.  Preparing worship media, sermon PowerPoint, sermon notes, printing the weekly newsletter, updating the website, and LOTS of other stuff.  Thankfully, my coworkers help with this a lot.  But still, lots of Fridays, I work late.  By the time I get home, I'm exhausted and like to do nothing. :)  

Worship media.

Saturdays... Saturdays are usually filled with Cares events-, planning, shopping, or actually doing them.  And sometimes we do things with friends.  Sometimes we go on walks, but we call it "looking for alligators".  Which we see often.  There are several who live in the big neighborhood we live in.  I love alligators... from a distance.  Housework. Laundry... more laundry.  

An alligator Matt saw recently.  But not in our neighborhood.

Sundays... Church. Lunch at Grandma's with the family.  Hang out over there for awhile.  Home for housework.  We used to have Community Group on Sundays, but we're taking a break from that for awhile.  Gives us more time to do a better job at Cares.  We look forward to joining back with Community Group eventually.  Also on Sunday nights, we have Family Movie Night.  This is at Mark & Steph's house with them & Hailey, us, and Steven.  We watch Cupcake Wars until Hailey goes to bed, then we pick a movie to watch.  It's usually pretty late by the time we're done with that, so then we just head home and get ready to start the week.  

Movie Night.

Of course,  every week is different.  We try to find time to spend together.  We spend time loving on our dogs.  We go on walks. We go to the dog park.  We cook and bake.  We hang out with friends.  We watch movies and play games.  We have friends over for dinner & games.  

Most weeks depend on Matt's schedule.  He works 4 days each week and spends the other days doing housework, working on Cares stuff and working on school.  

Each day is also affected by our ongoing wait for our baby.  Each day, we pray and hope and wonder.  Will this be the day our lives will change forever?  

In the meantime, we wait.  And go on with everyday. :) 

The Time we went to Brunch and Got a Great Dane

Last weekend, we had a WONDERFUL weekend at my Mom's house in North Carolina.  Relaxing, refreshing and fun with my family!  LOTS of laughing, some questionable dining experiences, and LOTS of doggy time on my Mom's back porch and in her lovely yard.  

It might have been the wonderful weekend and the exuberance of doggy-time which led to us making this life-changing decision.  

So, Matt has always wanted a Great Dane.  And we've always figured we would have one... One day.  

Well, last Sunday, we were having a lovely brunch at the Lake Lure Inn where we noticed they were having a street fair.  We were curious as to what it was.  Well, Mom introduced Matt to a guy she met at work who knows one of his college professors.  This man mentioned in conversation that he had just visited the Great Dane Rescue at the street fair.  Thank you, Random Man.  

Matthew came back to the brunch table practically leaping across the porch.  He was bubbly and excited!  Something that Matty usually is NOT in the mornings.  So, we walked over after brunch.  And we met Zoe.  

Sweet Zoe.  

She's 14 months, a great personality, with ice-blue eyes and a merlequin coat.  She's gorgeous.  And she's sweet.  And she's the newest member of our family. 

We have enjoyed getting to know her this past week and getting her orchestrated into our family. 

It makes me even more excited about bringing home baby soon.   For now, we will enjoy being a family of four.   You can see lots more pictures on our Facebook pages. 

Still Thankful

I didn't do a Thanksgiving post last week, AND my Thankful Thursday theme has gotten slack... BUT I'm still thankful.  Exceptionally thankful.  

Here are a few things I'm thankful for: 

• That God is Faithful, Abundant and True.  (And for the study I've been doing with a couple of ladies from church by that name.) 
• My husband--who has been surprising me with a written love note every single day this month. (Stud!)

• My job.  I started a new job in July, and it's definitely much more "me".  It's project-oriented, let's me be creative as well as administrative!  It is also meaningful--and the best part is that it's normal hours! Even better, starting in January, it will be full-time with benefits!  I'm extra thankful for the latest news. 
• Hailey.  She is 7 months now and is SO much fun.  I wish I could see her more, but I'm thankful for each time I do get to see her. 

• Other babies & kiddos in my life.  Thankful for my friends & family who let me snuggle their babes and take care of them every once in awhile. 
• Family & friends who have been encouraging us through the process of adoption--especially those who have helped with yard sales and/or given donations. 
• Nala.  Honestly, I love this dog so much!  

• Our finances.  We've seen a lot of progress lately in our financial management, and this has been HUGE in helping with my frame of mind. Prayerfully, next time we touch base with the adoption social worker, we'll be approved thanks to these changes!

Well, that's all I got for now, but I'm hoping to do a better job with "Thankful Thursdays".  It's good for my heart to be "publicly" thankful.  AND by the way, I love reading thankful posts from other friends. :)