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Click on the picture of the baby where it says {enter}
From the menu on the right click on “Client Proofing”
Our password is staggs2012
The newest pics are in “Stratton12 ”
I think they are pretty good considering he was mad and not cooperating AT ALL!
With Stratton, we thought about and talked about names a lot more than we have with this pregnancy. I guess it being our first, we were excited and it was fun. This time, however it seems a little more daunting! I’d love to stick with another “S” name, and have that alliteration in his/her name but “S” names we like are few and far between. We’d like to include a family name this time like we did with Stratton. This time from my side of the family, which really doesn’t leave a whole lot of options. It will probably be a middle name. There is just so much to think about- it’s easy for me to get overwhelmed! Here is some of my criteria to help me stay focused!!
1. I try to be practical, thinking about how this is not just a name for a baby, but one day will be a name of an adult. I try to think of the name in question on a baby, child, teen, college student (graduation), young adult (looking for a job), married adult (what it will look like on wedding invites), and older person. . .if it doesn’t seem to fit all those categories I throw it out! A name has to stand the test of time. Example: Poppy for a girl, super cute and really popular. . .but can you picture a 80 year old lady named Poppy?
2. No funny spellings. It should be spelled the way it sounds! And be easy to pronounce. And I don’t like names that have a ton of different spellings. I feel bad for Jarrod- his name is NEVER spelled right. Even family members frequently get it wrong. There are just so many ways to spell Jarrod, the most common being Jared, which is how it is spelled on our wedding picture dvd! My name is sometimes hard, but I can usually tell people that it’s Christina with a “C” and they get it right.
3. It needs to have a flow. Like Stratton (2 syllables ) Staggs (1 syllable). It usually has to have one more or less syllable than the last name, to have a flow. Most guys have a good point in naming their boys. They think about how it’s going to sound being called out by the announcer at a football game or baseball game. . . . “Stratton Staggs on the tackle!” As silly as that seems, having a good flow with the first and last name and sounding good when said aloud is a big deal. I mean the kid is going to hear it said like that from the time they are in daycare to college graduation and beyond! Roll call!
4. It has to go with “Stratton”. Example: “Happy Birthday, from Stratton and Joe.” Doesn’t really sound that great- no offense to any Joe’s out there.
5. It has to look good written out. This is a hard one for me, since I am so visual and drawn to names that look great in print. Example: I love the way the name “Thatcher” looks, but alas. . . it’s sort of hard to say and spell. Especially to a toddler.
6. Another bummer is the fact that our name begins with an “S” sound, which makes it hard for names like Hayes, Myles and names that end in “son”- like Anderson but are really hard to say with Staggs. There are so many names that end in “son” out there right now that I like so I’m not totally knocking them out if they end in the “S” sound but they’ll definitely lose a point or two!
Ok, so I might be OCD about it, but it’s a big deal! It’s a lot of pressure naming another person! Please let me know if you have any good names you’d like to submit as a contender! We have a list of some names we like (see poll on the right), but you know Stratton wasn’t even on our radar until after we found out it was a boy and I saw it two places in a week (once on Nymbler and then on a invoice that came across my desk from Stratton Seed Co. in Stuttgart), and it just seemed right and fit most of the criteria! So if you have some suggestions, please share we are very open to ideas!
Here is a fun website that I like for baby names.
Friday was an interesting day- and didn’t go as expected (as if anything does these days!). Stratton was so good for the most part. We picked him up at Jarrod’s mom and dad’s house around 9ish and he was ready to go! He was ready to go to see the baby! He told us that “the baby isn’t ready to come out”. We had bought him the Muppets movie, just in case he wasn’t wanting to leave but he was surprisingly happy. And once he saw the new movie he could care less where he was or who was around! He just wanted to watch it!!
We had to wait about 15 minutes at the Dr. office, and luckily I had remembered to bring the ipad! So it wasn’t bad at all! Stratton played some games and was great. We got into our room and Stratton was really quiet. The staff is so great and talked to him directly- which is always nice. The nurse we had today was really chatty and tried to get S to talk to her, but he wasn’t giving it! She got my stats and everything looked good. I was actually down a pound! I don’t know how that is possible with everything I am eating!!
When Dr. Smith came in and tried to get the ultra sound machine working- just like last time, she couldn’t get the printer to print! So they took us in the big U/S room where there was a big screen tv that displays the monitor larger than what is on that little screen! I was excited! It was good for Stratton, too. It was much easer for him to see. Well the tech worked and worked and jiggled and pushed, but she couldn’t get the little stinker to move where she could see what the gender was! He actually had his legs like he was sitting indian style! The Dr and the tech were both leaning towards a boy, but they said don’t get anything monogrammed yet, as they weren’t 100% positive! Ugh!! The tech said that she saw something’s that were suspiciously pointing towards a boy, but it’s hard to tell whether it was a boy part or just part of the cord! So, now we have to wait another 5 weeks before my next appointment to be sure! I knew it was a possibility, but was still disappointed! It’s going to be a long 5 weeks!
Here are the videos of the ultrasound. And since the baby looks kinda like an alien right now, it’s a little scary! But it’s neat that they put the entire thing on a dvd to take home. Especially since Stratton has carried around the hard copy pictures and messed them up! You can see when the tech is jiggling and pushing around trying to get him to move around! The last video has more of his face and the 4d part.
After my appointment we went to Loca Luna for lunch. Stratton fell asleep in the car on the way so I carried him in and he slept through most of lunch! He did wake up in time to sample some cheese dip and tomato dip (as he refers to salsa) and he ate some of Jarrod’s fish and fries. Healthy lunch, I know. It was so good! I love that place!! After lunch we stopped by Gene Lockwood’s and Stratton got a new pair of Toms. Then we headed to the zoo! The weather was awesome, so I was really looking forward to it. But things changed when we got up close to the zoo. There were cars parked everywhere! It was crazy! There were about 100 people standing in line to get tickets and no where to park! We decided to try and come back another time- as it would have been frustrating for Stratton since he wouldn’t be able to see anything and also there were so many people I’m not sure we could have used the stroller and S is too heavy to carry him around the whole time, and we sure weren’t letting him walk on his own!! He was so MAD!! So we took him to Learning Express Toy Store and he got to pick out a new toy and then we got yogurt! Not the same, but it helped a little. We ran by Fort Thompson before heading home. We thought about stopping in Searcy, but S was taking such a good nap we kept on going. He woke up about Cash, so he got a pretty good nap! We rested at home for a bit then decided we didn’t want to cook so we went to Fat City for supper.
It was a long day, and was a little disappointing. But I’m glad we took Stratton. He has been talking about seeing the baby and how they put jelly on my tummy! We will probably take him next time, which is April 27th- 5 days before we leave for the beach! So at least we’ll hopefully know before we go on vacation! He also took the pictures to church and showed his class pictures of his “baby brother”- which is usually what he says when referring to the baby. Every once in awhile he’ll say sister, but more often it’s brother. Maybe he knows something we don’t? Haha!
Since my last post, we’ve been really busy! Stratton got a much needed haircut! We have been to some family birthday parties, dealt with the time change, went to a fun baby girl shower, had a inspiring Gospel meeting at church, had the BIG Ag for Autism event, the first ever Bracket Bonanza, we’re saddened with the passing of a great-uncle, our good friends, the Simmons' finally had their baby BOY (surprising!) and I got a new car. . . . Whew!!
This week Stratton is spending time with both sets of grandparents for Spring Break! He was in Hickory Ridge from Sunday to Tuesday, and then went to Searcy Tuesday evening and we will pick him up Friday morning on our way to Little Rock.
I have a doctor’s appointment in the morning and we are hoping that we will get to find out if baby is a HE or a SHE! There are no guarantees, as I am still only 14 weeks, but I have my fingers crossed that the baby cooperates! After my appointment if everything goes ok, we are planning on taking Stratton to the zoo! He’s been at least twice, that I can remember, and always loves it. I think it’s supposed to be a really nice day! I just hope that all the Spring Breaker’s don’t have the same idea and its really busy!
Saturday morning we are having Stratton’s pictures taken with a local photographer. We usually have them done at Christmas, Easter and around his birthday- but we missed out on the Christmas ones this year since Jarrod ended up having to work the day we had them scheduled, so we haven’t had pictures made since last June! I’m so bad!!
Other than that we don’t have too much going on this weekend. Maybe we can get a little rest? Haha- not likely!
Next weekend will be fun! The annual egg hunt at church is next Saturday! I can’t believe it’s already Easter time!
If you haven’t heard already. . . we are expecting!
I am due September 18th! We have been to the Dr. and everything looks great. My next appointment is in a couple of weeks! I am feeling pretty good for the most part, just really tired! We are really excited to finally be able to share the news with everyone! It seems like the last 8 weeks have gone by so slow! Please say a prayer for us that this time around there won’t be as much drama! Haha!
He NEEDS a haircut!!
Can you see the tatoo on his left arm? He won’t let me scrub it off!
You think we need a bigger bathtub?
Silly Boy! After his bath he likes to be completely wrapped up- even if it takes 2 towels! He’ll say “My Pigs!! My Pigs!” Like he’s in agonizing pain, if his feet aren’t properly covered up. He is usually in a really good mood after his bath, which is nice after some days of what feels like constant head-butting with him! Last night he wanted to watch deer hunting after his bath- good thing we keep that on the dvr! He’s also asked to watch football a lot lately and doesn’t understand when we tell him it’s not on?! I am thinking we should have dvr’d some football games too!
Jarrod and I are both starting to come around. Still not eating much and not back 100%, but getting there! One of Stratton’s best friends at school had it over the weekend and yesterday, too. So, I am sure we haven’t seen the last of it at our house! I just hope we can have at least one weekend in the near future without sickness!
This weekend, we have cousin Cooper’s 4th birthday party Friday night, cousin Alexandra’s 8th birthday party Saturday night, and I have a shower for a good friend at church on Sunday!
What’s up with our weekends!!
Friday night Jarrod and his dad took Stratton to see the Monster Trucks at the convo. Of course he loved it. I was in bed already when they got home, but Stratton came in and told me all about the monster trucks crushing the cars!
We were supposed to go to a wedding Saturday night and then have our birthday with Jarrod’s family on Sunday- but that didn’t happen. Friday night after they got home, Jarrod had mentioned that his stomach was feeling weird, and asked if I felt ok. I felt fine. Well, about midnight or a little after he starts throwing up. He was sick all night and then about 3 am I start to feel sick too. I took a zofran and tried to sleep it off. Margie came and got Stratton about 6am, and it’s a good thing because while she was there I got sick too! So Saturday was a real fun day. Jarrod had it much worse than I did- I really think the zofran helped me. But man we were wiped out. Even Monday morning I felt a little better but was just so weak. Jarrod was still feeling sick to his stomach Monday, so we ended up both staying home from work. It looks like Stratton got lucky this time, so far he hasn’t been sick. But then again he just had it last weekend. . .
By the way please don’t even mention McDonald’s around me or Jarrod ever again! Bahhh!!
While Jarrod was in Little Rock this week he happened upon a Mickey Mouse Clubhouse kid’s fishing pole. He had told Stratton before he left Sunday night that if he was really good this week he would bring him home a prize. While I am not so sure he deserved it. . .he got a prize anyway.
He loved it. He even {sort of} got the hang of reeling it in and casting. But most of the time he just pretended it was a gun and was shooting deer with it?! I am pretty sure this particular fishing pole will never make it to an actual fishing trip- but at least maybe he’ll get a little more familiar with one! He got it tangled up in the bushes a few times and also got himself all wrapped up once too!
Then he found the drain in the yard and the fishing pole was over! Surprisingly, he’s never noticed it before. He kept asking “what’s in there?” and “can I get in there?”. . .Boys!! I’m sure it’s only a matter of time before he starts dropping stuff down it!
We are sure glad that Jarrod is home! It’s been a long week! In fact yesterday when I picked him up from daycare as I was putting him in his car seat I asked him how his day was and he said “It a long day.” Haha. I agree! We ended up not going to church and we both went to bed early last night! The week wouldn’t have been so bad if Stratton didn’t wake up at 5am every morning. There is a reason Jarrod is in charge in the mornings. Stratton, while he gets up much earlier- is usually just like me when he gets up, grumpy and cranky, definitely not a morning person! So, imagine both of us alone in the EARLY morning- it’s not fun! One morning as I was fighting him to get dressed he said “I not wanna go to school! I wanna stay in bed!”. . . I was like ME TOO kid, join the crowd! And then another morning while sitting on the couch he said “Mommy you stay home with me today.”- now if that’s not hard to say no to, I don’t know what is!! And it’s just impossible to get ready with Stratton awake and constantly getting into stuff. What happened to my kid that was fine to sit and watch the Disney channel with a sippy cup of milk and some cheerios?? It makes me nervous to jump in the shower for even 5 minutes, as this week I have caught him: climbing on the kitchen countertops, trying to stand on the back of the couch, and making me some coffee-complete with the mini-moo creamer I might add! Whew! Tonight was daddy’s night!!
