Almost standing...

Well, today Sadie is 6 months and 25 days old, and she pulled herself up onto her knees! :) She wants to stand so bad, and I'm sure that it is only a matter of time! Now the fun begins--because she can pull up onto her knees in her crib, but cannot get down without falling face-first into the side of the crib! :( She will get the hang of it soon and I'll get a photo or video to add!

She's crawling!!!

Sadie must have woken up this morning deciding to try something new! I fed her breakfast, then put her on her tummy on the floor to play with a toy, and she CRAWLED!!! I caught it on video with our digital camera--it's a huge file, but a video none the less! Enjoy her cuteness! She is 6 months 13 days old today!!

Photo Post

This post is just so you can all see TJ and Sadie in some of their best moments! Enjoy the pics and captions! :)

Here is one I snapped of Sadie as she was about to fall asleep one day. She has one of TJ's crib sheets on her bed because, as we found out this day, she is allergic to dairy products and had ONE bottle of formula for the first time. No more formula for her! And she was just so tired...

The next photo is of Sadie with TJ's Bama hat on...he put it on her head!



















This one is of Sadie and I together--you know, trying to take our own pic! Love her tongue!

And the next photo is of TJ...being TJ! I was back changing Sadie's diaper and when I came back into the kitchen, I found TJ having a drink...of CHOCOLATE SYRUP! :) I'm sure he didn't get any because it is very thick, but he sure was trying!!



















This one is of TJ trying to "fix" his rocking-horse. A bolt had come off from underneath, and Buckie lay under to really fix it, so TJ had to do the same!

And TJ and Sadie together in TJ's room. He LOVES it when I put her on his bed while we play in there, and he will often get up on the bed with her and "read" a book or play with a toy while she looks on. He loves her so much and she really seems to admire him already!



















These next two photos are of TJ...with his smile and his sly face! He really does stick his tongue in his cheek and make a funny face! It is TOO cute!


















And these are of Sadie...she is so cute and cuddly! Don't you want to just eat her up?!? :)















And here is one of Buckie with both TJ and Sadie from this afternoon! We love Saturday mornings when we have nothing going on!! And a few more of TJ and Sadie...




























Hope you enjoyed the photo post! They are even more cute and sweeter in person...come see for yourself!!!

LONG Overdue...

Well, it has been WAY too long since I updated this blog, and I will try to do a better job updating from now on!!! Enjoy this update!!

TJ is 22 months old now and is growing by leaps and bounds in so many areas! He is not, and has never been, the kid who does things on command...so we are just now hearing and seeing what he has always known. He talks a lot--and likes to name all of us as we are together, "Mama, Dada, 'my sis', Teej"...those are our names as he knows them! He also counts to five, especially while walking up or down stairs at home. Physically, he is of course running and climbing with all confidence, and he likes to roll too--when he does, he says, "Loll, Loll" (roll, roll)

TJ is also about to begin potty training!! He has been showing signs by pointing to his diaper and acting surprised by the sensation of going in his diaper. We are going to stock up on training undies and pull-ups and get a simple potty that I'm sure will go everywhere with us from now on! He is young for this, but our pediatrician says GO FOR IT! :) And TJ has always seemed ahead of his age group in many of these kinds of things! Can't wait! (Until then, we are hoping he will keep his diaper on!) OH--and TJ is in a toddler bed now! We've also bought and set up a twin bed in his room...for him later or for visitors now. His crib made into the toddler bed and I love it! It has the full rail still, so he can't fall out, but he can get in and out himself. Here is a picture of him snuggled up with a blanket and pillow in his "new" bed!

And Sadie is still the SWEETEST baby ever!!! She is almost mobile--trying to crawl everyday to catch up to her very active big brother! She also has, in the past week, pushed up to sitting once or twice and is staying awake a lot more than she has been. Her naps are pretty regular and she is--get this--eating three meals and one "snack" (a.k.a. nursing) a day!!! YAY!! This is much farther progressed for TJ at her age...but she is a BIG girl! At her 6 month checkup last week, she weighed in at 17.5 lbs!! She has some rolls!! :) But, even through her rolls, she is just the sweetest little thing you'd ever meet! She says "ba ba ba" when she tries to talk and snuggles up with anyone who holds her. She is also sitting up assisted and unassisted, and has a grip like no other 6-month-old girl!

We are truly amazed by watching them grow and learn and develop! And especially amazed at just how much they already love each other!

Look for another update soon...I will post an All-Picture Post so you can see more of them!

Happy Fall...or is it Winter???

July...holiday, happy baby and head trauma?

July has been an eventful month...I captured a few photos on the 4th, even though we didn't do anything special. TJ and I watched a tribute in D.C., and he danced to all the music--especially Huey Lewis!

And if the 4th wasn't enough flair...on Friday, July 11th (my dad and little sister's birthday), TJ slipped on a toy in our living room and fell face first into the edge of our coffee table! He screamed and his head started gushing blood! (This is no exaggeration...and I was calm thru the whole thing...but it bled very bad.) The only thing I could do was sit him in our kitchen sink so that he could play with the water while I held something on his head to try and stop the bleeding. In about two minutes, I called the pediatrician and Buckie at work. I knew before they said so that TJ would need stitches for this deep cut. So, Buckie rushed home from work (and thank goodness he works just around the corner from us now), we changed TJ's clothes (he was soaked from playing in the sink), put a bandage on his head, and loaded up in the car. TJ did very good being seen by the doctor and having the stitches put in--with the help of the full-body "cocoon" they use to hold children's arms and legs and body still. He came away with a smile and a really cool crayon bandaid! We were there so long that we went thru a drive-thru to get him a Happy Meal on the way home. I think he'd bonk his head again if it means he gets a Happy Meal! The next photo is the next morning...while eating breakfast. Still more smiles! I think he liked all the attention and photos! :)

Later that afternoon, I took a picture of him on top of the coffee table he took out with his head! He is "making a muscle" in this one! He loves to do that! And he just HAD to stand on the table to show how much stronger than that table he really is! He also liked the super cool Scooby Doo bandaids we got for his head while it heals!

And I cannot forget about Miss Sadie! She is growing so fast! She has the cutest smile and flashes it whenever she catches your eye and while watching some of her toys. Tonight, just before she went to bed, she actually chuckled a little bit while "talking" to me! She likes to gurgle and I think she's going to be my little conversationalist!

Sadie also reached a milestone this week that I definitely did NOT expect this early! She is now sleeping 12 HOURS at night!!!! WOOHOO! I haven't pushed her or given her formula at night or anything...she just seems to sleep very well!

She also is rolling over from tummy to back! At first, it was "accidental" from pushing with her legs when she wakes up on her tummy. But now, she does it on purpose to roll over onto her back when she wakes up every time! The good thing is that she doesn't get scared when she rolls over like TJ did--he always looked like a roach that had run into the wall in the corner and rolled over with its legs up! :) But Sadie just lies there and smiles at whatever she can see...and sometimes that is NOTHING since it's pitch-black dark in her room! She is just the most peaceful and content baby I have EVER been around!

I am so thankful to have the babies I have! TJ is so resilient and can take anything! And Sadie is calm and patient...thank GOD!...since she often has to wait for what she wants since she has a big brother who is on full-speed-ahead these days!

And...just a side note for those of you reading...I have really gotten into babywearing with Sadie, and we both LOVE it! I've got a great ring sling (Maya Wrap Lightly Padded) now that goes with me everywhere--and I use it with both TJ and Sadie at times. And I just ordered a new Kozy Carrier mei tai carrier--one I can put TJ and/or Sadie on my back at times! I am so excited for it to get here! It should free up my hands a bit more for chasing TJ around! And...if you are interested in more info about babywearing or the different types of carriers (and you live in the Birmingham area), check out www.magiccityslingers.com, and any of the links that are shown! I went last month for the first time and it was GREAT! Maybe I'll see you there!

Great summer to you all!

Dedicated to Sadie!!!

This post is dedicated to Sadie...because she was dedicated at our church this morning! It is not a formal event, we just take the babies up front with all the others and have the entire church pray for them and for our family. TJ was so funny on stage--he kept pointing at everything and asking "what's that?" (he has never been in "big church" before). We got someone to take pics for us so we'd have some of her dedication Sunday.


And while I'm on here--I'll share a few pics of TJ and his latest...andI must share the stories behind them, too!

I went down the hall to change Sadie's diaper in her room one morning and came back to find TJ had crawled up into her baby swing and was swinging away!! He never liked this swing when he was an infant, but now that Sadie gets to swing, he wants to! I'm going to have to get him a toddler swing for him to ride--one that can support his weight better than this one!





And--on the same day that he crawled into the swing, I walked into the kitchen from our living room (which, for those of you who have been here, it's about 4 feet away). I heard a whine after only a few seconds of entering the kitchen. I walked back out to find that TJ had gotten himself into quite a predicament this time. He usually turns this copper bin upside down and sits on it or bangs on it...this time he forgot to turn it over apparently...because he ended up IN it!!! His face says it all...

TJ is such a character! He gets into stuff sometimes...but what 18-month-old doesn't?!? Overall, he is a GREAT little boy and a super big brother--he absolutely LOVES giving Sadie kisses whenever he can! And she just grins at him when he does! They are going to be quite a pair as they get older together!

Happy Fourth of July and enjoy the rest of your summer!

Update on ALL of us!

Today has been a great day with TJ and Sadie--and they are getting along better everyday (well, TJ gets more gentle with her)! :) I can tell he just wants to be part of whatever we are doing with her...so if he can come along, he loves to help! Today I captured a few GREAT pics of them! TJ just went and sat down next to Sadie on her playmat that Aunt Leslie got for her--which, by the way, is her favorite place to "hang out". He likes to "pat pat" her for burps and likes to rub her belly when she is lying down.
I just had to buy TJ all new clothes...as he was quickly running out of summer outfits that fit! He is now in size 2T--and he's only 17 months old!!! He got new shoes too--in his new size 6. These new "big boy" clothes match his "big boy" haircut he got last week! Here are "before" and "after" photos! It was much needed and it looks great on him! Getting his hair cut is an outing with just he and his daddy! That's a mommy-free trip! :) TJ sits on Buckie's lap for his haircut--so Buckie has to get a shower when they get home to get all TJ's hair off of HIM!! Anyway, TJ's haircut is much shorter and it really shows off his face! I like it--and, no, I didn't cry for him to get it cut off! That's the update on TJ!

Sadie is now up to 7 hours at night!! Not yet consistently, but many nights! She is great at putting herself to sleep with very little fussiness and she sleeps on her tummy (just like TJ did)! I have a great pediatrician who says that she can't recommend that as a pediatrician, but that both of her boys slept on their tummies. Sadie sleeps much better that way--and that means we do, too! We are getting to a normal routine with her. I keep writing down what she does each day and at what time so I can find the pattern soon. Maybe soon I'll know what time I can get my shower EVERYDAY! :) Sadie is up to almost 13 pounds now...so needless to say, she is eating well! She is only 7 weeks and 2 days old and is now wearing 3-6 month clothes!! Thankfully, Aunt Leslie bought Sadie one year's worth of clothes--we shouldn't have to buy ANYTHING for her this year at all!! THANK YOU Aunt Leslie--and everyone else who has contributed to her wardrobe! She's set! And I'm only a LITTLE jealous that she has more clothes than I do!! :)

And, since I never update on me or Buckie...I better fill you in! I'm still at home, of course, with TJ and Sadie and loving every second! I'm thankful that I have the choice to be here with them everyday. Buckie is in his last week with his current employer, as he starts a new job next Monday! He will be working for Tameron Honda--yeah--selling cars!! :) He is excited and I know he will do a great job there! He is THE most hard-working person I know--they will be glad to have hired him! Not to mention, he knows cars (esp. Honda's)! We both drive a Honda...so he fits in just right! I'm excited to report on his success there very soon!

Well, it's almost summer in Alabama...and already in the 90's here almost everyday. We stay indoors for the most part, except for walks in the morning with my new jogging stroller! :) I'm hoping to take TJ to the pool some this summer and do some exercise myself. I'm on a mission to get into shape! There! I've told the world who is reading this--so I have to stick to it!! I will NOT be posting before and after photos like some, but I'll report my own success in this department when I reach the goals I set for myself.

Happy Summer!

Trip to South Carolina

Well, since Sadie's birth, I've had LOTS of visitors and help around here! I think I'm a bit spoiled from having an extra set of hands...not to mention that I haven't had to clean my own kitchen in several weeks!! WHAT A DREAM!! :) When my older sis, Jennifer, came for a visit with her almost-4-year-old daughter, Madison, we decided at the very last minute to jump in the van with her and ride up to South Carolina to my parents' house! It was Jennifer, Madison, TJ, Sadie and me for the way up. It was an adventurous, but pretty quick trip--and I'm happy to say that all three kids traveled pretty well. We spent a few days at my parents' house and got to see family and friends who came by to see me--or really to see Sadie! It was a nice visit, and then we hopped in the car with my little sis, Leslie, and her boyfriend, Tyler, who were planning to come down for a visit with us. We had another good trip, and a nice visit while they were here.

So, now I'm on my own at home with two VERY small children...and we are doing okay! I'm still figuring out what time of day I'll be able to shower and having to remind myself to eat, but other than that, we're figuring it all out. TJ is such a great little boy and has a pretty typical day for a 17-month-old. And Sadie, who is 1-month-old now, is getting better at going to sleep quickly and on her own and has reached the 6-hour mark at night once! I can't ask for much more at this point!! I'm still very tired and still recovering from my major abdominal surgery (c-section), but I've been able to nap when both kids nap just about every day! YAY!! That makes a huge difference!!

Well, I've got just a couple pics to show here...and they were both taken by my friend, Jaime, who came to visit at my mom and dad's house. We got one together and she also captured TJ "riding" a lawnmower...though it's only a push-mower! :) Enjoy these photos and be on the lookout for more updates to come!

Two weeks old...

We just got home from Sadie's two-week checkup with the pediatrician! She said she is perfect, and literally was in and out in about 60 seconds! Sadie is now 21 inches long/tall, and weighs 9 lbs 5 oz. That's just 1 oz more than TJ weighed when we brought him home from the hospital!!! She's eating and sleeping well for her age and size...can't complain a bit!

And--I just realized that for today only, we can say that we have a 16-month-old son and a 16-day-old daughter!!! Isn't that WILD!?!? SO close together!! TJ is adjusting well to having a baby sister. When she cries, he does one of two things: (1) he points to her and looks at me like I need to go do something about it, OR (2) if I'm playing with him in the floor and she starts to cry, he grabs the nearest toy and sits on my lap as fast as he can--I think it's so I WON'T go get her!! :) He's doing well, though! And he's going to be a great big brother to her--I'm sure they will be VERY close!

Here is a photo that my sister-n-law, Buckie's sis Rhonda, took while she was here visiting us for a few days. I didn't get any of these pics with TJ because I was always the one taking the pictures! So, I took advantage of someone else with a camera to get a couple of myself with Sadie! Enjoy...and look for another update soon!

More photos...

Hello to all! We are home and getting settled into our new routines as a family of four. Sadie is still a bit confused about which is night and which is day, but we're making progress! I'm sure we'll get some sleep before the next decade! :)

TJ is not really paying her any attention. He looks at her when she cries, and will kiss her forehead on command, but other than that he is just enjoying all the attention he can get right now--while Buckie is home from work with us! I'm sure he and Sadie will be best friends soon enough!

She had her first sponge bath today--mostly to help keep her awake for a bit...she may have four more before the day is over to keep her awake!! I'm hoping she will sleep more tonight than last night--and I'm open to any comments or suggestions from anyone who can tell me how to help her switch her daytime with her nighttime!!! :)

Enjoy the photos from yesterday and today...more to come just as soon as we can update!

And...Yes--that IS an Alabama Cheerleader shirt she has on in this photo! :) ROLL TIDE!!!

Horton Family of FOUR!!!

Our early bird has arrived!!! After a day of early labor followed by some hurried plan-making, Sadie Catherine Horton was born Monday, April 21, 2008, at 6:25pm CST. She weighed 8 lbs. 15 oz. and was 20 1/2 inches long. We are all doing well--and recovering quickly, and we should be going home Thursday. For now, we are at Brookwood Medical Center in room 241.

We welcome visitors at the hospital now or in our home after we are discharged. Please call Buckie's cell phone in advance to make sure it's a good time (205-356-6326).

TJ--a.k.a. "Big Brother"--is super-excited and could not get enough of touching her and smiling at her! I think he loves her already! :)

Please enjoy the photos until you get to see her in person!

Big Brother to be...

Well, this is the last post on our blog before TJ becomes a big brother! This one is all about him! And--YAY--we got a new camera, so these pics will not be fuzzy!!

TJ is now almost 16 months old! He's my "little man" and is so smart and so fun to be around! He's totally active now--running, in fact--and trying to climb up anything he can (or is allowed to, anyway). TJ's personality is coming out more and more everyday--he's very laid back most of the time and is content to sit and look at a book for half an hour sometimes, and he absolutely LOVES to play with his Daddy! He likes to ride on Buckie's back like a horse--and likes to "fall" off, too! He likes to be chased around--this usually ends up with us (Buckie) on our hands and knees chasing him while he runs to try to get away! :)

TJ is so smart, too! (Buckie says he gets that from him!) He loves to do puzzles and is working so hard to say the words of the things he sees on his puzzles and in his books. Of course, most words only I understand since I'm with him all day, but he will be speaking clearly enough for all very soon!
As you can see by the photos, TJ is growing up SO fast! The top photo is his "say cheese" face! :) And the middle photo is a little sly grin we caught--and he was actually making the sound of a firetruck when we took it. It's one of his favorite sounds to imitate. As of his last pediatrician's appointment, TJ weighed 24 pounds and was 2 feet, 6 inches tall. He is achieving milestones as expected and, if we can just get these last two "eye teeth" (the sharp fangs) to come in, he will have no "issues" to report any longer! Those two teeth seem to be taking forever--and they do seem to hurt him quite a bit right now. The next photo is one I took tonight--with his fingers in his mouth for comfort, and a tear in his eye from his teeth bothering him so much.

TJ is also enjoying his "new" room, where we've set up another crib and lots of his fun toys so he can play in there--sort of an "escape" for him if he ever wants one! We are looking forward to seeing how he adjusts to being a big brother and we'll report on that very soon!

So...ta-ta for now...I'll be updating as soon as Sadie Catherine Horton arrives (which is scheduled for next Thursday, April 24, 2008)!!!

One Year Old and SOOOO many changes!!

TJ is ONE YEAR OLD!!! It seems like yesterday when I was holding him for the first time in the hospital--and now he hardly wants to be held at all!! He has changed so much in the past few weeks that he is now what I would call a "little boy" and not a "baby" anymore! I guess that's a good thing, since we are making room for Sadie Catherine's arrival in three months. TJ has had several milestones to document here:

First, there was his first Christmas...he got SO many toys for his birthday and for Christmas that our home is covered in them! He had a great first Christmas and he actually decided on Christmas morning that he was going to be a walker from then on. He literally walked across the room! We knew he could do it, but he didn't know he could until that day. I guess he was distracted by all the new toys (and Nana and Pappy's visit) to second-guess himself in this area! So, now he is a full-blown walker! :)

TJ has also now had his first haircut. Since birth, he has been growing out the two "no-no's" in hairstyles--the comb-over and the mullet. Yes--he had BOTH!! But now, he has a little boy haircut--and he did better than great getting it cut! There is a place right around the corner from us that has a kids area for cuts--and TJ got to sit in a tugboat for his first haircut! You can tell by the photos that he had a great time and I don't think he even noticed the girl with the scissors!!!

It also snowed that day here in Birmingham!!! We are told that it snows only about once every three years--and we moved here three years ago this week! So, I guess we'll see more in 2011!! TJ enjoyed taking quick peeks from the balcony at the snow--but it was WAY too cold to get him out in it (without a snow-proof outfit). We watched it fall from inside--and I got one quick photo of him looking out at me on the balcony--it's pretty cute!

And, finally, we had some AMAZING photos taken of TJ to memorialize his turning one year old--and so we won't forget just how CUTE he is now!! He was a character for the photographer and she got over 100 great shots of him. It was SO hard to choose which to get printed, but I bought enough to get to keep the disk of all of them so I can have more printed later if I want!
Here are just a couple of my favorites for your viewing pleasure! :) More to come soon...