Just Hanging Out

I love to see how excited Jess gets when talking about all the "guy" things he wants to do with Canon. He can't wait to teach him how to snow ski, teach him all about football, take him to sports games, play a game of basketball with him, ect. So we were at Babies R Us the other night getting supplies to baby proof our house since the little rascal is in to EVERYTHING and Jess spotted a basketball goal. I was looking at clothes on the sales rack and I was summoned to come look at something. This something was a toy for Canon and it was a basketball goal. It took Canon a few days to learn how to put the basketball through the hoop, but now he has it all figured out! Jess is so proud!!

Our dear friends, the Waggoner's moved a couple of weeks ago. How sad... We miss them already, but are so happy where the Lord has led them. We know the Lord will do great things through them! So a few days before they left we had a little get together. We love the Waggoner's very much! Canon also loves them very much!

Canon loves Nathan's facial hair. He either stares at it or touches it! ha!

A little creepy... lol

Brandt and Jill, Thank you for loving and being so sweet to our son!

We miss you!

Love,

Rachel

10 Months

Our little guy turned 10 months on August 14th. I can't believe he is less than 2 months away from being ONE! What in the world?? He is such a joy! Jess and I can't get enough of him. Almost every night while laying in bed about to go to sleep, one of says "I miss Canon"!

Here are Canon's milestones this past month (as of August 14th)

- Switched Canon over to a big boy car seat

- Pulling up on own to a standing position

- Trip to Florida where both sides of grandparents were able to spend a few days with us

- Saw the ocean for the first time!

-Started sitting up on own from a crawling position

- Eating much more table foods (beans, chicken, bread, cheese, fruits, ect)

- Went to the library for the first time to get a library card and get books!

- Took a nap at church (this was a first), granted there were no other kids in the nursery

- Cut two bottom teeth, they are so cute

- Starting to cut two front teeth, they haven't completely broken through yet

-Crawled up our entire flight of stairs (Jess was behind him the entire time)

- Doing things on command (clapping, kissing, hugging, waving, and making Indian sounds)

- Still in size 3 diapers during the day and Size 4 night time diapers at night

- Still wearing 9 month, 12 month, and 12-18 month clothes

- Size 3 shoe

- Still getting breastfed morning and night and 2 bottles of formula during the day

- Still taking 2 naps a day

-Sleeping on an average of 11 hours at night

-The love for Mr. E is continuing to get stronger (you sleep on him or have him tucked in your arms)

We love you Canon John!!

Love,

Rachel

These are my Confessions (for the week)...

• I have not done Canon's laundry in a week
• I lost my temper with Jess today when Canon wouldn't go to sleep
• I have let Canon sleep in the swing a few times this week. Gasp....!! Please don't judge me, I have been desperate!
• I cried a few days ago when Canon wouldn't stop crying while going down for a nap
• I ate McDonalds tonight, ate a piece of cake, and 3 cookies and have loved every bite!
• I haven't taken a shower today
• I haven't folded the laundry from a week ago
• Deep down I really want to vent on facebook about how I very much dislike people complaining on their statuses - not the occasional complaints, the every day complaints. (So I have decided to vent on here, ha!)

As you can see I have many faults and don't claim to have it all together (ever really). I lose my patience as a wife and mother often and can be lazy with housework often. Thankfully I have a Savior that is perfect and loves me no matter what!! I am thankful! With that said I am ready to give this week all that I have!

Love,

Rachel

A long time coming....

We have been waiting for the Akins to come home for 2 years now (they have been on the mission field)! The Akins are dear dear friends and we couldn't wait to see them! We kept in touch these past few years through email, facebook, and skyping, so we were thrilled to see them in the flesh!

We met them at the airport Wednesday night to welcome them home! We were excited to see Micah again (he was only a few months old when they left), meet Jordan (there newest baby girl), and introduce them to Canon!

Saturday we had a pool day with some of our closest friends - Paul, Kari, Micah, Jordan, Brandt, Jill, and Nate! It was kind of chilly and rainy, but it didn't matter!

Here's Paul, Micah, and Jess

The girls, plus Micah and Canon

We had a cookout on Monday night. We were supposed to have it at our house, all the food was bought and the house was clean, but switched it to the Waggoner's home due to Canon being so sick with croup. :( Jess and I took turns hanging out while the other one stayed at home to be with Canon. Sweet Jordan was sick too with a double ear infection.

The girls with Micah man!

The boys minus Jess (it was his turn to be with Canon)

Jordan Kate

She is so precious! Wish I could have held her more, but didn't want to expose her to croup.

The whole gang minus Jess and Canon

Canon and I were able to have lunch with Kari, Lindsey, and Griffin one afternoon.

We had such a great time catching up with our dear friends. The time went by too quickly, but are so thankful for the time we did have! We hope to see them again soon!

These pictures make me sad, but happy all at the same time. Since we have been in seminary the Lord has blessed us with wonderful Godly friendships. These friends have been our family, our support, encouragement, and our prayer warriors. I personally have learned so much from the women the Lord has placed in my life. I honestly don't know what I would have done without these women. After I had Canon I needed them and still do! I can't even tell you how many times I have asked for their Godly advice or just needed encouragement. These friends have been Canon's babysitters. These friends are the people we have spent holidays with when we couldn't travel home to be with our family.

With all this said most of our closest friends have all moved in the last couple of months, are moving in the next couple of weeks, or have plans to move in the very near future. This makes me sad and very emotional at times. I am thankful for the ones that are still here and for the new friends we are making, but I am sad. I know what I am about to say is trivial, but I was making a guest list for Canon's birthday and it looked so bare without certain names on it. These people have been a vital part of Canon's life. I know these friendships will last and we will still be close no matter how far away we are. I am encouraged they are following the Lord's call, but I selfishly want them here. ;)

Our time at seminary will come to an end in the near future as well and we will say more goodbyes, but I will forever be grateful for all of our dear friendships and cherish all the memories for a lifetime!

Love,

Rachel

Where is Canon?

Canon is everywhere these days! He is crawling like the best of them and pulling up on everything. He is even trying to climb on furniture. I am trying to get used to all the falls, bumps, and bruises. He climbed up our whole flight of stairs last night (Jess was behind him the entire time). I can't imagine what it's like when he starts walking.

During vacation Canon stopped sleeping through the night, but these last 2 nights he started sleeping 11 hours again! I am so proud and relieved!! ha!

Canon is now cutting teeth. I am thinking that is why he wasn't sleeping too well the last 3 weeks. I think he is going to look so cute with his teeth!

Canon got croup a week ago. Yuck! I don't ever want him to get that again, but I hear once you get it you are more susceptible to getting it again. It was been over a week and he still has a nasty cough, but it seems to be getting better by the day.

Gotta go! Canon should be waking up any time now. Have I ever told you we have a strong willed child on our hands? He fought his nap like none other. Our pastor's wife at church experienced him fighting a nap at church a few weeks ago and she asked. "Is he like this at home?". My response was "YES"!!!!!!

Love,

Rachel

Sand, Sun, and Sweet Family Time

(Warning - this is a very long post and probably contains way too many details)

We traveled to Florida mid July and had such a great time!

When you think of vacation, you think of relaxing, sleeping more than normal, and soaking in the sun all day long. Well this vacation didn't have too much of those things, but again we had a great time! We learned quickly that when you have a child, vacation isn't about getting a tan, sleeping, or relaxation 24/7. Though we did learn those are trivial and the joy of seeing your child experience the beach for the first time, seeing him splash in the pool, and playing with both sets of grandparents are far more important than getting a couple extra hours of sleep.

Here are some of the happenings on the trip.

Traveling wasn't too much fun as we were delayed every flight getting to FL and back to NC, but we made it! Canon woke up the first morning in FL with a 101.5 fever and a rash all over his belly. For the next few days his rash continued to spread all over his body. He wasn't able to sleep in the pack n play (due to being in a weird place and being sick), so he slept with Jess and me every night. He was up several times every night, but Jess and I did enjoy the extra cuddles (he had to be right next to one of us while sleeping). We ended up taking Canon to see a pediatrician one morning due to the head to toe rash that just didn't seem to want to clear up. So thankful they agreed to see us, but I will have to say waiting 2 hours in a small room made me a little stir crazy. At one point I got up and started dancing (which of course made Canon laugh but made Jess wonder why he married me) because I just couldn't stand sitting there any longer. ha!

Canon loved the ocean! I think he really enjoyed the sand on his feet and watching the waves come crashing in around his knees. He wasn't quite sure what to think when we took him a little deeper though! Canon loves the swimming pool! He splashes and actually kind of swims when you put him on his belly! We took daily trips to the pool (when he was feeling well enough). Jess's parents were with us for the first couple of days and then my parents joined us for the last couple of days! It was so good to have family time! I know Canon enjoyed spending time with his grandparents and Jess and I enjoyed having a few breaks throughout the week to swim and take walks on the beach by ourselves.

I was so excited my parents were able to join us! This was the first vacation I have had with them in years! It was the first time for them to be at The Cape (Thanks Thom and Nellie Jo) and they loved it! My parents brought some fresh veggies from their garden and whew I have missed home grown veggies! Nothing tastes like it!

Canon also had a few milestones on the trip - Pulling up to a stand and sitting up on own from a crawling position which he did for Jess while I was in the other room!

Enjoy the pictures!

Canon is making sure I packed everything we needed before we headed out! We didn't forget one thing!

Canon experiencing the beach for the first time!

Playing! He didn't like sitting for too long.

Seeing the ocean for the first time! He looks sick in this picture. :(

Granddad holding him in the ocean! Thom had his first one and one time with him this trip and I think he rather enjoyed it!!

Grandma JoJo was a big help with feedings, baths, naps, and playing!

Heading out to the pool!

This was one of our many trips to the pool! I think Canon is going to be a water bug like his mommy, daddy, and Ma Maw (my mom). My mom loved swimming with him!

Playing in his baby pool!

Canon loves to touch my dad's beard! This is one of my favorite pictures!

I love my husband and son!

Love,

Rachel

9 Months Old

Canon is 9 months old today. I can't believe in only 3 months he will be a year old. I am so thankful he is growing and developing, but it is going by way too quickly.

Milestones and Happenings

-Attended his 1st VBS

-Becoming much more cuddly (even starting to give kisses, well we think that is what you are doing)

- Is now getting one bottle of formula a day (noon feeding), breastfeeding the other 3

- Became a cousin to a precious little girl, Maggie Elizabeth

- Loves to jump on his daddy when his daddy is holding him

-Daddy finished the book!!! So glad to have daddy home more often!

-Fell off the bed which resulted in a call to 911, and a trip in an ambulance to the emergency room. Still praising the Lord for his protection!

-Waving bye-bye

-Crawling!!!

-Got to spend time with your Grandparents on both sides, Aunt Erin, Uncle Sam, and Uncle Art

& you got to meet your new cousin Maggie for the 1st time!!

-You still love to be read to, when you grab a book, you start talking like crazy like you are reading it

-Wearing mostly 12 month clothes, but still a few 9 month clothing

-Still wearing size 3 diapers

-Starting to eat table food (banana and peach chunks, have had a few crackers, rice, bread, green beans, and watermelon. You still will not eat peas or garden vegetable baby food, but like most other baby foods. Pears, apples, mangoes, green beans, blueberries, and squash are your favorites! Oh and you love some plain fat yogurt too. You kick your legs so hard when you are eating that stuff!

-At your 9 month appt you weighed in at 20 lbs 3 ounces (50th percentile) and were 29 inches tall (75th percentile)

-Still getting 4 milk feedings and 3 food meals a day

-Taking 2 naps (one at 9:30 a.m. and the other around 2 p.m.) a day. You do pretty well, but still occasionally take naps in the swing when you are having a difficult time. You still love cuddling with Mr. E when napping!

(Sorry so long, but this is for my record too)

Canon continues to be such a joy and we love watching him learn new things!

Canon was very interested in the elephant. This made it difficult to get pictures.

Mom, I am bored. You won't let me chew on the elephant, so I will chew on my shoes instead. Thanks mom, but try again later...

Love,

Rachel