C + 2

Did I just skip over Christmas?  Sorry, yes.

Our holidays are always jam packed with family gatherings, and this year was [supposed to be] no different.  We started with our own family stockings on the 23rd, Papa Bill's on the 24th, hearing Aunt Lala sing in the Christmas Eve service, Santa at Mimi's on the 25th.  So far, so good.

STOP.

Mom (and therefore Dad) are up all Christmas night when Mom gets a stomach bug.  No big deal.  Bryan and Lee went to Big Papa's house on the 26th while Mom rested.  Plans are on for a trip to Memphis to see Grandfather and KK, even if we are a day late.  Back on track.

STOP.

Lee's pinky finger decided to make a guest appearance in the hinge side of a closing door, and plans took a turn.  Needless to say, we are parent newbies, and we freaked out and called 911.  (Although, it was luxurious to be able to rinse off and "finish" my shower and throw on clothes before the firemen arrived.)  After a day at the hospital, we came back with eight stitches and a tired little boy.

Getting prepped for "surgery"

Funny moment: If the nurse left the vital signs monitor on Lee's pillow, the lights would calm him down as he watched the numbers change

Waiting to eat a popsicle so we can go home

So, here we are, and even though our holiday plans have been derailed, and we are sad and a little lonely, we are thankful for the great experience we had with every person who served us during this experience, family that has stepped in to bring us (comfort) food, and a healthy little boy.  Who needs the tip of a finger, especially the pinky finger?

And - not to confuse anyone - he did get to keep the tip of his finger, and it is healing quite nicely.  Not sure he will get his fingernail back yet, but only time will tell on that!

Secretly

Lee was sick this week, I guess with a "fever virus".  No real symptoms, other than fever (duh) and wanting to be held and / or entertained all of his waking hours.  I found out that have definitely lost some of the strength in my left bicep as he has been walking around more!!  I could tell he was starting to feel better when I got some chores done on Friday and he played by himself (albeit discovering new no-nos!).

In the midst of this Bryan was out of town on Thursday night, so I was on my own during the "rough hour".  This is when I have given Lee a new dose of Motrin, but it hasn't kicked in, and the fever is just raging.  All he wants is to be held and rocked and I think he would be more than willing to sleep there all night.

Secretly, I cherish this time.  He is so big - 33.75 inches tall, to be exact! - that it is just not comfortable to sit in my lap anymore, or to lay on my shoulder.  It is only when he is sick that he wants to cuddle like that, and I can't help but to remember back when he was an infant... I was so worried about whether or not he would ever go to sleep on his own, because we always rocked him to sleep.  I'm not saying I think rocking your child to sleep is a good idea, but I am saying I miss those times!  It is such a short time I had with my baby, and - as much as I hate for him to feel so rotten - I love getting the chance to hold him and remember.

  

Even in the midst of feeling so bad, I was able to grab these cute shots after dropping Bryan off at the car rental place Thursday morning.  (I decided not to write a venting post, but thumbs down to Enterprise, and Kroger does not carry Infants' Motrin!   I won't ever forget that again!)

Most Excellent Bed Head

If you have followed this blog for any length of time, you know Lee has entertaining hair!  This morning, I thought he had exceptional bed head.  He is sick, so I cannot really leave his side without fussing, so expect a few new postings this week!

Not feeling so well  :(

Not happy that I will not let him play with the camera

But, Which Light?

Last week, we put up the Christmas tree.  When Lee woke up Thursday morning, the tree was trimmed, and I turned on the lights for him when he woke up.

He found the tree to be captivating - the wonder, the glow, the...Wait?  What is that over there?

the light timer plugged into the wall next to the tree!

Pound Cake and Piano

The blessings followed us home to Atlanta...

Favorite Thanksgiving Memory #9

Bryan: "Did you give Lee that piece of pound cake?"

Amelia: "No."

(laughter all around the dessert table)

Favorite Thanksgiving Memory #10

Lee's good manners putting his unfinished cake neatly back on the tray

Favorite Thanksgiving Memory #11

Brant hugging Lee

Favorite Thanksgiving Memory #12

Little boys!

Big Toes

And here is even more He has given to me...

Favorite Thanksgiving Memory #6

Lee's huge big toes next to Arden's "petite feet"

Favorite Thanksgiving Memory #7

Lee and Arden on my lap

Favorite Thanksgiving Memory #8

Making an enormous leaf pile for Lee, and he would only move the leaves from the pile to the grass

What a Spread!

The Lord has given us so much to be thankful for!

Favorite Thanksgiving Memory #1

The Thanksgiving spread at the Harris Family Gathering

Favorite Thanksgiving Memory #2

Lee and Arden in a staring contest

Favorite Thanksgiving Memory #3

Lee's luscious lips

Favorite Thanksgiving Memory #4

The Harris ladies sitting in a circle and gabbing

Favorite Thanksgiving Memory #5

Lee adoring Landon Holly, his second cousin

Working Together

Disclaimer:  Lee is wearing the shirt pictured here because he loves his Pawpaw, not because he loves the Jackets!

Yesterday, Brant came over to play while we went to the UGA game (thanks again to Mimi, Lin-Lin, and Pawpaw for giving of their Saturday so we could have a Saturday away!).  After Lee's nap, Brant went in to talk to him and help him wake up.  There was some sweet talking, then the sound of Lee's crib music box, but Brant never returned to the den.  He had climbed into Lee's bed!



The cousins spent the rest of the afternoon working on various projects together...

Working on the rain forest waterfall in Lee's bed...

Working on moving the leaves to other parts of the yard (when we look out our bedroom window, we see a scattering of redbud tree all over)...

Working on popping bubbles...

And working on being little boys!

I hated to miss all the fun - I love having Brant at our house (it doesn't happen enough) and I love that they are starting to play together.

I Fought the Law

I told Lee I was going to take off his shoes this morning, and he ran away from me and crawled behind the chair in his room.  Oh, Lord, help us!

Flash Forward

Lee was hanging out in the glider yesterday, and it occurred to me that I took a picture of him "sitting" in the same spot last November.  Is this even the same baby boy?

The Fence of Containment

We finished the fence this weekend - maybe an all-time record for finishing a project around our house.  We have even returned the wood we did not use already.  Bryan, David, and Patrick did an outstanding job - it looks so good!

Lee's weekend work:  having fun playing with an early delivery from Santa while the guys put the pickets on....

A Place for Little People (and Pets)

Fence at the beginning of Day Two.

We are FINALLY building a fence for our backyard! I would like to say it is for all the dogs I know, but it is really to contain Lee, at least for a portion of our daily playtime. I mean, I do love to watch him go up and down the stairs and the handicap ramp of the Chester Ave Baptist Church (over and over and over), but it is not really our own personal jungle gym.

Pawpaw came and helped us all weekend, and Pat (Pat-Pat to Lee) came today, and we got tons done! And, a special thanks to Pawpaw for helping out on his BIRTHDAY! Happy Birthday, Pawpaw. (Incidentally, Pawpaw's age is now my favorite number, twice. Couldn't have been a better day!)

Lee helped by cutting the grass and winding up the broken tape measure on Day One.

He tested the fence for sturdiness on Day Two.

(Funny note: Lee could easily get outside of the fence at this point, but it did not occur to him to climb over. So, containment is successful so far, even without pickets!)

Enjoying the Moment

I have to work hard at enjoying the moment - I am so busy setting up, taking pictures, or worrying about everyone having a good time that I don't experience the event. Sometimes, I have to stop myself from looking at Lee through the viewfinder, and just look at him... and enjoy him in the moment. So, thinking ahead about Lee's future scrapbook, I realize I missed so many pictures from his first Halloween: with PatPat and Lala, with Pawpaw and Mimi, with Daddy and Mommy, knocking on the door, and the list goes on. But I WAS THERE!

Well, sort of - after stopping him from running into a house, running in the street, or traipsing into a neighbor's flower bed. Next year will be more organized... right? (Don't worry; I'm not that out of touch with reality!)

Multitalented

Lee does not just sort clothes.

He also sorts catalogs...

...and books.