A few of my favorite things...

Now that we have increased our cable package we receive the radio channels which I LOVE this time of year because I can get non-stop "holiday" music. I know this tires some people, and keeps the criminals from loitering about parking lots, but I cannot get enough of it. It is the only time of year that Dean Martin, Bing Crosby, and Frank Sinatra become mainstream. The other day I heard the "Sound of Music" song, "A Few of My Favorite Things" on the Holiday channel. I never really considered that a holiday song - I guess all the snowflakes on our nose and eyelashes, and the pretty packages all tied up with string bumps it into that category. I thought I would show you one of my favorite things. I absolutely LOVE, ADORE - I have a Melt-my-heart type infatuation with Miles' laughs, and the great part is that it is not that hard to come by. He is extremely ticklish and is a happy baby so I get this treat often. Life wouldn't be worth living without it (slight exaggeration.) This really isn't the best video of him laughing but the only one we have for now. Sometimes he gets the "fat man" belly laugh and it would tickle (no pun intended) anyone.

All I want for Thanksgiving?

All Miles wanted for Christmas was his two front teeth - but it looks like he will be getting them in time for turkey! Miles has cut one front bottom tooth and I think there is a second one right next to it coming through. It is very difficult to try and look in his mouth as he sticks his tongue right over where the teeth are coming through. I get the best view when I am feeding him. He opens his little mouth wide and I can get a peep in to see the toothies. I thought I saw two Sunday, but the past two days I have triedto see if I can feel it, but i only feel the big one coming through. I am sure we will see soon enough.
Miles has had a terrible runny nose and was rubbing toys back and forth across his gums = as well as all the drooling - last Monday and I suspected we would be getting a tooth soon. A few days later you could feel the little sharp point poking through and then the following day a nasty cough. We went to the doctor and he said that Miles was working on an ear infection from all that congestion in his head. As pitiful as he sounds it seems the teeth bother him more than the snotty nose and cough. Maybe I will be able to get a picture after they have poked through all the way - but don't hold your breath.

Thanksgiving Part Deux..

Here is my remaining list to finish my "seasons of thanks" countdown up to Thanksgiving Day:
14. computers - this sounds so lame but it makes my career so much easier and makes communicating with family and friends much more instant
15. two cars that are reliable
16. cool weather
17. I was able to go to college and that it is paid off
18. Miles sleeps through the night
19. sweaters and flip flops
20. the feeling of clean fresh sheets in a bed that has been made - especially after a trip away from home
21. flexibility in my daily schedule (as Miles allows) to do what I need to even if its not during a lunch break or after 5 - that i can pick up and go watch my niece if i am needed, or go let the electrician in to my sister=in=laws house.
22. that i was able to spend so much time with my grandparents as a child

Count your many blessings and you will see what God has done!

Thanksgiving...

With the THANKSGIVING holiday season upon us, I thought I would pause and be thankful.
First, I would like to say I feel bad for Thanksgiving. If I was Thanksgiving I would be peeved. November first rolled around and WHAM - all the Christmas commercials started running. HELLO? Thanksgiving comes before Christmas. It's like the forgotten step-child. But I do believe that Thanksgiving shall rise again. (As Whistlin' Dixie plays in the background.) Most of my friends feel the same way about Thanksgiving. We all love Christmas but do not want to crowd out the one holiday that has been somewhat preserved from commercial mania.
One of the fun things about having a new family is that we can start some of our own traditions without seeming too cheesy. I have decided that there should be a "season of thanks" - kind of like what advent is during Christmastime. I don't know exactly how I am going to execute it, and luckily I have a year or two to perfect it before Miles can remember anything. For now, I am going to list something I am thankful for for each day up to Thanksgiving. (I meant to start this at the first of the month, but now will have to do.)

1. Mine and my family's health. (Nothing reminds you of this like being sick.)
2. My little house - I complain that it is small but there are parts of the world that this is a mansion and I try to remind myself of that.
3. I can stay home with Miles and still contribute to our budget
4. My sister lives in practically the same town (North Little Rock is almost Little Rock)
5. Freedom - to do as I please, go as I please, believe as I please, and choose as I please
6. a good loving husband
7. a good loving family (even the in-laws) who are close enough
8. a God who loves me and cares about me
9. Friends who I have been able to share baby stuff with and not worry that I am boring them to death
10. a beautiful happy healthy baby boy - I would not change a thing about him (well, maybe less spit-up)
11. a church family
12. homemade mac-n-cheese
13. a fantastic neighborhood where I can walk around a lake whenever I please and name the neighbors two houses down in every direction.

That is one per day so far - more to come.

Hot Springs...

This past weekend we went on a family excursion to Hot Springs to view the autumn foliage. We had a nice time strolling on the promenade which for you photo buffs would be a fantastic location for a shoot. There are falling colorful leaves, brick sidewalks, park benches, rock walls and lots of other old stuff. I wish I had Marci's camera with me. But, since I did not, I had to make do with my little cannon point and shoot.







The weather was very, very mild and Miles and I were way overdressed. I should have put us both in a t-shirt. By the end of the day I was sweating.



We also used our buy-1-get-1 free coupon to ride up to the tower. It was a great view from the top - and I think you could see all of Arkansas. I was very, very nervous riding the elevator and had to close my eyes. We were all glad to get out of the house and was a much needed relaxing break for us.

One Cool Dude.

Miles is too cool for school with my sunglasses.

Boo!

Miles' first Halloween season turned out to be a fairly busy one. We had lots of fun with our friends - but steered clear of most of the candy. Miles still has no teeth so we didn't want to rot the ones that weren't there - ha!

Because of the way I have uploaded the pictures, I will start from the last "event" and go backwards:
1. Halloween night - Miles went from his PJs to his costume around 6pm and we headed next door after receiving our first trick-or-treaters. Miles was dressed as safari baby, complete with tiger and giraffe. (Thanks Uncle Sam for the costume!) We visited with our cool neighbors at Mabel's House (You have to click the link and see our neighbor dressed up as the Yeti. You would think it would scare Miles to see a big white hairy monkey-like creature but he thought he was quite friendly.)


2. Fall Fest at Lake Nixon: The sunday before Halloween our church has a big fall festival at Lake Nixon (our summer day camp) every year. There were games, hayrides, a chili supper and trunk or treat. Here Miles is with his buddy Sam and Mr. Ron. (He is very good at holding babies.) Miles also took his picture with his friends in their costumes - Sam was a duck (or chick- its questionable), Scarlett was a loaf of wonder bread, and Miles was Safari baby. (Thanks Kathy for the picture.)

1. 

3. Boo at the Zoo: Saturday night before Halloween we were looking for something fun to do after waxing our hardwood floors all day. We called our friends and ended up going with them to a big Halloween event here in town at the zoo. We didn't know that the animals weren't part of the event - it was just halloween decorations, carnie rides, haunted houses, and candy - most of which Miles nor our friend could partake in. So we walked around visiting and looking at all the kids in costumes. My favorite was one little boy who was dressed as old-school nintendo Luigi. We also saw a kid whose mom got very creative and turned him into a bird feeder. Miles did not dress up as Safari baby for this event, but rather donned his Trick or Treat sweats, and a hat. The weather was quite chilly.