Stratton's 9 month check up

I totally forgot that he didn't have to have shots this time! What a nice surprise! As soon as we laid him down on the scale the nurse said "He is the biggest 9 month old I have ever seen!" and she sees like 15 babies a day?! The doctor said the same thing, and then the receptionist said it to! If we had a dollar for every time someone made a comment about his height or how large his hands are, we would have Stratton a nice college fund started! Lol! Not that it matters- He will be on a football scholarship anyway, right?! Ha-ha! {No pressure, baby!!}

His stats at 9 months:

Weight: 21.5 pounds (75th percentile)

Height: 30.25 inches (97+plus percentile) I guess once you hit the 97th % they quit counting the nurse put a 97% and an up arrow on our paperwork!

Head circumference: 17.5 inches (50th percentile)

He is eating about 5 containers of baby food, 5-6 tablespoons of cereal and taking about 5 bottles (4-6oz) a day. We are gradually going to start on some table foods, that should be fun! And while he still won't hold his bottle by himself, he is doing better with the sippy cup that has the straw! He likes water a lot! But I have to be careful, he wants to drink it too fast and then gets choked!

Since his last checkup, 3 months ago, he has gained about 2 pounds and grew almost 3 inches! I am hoping he will slow down soon! The Dr. assured me that he would soon, between now and 12 months they don't grow as much-thank goodness! We are heading into the 12-18 months sizes. His torso is so long that most of his 6-12 month stuff is getting a little tight. I am still having trouble with pants. Most 6-12 are a little big in the waist, but he can usually keep them up, but they are too short! I am glad it's almost time for shorts! Girls have it so much easier- if you have a tall girl she can wear dresses and leggings and it's no big deal! I am glad that I have some gymbucks to redeem this weekend, my growing boy's got to have some new clothes!! We are going to have to start training him for his football career- I have already had a request from my boss, Kelly, to be his agent! ha-ha!

We got right in and out of the doctor's office pretty quickly, so we went to Cracker Barrel and had brunch. Jarrod had to hold Stratton most of the time. He isn't a fan of their highchairs. Again, he is just too skinny for the belt to hold him in and he slides in it. We gave him a little of my scrambled eggs and he didn't act like it impressed him too much! I think it's just the texture of whole foods that is freaking him out a little, but he doesn't turn anything away that is coming towards his mouth! I gave him some puffs last night for the first time and he did spit the first one out. It took him a couple of times to figure out that it tasted good!

Jarrod and Stratton were headed to the farm after they dropped me back off at work. S isn't going to daycare today since we have to have him there by 10am if we are going to bring him. That worked out fine anyway, my grandma and grandpa are going to watch Stratton this afternoon while Jarrod is helping my dad. They love getting to keep him, so I am sure he will be spoiled rotten by the time we get him back! They haven't seen him in a couple of weeks and he has really started being so much more active lately, he is likely to wear them out!!

We moved his car seats around to face forward a couple of days ago, and he loves it! Especially in Jarrod's truck, because it will only fit in the middle, so he can see out the front window! It's so much easier to get him in and out, too!

Look at our big boy! He just looks so big sitting there!

I am so glad it is Friday! This has been one stressful and long week! We don't have any major plans, we are having my mom's birthday dinner at my grandma's Sunday at lunch, but nothing other than that! I would like to work out in the yard again. I did get my weeds pulled and moved some of the shrubs last Saturday, but I didn't get to plant my annuals or re-mulch yet, so I might work on that. Jarrod will be helping my dad again on Saturday, I'm sure, so we will have to see about what I decide to do- A pedicure sounds like a good idea to me!

Daycare is exhausting!

This was about 6pm last night, right after we got home, I hadn't even fed him yet! They told me he took a bottle at 4:30 so I was going to wait awhile to feed him and I sat him in the highchair while I started supper. He was just playing with his toys and then next thing I know I look over and he is asleep. It didn't last long though, he soon woke up and was mad. So then I did feed him!

The daycare situation is going good. Jarrod actually picked him up Monday evening, since he got off before me. So last night was the first time I picked him up and he was SO happy to see me. It's never really happened before, like that. One of the teachers was holding him and the other one was talking to me and showing me something so I didn't immediately go in and pick him up-Well, he let me know real quick that he wasn't ok with that! He started screaming and then when I picked him up he was fine! Haha!

We had an unexpected visitor last night. One of Jarrod's buddies from college is in town (he is actually moving here) and dropped by around 7pm. I am glad I was actually cooking supper last night and had enough for three since Jarrod invited him to stay for dinner! I don't know that he will be coming back- he is single, and I'm sure being with us for a whole evening was a shock to him! I am pretty sure all we talked about was Stratton and after dinner we sat in the living room and watched him play in the floor with American Idol on in the background- what an exciting life we have! haha!

The puppy is still with us. I guess we are going to keep her. She is a sweet dog, but I have forgotten how much work they are. I have been trying to work with her on sitting and fetching. But you know how puppies are. . .she can't focus because she see's a bug and has to chase it, or gets distracted by a noise. . .ect. . .It's going to be an adventure. I hope we can at least train her to be a decently behaved dog. There is nothing I hate worse than when you go to someone's house and their dog jumps all over you and chews on you. I think she thinks her name is "NO!" since she hears that a lot. But I think we are going to call her Sadey. It seems to fit her!

Good news, Bad news.

The good news is that my doctor's office just called and my blood test came back negative- I don't have H. Pylori, like he thought. The bad news is, while the new meds he gave me are making me feel some better, I still don't feel like the issue is resolved. I go back next Thursday, April 22nd, for a follow-up. I don't know where he will want to go from here? But like I said the meds are doing some good, so at least I am not in as much pain and I am not as nauseous as I have been, so that is a blessing!

"D"- Day

We dropped Stratton off at Day Care this morning. Jarrod and I both went, mainly because I had a ton of stuff to take! But also for emotional support. I didn't cry, but came real close. I am flooded with emotions this morning so I spare you the details, but it was harder than I anticipated. I am already counting down the hours till 5pm! I might try to sneak by around lunch, if I have time. But I am worried that if I drop in it might just make it worse for me! The good news it that we dropped him off at 7:30 and I was at the office at 7:50, I even swung into McD's for an iced coffee (my weakness, but I needed some caffeine to get me going) and was still early! Today can't go by fast enough!

Olivia's 1st Birthday Party

Stratton attended his first "friend" birthday party today! Poor Erica and Ryan, both of their kids were born on the same day, April 7th! So, they had Carson's birthday party at 2pm and then Olivia's at 5pm! They had one big day. They had all of their family there and several families from church. It was a great day to be outside! The weather and temperature was perfect! They grilled hot dogs and the kids ran around crazy! It was so much fun to hang out with our friends and their kiddos!! Stratton was wore out when we got home tonight!

Stratton LOVED Olivia's swing!

What do you mean, I can't have any cake?!!

Little Ham!

Erica pulled Stratton and Easton around in a wagon. Stratton loved it and just laughed and jabbered! Easton just looked at him like "Dude, what's the big deal we're in a wagon?" it was Too funny!

He is so excited!!

Then Jarrod pulled them around for awhile and gave Erica a break! I think we will be buying a wagon in the near future. This one was really neat it had a seat belt so that Stratton would slide out.

Erica and Olivia with Rebecca and baby Lilah (who is just a month and a half younger than Stratton! She is so tiny!!) Don't you love Olivia's birthday outfit!! They were made by Jamie at Lady Bug Boutique! So cute! She had a matching birthday hat, but didn't like to wear it!

Just for fun, below is a picture of Jarrod holding Olivia on the day she was born. . .can't believe it's been a year!! And I was 5 months pregnant then! What a year!

Whew! TGIF!!

Yesterday was my mom's birthday. So, last night my mom and dad came to Jonesboro and we took them out to eat for her bday, We ran to the mall and then went to Olive Garden (it's fairly new in town, for those of you who don't live here, and it's always packed!) and we only had to wait 20-30 minutes! Stratton was awful after we sat down! He acted like "he had never been out in public before" (in Jarrod's exact words) I know the people sitting beside us were so [not] happy. My guess is he was tired and hungry- not a good combination! But still! I was mortified! I don't want to be "those people" that bring in the fussy baby and everyone else just looks at like "thanks for ruining our evening". . . . I guess I should be thankful that this is the first time he has acted this way in public! I am spoiled since he is always so good!

Then Matt & Carla came over and picked up their puppy. It was a little sad separating them, but they promised they would bring him back to play soon. The other puppy did great last night! If she cried at all, we didn't hear it! I was really worried that she would whine and cry all night, so I was pleasantly surprised!

I am SO glad that today is Friday. My mom isn't working today so they took S home with them last night, and will probably bring him back Saturday afternoon. Which means if Jarrod doesn't work late tonight [crossing my fingers, but not holding my breath] we might actually get to spend some time together- I am thinking a trip to the movies might be in the cards, we got a gift card for our birthday and haven't used it yet. And maybe a trip to Lowes (seriously, I don't think I have been to Lowes since S was born!).  Tomorrow Jarrod will probably have to work again (ugh, more overtime--thanks, Entergy) but I really want to start working out in my yard, since I don't have to be anywhere Saturday morning. So, if I can pull myself out of bed in the morning, I need to pull weeds and move a couple of bushes then I would like to plant some colorful annuals and re-mulch. We have a birthday party for Olivia (S's girlfriend-haha) Saturday evening. I am sure I will have some cute pics to post from that party!!

Have a great weekend!!

Also, Say a prayer for me. . . .Monday is "D-Day". . . Daycare Day that is!!

Dr. Appointment

Really nothing new. He thinks now that I might have H. pylori. They took more blood to run a test to look for antibodies in the blood that indicate exposure to H. pylori. If I do have it I will most likely be treated with antibiotics, and hopefully that will be enough, but if I don't have it. . . .I really don't know. I guess on to another test. At this point I think it's a process of elimination. Ugh. I felt horrible yesterday, I actually left work because I thought I was going to be sick. After a little Phenergan,  am feeling a little better today. I just never know when it's coming, I could be fine one minute and the next feeling like I am about to be sick. It's super frustrating to not know what is wrong and what to do to make it better! I will go back to the doctor in two weeks. They said it will take a little while to get the results back from the blood test, since it has to be sent off. So, I guess I'll just be waiting to see what the test can tell us, if anything.