Football Season Kick-Off

I am now in my 3rd week of teaching. It has been hard to get back in the swing of things, but I am just now feeling like the actual teacher instead of a substitute. It didn't help that the kids would often tell me, "but Mrs. DODSON did it this way..." We pretty much have the morning routine down like clockwork. It runs so smoothly that this morning I didn't even realize that I left the house with a bib that says "Lucky Duck" stuck to my behind.
I guess it could have been worse.
Blake loves school. He gets so excited about it that he sleeps most of the time he is there. That may be a big part of the reason why the teachers love him so much. It has gotten a lot easier to drop him off in the morning. The hardest part is picking out what he will wear.
We have also been enjoying seeing his Daddy's middle school team play in Euless. His shirt says "Little Coach Bingham".

Watch Me Grow!

I took Blake to the doctor on Friday. He gained 2.4 pounds in TWO WEEKS! I gasped when the doctor told me that. He laughed and told me "you aren't over-feeding him or anything... the kid has a huge head". Ouch.
I have been doing a "watch me grow" series of pictures. I haven't been so great at remembering to take them, but it has been fun to look at the ones I have snapped. I never positioned his arm to touch the alligator. He always does it on his own for some reason.

4 Weeks


6 Weeks


7 Weeks


11 Weeks

Looking back, the loud monster pajamas weren't such a great idea for a photo but he is asleep now and there is no way I am going to wake him.

Around the World

Today was day 2 of the Early Childhood Development Center. (I have decided to call it by its actual title because it sounds fancier than "day care") It went much better than yesterday. Most likely because Todd came with me and did the morning hand-off since that is what killed me yesterday. The teachers are wonderful and made me feel much more at ease. It is also all teacher's kids so it is comforting to see familiar faces when I go to drop him off and pick him up. It didn't hurt that school kept me so busy that I didn't have enough time to sit and realize that I was sad.
BUT the absolute BEST part about the day care Early Childhood Development Center is that they have themed Fridays such as pjs, football, and fall colors. Our first theme day is "Around the World". I couldn't come up with anything other than a sumo wrestler for the little guy... but I think I should wait until the teachers understand my sense of humor a little better before I bust out the big guns. I decided that pjs from our friends in France would be a better option. It says "One more kiss and then sleep" in French. I think.
At first Blake thought he looked fabulous in it.

Then the darn bear came along and told Blake what was on his pjs.

WHAT??? THIS IS IN FRENCH???

Who knew Blake hated the French so much?

Darn bear. We won't be participating in the first theme day.

First Day Back

I knew I wouldn't handle dropping Blake off at day care well so I decided to ease into it. He went for a half day today while I went to school. I am incredibly glad I made the decision to do a trial run before my first day back to teaching tomorrow. I cried yesterday. 3 times. I cried this morning before I took him. I held it together as I walked in the early childhood center. I held it together as the sweet teacher showed me what to do every morning when I bring him in. I held it together as I was taking him out of his carrier.
Then I had to hand him over.
I lost it.
I knew it would be hard... but I never thought it would literally hurt me the way it did. I know it will get easier, but I will never think someone else can love him like I do.
Tomorrow will be better. Tonight I can't put him down.

Yes, that is a tear stain on his shirt.

Gearing up for Back to School

It is almost time for me to go back to school. My sweet mother started the school year for me as my sub. I couldn't have left my precious new darlings in better hands! She has filled me in about all my new kids and says they are absolutely precious. I am excited to meet my new class but I am incredibly sad about leaving Blake. I took advantage of my last few days as a stay at home mommy and took Blake up to school to eat lunch with my team and meet my kids. He was so excited about going to school, he had to dress up to make a good impression! I think he takes after his Mommy.

After only an hour in school, Blake was already pretending to listen but sleeping through class. I guess he is going to take after his Daddy.

Two Month Check-Up

Blake had his 2 month check up today. He is now 13 pounds and 25.25 inches long. His head and height are still in the 95th percentile while his weight is in the 80th. He is a tank! We decided to spread his vaccinations out so he only got one shot and one oral vaccination today. It was so sad. He was smiling and cooing at me but as soon as the nurse gave him the shot his face scrunched up like "what the heck was that for?" and he screamed. I was able to hold it together and not cry this time. If they had given him more than one I don't know that I could have kept calm. Especially with how the day started out...

I am usually a very punctual person however I have learned that getting myself and a baby ready to go isn't all that easy. I was so proud of myself today because I was going to be so early to the doctor's appointment that I would be able to stop for lunch on the way. I had bathed Blake and gotten him ready. He was sitting in his bouncy chair while I straightened my hair and talked to him. After only 3 swipes of the straightening iron I began to smell something awful. I guess with motherhood comes a keen dirty diaper radar... or maybe Blake had a MAJOR blow out. Ten baby wipes, a load of laundry and a quick bath later, I made it to the appointment on time! I was hungry with my hair in a partially straightened pony tail but nonetheless I was Super Mom!

For Renee--
Yes the kid has clothes. It is my goal to take pictures of him dressed now that you pointed my weirdness out. I don't want anyone calling CPS on the crazy nudist mother! I snapped some early morning pics. We love our lazy mornings cuddling together on the couch. Pajamas stay on until there is a good reason to not be in them. Jack photo bombed the first picture. Poor dog still doesn't understand that he is no longer the baby.

Couldn't be happier!

I wish I was better about posting, but I never really have anything to say! I am such a lucky Mom. Blake has been sleeping through the night for the past couple of weeks. He sleeps a good 7-8 hours. He is such an easy going kid. He has his bouts of screaming, but stick a bottle or pacifier in his mouth and he is content. If that doesn't work I just have to put him where he can look me eye to eye and talk to him. Then he coos and gurgles right back at me. So since there isn't much to talk about, I am just going to post some pictures of him at 7 weeks to show how much he is growing. We go to the doctor for his 2 month check up on Monday. I can't wait to hear what he has to say! I am sure he will want to test Blake for giftedness.

Relaxing in his favorite spot- the swing.


Talking with Mom.


Playing with Mom.


Whatchoo talkin bout, Willis?


He loves his Gilley Gator!